City Council Meeting - April 01, 2014

The meeting was called to order on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, with roll call confirming attendance of all councilmembers ▶ 📄. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Dorothy Gibson ▶ 📄. The Mayor reported a closed session was held earlier to discuss three matters: two conference with legal counsel and one real property negotiation, with no public comment ▶ 📄. The agenda was approved with a modification to remove items 4C and 4D from the consent calendar and move them to a date uncertain ▶ 📄.

Tricia Smith, chairperson of the Age-Friendly Sausalito Task Force, presented an update on the task force's work. She reported that the task force was formalized by a unanimous city council vote in July, mailed a questionnaire to 2,400 residents 55+ with a 50% response rate (1,200 responses), and applied to the WHO. Sausalito has been accepted as the first city in Marin County and third in California to receive the WHO age-friendly city designation ▶ 📄. This provides partnership with WHO, access to a global network, and monitoring of progress. Smith introduced and thanked task force members and volunteers, including Betsy Stroman, Sybil Boutillier, Anne Hurland, Pat Christopherson, Judy Leachman, Stella Schell, and city staff Adam, Debbie, Mike Langford, and Council liaison Tom Theodorus ▶ 📄. Mayor Withey thanked the task force, noting the importance of age-friendly policies given the growing senior demographic in Sausalito and shared a personal anecdote about Meals on Wheels ▶ 📄. Councilmember Pfeiffer also expressed thanks ▶ 📄.

The item began with a police department representative presenting Dorothy Gibson with a certificate of appreciation for her tireless efforts and dedication to the Sausalito Streets and Walkways Pocket Map project ▶ 📄. Gibson was recognized as the driving force behind the project, working with city council, transportation committee, government, and historical society. Gibson then shared the history of her involvement, starting with the 1990 general plan where she chaired the Transportation Committee and discovered the need to map walkways ▶ 📄. She described decades of walking Sausalito, inspired by her landlady, and persistent advocacy that eventually led to the map's creation ▶ 📄. She raised questions about distribution—whether to sell it, put it online, or restrict access to residents ▶ 📄. Mayor and councilmembers thanked Gibson, with Councilmember Pfeiffer noting her historical contributions and book on Sausalito stairways ▶ 📄, and Councilmember Leon explaining the map's tie to disaster preparedness and police department funding ▶ 📄.

Multiple residents expressed opposition to the proposed housing element plan, specifically the rezoning of 1901 (7-Eleven) and 2015 Bridgeway to support horizontal mixed-use (HMU) units. Concerns included: the plan would destroy Sausalito's charm and character ▶ 📄, high-density development would block views and increase traffic/parking issues ▶ 📄, and alternative solutions like reusing abandoned buildings were suggested ▶ 📄. The Mayor noted the Housing Elements subcommittee met with the Spring Street Housing Association the previous night, directed staff to engage with the group, and scheduled the housing element for discussion on April 22nd ▶ 📄. Councilmember Leon also shared condolences regarding an 8.2 earthquake in Chile, near Sausalito's sister city Valparaiso ▶ 📄.

Councilmember Pfeiffer clarified the items on the consent calendar, specifically noting 4C as a lease and 4D as a fishing pier repair contract ▶ 📄. The Mayor confirmed and called for a motion to approve the consent calendar. Vice Mayor moved to approve items A, B, E, F, and G of the consent calendar ▶ 📄. The motion was voted on and passed with ayes heard ▶ 📄.

The City Council heard an appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of a variance to reduce the side yard setback from 9 feet to 5 feet for a 590 sq ft one-story addition at 619 Coloma Street. Contract Planner William Card presented the project history, noting staff recommended approval as the variance met criteria and was consistent with the neighborhood where many homes have similar setbacks ▶ 📄. The applicant's representative, Richard Jow, argued exceptional circumstances due to backyard flooding/drainage issues limiting usable yard space, and that the variance would allow a more functional interior courtyard ▶ 📄. Councilmember Leon questioned the nexus between drainage and the design change, stating drainage is a separate issue not alleviated by the variance ▶ 📄. Councilmember Pfeiffer sought clarification on how the design improves usable space ▶ 📄. The Vice Mayor and other councilmembers expressed support, noting no opposition from the adjacent neighbor, who spoke in favor, and that the variance causes little harm with much benefit ▶ 📄. Councilmember Leon suggested basing the 'exceptional circumstances' finding on neighborhood compatibility and existing similar setbacks, not drainage, to avoid setting a problematic precedent ▶ 📄. The Mayor agreed the drainage issue was a 'red herring' but believed the findings could be made ▶ 📄.

Staff and consultant Charlie Knox from PlaceWorks provided a monthly update on the Marinship Specific Plan Steering Committee's activities. The update covered February and March, including a steering committee meeting on February 24th where a revised scope of work was recommended and approved, a water tour on March 17th, a meeting with 15 Marinship property owners on March 20th, and a steering committee meeting on March 27th where preliminary strategic assessment analysis was presented. ▶ 📄 Common ground identified includes: need for infrastructure improvements, protecting the working waterfront, increasing economic vibrancy, enhancing nighttime safety, and improving wayfinding. ▶ 📄 Preliminary recommendations include: addressing inconsistencies between zoning and the specific plan, prioritizing infrastructure improvements, considering allowing some industrial (I-zone) uses in the waterfront (W-zone) to spur investment, protecting marine rails, and creating a street grid in the Marina Plaza area to improve circulation and vitality. ▶ 📄 Council discussion included Councilmember Leon expressing skepticism about property owners' claims of confusion over permitted uses, arguing they are deceptive and that the specific plan has largely succeeded in preventing unwanted change. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Pfeiffer emphasized the importance of the Marinship's economic diversity and maritime services, and raised concerns about infrastructure costs not falling on taxpayers and about large landowners' influence. ▶ 📄 Vice Mayor Weiner noted the process is early and urged moving past old conflicts to find consensus. ▶ 📄 Mayor Theodores highlighted that the July deliverable is expected to be a strategic framework or roadmap, not a new specific plan. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Withy emphasized the need to reevaluate the plan in light of new realities like sea level rise. ▶ 📄 The consultant clarified the project will conclude with a roadmap for potential next steps if the council chooses to update the specific plan. ▶ 📄

Administrative Services Director Charlie Francis introduced the item, highlighting the city's proactive pension reforms since 2003, including requiring employees to pay their share, not increasing benefits pre-recession, and hiring independent actuary Mr. Bartell for guidance. Mr. Bartell presented on the 2012 CalPERS actuarial reports, explaining upcoming CalPERS changes: a new contribution policy (direct rate smoothing) to pay off unfunded liabilities over time, assumption changes (mortality and pay increases), and risk pool adjustments. He projected contribution rate increases for miscellaneous and police plans, with significant uncertainty for fire safety. He discussed GASB 68 accounting changes, which will show a net pension liability of ~$22.6M on financial statements, and cost-sharing under PEPRA. Council discussion included: Vice Mayor inquiring about investment return assumptions and volatility ▶ 📄; Councilmember Leon questioning the policy of targeting 100% funding and comparing the city's position to others ▶ 📄, ▶ 📄; Councilmember Pfeiffer expressing concern over the growth of unfunded liability from $5M to $22M and the risks of assumptions ▶ 📄, ▶ 📄; and Mayor and others noting the city's reforms have put it in a better position than many, with the ability to make payments under projected scenarios ▶ 📄, ▶ 📄. Charlie Francis noted actual contributions are decreasing due to attrition into lower tiers and that the city has set aside funds for potential side fund payments.

City Manager Adam Politzer provided updates on several topics. He reported on a recent lightning strike that damaged two homes and left 1,000 customers without power, with some out for a full day ▶ 📄. He discussed ongoing water conservation efforts amid fluctuating drought conditions and encouraged residents to manually manage irrigation ▶ 📄. Politzer noted that Marinship Steering Committee meetings are being recorded and available online, urging public participation ▶ 📄. He addressed the situation with C-TREC, whose lease at the Schumacher site is ending, and stated the city is actively seeking options to help them stay in Sausalito, including engagement with Friends of Dunphy Park, under a deadline of end of May ▶ 📄. Councilmember Pfeiffer inquired about the reason for C-TREC's notice, with Politzer stating no official reason was given and cautioning against speculation linking it to the Marinship Steering Committee ▶ 📄. Politzer also reminded the council of an upcoming MCC-MC dinner on April 23 and mentioned the upcoming priority calendar process, inviting council members to submit items ▶ 📄.

The Mayor inquired about other reports of significance, and upon receiving no response, suggested a motion for adjournment ▶ 📄. No specific future agenda items were discussed or proposed.

The item was not discussed as the meeting was adjourned immediately after the Vice Mayor requested a brief pause. ▶ 📄