City Council Meeting - February 15, 2011

The transcript provided does not contain substantive discussion or presentation of a specific agenda item. It consists of fragmented expressions of thanks and brief, unclear remarks from Carolyn Ford and Herb Weiner, such as 'Don't do it.' ▶ 📄, 'Well, we believe in keep it sharp and simple.' ▶ 📄, and 'Oh, he'll make it. Don't worry.' ▶ 📄. There is no identifiable councilmember discussion or deliberation on any topic.

The meeting was called to order at 6:15 PM on February 16th. Mayor Herb Weiner welcomed attendees and conducted a roll call with City Manager Adam Politzer substituting for the city clerk. All councilmembers were present. ▶ 📄 The council then moved into a closed session to discuss several items: negotiations on property (Sausalito Marine), litigation on Zax, litigation on Bruce, and discussion on Sausalito Yacht. ▶ 📄 The transition to closed session was noted due to no audience presence. ▶ 📄

Mayor Herb Weiner calls the meeting to order and roll is taken. The Pledge of Allegiance is led. The council reports on a closed session discussing items 1-4, including negotiations on Bridgeway Marine and legal cases. Councilmember Chuck Donald inquires about which specific Bridgeway Marine properties were discussed in closed session ▶ 📄. City Attorney Mary Wagner clarifies it includes all Bridgeway Marine properties: the peninsula parcel with the marina and buildings, and water parcels, estimated to be around seven parcels total ▶ 📄. A motion to approve the agenda is made, seconded, and passed.

Police Chief introduces Chris Majora, a part-time city employee since 2000, for swearing in as a full-time parking enforcement officer ▶ 📄. The ceremony includes the oath of office and badge pinning ▶ 📄. Councilmembers express congratulations, and Chris Majora is invited to speak and introduce family ▶ 📄.

The Communications item allowed public comments on non-agenda items. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Mike Kelly indicated he had a communication. Mayor Herb Weiner facilitated public comments. ▶ 📄 Jerry Robinson spoke about anchor-outs in Richardson Bay, reporting theft of his property (engine, boat lift, anchors) found on anchor-out boats, and expressed frustration with lack of enforcement. He mentioned threats and the need for action, especially with America's Cup coming. He suggested collecting fees from anchor-outs. ▶ 📄 Alfred Nucifora requested help with a vehicle parked for years on Cable Roadway, creating safety and access issues, and asked for ticketing, a no-parking sign, and staff action. ▶ 📄 Michael Racks requested a future agenda presentation by the Richardson's Bay Maritime Association about a maritime museum at the Bay Model property. ▶ 📄 Chuck Donald commented on identity theft, noting the police department's inability to investigate such cases and requested a clear policy be adopted and announced.

Council Member Linda Pfeifer requested an edit to the minutes from the previous meeting regarding a future agenda item. She asked to add 'with respect to protecting current marineship zoning' to the description of her request for an update on the economic study ▶ 📄. She noted the same edit was needed for item 3B5 from another meeting ▶ 📄. Mayor Herb Weiner acknowledged the edit and indicated it would be included.

The item was part of the consent calendar. Council Member Vyver indicated a desire to speak on the item ▶ 📄. No detailed discussion or presentation was recorded in the provided transcript.

The consent calendar was discussed with two items pulled for separate consideration. Councilmember Linda Pfeifer requested to pull item 4E, 'adopt resolution establishing roles and responsibilities of the Housing Element Committee' ▶ 📄. Staff requested this item be moved up in the agenda so the Community Development Director wouldn't have to stay late. Councilmember Carolyn Ford requested to pull an item regarding parks and rec facilities ▶ 📄, with staff similarly requesting it be moved up so the Park and Rec Director wouldn't have to stay late. After discussion, it was decided to move the Housing Element Committee item to 6B and the parks item to 6C ▶ 📄.

Administrative Services Director Charlie Francis presented the mid-year budget review, explaining the budget planning cycle and the city's financial status. Key points include: a projected surplus of $36,000 (down from $94,000) due to a $177,000 decrease in property taxes from foreclosures and Proposition 13 adjustments ▶ 📄. Sales tax is stable at $1.5 million, while transient occupancy taxes increased. Expenditures are mostly on budget, with supplemental appropriations needed for unbudgeted items like Vina del Mar and Marinship inventory, and fire department overtime offset by new Golden Gate Park District revenue ▶ 📄. Department highlights were reviewed, showing accomplishments across all city departments. Financial strategies were discussed, noting static revenues and rising CalPERS pension costs as a future threat, with opportunities including paying off side funds and fire consolidation to mitigate increases ▶ 📄. Councilmember Mike Kelly inquired about police and fire employee counts ▶ 📄.

Councilmember Linda Pfeifer raised concerns about the resolution, particularly regarding the change from an ad hoc committee to a task force and the implications under Municipal Code Chapter 2.58. She emphasized the importance of resident involvement and the committee's ability to select its own chair and vice chair ▶ 📄. Carolyn Ford supported keeping the committee structure, opposed mayoral appointment of leadership as politicizing, and advocated for committee members to elect their own leaders ▶ 📄. Mike Kelly noted a fundamental disagreement and proposed tabling the item until a full council is present ▶ 📄. Mayor Herb Weiner suggested changing 'citizen' to 'resident' and postponing discussion to the March 8th meeting ▶ 📄.

Councilmember Carolyn Ford raised concerns about the allocation of $3,000 for large willow trees at Dunphy Park, seeking clarification that it was for restoration and enhancement, not removal ▶ 📄. She also requested evaluation and maintenance for palm trees at Viña del Mar Park, noting they hadn't been assessed in years and risked being lost ▶ 📄. Jonathon Goldman clarified that the grant funds would be used for planting new large willow trees to replace fallen ones, not removal ▶ 📄. He stated that grant funds could not be used for palm tree maintenance or arborist assessments, as they are designated for specific projects, not general maintenance ▶ 📄. Ford then urged that palm tree maintenance be prioritized on a future agenda ▶ 📄, and Goldman agreed to coordinate with Public Works ▶ 📄. The council proceeded to approve the item.

City Engineer Todd Teachout introduced the feasibility study for a separated pedestrian and bicycle pathway along Bridgeway from Ferry Landing to Gate 6 Road, conducted by Alta Planning over nearly two years. Ian Moore of Alta presented the study, outlining six segments with conceptual designs, cost estimates ($10-12M total), and phasing (short, mid, long-term) based on right-of-way availability, community support, and connectivity. Key points: Segment 1 (city-owned lots) requires reconfiguration and loss of ~25 parking stalls, a long-term project; Segments 2, 3, 4, 6 involve reconfiguring existing sidewalks/setbacks with minimal property impacts; Segment 5 (Marinship) is most expensive ($6-7M) due to right-of-way acquisition and engineering challenges. The study aims to serve varied users, separating slower bicyclists/pedestrians from faster 'spandex warriors' on Bridgeway. Council discussion included: Herb Weiner questioned parking loss and suggested alternatives ▶ 📄; Carolyn Ford emphasized resident involvement via a bicycle/pedestrian committee and prioritizing Gate 6 intersection improvements ▶ 📄; Mike Kelly supported phased implementation using grants, noting high bicycle traffic ▶ 📄; Linda Pfeifer supported concept but stressed balancing priorities with other infrastructure needs ▶ 📄. Council consensus favored adopting the study as a policy guide for grant funding, with separate consideration to re-establish a bicycle/pedestrian committee.

Director Jonathon Goldman provided an update on the PG&E SmartMeter program, referencing a California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) health report issued January 11th, which found that smart meters result in much smaller radio frequency exposure than common household devices like cell phones, and that FCC standards provide adequate safety against known thermally induced health impacts. The report also noted insufficient knowledge about non-thermal impacts. Assemblymember Huffman's AB 37, which would allow consumers to opt-out of wireless smart meters and require disclosures, was mentioned as aligning with the report's call for more research. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Mike Kelly inquired about AB 37. ▶ 📄 Public comments expressed concerns about health effects, lack of consumer benefit, and the mesh network transmission method involving Verizon. Council discussion focused on potential city action, with Councilmember Linda Pfeifer questioning why the city's wireless communication facilities ordinance wasn't being applied to smart meter infrastructure. City Attorney Mary Wagner indicated that PUC regulation likely preempts local ordinance. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Mike Kelly emphasized supporting AB 37 as a more effective strategy than local moratoriums. ▶ 📄

City Attorney Mary Wagner presented the resolution to accept easements over specified APNs for sewer purposes to facilitate State Revolving Loan financing. Councilmember Mike Kelly clarified that the purpose is to give the city clarity for easier financing and recorded access to repair sewer lines along an east-west corridor ▶ 📄. Mary Wagner noted that documentation for existing easements hasn't been located, but this resolution will help secure funding release ▶ 📄. The council discussed the APN numbers, confirming they include 065-041-10, 065-041-04, 065-041-05, and 065-041-06 ▶ 📄.

City Manager Adam Politzer provided updates on upcoming events: the next MCCMC meeting in Novato on February 23rd ▶ 📄, a special City Council meeting on March 17th at 4 PM at the Bay Model to introduce new Police Chief Jennifer Tejada, who starts on February 22nd ▶ 📄, ▶ 📄, and a Council Management Team Strategic Planning Retreat on March 25th ▶ 📄. He noted that facilitator Michelle Murphy would contact councilmembers beforehand. Politzer also announced he would be out of the country starting the next day, with Charlie Francis acting as city manager in his absence ▶ 📄. Councilmembers thanked him, and Mike Kelly asked for clarification on dates ▶ 📄, ▶ 📄. Herb Weiner indicated he would move to appointments next ▶ 📄.

Mayor Herb Weiner presents the formation of an ad hoc committee (or task force) to address the impact of the upcoming America's Cup race on Sausalito. He outlines the proposed race course near Spinnaker and along Bridgeway, noting the significant impact on the town. ▶ 📄 The committee structure includes three groups: Maritime, Business, and Community, with Jim Gabbett as overall chair and John Williams as facilitator at no cost. ▶ 📄 Mayor Weiner lists appointees, aiming for geographic representation in the Community committee. Councilmember Carolyn Ford recommends adding Irv Govman to the Maritime committee and Bob Casani to the Community committee, which the Mayor accepts. ▶ 📄 Discussion includes clarifying whether it's an ad hoc committee or task force, with consensus that semantics are less important than moving forward. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Mike Kelly compares it to the Tour of California planning structure. ▶ 📄 The goal is to have recommendations within three months. ▶ 📄

Councilmember Linda Pfeifer suggests adding an agenda item about lighted sidewalks or crosswalks, inspired by those in Petaluma, for safety. ▶ 📄 Herb Weiner notes they are effective but expensive. ▶ 📄 City Manager Jonathon Goldman offers to prepare a presentation but highlights concerns: the installations are expensive, require maintenance not currently provided, and could increase liability if not maintained, as case law on standard of care is still developing. ▶ 📄 Mike Kelly mentions San Francisco's fiber optics along the waterfront as a similar example but agrees with the liability concern. ▶ 📄 The discussion concludes without a formal decision to add the item.

The meeting concluded at 10:15 PM, with Carolyn Ford noting the completion time ▶ 📄. Mike Kelly made an unrelated comment about the origins of Valentine's Day ▶ 📄.