REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Max Perrey — present
Vice Mayor Caroline Joachim — present
Councilmember Urban Carmel — present
Councilmember Katherine Jones — present
Councilmember Stephen Burke — present
CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Cusimano; City Attorney Khalsa; Deputy Director of Administration Rogers; Management Analyst II/Community & Culture Liaison Herndon; Director of Planning and Building Staude; Interim Police Chief Haynes; Lieutenant McCracken; Administrative Assistant I Craft; City Clerk De Ferrari.
COMMISSION RECRUITMENT INTERVIEW:
4:45 – 5:15 P.M. – Marin County Commission on Aging
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Perrey called the meeting to order at 5:32 P.M. noting that all councilmembers were present.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_BCC COA interview_260908
It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Carmel to approve the agenda order. The motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation of the 2026 Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival by Board President, Liz Lauter.
Item 1. No Written Material Template_260908
Board President, Liz Lauter presented the item.
Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 2 Councilmembers asked questions.
Councilmembers thanked Board President Liz Lauter for the presentation.
2. Presentation of the City of Mill Valley Designation as a Clean California Community.
Item 2. No Written Material Template_260908
Vice Mayor Joachim, Joan Murrary and Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator Michael Jevicky presented the item.
Councilmembers thanked Vice Mayor Joachim, Joan Murrary and Caltrans Adopt-AHighway Coordinator Jevicky for the presentation.
3. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing Police Chief Rick Navarro’s Outstanding Service to the City of Mill Valley.
Item 3. No Written Material Template_260908
City Manager Cusimano introduced the item.
Councilmembers read the proclamation aloud.
Mayor Perrey opened public comment.
Speakers: 1) Interim Fire Chief Tom Welch 2) Interim Police Chief Lindsay Haynes 3) Lieutenant Shaun McCracken 4) Tammy Edmunson
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Perrey closed public comment.
Councilmembers thanked former Mill Valley Police Chief Navarro for his service.
4. Presentation of an Update on the County Commission on Aging by Outgoing Commissioner Kristi Denton Cohen.
Item 4. No Written Material Template_260908
County Commission on Aging Commissioner Kristi Denton Cohen presented the item.
Councilmembers asked questions and made deliberative comments.
Councilmembers thanked County Commission on Aging Commissioner Kristi Denton Cohen for the presentation.
Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 3 CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Perrey asked if any councilmember or members of the public wished to pull an item from the Consent Calendar. There were no requests from the public or online participants.
Councilmember Carmel requested to pull Item #7 from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Vice Mayor Joachim requested to pull Item #8 to add the appointment of an applicant to the Marin County Commission on Aging.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Carmel and SECONDED by Vice Mayor Joachim to adopt the Consent Calendar, Items #5-#6 and #9-10. The motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
Councilmembers discussed Item #7.
Vice Mayor Joachim proposed revisions to Finding 4 and Finding 5 on the drafted grand jury response.
Councilmembers made deliberative comments.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Jones to Adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute the City of Mill Valley’s Response to the 2026 Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report Entitled, “MCE, Marin Clean Energy: A Series of Missteps Highlight Need for Governance Changes,” with Discussed and Approved Amendments to Responses 4 and 5. The motion was carried by a 4-0-1 vote, with Councilmember Carmel abstaining.
Councilmembers discussed Item #8.
Vice Mayor Joachim reported that the City Council held interviews prior to the Regular City Council meeting for the appointment to the Marin County Commission on Aging.
Vice Mayor Joachim reported that Jane Czech was appointed to the Marin County Commission on Aging.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Carmel to Adopt the Resolution Making an Appointment to the Marin County Commission on Aging. The motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
5. Consideration of July 29, 2026, Special City Council Meeting Action Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve Action Minutes
Item 5. Approval of Action Minutes_260908
Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 4 6. Consideration of the City Council Work Plan Update- Third Quarter 2026.
Recommended Action: Receive Report and Approve Update.
Item 6. Council Workplan Update Third Quarter_260831
Item 6. Public Comment #1_260908
7. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute the City of Mill Valley’s Response to the 2026 Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report Entitled, “MCE, Marin Clean Energy: A Series of Missteps Highlight Need for Governance Changes”.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 26-__.
Item 7. Under Separate Cover_260908
Item 7. 2026 GJR MCE Report Response_260908
8. Consideration of a Resolution Making an Appointment to the Marin County Commission on Aging.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 26-___.
Item 8. Under Separate Cover_260908
Item 8. MC COA BCC Interview Appointment_260908
9. Consideration of a Resolution Accepting as Complete the Hillside Avenue Storm Drain Improvements Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 26-___.
Item 9. Hillside Ave Storm Drain Improvements NOC_260908
10. Consideration of a Resolution accepting as complete the Miller Avenue Storm Drain Improvements Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 26-___.
Item 10. Miller Ave Storm Drain Improvements NOC_260908
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Mayor Perrey opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: 1) Margaret Fisher 2) Jeremy Revitch 3) No name given Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Perrey closed Public Open Time.
Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 5 COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Burke had no items to report.
Councilmember Jones attended the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on September 2, where the commission voted to pursue landscaping around the depot redwoods. She noted a presentation on developing a bocce facility in Mill Valley as a multigenerational community amenity. Councilmember Jones reported on the upcoming launch of a hotline for reporting unauthorized use of reserved park fields. She attended a community fire debrief meeting in Northbridge on August 16th regarding the July fire on Hillside. Councilmember Jones reported that a final draft of the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan Addendum will proceed to the Transportation and Mobility Advisory Committee (TMAC) on September 16.
Councilmember Carmel reported on TMAC and the launch of Safe Routes to School programming at Edna Middle School. He noted that the Lomita Drive repaving project has been approved and is beginning Phase 1. Councilmember Carmel noted the business vitality group meeting with Marin County and San Luis Obispo which started a one-year regional process distinguishing between business development and business vitality strategies. He reported that the first of three Library Master Plan meetings is scheduled for September 9. Councilmember Carmel noted the upcoming Mill Valley Film Festival will run from October 1-11 and the recent openings of Milkweed Kids and Lima Nikkei restaurant.
Vice Mayor Joachim reported on the Marin County 2026 point-in-time homeless count and noted the Homeless Policy Steering Committee will meet later in the week. She announced the Live Well Mill Valley, “Move Better, Live Better” community wellness event scheduled for October 15 and the Senior Fair on September 16 at the Marin Center in San Rafael. Vice Mayor Joachim reported on ongoing beautification work, including plantings at the East Blithedale Triangle and four adirondack chairs at the Depot Plaza.
Mayor Perrey reported on the Miller Nights community vitality event. He noted MCE activities, including the Grand Jury ad hoc process, ongoing governance assistance, national CEO search and continued progress on procurement reform.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano reported on the PG&E community workshop. He addressed public comments regarding Flock cameras and described upcoming steps, including a meeting with Flock to renegotiate the contract, engagement with council liaisons and coordinating with county-level counterparts.
PUBLIC HEARING
11. Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Section 2.22.030 of Chapter 2.22 (Salary of City Council) of the Mill Valley Municipal Code.
Recommended Action: Receive report, conduct a public hearing, introduce the draft ordinance by title only, and waive first reading.
Item 11. Council Salary_260908
Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 6 Deputy Director of Administration Rogers presented the item.
Councilmembers had no questions or deliberative comments.
Mayor Perrey opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Perrey closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Carmel to Receive the Report, Conduct a Public Hearing and Introduce the Draft Ordinance Amending Section 2.22.030 of Chapter 2.22 (Salary of City Council) of the Mill Valley Municipal Code. by Title Only, and Waive the First Reading. The motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
12. Consider first reading or an Ordinance Amending Title 20 (“Zoning”) of the Mill Valley Municipal Code (MVMC) to update Single-Family Residential (RS) Zoning District Property Development Regulations (MVMC 20.16.040), as it relates Floor Area exemptions established in MVMC 20.16.040(A)(1)(b).
Recommended Action: Receive report, conduct a public hearing, introduce the draft ordinance by title only, and waive first reading.
Item 12. Zoning Code Update_260908
Director of Planning and Building Staude presented the item.
Councilmembers asked questions and made deliberative comments.
Mayor Perrey opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Perrey closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Jones to Receive the Report, Conduct a Public Hearing, Introduce the Draft Ordinance Amending Title 20 (“Zoning”) of the Mill Valley Municipal Code (MVMC) to update Single-Family Residential (RS) Zoning District Property Development Regulations (MVMC 20.16.040), as it relates Floor Area exemptions established in MVMC 20.16.040(A)(1)(b), and Waive the First Reading. The motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 7 NEW BUSINESS
13. Authorize City Manager to Provide Financial Assistance for Sewer Improvements on Del Casa Drive; Approval of a Budget Amendment to the Sanitary Fund in an Amount Not to Exceed $75,000.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to provide financial assistance for sewer improvement and approve a budget amendment.
Item 13. Del Casa Sanitary Fund Budget Amendment_260908 City Manager Cusimano presented the item.
Councilmembers asked questions.
Mayor Perrey opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Perrey closed public comment.
Councilmembers made deliberative comments.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Carmel to Authorize the City Manager to Provide Financial Assistance for Sewer Improvements on Del Casa Drive and Approve the Budget Amendment to the Sanitary Fund in an Amount Not to Exceed $75,000. The motion was carried by a 4-0-1 vote, with Mayor Perrey abstaining.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED AT 8:17 P.M.
The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 5:30p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE MILL VALLEY
CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 5, 2026
___________________________
Max Perrey, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk