1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Call to Order: Optional Pledge of Allegiance 7:00 PM
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Burdo (Vice Mayor)
Eileen Burke
Yoav Schlesinger
Chantel Walker
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Terrell Kullaway (Mayor)
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
Open Time for Public Expression
Joel commended the Council and staff for a well-run Town and discussed a number of projects.
Mr. Michael Macintosh discussed the proposed Ross Valley School District Tax Measure.
Mr. Todd Greenberg stated the season has started for West Marin Little League and the Parade was awesome. Play Ball! Citizens are concerned about the safety around Rudy Contratti Ball Field.
Mr. Guy Meyer discussed the beauty of Spring time and life itself. There are problems including the housing crisis, climate change, the loss of local control, and the dangers of lithium batteries.
Ms. Rosanne dalBello discussed the problem with removing some of the Redwood tree roots in Creek Park.
Mr. Ford Greene, former Mayor of San Anselmo, had some Brown Act concerns regarding the public posting of agendas and a substantive discussion that occurred at the last meeting regarding an issue that was not on the agenda.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Councilmember Walker reported she attended several events in honor of Women’s History Month; the GPAC meeting; the Climate Action Commission meeting; the infrastructure meeting.
Councilmember Burke reported she attended the GPAC meeting; met with an engineer from the Public Work Department regarding the digital billboard; attended the Marin Democratic Party Zoom meeting on March 6th; the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers 2 (MCCMC) meeting.
Councilmember Schlesinger reported March 11th is National Funeral Directors and Morticians Recognition Day; attended the Economic Development Committee meeting.
Vice Mayor Burdo reported he attended the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) meeting; congratulated Councilmember Walker for her induction into the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame; attended the Elected Women’s Luncheon.
Town Manager Donery reported staff has invited the business community to an Open Discussion Forum on March 25th.
Special Presentation- none
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approval of the Draft Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, February 11, 2025
1.2 Receive a Report on Checks Issued, February 2025
1.3 Receive the Recreation Fund Revenue and Expenditure Reports, February 2025
1.4 Receive and File Resignation of Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee member, Ford Greene
1.5 Adopt Ordinance of the Town of San Anselmo Amending Title 10 “Planning and Zoning”, Chapter 6 “Accessory Dwelling Units” and associated CEQA Findings.
1.6 Consideration Approval of Special Event Application- San Anselmo Arts Commission’s Beatles in the Park Fundraiser 2025
1.7 Authorize the Mayor to have the Town of San Anselmo Joint in the Submission of a coalition letter addressed to the Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee in support of ratepayer-funded energy efficiency program Vice Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments
There were no comments.
Vice Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Burke/Schlesinger, Motion to approve Consent Calendar items #1.1 through #1.7.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Mayor Kullaway
Council Business Items
2.1 Appointment to Ross Valley Fire Board of Directors
Town Manager Donery presented the staff report. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding clarification of Resolution #3043; number of years of service of current representative; if other Councilmembers have expressed interest in being appointed; if the Town is out of compliance with Resolution #3043; the procedure for replacement of a representative; the possibility of a staggered system; if Resolution #3043 has ever been enforced; the impact of 3 changing representation.
Vice Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments
Mr. Michael Macintosh supported the rotation of appointments. The Fire Board is a very important position.
Mr. Tom Finn, Director on the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District and the Ross Valley Fire Board, spoke as an individual. The Ross Valley Fire Department is at a crossroads because of multiple once-in-a-generation projects that are underway simultaneously. The Board requires experienced Directors.
Mr. Todd Greenberg stated it seems that some procedures are not being followed. There could be a dual role with Vice Mayor Burdo serving as an active alternate.
Ms. Carol Page stated each Councilmember has certain interests and skill sets. These are County wide committees that would benefit from diverse and changing memberships. She supported and asked the Council to abide by Resolution #3043.
Mr. Paul Chignell, former Mayor of San Anselmo, stated he was the catalyst for Resolution #3043. The situation today is analogous to what happened 37 years ago with respect to a Councilmember’s continuous request to be a member of the Fire Board. He urged the Council to give Councilmember Burke a seat on the Fire Board.
Mr. Guy Meyer agreed that Councilmember Burke should have a seat on the Fire Board.
Ms. Anna Franzoia stated there is a rule regarding appointments to the Fire Board and it should be followed.
Ms. Katie Hogen, Ms. Rosanne dalBello, Ms. Ann Politzer, stated the Resolution should be followed and Councilmember Burke should assume the position on the Fire Board.
Paul stated the Council should function with neutrality and respect.
Mr. Steve DeMartini stated documents can “slip through the cracks” and he suggested staff look at cleaning up the archives. The Resolution is valid and its enforcement would be the simplest and most ethical plan of action
Mr. Tom Peselka, President of the Ross Valley Firefighters Association, stated the Department has changed significantly since the drafting of Resolution #3043. Stability is needed and should start with the governing body. They do not support a forced, mid-term change in the Fire Board President.
Mr. John Bagler, Union President of the Marin Professional Fire Fighters Local 1775, encouraged the Council to overturn Resolution #3043. It has not been followed and could unnecessarily handcuff the Council.
Mr. Sid Gamate, Vice President of the Ross Valley Firefighters Association, stated Fire Department personnel need consistency, stability, and sound leadership at the Board level. It would negatively impact the department to rotate the Fire Board member.
Victor stated he would like to see a coming together to make this work in a fair and equitable way.
4 Vice Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke discussed the intent of Resolution #3043, her desire and qualifications for the Fire Board position, and the importance of rotating positions.
Councilmember Schlesinger cited eight reasons why this is a bad idea. He supported stability.
Councilmember Walker stated the Fire Department is at a delicate moment. She believes in fairness and that every law on the books is not the right law. She would like to put Resolution #3043 on pause until the Council has the opportunity to discuss the resolution put forth by Councilmember Burke.
Town Attorney Acevedo stated formal action would need to be taken to modify or repeal an existing resolution.
Vice Mayor Burdo clarified some issues and discussed the current work of the Fire Board. He noted he would abstain from any vote taken tonight.
Councilmember Walker made a motion to continue this item and look at all the committees together. The motion died for lack of a second.
Councilmember Burke made a motion to remove Vice Mayor Burdo from the seat on the Fire Board. This motion died for lack of a second.
M/s, Schlesinger/Walker, Motion that given the lack of a full Town Council tonight and the recusal of Vice Mayor Burdo they defer this to a point in time where they might have a larger consensus for the approval and enforcement of this resolution and be able to consider it to Council member Walker’s previous suggestion in the larger context.
AYES: Schlesinger, Walker
NOES: Burke
ABSTAIN: Vice Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Mayor Kullaway
The Council took a 5-minute break at 9:14 p.m.
The Council reconvened in the Council Chambers at 9:20 p.m.
2.2 Receive and File the Department of Public Works Update Public Works Director Condry presented the staff report. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding possible changed to projects; if the flood horn could be activated on a different day and time; if a different type of alert system could be used; how to better inform the public about emergencies; previous CDBG allocations and how to convey the Town’s needs.
Vice Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments
Mr. Todd Greenberg asked if the Municipal Code has requirements for road repairs after work is done by utilities companies. He had questions about Road Impact Fees and whether solar deployment is being encouraged. He had suggestions regarding enhanced sidewalk assistance for seniors, quarterly reports about grants, and consideration of hybrids rather than EV vehicles.
Vice Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
The Council thanked the Public Works Department staff for the report and the great work! 5 M/s, Walker/Burke, Motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:39 p.m.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Mayor Kullaway
Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary