1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Interviews for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee - 6:41 PM Council interviewed Adam Smith and Jamie Mackie.
Call to Order: Optional Pledge of Allegiance – 7:00 PM
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Burdo (Mayor)
Chantel Walker (Vice Mayor)
Eileen Burke
Yoav Schlesinger
Tarrell Kullaway
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Donery, Town Manager
Linda Kenton, Assistant Town Manager
Megan Acevedo, Town Attorney
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Heidi Scoble, Planning Director
Sean Condry, Public Works Director
Will Messinger, Assistant Engineer
Marc Matundan, Assistant Engineer
Open Time for Public Expression
There was no Public Comment.
Mayor Burdo closed public comment.
Special Presentation
Mayor Steve Burdo read a proclamation recognizing Georgia Stahl-Ricco and Griff Roberts on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
Council requests for future agenda items
Councilmember Schlesinger reported on the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement Committee meeting and the Transportation Authority of Marin meetings, giving updates.
Councilmember Walker reported on the Marin County Mayor and City Councilmembers meeting.
Councilmembers Burke and Kullaway reported that they had no updates for committee meetings.
Mayor Burke reported on the San Anselmo softball opening ceremony.
Assistant Town Manager Kenton mentioned the library will be closed March 16-21, with a soft opening for the library on March 23.
2 1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approved the Draft Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 24, 2026
1.2 Received and Filed Report of Checks Issued, February 2026
1.3 Approved the Bidding Process for Isabel Cook Community Center (ICC) Exterior Paint
1.4 Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4610 to Define the Membership for the San Anselmo Arts Commission
1.5 Approved the Town of San Anselmo Downtown Hanging Flower Basket Funding Request
1.6 Considered and Approved a Special Event Application – Sip n’ Stroll Fundraiser 2026
1.7 Received and Accepted the Results of the Alternative Compliance Examination Engagement Mayor Burdo opened the consent agenda for public comment.
There was no Public Comment
Mayor Burdo closed the consent agenda for public comment.
Councilmember Schlesinger requested to pull item 1.5.
M/s, Walker/Schlesinger, Motion to approve items 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.7 from the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Kullaway, Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo NOES: None
Councilmember Schlesinger expressed concerns about the Flower Basket program and it’s sustainability.
M/s, Burke/Walker, Motion to approve item 1.5 from the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Kullaway, Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Council Business Items
2.1 Receive Report on Sorich Park Goat Grazing Monitoring Results. The Town filed a Notice of Exemption for the Sorich Park and Hawthorne Canyon Prescribed Grazing Project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4, for minor alterations to land, and Section 15301, Class 1, for Existing Facilities.
Public Works Director Condry and Assistant Engineer Will Messinger presented the staff report.
Jacob Dadman from Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority also gave a presentation via PowerPoint highlighting the effectiveness of goat grazing for fire prevention measures. Rachel Cardona from Sequoia Ecological Consulting also gave a PowerPoint presentation on the monitoring of the goat grazing program.
Mayor Burdo asked about how trees are protected during the grazing and affected riparian areas, as well as the timing of the program.
3 Councilmember Burke asked about the need to monitor the grazing each year.
Councilmember Schlesinger noted how expensive the monitoring program is versus the actual goat grazing program.
Vice Mayor Walker asked about the transit areas for the goats.
Mayor Burke opened the item for public comment.
Renee Voss made public comment and had a PowerPoint slide regarding the grazing program, highlighting concerns with erosion and tree protection.
Johnathan Braun made a comment to highlight the progress of the goat grazing program.
Mayor Burke closed Public Comment.
Councilmember Burke noted that Mr. Voss’ suggestions were well-received and asked about the timing of the program. She also expressed concerns about the cost of the monitoring.
Mayor Burke expressed gratitude to town staff for their work. He also mentioned that he hoped that this would be brought to the Open Space Committee as well.
The Council provided the following suggestions for staff:
Mayor Burdo closed the item.
2.2 Introduction of the Draft General Plan 2045 and Request for Town Council Review and Direction. Review and discussion of the Draft General Plan is not a "project" under CEQA Community Development Director Scoble and Bob Brown, a consultant with the Town, gave a presentation of the draft General Plan a PowerPoint was used. Staff answered questions about cost, the relevance of the DEIB audit, incorporating new comments and suggestions, and the circulation plan.
Mayor Burdo opened the item for public comment.
Robin from the Racial Equity Committee and the General Plan Committee came and spoke in support of the audit of the DEIB portion of the general plan.
Johnathan Braun spoke about the Land Use element.
Renee Voss spoke in support of the DEIB audit within the General Plan. He also spoke to the importance of conservation efforts.
Mayor Burke closed Public Comment.
Councilmember Kullaway expressed concern about some discrepancies within the circulation plan.
Councilmember Schlesinger highlighted the number of action items, and expressed support of the DEIB audit.
4 Councilmember Burke expressed some reservations about proceeding with the DEIB audit, noting that she did not feel it was necessary at this time.
Councilmember Walker expressed gratitude for the work towards the general plan.
Mayor Burdo expressed gratitude for the work done on the general plan.
The Council provided feedback on the implementation matrices and directed staff to proceed with a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) audit to evaluate the General Plan 2045 polices, programs, and implementation actions address equity considerations prior to adoption.
The Town Council took a break at 9:24 PM.
The Town Council reconvened in the Council Chambers at 9:35 PM.
Public Hearing
2.3 Public Hearing to Adopt an Ordinance to Repeal Title 9, Chapter 23, Sales of Residential Property: Reports of Residential Building Records. The proposed Ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the “common sense” exemption, CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
Community Development Director Scoble outlined the previous discussions with Town Council, fiscal impacts, and impact on policy regarding the resale program. She also answered questions about potential options moving forward for the resale program.
Mayor Burdo opened the item for public comment.
A citizen on Floribel Ave. expressed interest in having a program where people can obtain accurate and identifying information about homes.
Johnathan Braun spoke out against repealing the resale program to maintain continuity within the community.
A realtor expressed his gratitude for staff’s efforts to improve efficiency within the Permit Department.
A realtor spoke out in support of removing the resale program.
Mayor Burdo closed the item for public comment.
M/s, Schlesinger/Kullaway, Motion to Read the proposed Ordinance by Title only to Repeal Title 9, Chapter 23, Sales of Residential Property: Reports of Residential Building Records. The proposed Ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the “common sense” exemption, CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
AYES: Kullaway, Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo NOES: None
M/s, Schlesinger/Kullaway, Motion to Adopt an Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo by Title only and to Waive Future Readings in Its Entirety Repealing Title 9, Chapter 23, Sales of Residential Property: Reports of Residential Building Records. The proposed Ordinance is exempt from review under the California 5 Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the “common sense” exemption, CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
AYES: Kullaway, Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo NOES: None
Council Business Items
2.4 Receive an Update on an Easement for Sorich Park Pedestrian Trail Alternative. Find the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (14 CCR § 15301).
Assistant Engineer Matundan gave a presentation on the progress of the conversion of Sorich Trail to Multi-Modal. He also answered questions about floating easements, locations of property lines, fiscal impacts, CEQA qualifications, and access.
Mayor Burdo opened the item for Public Comment.
Renee Voss spoke about access and questioned the scope of the project.
Mayor Burdo closed Public Comment.
Councilmember Burke noted that accommodations should be made for easier access.
Vice Mayor Walker supported the efforts to convert the trail.
Mayor Burdo expressed his support for the project and agreed with previous comments made.
2.5 Appoint One Voting Member to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Appointing volunteers to serve on a committee is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not involve an activity that has the potential to cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable physical change in the environment. (Cal. Pub. Res. Code Section 21065).
Town Clerk Avila gave a report on making one appointment to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
There was no questions from the Town Council.
Mayor Burdo opened the item Public Comment.
There was no Public Comment.
Mayor Burdo closed Public Comment.
Vice Mayor Walker offered her endorsement for Mr. Smith.
Councilmember Schlesinger offered her endorsement for Mr. Smith.
Councilmember Kullaway offered her endorsement for Mr. Smith.
Mayor Burke also offered his endorsement to Mr. Smith.
M/s, Walker/Burke, Motion to appoint Adam Smith to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory 6 Committee.
AYES: Kullaway, Burke, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo NOES: None
Being no further business to discuss, Mayor Burdo adjourned the meeting at 10:23 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Serge Avila
Town Clerk