City Council Meeting - July 08, 2014

The meeting opened with Mayor Withey welcoming attendees and the City Clerk, Debbie, conducting roll call, confirming all councilmembers present ▶ 📄. Vicki Nichols led the Pledge of Allegiance ▶ 📄. Mayor Withey reported three closed session items: a conference with legal counsel and two real property negotiations, with no public comment ▶ 📄. The agenda was approved by motion and second, with all in favor ▶ 📄. Mayor Withey then opened communications for public comments on non-agenda items, noting legal restrictions on council discussion or action, and invited public input ▶ 📄.

Luke Tessier, a resident of Tam Valley and co-chair for the Mt. Tam Task Force, addressed the council. He thanked Sausalito for its ordinance on commercial bus tours, noting that Marin County is developing a similar ordinance with input from communities like Mill Valley and Tam Valley, which may prohibit buses on residential roads ▶ 📄. He highlighted a June 18th meeting with the National Park Service about Muir Woods, where residents were unsatisfied due to a lack of information from the Park Service ▶ 📄. Tessier mentioned that the Mt. Tam Task Force assisted Marin County's Department of Public Works in understanding the impacts of Park Service recommendations, as they had received almost no information from the Park Service ▶ 📄. He pointed out that 90% of the 145 legal parking spots at Muir Woods are booked months in advance, leaving only 15 spots for short-notice visitors ▶ 📄. He concluded by asking if any council members attended the June 18th meeting. Mayor Withey thanked him and asked for other public comments, but there were none ▶ 📄.

The council reviewed and approved minutes from three previous meetings (June 10, June 17, and June 24) with specific corrections. Councilmember Pfeiffer requested two amendments: (1) For June 10 minutes, adding reference to 'impacts that GGNRA will be having on Sausalito with respects to traffic congestion via the proposed Muir Woods Plan' in a future agenda item discussion ▶ 📄. (2) For June 17 minutes, clarifying that her comment specifically concerned the 'potential Marin City PDA' (Priority Development Area) ▶ 📄. City Clerk Debbie corrected the June 24 minutes to clarify that Councilmember Leon accepted Vice Mayor Theodorus's amendment but not Councilmember Pfeiffer's amendment regarding potential homeless shelter sites ▶ 📄. The Mayor and other councilmembers generally accepted the corrections, though some noted the minutes were for actions, not verbatim transcripts.

The Mayor opened public comment for any item on the consent calendar, but no members of the public wished to comment ▶ 📄. Public comment was closed. A motion was requested to approve the consent calendar, which was moved and seconded. The council voted unanimously in favor with no opposition ▶ 📄.

Staff presented the appeal of a Planning Commission-approved project for a new single-family residence at 206 Third Street, which had been appealed by neighbors at 208 Third Street. The main issues were privacy/view impacts, neighborhood character, and geotechnical/soils conditions. The applicant's team (Riley Hurd, architect Michael Heacock, geotechnical engineer Nersi Hamadi) argued the project is site-specific, offered new concessions (lowering roof height, reducing deck size), and stated geotechnical concerns are for the building permit phase, not design review. They characterized the appeal as bullying and urged approval. ▶ 📄 The appellants (Amy Wilson, engineer Dennis Riley, architect Michael Rex) raised concerns about groundwater, potential damage to their foundation, lack of hydrology report, view/privacy impacts, and neighborhood incompatibility. They argued the project's basement below the water table is unusual and risky, requiring more analysis now. ▶ 📄 Councilmembers asked detailed questions about geotechnical risks, underpinning, and design compatibility. Public Works Director Jonathan Goldman explained that such issues are typically addressed during building permits, citing the police station project as a similar example. ▶ 📄 Council discussion focused on remanding to the Planning Commission for further review of specific findings.

Chief Tejada presented the proposed bicycle parking ordinance to address increased bicycle congestion and safety concerns in Sausalito, particularly from tourist rentals. The ordinance would require bicycles to be parked at designated racks in a specified downtown area (800 to 500 blocks of Bridgeway and parts of Princess Street) to mitigate pedestrian and ADA access issues. Enforcement would be complaint-driven, with penalties including storage fees. The city has collaborated with stakeholders like the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and identified locations for additional bike racks via a grant. Council discussion included questions about targeting tourist bikes ▶ 📄, with the Chief and City Attorney emphasizing uniform enforcement. Concerns about defining 'parked' versus 'attended' bikes were raised ▶ 📄, and suggestions were made to add language for clarity and include electric bikes/scooters. Councilmembers supported the ordinance but noted the need for continued stakeholder collaboration and future considerations like developer-provided bike parking and potential fees for rental companies ▶ 📄.

Administrative Services Director Charlie Francis presented a report recommending a 0.5% sales tax measure to fund essential infrastructure like storm drains, streets, and sidewalks. He explained that Sausalito's current sales tax rate (8.5%) is below many Marin cities (9-9.25%), and a half-cent increase would generate ~$1M annually, with 40-80% paid by tourists. The tax is a transaction and use tax, applying to internet sales and ensuring revenue stays local. It requires a simple majority (50%+1) for passage, with a 10-year sunset. ▶ 📄 Vice Mayor Theodorus noted Marin cities' higher rates. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Pfeiffer questioned if internet sales would burden residents; Francis clarified residents would pay but tourists bear a significant share. ▶ 📄 A councilmember sought clarification on funds remaining in Sausalito; Francis confirmed they would be spent on local projects. ▶ 📄 Pfeiffer raised concerns about funds going to the general fund rather than being earmarked for specific infrastructure, requiring only a majority vote instead of two-thirds. Francis argued a general tax gives council flexibility. ▶ 📄 In response to public comment, Francis addressed pension costs, stating reforms have reduced annual costs by ~$1M and future increases are not near $1M. ▶ 📄 Council discussion revealed divisions: Pfeiffer opposed, citing lack of earmarking, burden on businesses/residents, and concerns it covers pension costs. ▶ 📄 Vice Mayor Theodorus supported it, emphasizing infrastructure needs and council control over spending. ▶ 📄 Another councilmember supported it for flexibility and tourist-subsidized revenue. ▶ 📄 A councilmember highlighted survey support (56%) and equitable consumption tax. ▶ 📄 Mayor Withey supported it for strategic revenue flexibility.

City Manager Adam Politzer provided two key updates. First, he announced the upcoming council meeting schedule: a special meeting next Tuesday dedicated to the housing element, followed by the regular meeting on July 22nd, and then a recess in August, encouraging council members to plan vacations and take time off ▶ 📄. Second, he congratulated the Park and Recreation Commission, Department, and volunteers for an outstanding Fourth of July celebration, noting positive community feedback and the well-coordinated parade, Dunphy Park events, and fireworks at Gabrielson Park. He mentioned that fundraising to cover fireworks costs was likely successful, with donations typically continuing after the event ▶ 📄. Mayor Withey asked for questions or public comment, but there were none ▶ 📄.

Councilmember (Vice Mayor) presented two National Park Service (NPS) related items from committee reports. First, regarding reopening the Vista Point Road for bicycle access to Fort Baker for safety, seeking council authority to write letters of support to agencies like GGNRA and Caltrans ▶ 📄. Councilmember Pfeiffer opposed due to environmental and historic impact concerns ▶ 📄. Vice Mayor Theodorus countered that it would improve safety compared to using Alexander Avenue ▶ 📄. Second, regarding NPS's Alcatraz Embarkation Plan, which includes a proposal for limited ferry service from San Francisco to Fort Baker for special events. The Councilmember recommended opposing any ferry service at Fort Baker due to traffic concerns and sought authority to comment on the plan ▶ 📄. Discussion included clarifications on timelines and relation to broader NPS plans, with Pfeiffer inquiring about connections to Muir Woods shuttle plans ▶ 📄. Public comments focused on NPS's General Management Plan (GMP), with Luke Tessier and Sue Mattson-Krings expressing concerns about unanswered questions, ferry and shuttle increases, and visitor caps ▶ 📄. Vicki Nichols suggested inviting NPS to council for answers and noted shuttles could reduce car traffic ▶ 📄. The Councilmember defended the GMP, stating it does not propose increased shuttles and that many questions were answered at a June 18th workshop ▶ 📄. Pfeiffer disagreed, stating many questions remained unanswered and emphasized concerns about traffic congestion from potential shuttle increases ▶ 📄.

Councilmember Pfeiffer requests adding the Marin City PDA (Priority Development Area) to a future agenda, citing time urgency due to ongoing discussions about Plan Bay Area 2 and potential impacts on Sausalito ▶ 📄. Vice Mayor inquires about the urgency ▶ 📄, and Pfeiffer explains that ABAG is already planning next phases, and Sausalito should understand impacts sooner rather than later ▶ 📄. Mayor Withey concludes by asking for other significant reports ▶ 📄.

Councilmember Pfeiffer indicated an intention to add a future agenda item, but no presentation or discussion occurred beyond that brief mention ▶ 📄.

Councilmember Pfeiffer mentions a future agenda item regarding an ordinance against adults riding bikes on sidewalks, citing safety hazards ▶ 📄. Mayor Withey acknowledges the comment. The discussion is brief, and the meeting proceeds to adjournment.

The item began with a request for public comment on future agenda items ▶ 📄. Luke Tessier provided a comment requesting that the council invite the Park Service and allow the Mount Tam Task Force equal time to present a rebuttal to a previous presentation, arguing that a three-minute response was insufficient compared to a 90-minute multimedia presentation ▶ 📄. Mayor Withey then called for a motion to adjourn ▶ 📄.