SA US
ARIN COG
CITY OF SAUSALITO
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL & ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION The meeting was called to order by Mayor Cox at 3:03 p.m., with the meeting conducted via in person and Zoom and the following members were present:
Councilmember Blaustein
Councilmember Hoffman
Councilmember Sobieski
Vice Mayor Woodside
Mayor Cox
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
(Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (1)
Name of case: Yes In My Backyard v. City of Sausalito, Marin County Superior Court Case No.
CV2300652
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation (Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (2): Two cases The City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 3:04 p.m.
Il. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Mayor Cox reconvened the meeting at 4:07 p.m. and stated that closed session was adjourned until dinner break around 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Councilmember Sobieski recused himself from an item.
Jeffrey Chase made a public comment on closed session items.
Vice Mayor Woodside motioned to approve agenda, seconded by councilmember Blaustein.
Motion carried unanimously.
1. BUSINESS ITEMS
1.A Public Hearing on Certification of Amended 2023-2031 Housing Element Environmental ronsiderations, and Alligation of citini ding Repeating Programe ridi proval of Amended 2023-2031 Housing Element
Mayor Cox announced that the City Council cannot adopt a Housing Element under statutes. 1 of 4
Brandon Phipps, Community & Economic Development Director, and Beth Thompson, Principal, Denovo Planning Group, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Sophia Collier, Kay Carlson, Jennifer Nimmo, Peter Bostock, Robert Hayes, Jim Gabbert, Saly Johansson, Rory Moore, Matthew Heimark, Tony Cook, Annie Porter, Alexander Popken, Bonnie McGregor, Diana Dempsey, Dr. Marvi Garovoy, Jed Dempsey, Kirke Hasson, Kathryn Strietmann, Hank Baker, Peter Strietmann, Fred Moore, Angelica Pinochet, Jan Johnson, Judith Bang-Kolb, John Flavin, Heather Wilcox, Emmet Yeazell, Michael Rex, Stafford Keegin, Sybil Boutilier, Anthony Hay, Babette McDougal, Jim Madden, Stacy Nimmo, Alice Merrill, Rix Cannel, Albert Strietmann, Adrian Brinton Michael Gaspers, Jenny Silva, Craig Merrilees, Justine Kahn, Mark Coleman, Andy Greer, lan Sobieski, Chris Johnson, Ed Brakeman, Sandra Bushmaker, Jack Burrows, Evan Jane Kriss, Sam Chase, Lissa Maldonado, Charles Angle, Judith Wetterer, Brian O'Neill, Daniel Tchagru, Johnathan Hutchinson, Annie Uzdavinis, Tom Hoover, Sara Fisk, Phone Caller, Jeffrey, John DeRay, Linda Fotsch, Barbara Brown made public comments.
Mayor Cox made a motion, Vice Mayor Woodside seconded the motion to amend the language in the housing element to read "If there is a shortage to accommodate the RHNA the City will identify the City will identify additional sites to be rezoned to accommodate the RHNA in accordance with government code section 655892H, 1 paragraphs H and 1. Sites to be considered shall include sites that are City controlled or a minimum of .5 acres and either vacant or meet the methodology and criteria for non-vacant sites provided a background report beginning on page HBR 116, and investigate the inclusion of additional sites for SB9 and ADU sites accompanied by an incentive program to incentivize use of those sites. Motion carried unanimously.
Site 202 Discussion
Councilmember Sobieski recused from site 202 discussion.
Brandon Phipps, Community & Economic Development Director, and Beth Thompson, Principal, Denovo Planning Group, and Sergio Rudin, City Attorney, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Mayor Cox made a motion, Vice Mayor Woodside seconded the motion to remove site 202 as an opportunity site. Motion carried with the following vote:
AYES: Blaustein, Hoffman, Woodside, Cox
RECUSED: Sobieski
Site 63 Discussion
Councilmember Hoffman recused from site 63 discussion.
Brandon Phipps, Community & Economic Development Director, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Mayor Cox made a motion, Vice Mayor Woodside seconded the motion to remove site 63 as an opportunity site. Motion carried with the following vote:
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AYES: Blaustein, Sobieski, Woodside, Cox
RECUSED: Hoffman
Site 303 Discussion
Councilmember Sobieski recused from 303 discussion.
Brandon Phipps, Community & Economic Development Director, and Beth Thompson, Principal, Denovo Planning Group, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Mayor Cox made a motion, Vice Mayor Woodside seconded the motion to remove site 303 as an opportunity site. Motion carried unanimously.
AYES: Blaustein, Hoffman, Woodside, Cox
RECUSED: Sobieski
Site 201 Discussion
Councilmember Sobieski recused from site 201 discussion.
Mayor Cox made a motion, Vice Mayor Woodside seconded the motion to remove site 201 as an opportunity site. Motion carried unanimously.
AYES: Blaustein, Hoffman, Woodside, Cox
RECUSED: Sobieski
Site 44 Discussion
Brandon Phipps, Community & Economic Development Director, and Beth Thompson, Principal, Denovo Planning Group, responded to questions posed by the City Council. 409 Napa Discussion
Mayor Cox made a motion, Vice Mayor Woodside seconded the motion to increase site 409 Napa from 4 units to 5 remove site 303 as an opportunity site. Motion carried unanimously.
The City Council under consensus directed staff to ensure that the historic resource analysis of Site 201 is complete.
Site 84 Discussion
Mayor Cox recused from site 84 discussion.
Brandon Phipps, Community & Economic Development Director, Beth Thompson, Principal, Denovo Planning Group, and Sergio Rudin, City Attorney, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Councilmember Blaustein made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Woodside to include the MLK site at the lowest zoning level per acre with 29 units with the total of 50 units include a senior overlay.
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AYES: Blaustein, Hoffman, Sobieski, Woodside
RECUSED: Cox
Site 303 Discussion
Brandon Phipps, Community & Economic Development Director, Beth Thompson, Principal, Denovo Planning Group, and Sergio Rudin, City Attorney, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Under consensus the City Council shifted affordability units for site 303 and agreed to Beth Thompson's recommendation.
The City Council Requested Visibility Ordinance be added to Future Agena Items The City Council gave staff directions to consider revising senior overlays to comport with council direction as appropriate.
1.B Discussion and Direction Regarding Conduct of Special Election and Proposed Initiative Ordinance Amending Ordinance 1022 and Amending the City Zoning Map to Authorize Development of Housing on Specific Commercial Properties to Permit the Development of Housing as Set Forth in the City's Adopted Sixth Cycle Amended Housing Element, to be Voted Upon at the Special Municipal Election to be Held on June 3, 2025
Sophia Collier, Peter VanMeter, Michael Rex, Babette McDougal, Sandra Bushmaker, Fred Moore, Alice Merrill, John made public comments.
City Council gave direction to staff to update table with respect to the sites that had changes made and to make a single resolution for both ordinances.
1.C Discussion and Direction Regarding Submitting to the Qualified Voters of the City of Sausalito an Initiative Ordinance Amending Ordinance 1128 and Amending the City Zoning Map to Authorize Development of Housing on Martin Luther King Jr. Property (Site 84), to be Voted Upon at the Special Municipal Election to be Held on June 3, Sophia Collier, Micheal Rex, Babette McDougal provided public comments.
2. ADJOURNMENT
Vice Major Woodside adjourned the meeting at 10:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
WelS
Walfred Soloza p
City Clerk
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