1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
April 21, 2025
5:00 P.M.
Mayor Stephen Burke – Present
Vice Mayor Max Perrey – Present
Councilmember Caroline Joachim – Present
Councilmember Urban Carmel – Present
Councilmember Katherine Jones – Present
City Staff Present: City Manager Cusimano; Director of Building & Planning Kelly; Police Chief Navarro; Captain Haynes; Lieutenant McCracken; Director of Department of Public Works Poster; Senior Management Analyst Rogers; Management Analyst III Politzer; Library Director Brenner; Library Board of Trustees Chair Sawyers; DEI Liaison Hernden; Community Engagement Liaison Terrell; and City Clerk De Ferrari.
Mayor Burke reflected on the tragic loss of four girls in a car accident on April 18th, and two other girls who were critically injured, all students at Archie Williams High School in San Anselmo. He offered condolences from the Mill Valley community.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Burke called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_250421
It was MOVED by Councilmember Carmel and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to approve the agenda order. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Burke noted the order of presentations had been changed to the following:
• Item #1, Presentation of the Library Board of Trustees Annual Report. • Item #2, Presentation of the City of Mill Valley Evacuation Drill on April 26, 2025. 2 • Item #3, Presentation of a Proclamation Celebrating Earth Day on April 22, 2025. • Item #4, Present of a Proclamation Recognizing April 2025 as Fair Housing Month.
4. Presentation of the Library Board of Trustees Annual Report.
Item 4_LBOT Annual Report_250421
Library Director Brenner introduced the presentation and shared a summary of current issues the Mill Valley Public Library is facing due to possible federal financial funding cuts. She thanked the Mill Valley Library Foundation and the Friends of the Mill Valley Library for making the majority of the library’s programs possible.
Director Brenner turned the presentation over to Library Board of Trustees Chair Bill Sawyers. Chair Sawyers proceeded with the presentation of the annual report.
Councilmembers asked questions of Director Brenner and Board Chair Sawyers.
Director Brenner and Chair Sawyer responded to a question about the library’s upcoming community survey completion, method of dissemination, and duration that the survey will be out.
Councilmembers provided comments related to the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened public comment.
Speakers: Suzanne Twing
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed public comment.
2. Presentation of the City of Mill Valley Evacuation Drill on April 26, 2025.
Item 2_No Written Material_250421-
Police Chief Rick Navarro presented the item and shared evacuation drill videos that are available on the City of Mill Valley’s Police Department’s YouTube page. He noted the Public Safety Fair at the Mill Valley Middle School would be held on April 28th.
Chief Navarro invited former Councilmember John McCauley to the podium to present the Take One Car findings tied to emergency preparedness, research presented to the Council over the previous year, and general goals and findings associated with an emergency in Mill Valley. Mr.
McCauley highlighted the Hamilton Drive exit option as well as a Super Community Refuge Area (CRA), which is a safer last resort area.
Councilmembers asked questions of Chief Navarro and Mr. McCauley. 3 PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed public comment..
1. Presentation of a Proclamation Celebrating Earth Day on April 22, 2025.
Item 1_No Written Material_250421
20250421_Signed 2025 Earth Day Proclamation
Councilmember Perrey led all Councilmembers in reading the Proclamation.
3. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing April 2025 as Fair Housing Month. 2025 Fair Housing Proclamation
Fair Housing News-Final-20240414
20250421_Signed 2025 Fair Housing Proclamation
Mayor Burke introduced the item and read the Proclamation.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Burke asked if any Councilmember or member of the public wished to pull Items #5-10 from the Consent Calendar. There were no requests.
Councilmember Carmel said he did not want to pull Item #6 from the Consent Calendar, but thought a comment should be made about the item, because it is significant and highlights would be helpful.
City Manager Cusimano presented further information on Item #6 regarding expectations, outcomes, funding, management, and oversite going forward.
Councilmembers asked questions of City Manager Cusimano.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Carmel and SECONDED by Vice Mayor Perrey to adopt the Consent Calendar, Items #5-10. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote. 4 5. Consideration of the March 10, 2025, March 24, 2025, and June 5, 2023, Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the action minutes.
Item 5_Action Minutes March 10, March 24, 2025 and June 5, 2023_250421
6. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application of a Charging Infrastructure Grant Application for the Acceptance of $1,525,937 in Funding Assigned to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Committing any Necessary Matching Funds and Stating Assurance to Complete the Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution 25-__.
Item 6_EV Infrastructure Grant Application_250421
7. Consideration of a Resolution Awarding Professional Service Agreement with MNS Engineers, Inc. for the 2025 Sewer Improvement Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution 25-__.
Item 7_PSA Approval for 2025 Sewer Improvements_250421
8. Consideration of a Resolution Awarding a Construction Management Service Agreement and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement with Pavement Engineering, Inc. for Construction Management and Inspection services for the 2025 Annual Street Rehabilitation Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution 25-__.
Item 8_Award CM Services 2025 Street Rehab (PW25-1)_250421
9. Consideration of a Resolution Approving Professional Service Agreement with M-Group for Services on Updating the Mill Valley General Plan Safety Element.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution 25-__.
Item 9_PSA Updating General Plan Safety Element_250421
10. Consideration of Approval of the Annual Adjustment of the Construction Valuation Threshold for the Affordable Housing Impact Fee; Receive the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report for Calendar Year 2024; and receive the Housing Element Work Plan for 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve the annual adjustment for the Affordable Housing Impact fee.
Item 10 _Annual General Plan Housing Progress Report_250421
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Mayor Burke opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: Bob Middlestaedt.
5 Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed Public Open Time.
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Jones shared a liaison report from the Marin Wildfire and Presentation Authority. She noted that City Manager Cusimano had been working closely with MWPA for the past few weeks, and they believed MWPA’s budget report and review for this year would be coming to City Council at the next meeting. They are formalizing a system in which every year Council will be presented with the budget as well as a report of activities taken over the past year.
Councilmember Carmel made comments related to the EV Charger grant that the City was awarded, saying getting this money to install 15 chargers within the 94941 zip code was significant, because it would more than double what exists. He reported on the TMAC offsite held on April 16th that he attended with Councilmember Jones, in which they set their workplan, and went through 16 Mill Valley projects. Their goal is to do a pilot project for Old Mill School as a proof of concept. Vice Mayor Carmel said the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board of Directors would be meeting that week to discuss Measure AA, which is most of TAM’s funding. He reported that at the previous TAM meeting, held at the end of March, the discussion was focused on the 101/580 interchange that would allow drivers to exit off 101 going north right onto 580, which is incredibly important, because traffic from Blithedale comes from 101. Vice Mayor Carmel also attended the Mill Valley Safe Routes to School meeting last week and said Safe Route maps for each school campus have been completed. Vice Mayor Carmel said another discussion topic was the County is investigating installing a signal at Rosemont Avenue. He recalled that when he was Mayor last year, he was invited to address 5th graders at Park School for Children for Change, an organization that educates children on making a positive impact on their communities, and he returned last week to talk to the class about housing. He hoped they could encourage CFC to expend the program to all five Mill Valley elementary schools.
Councilmember Carmel shared that he and Finance Deputy Director Trevor Atashkarian had been working on a revenue management report that would make it far easier for Councilmembers to review the City’s finances, and it should be brought to the City Council in May.
Councilmember Joachim shared that the Legislative Committee would meet the following week to learn about various draft bills and notable housing bills. She highlighted Assembly Bill 306 that would impose a significant freeze on State and local building codes from 2025-2031, and if passed would impact Mill Valley’s goals set in their cap, and also be in alignment with the neighboring County jurisdictions, and she suggested that the City Council discuss it. The Beautification Brigade completed a Pollinator Garden on Hamilton Drive near the Public Safety Building and in front of the Community Garden, and Councilmember Joachim thanked the organizations and volunteers who made it happen. She also attended the Parks & Recreation Commission Retreat and provided updates on LiveWell Mill Valley and the Beautification Brigade.
Vice Mayor Perrey spoke about a recent meeting with the school district that he and Councilmember Jones attended, and he discussed fire and emergency preparedness education in the schools, Ebike safety, and the middle school rebuild. For Earth Day, there will be a Re-Sourced and Re-Loved market special event at the Community Center on Sunday, April 27th. Vice Mayor 6 Perrey reported that their eBike Youth Safety Countywide Committee met and reviewed the education campaign that will be unveiled in the weeks ahead.
Mayor Burke reported on hosting a field trip of over sixty Tam Valley Elementary School second graders who came to City Hall to learn about city government. He and Councilmember Joachim attended a tour throughout Mill Valley with a group of PG&E vegetation management experts and learned about how they look at the trees and roads, how they schedule, and constraints they face. PG&E will come before the Council on May 5th to report on a variety of activities and looking ahead. Mayor Burke noted that with the closure of Good Will drop-off on Miller Avenue, Mount Carmel Thrift Shop is receiving an influx in donations that they cannot accept. Last week Mayor Burke attended the annual Sewage Agency of Southern Marin strategy meeting with City staff. The meeting covered their upcoming 5-year projection of capital improvement projects as well as a look ahead of some challenges SASM faces due to increased regulations. Mayor Burke announced he would be spending Sunday at the San Rafael Civic Center at a Meet Your Mayor Youth Town Hall.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano gave a report/update on the following topics:
• Commended staff members Principal Planner Danielle Staude and Sustainability/CAP Coordinator Grace Ledwith for their work in preparing the EV Grant . • Thanked Police Chief Navarro for his work and preparation for both the Evacuation Drill and e-bike leadership.
• Reported that Good Will has changed ownership and closed their shop, but left their donation trailers outside, leading to a huge amount of furniture and goods in the parking lot, which the Department of Public Works had to clean up. City Manager Cusimano was able to contact the owners and requested the storage units be removed within the next 24 hours.
• Spoke of the financial review and major funding areas to be focused on in a report out to the City Council in August.
• There is $500,000 rolled over since 2002 that is available, and City Manager Cusimano is working with Councilmember Jones, Mayor Burke, and Councilmember Carmel to identify those projects that are a priority, such as eucalyptus tree trimming and other onetime projects, with input from Public Works. • City Council will host a PG&E presentation on May 5th. • Thanked the Beautification Brigade, Triangle Project, Public Works teams on how well cared for the East Blithedale corridor looks after fixing center medians and hillsides.
City Manager Cusimano invited DEI Liaison Tammy Hernden to present on Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. DEI Liaison Hernden shared the work of Janet Miller and Project PAASS. She also announced an upcoming softball game that will be happening in Mill Valley to celebrate and support autism awareness month. 7 PUBLIC HEARING
11. Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amendment to Title 10 of the Mill Valley Municipal Code Regarding the Operation of Electric Mobility (E-bike) Devices.
Recommended Action: Receive report with proposed amendments; introduce the ordinance amendment by title only and waive the first reading.
Item 11_EMD Ordinance Amendment Staff Report_250421
Item 11_AMENDED_EMD Ordinance Amendment Staff Report_250421 Item 11_E-Comments No. 1 - 3
Item 11_E-Comment No. 4
Lieutenant Shaun McCracken and Police Chief Navarro presented the item and highlighted changes to the City’s Electric Mobility Device Ordinance as part of bill AB 1778 being chaptered into State law and authorizing the Marin Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, which must be adopted locally. Lieutenant McCraken and Chief Navarro recommend adopting a draft ordinance amending Chapter 10.30 the MVMC, with the recommendation that Mill Valley participate in the Marin Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.
Councilmembers made comments related to the item, and asked questions of Lieutenant McCracken and Chief Navarro.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened public comment.
Speakers: Dominic Blurton; Bob Middlestead; Jonathan Freeman; Sharon Nakatani.
Communications (via eComment): The city received five (4) public comments in advance of the City Council meeting which were sent to Councilmembers for review and will be included in the public record.
Mayor Burke closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Carmel to approve the first reading of the e-bike ordinance amendment. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
12. Consideration of Updating and Including Additional Fees to the Current Mill Valley Police Department Fee Schedule.
Recommended Action: Receive report and approve updated fee schedule.
Item 12_MVPD Update Fees Proposal_250421
8 Captain Lindsay Haynes presented the item and explained the Police Department wished to add additional categories to the current master fee schedule after a comprehensive comparison of allied agencies within the County and similar police departments in the Bay Area. They are looking to include 15 new items to cover costs associated with police log printouts, solicitor permits, concealed carry firearm permits, and special event permits, etc.
Councilmembers asked questions of Captain Haynes.
Mayor Burke recommended the fee schedule increase be reviewed as part of the two-year billing cycle.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Jones and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to approve the updated fee schedule. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
OLD BUSINESS
13. Consideration of the City Council Workplan Update – First Quarter 2025.
Recommended Action: Receive Report.
Item 13_City Council 2025 Workplan Update - First Quarter_250421 City Manager Cusimano presented the item and reviewed the Executive Workplan status, progress, and anticipated deliverable timeframes of priority projects with the Council. Key priorities include fiscal sustainability, a 10-year financial plan, a financial management report, Measure L Capital Improvement Program, Citizen Oversight Committee, emergency disaster preparation and critical infrastructure, affordable housing, an adaptive traffic signal system, business economic development, commercial code updates, transient occupancy tax analysis, digital services, and operational efficiencies.
Councilmember Perrey suggested that the Mayor and Vice Mayor work on Measure L going forward. He also said he and Councilmember Joachim have been the leads on the Climate Action Plan (CAP) pieces for the last few months.
Councilmember Carmel said he had a strong interest in Measure L, as he had been working on it for five years, and he wanted to be part of the CIP on that. He said he was the Council lead on their CAP, and so also had a strong interest in and wanted to be part of that as well. 9 Councilmember Carmel suggested re-starting a Business Vitality Task Force or Committee with Councilmember Joaquim and Councilmember Jones on it.
Councilmember Jones had no specific requests, but said she is here to help with anything around TOT and how to be creative with that.
Councilmember Joachim wanted to fit in where it makes sense. She said right now she works on quality-of-life issues, but would be happy to support CAP, and she wanted to continue working on housing along with Mayor Burke. She also asked for anything under emergency preparation, but certainly Steps Lanes and Paths, and encroachment issues. She said the Fire Insurance Working Group is ongoing.
Mayor Burke said he was happy to give his CIP seat to Councilmember Carmel, given his half-decade of effort on that. On the CAP, he suggested they go with Vice Mayor Perrey.
Councilmembers asked questions of City Manager Cusimano.
Councilmember Carmel and City Manager Cusimano suggested and confirmed adding a line to the 2025 Workplan under the Business/ Economic Vitality Section to engage the Mill Valley Chamber on business vitality.
Director of Planning and Building Patrick Kelly and Principal Planner Danielle Stuede made comments to the Council in response to the request to address California code updates.
Mayor Burke said the consensus from the City Council is they will monitor what happens at the State, but they will not do a fire drill to try to accelerate any ordinances in next six weeks, and they will continue with the Work Plan as laid out and not divert staff from accomplishing that to which they have agreed.
Vice Mayor Perrey said he would love to work with Councilmember Carmel on the capital improvement if Mayor Burke was not going to do that.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 8:47 p.m. – The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 5, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY MILL
VALLEY CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 5, 2025
___________________________
Stephen Burke, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk