1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Call to Order: Optional Pledge of Allegiance
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Tarrell Kullaway (Mayor)
Steve Burdo (Vice Mayor)
Eileen Burke
Yoav Schlesinger
Chantel Walker
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Donery, Town Manager
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Emily Longfellow, Town Attorney
Heidi Scoble, Community Development Director
Lindsey Klein, Principal Planner
Mattie O’Grady, Parks and Recreation Director
Jeff Zuba, Finance and Admin Srvs. Director
Robert Bastianon, Senior Fire Inspector
Open Time for Public Expression
Mr. Ross Asselstine discussed the Flood Zone 9 Budget, the lack of FEMA guidance, and the potential for multiple lawsuits.
Mr. Jackson Dobronyi, Assistant Planner for the Town of San Anselmo and proud member of the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 (SEIU- Si, Se Puede!), Public Works Department employee Samir Chavez, Library employee Ms. Jenny Wasky, Public Works Department employee Chris, Public Works Engineer Matthew Ferrer, Public Works Department employee Jordan Wright, Town employee Vincent Lim, and Public Works employee Kurt Reis discussed the on-going labor negotiations and asked for a fair contract.
Ms. Dawn Jones, Town employee, discussed the amount covered by the Town for retirement (post-employment) health care.
Mr. Jonas Vaughan (and daughter Marlow who attends Creekside Pre-School), Ms. Kyle Ansler, an individual who lives on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, and Ms. Sue Saunders, spoke in favor of a fair contract for Town employees.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Vice Mayor Burdo reported he attended the Memorial Park Subcommittee meeting; the Town’s Volunteer Appreciation event; the Central Marin Police Authority Board meeting; the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) meeting; will attend tomorrow night’s Fire Board meeting; attended the Sip and Stroll event; would like the Council to discuss the timing of the Flood Horn.
Town Manager Donery stated that is on his list of items to bring to the Council.
Councilmember Burke reported she attended the Council retreat; the Memorial Park Clean-Up 2 event; the recent Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) dinner; the Memorial Park Master Plan meeting; the GPAC meeting.
Councilmember Walker reported she attended the Volunteer Social event; the MCCMC meeting; the Children for Change event; the Electric Car Show; the Council Retreat; she discussed the Tax Rebate Program.
Councilmember Schlesinger reported it was Stevie Wonder’s 75th Birthday; he attended the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting.
Mayor Kullaway reported she attended the Meet Your Mayor event on April 27th; the MCCMC meeting; the MCCMC Legislative Committee meeting; the Town Volunteer Party; the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting; discussed the Ross Valley Chapter Local Team focused on making biking and walking safer; will throw out the first pitch at “San Anselmo Day” at an upcoming Pacific’s Baseball games; she had a future item request- an accounting of the Active Transportation Fund. The Council supported this request.
Special Presentation
There were no Special Presentations.
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approved the Draft Minutes of the Town Council Regular Meeting of April 22, 2025, and the
Draft Minutes of the Special Meeting of April 25, 2025
1.2 Received a Report of Checks Issued for the Month of April 2025
1.3 Received and Filed the Marin Sanitary 2024 Annual Report
1.4 Received and Filed the San Anselmo 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report
1.5 Received and Filed the Final 2025-27 Priorities Work Plan Mayor Kullaway opened the Public Comment.
Ms. Sue Saunders referred to item #1.4 and stated she was disappointed the Town will not be receiving a report from the Climate Commission
Mayor Kullaway closed the Public Comment.
Mayor Kullaway stated she would like to pull items #1.3 and #1.4 for discussion.
M/s, Burdo/Walker, Motion to approve Consent Calendar items #1.1, #1.2, and #1.5.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway
1.3 Receive and File the Marin Sanitary 2024 Annual Report Mayor Kullaway stated she must recuse herself from voting on this item.
M/s, Walker/Burdo, Motion to approve Consent Calendar item #1.3.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo
RECUSE: Mayor Kullaway
3 1.4 Receive and File the San Anselmo 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report Mayor Kullaway stated this item merits discussion.
The Council discussed whether or not to receive the report tonight and then discuss it at a future meeting.
M/s, Schlesinger/Walker, Motion to approve Consent Calendar items #1.4 and bring it back for discussion at a future meeting.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway
2. Public Hearing Items
2.1 Public Hearing to Adopt an Ordinance to Repeal Title 9, Chapter 4, Undergrounding Electric and Communications Laterals to Buildings and Structures Community Development Director Scoble presented a staff report and a PowerPoint presentation. Staff answered a question from the Council regarding whether there is a fiscal impact to the Town.
Mayor Kullaway opened the Public Comment.
Mr. Adrian McNeal supported the adoption of the ordinance. Regulations increase the cost of building.
Mayor Kullaway closed the Public Comment.
Councilmember Burke stated the magnitude of the impact from this requirement is high- she was contacted by a resident who cancelled a project due to the cost of undergrounding.
M/s, Burdo/Walker, Motion to read the attached Ordinance by title only.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway M/s, Burdo/Walker, Motion to approve the first reading and waive future readings of an ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo Repealing in its entirety Title 9, Building Regulations, Chapter 4, Underground Electric and Communications Service, Laterals to Building or Structures and making associated CEQA exemption findings.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway
2.2 Adopt Ordinance Amendments to Title 10 “Planning and Zoning”, Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the Municipal Code and the Zoning Map for Housing Element Implementation and Compliance with State Law
Principal Planner Klein presented a staff report and a PowerPoint presentation. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding how units are counted toward the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) number; how the parking requirements are changing; parking requirements for single-family dwellings above and below 150 feet of elevation.
Mayor Kullaway opened the Public Comment.
There were no comments.
Mayor Kullaway closed the Public Comment.
4 Councilmember Walker stated it was important for the public to understand the progress that is being made with respect to the Housing Element.
Councilmember Burke stated the Town will probably need to amend the Over-Night Parking Ordinance in the near future.
M/s, Walker/Burke, Motion to read the attached Ordinance by title only.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor M/s, Schlesinger/Burke, Motion to Adopt an Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo Amending Title 10 “Planning and Zoning”, Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the Municipal Code and the Zoning Map to Implement the 2023 to 2031 San Anselmo Housing Element to Comply with State Law and Making Associated CEQA Exemption Findings.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway
2.3 Public Hearing and Adoption of an Ordinance Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Area
Ross Valley Fire Inspector Bastianon presented a staff report. There were no questions from the Council.
Mayor Kullaway opened the Public Comment.
There were no comments.
Mayor Kullaway closed the Public Comment.
M/s, Burdo/Walker, Motion to Adopt Ordinance No. 2025-1189 Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Area.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway
3. Council Business Items
3.1 Adopt a Resolution to Nominate Sorich Ranch Park and Faude Park as Two Priority Conservation Areas and Authorize Submission to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
Principal Planner Klein presented a staff report and a PowerPoint presentation. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding why these conservation areas were created, and if there are any downsides.
Mayor Kullaway opened the Public Comment.
There were no comments.
Mayor Kullaway closed the Public Comment.
M/s, Walker/Schlesinger, Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 4580 to Nominate Sorich Ranch Park and Faude Park as Two Priority Conservation Areas and Authorize Submission to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Vice Mayor Burdo, Mayor Kullaway 5 With no further business to discuss, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:43 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary