ITT ACORONE!
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MARIN C° MERA 109
CITY OF SAUSALITO
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Woodside at 3:34 p.m. and the following members were present:
Councilmember Cox
Councilmember Hoffman
Councilmember Sobieski
Vice Mayor Blaustein, (Absent)
Mayor Woodside
II. CLOSED SESSION
C1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section 54957.6) Agency Designated Representative: Chris Zapata. City Manager, Kathy Nikitas, Human Resources
Manager, Burke Dunphy: Sloan Sakai
Employee organization: SEIU
C2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT (Government Code Section 54957) Title: City Manager
C3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING
LITIGATION (Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (1))
Name of case: Naples v. Macmarin, Inc. d/b/a The Spinnaker, et al., Marin County Superior Court Case No. CIV0009646
C4. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING
LITIGATION (Government Code Section 549.56.9(d) (1))
Name of case: Yes in My Back Yard v. City of Sausalito, Marin County Superior Court Case No. CIV2300652
C5. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANȚICIPATED LITIGATION (Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)) Significant Exposure to Litigation: One Case C6. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: Submerged tideland portions of Pine Street, Johnson Street, and Donahue Avenue, adjacent Block 200 and Block 267 on Map. No 1 of Salt Marsh and Tideland of Marin County Agency negotiator: City Manager and City Attorney
Negotiating parties: Pelican Harbor Associates, LP
Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 3:35 p.m.
IlI. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened at 5:10 p.m. and stated the Councilmember Sobieski recused himself from one item because the matter under discussion involved a location very close to his residence, creating a potential conflict of interest.
The City Council announced they have authorized Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) to represent the City of Sausalito in connection with Item 3C.
Councilmember Cox moved, seconded by Councilmember Hoffman, and unanimously carried (Vice Mayor Blaustein being absent) to approve the agenda.
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS & CITY MANAGER REPORTS - The Council recognized local resident dog Grand Champion Gendu Turn Left at Echo ("Reni"), along with her guardians Aubrey Smiga and Dana Barton, for recently earning a major national award while competing against top dogs from across North America.
Councilmember Hoffman reported that the drive-up mailbox at the post office was removed due to repeated vandalism and mail theft, explained that it has been relocated closer to the building for security, and noted that she is working with the Postmaster and Police Chief to identify a new, secure left-hand drive-up mailbox location in town.
The Council reported that Vice Mayor Blaustein was absent because she was attending an award ceremony where she was being honored by the North Bay Business Journal as one of "40 Under 40" having a significant impact on the region.
2. COMMUNICATIONS
Steve Harris, Robert McCullough, Skip Kleger, Lauren de Remer, Jacob Swertz, Doug Litwin, Kieran Culligan, Alice Merrill, Joris van Mens, Sandra Bushmaker, and Adrian Brinton provided public comments.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
Kieran Culligan provided public comments.
Councilmember Hoffman pulled item No. 3.C. the City Council moved it to a future meeting.
Councilmember Sobieski moved, seconded by Councilmember Cox, and unanimously carried, to adopt the following items:
3.A Adopted the Draft Meeting Minutes of April 3, 7 and 9, 2026
3.B Received and filed HdL Sales Tax Quarterly Reports for the Fourth Quarter (October from December) of Fiscal Year 2025-2026
3.D Considered and Adopted Resolution 17-2026 Designating Rotating Board of Appeals for Appeals under Chapter 1.10 and 1.12 of the Sausalito Municipal Code
3.E Authorized the City Manager to execute Professional Services Agreement with BKF Engineers to solicit construction bids for Coloma Street Sidewalk Project
3.F Authorized the City Manager to execute Professional Services Agreement with CSWST2 to develop bid specs and estimate for 2026 Culvert Replacement Program in an amount not to exceed $108,272
3.G Authorized Additional $25,000 Appropriation for 2024 Roadway Rehabilitation Project to perform additional dig-out work various streets including Crecienta Drive
3.H Approved Services Contract with Mt. Tam Adventure Camps LLC for Parks and Recreation Youth Programming in an Estimated Amount of $115,000 per Fiscal Year, to be Paid Out of Collected Program Fees
3.I Waived Second Reading and Adopted Ordinance No. 05-2026, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Sausalito Amending Sausalito Municipal Code section 8.02.120 to Adopt CalGreen Tier 1 Voluntary Measures
3.J Received and filed the Library Q2 & Q3 Reports for FY 2025-26
3.C Receive and file of FY 2025-2026 Fiscal Year-End Budget Balancing Action Plan
Councilmember Hoffman removed this item. By common consent the City Council moved this item to a future meeting
4. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS - NONE
5. BUSINESS ITEMS
5.A Concurrence on the General Strategy Related to Addressing the Capital Improvement Program Projects for Fiscal Year 2026/27 for Incorporation into the City of Sausalito 2026/2027 Fiscal Year Budget.
Chris Zapata, City Manager, and Kevin McGowen, Public Works Director, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council Michelle Mokalla, Speaker #1, Babette McDougal, Fred Moore, Sandra Bushmaker, and Joris van Mens provided public comments.
Council received the staff presentation on the Capital Improvement Program Projects for FY 26-27. Council directed staff to work with the Finance Department to pair future CIPs with a multi-year cash-flow forecast so that long-term design and construction costs are matched to projected funding and to avoid starting projects in one year without clear funding in subsequent years. Council also directed that future capital-related staff reports clearly indicate each project's status in the adopted CIP, identify its specific funding sources (e.g., Measure L, tidelands, construction impact fees, enterprise funds, general fund), and explain how the project aligns with the Strategic Plan and CIP priorities, or justify why it is being elevated if it falls outside those priorities.
The Council expressed support for staff's emphasis on safety as the primary priority, including advancing Gate 5 flooding solutions (pump station and tide gate design), continuing the street resurfacing program, addressing critical restroom and building safety needs (e.g., at SCA), and planning for eventual replacement of the Spring Street signal. Members highlighted the large, unfunded infrastructure backlog (roads, storm drains, stairs, sea level rise, and facilities) and acknowledged that the current capital funding levels, even with last year's unprecedented $17.7M allocation, are insufficient, underscoring the need to explore additional funding tools such as possible future borrowing against a portion of Measure L. Council acknowledged public input requesting greater attention to north-side drainage and MLK/SCA facilities, more systematic vegetation and curb/gutter maintenance, and clearer reporting of projects that finish under budget; staff was asked to factor these concerns into ongoing refinement of the CIP and future. reporting.
5.B Authorize an Additional $34,680 from Fund 117 Measure L to Support a Study Related to Impacts of AB 413-Daylighting at Roadway Crossing with Marked and Unmarked Crosswalks, on Caledonia Street and in on Bridgeway in Downtown Chris Zapata, City Manager, pointed out an error in the title. The amount requested should reflect $64,680.
Kevin McGowen, Director of Public Works, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Joseph Roland, Yoshi Tome, Robert Woodrum, Teri Lang, Carolyn Revelle, Adam Driver, Alexander Bleyleben, Michael Smiley, Warren Veils, Babette McDougal, Fred Moore, Sandra Bushmaker, Sharna Brockett, Kieran Culligan, Mary Griffin, Adrian Brinton and Alice Merrill provided public comments.
Councilmember Sobieski moved, seconded by Mayor Woodside, and unanimously carried (Vice Mayor Blaustein being absent) to direct staff to appropriate $68,680 for a design-led Caledonia streetscape study, with a landscape architect as lead and traffic engineer in support, focused on parking, AB 413 compliance, and long-term streetscape design for Caledonia and adjacent streets.
Councilmember Cox moved, seconded by Councilmember Hoffman, and unanimously carried (Vice Mayor Blaustein being absent) to continue the AB 413 implementation aspect of the action to a date in May and directed staff, with input from the Police Department, to return with specific Caledonia red-curb and replacement parking sketches and plans.
5.C Review and Provide Direction to Staff on the Resident Parking Benefit Program for Downtown Municipal Parking Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 Wayne Kwan, Parking Programs Manager, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Carolyn Revelle, Andrew Dennison, Sharna Brockett, Alice Merrill, Sandra Bushmaker and Adrian Brinton provided public comments.
Councilmember Cox moved, seconded by Councilmember Sobieski, and unanimously carried (Vice Mayor Blaustein being absent) to maintain the City's existing Resident Parking Benefit Program (3 hours free in lots 1-4 from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m., free 6-10 p.m.), while transitioning to the new Flowbird pay stations and adding ParkMobile as an optional payment method with PIN-based verification for resident benefits.
5.D Draft General Fund Transfer Policy Discussion and Direction Chris Zapata, City Manager, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council.
Sobieski: Step 4: reread as "all expenses approved by the city council" Sandra Bushmaker and Adrian Brinton provided public comments.
Councilmember Sobieski moved, seconded by Councilmember Hoffman, and unanimously carried (Vice Mayor Blaustein being absent) to approve the following amended General Fund Transfer Policy: Hybrid enterprise funds include Parking, MLK, Old City Hall, and B of A. General Fund Transfers will only occur from hybrid enterprise funds when revenue exceeds operating: capital, debt service, amortized replacement costs, and all personnel expenses related to the particular fund. No funds will be allocated to the General Fund in the annual budget process in the event total projected hybrid enterprise expenses exceed total projected hybrid enterprise fund revenues. Appropriate and legal fund transfers from the Tidelands Fund will continue to be allocated for expenses necessary for the administration of Tideland Fund activities.
The following are necessary for this policy within the overall City Budget adoption:
1. City staff will provide total fund balances for hybrid enterprise funds annually.
2. City staff will provide all current-year revenue projected for each fund.
3. City staff will provide all current-year direct expenses projected for each fund.
City staff will account for all expenses approved by the City Council, including replacement/amortization of major capital projects, in each fund before any General Fund Transfer can occur.
5. City staff will deduct all appropriate expenses from the General Fund related to the Parking Fund, MLK Fund, Old City Hall, and B of A Building Funds, and the General Fund will receive appropriate credit from each fund for related business-type expenses such as information technology, insurance, and administration of work to compensate for these services.
6. City staff will bring forth projected net revenue after projected expenses for potential General Fund use in the annual budget cycle to be considered by the City Council.
7. No transfers will be made without City Council approval.
5.E Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of Ordinance No. 06-2026, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Sausalito Re-Adopting Military Equipment Use Policy 705
Brandon Rogers, Support Services Lieutenant, made a presentation and responded to questions posed by the City Council
Babette McDougal provided public comments.
Councilmember Cox moved, seconded by Councilmember Sobieski, and unanimously carried (Vice Mayor Blaustein being absent) to introduce by title only and waive first reading of Ordinance 06-2026, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Sausalito re- adopting military equipment use policy 705.
6. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS & OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS
6A. Councilmember Committee Reports
Councilmembers Cox and Hoffman reported attending the Marina Vista and Terraces of Sausalito HOA meeting with Southern Marin Fire's Deputy Fire Marshal Lau regarding Firewise participation, vegetation management efforts, and the recommissioning of Station 2 for wildfire and vegetation management in that area.
Councilmember Hoffman reported attending the North Bay Executive Committee annual regional meeting in San Anselmo, which included a presentation on Proposition 1's statewide behavioral health reforms and their implications for expanded behavioral health services in Marin County and Sausalito.
Councilmember Hoffman reported her upcoming attendance at the Cal Cities City Leaders Summit in Sacramento, including a scheduled meeting with Assemblymember Damon Connolly, participation in the new statewide Veterans and Military Affairs Committee as vice chair (focusing first on veterans' homelessness), and attendance at a gubernatorial candidates' forum.
Councilmembers Hoffman and Sobieski reported meeting with representatives of the Sausalito Sustainability Working Alliance (SSWA) to discuss a proposed pivot in the shoreline adaptation plan toward more detailed, design-focused sea level rise analysis and data collection for Sausalito's shoreline.
Councilmembers Cox and Hoffman reported their planned attendance at the upcoming Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) meeting, with Cox reminding colleagues to complete the MCCMC survey.
Mayor Woodside reported on his visit to Sausalito's sister city Sakaide; Japan, including a meeting with the mayor there and noting the value of the sister-city relationship-especially Its youth homestay exchanges and the parallels between Sakaide's post-bridge growth and Sausalito's own history.
Sandra Bushmaker provided public comments.
6B. Future Agenda Items
6C. Minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees
6D. Other reports of significance
6E. Public Comment on Items 6A-6D: limited to 2 minutes/person 6F. Appointments (if any)
The City Council designated Councilmembers Cox and Sobieski to work directly with the City Attorney on Pelican Harbor matters as a temporary subcommittee, with the issue to return to the full Council in May.
7. ADJOURNMENT 9:29
Mayor Woodside adjourned the meeting at 9:29 p.m
Respectfully submitted,
Deirdre Coyne
Deputy City Clerk