1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
May 19, 2025
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Stephen Burke – Present
Vice Mayor Max Perrey – Present
Councilmember Caroline Joachim – Present
Councilmember Urban Carmel – Present (via teleconference) Councilmember Katherine Jones – Present
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(b), Councilmember Carmel will be attending the Regular City Council meeting via teleconference from: 26 Surf Road, Westport, CT 06880. This teleconference location is accessible to the public and will be open to the public for attendance during the meeting.
City Staff Present: City Manager Cusimano; Director of Planning and Building Kelly; Principal Planner Staude; Deputy Finance Director Atashkarian; Deputy Director of Human Resources Allingham; and City Clerk De Ferrari.
Mayor Burke indicated:
• Item #1 under Presentations, the Actuarial Valuation of Other Post-Employment Benefit Programs, would be postponed to a later meeting.
• Item #5 under the Consent Calendar, Consideration of the May 5, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes, would also be postponed to a later meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Burke called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_250519
It was MOVED by Councilmember Jones and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to approve the agenda order as amended. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote. 2 PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation via Zoom of the Actuarial Valuation of Other Post-Employment Benefit Programs (OPEB) as of June 30, 2024 from Cathy MacLeod of the Actuary Firm Macleod Watts.
Item 1_OPEB 2024 Actuary Staff Report_250519
Item 1_OPEB Attachment 1_City Mill Valley Signed 2024 Val Rpt (ADCs & FYE 2025 GASB 75)
Presentation Item #1 was postponed to a later meeting.
2. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring the first Friday in June, June 6, 2025, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the City of Mill Valley.
Item 2_City Proclamation Gun Violence Awareness Day_250519- 20250519_Proclamation_2025 National Gun Violence Awareness Day Signed Mayor Burke invited his fellow commissioners to assist him with the reading of the proclamation:
Mayor Burke, Vice Mayor Perrey, Councilmember Joachim, and Councilmember Jones.
Mayor Burke said the Council was honored to have representatives from Moms Demand Action in the audience.
3. Presentation from Division Chief/Fire Marshal Fred Hilliard of Southern Marin Fire on the CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map (Local Responsibility Area).
Item 3_Fire Hazard Zone Mapping LRA_250519
Chief Hilliard provided a presentation on the CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map updates under Government Code 51178, including reviewing the background of the maps and the legislative context; fire hazard modeling and zone update; the very high fire severity zone and Wildland Urban Interface; adoption of Local Responsibility Areas; financial and development implications; eligibility for granting funding for future projects; and insurance impacts.
Councilmembers asked questions of Chief Hilliard and provided comments related to the presentation.
4. Presentation by the Community Development Agency of Marin County on the Rooted in Marin Anti-Displacement Report.
Item 4_Rooted-in-Marin_250519-
Director of Planning and Building Patrick Kelly introduced the presentation on Rooted in Marin, a community-based engagement and education process focused on housing displacement in Marin County, which is co-managed by the County of Marin and cities of San Rafael and 3 Novato. Director Kelly introduced Chris Logan, a Partnership for Bay Future Fellow, and Jillian Zeiger, Principal Planner with the Marin County Development Agency.
Chris Logan presented the Rooted in Marin Anti-Displacement Report, including the report’s purpose; needs assessments conducted to guide programs and policies; how the report relates to the Mill Valley Housing Element in particular; lower-income displacement in Marin County; rental rates in Mill Valley, the County, and the Bay Area; key takeaways; the process of the report; community engagement and briefings; policy options; best practices; and rent stabilization.
Councilmembers asked questions of Chris Logan, Principal Planner Danielle Staude, and Jillian Zeiger and provided comments related to the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened public comment.
Speakers: Luke Barnsmoore
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Burke noted that Item #5 had been pulled from the Consent Calendar to be heard at a future meeting, and asked if any Councilmember or member of the public wished to pull any of the remaining items from the Consent Calendar. There were no requests.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Jones to adopt the Consent Calendar, Items #6-7. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
5. Consideration of the May 5, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the action minutes
Item 5_Under Separate Cover_Action Minutes_250519-
Item #5 was pulled from the Consent Calendar.
4 6. Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Mill Valley Municipal Code (MVMC) as follows: 1) add Chapter 21.29 “Urban Lot Splits” to Mill Valley Municipal Code Chapter 21, “Plats and Subdivisions,” to incorporate regulations pursuant to Government Code Section 66411.7, and 2) amend Chapter 20.100, “Appeals,” in Title 20, “Zoning,” to clarify application processing for ministerial actions.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Ordinance (ATTACHMENT 1), by title only, and waive second reading.
Item 6_SB 9 Ordinance Update_Second Reading_250519
Item 6_ecomment 1_re item 6 for 5_19_2025 Council meeting, the proposed SB 9 ordinance
7. Consideration of Resolutions to Authorize the Continuation of the Tamalpais Park Street Tree Assessment District: 1) a Resolution Continuing Improvements and Ordering the Engineer’s Report; 2) a Resolution Approving the Engineer’s Report; and 3) a Resolution Declaring Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments and Setting the Public Hearing for June 16, 2025.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolutions No. 25-___ and, No. 25-___ and No. 25-___.
Item 7_Tam Park Street Tree Assessment_250519
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Mayor Burke opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: Richard Horvath, John Hanley
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed Public Open Time.
City Manager Cusimano addressed the comments of Public Open Time speakers Richard Horvath and John Hanley.
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Jones attended her first meeting as a member of the Finance Committee of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority on May 8th, and a meeting of the Board of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority on May 19th, where the annual budget and workplan was approved, allocating nearly $1 million to West Marin for wildfire resilience projects, and received an update on a State definition of “zone zero,” to be completed by January 2026. Councilmember Jones attended a Boyle Park Masterplan Meeting on May 14th to receive the results of the Boyle Park Masterplan survey with nearly 700 responses, and collected feedback from residents. Last week Councilmember Jones attended a planning lunch for the Kelly Brush Foundation Ride to take place on October 25th, and the Outdoor Art Club 30th Anniversary Garden Tour on May 16th. 5 Councilmember Joachim attended her first meeting of the Homeless Policy Steering Committee as co-chair and as a representative of the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers.
She and Councilmember Carmel received Ready Set training the previous week. She attended the PG&E Open House on May 15th where Mill Valley residents were able to express their concerns to PG&E with respect to the substation. There will be an art project happening at Lytton Square the following weekend with eight mosaic tile panels representing Mill Valley fitted onto the base of the flagpole. Councilmember Joachim thanked Mill Valley resident Hugh Kune for coming up with the idea and leading the charge to make it happen, and the different organizations that contributed to the effort, including the Dipsea Race organizers, Enjoy Mill Valley, Outdoor Art Club, the Beautification Brigade, and the City of Mill Valley. The Live Well Mill Valley survey has closed and they await the analysis from AARP.
Vice Mayor Perrey attended the MCE Clean Energy Board meeting on May 15th and received reports from staff on ongoing programs. The EV charging rebate for new EV chargers is increasing to $ 5,000 per charger. The first joint meeting of the Marin Countywide Sea Level Rise Governance Committee, on which he represents Mill Valley, and Bay Wave, on which Councilmember Jones represents the City, is upcoming. Residents of the neighborhood near the PG&E substation met with PG&E that morning onsite to look at vegetation and are planning for a neighborhood meeting to discuss next steps on vegetation and what the residents want in terms of trees and tree height, etc.
Councilmember Carmel attended a Transportation Authority of Marin Executive Committee meeting the previous week where they discussed allocations from the funding item in Measure AA for innovation, and he recommended they add that allocation of funds into the upcoming disbursement to each city, so Mill Valley should receive a little extra money for innovation in transportation, for example, adaptive signal technology. Councilmember Carmel was the Council representative when a beautiful set of murals was unveiled at Boyle Park depicting Little League, one on each side of the dugout. He had a great time at the Mill Valley Music Festival, which was very well attended and the music was fantastic.
Mayor Burke thanked the Community Center staff who converted the center from a beer hall into a meeting space to accommodate Congressman Jared Huffman and others to discuss climate action. Mayor Burke provided an update from Richardson Bay Regional Authority. In addition to its progress in converting anchor-outs into residents on land, they recently conducted the first of a series of cleanups of the affected area of the bay and brought up two tons of junk from the eelgrass on the bottom. Mayor Burke expressed appreciation that PG&E came to the community for an open house on May 15th. Mum, the penny bear sculpture in the downtown plaza is part of the City’s Public Art Program and is a great hit with children and parents. He thanked the Arts Commission for its foresight and commitment to the sculpture that has become an asset to Mill Valley.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano gave a report/update on the following topics:
• Locomotive Engine No. 9 will be coming to the Memorial Day Parade, and they are working to have it in the downtown Friday through Monday for an event. He thanked the volunteers.
6 OLD BUSINESS
8. Receive and Review the 2025 Annual Street Rehabilitation Project.
Recommended Action: Receive the project update and provide input, if needed.
Item 8_Anual Street Rehab Project Update_250519
City Manager Cusimano noted that on March 10, 2025 the City Council approved the 2025 Annual Street Rehabilitation Project and authorized staff to move forward with the $2.549 million project. The project was taken to bid on April 24th and the City evaluated the Ghilotti Brothers’ bid at $2.899 million for a total project of $3.189 million, and recommend they engage them to try to help them cut costs and move forward with the project.
Councilmembers asked questions of City Manager Cusimano.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened Public Comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed Public Comment.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to approve the 2025 Annual Street Rehabilitation Project. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Burke indicated that Item 10 of New Business would be heard first.
10. Authorize the City Manager to Finalize and Execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mount Tam Community Land Trust to Facilitate Future Grant Funding through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Subject to Future City Council Action.
Recommended Action: Receive report and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute with any revisions approved by the City Attorney.
Item 10_CLT MOU_250519
Principal Planner Danielle Staude provided a presentation requesting the City Council consider authorization of a Memorandum of Understanding developed with Planning staff, legal counsel, and the Mt. Tam Community Land Trust (the CLT) in the interest of furthering discussions and the ability to fund affordable housing projects through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. She requested the MOU be further finalized through legal counsel and the CLT. 7 Kyle Hughes, President of the Mt. Tam Community Land Trust, spoke of the importance of supporting the vitality of the Mill Valley community, economically and otherwise, with an essential part of that being able to provide housing for local workers, seniors, and young families.
He said they believe the land trust model will be an essential part of that, and one key to that is the concept of perpetuity, and he noted that every property placed in the land trust is a long-term community asset.
Councilmembers asked questions of Planner Staude and Kyle Hughes.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened Public Comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed Public Comment.
Councilmembers made comments about the item.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Jones to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mount Tam Community Land Trust with any revisions approved by the City Attorney. See Councilmember Carmel’s deliberative comments in the video recording related to the approval of this item. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
9. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing a Collection Rate Application from Mill Valley Refuse Service for a 2.80% Maximum Rate increase.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution 25-__.
Item 9_2025 MVRS Rate Request_250519
Deputy Finance Director Trevor Atashkarian provided a presentation on the resolution. He introduced Gene Della Zoppa, CEO and Managing Partner of Mill Valley Refuse Service, who provided a presentation outlining the reasons for the proposed. 2.80% rate increase.
Councilmembers asked questions of Gene Della Zoppa.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened Public Comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed Public Comment.
8 Councilmembers made comments about the item.
See Councilmembers deliberative comments in the video recording related to Mill Valley Refuse Service returning to Council in the coming months to review expenses and anticipated fee changes.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Jones and SECONDED by Councilmember Carmel to adopt the resolution. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
11. Public Hearing and Consideration of a Report Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2561 on The Status of Staff Vacancies and Recruitment and Retention Efforts.
Recommended Action: Receive report.
Item 11_AB 2561 Personnel Status Report_250519-
Deputy Director of Human Resources Seth Allingham provided a presentation and said Mill Valley’s retention is strong and vacancy rate is low, and Mill Valley’s level of relationship with union bodies is much better than many jurisdictions.
Councilmembers asked questions of Director Allingham and City Manager Cusimano.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened Public Comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke closed Public Comment.
12. Mill Valley FY 2025-2026 Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Budget and Historical Mill Valley Projects Funded by Core Funds.
Recommended Action: Receive report and provide staff with direction as appropriate.
Item 12_MV MWPA FY25_26 Budget_250519-
City Manager Cusimano provided a report on the 2025-2026 Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Budget and Historical Mill Valley Projects Funded by Core (Cross-Jurisdictional Projects) Funds. He noted that Councilmember Jones, who is on the MWPA Board, has worked with he and Mayor Burke to bring this to the Council. He gave an overview of what the MWPA budget is and its purpose; a summary of the Core funded projects; the background and process of Measure C, a ten-year parcel tax approved in 2020 for wildfire prevention; Measure C fund allocation; Core projects by year; fuel breaks project highlights; local program area funding; defensible space funding; and FY2025-2026 budget overview.
Councilmembers asked questions of City Manager Cusimano. 9 PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Burke opened Public Comment.
Speakers: Steve Rosenfeld
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Burke responded to comments by public speaker Steve Rosenfeld.
Councilmembers made comments about the item, see Councilmembers deliberative comments in the video recording related to staff direction.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 9:22 p.m. – The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF MILL
VALLEY ON JUNE 16, 2025
___________________________
Stephen Burke, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk