1 San Anselmo Approved Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Town Council Chambers and via Zoom
Tuesday,
September 22, 2026
Call to Order: Optional Pledge of Allegiance
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Burdo (Mayor)
Eileen Burke
Tarrell Kullaway
Yoav Schlesinger
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Chantel Walker (Vice Mayor)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Donery, Town Manager
Megan Acevedo, Town Attorney
Serge Avila, Town Clerk
Dan Mahoney, Ross Valley Fire Chief
Jeff Zuba, Finance Director
Scott Schneider, Public Works Director
Will Messinger, Assistant Civil Engineer
Linda Kenton, Town Librarian
Open Time for Public Expression
Mr. Philip Letterer, San Rafael, stated he patronizes Ludwigs for cigars. He agreed that children need to be protected from purchasing tobacco products.
Mr. Ross Asselstine stated he sent a letter to staff about how hydraulics need to stay neutral in the Creek Park design. He discussed Option A, the low wall, and the three parking spots. He asked the Council to pick a side with respect to the issue of refunds from the Flood District.
Ms. April Hughes read a letter expressing concern about the Flock Camera Program.
Barbara, representing Ludwigs, stated the proposed total tobacco ban would threaten the survival of this multi-generational business.
Jorge discussed the problem with potholes on Knoll Drive.
Council requests for future agenda items; Committee liaison reports; questions and comments to staff; miscellaneous items
Councilmember Burke reported she attended the Fire Board meeting; the Ribbon Cutting Celebration for the opening of Hilldale Pocket Park.
Councilmember Kullaway reported she attended the Racial Equity Committee meeting.
Councilmember Schlesinger reported he attended the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) Board meeting; today is the Autumnal Equinox.
2 Mayor Burdo reported he attended the General Plan Advisory Committee meeting; the Ribbon Cutting Celebration for the opening of Hilldale Pocket Park; the Spirit of Marin Awards Event; he has been meeting with residents about the Center Boulevard Vegetation Management and Evacuation Route Project.
Town Manager Donery reported there will be an Alert Marin Countywide test happening this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. The Arts Commission will be presenting an international dance film and speakers event at Robson. The Community Fall Clean-Up Event is scheduled for October 17th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The Ribbon Cutting Celebration for the opening of Fire Station 20 is scheduled for Saturday, October 24th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. He asked everyone to respond to the Live on the Avenue survey. The Annual Challah Bread Baking Event was well attended.
Special Presentation
There were no Special Presentations.
1. Consent Agenda
1.1 Approved the Draft Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 8, 2026
1.2 Authorized the Consultant Contract for Design of the 2027 Street Resurfacing Project; find the project exempt from CEQA
1.3 Received and Filed the Revenue and Expenditure Reports, August 2026
1.4 Received and Filed the Financial Report on Recreation Fund ending August 31, 2026
1.5 Approved Rescheduling the November 10, 2026 Town Council Regular Meeting to November 17, 2026
1.6 Approved the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce Special Event Application- Milo Foundation Benefit
1.7 Approved the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce Special Event Application- Creek Park 52nd Anniversary Celebration
1.8 Approved Resolution Establishing Job Descriptions, Classifications, and Pay Ranges for Associate Civil Engineer and Engineering Technician Positions in the Department of Public Works
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
Mr. Guy Meyer discussed and supported item #1.7.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Schlesinger/Kullaway, Motion to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Walker
Council Business Items
3 2.1 Receive a Presentation on the Marin County Emergency Operations Plan and Coordinated Preparation for the 2026-27 El Nino Season
Town Manager Donery presented a staff report.
Mr. Steve Torrence, Director of the Officer of Emergency Management (OEM), presented a PowerPoint presentation that included: 1) County of Marin OEM Town Council Brief; 2) 2026 Disaster Preparedness Month Theme “Get Ready with Marin”; 3) Planning for El Nino and the Convergence; 4) Unified Preparedness and Communications; 5) Six Planned Countywide Town Hall Meetings; 6) This September OEM is meeting the community where they are! 7) County of Marin’s Emergency Operations Plan; 8) OEM’s Drive for the Best Alert and Warning- AlertMarin; 9) New AlertMarin Dashboard; 10) Enhancing Public Alerting Adaptability; 11) Enhancements to AlertMarin; 12) Enhancements to the Emergency Portal. Director Torrence and staff answered questions from the Council regarding whether there have been simulations and drills for a wet, windy, extreme weather events; social platforms used in an emergency; if there have been discussions about the possibility of delayed FEMA responses; recent earthquake warnings and if there are “all clear” messages; the actual preparedness including capacity planning and resource allocation for this winter; communication to the community about the planning process.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
An individual stated it would be nice if the Town displayed a banner at Town Hall with information.
Barbara stated the Town is in good hands. She asked if the County or the Town can declare a “State of Emergency”, if there are grant opportunities for businesses or homes, and if they could have a contest to get the AlertMarin number up.
Belinda asked if there are plans to do work on the creek along San Anselmo Avenue- there is a lot of growth.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
The Council thanked Director Torrence for his presentation.
2.2 Approve the Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Ross Valley Fire Department Joint Powers Agreement
Fire Chief Mahoney presented a staff report. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding how the funding percentages were originally arrived; when the percentages are revisited; the last time the percentages were revisited.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no comments.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Schlesinger stated he supported the requested change but there is a fundamental underlying question about equity and the calculation.
Councilmember Burke stated there has been a change at the Town of Ross and they should be looking at the allocation. She discussed the factors of population vs. property values with respect to the allocation.
4 M/s, Schlesinger/Kullaway, Motion to approve the Approve the Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Ross Valley Fire Department Joint Powers Agreement.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Walker
2.3 Approve the FY 2027/2031 Town of San Anselmo Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Finance Director Zuba and Public Works Director Schneider presented a staff report and a PowerPoint presentation that included: 1) Draft FY 2027/2031 Capital Improvement Plan; 2) Background: 2011- First Modern CIP, 2024- Previous CIP Adopted, 2026- Draft CIP; 3) First Year, New Format; 4) A Living Plan; 5) Projects by Category- FY 2027/2031; 6) Streets and Active Transportation Highlights; 7) Parks, Buildings, Bridges and other Highlights; 8) Funding Sources; 9) Unfunded Priority Projects; 10) Next Steps and Staff Recommendations. Staff answered questions from the Council regarding construction of the Sais crossing; what inflation assumptions are built in; expected PCI measures post road repairs; the Five-Year Fund Balance forecast; if staff can show the beginning balance, projected revenues, expenditures, and ending balance for each Restricted Fund; if staff could provide an estimate of the unfunded capital backlog; why there are expenses for design on construction projects that are not currently funded.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
An individual asked about the status of Creekside Park.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
Councilmember Burke stated priorities can change in the next five years and adjustments would be needed. There are limited resources and she would like to focus on what will get done and not what might get done.
M/s, Burke/Kullaway, Motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Town of San Anselmo Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Walker
Public Hearing Items
2.4 Public Hearing to Consider Vacating a Portion of the Public Right-of-Way Adjacent to 250 Redwood Road in San Anselmo
Civil Engineer Messinger presented a staff report. There were no questions from the Council.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
There were no questions.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Burke/Schlesinger, Motion to adopt the Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo Declaring its Intent to Abandon a Portion of the Right-of-Way Adjacent to 250 Redwood Road, San Anselmo.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Mayor Burdo
5 ABSENT: Vice Mayor Walker
2.5 Public Hearing to Consider Vacating a Portion of the Public Right-of-Way Adjacent to 79 Sequoia Drive in San Anselmo
Civil Engineer Messinger presented a staff report. Staff answered a question from the Council regarding a neighbor’s assertion that the public right-of-way is no longer needed.
Mayor Burdo opened the meeting to public comments.
Jorge lives above the subject property and would like to see a picture or diagram.
Mayor Burdo closed the meeting to public comments.
M/s, Burke/Kullaway, Motion to adopt the Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo Declaring its Intent to Abandon a Portion of the Right-of-Way Adjacent to 79 Sequoia Drive, San Anselmo.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway, Schlesinger, Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Walker
M/s, Burke/Kullaway, Motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 p.m.
AYES: Burke, Kullaway Schlesinger, Mayor Burdo
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Walker
Respectfully submitted,
Toni DeFrancis,
Recording Secretary