1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Special Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
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 (via Zoom)
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Linda Kenton, Town Librarian
Scott Schneider, Interim Public Works Director
Kelley Werner, Engagement Coordinator
Jeff Zuba, Finance & Admin Srvs. Director (via Zoom)
Open Time for Public Expression
Mr. Ross Asselstine, San Anselmo Avenue, stated he looked forward to not being in the press or on TV.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Mayor Burdo reported he attended the Reimagine Creek Park meeting; he talked about the cost allocation change at the Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) and requested that the Council discuss sending a letter in protest of the change.
Councilmember Burke gave a “Shout-Out” for the August 29th “Baldy Dash” fundraiser for Live on the Avenue.
Special Presentation
There were no Special Presentations.
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Receive and Approve the Quarterly Treasurer’s Investment Report, June 2026 Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
2 M/s, Schlesinger/Kullaway, Motion to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Council Business Items
2.1 Presentation of Creek Park Plaza Design Options
Town Manager Donery presented the staff report and gave a PowerPoint presentation that included: 1) Creek Park Design Options; 2) Agenda; 3) Staff Introduction; 4) Process to Date; 5) 2023 Creek Park Design; 6) Public Input to Date; 7) Community Voting Results; 8) Comments Summarized; 9) Merchant Parking Map; 10) Addressing Concerns; 11) Potential Project Timeline; 12) RHAA Presentation; 13) Design Considerations; 14) Plaza Design Options; 15) Council Questions; 16) Public Comment; 17) Council Discussion- Preferred Design Option.
Manuela, representing RHAA Landscape Architecture and Planning, gave a PowerPoint presentation that included: 1) Design Considerations/Challenges; 2) Area in Question; 3) Option A- Curvilinear Terrace; 4) Option B- Garden Path; 5) Option C- Town Green.
Staff and the consultant answered questions from the Council regarding whether residents or staff would be moving tables; the amount of seating during COVID; if Option A offers more ADA access; how raising the deck surface will impact the trees and eliminate walking on tree roots; if there have been conversations with the Arts Commission about the wall; if there is an option for shade in Option A; how umbrellas would impact sight lines; rodents and decking; if staff would need to be hired to maintain this new park; if maintenance would be part of the fundraising campaign; if on-going maintenance would be the responsibility of the Town; estimate of maintenance costs; if two restrooms would be enough; if the storage area would need to be increased; the dimensions of the decks; start and end date of the survey; if the plan includes installing textured crossing in that area.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
Mr. Philip Chigos read a statement about the process for this project.
Mr. Paul Corning supported the comments made by Mr. Chigos. He was concerned about rushed decisions and not enough time for public input.
Pat encouraged the Council to make a unanimous vote to proceed. He noted this is not an “overnight decision” and there have been years of planning.
Mr. Guy Meyer, Tamalpais Avenue, stated the plan began in 2019 to review designs to create a stunning remake. He discussed the history and beauty of the existing park. He was in favor of a creative, low-impact plan.
Mr. Jeff Kroot, talked about the process from an architect’s perspective. Preliminary designs are targets and he asked the Council to get a group of people together with the landscape architects.
Richard agreed with Pat’s comments. He would like to see the Town move forward with this well thought-out plan. He supported Option A with more common area. He suggested a few “tweaks”.
Mr. Ross Asselstine stated the bathrooms take up two parking spaces and they should be moved to another location. The design has to be hydrologically neutral to what was there before. They do not know where they are structurally.
3 Ms. Roseanne dalBello stated she is a proponent of the Redwoods and was concerned about trying to work around the roots. She would like to see a lot more open space and more of a “Town Square” design.
Mr. Glen Sherman stated he funded the development of this and has worked with the design professionals since 2019. A lot of work went into this.
Ms. Fran Farmer stated the new design options are more compatible with the character of the Town. She likes Option B with a few modifications.
Mr. Eric Warner, Crescent Avenue, stated the process started in 2019 and there has been a lot of input. He supported Option A.
Ms. Ann Politzer thanked everyone who contributed to the process and staff for being so responsive to comments. The design started out being very grand and she felt it is still not quite there. Structural designs need to be made with respect to the plaza.
Bridgett supported Option A. She has concerns about the parking and would like to see a raised crosswalk to slow down the cars and more trees.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke stated the original vision and plans did not include the plaza area that included buildings. The Town getting the plaza is relatively new. She is in favor of pushing the wall back. She does not want to lose parking spaces and thinks the hydrologic and engineering load concerns are valid. She likes Option A- it provides a lot of flexibility. She wants to move forward.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated the Council’s job is to establish goals and values for the project not to “move things around” on the plans. They have received input from the residents and held numerous meetings. The specifics of the design will come together. He wants to move forward.
Councilmember Kullaway stated she loves Option A. It is elegant, durable, and fits the Town’s character.
Vice Mayor Walker really likes Option A. It supports ADA access in an aging Town. It is important to keep talking about the tree roots.
Mayor Burdo stated he likes Option A and Option B but is leaning towards Option A. He is worried about the wall and the sight lines. The design can be tweaked as they move forward.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke asked RHAA to come up with options for the wall.
2.2 Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Donation Agreement with a Potential Donor for the Completion of Construction Drawings for the Creek Park Project Town Manager Donery presented the staff report. There were no questions from the Council.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
4 Mr. Ross Asselstine brought up the subject of hydrology. Authorizing one contract for one part of a design team does not do the team justice. A complete design team is needed to move forward in an accurate way.
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 Donor for the Completion of Construction Drawings and Specifications for the Creek Park Project.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo M/s, Burke/Kullaway, Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 p.m.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway Schlesinger, Vice Mayor Walker, Mayor Burdo Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary