1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Interviews for the Infrastructure and Fiscal Monitoring Committee- 6:20 p.m.
The Council interviewed Marie Henrio, Stan Radtke, Ahmed Abu Aly Call to Order: Optional Pledge of Allegiance
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Burdo (Mayor)
Chantel Walker (Vice Mayor)
Eileen Burke
Tarrell Kullaway
Yoav Schlesinger
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Donery, Town Manager
Megan Acevedo, Town Attorney
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Heidi Scoble, Community Development Director
Jackson Dobronyi, Associate Planner
Jeff Zuba, Finance Director
Scott Schneider, Asst. Public Works Director
Linda Kenton, Town Librarian
Open Time for Public Expression
There were no comments.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Vice Mayor Walker reported she attended the Live on the Avenue Event on Friday; the Ross Valley Fire Authority meeting; the ABAG general meeting; the MCE meeting.
Councilmember Burke reported she attended the Ross Valley Fire Authority Board meeting; Live on the Avenue.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated he attended the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) meeting; Live on the Avenue; today is National Public Service Day (Si Se Puede!) Councilmember Kullaway stated she had nothing to report.
Mayor Burdo reported he attended the Marin LAFCO meeting; the Resilence Hub Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, July 17th at 5:00 p.m.; Live on the Avenue was awesome!
Special Presentation
2 Mayor’s Proclamation Recognizing Gene Ng for His Outstanding Service to Our Town Mayor Burdo and the Council thanked Mr. Ng for serving as the San Anselmo Representative to the Commission on Aging.
Mr. Ng. stated it was a pleasure serving the wonderful Town of San Anselmo.
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approved the Draft Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 9, 2026
1.2 Authorized the Mayor to Execute a Third Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Cooperation Agreement, adopted Resolution No. 2026-4629
1.3 Received and Filed Revenue and Expenditure Reports, May 2026
1.4 Authorized the Town Manager to Award Construction Contract for the 2026 Slurry Seal Project
1.5 Awarded Construction Contract for the 2026 Street Resurfacing Project
1.6 Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4630 updating the Town’s General Fund Reserve Policy
1.7 Authorized a Consulting Agreement with Consor North America, Inc. for NEPA Clearance of the Nokomis and Madrone Avenue Bridges
1.8 Approved an Amendment to the San Anselmo Age and Disability Friendly Committee Operational Guidelines to Establish Recusal Requirement Related to Employment, Contract or Professional Engagement for its Members
1.9 Approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Shared Public Works Services with the Town of Fairfax
1.10 Approved Resolution No. 2026-4631 Establishing the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Appropriations Limit
1.11 Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4632 Adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) Acceptable Use Policy
1.12 Approval of Resolution No. 2026-4633 Revising a Statement of Investment Policy for Fiscal Year 2026/27
1.13 Approval of Resolutions Amending Salaries and Benefits for Management (Resolution No. 2026-4634) and Confidential Employees (Resolution No. 2026-4635) to Reflect Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Financial Services Agreement
1.14 Approved Resolution No. 2026-4636 to Adopt a Publicly Available Pay Schedule in Accordance with California Public Employees Retirement System Regulations
1.15 Adopted Resolution No. 2026-4637 Approving the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Budget and Workplan
1.16 Receive and File the Financial Report on Recreation Fund ending May 31, 2026 3 Councilmember Schlesinger stated he would like to pull item #1.7 Councilmember Burke stated she would like to pull item #1.3 and #1.5.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Walker/Schlesinger, Motion to approve Consent Calendar items #1.1, #1.2, #1.4, #1.6, and #1.8, through #1.16.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo
1.13 Approval of Resolutions Amending Salaries and Benefits for Management and Confidential Employees to Reflect Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Financial Services Agreement nm
Councilmember Burke asked staff about the bonus pay to Finance employees for working on the MWPA finances. She asked about the off-set.
Finance Director Zuba stated the Town would receive $104,080 from the MWPA. The expense would be about $50,000.
1.15 Adopt a Resolution Approving the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Budget and Workplan Councilmember Burke asked how the Town is spending the $410,000 received from the MWPA.
Finance Director Zuba stated it pays for the Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator and for projects.
1.7 Authorize a Consulting Agreement with Consor North America, Inc. for NEPA Clearance of the Nokomis and Madrone Avenue Bridges
Councilmember Schlesinger asked what would happen if CalTrans required replacement of a bridge.
Assistant Public Works Director Schneider stated CalTrans would come up with the money for that.
Councilmember Schlesinger asked about funding sources and the meaning of the term “scour critical”.
M/s, Walker/Burke, Motion to approve Consent Calendar item #1.3, #1.5, and #1.7.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Vice Mayor Walker asked staff about the timeline for bringing back the metrics report for the AI policy. Town Manager Donery stated staff would like to give it a year.
Vice Mayor Walker referred to item #1.8 and asked about the timeline for review of an Action Plan. Town Manager Donery stated staff would look into that.
Council Business Items
2.1 Receive a Presentation from the Marin County Commission on Aging 4 Mr. Gene Ng, San Anselmo representative to the Commission on Aging, gave a report and a PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Ng answered questions from the Council regarding how he would change the perception of what it means to be aging in Marin County; programs in Town and if more are needed.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
2.2 Discuss Item Regarding Tobacco Ordinance
Town Librarian Kenton presented the staff report. Staff and Ms. Anita Linsetti, County Tobacco Prevention Program Coordinator, answered questions from the Council regarding how this made its way to the agenda; what enforcement will look like and if volunteers are involved; how often businesses are checked for compliance; the type of violations that are uncovered; on-line purchasing and if they could be banned; if Nicorette Gum would be included; work being done by the County to assist businesses; how to measure the effectiveness of a restricted policy or a ban; fiscal impacts to the Town; what can be done to help retailers deal with the loss in sales; if the model ordinance ends new permits on tobacco of any kind; if the County is starting to produce ordinances; what can be done to make sure kids are not getting access; the reason for requiring purchases in larger amounts; what support is available for people looking to quit and if the County is offering specific programs.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
Mr. Andrew Darcy, Redwood High School student, stated there is a lot of tobacco use by young people in the community. He supported a full ban on these products.
Kelsey stated the evidence against the tobacco industry is damning. Tobacco is a toxin and damages organs in the body.
Bridgett discussed the environmental piece and stated cigarettes are one of the top causes of wildfire ignition. She supported a complete ban.
Jeremiah stated California leads the nation in tobacco control and prevention and has called on communities to take aggressive action. This is a deadly and highly addictive product that should be banned.
Ms. Pamela Grainger, Co-Chair of the Smoke Free Marin Coalition, gave a history of the tobacco industry’s aggressive marketing and development of new products. She supported a ban.
Ms. Jane McDonaugh discussed the impacts from second-hand smoke.
Mr. Bob Curry stated he worked in tobacco control for over thirty years. He supported an endof-sales policy.
Natalia stated she struggled with nicotine addiction as a teenager. She supported anything that would make it harder for young people to start smoking.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
5 Mayor Burdo stated this is an easy policy to support- the data is there. Enforcement is the key.
He is open to listening to the business owners.
Councilmember Kullaway stated she is not interested in the County’s Model Ordinance and supported an End-of-Sale Ordinance.
Councilmember Burke stated vices are tough to beat and society has tried prohibitions, restrictions, enforcement, and education. Accessibility limitations work but she is not sure about an outright ban. She asked if people have the right to make bad choices. She supports effective enforcement and stated education is the answer.
Vice Mayor Walker stated access limits and the model legislation is a floor. She did not want the Town to offer any more permits for tobacco products. She is open to a full ban but is concerned about the timeline and long-term impacts to businesses.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated these products are unhealthy, addictive, and cause people to die. He is not sure a total sales ban is the right tool since there are no data to demonstrate that it has impacted use by young people. He is open to a sales ban when the data supports that it would be an effective tool for cessation.
Town Manager Donery stated staff would return with the requested information and a revised policy.
The Council took a break at 9:35 p.m.
The Council reconvened in the Council Chambers at 9:43 p.m.
Mayor Burdo stated he would like to move item #2.4 ahead of #2.3.
M/s, Walker/Kullaway, Motion to move item #2.4 ahead of #2.3.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo
2.4 Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Donation Agreement with a Potential Donor for Completion of Conceptual Drawings for the Creek Park Project Town Manager Donery presented the staff report. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding how a community process would work; if there is a risk given the donor component.
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 Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Donation Agreement with a Potential Donor for Completion of Conceptual Drawings for the Creek Park Project
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Public Hearing Items
2.3 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 6 Exemption Findings
Associate Planner Dobronyi presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding the role of the Community Development Director and the Planning Commission with respect to rules and expirations; Section 10-3.1305 Findings for Conditional Use Permit and how subsection (F) is defined; if the amendments would slow down the current work being done by the department in terms of expediting permits and communication.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Schlesinger/Walker, Motion to Introduce an Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo Amending Title 10, Planning and Zoning, Chapter 3, Zoning, Article 3, Conditional Use Permit, removing Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 6, Section 10-3.607, NonConforming Uses and Improvements, and Replacing with new Article 29, NonConforming Uses, Structures, and Lots, and making associate CEQA Exemption Findings.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo M/s, Schlesinger/Burke, Motion to approve the first reading of the Ordinance amendments and waive future readings in their entirety.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Mayor Burdo re-opened Open Time for Public Expression.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed Open Time for Public Expression.
M/s, Burke/Kullaway, Motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:04 p.m.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary