CITY OF SAUSALITO
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2025
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Cox at 4:00 p.m. and the following members were present:
Councilmember Blaustein
Councilmember Hoffman
Councilmember Sobieski
Vice Mayor Woodside
Mayor Cox
Il. CLOSED SESSION
C1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section 54956.8) Property: 750 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Negotiating Parties: Verizon Wireless
City Negotiator: Chris Zapata, City Manager
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
C2. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section 54956.8) Property: 300 Spencer Ave., Sausalito, CA 94965 Negotiating Parties: Verizon Wireless City Negotiator: Chris Zapata, City Manager
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
C3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (2)) Significant Exposure to Litigation: One Case C4. CONFERENCE WiTH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4): One case Councilmember Blaustein recused herself from Item Nos. C1 and C2. Councilmember Sobieski recused himself from Item No. C3.
The City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 4:32 p.m.
Ill. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened at 5:02 p.m.
There was no reportable action from Closed Session.
Vice Mayor Woodside moved, seconded by Councilmember Blaustein, and carried unanimously, to approve the agenda.
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1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS - NONE
2. COMMUNICATIONS
Sandra Bushmaker provided public comments.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Hoffman removed Item No. 3B for further discussion.
Vice Mayor Woodside moved, seconded by Councilmember Blaustein, and carried unanimously, to adopt the following consent calendar items:
3.A Adopted the Meeting Minutes of July 1 and July 15, 2025
3.C Received and Filed Marin Voice Letter from Marin County Mayors Entitled "Marin Must Stand for Human Dignity - Not Fear"
3.D Waived the Second Reading and Adopted Ordinance No. 06-2025, of the City Council of the City of Sausalito Enacting Chapter 15.14 (Marin Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program) of Title 15 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Sausalito Municipal Code
3.E Adopted Resolution 47-2025, authorizing the City Manager to Award Construction Contract for the Bridgeway Safety Project - Napa St. to Johnson St. to Ghilotti Brothers Inc. in an amount of $1,3427,55.50, authorize Alternative #2 for roadway resurfacing for $317,255.00, authorize a construction contingency for the Project in the amount of $169,989.50, and determine Project exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301
3.F Adopted Resolution 48-2025, approving an Encroachment Agreement for improvements in the Bridgeway Boulevard and Filbert Avenue public rights-of-way at 1755 Bridgeway (currently 1751-1757 Bridgeway and 160/170 Filbert Ave.) APN: 64-151-02 & 64-151-03)
3.G Adopted Resolution 49-2025, approving the Sausalito Police Association Memorandum of Understanding and Approve the Updated Publicly Available Pay Schedules
3.B Consider Whether to Transmit Letter Agreeing to Remove Opposition to SB 79 if Author Will Add Exemption for 12 California Historic Districts Sandra Bushmaker and Sophia Collier provided public comments.
By consensus. the City Council continued this item.
4. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
4.A Appeal of Planning Commission Resolution No. 2025-18 approving a Design Review Permit, a Variance, three Conditional Use Permits, a Minor Use Permit, a Sign Permit, and a Certificate of Appropriateness for Joint Hotel and Restaurant use at 715 Bridgeway (APN: 065-071-34) (Project ID: 2024-00147) (CEQA: Exempt, Guidelines section 15301 and 15331)
Councilmember Hoffman disclosed ex-parte communications. 2 of 5
Mayor Cox opened the public hearing.
Matthew Mandich, Senior Planner, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Elizabeth Brekhus, representative for the Appellant, made a presentation.
Kent Ipsen, Applicant, and Clay Haberman, Architect, made a presentation.
Matthew Stewart, Carolyn Revelle, Bob Mitchell, Sandy Strawbridge, Beth Swierk, John Diamante, Gail Schell, Jody Moore, Eric Lieb, Bonnie MacGregor, Paul Mowry, Alice Merrill, David Lay, Adrian Brinton, Joel Karr, Rebecca Singer, Jordan Dodds, Linda Peiffer, and Sophia Collier provide public comments.
Elizabeth Brekhus, representative for the Appellant, made a rebuttal.
Kent Ipsen, Applicant, and Clay Haberman, Architect, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Matthew Mandich, Senior Planner, Brandon Phipps, Assistant City Manager, and Sergio Rudin, City Attorney, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Mayor Cox closed the public hearing.
Councilmember Sobieski moved. Vice Mayor Woodside seconded, to Adopt amended Resolution 50-2025, finding the project exempt from CEQA, denying the appeal and upholding the Planning Commission's decision to approve Project ID 2024- 00147 for a new joint hotel and restaurant use in the historic building at 715 Bridgeway (APN: 065-071-34) with the following amendments: total occupancy of elevated decks and spas shall not exceed 28 persons; outside catering shall not be allowed; outdoor dining use will be restricted to a total of 16 seats for outdoor dining on the sidewalk adjacent to 715 Bridgeway; owner must maintain a minimum 5-foot clearance of the sidewalk for pedestrian flow and access; 16 seats allowed under the minor use permit is under the condition of the relocation of the existing benches to a location proximate to the adjacent bus stop and ability to maintain the five foot clearance.
Councilmember Hoffman made an alternate motion to Adopt a Resolution finding the project exempt from CEQA, denying the appeal and upholding the Planning Commission's decision to approve Project ID: 2024- 00147 for a new joint hotel and restaurant use in the historic building at 715 Bridgeway (APN: 065-071-34) but not reiy on Ordinance 10.44 and the approval be made on the variance outlined by the City Attorney. The motion failed to get a second.
The original motion passed by the following 4-1 vote:
AYES: Blaustein, Sobieski, Woodside, Cox
NOES: Hoffman
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5. BUSINESS ITEMS
5.A Adopt A Resolution Calling a Special Election and Submitting to The Qualified Voters of the City of Sausalito an Ordinance to Amending the City Zoning Map In City Commercial Districts to Adopt Housing Overlay Zoning Consistent with the Housing Element to be Voted Upon at the Special Municipal Election to be Held November 4, 2025 Brandon Phipps, Assistant City Manager, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Babette McDougal, David Lay, Vicki Nichols, Alice Merrill, Jack Burrows, Sophia Collier, Sandra Bushmaker, and Lorna Newlin provide public comments.
Mayor Cox moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Woodside, and carried unanimously, to adopt Resolution 51-2025, Calling a Special Election and Submitting to The Qualified Voters of the City of Sausalito an Ordinance to Amending the City Zoning Map In City Commercial Districts to Adopt Housing Overlay Zoning Consistent with the Housing Element to be Voted Upon at the Special Municipal Election to be Held November 4, 2025.
5.B Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sausalito, Submitting to the Qualified Voters of the City of Sausalito an Ordinance Amending the City Zoning Map to Authorize Development of Housing on Martin Luther King Jr. Property, to be Voted Upon at the Special Municipal Election to be Held November 4, 2025 Mayor Cox recused herself from the item due to her proximity of her residence.
Brandon Phipps, Assistant City Manager, and Sergio Rusin, City Attorney, responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Michael Rex, Architect, also made a presentation.
Babette McDougal, David Lay, Vicki Nichols, Alice Merrill, Jack Burrows, Sophia Collier, Sandra Bushmaker, Jordan Dodds, Pete Schmidt, and John Gavin provide public comments.
Councilmember Blaustein, seconded by Councilmember Sobieski, to adopt Resolution 52- 2025, Submitting to the Qualified Voters of the City of Sausalito an Ordinance Amending the City Zoning Map to Authorize Development. of Housing on Martin Luther King Jr. Property, to be Voted Upon at the Special Municipal Election to be Held November 4, 2025. The motion passed by the following 3-1 vote:
AYES: Blaustein, Sobieski, Woodside.
NOES: Hoffman
RECUSED: Cox:
6. CITY MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS, CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS,
OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS
6A. City Manager Information for Council
Chris Zapata, City Manager, made a report on the Sewer System Transfer to the Sausalito Marin County Sanitary District.
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6B. City Attorney Information for Council
Nothing to Report.
6C. Councilmember Committee Reports
Councilmember Blaustein reported on the TAM meeting. Councilmember Hoffman made announcements regarding Jazz by the Bay. Mayor Cox reported on the upcoming BCDC meeting. 6D. Appointments (if any)
Mayor Cox named an ad-hoc committee of herself and Vice Mayor Woodside regarding the ballot measures
6E. Future Agenda Items
Mayor Cox requested that enforcement efforts for short term rentals be placed on a future agenda.
Councilmember Hoffman requested to Reinstate Second Floor Residential Units in Central Commercial District and evaluate the Strategic Plan from 2020-2026:
6F. Minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Received and Filed the Disaster Preparedness Committee Minutes from July 9, 2025. 6G. Other reports of significance
There were no reports.
6H. Public Comment on Items 6A-6C and 6E-6G: limited to 2 minutes/person Babette McDougal and Sophia Collier provided public comments.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Cox adjourned the meeting at 10:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Juliana Poper
Juliana Roper
Acting Deputy City Clerk
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