CITY OF SAUSALITO
AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Sobieski at 5:33 p.m., with the meeting conducted via in-person and Zoom.
Councilmember Kellman
Councilmember Blaustein
Councilmember Hoffman
Vice Mayor Cox
Mayor Sobieski
CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION
(Government Code section 54956.9(d) (1))
Name of case: Whiskey Springs Villa HOA v. City of Sausalito, Marin County Superior Court Case No. CIV 1903419
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION
(Government Code section 54956.9(d) (1))
Yes In My Backyard v. City of Sausalito, Marin County Superior Court Case No. CIV 2300652
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
(Government Code section 54956.9(d) (2))
Significant Exposure to Litigation: One Case
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Sobieski recessed to Closed Session at 5:36 p.m.
RECONVENE
Mayor Sobieski reconvened the meeting at 7:07 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
There was no reportable action.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Moved by Councilmember Kellman, seconded by Councilmember Blaustein, and unanimously carried, the City Council approved the agenda.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIUNS/MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
No special presentations or Mayor announcements made.
ACTION MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
2.A. Adopted the Draft Minutes of the February 20, 2024 City Council Meeting Babette McDougal provided public comments.
Moved by Vice Mayor Cox as, seconded by Councilmember Blaustein, and unanimously carried, the City Council approved the action minutes for February 20, 2024 City Council Meetings.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Blaustein requested Item No. 3D be pulled and added to the Business Items and Councilmember Hoffman requested Item No. 3B be pulled and added to the Business items Babette McDougal provided public comments.
Moved by Vice Mayor Cox, seconded by Councilmember Blaustein, and unanimously carried, the City Council took the following actions:
3.A. Made a National Women's History Month 2024 Proclamation.
3.C. Adopted Resolution No. 13-2024, Approving the Third Professional Services Contract Amendment with BKF Engineers for design services related to the Ferry Landside Improvement Project.
4. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS - 7:12 PM
4.A. Appeal of an Administrative Citation issued by the Sausalito Planning Commission for Unauthorized Tree Alterations at 230 Santa Rosa Avenue (APN:
065-142-41)
Ex parte communications were announced by the City Council.
Brandon Phipps, Community and Economic Development Director, Matthew Mandich, Associate Planner, and Paul Van Hook, Code Enforcement Officer, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Michael Rasuer, Appellant, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Vice Mayor Cox made a motion, seconded by Mayor Blaustein, to uphold the administrative citation for the illegal alteration of 10 protected heritage Bay Laurel trees without a city issued permit; to amend the Planning Commission's ruling mandating a $1000 fine per tree; to reduce that to $250 per tree; to rescind the bi-weekly erosion control reports required by the Planning Commission, and instead instruct staff to perform periodic site visits following significant rain events to determine if additional remedial actions are required by the appellant.
Councilmember Kellman made a friendly amendment to maintain the bi-weekly erosion reports until April 15, 2024.
Vice Mayor Cox accepted Councilmember Kellman's friendly amendment.
Councilmember Hoffman made a friendly amendment that the fine be $500 per tree.
Vice Mayor Cox declined Councilmember Hoffman's friendly amendment.
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 14-2024, with changes to section 2 to reduce the fine to $250 per tree, and to change section 3 to direct staff to perform periodic site visits through April 15, 2024. The motion carried with the following vote:
Ayes
Councilmember Kellman
Councilmember Blaustein
Vice Mayor Cox
Mayor Sobieski
Noes
Councilmember Hoffman
5. BUSINESS ITEMS - 7:45 PM
5.A. Endorse the Draft Management District Plan Associated with the Proposed Downtown Sausalito Property Business Improvement District, Provide Feedback on the City's Commitment to Vote in Support of the District During the District Petition Process, and Authorize the City Manager to Begin the District Petition Process to Gauge if There is Sufficient Support for District Formation in Order to Meet the Requirements to Engage in a Formal Proposition 218 Ballot Process Brandon Phipps, Community and Economic Development Director, Sergio Rudin, City Attorney, Kass Green, Co-Owner of the Inn Above the Tide, Marco Li Mandri, President of New City America, Scott Thornberg, EDAC Chair, Chris Zapata, City Manager, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Babette McDougal, Adrian Brinton, Scott Thornburg, Peter Van Meter, Dan Daglow, Daryl Niemerow, Linda Fotsch, Joel Karr, Carolyn Revelle, Charles Malton, Jenny Silva, Daniel Chador, Hank Baker, Sharna Brokett, Aness Posni, Steven Woodside, Teresa Ancona, Sandra Bushmaker, Vicki Nichols, Kieran Culligan, and Ron Albert provided public comments.
Vice Mayor Cox moved, seconded by Councilmember Blaustein, to approve the draft management district plan associated with the proposed downtown Sausalito property business improvement district with the revisions that Councilmember Kellman and Vice Mayor Cox annunciated other than reducing the City's contribution. That it included an increased amount going to infrastructure to 35%, that it also addresses the vacancy rate, that it would provide more for way finding, lighting, and trash cans. That it protects historic resources and that it explores the concept of partnering with the chamber to administer the PBID with the goal to reduce the administrative cost in half if possible, of the PBID and that the PBID offices be housed at the Sausalito Center for the Arts. In addition, the City Council supports the City's proposed petition process and authorized the City Manager to begin the assessment district petition process and sign the petition on the City's behalf exercising up to 40% of the City's total voting power as
set forth in the staff report. Vice Mayor Cox also added clarification that infrastructure ncludes tree planting, decorative lighting hanging plants, and maintenance and suc hings, and that City Council will request that the bylaws will require that at least tw City representatives be apart of the board. The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes
Councilmember Kellman
Councilmember Blaustein
Vice Mayor Cox
Mayor Sobieski
Noes
Councilmember Hoffman
3.B. Adopt a Resolution to Cure and Correct with Respect to Council Actions at the January 22, 2024 Meeting
Sergio Rudin, City Attorney, provided a summary and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Babette McDougal, Sandra Bushmaker, Kieran Gulligan, Ron Albert, Steven Woodside, Vicki Nichols, and Fred,
Vice Mayor Cox moved, seconded by Mayor Sobieski, and carried unanimously, that the City Council adopt Resolution 15-2024 of the Sausalito City Council curing and correcting under the Brown Act by rescinding prior actions made at the January 22, 2024 City Council Meeting and giving staff direction to correct.
Receive and file a report regarding the development of 2024 Building Facility Assessment Study
The City Council moved the item to a future City Council Meeting.
5.C. Authorization to Close Tracy Way for the 2024 Season; Authorize the Police Department to Manage the Bicycle Parking Operation and Staff Stacie Gregory, Chief of Police, made a presentation.
Jeff Sears provided public comment.
Vice Mayor Cox moved, seconded by Councilmember Kellman, and carried unanimously, to adopt Resolution 16-2024, authorizing the temporary closure of Tracy Way in Sausalito for bicycle parking for March 1 through October 31, 2024 and authorize the police department to manage the bicycle parking operation and staff along the lines described by the Police Chief.
5.D. Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. 03-2024, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Sausalito Amending Sausalito Municipal Code Section 2.58.040 Relating to Residency Requirements on City Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Sergio Rudin, City Attorney, provided a summary and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Babette McDougal, and Vicki Nichols provided public comments.
Vice Mayor Cox moved, seconded by Councilmember Kellman, and carried unanimously, to introduce by title only the first reading of Ordinance 03-2024, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Sausalito Amending Sausalito Municipal Code Section 2.58.040 Relating to Residency Requirements on City Boards, Commissions, and Committees.
3.D. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the first amendment to the Agreement with the County of Marin to increase the total amount available to the City of Sausalito to expanded homeless and housing opportunities to an amount not to exceed $1,000,000
Chris Zapata, City Manager, and Kevin McGowan, Public Works Director, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Sandra Bushmaker, and Vicki Nichols provided public comments.
Councilmember Blaustein moved, seconded by Councilmember Kellman, and unanimously carried, to adopt Resolution No. 17-2024, authorizing the city to execute the $1,000,000 agreement with the County of Marin with the additional direction to staff to consider and explore the option of a third unit or ADU on the property.
6. COMMUNICATIONS
Babette McDougal, Sophia Collier, Barbara Brown, and Daniel Shugrue provided public comments.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmember Kellman announced that Bay Wave Sea Level Rise Marin County offered a grant SB1 as a non-competitive grant.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS & OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS
Chris Zapata, City Manager, announced that the February 10th meeting report has been provided by the consultant and that the City is still working on obtaining insurance coverage. 8A. PUBLIC COMMENT on Items 8B-8C
Sandra Bushmaker provided public comment.
8B. City Manager Information for Council
There were none.
8C. Future Agenda Items
There were none.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sobieski adjourned the meeting at 12:15 a.m.
Respectfuly submitted,
Hassle
Walfred Solorzano
City Clerk