1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Call to Order: Optional Pledge of Allegiance
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Burdo (Mayor)
Eileen Burke
Tarrell Kullaway
Yoav Schlesinger
Chantel Walker (Vice Mayor, attending remotely)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Donery, Town Manager
Linda Kenton, Assistant Town Manager & Town Librarian
Megan Acevedo, Town Attorney
Jeff Zuba, Finance and Admin Services Director
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Dan Mahoney, Ross Valley Fire Chief
Open Time for Public Expression
Ms. Raven Twilling, representing Marin County Tobacco Prevention Program, spoke on behalf of the Youth Advocacy Committee about preventing nicotine addiction and reducing the harm caused by the tobacco industry.
Ms. Melissa Walstrom, Board member of the Archie Williams Falcon Foundation, discussed nicotine use at the high school.
Ms. Kelsey Fernandez discussed the tobacco industry and the efforts in Marin County to stop the sale of tobacco and nicotine products.
Mr. Jeremiah Mock stated there is a vaping crisis in Marin County and the numbers are stunning. These products should not be sold and accessibility should be eliminated.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Councilmember Kullaway stated she attended the Infrastructure Monitoring Committee meeting; the Sorich Park Connector will be open to bikes next weekend.
Councilmember Burke reported she did not attend any meetings and had no reports.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated he attended the Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting; it is the Birthday of Cole Porter, Les Paul, Dick Vitale, and Michael J. Fox.
Vice Mayor Walker reported she participated in the Infrastructure Monitoring Committee meeting; the Cal Cities Revenue and Taxation Committee meeting; she would like to discuss Council representation on the Mosquito and Vector Control District at an upcoming meeting. 2 Mayor Burdo reported he participated in Vivalon’s Champions Week; the Teen Battle of the Bands was amazing; Live on the Avenue will be awesome!
Town Manager Donery reported the EDC meeting was very informative. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Resilience Hub has been postponed to a date in July. Construction on the final phase of the Hillsdale Pocket Park started this week and should take approximately four weeks. The San Anselmo World Cup 2026 Event will start this Friday on Courts #1 and #2.
There was a watermain break on Tunstead last Wednesday afternoon. The Public Works Department, Fire Department, Central Marin Police Department, and MMWD responded quickly.
Special Presentation
There were no Special Presentations.
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approved the Draft Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 26, 2026
1.2 Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4622 Calling an Election to fill two seats on the San Anselmo Town Council, one seat for Town Clerk, and one seat for Town Treasurer to be Held and Consolidate with the General Municipal Election scheduled for November 3, 2026 and requesting that the Marin County Registrar of Voters Conduct the Election
1.3 Adopted various Resolutions, Establishing Town of San Anselmo Fiscal Year 2026/27 Tax Rates for Municipal Services Tax -Resolution No. 2026-4623, Pension Override Tax - Resolution No. 2026-4624, Measure G Debt Service Tax -Resolution No. 2026-4625, Special Library Services Tax -Resolution No. 2026-4626, and Ross Valley Paramedic Tax -Resolution No. 2026-4627
1.4 Received and Filed the Community Development Department Fiscal Year 2025/26 Q3 Report (January-March)
1.5 Approved the Professional Services Agreement for Town’s Provision of Financial and Treasurer Services to the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
1.6 Accepted the Library/HVAC and Interior Refresh Project and Authorized Staff to File a Notice of Completion
1.7 Received and Filed Reports of Checks Issued, May 2026 Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Kullaway/Schlesinger, Motion to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Council Business Items
2.1 Adopt Resolution Calling and Giving Notice of the Holding of an Election to be Held on November 3, 2026 and Requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Marin to Consolidate said Election; and authorize the Town Clerk or their duly authorized officers 3 and agency to carry out all the necessary procedures for said election submitting to the voters the question regarding the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority Four-Year Special Parcel Tax for Tax Cycle 2027-2031
Ross Valley Fire Chief Mahoney presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation including: 1) Renewal of the Parcel Tax Measures; 2) Next Tax Cycle and Timeline; 3) Tax Rates; 4) Equal Service = Equal Tax; 5) Recommendation. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding who is responsible for drafting the ballot language; the fiscal impact; who is more likely to need paramedic services (residential or non-residential).
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Burke/Walker, Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 2026-4628 Calling an Election for Voters to Consider Approval of the Measure Authorizing the Continuation of a Special Parcel Tax for the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo
2.2 Receive the Proposed Draft Fiscal Year 2026/27 Town Budget and Workplan and Provide Feedback on the Proposed Draft Fiscal Year 2026/27 Budget Finance Officer Zuba presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included: 1) Proposed 2026-2027 General Fund Budget and Work Plan; 2) FY 2025/2026 Current Year Close; 3) Overview of FY 2026/2027 Proposed Budget; 4) General Fund Budget Highlights; 5) Revenue Summary; 6) Expenditure Summary; 7) Special Revenue/Capital Projects Fund; 8) Five Year Financial Forecast; 9) Recommendation. Staff answered questions regarding whether the money set aside in Reserves to repair Building Bridge 2 is now allocated to renovation to the park; assumptions built in for Property and Sales Tax Revenue projections and the risks for getting it wrong; the levers put in place to balance the budget and when they are used; the Climate Action Commission (CAC) budget; if there is a sustainable amount of additional funds that could go to the CAC; would funding look different if staff reconstituted the budget from zero and did not look at historical trends.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
Mr. Jeremiah Mock congratulated the Council for the “well run ship”.
Michael supported funding for climate action and would like to see an increase.
Ms. Alexis Fineman asked if the Town is funding the right things for the outcomes they care most about. She would like to see an increase in the CAC Budget.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Mayor Burdo would like to see an examination of the CAC Budget and an analysis of what more could be done. He would support putting the $25,000 back in. The Public Safety increases are the biggest part of the budget and are necessary.
Councilmember Kullaway stated the CAC Budget was not intended to be “use it or lose it”.
There is no shortage of worthwhile climate projects.
4 Councilmember Burke stated she has no problem allocating more money to the CAC fund but it should be project based. Residents using Town facilities and parks has a huge impact on climate.
Vice Mayor Walker supported keeping the climate fund level. She supports this budget.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated the climate action piece seems to be a messaging problem vs. an actual problem. Reserve funds are available for CAC use for projects as well as Measure K funds. They need to fund the things that residents care about- permits are processed, roads are maintained, parks are nice, and first responders come when they are called.
It was the consensus of the Council to restore the CAC budget to last fiscal year’s figures.
The Council took a 5-minute break at 8:41 p.m.
The Council reconvened in the Council Chambers at 8:46 p.m.
2.3 Receive an Introduction of the Proposed General Fund Reserve Policy and Provide Direction on the Proposed General Fund Reserve Policy
Finance Director Zuba presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included:
1) General Fund Reserve Policy; 2) Opening and Purpose; 3) Background; 4) Resolution No. 3962; 5) Resolution No. 4474; 5) Proposed Policy; 6) Scope of Changes; 7) General Fund Reserve History; 8) Peer Comparison; Marin County Jurisdictions; 9) Infrastructure and Fiscal Monitoring Committee (IFMC) Review and Recommendation; 10) Recommendation. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding whether a Council Resolution would be required to move funds from the Reserve; is there a policy in place to prevent this from happening; the value of an aspiration goal in a policy document; if Section 4 of the policy is in any way restrictive; are there scenarios that would fall outside of the four areas listed in Section 4.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke stated she liked the structure of the policy and she supported it. Growth in the Reserve allows the Town to do some big projects.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated this is a well thought-out policy.
2.4 Receive Introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Acceptable Use Policy and Provide Direction on the Proposed AI Acceptable Use Policy
Finance Director Zuba presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included:
1) Introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Acceptable Use Policy; 2) Background and Why Now; 3) Current AI Tools in San Anselmo; 4) Policy Overview; 5) Guiding Principles; 6) Roles and Responsibilities; 7) Governance and Annual Review; 8) Exceptions Process; 9) Acceptable and Prohibited Uses; 10) Procurement, Training and Governance; 11) Peer Alignment; 12) Next Steps; 13) Recommendation. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding how staff is determining the risk level of a tool; how is staff ensuring that all of prompts are recorded and kept on file in terms of a Public Records Request; if it is a burden to give the “grey area” discretion solely to the Town Manager; will this use be required by employees; does the policy address the replacement of employees; how much data is being captured regarding cars and 5 license plates and how long is it kept; how the process will be audited in terms of fairness and equity.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
Mr. Jeremiah Mock encouraged the Council to rely on other institutions including the University of California.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Vice Mayor Walker supported the policy, it is good governance.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated the following should be deleted from the Roles and Responsibilities Section: “Final approvals for medium and high risk tools…”. Assignment of risk for AI tools is a very complicated process. He discussed the principles that should be included in the policy.
Councilmember Burke supported the policy and hoped the Town had the capacity to implement it.
Councilmember Kullaway stated an annual audit was very important.
Mayor Burdo thanked Councilmember Schlesinger for bringing this forward. He is not in favor of replacing human employees with AI. A statement to this effect could be included in the preamble.
Public Hearing
2.5 Accept and File the Annual Report on Staff Vacancies, Recruitment and Retention Efforts as Required by AB 2561
Finance Director Zuba presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included:
1) AB 2561 Compliance Presentation; 2) Background; 3) AB 2561 Summary; 4) Current Staffing; 5) Recruitment Highlights; 6) Retention Strategies; 7) Ongoing Challenges; 8) Looking Ahead; 9) Recommendation. Staff answered a question from the Council regarding whether staff collects the voluntary disclosures of gender, race, and disability status of applicants.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Being no further business to conduct the meeting was adjourned at 9:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary