1 San Anselmo Council Approved Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Call to Order: Optional Pledge of Allegiance
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Tarrell Kullaway (Mayor)
Steve Burdo (Vice Mayor)
Eileen Burke
Yoav Schlesinger
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Chantel Walker
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Donery, Town Manager
Megan Acevedo, Town Attorney
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Heidi Scoble, Planning Director
Jeff Zuba, Finance Director
Sean Condry, Public Works Director
Scott Schneider, Assistant Public Works Director
Will Messinger, Assistant Engineer
Open Time for Public Expression
Mr. Ross Asselstine, San Anselmo Avenue, asked the Council to place the issue regarding the impact to the Redwood trees in Creek Park from proposed flood work on an upcoming agenda.
Ms. Rosanne dalBello was concerned about the impact to the Redwood trees in Creek Park due to the proposed excavation work.
Mr. Guy Meyer discussed environmental impact reviews, the need to do something positive for the environment, and the loss of local control due to recent housing legislation.
Mr. Todd Greenberg urged the Council to obey the laws of the United States and the laws of San Anselmo. He asked Councilmember Burdo to step down from his role as the San Anselmo representative to the Ross Valley Fire Board.
Ms. Eva Cressente discussed the recent election for State Delegates to the Democratic Party.
She saw some irregularities.
Ms. Sue Saunders thanked the staff and Council for enacting climate policies that will lower emissions.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Councilmember Burke reported she attended the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) meeting on February 14th; discussed Resolution #3043, adopted in 1987, which requires rotation of the Council Committee Assignments for the Fire Board and that a member can serve only two years; asked the Council to agendize the following issue: Whether the current County 2 plan adequately protects the Redwood trees in Creek Park The Council supported the request to agendize the issue regarding the Redwood trees.
Councilmember Schlesinger reported he attended the Central Marin Police Authority (CMPA) Board meeting.
Vice Mayor Burdo reported he attended the GPAC meeting; the Climate Action Commission meeting; talked about the feedback he received regarding the recent power outage; attended the Ross Valley Fire Board meeting; talked about a recent article in the Independent Journal that clear up myths about the Ross Fire Station 18 closure; announced that registration for Recreation Department Summer Programs starts tomorrow!
Mayor Kullaway discussed the power outage; attended the MCE meeting.
Town Manager Donery discussed the power outage and the Town’s attempt to notify residents.
The temporary Fire Station (engine bay and living quarters) on Butterfield are up and running.
Town Attorney Acevedo referred to Resolution #3043 and stated this will be on the March 11th Council agenda for discussion.
Special Presentation- none
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approved the Draft Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, January 28, 2025
1.2 Consider to Approve a Special Event Application- Chamber of Commerce Sip n’ Stroll
1.3 Consider Approving the Quarterly Treasurer’s Investment Report, December 2024
1.4 Received and Filed the Revenue and Expenditure Reports for January 2025
1.5 Received and Accepted the Results of the Alternative Compliance Examination Engagement with Maze and Associates for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024
1.6 Consideration of Amended Special Event Application- Teen Battle of the Bands 2025
1.7 Approved Allocating up to $2,500 of Salary Savings from the Climate Action Fund to Support Funding a Climate Mural- A Collaborative Project Between the Climate Action and Arts Commissions Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments Mr. Rene Voss, member of the Open Space Committee and the GPAC, referred to item #1.3 and talked about a donation to the Open Space Committee. He encouraged the Town to stop doing business with banks that invest in fossil fuels.
Mr. Benedetto Cicco, representing the Chamber of Commerce, supported item #1.2.
Mr. Todd Greenberg referred to item #1.3 and #1.4 and stated Finance Director Zuba does a great job. He had questions about several line items in the Revenue and Expenditure Report.
Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Mayor Kullaway stated she would like to pull item #1.3. 3 M/s, Burdo/Burke, Motion to approve Consent Calendar items #1.1, #1.2, #1.4 through #1.7.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway ABSENT: Walker
1.3 Consider Approving the Quarterly Treasurer’s Investment Report, December 2024 Mayor Kullaway stated she received the letter from Mr. Vos and asked if the Town has had a conversation about divesting from fossil fuels. Town Manager Donery stated “no” but the Town works hard to diversify investments. Finance Director Zuba discussed possible investment tools and the Investment Policy.
Mayor Kullaway stated she would like the Council to discuss this issue in the future.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated this should be a broad, holistic conversation M/s, Schlesinger/Burdo, Motion to approve Consent Calendar items #1.3.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway ABSENT: Walker
Public Hearing Items
2.1 Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance Amendments to Title 10 “Planning and Zoning”, Chapter 6 “Accessory Dwelling Units” and associated CEQA Finding Planning Director Scoble presented the staff report. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding a provision about short-term rentals; height limitations and base flood elevations; enforcement actions or penalties for violation of the 30-day rental policy.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments
Mr. Todd Greenberg stated this is a complex issue that should be examined very carefully. He asked about the maximum square footage cited in the staff report.
Mr. Benedetto Cicco asked for clarification on short-term rentals.
Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke stated she would like to know what the Council thinks about the shortterm rental provision.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated short-term rentals do not solve the housing crisis. He is in favor of the prohibition.
Mayor Kullaway stated she would like to discuss the issue of short-term rentals in the future.
M/s, Burke/Schlesinger, Motion to read by title only and waive future readings an Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo Adopting Amendments to Title 10 “Planning and Zoning”, Chapter 6 “Accessory Dwelling Units”, and associated CEQA Exemption Findings.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway ABSENT: Walker
4 Council Business Items
3.1 Approve a Resolution of Intent to Abandon a Portion of a Public Right-of-Way Adjacent to 11 Sunnyside Drive in San Anselmo
Assistant Engineer Massinger presented the staff report. There were no questions from the Council.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments
There were no comments.
Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Schlesinger/Burdo, Motion to Approve Resolution No. 2025-4568 of Intent to Abandon a Portion of a Public Right-of-Way Adjacent to 11 Sunnyside Drive in San Anselmo
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway ABSENT: Walker
3.2 Receive a Presentation of the Downtown Parking Study and Consideration of Recommendations
Assistant Public Works Director Schneider presented the staff report. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding whether the machines are solar powered and work in the dark; time increments for the devices; proposed locations of devices; if staff has thought about a Downtown Resident Program since a lot of people rent in the downtown area; rationale behind the decision to start enforcement at 7:00 a.m.; the farthest someone would have to walk from a parking space to a pay station; if paid parking would only be on San Anselmo Avenue.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments
Mr. Benedetto Cicco expressed concern with the lack of a Police Station in Town. He would like to see more parking enforcement in Town.
Mr. Richard Berkson, Terrace Avenue, referred to recommendation #6, and suggested that parking fines are deposited into the Downtown Parking Fund. The cost of CSO parking enforcement should come from that fund. Active transportation should be added to the list of recommended uses.
Josh, San Rafael Avenue, supported the proposal. He supported the following: would prefer a coin option, privacy and surveillance by vendors should be looked at, there should be an option of paying for the day or a month, the first 15 minutes could be free, it should be easy to increase rates, and the funds should be dedicated to sidewalks and safety for active transportation.
Mr. Frank Gomez thanked staff for the work put into this proposal. He supported it.
Mr. Todd Greenberg stated parking is a concern for everybody. He asked what problem is being solved. He was concerned about the costs.
Ms. Lori Berlinger questioned having paid parking from Ross Avenue to Bolinas Avenue. The meters should be placed where there is priority parking- from Ross Avenue to Tamalpais Avenue.
5 Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke discussed the conflict and difficulties for people who live in the downtown and have cars. She thought the problem that they were trying to solve was to create more turnover of parking in the business area. It is presumed that there is not enough turnover because employees or local residents are in the parking spaces for extended periods of time.
These are the people that they are trying to “move further out”. Meters or stickers would do that for residents. Enforcement is key.
Councilmember Burdo appreciated and supported the recommendations. Parking is a revenue generator.
Mayor Kullaway stated one problem is that some people stay in parking places too long. People are more likely to drive, and not walk or bike, if there is free parking. The funds should pay for active transportation including better sidewalks.
Councilmember Schlesinger was concerned about “nickel and diming” residents that frequent the downtown. Mill Valley has an RSVP Parking Program and he would like staff to look into this system. The machines need to be accessible and a seamless experience.
M/s, Burdo/Schlesinger, Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-4569 for creating a paid parking zone on San Anselmo Avenue.
AYES: Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway
NOES: Burke
ABSENT: Walker
M/s, Schlesinger/Burdo, Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-4570 Adjusting Parking Rates and Fines Associated in the Pine Street Creek Park and Magnolia Avenue Parking Lots.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway ABSENT: Walker
The Council supported the Cosmo units as recommended by staff.
The Council supported the designation of a CSO by the CMPA.
The Council supported the coordination of the Merchant Parking Program by staff as opposed to CMPA.
Councilmember Burdo supported earmarking the net from these funds for active transportation.
Mayor Kullaway stated she would like to add active transportation to the list but not making it exclusive. Councilmember Schlesinger agreed.
Councilmember Burke was not sure about earmarking these funds at this point in time.
The Council took a 5-minute break.
3.3 Receive the Downtown San Anselmo Active Transportation Safety and Circulation Study and Provide Recommendations
Assistant Director Schneider presented the staff report. Staff and the consultant answered questions from the Council regarding daylighting and bike racks; diagonal parking; the costs of raised crosswalks; if weekend cyclists could be directed to an existing bike route; enforcement recommendations; the conditions of the downtown sidewalks; the status of the Building Bridge 2 6 Project and how it would change that area; if any red curbs have been installed for daylighting purposes; if widening sidewalks would leave enough room for two-way car traffic; the best solution to reduce the 40% diversion from the Hub; the cause of crashes in the “high crash corridor”; incidents regarding a pedestrian being hit by a bicycle; if bicycle running stop signs is the biggest danger to safety in this corridor; the balance of the problem vs. the cost for a solution ratio; whether recommendation #1 is already happening; options for traffic calming measures along San Anselmo Avenue; if there is a downside to asking staff to study all the recommendations; options for Cedar Avenue.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments
Mr. Todd Greenberg stated a person riding a bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle is more likely to get hurt than someone driving a car. High incident crash areas could be the result of the design.
Other factors need to be considered such as the timing on stop lights.
Ms. Jennifer Asselstine, San Anselmo Avenue, stated she is not in favor of the one-way system.
Diversions of traffic from San Anselmo Avenue to the smaller streets would cause even more problems. Changing the angled parking across the street makes sense.
A resident supported the near term solutions (signage and striping).
Mr. Richard Berkson appreciated that the Town is getting another dedicated CSO. Arguments could be mode both ways with respect to the sidewalk issue. Calming measures, including reducing the speed limit, could be implemented.
Mr. Philip Gigos stated there is a fundamental disconnect between the problem and the proposed solutions. There should be more enforcement. They need to ask the right questions to get the right answers.
Mr. Benedetto Cicco, representing the Chamber of Commerce, stated he sent a letter to the Council. He opposed widening the sidewalks since it means “one-way”. The “crash” data is deceiving.
Rebecca agreed with Todd, Richard, and Phil. She was not sure there was a problem. Wider sidewalks would be great.
Frank agreed that enforcement is the way to see if there is a problem. He would like a more detailed study.
Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated he would like to see a safer environment for motorist, bicyclist, and pedestrians along the San Anselmo corridor.
Councilmember Burke noted the study told them what they already knew and propose things that they already know they do not want. Residents and merchants do not want a one-way street or a dedicated bike lane. There are ways to increase safety- diverting bikes to Cedar Avenue and slowing the speed on San Anselmo Avenue by the use of speed bumps. She was not sure extra money should go to active transportation (bikes and pedestrians). The short-term solutions are elevated crosswalks and striping. She supported the first five recommendations.
Mayor Kullaway supported daylighting, traffic calming (speed humps or cushions) along Cedar Avenue, a way to slow traffic along San Anselmo Avenue, and widening sidewalks. Driving the 7 downtown corridor is confusing and she would like to make it safer. She would like to see raised crosswalks.
It was the consensus of the Council that it made sense to start with the “low-hanging” fruit and study the other recommendations.
M/s, Burdo/Burke, Motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:37 p.m.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway ABSENT: Walker
Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary