1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
7:00 PM 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
Megan Acevedo, Town Attorney
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Heidi Scoble, Community Development Director
Lindsey Klein, Principal Planner
Scott Schneider, Assistant Public Works Director
Linda Kenton, Town Librarian
Mattie O’Grady, Recreation Director
Open Time for Public Expression
Sue Saunders supported Cal Green Tier 1 building policies and is disappointed they were not adopted by the Council.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Councilmember Burdo reported he attended the Ross Valley Fire Board meeting; the “Reach for the Stars” gala; the Town Parade.
Councilmember Walker reported she attended the Town Parade; the “Sprit of Marin” Awards Ceremony will be held this Friday.
Councilmember Burke reported she attended Comedy Night; next weekend is the last “Live on the Avenue” event.
Councilmember Schlesinger reported it is National Voter Registration Day; it is Rosh Hashanah and he wished everyone a Happy New Year; he discussed the events of the last week with respect to national politics and he thanked the San Anselmo community for coming together to solve local issues.
Mayor Kullaway reported she attended the MCCMC Legislative Committee meeting.
Town Manager Donery reported staff received an application for the Anniversary of Creek Park Celebration but neglected to place it on tonight’s Council agenda. He asked the Council for permission to administratively approve the application and then bring it to the Council for formal approval at the next meeting. The event is scheduled for October 12th. It was the consensus of the Council to support this process.
2 Special Presentation
Proclamation Honoring Juan Olsen Sanchez for his 36 Years of Service to the San Anselmo Community.
Recreation Director O’Grady presented Mr. Sanchez with a Proclamation honoring him for 36 years of service to San Anselmo.
Members of the community thanked Mr. Sanchez.
Mr. Sanchez thanked the Council for the Proclamation and the community for its support.
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approve the Draft Minutes of the Regular Town Council Meeting of September 9, 2025
1.2 Receive and File the Financial Report on Recreation Fund ending August 31, 2025
1.3 Receive and File Revenue and Expenditure Reports, August 2025
1.4 Adopt a Proclamation Declaring National Friends of Libraries Week in San Anselmo, October 19-25, 2025
1.5 Approve Notice of Completion for Isabel Cook Community Center Reroof
1.6 Approved Resolution No. 2025-4596 Amending the Master Fee Schedule for the Town of San Anselmo
Councilmember Burdo wanted to pull item #1.1.
Councilmember Walker wanted to pull item #1.4
M/s, Walker/Burke, Motion to approve Consent Calendar items #1.2, #1.3, #1.5, and #1.6.
AYES: Burdo, Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Mayor Kullaway
1.1 Approve the Draft Minutes of the Regular Town Council Meeting of September 9, 2025 Councilmember Burdo was concerned about the misspelling of names in the minutes.
M/s, Burke/Schlesinger, Motion to approve Consent Calendar item #1.1.
AYES: Burke, Schlesinger, Walker
ABSTAIN: Burdo, Mayor Kullaway
1.4 Adopt a Proclamation Declaring National Friends of Libraries Week in San Anselmo, October 19-25, 2025
Councilmember Walker thanked the Library volunteers.
M/s, Walker/Burke, Motion to approve Consent Calendar item #1.4.
AYES: Burdo, Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Mayor Kullaway 3 Council Business Items
2.1 Review and Approve the Age & Disability Friendly Steering Committee Operational Guidelines
Recreation Director O’Grady presented the staff report. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding whether residents have expressed interest; if quarterly meetings would be sufficient; if staff envisioned the formation of ad hoc committees; budget implications; key issues that the committee will deal with.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments.
Mr. Pat Townsley thanked the Council for repealing the paid parking on San Anselmo Avenue.
Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Walker stated she would like to see a report on the Action Plan and associated costs in the near future.
Mayor Kullaway stated this is a priority.
M/s, Walker/Burdo, Motion to approve the Age & Disability Friendly Steering Committee Operational Guidelines.
AYES: Burdo, Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Mayor Kullaway
2.2 Consultant Contract for the Brookside Elementary School Sidewalk Gap Closure Project Phase 2 and 3
Assistant Director Schneider presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included the following: 1) Brookside Elementary School Sidewalk Gap Closure Project, Phases 2 & 3); 2) Scope; 3) Budget; 4) Schedule; 5) Original Phase 1 Scope; 6) Phase 2- SFD to Rosemont Avenue; 7) Phase 3- Butterfield Road- Rosemont Avenue to Carlson Avenue. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding the contract and if the original design included all three phases; a suggestion made regarding one of the intersections; the timeline and if it would be possible to move the schedule up a bit; if the budget numbers are “not to exceed” numbers; the cost of meetings.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Mayor Kullaway stated it would be great to have the project completed before school starts.
Town Attorney Acevedo stated Mayor Kullaway should recuse herself from this item since she lives with the 500 foot radius of the project.
Mayor Kullaway left the dais. Vice Mayor Burdo asked for a motion.
M/s, Walker/Burke, Motion to approve Consultant Contract for the Brookside Elementary School Sidewalk Gap Closure Project Phase 2 and 3.
AYES: Burdo, Burke, Schlesinger, Walker
RECUSED: Mayor Kullaway
4 Mayor Kullaway returned to the dais.
2.3 Review the Draft Land Use Map for the General Plan Update Community Development Director Scoble and Principal Planner Klein presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included the following: 1) General Plan Update Process; 2) Land Use Changes; 3) Related Policies; 4) Phase 1: Setting Priorities; 5) Phase 2: Gather Information; 6) Phase 3: Alternatives & Draft Goals; 7) Phase 4: Draft the General Plan and EIR; 8) Community Input to Date; 9) Draft Land Use Map; 10) Feedback on the Map; 11) Land Use Map- Major Changes, Complementary Policies; 12) Residential Hillside Regulations Clean-Up; 13) Open Space Designation; 14) School Site Designation; 15) Central Commercial Density; 16) Reserve Areas; 17) Next Meetings; 18) Discussion. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding the timing of the Hillside Regulations; the “no net loss” law; the number of lots that will receive Open Space designations; the possibility of designating school sites for housing; the 40 units per acre designation and where the lots are located; the implications for housing with respect to the Reserve areas.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Mayor Kullaway stated she was looking forward to seeing the goals.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated the map does not need further refinement.
The Council thanked staff for the great work!
Public Hearing Item
3.1 Public Hearing to Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title 10 (Planning and Zoning) to Update Conditional Use Permit Regulations and Replace Nonconforming Uses and Improvements Regulations with New Article on Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots; CEQA Exemption Findings
Community Development Director Scoble presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included the following: 1) Zoning Ordinance Amendments: Nonconforming Uses and Improvements and Conditional Use Permits; 2) Purpose; 3) Background; 4) Current Policies; 5) Proposed Policies; 6) CUP’s; 7) Nonconforming Uses and Improvements; 8) General Plan Consistency; 9) CEQA and Climate Action Plan (CAP) Consistency; 10) Staff Recommendations. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding the subjective wording in Section G; the definition of “offices”; if a CUP can be carried to a new location; the potential impact of these changes; the baseline definition for “economic vitality”; the revocation process; if expirations could have a fixed term such as three-years; if the 75% threshold applies to the interior only; Section 10.3.1307 regarding the lapse; expiration of Temporary Use Permits; if there is a table identifying permitted land uses in Zoning Districts; if there have been any recent requests for a Conditional Use Permit in the downtown area; outreach to property owners in the C-2 Zone.
Mayor Kullaway opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
5 Mayor Kullaway closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke stated she was of two-minds about offices in the downtown. She was concerned about restricting what owners can do with his or her property, a time limit for Conditional Use Permits, and how the decision is made about what is and is not permitted.
There could be more objectivity written into the ordinance.
Councilmember Walker stated she would like to receive quarterly reports on the impact of implementing these changes. She would also like to educate the potential users.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated he is not prepared to take action until staff does a specific and targeted outreach to landlords and property owners in the C-2 District.
Mayor Kullaway stated she is concerned with the six month vs. 90 day component.
Councilmember Burdo agreed. He noted there were two places where it should say “Community Development Director or designee”.
It was the consensus of the Council to continue this item to a future date.
M/s, Burke/Walker, Motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:18 p.m. in memory of Mr. Bob Burdo, father of Vice Mayor Burdo.
AYES: Burdo, Burke, Schlesinger, Walker, Mayor Kullaway Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary