1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
November 18, 2024
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Urban Carmel – Present
Vice Mayor Stephen Burke – Present
Councilmember Max Perrey – Present
Councilmember Caroline Joachim – Present
Councilmember Jim Wickham – Present
City Staff Present: City Manager Cusimano; City Attorney Khalsa; Human Resources Manager Allingham; Senior Management Analyst Walsh; Senior Management Analyst Rogers; Superintendent of Operations Neumann; Director of Public Works Poster; Building Official Bejhan Razi; Director of Building & Planning Kelly; and City Clerk De Ferrari.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Carmel called the meeting to order at 5:34 P.M.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Camel stated for the record that Item #6, the City Manager’s Employment Agreement, was reviewed during a closed session held on November 4, 2024
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_241118
Mayor Carmel proposed the following changes to the order: Item #3 to be continued forward to the December 5, 2024 Special City Council Meeting; Items #10 and #11 to be switched in the agenda order. It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to approve the agenda order. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation of a Proclamation Honoring Volunteer All-Star Dennis Fisco.
Item 1_No Written Material_241118
Mayor Carmel opened public comment.
2 Speakers: Andy Berman, Unidentified person, Stephanie Moulton Peters, Cliff Waldeck, Joan Murray, Mark Paley, Unidentified person.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel invited Dennis Fisco to say a few words related to this honor.
Mayor Carmel closed public comment
2. Presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation Celebrating and Recognizing Building Official Bejhan Razi on the Occasion of His Retirement from the City of Mill Valley After 6 Years of Service.
Item 2_No Written Material_241118
Mayor Carmel opened public comment.
Director of Building & Planning Kelly made comments reviewing staff member Bejhan Razi’s work for the City of Mill Valley and commended his work, leadership, and energy.
Mayor Carmel invited Building Official Razi to make comments on his recognition.
Communication (via eComments): None.
Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Carmel proposed Item #3 on the Consent Calendar to be continued forward to the next City Council meeting and Item #6 be pulled for Consent for verbal comments by the City Attorney and Councilmembers. It was MOVED by Councilmember Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Wickham to adopt the Consent Calendar, Items #3-9. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
3. Consideration of the November 4, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the Action Minutes.
Item 3_Under Separate Cover Nov 4, 2024 Action Minutes_241118- Mayor Carmel continued Item #3 to the next City Council Meeting.
4. Consideration of October 17, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the Action Minutes.
Item 4_Approval of Retroactive Action Minutes_241118
3 5. Consideration of the Adoption of the Regular City Council Meeting Schedule for 2025.
Recommended Action: Adopt the proposed schedule.
Item 5_2024 Council Meeting Schedule_241118
6. Consideration of an Amendment to the Employment Agreement with City Manager Cusimano.
Recommended Action: Approve the Amendment to the Employment Agreement with City Manager Todd Cusimano.
Item 6_CM Agreement Update_241118
City Attorney Khalsa made verbal comments on Item #6 announcing the changes to the City Manager’s contract.
7. Consideration of a Resolution Accepting as Complete Work Under a Contract to Goebel Construction, Inc., for the Miller Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Repair Project, PW 24-16.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 7_Miller Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Repair Project_241118
8. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Schaaf and Wheeler for the Sycamore Pump Station Rehabilitation Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 8_Sycamore Pump Station Rehabilitation Design_241118
9. Consideration of a Resolution Accepting a Grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Traffic Records Improvement Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 9_Acceptance of California Office of Traffic Safety Grant_241118-
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Mayor Carmel opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: Nancy Seitas expressed concerns over PG&E work and noise associated.
City Manager Cusimano communicated comments in response to the public comment and asked if she would like to receive contact information to be in touch with City staff.
Speaker 2: Kurt Nower made a request to the City Council to keep record of audio/visual of City Council Retreats.
4 Speaker 3: David (no last name provided) shared that the football team at Tam High School is on probation and expressed his thoughts on racial attacks, racial challenges and accountability challenges at the school.
Mayor Carmel responded to these comments with his awareness of the challenges and the City continues to work on this issue and will not stand for hate in Mill Valley.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel closed Public Open Time.
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Mayor Carmel said there will be a Planning Commission offsite coming up and reminded everyone that Commission, Boards, and Committee recruitment will be coming at the beginning of December. The mayor noted the city recognized, through the proclamation, the Depot on its 105th music performance, Hunter Moore on his retirement as CEO from the Redwoods, the Golf Course.
Councilmember Perrey said the MCE board retreat is coming up. He expressed his agreement to the public comments related to PG&E’s emergency work and offered that he was happy to meet with neighbors to talk about it.
Councilmember Joachim said the Beautification Brigade completed the work at the East Blithedale project. She expressed her thanks to the entire Department of Public Works Team.
Councilmember Joachim also shares that effective January 1, 2025 she would be serving on the Board of Directors at the Redwoods.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano recognized staff from the Department of Public Works on transportation improvements and shared the City’s ranking with Marin Transportation Commission (MTC). He remarked on the retirement of staff members Athena Langdon and Bejhan Razi and their outstanding service to the City of Mill Valley. City Manager Cusimano spoke to Council about a solid succession plan and recruitment tied to those positions.
Cusimano also shared that Touchstone Management shared a recent update that the Golf Course Commissary is ready to move forward and that they anticipate it to be a four month project set to begin next week.
NEW BUSINESS
10. Consideration of the 2024 City Council Policies and Guidelines.
Recommended Action: Receive Report.
Item 10_MV Council Policies and Procedures_241118-
Mayor Carmel introduced Item #10 second under New Business per the approved change to the agenda order.
5 City Manager Cusimano presented an overview of the item. He explained the intended purpose of the City Council Guidelines, the new additions related to the timeline and reference material links.
Vice Mayor Burke made comments related to the item. He expressed this is intended to be a living document, not formally adopted, but approved by the Council, and that he looks forward to begin to turn attention to the Commissions, Boards, and Committee Guidelines in the new year.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment.
Speakers: Cliff Waldeck.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to adopt the Resolution. The motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
11. Consideration of a Resolution Adopting the Amendment to the Bayfront Park Master Plan to Remove Field Use Restrictions and Allow Softball Improvements.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 11_Bayfront Park Master Plan 2024 Amendment_241118 Item 11_Communications No. 1 thru 9_241118
Item 11_Communications No. 10 thru 31_Redacted_241118
Item 11_Communications No. 32 thru 33_241118
Item 11_Communication No. 34_241118
Mayor Carmel introduced Item #11 first under New Business per the approved change to the agenda order.
Superintendent Neumann presented item 11 with a PowerPoint presentation and review of the requests, needs, public process, overall amendment process, and recommended removal and additions to the amendment.
Councilmembers asked questions related to the presentation.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment.
Speakers: Nancy Sidis, Julia, Melissa Jones and Parker Maxim, Maxine Kazel and Calen McKracken, Doug McKraken, John Orofino, Vivian Kakel, Andrew Smith, Ryan Federoff, Ryan Avenue, Clifford Waldeck, and Nick Boch.
6 Communications (via eComment): Two (2) e-comments were received via email after the 3 p.m. cut off time. The comments are in support of the amendment and were noted for the record. They will be added to the public record of this meeting.
Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Wickham and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to adopt the Resolution. The motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
12. Consideration to Delegate Authority to the City Manager to Contract Services or to Hire Additional Public Works Engineering Staff as Fiscally Prudent.
Recommended Action: Delegate Authority to the City Manager to Contract Services or to Hire Additional Public Works Engineering Staff.
Item 12_Delegate Authority to CM for Engineering_241118- City Manager Cusimano presented the item and reviewed the proposed changes as well as provided rationale for why this approach would benefit the city.
Mayor Carmel asked councilmembers if they had any questions.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Councilmembers made comments.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to adopt the Resolution. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 7:39 p.m. to a Special City Council meeting on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers. 7 APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
MILL VALLEY ON DECEMBER 5, 2024
___________________________
Urban Carmel, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk