| Time | Speaker | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00:11.68 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:00:19.84 | Joan Cox | Welcome to the regular meeting of the Sausalito City Council for Tuesday May 23rd 2017. Lily will you take the role please? |
| 00:00:31.70 | Unknown | Council member Burns. |
| 00:00:33.27 | Joan Cox | Present. |
| 00:00:33.76 | Unknown | Councilmember Hoffman? Present. Vice Mayor Cox? Here. Mayor Withey? |
| 00:00:38.17 | Joan Cox | Here. Thank you. Chris Gallagher, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please? |
| 00:01:04.24 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Chris. |
| 00:01:09.23 | Joan Cox | We have the city, the council met in closed session to discuss three matters in connection with conference with legal counsel. THEIR OWNERS. closed session announcements. Is there any public comment on the closed session? Uh, |
| 00:01:33.11 | Joan Cox | No. |
| 00:01:38.65 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Peter. Thank you. Okay, so item E is the approval of the agenda. Can we have a motion, please? |
| 00:01:47.61 | Jill Hoffman | THE CITY IS GOING TO BE SECOND. |
| 00:01:51.22 | Joan Cox | All in favor. Aye. Motion carries. There are no special presentations or mayor's announcements this evening. |
| 00:01:52.32 | Jill Hoffman | Bye. Bye. |
| 00:02:00.60 | Joan Cox | Item two is communications, and this is the time. for the City Council to hear from citizens regarding matters that are not on the agenda. So let me repeat for matters that are not on tonight's agenda. And also, let me say that These are communications from you to us, so please don't expect a dialogue. Okay, so is there any member of the public who'd like to communicate with, with us for items not on the agenda. I have two cards. Lisa Bennett, please. |
| 00:02:44.34 | Unknown | Hello, I am just here to say that I'm working with some friends of mine to follow the vacancy on the city council We would hope that you would do everything in your power to avoid a special election, putting this on the election. It's expensive. It delays the process. And we think you've got a great deal of good candidates there. Um... And I want to thank Adam for his help in helping me understand the process before this meeting tonight. That was really great. And I'd like to just say to help make this as transparent as possible to the public so we can be aware of when interviews are and who's maybe being interviewed that day, just so that we can follow along. That's it. Thank you. |
| 00:03:33.26 | Joan Cox | Thank you very much. Peter Romanowski. |
| 00:03:40.97 | Peter Romanowski | Thank you all for being here. It's thank you for your public service. You know, I've been renting, you know, as the CEO of a nonprofit organization, the New Covenant Evangelistic Association, which I inherited. We started having church meetings, you know, in the recreation hall 14 months ago. And we're reaching out. My primary mission is to reach out to the waterfront people, the homeless, and the anchor house, and we're feeding them. I'm feeding them every Sunday, but they tend to gyrate outside because it's so beautiful outside the recreation center, under the library where we meet every Sunday at noon. We rent it for four hours, which is like $84 a week. These people are so poor that basically, you know, I have to subsidize the rent as any good preacher would do. A good preacher has to make sure the bills are paid. And so I'm making sure the bills are paid. But, and the food is paid for. But I'm finding a problem, like a lot of people are gyrating outside the recreation hall because quite frankly, it's musky. and there's no adequate air conditioning there, which is not anybody's fault. And the park director is a great man, doing a great thing, and there's been a great renovation in the recreation room. They got all new tapestry and everything is beautiful. I mean, but it's just a thought. Like there's just, if there was really a good air conditioning system down there in the summer, it could be rented out more frequently. And the ladies of Sausalito, Thank you. would love it. They'd have their balls there, you know what I mean? You know, it would be like, you know, because it would be much more used. Now, I know I'm barking at the moon and, you know, about air connectioning, because it's so hard to find. But it's just a thought. If I plant the seed in the mine, you know what I mean? If I just, you know, just put it out there, you know what I mean? That it'll pay for itself, you know? Because Thank you. I'm already, we're already paying, what, $400 a month to rent a place, which is cool, but we're having a problem with people gyrating outside where it's more beautiful. And so I'm just thinking that it would be a great social you know, project, you know, for all the socialites to come in a much more you know, cool and conducive place. And I'm not trying to like puff up myself or say anything, but I know that if we had some good air conditioning down there, I know I'm barking at you. We probably don't have air conditioning here either. Hey, I believe in miracles. If I just put the seat out, it just might happen. By the way, just one more thing. I noticed the head of the Golden Gate is here. Mr. Is there something on agenda about the project down there on the, There's nothing on there. Okay, God bless you, thank you. |
| 00:06:46.92 | Joan Cox | Is there any other member of the public who'd like to comment on any item that's not on tonight's agenda? Okay, seeing none. We have no minutes of the previous meeting. Item four is the consent calendar and the consent calendar are the routine items we try and deal with in one vote. Any questions before I throw it out for public comment? |
| 00:07:18.02 | Jill Hoffman | I do have a question about item E on the consent calendar, and that's adoption of resolution of City Council of Sausalito approving an authorizing city manager to execute the first amendment to an existing professional consulting agreement with our H a for design services to prepare construction bid and permit process documents. It was hard to tell from from the agenda but this is regarding dumpy Park and when I went and looked at the papers on dumpy Park I saw that it was a bid for. I'm not sure. It was for $250,000, and so I posed a question to the city staff, was this something that was included in the previous budget so we already seen for dumpy park and i believe jonathan has an answer for me. |
| 00:08:04.24 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:08:04.85 | Jill Hoffman | I believe he's approached the podium and he's ready. the |
| 00:08:08.29 | Jonathon Goldman | Thank you, Jonathan Goldman, your public works director and city engineer. The short answer is yes. The expectation was that preparation of construction documents taking us to the bid process would involve this level of expenditure. |
| 00:08:26.77 | Jill Hoffman | So this is part of the 1.8 million that we budgeted totally for Dumpy Park? |
| 00:08:30.77 | Jonathon Goldman | Thank you. |
| 00:08:30.80 | Joan Cox | Yes. |
| 00:08:32.63 | Jill Hoffman | THANK YOU. |
| 00:08:32.88 | Joan Cox | Follow up, the capital improvement program shows Dunphy Park design at 185, 533. Is there additional numbers to that then based on our here. |
| 00:08:47.41 | Jonathon Goldman | Yeah, I'm not entirely sure what you're looking at, but this proposal from Royston Hanamoto and their sub consultants is consistent with what we expected to have to spend to take us to. |
| 00:09:00.55 | Joan Cox | I'm looking at our what's in our packet tonight. capital improvement The name of the doctor capital update. |
| 00:09:12.00 | Jill Hoffman | I think those are minutes from the Finance Committee meeting. |
| 00:09:12.05 | Joan Cox | And he goes. |
| 00:09:14.83 | Adam Politzer | Thank you. |
| 00:09:14.93 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:09:14.95 | Adam Politzer | Thank you. |
| 00:09:15.46 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. Bye. |
| 00:09:16.55 | Adam Politzer | councilmember burns those may be the um last year's budget numbers based on the original um 10 that the city would budget for design services so 1.8 million dollars would translate to 180 000 so based on where we are with the budget with the with the project since those original numbers were uh estimated it's just that Melanie hasn't updated the capital projects on those specifics on Dunphy Park. So what I've recommended to our public works director is that at our next council meeting on June 6th when Melanie Purcell, our administrative services director, introduces the budget for 2018 that Jonathan give a more comprehensive report on the timeline the budget and next steps as part of the Dunphy Park update on June 6 and and then periodically after as the project moves forward continuing to give updates to the council as necessary both on timeline and budget just as we've done with other important projects for the city. |
| 00:09:31.18 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 00:10:37.11 | Joan Cox | Has that answered your questions? |
| 00:10:40.08 | Joan Cox | Yeah, I mean, what answers that we'll find out more later? |
| 00:10:47.19 | Joan Cox | It seems like it's 100,000 over. |
| 00:10:47.29 | Unknown | TODAY. |
| 00:10:51.49 | Joan Cox | and we had it on consent. |
| 00:10:52.22 | Jill Hoffman | Well, it's 250 and the CIP showed 185. |
| 00:10:56.10 | Joan Cox | It's 250 plus the 35 that we spent so this is just design this doesn't break it down. So when we're at least to 280 into a design that doesn't get us through that gets us through construction documents. So it just seems like that's a rapidly growing number passed but yeah it's working. I know I figure I've got to do it. |
| 00:11:09.99 | Adam Politzer | Yeah, it worked. it. Thank you. yeah it's worth noting that we created an an additional step when when they were here back in february which was we asked the architects to do a stakeholders meeting which cost us another you know 35 000 so that was an extra step so when you look at you know the the the project um you know the complexities of the project the the scope of the project has increased from when that original budget was established. You know, we're now talking about the land that's not just the Dumpy Park land, but the park on the other side. So the additional funds, you know, include those next steps to get us through the awarding awarding the contract. |
| 00:12:00.02 | Joan Cox | What's the... I mean, I think we got some unanswered questions here. What's our timeline for Um... We need this to get in front of the Planning Commission, right? No, no, no. This is, the Planning Commission's done, so. |
| 00:12:15.00 | Adam Politzer | No, no, no. Yeah, we have, um, was authorized when Royson came and gave the, the, um, presentation to the Council we authorize them to continue with now design work to get it through the Planning Commission and that has now the Planning Commission has approved the project on a 401 vote as stated in the staff report and so now we're getting to the construction documents now we need to get to construction documents so that we can go out to bid so it's the next phase of the project of the project So it's again coordinating with BCDC, all the other permitting, all the engineering that needs to go into the design work to get in position to ask for bids. Now between now and June 6th, we will not have spent $250,000 in design work. So if there is something that, you know, questions are not answered on June 6th, well then, you know, we're able to amend the contract, we're able to terminate the contract, or add to the contract if for some reason there's unanswered questions on June 6th. But to keep this project moving forward, the next phase as we shared with the council back in February was to go to this next, to this next, next phase of the project. based on the Planning Commission's approval, and that's why it's before you tonight. |
| 00:13:54.31 | Joan Cox | Okay. So we normally work off 10%, which seems to be an adequate number in most cases for design. |
| 00:14:00.81 | Adam Politzer | Well, no, we don't normally, but we did a 101 to talk about that is the, that's the guiding principles. But you can go through the history of our projects and we've been far off of 10% on design fees. I mean, this is, sorry. |
| 00:14:14.60 | Jill Hoffman | I mean, this is a, sorry. |
| 00:14:16.59 | Adam Politzer | Go ahead. |
| 00:14:17.42 | Jill Hoffman | In reviewing our 2016-2017 budget, page 118 of 156, this line, there's a separate line item for Dunphy Park design at 185-533. and then a separate item, a separate line item for Dunphy Park construction and contingency. |
| 00:14:39.81 | Joan Cox | What's that number? Because contingency would be. |
| 00:14:41.16 | Jill Hoffman | which is 1.250 in fiscal year 1617 and 419,800 in fiscal year 17-18. |
| 00:14:51.57 | Unknown | Right. |
| 00:14:51.94 | Jill Hoffman | And it says, you know, |
| 00:14:52.40 | Unknown | AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT |
| 00:14:54.85 | Jill Hoffman | And then for a total of 1.855333. So is it the city's plan to spend less on construction and contingency than in this line item in order to make up for the additional $100,000 being spent on design? |
| 00:15:13.32 | Jonathon Goldman | I'm not sure. The plan is to take what has been identified as desirable by the community and by the council, and what a design review permit was issued by the Planning Commission for up to the point where it is ready to invite bids. And as you're well aware, the bids actually tell us what the project is going to cost, no matter what the budget says. an additional, as the city manager has indicated, another area of service that we get by authorizing our designer to continue to roll with the momentum that they have developed is we get much more detailed construction cost estimating as part of the process because their work will involve much more detailed engineering and design and we then get a much higher level of cost estimate for that project and my expectation and I think what the city manager just said is that staff's expectation is that we'll be returning regularly to city council to update on the status of all of those and hopefully hone in on the final answer to your question, which the marketplace really determines. It's not something that we determine independently of the marketplace. |
| 00:16:49.26 | Jill Hoffman | Does the contract require the designer to design the features THE END OF THE identified to the planning commission within this budget 1.669 800. |
| 00:17:09.04 | Jonathon Goldman | The consultant is well aware of what the appropriated budget for this project is, but they aren't necessarily strictly constrained. Their job is to help us to deliver a complete project and absolutely do the best that they can to deliver it. with the funds available, but it's up to the city council to decide whether the funds available are reduced or increased depending upon what our consultant tells us about what the project will cost. |
| 00:17:53.74 | Joan Cox | I'm just going to state a concern that I think we're into this far enough and I don't, it's not to reverse course in any way, but you know, we worked on a couple years in a schematic plan that was donated basically from community members and tons of public outreach that normally an architect would do or a design process would cover. And at the time we thought we were saving the community a lot of money and after all of that we're 280 now going forward on a 1.8 project. And then looking at the line items, I was just kind of, you know, like 40 something hours of plant design for something that we had spent months, if not a couple years kind of honing in on. So it didn't seem like, now it doesn't seem like we saved a whole lot of money in our schematic process because it just seems like we're high. Um, |
| 00:18:49.31 | Adam Politzer | Well, and just to comment, we saved a significant amount of money because all of that public process and the expertise that Jacques Coleman and Paul Leffingwell brought to the table, we would have had to pay for it. As a reminder, the Duffy Park project you know, the renovation and the conceptual designs have gone back to 2002. And so, with no identified funds to actually move to the design phase or the construction phase. And so similar to Robin Sweeney Park, the conceptual project was before the council, before funds were identified, and then later it was narrowed down into the discussions of potential plants and program areas. But unlike Southview Park, Southview Park, we didn't move forward with any conceptual plans until we identified funds to actually move that project forward. So we're still working off of a project that was conceptually planned and programmed before we had funds and a budget. So the work that Jacques Allman and Paul Leffingwell did, working with staff and with the Parks and Rec Commission and community groups throughout the past several years, actually was money well spent. It's very similar to the Bank of America project that Bill Werner had donated all the conceptual and pre-work to for the eventual replacement of the downtown restroom. But the services, his design services fee related to the downtown restroom were in the neighborhood of $124,000. So even though we had great savings of what he had donated up front on the conceptual plans, the actual design work that he was paid for was over $120,000. for a 630 square foot restroom. So you know, it's it's expensive. We all recognize that that number is a large number But the complexity of Dunphy Park and the shoreline and and you know then compounded by ADA and all the other new requirements on storm drain storm drain impacts, the parking lot, the relationship with Galley Harbor and the Cruising Club and Gatsk-Gidley makes it a more complex project Thank you. than the restroom which sat squarely on our property and was a pretty straightforward restroom design. This one has a lot more complexities which require the design team and their associates being engineering firms, the folks that deal with environmental review, all require coordination with all of the stakeholders associated with the park. |
| 00:21:48.59 | Joan Cox | So in a long-winded answer, we could have had, we could have had 400,000 on this in reality. |
| 00:21:56.28 | Joan Cox | Well, Is there any more questions before I open this for public comment? Any more questions of staff? |
| 00:22:04.63 | Jill Hoffman | I have, I'm sorry, do you have a moment? So Jonathan, I appreciate your comments about sort of the scope of what, |
| 00:22:05.78 | Joan Cox | Yeah, no, please. |
| 00:22:13.36 | Jill Hoffman | of what the... you know, what this company is going to do for Sausalio, is it possible, you know, to articulate or is it correct that they're gonna be doing more things than would be normally budgeted with, was it 185,000? 185,000, because that's, there's $65,000 over what we budgeted for it, but are they bringing in other things under the scope of that that will save us, that will be cost savings later on, so that even though that's 65 over what we had budgeted, is it true that it will save us later on and with the scope of the whole project, or is it just, because of the size of the project is 250,000. I hope I... That was a long one, sorry. |
| 00:22:57.38 | Unknown | I don't know. Oh, |
| 00:22:58.68 | Jonathon Goldman | I absolutely think that it's not even just a matter of thought. It's our responsibility, and we're part of the team too, to make sure that we're not able to do that all of the elements of the project are understood and carefully designed so that we are optimizing the expenditure of our funds. An example that comes to mind is, yes, there was a lot of conceptual design work done in identifying plants, but the context, the regulatory context, the maintenance context, and as Adam mentioned, some of the stormwater regulations that apply weren't really taken into account in those conceptual designs. And the rubber meets the road with city staff and with this consultant to figure out all those details, get permits from all of the regulatory agencies that are involved, and provide the city council and the community with an accurate estimate of what we can expect those improvements will cost. And then, with council's permission, let the marketplace tell us what contractors will Thank you. those improvements will cost and then, with council's permission, let the marketplace tell us what contractors will actually charge us to build it. |
| 00:24:28.93 | Jill Hoffman | What's the option is to, I mean is there an option to go, is it an option to go back and say no on 250, you've got 185, what can you do for 185? IN THE CITY. |
| 00:24:40.83 | Jonathon Goldman | Certainly the council has the discretion to not authorize a contract amendment of the magnitude that staff has recommended. what that will do is get us not to the ready to invite bids point, but somewhere in between here and there. From my perspective, that's staff's responsibility in managing the contract. And in the long run, I would expect that that just slows us down a little bit, but it's not, that's of course within your discretion. |
| 00:25:25.88 | Joan Cox | Okay, one more question? |
| 00:25:28.40 | Jill Hoffman | For the staff, so we have budgeted for this specific line item 185-533. We're now proposing to spend $100,000 more than that. This was not included in our budget adjustment update from Melanie Purcell, our administrative officer. So what is the, do we, can we even authorize this expenditure without having made the budgetary adjustment? |
| 00:25:54.25 | Jonathon Goldman | if I may. I know that you're referring to a budget document that is essentially rolls up into what the appropriated budget is, and as indicated in the staff report, the appropriated budget is $1.8 million. So there is not the need for council to authorize a supplemental appropriation in order to approve this contract amendment. |
| 00:26:22.94 | Jill Hoffman | Well, except that in the budget it's segregated. If that would be true in my opinion, except in the budget it's segregated into separate line items. So that, yes, the total is 1.8. |
| 00:26:32.31 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:26:33.88 | Jill Hoffman | But there is a separate line item devoted to |
| 00:26:36.89 | Joan Cox | The, if I may, the... |
| 00:26:37.40 | Jill Hoffman | So if you're not. |
| 00:26:40.36 | Joan Cox | The capital, the six-year rolling capital improvement plan is The plan is exactly what it is, a planning document. I think we're all talking at cross purposes, because what our Jonathan's talking about is the actual amount that's appropriated in terms of what can be spent on the overall project that doesn't refer to the sub details of the line items of the capital improvement so you're a little bit talking across you know talking different apples and oranges here so look let's have public comment on the consent calendar and then decide what we're going to do with this item when we close public comment. Okay, so is there any member of the public who'd like to comment on any of our... |
| 00:27:13.94 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 00:27:31.28 | Joan Cox | Items 4A to F on our consent calendar. |
| 00:27:39.97 | Unknown | I'm short on the Dumpy Park aspect, but I thought the council should know that years ago, when I first came here, which is about 42 years ago, about three years into belonging to Rotary, The police department asked us to bury a fire pit and barbecue set up that was there. And I'm not sure if the council's aware of that and that it is buried. We did not take it apart. It could have an effect on your budget. |
| 00:28:14.97 | Jill Hoffman | an unforeseen underground construction. |
| 00:28:17.03 | Jill Hoffman | I'm not going to be a good condition. |
| 00:28:17.61 | Jill Hoffman | you |
| 00:28:17.84 | Jill Hoffman | you Was there a propane tank involved with that? |
| 00:28:22.99 | Joan Cox | Is there any other public... |
| 00:28:31.43 | Vicki Nichols | Good evening Mayor Withy and Councilmembers. I'm not a budget expert, but I think that the explanation has been made and I've heard in your discussions before. There's $1.8 million for this project. I can appreciate you wanna be detailed on your line items, but there's been so much work. The Planning Commission finally approved this. There's been so much work coordinating with GALILEE and with CAS. This is ready to roll. If you delay this, you're not over your budget yet. This is the phase that really is gonna tell you what you need and what needs to happen. If it's not done, it's gonna be delayed, it's gonna cost more, so I would encourage you to not go against your budget, but look at your total. You're not near your total yet. This is a reasonable cost for the job this size. Thank you. |
| 00:29:26.56 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Anybody else like to talk about any consent calendar item? Peter. |
| 00:29:39.85 | Peter Romanowski | Again, this called me barking at the moon. Well, I believe in miracles. And the miracle I'm hoping, praying for, that we have a cold shower, at least in maybe in this new restroom at Dunphy Park. And, you know, the trees, you know, there's that cement foundation there, and the trees have been all knocked down. So there's a beautiful cement foundation there to build, you know, the restroom, you know, and maybe a cold shower. Like today I bathed in the dog fountain, you know, because I shampooed my hair in the dog fountain. And that's what us anchor outs have to do to stay clean, you know, because we got no place to shower. We got no place, just a hose maybe. But anyways, and on the fire pit, yes, I missed the fire pit. It's sad that there's a beautiful fire pit down there buried, and boy, it would be a miracle to have it dig up someday, at least as an archeological site, you know what I mean? God bless you. |
| 00:30:40.28 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Anybody else have anything to say? And then can David. |
| 00:30:47.37 | David Sudo | David Sudo, I guess we're going to have a choice later on. We're going to have a choice of whether we limit the scope of the project to stay within our budget, which is where we're going to have to decide whether we want to spend more money to fulfill the original scope of the improvements that the community has envisioned. And I think that's pretty obvious, at least it's obvious to me. But I do think, I have been in Lions Club and gone around these different parks and I've heard wonderful stories about how volunteers have built different parts of the city, different parks, and it's obvious at places like Tumpey Park, that it was built by a lot of hard work and elbow grease, but there wasn't a lot of engineering done on a lot of these projects, and now, We have to spend a lot of money to make sure when we rebuild this park that it's engineered correctly and we don't end up with subsidence issues and irrigation issues and salt water intrusion like we do have in Duffy Park right now. We need to make sure it's properly planned up front so we don't have expensive issues in the long run. So it's always better to plan thoroughly first. |
| 00:32:08.45 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:32:16.17 | Unknown | My name is Daniela Semeco. This is my first city council meeting here. I live at Bridgeway Marina and that's right next to the area where you're going to be doing some construction. And my only concern is for safety of our public shore. because, The conditions in that marina are already very dilapidated We're exposed to rough weather, and it feels like every day I see a new hole. And, you know, planks that could fall. And it's kind of scary. So I would just like to remind us all to focus on safety of our public shores. |
| 00:32:51.08 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Anybody else? No, okay, we'll close public comment. Okay, so... Item 4E. It doesn't say, listening to the, our, our, city engineer. It's unlikely that we're gonna be able to get to construction documents for less than 250 or whatever. So that's it. If we wanna get to construction documents, that's what it appears it's gonna cost, unless we wanna go and try and value engineer the design piece, so I don't know. Do we want to vote separately on item 4E or do you want to continue it? What's the sense of the consent? |
| 00:33:41.37 | Joan Cox | I'll make a motion to |
| 00:33:41.81 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:33:46.63 | Joan Cox | to approve. items A through F. and if somebody wants a second we can discuss it but I didn't I wanted to have a discussion but I don't I'm not ready to stop the process okay sir second |
| 00:34:00.61 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:34:00.67 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:34:01.64 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, I know there's emotional table. |
| 00:34:02.06 | Joan Cox | TODAY. |
| 00:34:02.26 | Joan Cox | and we're going to have a |
| 00:34:06.33 | Jill Hoffman | I don't want to stop the process either, let me just say that, but I also, you know, we have a public trust issue where we have, you know, we have certificates of participation, we have budgets and we, we, we're not successful in spending within our budget in what province Sweeney and we've stated, you know, continually that we're gonna maintain that budget and that public trust for Dunphy Park. And so I fear, as David Sudo does, we're moving toward that we're not gonna be in that budget at 1.8 if we were already 100,000 over just for this portion. So, but I am sensitive to the fact that it is a complicated project and there's all these different issues. THEIR OWN you know, What we might do is continue this one item for two weeks. and have the public works department look at it and come back and tell us specifically, as I suggested, is this item that's pushing us over $100,000 going to save us money down the road? And when we had that 1.8, budget in total. is it shifting something from this column over to this column? But, You know, I feel like we have a responsibility to the public to stay within our budget with Dumpy Park. |
| 00:35:29.55 | Jill Hoffman | I actually think we can do that by the way we write our contract. So I think if we require the designer, to design features within a budget and I mean I frequently do this for construction projects and with a provision that if the bids come in over they have to redesign at their expense. That is a responsible action we can take as a city to ensure that this project stays within budget and that the 100,000, keep in mind, this includes a contingency so we are still the overall project includes contingency. |
| 00:36:08.86 | Joan Cox | You hate to use it. Lose it. Use all the You hate to use it right up front. |
| 00:36:09.70 | Jill Hoffman | You hate to use it right up front. You hate to use it right up front. But by writing the contract properly, we can ensure that the city is not unduly exposed to risk on the budget. The other comment I would make is that, I think that where we're $100,000 over on design, we might want to consider having that as a business item as opposed to a consent item. I'm not sure that's a routine item, just for future consideration by staff. |
| 00:36:35.00 | Joan Cox | Thank you. by staff. That's all I was wanting to bring to light. |
| 00:36:41.07 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:36:41.09 | Jill Hoffman | Yep. Are you confident though as we sit here today that the 200,000 that we're over is absolutely necessary and that that can't be valued down. That's my, because like you said, you know, we don't want to use our contingency up front. Like, are we over engineering now? THE PEOPLE WHO ARE some sort of feature that's going to be part of the park. Yeah. That's my confidence level. I'm not sure that I'm confident there yet. But, you know. |
| 00:37:09.98 | Jill Hoffman | I feel as though by using the same designer that did the initial work, we are saving on on the, we could go out to RFP to validate, but then you'd have someone starting from scratch. And I believe that there are some, |
| 00:37:23.75 | Unknown | Amen. |
| 00:37:25.67 | Jill Hoffman | economies of scale to be realized by adding this on to the scope of the existing consultant. So. |
| 00:37:33.35 | Joan Cox | Thank you. So I suggest we go ahead and vote on this and should we pull it out? Do you want a separate vote on it? |
| 00:37:40.05 | Jill Hoffman | Well, there's right now a motion pending zero second. |
| 00:37:41.30 | Joan Cox | I understand, but I'm considering making an amendment if you want to vote separately on 4E. |
| 00:37:49.13 | Jill Hoffman | No, I don't need it. I think based on our conversation that we can go and use it. |
| 00:37:52.16 | Joan Cox | Okay. Would you want to second then? |
| 00:37:54.38 | Jill Hoffman | Sure. Second. |
| 00:37:55.79 | Joan Cox | Okay, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? |
| 00:37:57.82 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. |
| 00:37:57.84 | Jill Hoffman | Aye. |
| 00:38:01.01 | Joan Cox | No. OK, good. So that was the consent calendar. Next is item 6, the first of our business items, item 6A. Consideration of a community development block right cooperation agreement with the county of Marin. |
| 00:38:23.50 | Unknown | Mayor Withee, I'd like to welcome here Lili Thomas, who's the planning manager for the Marin County Housing and Federal Grants Division of the Community Development Ms. Thomas is here to discuss the consideration of community development block grant cooperation agreement with the county of Marin and the city of Sausalito. |
| 00:38:41.71 | Joan Cox | Thank you and welcome Lily. |
| 00:38:45.03 | Lili Thomas | Yeah. |
| 00:38:45.05 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:38:45.62 | Lili Thomas | Thank you. |
| 00:38:45.68 | Joan Cox | seen you in a number of years. |
| 00:38:45.69 | Lili Thomas | Thank you. Yes, thank you, thanks for having me. Welcome. |
| 00:38:49.10 | Joan Cox | for having me. |
| 00:38:51.16 | Lili Thomas | I'm here to tell you a little bit about the Community Development Block Grant Program and the HOME Program. which are operated by the county, administered by the county on behalf of all the cities and towns. In Marin we applied jointly to HUD And these are funds that are used for public services in our community, as well as some affordable housing developments and other capital projects that benefit folks who are lower income. The way the program works is there's an application process that happens in the fall. Applications are evaluated by staff and then there's a committee that includes members of each of the cities and towns, who make a funding recommendation by planning area and then those recommendations go to a wider committee. There's kind of three layers of review that are done through that process and the final decision maker is the Board of Supervisors. The agreement in front of you is for a three year cooperation agreement where the cities and towns and the county will work together and apply directly to HUD for these funds. If we don't enter into the cooperation agreement, then any community that has a population of 50,000 or more can apply directly to the state. but that is a competitive process, so we would lose funding overall as a community. And this is, again, we've entered into these for a number of years. The last one was done in 2014. This year there is a change that's a fairly significant change. In the past we had six planning areas. The county was divided into six planning areas. and each of those had a committee that made funding recommendations and then kind of went through that process that I mentioned earlier. And this year, although our funding is currently recommended to be flat, the administration has proposed severe cuts to the program including one of the early proposals was to eliminate the Community Development Block Grant funds, which currently bring about $1.2 million into the county in the home program is about half a million. So we are in preparation for possible severe cuts to the program. We're looking at ways that we can kind of streamline things and make the program more efficient and ensure that it serves the folks that it's supposed to. And so we're collapsing, we're recommending collapsing those six planning areas that the county has divided into, into three. and that would include San Rafael, Novato, and then the remainder of the county. And so that's the significant change. Other than that, it's standard. There's some slight modifications to address some of the requirements that HUD has under has, but other than that, it's a standard agreement Some of the programs that have been funded in Sausalito in the past include the, Let's see, sorry. The Capas Marina, the Galilee Harbor, Yellow Ferry Harbor, as well as a number of individual homes that were funded through the rehab loan program that are rehabilitation, remodels for homes that are owned by low-income folks. I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have. |
| 00:42:31.57 | Joan Cox | Thank you very much. Do we have any questions? |
| 00:42:37.10 | Jill Hoffman | I do. Yeah, the cooperation agreement has certain requirements regarding our jointly undertaking community renewal and lower income housing assistance activities. What are the specific obligations of the city of Sausalito if it enters into this cooperation agreement in order to get this HUD funding? |
| 00:43:04.84 | Lili Thomas | The requirements are are limited that for a specific city. So you have the option under the agreement of having a member of your council sit on the committee? And most of the cities do that Ross, for example, does not they participate in the cooperation agreement, but they don't have a member that sits on the committee and makes funding recommendations. But if you sit on the committee and make funding recommendations and you would be help you would help evaluate projects that you are familiar with that were within Sausalito and make funding recommendations on them. But this doesn't have any specific requirements. It doesn't have, it's not like, housing element requirement or any of the state requirements. It's really just so that we can enter into this agreement cooperatively as a whole community and we can apply directly to HUD rather than doing it on a competitive basis. But there's not specific housing activities that need to be undertaken by a city. |
| 00:44:09.96 | Jill Hoffman | And if we fail to enter into this agreement, would that mean the loss of funding to Galilee Harbor or other such organizations within Sausalito. |
| 00:44:22.10 | Lili Thomas | Yes, if you didn't participate in the cooperation agreement, then projects that are within the city of Sausalito would no longer be eligible for participation in the Community Development Block Grant funds. THE END OF THE Thank you. |
| 00:44:35.33 | Joan Cox | Any other questions? Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. Let's open this up for public comment. There may be some more questions after, but is there any member of the public who would like to comment on this agenda item? Okay. |
| 00:44:39.46 | Lili Thomas | Thank you. |
| 00:44:39.78 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:44:55.05 | Joan Cox | Peter. |
| 00:44:59.22 | Peter Romanowski | You know, I first set foot in this town over 50 years ago, 63. 64, and I've seen a lot of changes. Where I sit and play my guitar, I actually have church every Sunday open, and I'm the only minister that's out there available virtually every Sunday day for counseling and blah, blah, blah. I swear to you, I have not virtually seen another minister in this town. come down to the waterfront and work with us. Now on the HUD housing thing, like I'm the oldest living anchor out on the whole San Francisco Bay. Nobody has lived on the Bay longer than me, to the best of my knowledge. And I'm a senior citizen, I'm technically disabled, get some disability, got social security. I live on a thousand a month, right? And in a county that takes, the average income is 90,000. I live almost 10 times less than the average person. And with the HUD, housing, Galley Harbor, low income, Remember, if the city council does extend their jurisdiction out to the Anchorage, there has to be some way to get these people offshore in housing. But what I did when I was, when I married into the richest family and the richest county in the world, the Kettenhoff family, and I was like Moses. I was driven away into the wilderness, and it'll be 35 years now. So I've been out in the wilderness 35 years, and we're trying to find a place for the people When I lived in a nice house on a block, I turned my home into a homeless shelter. We took in all the homeless. It's my genes. It's genetic. It's spiritual. And if the people of Sausalito would open their hearts and homes to these people, they are the most grateful people. And sure, you'll risk being ripped off a little bit. Sure, you'll risk somebody running off with your wife. And if you open your home... IF YOU ARE A HOPE IN YOUR There is a solution. There is a solution somewhere. And I practiced it and I did it and I turned our Our street, where I live, our shelter, I mean our home, we lived in a beautiful home. I lived in the nicest home on the block, redwood trees, ferns, deer, Just everything. Uh... You know, if you have a nice home, Think about opening your hearts to these people, you know, because they're very grateful, you know, they really are. And that's all I can say. I mean, I know I'm barking at the moon, but I believe in miracles. You know, I believe God can change hearts, you know, and that we can take in these poor people. And because Salcido is a very rich county, you know that. And, you know, there's a way, there's always a way, you know what I mean, without... without twisting people's heads, you know what I mean? Without getting people in headlocks. There's always a way, you know? God bless you. |
| 00:47:55.87 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Is there anybody else who'd like to talk about the community development block grant? Thank you, yes, Sybil. |
| 00:48:07.56 | Sybil Boutelier | Hi Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners. I just want to say that I'm on the Housing and Transportation Committee of the Commission on Aging and we watch Lili's office and staff work very closely and work with some of her people. They do a fantastic job and I think it's really important that we participate. There's no downside to participating in this countywide agreement and working together unifying the county on some of these important projects gives us more strength and I hope that you'll vote to participate. Thank you. |
| 00:48:48.59 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:48:53.04 | Joan Cox | Good evening else. |
| 00:48:53.97 | Alice Merrill | Hi Alice Merrill I have a question is there any kind of a cost to this that would sway you one way or another. |
| 00:49:06.34 | Joan Cox | So maybe we could have the staff answer that question first. |
| 00:49:13.70 | Joan Cox | Lily is, yeah, do you mind? So cost to the city. |
| 00:49:21.66 | Lili Thomas | There's no cost to the city other than your time if a council member opts to participate. There's a little bit of cost maybe in staff time in evaluating. the cooperation agreement when it gets on the agenda, but other than that there's no cost to this. |
| 00:49:36.14 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Okay, seeing no other public comment, let's bring it back here. I personally think this is rather simple, so what Any comments? Okay, that was okay. Let's make that a motion then so and you second it |
| 00:49:51.34 | Unknown | I don't know. |
| 00:49:57.35 | Joan Cox | All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? No. Okay. Thank you very much, Lee. |
| 00:50:03.38 | Unknown | actually. |
| 00:50:08.52 | Joan Cox | Okay. Bicycle parking and congestion management program. Thank you. the April update and we have Lieutenant Stacy Gregory with us. Good evening. |
| 00:50:25.03 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:50:25.14 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:50:25.16 | Unknown | Thank you. Good evening, Mayor. |
| 00:50:37.70 | Unknown | Good evening, Lieutenant Stacy Gregory. And I'm here to give you an update on April's Statistics Successes on the Bicycle and Congestion Management Program. With me tonight, I'm lucky to have Jim Swindler from the Golden Gate Ferry, John and Lisa Scopazi, David Archer to, once I'm done, answer specific questions regarding their topic. So we'll get into it, we're gonna talk about Sausalito Plus, give you the numbers, the financials for strictly the month of April. We'll talk about the queuing and the boarding program, the signage that's been increased throughout town, our activities as far as enforcement of illegal parking of bicycles, and then the Sausalito bike return company. So a little background, on the 28th of March, the city council approved the agreement to allow Sausalito Plus to manage the congestion and the queuing or not the queuing, pardon me, the valet parking as well as kind of the bicycle traffic as they come into town. And then on April 4th, the council agreed to allow the Saucelittle Bike Return to operate in a portion of municipal lot one. |
| 00:52:07.34 | Unknown | So we'll go into the details of Sausaluda Plus. Station one is the southern point where you come into town on Alexander. The ambassador sits there and counts spikes literally as they come in during the time of their operation. You'll see there is a difference in 30% compared to last year. 7,000 bikes less. Don't know why that is. But those are our numbers as far as what we counted, Sausalito Plus counted coming into town. So the valet parking income, you'll see that has increased 34%. Um, Again, we don't know why. I'd like to say is because They're getting educated when they get their bikes. They know or they're getting word that we're enforcing if they do illegally park. and the signage throughout town is hopefully allowing them to make better choices as to where they park their bike. So the income, and this income is coming specifically from the Ventec machines where Tickets are being purchased. So the tickets issued have also gone up. It's logical if the income's gone up. The tickets have gone up. We have to remember that the tickets, whether it's a $3 ticket or a $25 impound ticket, is being included in these numbers. And that's as well as the revenue that's been reported. is whether it's $3, whether it's $25, it's being reported as a lump sum from our Ventec machines. |
| 00:53:56.23 | Unknown | So expenditures, Sausalito Plus, from the $35,000 that they were allocated per the contract with the city, their expenditures were... $30,584, and their revenue was 29, you know, just under $30,000, with a difference of just under $1,000. That being the case, we have to take into account that that also included the bicycle impound fees that we collected. Um, SO THE CUEING AND THE BOARDING It's a responsibility of Golden Gate Ferry under the leadership of Jim Swindler. Historically, the bicycle rental companies have paid for the staff that's done the queuing. Last year it was strictly Blazing Saddles and Blue and Gold. This year, Jim and his staff are contacting some of the smaller bike companies and asking them to contribute funds proportionate to the amount of bikes that they have coming into our town. So as of tonight, They have agreement from at least four bicycle companies to participate in the program and The queuing should be up and running by this weekend. And I know they are working closely with the Chamber of Commerce on these programs. They're also developing an online reservation system. And that reservation system will be accessible through any computer, including a mobile phone, mobile device. There will also be a standalone computer at the chamber kiosk, And that will allow somebody that doesn't have access to a smartphone or a computer to make their reservation and get their number to board. So I think those are all positive things going forward and I look forward to seeing how that works this weekend. Signage for the bike parking. Jonathan and Goldman and I have worked, I'd like to say pretty hard on the signage to make sure that they're in the right spots AND I WANTED TO BE They're easy to understand. Again, we can't make somebody read the sign, but we can put it there for them to read if they're Thank you. you know, gonna look at it. So we have 11 new signs that have been installed. two of the very big one, and that's the picture there. There's one at the south end of town, one at the north end of town. I mean, you can't miss them when you're coming in. And then we have five of the large signs, but just a little bit smaller. And there are prominent places throughout town, Princess Street being one. EL PORTAL. Ensign. and even on the north end of town coming in for the bicyclists that actually ride on the bike path and not in the roadway so we're getting both areas these smaller signs we've put in places where we've noticed bikes parking illegally, and so working with Jamie, He's told me the parklet, both sides of those, is like a magnet for bikes. So we have signs right there. So somebody can't say that we didn't know. We have one on Princess right before you get to Starbucks. And there's also one at the top of Princess Street on the chain link fence there, which is also a magnet for illegal bikes. So we'll evaluate this throughout the season. And if we need to, we have more signs and we'll put them up. But we're trying to be cognizant of sign littering. So that's what we've done so far on the signage. Oh, I should have put this up. some of the pictures. We also have a sign behind Bank of America that will hopefully keep everybody within the bike rack area. So bike parking enforcement. Jamie LaMonto has probably the toughest job in town. He locks up the illegal bikes. These are the numbers from when we started for the five weeks in April, 133 bikes total. And when I say that, it's not 133 cables. It could be five bikes with one cable. It could be one bike with one cable. So those are the numbers that he has been working He also makes it a point to if he sees somebody, he's helping the ambassadors and moving those people along before they get locked up. So that makes his job a little easier too. Lastly, Sauce Little Bike Return. They're there, that's the picture of their lot that the city's allowed them to use in the northeast corner of meeting lot one. and they originally opened for business on April 8th. with Blazing Saddles being their only customer. 241 bikes later, everybody was overwhelmed, and they halted business for a while until they could figure it out. They reopened on the weekend of April 28th and 29th, with the cooperation of nine of the smaller rental bike companies. And that weekend they had 47 bikes, They are in talks with Blazing Saddles to see if they can bring them back as a client or customer. To my knowledge, nothing has come to an agreement yet. But this Saturday, they had 79 bikes, and that's just Saturday. So they're catching on. They do have group reservations coming in, so they know these bikes are coming. so I think their program is going to be a success which ultimately is helping us relieve some of the congestion that's down in the in the Tracy Way area. And that's it. That's all I've got. Do you have any questions for me? Or I can sit down and let you have at the other guys. |
| 01:00:22.62 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Lieutenant. I'm sure we do have questions. Who wants to kick us off? |
| 01:00:29.30 | Jill Hoffman | I have some. |
| 01:00:30.13 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, okay. I have two questions. One is, you showed us bike parking signage. I, in driving from downtown towards north have noticed on the right hand side some green directional signage pointing people towards bike parking at the joinery and at bar bocce is that part of the city's program it is not okay and so what is the city doing to eliminate that in unauthorized signage. |
| 01:01:15.32 | Adam Politzer | As you and I have both discussed, that's something that we're working with the Community Development Director to contact those businesses that are offering those types of services to that to check with the owners to find out what it is that they're doing there, if they're offering bike parking for their establishment. And what does that trigger in terms of their application, their current application, and conditions of approval or if they are leasing out parts of their parking lot to provide a bike return program and to work to help them understand what they would need to do to if they can if the zoning require zoning allows them to offer that business then that would be um that'll be process through the Community Development Department. We'll notify the police department to keep your tabs because the police work seven days a week and are obviously out there during the busy time of the season which is primarily Saturday and Sunday so as they notice these illegal signs they can contact the property owner and ask them to remove them and obviously communicate that information to our community community development director for code enforcement |
| 01:02:40.20 | Jill Hoffman | So these signs are actually on the sidewalk periodically placed between the downtown and the joinery, just to be clear. My other question had to do with Sausalito Plus. As part of our condition of approval for the Sausalito Plus contract, we said they could not go in the red this year. SO, I THINK IT'S A you've told us that there are $965.93 in the red as of April. Thank you. So, A, how did this happen, and B, where is that money coming from? |
| 01:03:17.50 | Adam Politzer | Stacey, can you go back to the slide with the breakdown of the costs? I think one of the notations that Lieutenant Gregory didn't point out there was the $6,573 of startup expenses. So the idea is for them to overcome those initial startup costs as we go into the months of May and June. So one of the things that we'll do as we come back in July, which was when we were originally coming back with a status update, was to make sure that as we continue to work with SASU plus that that number does turn positive. And we also do need to separate out the impounding revenues and the impounding expenses so that we have a true cost of what's also a plus is generating in both expenses and in revenues. But the chief met with both Tom Riley and a week or two ago and they all feel confident that when we get through the month of May we will be in the plus. |
| 01:04:27.39 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:04:31.41 | Jill Hoffman | So yeah, I had a question that exact same slide because I think it was just the way the slides laid out that we're actually ahead of the game because we had expenditures at 35,000 but we only spent 30. And we had 6,000 startup but we're only 900 under. So I think that's good news actually. So, okay, I had, question. |
| 01:05:05.73 | Jill Hoffman | Does anybody else have a question about the parking revenues? Okay. So I was going to go into some of the other issues I had or questions I had. No, please go ahead. |
| 01:05:09.14 | Joan Cox | Okay. |
| 01:05:13.68 | Joan Cox | Please go ahead. Thank you. |
| 01:05:14.61 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Okay. Okay. Okay. I think. I think this is good news. I mean I think this is good news that the numbers are that the number of bikes coming in town was down for 30% but our revenues are up 30% in the very first, you know, month that we're operating. I think we're on a great path this year. So congratulations to you and everybody involved in Saucelio Plus in this effort. And so when I was glad to see that the ferry company is taking on some more innovative ideas on managing the queuing line because as we stated in our last city council meeting, having those sidewalks closed is not acceptable. And so when do they expect their online reservation system to come on to be operational? |
| 01:06:06.11 | Unknown | I'll have Jim answer that. |
| 01:06:07.21 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, thanks. |
| 01:06:14.65 | Jim Swindler | Good evening Mr. Mayor fellow council members the online reservation system is actually online and operational right now we're tweaking it to coincide with the new schedule it's the online system that blue and gold actually funded last year. |
| 01:06:29.35 | Jill Hoffman | And so is that on your, is that at www.goldengateferry.com? Thank you. |
| 01:06:35.27 | Jim Swindler | No, no, that is actually... |
| 01:06:36.52 | Jill Hoffman | That is excellent. |
| 01:06:39.84 | Jim Swindler | Thank you. |
| 01:06:39.88 | Jill Hoffman | Q-Dub. |
| 01:06:40.22 | Jim Swindler | Thank you. It is bike Sausalito dot com. |
| 01:06:43.95 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 01:06:44.49 | Jim Swindler | And it will be on the brochure which will be out in the next couple of weeks. We're just finishing it up. and he broke shore. goes through all steps on how to handle your bike, whether it be a reservation, parking, The bike return program, it covers the six basic steps of getting your bike back to the city. |
| 01:07:06.47 | Jill Hoffman | Is there a link on your ferry schedule though? Like when I go look at the ferry schedule, is there a link how to reserve your ferry, whatever? You know what I'm saying? |
| 01:07:16.14 | Jim Swindler | You know. There will be. There will be on Golden Gates website. Yeah. |
| 01:07:19.75 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 01:07:19.97 | Jim Swindler | And again, it will also be on this pro show, which every bike that leaves a bike company |
| 01:07:20.04 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:07:24.90 | Jim Swindler | gets one of these brochures. |
| 01:07:24.92 | Jill Hoffman | All right. Okay, okay, good, that's great. And so it's operational for this weekend? Thank you. |
| 01:07:30.66 | Jim Swindler | Yes. |
| 01:07:30.69 | Jill Hoffman | YOU CAN SEE THAT. We'll see how it works. Okay. Good. |
| 01:07:35.58 | Joan Cox | anybody Other questions? |
| 01:07:38.96 | Jill Hoffman | Adios. |
| 01:07:39.46 | Joan Cox | OK please. |
| 01:07:40.24 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Thank you. And I'm just going down some of the pedestrian bikes. |
| 01:07:44.11 | Joan Cox | Any other questions of Jim Swindler before? No? No. Okay, Jim, thank you. |
| 01:07:45.22 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. Okay, Jim, thank you. Yeah. So I'm just going down the PBAC recommendations that we had and that are part of the letter that was sent to us by Dr. Fotch on April 19th. So the number three on his list was shifting some of the parking out of parking lot the part of the B of A, you know, there's that, I think this is Stacy for you, in that, in the B of A, you know, there's that sort of informal bike parking area in between the bathrooms and the PBA concern was that that becomes, that's completely overrun, you know, by a certain hour of the day and that some bikes are left there overnight. by the bike companies, they use it as a storage area. And so the concern was can we move THE BIKES. informal bike parking there and move that that bike parking capacity over somewhere to Tracy way I think there's that little you know there's that little munis city parking spaces right next to Tracy way and I think the thought was to move those spots over to Tracy way and it and increasing the capacity for Tracy way because the thought was it might become maxed out come. June and July, has there been any thought on that or any analysis of whether or not that's feasible? That's it. Thank you. |
| 01:09:07.84 | Adam Politzer | Yeah, I can answer the question. First off, when we were negotiating with the South Florida Bike Return Program, they were looking at a variety of locations, including the area that you're referencing now in terms of the official lot. They wanted to operate out of the official lot for their bike return. Bicycle Plus actually uses that, and they used it last year for their oversized lot. So we wouldn't be, by taking spaces from Bank of America, there's not a place to allocate them in Tracy Way or the official lot because those spaces are already used what the pedestrian bike committee was recommending was taking spaces in lot one parking spaces in lot one and converting those into additional bike parking for their need to increase their their footprint and or creating the plaza at Bank America as additional overflow of parking. So looking at one of the unfortunate and realistic demands of people when they come on the ferry or in buses or on bikes, one of their primary destinations is the restroom. And so having the bike racks there we think is important and we have signage there that limit the number of bikes per rack and per hoop that's there and then signage that if you park your bike illegally it will be you know it will be impounded so I think that so far this year, the issues that we had last year haven't developed. I think again because of the new signage and the ambassadors and Jamie doing a good coordinated job, but that's something that we'll continue to evaluate as we go into the peak season. |
| 01:09:23.70 | Unknown | I'm sorry. |
| 01:09:58.02 | Unknown | in the |
| 01:11:01.90 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, I'm especially concerned about capacity on Tracy Way, especially if the number, you know, we've already increased our numbers in April by 30%. You know, when we look at our busiest weekends, well, we have the capacity to actually park you know the number of bikes that we need to park so that's that's a concern And Councilman? |
| 01:11:17.20 | Adam Politzer | I'm not. |
| 01:11:17.25 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:11:17.27 | Adam Politzer | I think again that's why the bike return program is so important because we thought the combination of their increased customers parking their bikes in Tracy Way with Sausalel Plus as demand created the option to return your bike became a very valuable option to the customer so we are |
| 01:11:17.37 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. Sure. |
| 01:11:40.42 | Adam Politzer | again, anticipating and we can hear from Lisa and John Scopazi later this evening, if you have questions for them specifically. But they've obviously have made arrangements with some of the other bike companies, and so their numbers are increasing. And our hopes is that they can continue to work with Blazing Saddles and with Jeff Sears. to continue to return. Blazing Saddle Bikes as well, since they're the largest bike rental operator. |
| 01:12:11.91 | Jill Hoffman | Thanks. Do I have it right then that if there are how many bikes can park at the loops what's the role in a anybody for bikes for the four bikes per loop and so we're ticketing if there's more than four bikes per loop yes okay great okay I think that's great. |
| 01:12:23.96 | Unknown | Yes. |
| 01:12:28.60 | Jill Hoffman | It's not great that people are getting ticketed, to be clear. It's great, though, that we're managing the congestion in an effective manner. |
| 01:12:39.25 | Jill Hoffman | And can I? |
| 01:12:39.33 | Joan Cox | Can I have a follow-up question on the Bank of America thing before you move on? Sure. Yeah, go ahead. So are those racks, essentially the racks for use of people who wish to use the public restroom? Is that the purpose of those racks? Because they don't pay for it, right? This is, I mean, we have bicycle racks next to the restroom, presumably they're for |
| 01:12:42.00 | Jill Hoffman | before you move on. |
| 01:13:04.26 | Joan Cox | customers who want to use the restroom, right? |
| 01:13:06.81 | Jill Hoffman | They're not designated by signs for that purpose. |
| 01:13:09.12 | Adam Politzer | you And nor could we enforce it. It's basically a public parking space for bikes, but the intentions is recognizing that in some cases, again, not just for the rental bike users, but the various types of recreational users that come through town. |
| 01:13:22.30 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 01:13:23.58 | Joan Cox | Yeah, but there was a reference in the letter to the fact that bikes are left overnight. I mean, why aren't those cabled up? |
| 01:13:32.76 | Jill Hoffman | Because there's no prohibition to parking your bike overnight. |
| 01:13:32.88 | Joan Cox | Thanks. |
| 01:13:37.03 | Joan Cox | Oh, I see. See, and here's the problem. No, I see, I see, I see. |
| 01:13:37.27 | Jill Hoffman | See, and here's the problem. No, I see, I see, I see. And here's the problem too is that, you know, the ordinance is that you have to park in Tracy way if you're downtown, right? But then there's that little pocket that we're allowing people to park there, but really that's illegal. because you're supposed to if you're on a bike you're supposed to be parking in Tracy way downtown during certain hours So that was why Saucyote Plus recommendation was to take out those loops and take away that odd anomaly that we have in our downtown area and that it creates a lot of congestion with bikes in that area. So it's problematic, but we can keep going. |
| 01:14:17.24 | Unknown | Yeah, I can answer that. Since we've put up the signage and our parking staff, you know, it's not just Jamie, all of our parking enforcement officers, when Jamie is not here, are tasked with impounding illegally parked bikes. So when that does become overrun, which it does, I think it's a lot less lately, because they are managing it. they impound the bikes. And the other part of your question is, if there is a bike that is there for a long period of time, we basically treat it like it's a car and we mark it with that big orange sticker for 72 hours, and then we cut it and keep it as found property. So we do have a tool to remove them if we see bikes that are and look abandoned and or left. |
| 01:15:06.48 | Jill Hoffman | I'm sorry I have another follow-up question on that. So one of the things I saw last year and I haven't seen it yet just because I think we're not in the season yet. But there would be just hundreds of bikes parked in lot three. Like along the sidewalk there would be there would be groups of bikes parked in parking spots on the street. Like just parked there. I haven't seen that. as much this year I hope that that's going to continue I'm guessing that's because we're actually doing enforcement |
| 01:15:35.24 | Unknown | Right, we're moving them along. |
| 01:15:35.57 | Jill Hoffman | THEIR OWNERS. Yeah. |
| 01:15:36.93 | Unknown | And a group like that that's parked in the street, which it happens, we're coming along and we're just asking them to move their bikes because that's the safest and most efficient thing we can do rather than try to lock them up and then ask them for money right there. |
| 01:15:50.09 | Jill Hoffman | okay if you catch them right if we catch them yeah yeah normally that |
| 01:15:52.45 | Unknown | THE FAMILY IS NOT ABLE TO We catch them. Yeah. Normally in a group that big, we catch them. |
| 01:15:55.82 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 01:15:56.52 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 01:15:56.85 | Jill Hoffman | And then the last, so I guess, are we going to have the Scopazes talk about the bike return system? Okay, I'll hold my questions for that, thank you. I think that's all the questions in the PBAC letter, thanks. |
| 01:16:09.02 | Joan Cox | Okay. Thank you. Joe, anything? Okay. So actually outside of public comment, I'd like to invite Lisa and John to the podium if you want so that we can ask specifically questions about the bicycle return program. Good evening. |
| 01:16:30.01 | John Scopazi | Good evening, Mayor Rithey. Councilman. |
| 01:16:32.55 | John Scopazi | Thank you. |
| 01:16:32.56 | John Scopazi | Thank you. |
| 01:16:32.63 | John Scopazi | Thank you. |
| 01:16:32.65 | John Scopazi | Thank you. We're not wearing our striped shirts tonight. |
| 01:16:36.01 | Joan Cox | Do you want to give us a quick update on where things stand from your ghost perspective? |
| 01:16:41.42 | Lisa Scopazi | Sure. As you all know, we started Easter weekend, and we had a very successful day that first day. We were still working with Blazing Saddles at that point, and the next day we did get a call from Jeff, and he said that he did not want us to take his bikes anymore until we kind of worked out some logistics and other items. So we went back to the drawing board and went around in the city and got agreements with all of the other bike companies so now we are working with everyone and their response has been terrific. They're taking our cards, they're putting them in the pouches of all the riders who come over. We're taking reservations in advance and also some of the bike companies are pre-selling it on their end too, which makes it real easy for us to check in. And I'll let Johnny tell you about our logistics, which have greatly improved and are still improving. |
| 01:17:47.12 | John Scopazi | logistics. |
| 01:17:49.11 | John Scopazi | Thank you. |
| 01:17:49.12 | John Scopazi | Thank you. |
| 01:17:49.44 | John Scopazi | The trailers, well we are increasing our trailer loads and we're working on a trailer, welding up a trailer right now that the trailer itself will probably hold at least 80 bikes or so, welded up another rack that will, can be mounted on a truck that will hold about 30. So we can probably do at least 100 and 100 to 110 possibly depending on how they come in per load. It's definitely changed logistically. It's totally, it's every weekend we've made changes. We are returning mostly in the morning. A lot of the other bicycle companies, last year Jeff was wondering back that night, which we did. And these bicycle companies are more than happy to get them back in the morning. And we're up there at seven o'clock in the morning, driving the city, dispersed some nine different locations we go to. And there was one day that we had a lot of bikes that we did two trips. So we did a trip at night between five and seven. And then we came back, loaded up the truck, stored it overnight, and brought them back the next day. So that's kind of how it's been panning out for the logistics of getting the bikes back to San Francisco. Okay. |
| 01:19:01.50 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 01:19:01.60 | John Scopazi | Thank you. |
| 01:19:01.81 | Joan Cox | You had a question. |
| 01:19:03.97 | Jill Hoffman | How many in one day, what's your, I think, was it 91, you're up to 91? What's the most you've gotten in one day after the first day? |
| 01:19:11.36 | Lisa Scopazi | Actually, it was this last Saturday. It was 80. |
| 01:19:14.24 | Jill Hoffman | 80, okay. Thanks. |
| 01:19:17.89 | Joan Cox | But you're investing obviously to get up to 110 plus daily. Do you see that potential happening soon? Or is it ramping that direction? |
| 01:19:28.81 | John Scopazi | Boy, I'll tell you after Labor Day weekend, the it's, how can I say, it's been ramping up. It's really been starting, you know, with the owners and the managers of the bicycle companies. And as I've been dropping off the bikes in the morning, what's been happening is I talk to the manager or the field workers, it's called, and the people out there selling the bikes, and they're like, who are you? You know? So it's really gonna take a couple, it's gonna take I think about a month until every employee knows exactly what we're doing. So, and we're still working, every employee I talk to, I tell them about it and everything, so. IT'S NOT A BAD. the words out with the owners and the managers, but it's gonna take, because they have so many employees and so many part-time employees and people coming and going that it's gonna take a little bit to get down to everybody. But I do see it increasing, for sure. |
| 01:20:23.16 | Joan Cox | What's in it for the employee? I mean not monetarily, but what's the sell to them? Like does it make their return job easier? |
| 01:20:30.87 | John Scopazi | All the employees are lividly happy. oh my gosh, they're like, finally, we can tell our clients that they don't have to wait in ferry lines. And we're promoting it. They're like, finally, we can promote it. Most of the bigger bicycle companies don't promote the fact that you could possibly be in a ferry line because it can be understood as negative advertisement if you're already saying there's possible ferry lines. All the companies that we work with are happy to promote the fact that, let's work together on logistically figuring this out. They wanna figure it out and they don't wanna send their people into long ferry lines. So that's what I've seen on the other side with the, who is at Outspoken, Johnny at Outspoken is awesome. He's like so happy we're there and his bikes are ramping up tons. He's telling everybody that goes to Sausalito, JUST DROP YOUR BIKE OFF. You know, there's also lots of benefits for the bicycle companies we found out. Johnny outspoken again, but he's like, we're closing early now. We're saving ourselves some money. So I'm gonna tell if you go to Sausalito, please drop them off in Sausalito. They're going home a good hour, two hours early. So I'm not, he's like, hey, you got all my bikes? Great. I'M OUT OF HERE. So, um, |
| 01:21:54.30 | Lisa Scopazi | And then we're kind of helping with the redistribution. San Francisco Bicycle Rental Company on Tours, they have three locations, and most everyone who rents from their Haight Street location never returns their bike to that location, so we're taking almost a good portion of their bikes back to that location. So that's saving them about an hour or so a day in their own van getting bikes and shuffling them around. So we're able to just help in their distribution too. So that's been kind of cool. |
| 01:21:56.26 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:21:56.27 | John Scopazi | Thank you. |
| 01:21:56.29 | Unknown | Oh. |
| 01:21:56.63 | John Scopazi | Yeah. |
| 01:21:57.12 | Unknown | All right. |
| 01:22:31.56 | John Scopazi | Well, Dennis, also not just the distribution. We've been talking with them also that our last stop is to hate in the morning. So we're more than happy to, told them we're more than happy to swing by their places in the Pier 39 and they can load up the bikes and if they have help on the other end, they will have no problem bringing their bikes for them. They're like, oh, great, finally, we don't have to do it ourselves. So those are the kind of things that we're working with the other bicycle companies. We're not working with Jeff Sears, obviously, at Blazing Saddle right now. But I mean, maybe he'll return my phone call and we can have a conversation about maybe working with him. |
| 01:23:10.46 | Joan Cox | Okay, so you've answered my question, which was... |
| 01:23:12.40 | John Scopazi | which was... |
| 01:23:17.36 | Joan Cox | Any other questions for Lisa or John? No. OK, thanks. We may have some more later on. So is there any other questions of staff or Jim Swindler or Lisa or anybody else before we open this up for public comment? |
| 01:23:33.49 | Jill Hoffman | I do, I do, I'm sorry, I have a follow up. I don't think I, I can't remember if I asked this follow up question, but with regard to the increased capacity of the, of the bike parking of Sausalio Plus later in the year. Do we have a plan for that? I'm sorry, did I gloss over that? |
| 01:23:50.52 | Adam Politzer | Um, We don't have a plan for that. That was a recommendation and a request from Sausalito Plus. The chief did not ask for that authority. The authority that you did give to the chief was that in case of emergency and he needs overflow area, that he could park bikes there, but they would not be part of Sausalito plus his program So when we come back in July If the council would like to reconsider Extending across the street Then the council may consider that |
| 01:24:30.21 | Jill Hoffman | I'd like to ask that we come back in June. that you can you said July but you'll come back in June and give a May report right Are you coming back monthly? |
| 01:24:39.96 | Adam Politzer | We were going to give Up monthly updates, but we weren't going to give presentations because of the events related to Sausalito Bike return that happened on its one day of operation That cause for this item be placed on the agenda in May We were we were scheduled to come back to give a full report and update In July unless something significantly change either financially or operationally |
| 01:25:07.79 | Jill Hoffman | I'd like to have I'd like to have a consent item just an update monthly because of the because of the direction from the as Councilmember Cox or sorry the Vice Mayor Cox pointed out that you know that the direction was that they run you know in the black through the through the air so just as a as a report that that can be on the consent calendar, but I also like to have you know an actual contingency plan that can be deployed pretty easily if the bike you know we get to capacity it looks like we're going to be getting capacity we should know that by mid-June right if if our 30 percent up from last year the numbers is consistent remains consistent because of our enforcement efforts that I think we need to have a plan in place for 4th of July certainly the month of July so I think that's important does anybody else have thought on that. I mean I think we need to identify where we're gonna have overflow and about, and Sosco Plus will have a projection. they should have a projection by mid June you know what they think their numbers are going to be based on what they've seen so far through July and if they have a concern about their capacity. Well, I certainly don't want to lose those dollars because we haven't planned for it. |
| 01:26:18.12 | Adam Politzer | I certainly don't want to Thank you. Councilmember Hoffman and if I can ask Lieutenant Gregory to go back to one of the earlier slides. It's important to note, even though we had a very busy month of April, the actual bike numbers coming into town are significantly less. I think since the spring break and the spring break season that the pedestrian bicycle committee had shared with us several years ago, is really over a three-week window. We had a very busy three week window during that spring break season. But since that point in time, the numbers even on the weekends and specifically on the weekdays, the numbers have been relatively low and the capacity in the parking lots have been, you know, has been significant. So I think that from the chief's perspective, working with Tom Riley and Deb Fudge, they will continue to look at the weekend activity as we go into the month of June now. I think as Lisa and John Scapaozzi shared, you know, this is a big weekend. Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend is a big weekend for tourists and bikes and so this will be a good indicator of what we hope will follow in terms of coordinated and in smooth operations in our downtown area related to to the bike activity so we are we are more than willing to give you and the council a monthly report on the status both including the financial and the capacity of of the bike parking and and we can work through the agenda setting committee through the chief and bike and the salsa plus if we feel that that their predictions are changing Based on what we know today we can we can make that a business item for Council's consideration |
| 01:26:37.97 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. |
| 01:28:15.61 | Jill Hoffman | Can we have that? That's great. So I'm looking at my calendar right now on my phone. So our June City Council meeting is going to be on the 20th? can we just shoot for a report, SOSA Plus report on the 20th and include in that an item, you know, do we need overflow capacity contingency planning? And that's like a yes or no from SOSA Plus. And if it's yes, what's the plan? Or what's the proposed plan, I suppose? |
| 01:28:41.56 | Adam Politzer | Well, I think that it will be premature, but we can absolutely ask that question. I don't think based on the current weather patterns and the experiences that we've had for the month of April and now May, that we're going to see a dramatic increase. In the years in the past, we didn't even start the bike parking program until the middle of June for the same reasons that we didn't have a huge, Thank you. a huge demand for bike parking in May and in the first part of June. But we absolutely will monitor this. We will work with Sausalito Plus to continue to look at their projections. As we know, last year Deb Fudge did an amazing job on her projections, and we trust that she will continue to work those projections through on a week-by-week basis as she's done in the past. You have our commitment that we will work with them. And if. continue to work those projections through on a week by week basis as she's done in the past. So you have our commitment that we will work with them and if there is information relevant information we will absolutely have this as a business item in the month of June but if not I would suspect that that first meeting in July would probably be a better indicator of what the season is going to look like. July and August and September, which obviously is our best weather. |
| 01:30:00.57 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:30:05.78 | Jill Hoffman | Right, so I think just to follow on that, I'm looking at my calendar again. The first meeting in July is on the 11th, so you've dropped the ball. If we're not doing contingency planning before the 1st of July, then then we've missed our window. So that's why I think June 20th has got to be the target for if we need excess capacity and it needs something from the city council, it's got to be there on June 20th. |
| 01:30:34.52 | Joan Cox | Okay, so. |
| 01:30:35.50 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:30:35.52 | Jill Hoffman | I think he said he's going to put it on consent on June 20. And if the projections are deemed inaccurate and we need |
| 01:30:39.33 | Joan Cox | Right. |
| 01:30:44.83 | Jill Hoffman | overflow capacity. He'll turn converted into a 20 on to into a business item on June. Okay that's fine. |
| 01:30:45.64 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. on June 20th. on to the business item on June. |
| 01:30:49.80 | Joan Cox | I'm trying. |
| 01:30:50.03 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. |
| 01:30:52.56 | Joan Cox | Okay, we still need to have public comment on this. Is there any other questions before We do that. OK. So let's open this for public comment. And so this is if there's anybody who'd like to add some further thoughts to this, more than welcome. Good evening, David. |
| 01:31:20.41 | David Archer | Good evening, David Archer, President and CEO of Sausalito Chamber of Commerce, Honorable Mayor and Council Members, I just had a few comments and perspective from my members. Several members have expressed concerns and have information on how businesses are being affected by the congestion downtown, and I can provide that in a report if you would like to have that. And when congestion is striking at the heart of what the chamber's purpose is, let me read to you our objective, to make Sausalito a better place to live, work, and play. And so I think we all agree that the congestion inhibits that. The mission statement of the chamber is Sausalito Chamber of Commerce promotes, represents, and supports Sausalito businesses and residents. And so some other items we're hearing on the street Congestion is hurting businesses. People are getting anecdotal information that folks aren't traveling here because of the congestion situation. We believe this is a huge problem. And we want to work with all the parties involved to solve this. But we have real issues downtown. And we believe something needs to be done. Do you have any questions? |
| 01:32:29.51 | Jill Hoffman | I have a question. |
| 01:32:30.69 | David Archer | Yeah, please. |
| 01:32:31.97 | Jill Hoffman | Wasn't it the plan at some point that the Saucydo Chamber of Commerce would undertake the queuing issues? |
| 01:32:38.91 | David Archer | We have endeavored to do that, as I reported in previous meetings, but we've hit some stumbling blocks with some of the parties involved. And so we're trying to regroup with those folks and see if we can't move this forward. And all the parties involved are working on their own issues right now. So we're trying to take a broader perspective as well. |
| 01:32:59.75 | Jill Hoffman | So is it possible for the Associate Chamber of Commerce to come back to the City Council with its suggestions about how it suggests that the Council better address congestion beyond the steps that have been outlined tonight and the great progress that has been made? |
| 01:33:21.59 | David Archer | I've been here eight months. I believe we have made suggestions in those areas, and I believe the board would be willing to undertake those again. But right now, our hands are kind of tied, Um, We're willing to work with folks, but we understand that there's a huge problem. |
| 01:33:38.56 | Jill Hoffman | I mean, the issue, just to one follow on. So isn't it true that the Sauciuto Chamber of Commerce awarded Blazing Saddles the business of the year last year? |
| 01:33:48.30 | David Archer | That is true. |
| 01:33:49.38 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, and isn't it true that Blazing Saddles is the impediment in many ways to solving the congestion downtown? |
| 01:33:58.58 | David Archer | They haven't been one of the impediments for us in trying to coalesce this team. Back in March, we assembled a group that had all the parties represented. At the firehouse, we had a meeting. And the only two participants that weren't available were the police chief and Sausalito Plus. And we had all the other parties in the room trying to discuss ways to have solutions to this. |
| 01:34:21.98 | Jill Hoffman | So is it the Chamber's position that having blazing saddles participate in the bicycle return program is not a good THE END OF It's not a good step to take in a laying bicycles congestion. |
| 01:34:35.18 | David Archer | We believe that the return program is an excellent idea. The logistics of that and the operationalization of that between the bike return company and the bike Blazing Saddles. |
| 01:34:49.35 | Jill Hoffman | Well given that the Chamber of Commerce awarded Blazing Saddles the business of the year last year, does the Chamber of Commerce have any influence to be able to persuade Blazing Saddles to come back to the table to negotiate an appropriate resolution with the bicycle return program. |
| 01:35:04.57 | David Archer | We have had dialogue with Blazing Saddles on coming back to the table, and they're amenable to meeting with the parties. It's just getting that group of individuals in the same room again. |
| 01:35:15.51 | Jill Hoffman | Great, so if that's something you could facilitate, I think that would go a long way towards solving some of these congestion issues. |
| 01:35:23.19 | David Archer | Thank you. |
| 01:35:23.22 | Jill Hoffman | control. |
| 01:35:23.44 | David Archer | We're working as best we can |
| 01:35:24.86 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:35:24.96 | Joan Cox | Can I ask on the congestion issues that your members are reporting, is that an increase over last year? Because we're showing a decrease in both bikes and an increase in getting bikes off sidewalks, or at least into valet parking. Are they, so I'm wondering then if the congestion is something other than bikes, if they're feeling an increase in the congestion. |
| 01:35:45.18 | David Archer | What I'm hearing is it's the congestion itself, but not necessarily just a specific weekend, but more of a perception from the outside entities, maybe concierge, maybe destination management companies that are saying, don't go to Sausalito because there's a nightmare and congestion downtown. And so we're hearing from folks that groups are being turned away or don't want to be positioned in Sausalito because of that. So it's not just the congestion is up and down right now, it's just an ongoing perception. |
| 01:36:14.69 | Joan Cox | Yeah. And it's not necessarily bikes, it's just nobody comes here because there's too many people. |
| 01:36:18.60 | David Archer | When he comes here, Yep. |
| 01:36:25.12 | David Archer | Anything else? |
| 01:36:26.91 | Joan Cox | Any other questions? David, thank you. We're in public comment. So is there anybody else who'd like to comment on this agenda topic? |
| 01:36:44.63 | Unknown | Peter Van Meter speaking as an individual and not a member of the chamber board of directors. I think I don't want to go away that last conversation with anyone getting the impression I'm speaking only for myself. that the Chamber of Commerce will assume any leadership role in supervising or managing the congestion downtown. my personal view, that is not part of the responsibility of the Chamber of Commerce. and I don't want to have people go away feeling that that is going to be a job for the chamber. Thank you. |
| 01:37:17.31 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Hollers. |
| 01:37:22.65 | Alice Merrill | Hello, Alice Merrill. Tourists in Sausalito have been here a very, very long time. And I don't think that we can manage them out. I just don't, so we have to learn to coexist and live with them and maybe, I, I, I, Yeah. It frustrates me that people get so angry about the fact that we have tourists in Sausalito because they've been here a very long time. So I don't think I have anything more to say. I just wish that we could kind of look at this from a realistic point of view. There are tourists everywhere. Towns are overrun with tourists all over the world and probably we've all been them. We may have been to Italy to some town where they're so tired of people walking down the streets with their suitcases they're about to jump out of their windows. You know it's a fact of the world and we You need to relax a little bit and just Say welcome. Are you having fun? |
| 01:38:37.15 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:38:37.79 | Joan Cox | Yes, please. |
| 01:38:45.65 | Unknown | Hugely insightful comment. hugely insightful. Thank you. Um, the, two kind of concerns I have. One is the I um, When we say that the congestion is too much congestion so people aren't coming here, is it that they are not moneyed people coming here? Is that the kind of... problem with the people who are not coming here. Is it the groups that have large kind of events that go on here instead that maybe it's kind of a workable solution that's existing? So I'm not quite sure what that phrase meant, and I would appreciate any clarification. The second one is, is there a metric that we're kind of gauging for what congestion is here? Does it just have a phenomenon? It gets worse, it gets better, or is it bikes across the bridge plus bus riders, that sort of thing? I'm sorry I don't have any more comments on that, but questions, they don't have to be |
| 01:39:44.26 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Anybody else like to Peter? bicycle. |
| 01:39:54.03 | Peter Romanowski | So, I'm Peter Romanowski, CEO of the New Covenant Evangelistic Association, Incorporated, and Ministerial Alliance, of which I am the president. And we have our services every Sunday at the Recreation Room downtown. So my interest is business. Even though I'm anchored in Tiburon, I actually live in Belvedere, according to GPS. But I've been riding my bicycle in this town for 36 years. I've ridden my bicycle the equivalent of seven times around the Earth. you know, I estimate. And a lot of it carrying up to 50 pound bags of glass and aluminum cans, which I recycled by hand enough to go, if you took all the stuff I recycle on my bicycle, it'll go from here to Mexico if you stretch it here to end, twice as high as the space station. But I've been sitting down there for some 13 years at the ferry landing observing all this. When I started sitting down there and I couldn't work no more, so I had to just play my guitar with my dog until I got Social Security. And now all the money that I make there goes to our church. It doesn't go into my bank account or anything. It just goes straight to the church, and I'm a volunteer. But I've been sitting there for like... 13 years. I took one year off. listening to people. AND THEIR FRUSTRATIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH BLAZING SADDLES, THEY OVERBOOK They tell people their whole draw is come to Sausalito and take the ferry. That's their subliminal draw, see? Take the ferry. Now, the ferry needs to, they need a bigger dock to accommodate all these bicycles, you know? And I'm for expanding the dock, not only because I'll make more money for the church, you know, with more boats come, you know. But I mean, you know, but also I ride my bike to work every sunny day. I have a car, you know, but I don't use it in this town. This is not a, this is a bicycle friendly town. And I'm disabled, I got, Multiple problems with my back, according to the, you know, but I can ride a bike. Like a lot of us disabled people, our hips are okay. I mean, we can ride a bike, and it's like a wheelchair, and I think we should have a bicycle, a handicapped bicycle sticker, you know what I mean? Because I have to kind of hide my bike in the bushes, and I've been having executive parking for like 13 years there at the Farrah Landing. Nobody bothers me about my bikes. And I don't lock them. None of my bikes are valuable enough to lock. But I understand why people are locking the rental bikes. I say. There should be a class action lawsuit against blazing saddles who are becoming millionaires at your expense, at Saucydo's expense. They're just swimming in money, and they're never going to change, just like Lucifer will never change. The greed is there, you know? The greed. |
| 01:43:00.03 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Peter. |
| 01:43:00.60 | Peter Romanowski | Thank you. |
| 01:43:00.70 | Unknown | THE END OF THE END OF THE Thank you. |
| 01:43:02.54 | Peter Romanowski | Thank you. |
| 01:43:02.56 | Joan Cox | Is there any other member of the public? Yes, ma'am, then Chris, and then. |
| 01:43:13.38 | Unknown | Danielle Semeco again. Quick comment, I am a part-time tour guide. I have been for over four years. And throughout my time as a tour guide, I have observed that everybody corrals the tourists into taking the ferry. And one thing I tell the tourists, especially those who are seniors, is you get half off the ferry, which is great, but also you can take the bus and the bus can drop you off at the foot of the bridge and you can walk across the bridge or up the hill to the Marin Headlands. And I think that if we sold more people on the bus, which are usually like half empty and they're really comfortable, you can recline the seat. and it's only 275 for seniors, then that would be a way to maybe help the congestion. |
| 01:44:01.40 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Chris Gelliger. |
| 01:44:11.85 | Chris Gelliger | Chris and I am not here at the core but with my Chamber of Commerce hat or in as a board member so a few points people keep bringing up the fact that the Chamber awarded Blazing Saddles Business of the Year. So let's be clear about what the process is. Any Chamber member can nominate any Chamber business and then it's open for voting and the majority rules. So, you know, I mean, it's kind of like the Oscars. I mean, if you win the votes, you get the Oscar. So it so we need to recognize that. And because Blazing Siles may have some other you know perception in town we as a chamber board can't disassociate ourselves and throw their nomination out because of that so that was chamber members nominating another chamber member for that award. To Alice's point, I've traveled a lot around the world because of rotary and every time I'm there my name badge says Sausalito. That's who I represent when I travel around the world because I'm representing Sausalito. And everybody is so happy to tell me about their experience in coming to Sausalito, where they went, what they did, where they ate, and things of that. So I think the city should be proud. I'm proud to represent all of you, and I'm not even there as a chamber member doing that. I'm there on rotary business. But because my name tag says Sausalito,ito people want to tell me that and so I think that's kind of cool and I take a lot of pride in sort of accepting those kudos on your behalf the third thing is There has been a lot of negativity because of that I've heard coming from chamber members to me that concierges and destination management groups are not sending people to Sausalito as much because of all this congestion and the bike. you know, empowerment and things like that. It just doesn't have a friendly feel anymore. They're much happier to just bypass Sausalito altogether, which is kind of sad in a lot of ways. So, um, We need to think about that. I mean, we should be welcoming people and welcoming and asking them to have a great time here. And I just want to thank publicly Jim Swindler. He's been on board with us through this whole thing. And big kudos to him. He continually tries to, you know, see what he can do and brings whatever effort to bear on that. And so that's a huge huge part that Golden Gate is really trying to be part of the solution in this whole thing so those are my points |
| 01:47:03.45 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 01:47:10.08 | Melissa Blaustein | My name is Melissa Blaustein. I was wondering if the chamber is working with Sausalito Plus or with the bike return to promote either of those services at the kiosk and what that would look like and if that's part of the city's program. And I'm also wondering if in the process of giving this report, there's any conversation with the Sausalito Plus bike ambassadors because they're the ones that are talking to the tourists and can say whether or not they heard about it from a concierge, for example, that could be part of their job to see where they heard about the bike return and also whether or not they're interested in using the bike return send back service. |
| 01:47:46.26 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Anybody else like to comment? No. OK. Seeing none, we'll close public comment. |
| 01:48:00.67 | Joan Cox | That doesn't mean to tear my microphone off. Is there any action that is needed of us tonight? Just receive and file. Okay. Anybody like to, we've got some direction to staff in terms of the next, when they're, we're next going to get some feedback. Anybody like to make some general comment? |
| 01:48:26.03 | Joan Cox | I'll make comments. I want to thank everybody involved in State Lieutenant Gregory, all the work that your department has been doing. You know, we approached this last, in February, in my goal and what we talked about was, you know, incremental changes. And we're seeing those, we're seeing percentages. And we weren't going to get to no bike congestion overnight, but to see the steps that are being made, the collaboration, the ideas, Jim's, the ferry district's electronic boarding, this cars positive model with Sausalito bike return, I think those are great steps. And I think we're getting, to the maturity of those items at the same time that the bodies will start coming in June and July. And it makes me feel a little bit better that that percentage of incremental decline is capable. So I want to commend everybody that's been involved in this. |
| 01:49:19.09 | Unknown | Um, |
| 01:49:19.53 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:49:23.71 | Joan Cox | I'm hopeful that we're going to have a great summer with lessened impact. |
| 01:49:34.65 | Jill Hoffman | You know I think we're moving in the right direction and let's just remember that the reason Sausalito Plus came into being was because the bike companies refused to manage their own bikes coming into town. So that's the reason that we have Sausalito Plus. It would be nice if the chamber would have partnered with us but I think Peter was right the chamber has no interest in managing the congestion in town. And so for the chamber to complain about the congestion and yet reward the biggest offender in that congestion is a little bit difficult for us as a policy maker up here to manage going forward. I The other thing that I was very disappointed in was that we had the Skopazes come forward and come up with this plan, members of the chamber who I assume supported Blazing Saddles as you know business of the year and was a huge success the first day which validated our suspicion which was that people that come here on a bike don't like to stand in lines and that as Dr. Fotch said the bike becomes an albatross around their neck once they come into town. And so, you know, the incredible success of the first day was fantastic. I mean, we were all excited about that. And then to have Blazing Saddles the very next day back out of that, I thought, was a huge betrayal of our trust in them as a partner in managing congestion and also the Skopazis who, you know, invested a significant amount of time and effort and money into that program. And I'm happy to see that they're working toward, you know, working with nine other, you know, purveyors, but, you know, that's difficult for them logistically and you know doesn't really address the significant problem which comes from one vendor which is Blazing Saddles so I think we're moving again in the right direction it's taken us you know a couple of years I think to get where we are here, I'm pleased with where we are, and I think this year's gonna be a success. let me say too that You know, the impounding is incredibly important in driving those bikes into and off the sidewalks and into the corral. So that's why we've seen, I think, an increase in the number of bikes in the paid parking area and less bikes cluttering the streets and parking car parking spaces and parked in the trees along parking lot three so that's just the reality of what we're working with so those are my comments |
| 01:52:07.81 | Jill Hoffman | Sure, I'll echo those comments. I do commend our Sausalito Police Department and the Sausalito Bicycle Return and Sausalito Plus for their efforts. The big picture, however, is that the city of Sausalito is hugely burdened. in terms of the congestion and the other issues. While other entities are hugely profiting and so in my opinion we have to continue to correct that disparity I mean we are spending thousands of dollars in police Police efforts in closing our parking lots in managing this congestion downtown and I appreciate... the efforts of those bicycle companies that are cooperating with us, but the truth is that the bicycle companies are earning huge profits on the backs of our dismay and our businesses suffering downtown. And so it's only appropriate that they step up and cooperate and participate. So, |
| 01:53:23.37 | Joan Cox | Okay, I really don't have much to add. I agree with everything that's been said. you know, Soslido is a city with enormous strengths, in part because its revenue streams, in particular, are diversified. Tourism plays a very important part. And as we'll be discussing, I'm sure, Many times during the next number of years, and when we discuss our general plan, the right balance of tourism, everything's got to be in balance. And if something gets out of whack, then the whole equilibrium is put out of balance. This is what happened with rental bicycles. rental bicycles and the concept, which, you know, Congratulations for all of you who've made a business out of it, right? But essentially, you've defined. sold a commercial product that starts off in San Francisco and ends up in Sausalito simply because that's where the ferry is to take the bike back to San Francisco and that has that influx that's been building over time has put our downtown out of balance out of equilibrium and we're having to do things that we wouldn't normally want to do. Lock up little kids' bikes, for God's sake. You know, I mean, who wants to do that? Right? Well, you've got to. Because if you're going to establish rules so that people don't park illegally, you've got to have some consequence so that they go into the parking lot. But we're having to manage through nonprofit a parking system for bicycles simply for this commercial product. In order simply to board, and they're there only to board the ferry. So the city of Sausalito is giving up parking spots, closing down a street to enable this one commercial product to be able to be there so that the bicycles can then board onto the ferry. Okay? We did that to reduce congestion, not to make money. And I think that one of the things that we've got to make sure is that we're running our congestion management downtown not to turn it into a profit center. but to turn it into a congestion management tool, a congestion reduction tool. And so as we move along and get our continual reports, I'm gonna be looking for that. And in actual fact, if we find ourselves such that the police chief is recommending that, obviously we gave him authorization for an emergency if we need to expand, but this council member will not be voting. to expand parking into the Bank of America parking lot, no matter how many tourists come into town. Because that's not the job. We're not going to let this proliferate. We're going to actually control congestion, if necessary, by controlling parking. And that's obviously a future discussion we've got to have. Okay, so that's my thoughts. Anybody want to add anything? No? Okay. In that case, we're closed on this agenda item, and I'm going to take a short break. So thank you. |
| 01:57:31.39 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:57:33.04 | John Scopazi | Wow. Thank you. |
| 01:57:33.97 | Joan Cox | Lutratores. |
| 01:57:34.96 | John Scopazi | Thank you. Yeah. |
| 01:57:36.08 | Joan Cox | you |
| 01:57:36.13 | John Scopazi | years ago. |
| 01:58:20.15 | David Archer | Oh. |
| 01:58:30.16 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Next time you. Thank you. |
| 01:58:33.03 | Unknown | I'm sorry. |
| 01:58:36.45 | Jim Swindler | you |
| 01:58:36.66 | Unknown | Thanks for your help, thanks for your support. You have our support. |
| 01:58:37.16 | Jim Swindler | Yeah. Thanks for your help, thanks for your support. |
| 01:59:12.64 | John Scopazi | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:59:14.22 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:59:14.32 | John Scopazi | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:59:16.57 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:59:16.60 | John Scopazi | you |
| 01:59:16.77 | Unknown | Like now they're still there. you |
| 01:59:47.06 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Yeah. |
| 02:00:01.51 | Unknown | I see. and the hands of the camera, |
| 02:00:25.21 | Unknown | Thank you. Thanks. |
| 02:00:25.70 | David Sudo | externalities, you know, You do. |
| 02:00:33.10 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:00:33.11 | David Sudo | I know. |
| 02:00:34.66 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:00:34.70 | David Sudo | Thank you. |
| 02:00:34.77 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:00:34.83 | David Sudo | Thank you. |
| 02:00:34.87 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:00:52.10 | Jonathon Goldman | on. you |
| 02:00:56.36 | Jonathon Goldman | Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:01:00.97 | David Sudo | Yeah. Thank you. you Thank you. you |
| 02:01:10.57 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:02:00.96 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:03:20.17 | Unknown | you |
| 02:03:20.48 | Jonathon Goldman | you |
| 02:03:34.40 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.11 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.18 | David Archer | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.30 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.33 | David Archer | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.41 | Unknown | you |
| 02:03:54.48 | David Archer | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.50 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.52 | David Archer | Thank you. |
| 02:03:54.55 | Unknown | you |
| 02:03:54.60 | David Archer | Thank you. |
| 02:03:55.36 | Unknown | Oh, yes. Well, he's like, yeah, he's gonna actually go to the moment already. |
| 02:03:58.97 | David Archer | you you Thank you. |
| 02:04:00.81 | Jill Hoffman | Actually, |
| 02:04:03.91 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 02:05:36.54 | Joan Cox | Okay, folks, we're back on the record. |
| 02:05:42.38 | Joan Cox | Okay, item 6C. is adopt resolutions adopting a complete streets policy and confirming the City Council's commitment to comply with Article 8 of Chapter 5, Part 1, of Division 2 of Title 5 of the California Government Code, et cetera. Right. Jonathan Goldman, our |
| 02:06:07.03 | Jonathon Goldman | Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Jonathan Goldman, again, you're a Public Works Director and City Engineer. You've technically actually just delivered my entire staff report. which I'm grateful for, but I will, I'm not going to read the whole thing, but, The request, the recommendation, staff's recommendation is that council adopt two resolutions. And one of the resolutions includes a policy statement. I think it's important to note, and you know that the Finance Committee saw drafts of these resolutions had a good conversation about it. We also had the pleasure of having Diane Steinhauser address the City Council at a meeting not too long ago and touch on some of these issues. She also was gracious enough to come to the Finance Committee and have some further discussion about it. Fundamentally, neither of these resolutions take anything away from the City Council's authority to decide what gets built or how big it is or who it serves in this community. And that includes grant funding. So, for example, as we have been with Safe Pathways projects, for example, fortunate enough to successfully compete for grant funding for transportation projects, the City Council determines the scope of those projects and determines how the money is spent for those projects. The surplus lands resolution is basically, I mean it's more than basic, it is entirely a commitment to comply with state law without taking the city's authority away to determine what the city considers surplus lands. The, as indicated in the staff report, there are two resolutions. One of them is a complete streets policy, basically stating that it's the city's policy to plan for a balanced multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel in a manner that's suitable to the city's context. Again, the context defined by the city council. And that said policy expressly confirms the city's intent to comply with the relevant requirements of Assembly Bill 1358 during the course of the revision of the city's general plan circulation element, which we're engaged in doing at this time. And then the second resolution, as I said, just confirms the council's commitment to comply with that government code section regarding surplus lands. There's a draft policy attached to the complete streets resolution. Both of the resolutions and that policy are based on templates that Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Transportation Authority of Marin made available to us. They've been adopted by other jurisdictions and they are a condition, at least in some form, of our eligibility to compete for federal transportation funds. So I'm happy to answer questions or do anything I can to help your deliberations on these matters. |
| 02:09:46.07 | Joan Cox | Thank you very much. We've heard this in the Finance Committee already, so I don't have anything, but please. |
| 02:09:54.05 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. So I was very, one of the things that greatly relieved me in Diane Steinhauser's presentation was her statement that, the MTC requires that the needs of all users be considered when a local street or road or highway is reconstructed. And most importantly, that the local jurisdiction retains authority over what is being built. So that, and what I understood her to mean by that is that if the local jurisdiction determines that we need a slurry or a pothole filled, we are not obligated in that same effort to also THEIR HISTORY. build a gutter or a sidewalk on that particular stretch of road. Is that your understanding? |
| 02:10:45.07 | Joan Cox | That's correct. |
| 02:10:45.73 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, and I appreciate your efforts in the redlined portion of the resolution to incorporate that concept into the resolution that you're seeking our approval of. And is it your intention by the red lines to have accomplished that? concept. |
| 02:11:05.67 | Jonathon Goldman | Yes, as a product of the Finance Committee meeting, the suggestion was made by Councilmember Hoffman that some more explicit language confirming that the City Council retains control over the fundamentals of these issues was important. I certainly think that that's reasonable. And so the change between the draft resolutions that the Finance Committee saw and the draft resolutions that you have before you are very short and sweet, but underlined. |
| 02:11:47.96 | Jill Hoffman | And then I had a resident ask me about the underlined portion of the second resolution which says, whereas doing so will not compromise the City Council's authority to determine whether a piece of real property is no longer necessary for the city's use. What is the intention of that whereas clause? |
| 02:12:06.10 | Jonathon Goldman | Again, simply the state law that is referenced here, and if I recall correctly, I sent you a... |
| 02:12:15.43 | Jill Hoffman | You sent me two government code excerpts. Thank you for that. |
| 02:12:18.45 | Jonathon Goldman | And believe me, I didn't read that much. |
| 02:12:23.08 | Jill Hoffman | Believe me, I did. |
| 02:12:24.93 | Jonathon Goldman | And I'm grateful for that. One of the concerns that I may have imagined, but one of the concerns that I thought might arise with Metropolitan Transportation Commission's policy on this particular resolution is the possibility that somehow the city would be compelled to identify a piece of property as surplus for reasons that aren't the cities. And that is not my understanding of the law. The city retains the authority to determine which properties are surplus or not needed. And only when the city council does make that determination do these regulations come into play about you know the process of either leasing or disposing of those properties. |
| 02:13:20.54 | Jill Hoffman | And so our commitment to adopt a complete streets policy will not have an impact on our decision whether or not to declare various property surplus. |
| 02:13:31.98 | Jonathon Goldman | THE END OF |
| 02:13:32.03 | Joan Cox | That's correct. |
| 02:13:32.80 | Jonathon Goldman | Thank you. |
| 02:13:32.87 | Joan Cox | I'm not sure. |
| 02:13:32.96 | Jonathon Goldman | Thank you. |
| 02:13:32.97 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:13:33.82 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you for answering those questions. |
| 02:13:36.18 | Joan Cox | Any other questions? Ciao. Okay, thank you. Let's, we may have more questions later. Let's open this for public comment. Is there anybody who'd like to comment? I have one card from David Sudow. David, welcome. |
| 02:13:59.62 | David Sudo | David Sudo, I just wanted to strongly recommend we pass this resolution. Sausalito, unlike some other cities, I would like to contrast this to Novato. This is a walking town. And increasingly a bicycling town. But you go to Novato and you see people drive to wherever they're going. They park and they walk into the business where they're going. And Sausalito, we have a lot more people walking and I think it really, really, really, adds to the character of our town because we have residents that bump into each other and get to have conversations about what's going on in the city, where they would like to see the city going. You know, it just really makes us different than some of the other towns in this county. But I have seen that, you know, we haven't done a lot compared to other towns in this county to to make improvements to the safety for pedestrians and bicycles we put in our bike lanes but we haven't done things like adding bulb outs or trying to just look at basic safety issues, except for our nice new flashing crosswalk downtown here. So I really think that the emphasis on complete streets and looking at all modes of transportation and making sure that we're doing what we can to encourage different means of transit is really important. I think that, you know, we talked about balance before, and even if we get rid of all the rental bicycles, we still have a tremendous number of bicycles now coming from Oakland and San Francisco where they are putting in tremendous amounts of infrastructure to encourage people to bicycle, and San Francisco is now up to almost 5% of people commuting by bicycle. And those people are all riding their bicycles over the bridge on the weekends now. And so we have half the people coming over the bridge on weekends are Bay Area residents. So even if we got rid of every single Blazing City bicycle, we still have a tremendous number of bicycles. And we need to see what we can do with our infrastructure as we change and modify it to accommodate that new mix of traffic. Thank you. |
| 02:16:33.15 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Any other member of the public like to comment on this topic? Seeing none, let's bring it back up here. We need to obviously take some action. Is there any comments before we get a motion? |
| 02:16:49.80 | Joan Cox | I'll just say that I think it was fairly straightforward and I appreciate the report. I'm glad that the wording was included on our context. We talked about that briefly before, but I'm glad to see it was put in here. |
| 02:17:03.66 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:17:08.70 | Joan Cox | Okay comments or motion or. |
| 02:17:13.56 | Mark Holbert | Are we... |
| 02:17:15.23 | Jill Hoffman | I move that we accept the two resolutions. Do I need to read them off separately? |
| 02:17:23.65 | Unknown | You can make one motion to a dolphin boat. |
| 02:17:25.83 | Joan Cox | Okay, so that's second, okay. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Nope. That passes 4-0. |
| 02:17:32.21 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:17:32.26 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 02:17:32.43 | Jill Hoffman | Right. |
| 02:17:39.20 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you, Jonathan. |
| 02:17:40.83 | Joan Cox | Yeah, thank you very much. So with that, we're... to item 5A. which is amendment to the local historic register designation for the property at 168 Harrison Avenue. That's Tanglewood. |
| 02:18:04.44 | Jill Hoffman | So, Mr. Mayor, before we start this item, I just want to note that I have, as a former planning commissioner, I have heard items related to this property, but I have not specifically heard or voted on this issue regarding the amendment to the historical register. And so for that reason, I do not plan to recuse myself from the hearing on this issue. |
| 02:18:28.94 | Joan Cox | Thank you for that information. Okay, Danny Castro, Community Development Writer. |
| 02:18:34.56 | Unknown | Good evening, Mayor Withie, members of the Council. This item is an amendment to the local historic Register designation for the property at 168 Harrison Avenue. In terms of background, in 1991, The residence, the garden, and the grounds at 168 Harrison Avenue were designated as a local historic landmark. THE GARDENS CONTAINED rare, exotic, and historic plantings unique to the community, The building itself, built in 1873, was of a British colonial bungalow architecture and has historic goes back to the Sausalito Ferry Landing Company as original owner has had subsequent owners since then. In 1993, the then owner bequeathed the property to the University of California, UC Berkeley, and under its tenure, it was between 1993 and 2013, about 20 years, that the University of California had ownership and the landscape maintenance of the site was brought to a minimal level. The once historically significant exotic and rare landscape gardens no longer were present and in some cases some of them were common plantings today. In 2013, the property was purchased by Carmela and Israel Levin, who acquired the property. And in 2015, they had a University of California supervisor of historic horticulture and grounds, landscape status report was prepared. And from that report, it identified that although there are some beautiful and interesting plants on the property, most notably some flowering trees, the landscape and garden do not fall into a category that would be considered historically significant, save for perhaps the preexisting native oaks. In January 2016, the Planning Commission and the Historic Landmarks Board approved a comprehensive remodel in addition to the home, the residence, the garden, and the grounds. |
| 02:21:10.20 | Unknown | The landscape improvements, here's an image that shows the existing site and the approved site plan. There were some additions of some amenities throughout the property. What was retained in the plan is the pathways that were part of the significance of the historic garden area surrounding the home. |
| 02:21:31.18 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:21:31.41 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:21:36.90 | Unknown | Here are some features, as I mentioned, some amenities were added to the property. Again, both the home and the gardens were reviewed by the Historic Landmarks Board and the Planning Commission because they are historically, a local historic register, and so they were reviewed such that these new improvements were not impacting the historic integrity of the site. So we come to this amendment, which again, what is before you is to amend the historic register to remove the gardens from the, historic uh, designation. And the procedure used for this is 1046-050. And that is for the historic landmarks board |
| 02:22:18.11 | Unknown | AND I WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK. |
| 02:22:26.41 | Unknown | to review. and then provide their recommendations to the Planning Commission and then the Planning Commission then to the City Council, and that's where we're here tonight. The Historic Landmarks Board, in their review in October 2016, indicated that having conducted prior site visits to the subject property and reviewed the information contained in the original local historic register designation. and revised nomination information that were submitted by Preservation Architecture, that was the firm that was hired by the Levens to review the site. The Historic Landmarks Board recommends the removal of the gardens from the local historic register designation. as the once exotic and historic plantings are no longer present or applicable for the rehabilitation under the Secretary of Interior Standards for the treatment of historic properties. Following the HLB, the Planning Commission reviewed the project in March of 2017. And the planning commission also Uh, agreed with this historic landmarks board in the removal of the gardens from the local historic registrar's designation. |
| 02:23:42.28 | Unknown | And it's staff's recommendation that the city council adopt the resolution approving the removal of the gardens from the local historic register designation for this property. I just want to make sure that it's understood that The residents and the pathways are still within the historic, is still a local historic register property in that any future development would be subject to having to go through the historic landmarks board as well as a planning commission for any future development of that. This is, what this essentially does is remove the gardens that do no longer exist, the plantings, and allows this owner and any future owner to enhance the landscaping for the continued use of this property. And that concludes my presentation. I'm available for answering any questions. We do have the preservation architect who's also here, Mark Holbert, as well as the owner, Carmela Levin. |
| 02:24:46.72 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Denny. Maybe I'll kick off with some questions, if I may. So just to remind us, I think you sort of briefly said it there, what does putting anything on the local historic register actually do. |
| 02:25:07.87 | Unknown | Sure. |
| 02:25:08.24 | Joan Cox | Just to remind us what that does. |
| 02:25:11.06 | Unknown | It locally designates the property as historic and it defines the property to have historic, significant historic features such that it provides some protections and a process for which any changes or modifications to that historic landmark be reviewed against the Secretary of Interior Standards, which are a set of criteria and guidelines to ensure that the historic integrity is maintained to the extent possible. |
| 02:25:40.77 | Joan Cox | Okay. Now, What I'm struggling with is the fact that plants our you've got the house, you've got the grounds, you've got the hardscape, which obviously was designed, the whole gardens landscape was designed as an important unit, which has now been deemed historical. But how the hell do you make plants historical? Because you can't force an owner to water their plants. All the plants could die. So how... I just don't... It doesn't, I just I have no comprehension as to how you make a plant historical. |
| 02:26:31.70 | Unknown | Well, it is the type of plants that were used then were at that time considered rare and exotic. That is a very interesting issue because, you know, they could die, they could not be maintained, and in this case, you know, there was care, but it was also brought to a minimal level when you see the University of California had this property that they did not maintain these plantings. And because it was a state, ownership, you know, we did not have the local control under our local historic provisions. and throughout time, unfortunately, |
| 02:27:18.35 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:27:19.14 | Unknown | these plants. |
| 02:27:19.33 | Joan Cox | I'm sorry. No, I understand that, but let me, I'm sorry, I need to take this a little bit further. So you're telling me that if in fact the state wasn't involved here, and let's say it was a property owner, say it hadn't been UC but then someone else, and they weren't watering their plants. Are you telling me that the city would come and take enforcement action that somehow it's violating the historical character of the property because they're not watering their plants? |
| 02:27:50.29 | Unknown | Yes it could, yes. It does, we do have a provision of our code that indicates that when you have historic elements of a historic property, that they be kept in good repair. In this case, you know, many of these plantings no longer exist, so it doesn't obligate the owner to replicate or to actually restore those plantings. In this case, they're no longer existing. So we don't have that opportunity in this particular case. Had those gardens been maintained even till today, we probably wouldn't be here and we would impose that on the new owner that that garden be maintained. Do we have anything? |
| 02:28:32.61 | Joan Cox | Do we have any other gardens on our historic register? |
| 02:28:36.53 | Unknown | Not that I'm aware of, no. |
| 02:28:37.44 | Joan Cox | OK. |
| 02:28:43.99 | Jill Hoffman | So Danny, in our late mail we had a letter complaining that the current owners are allowing the historic landscaping to go fallow, but if I understand the chronology that you provided from the HLB, the University of California actually owned this property from 1993 to 2013 and it was under their watch that the plantings were allowed to perish is that right that's correct okay and So these plantings were actually imported here by Clipper Ship from South America and elsewhere. And so to impose an obligation on the new owners who had no role in the demise of the plants to IMPORT A new. these plants that would be a huge burden. upon them financially and logistically. Yes. |
| 02:29:44.52 | Unknown | Yes. I would agree. |
| 02:29:45.48 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. Thank you. |
| 02:29:50.07 | Joan Cox | Okay, any other questions? Okay, let's open this for public comment. Anybody like to talk to this project? Yes, sir. Good evening. |
| 02:30:10.62 | Mark Holbert | Right. Good evening, semi-public. I'm Mark Holbert, preservation architect with the Levins. and the parents are back there with me. We're here really At the recommendation of the Planning Commission, it's been your question, Mayor, was directly to the point is that um, we stumbled over the absence of these gardens through a very lengthy process. And it started with as, Councilmember Cox will remember, in January 2014, I believe, we were first in front of the Planning Commission. and trying to, at that time, simply replace fences and this whole question of historic landscape and gardens came up. We've, um, We've stumbled through that process. And towards the end of it, the planning commission looked at us and said, please clarify this. Please jump in and, you know, you're the applicants. Go ahead and make this application. So thus, here we are. I think very little to add to this other than that, We've got a lot of amended the designation, and in so doing, clearly and appropriately limited to the landscape. focusing on the appropriately, the attention on the house. The house is the historic resource here. And of course, it's got a property. But it's really the house and a limited number of landscape features that are associated with that house today Um, The pathways themselves are really more of a pattern than anything. It would be amiss for us to now have to argue over, well, can we change a path or not? It's really a part of a general landscape scheme that occurred over time on this site. We can't date pathways or anything like that. So really, again, we can see very specific features on this site that are identifiable, that go back to the period when the Tillinghasts owned this property, and they did own it for a very long time prior to the Allens. So I think the clarification here is really to focus the attention on the appropriate resource, which is this historic house. Reserve any other time for questions if you had any. |
| 02:32:24.19 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Anybody else? Vicki. |
| 02:32:33.77 | Vicki Nichols | I've nicked your staff report here, but what I'd like to just add to this is, I first off think this is the right thing to do. The gardens, I think were fondly recommended to be included as historic by the owner who had a direct affiliation with the school. and he wanted them preserved. And I think at the time this was designated, we did have 100 Harrison Nestledown also had a garden designation at one point that's since been torn down and a new condo done, but there was an argument about that being a garden as well. So I think the, I'm not second guessing another HLB's determination, but I think maybe the criteria they were using at the time for gardens may not be exactly the same as we may look at it now. The applicant provided us a list of the plans. It's your Appendix F. And I think if most of you go through these, this is the inventory that was done by UC in 1982. These are not exotique as the French would say. They're probably in most of our gardens. So I think it had lost most of its authenticity by that point so I hope that you can do this I think we're every the two bodies that looked at this are very comfortable with the fact that the grounds are still included which correlate more with the house so I think this is the right thing to do for the owner and just to maintain the the good standards of the history of our historical register thank you |
| 02:34:12.22 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Vicky. OK, seeing no more public comment, we'll close that. Bring it up here. |
| 02:34:27.12 | Jill Hoffman | I think based on the status of it, Now I think we're I think we are going to be in agreement I could be wrong. that this seems to be a reasonable thing. My concern is that it's clear that the grounds, you know, remain and THEIR OWNERS. And so I was looking at the way it's awarded and You know it says. we're removing the gardens, but I think in the future that might be interpreted as we're removing the grounds as well and the layout of the gardens. So my suggestion is that we add you know gardens that we remove the gardens and then in parentheses put plants after that we're removing the requirement the designation of the garden slash plants from the Historic Register, but not the general orientation of the property because it is such a special and I I have been on that property when it was for sale. So I know the condition of it when these nice people bought it and thank you for buying that property because it was a labor of love I know for somebody that would take on that so I thank you from from the perspective of being a citizen and that you save this historic home. So I appreciate that very much. So that's my only concern because the grounds really are something that also make it unique, a unique property in Sausalito and the way it's situated. So that's only my concern. SO, I THINK I'M GOING TO |
| 02:35:59.97 | Jill Hoffman | in response I would just refer us back to resolution number 4024 which was adopted by the City Council when Annette Rose was mayor back in 1991 and it did define the gardens as the plantings. So it made reference to the |
| 02:36:19.17 | Unknown | that. |
| 02:36:24.49 | Jill Hoffman | Home, the gardens, and the grounds. And I think that in light of that resolution, that this resolution addresses the gardens and not the grounds or the homes. |
| 02:36:37.62 | Jill Hoffman | I'm looking at, so I'm looking at the, uh, the resolution, the draft, the draft, I'm looking at the draft resolution, I'm looking at one, two, three, four, paragraph five. And I think this is the only place it talks about gardens. On behalf of the property owners, requested management of the gardens. Would there be any objection if we put garden in parenthesis plants from the local historic register? |
| 02:36:55.34 | Unknown | Right. |
| 02:37:04.99 | Jill Hoffman | Just so that there's no question later, Yeah, and then down there, anytime it says gardens, it's like gardens and plants. Because 10 years, my concern is always like 10 years from now, someone looks at this and they could argue, well, you remove the gardens and the gardens are, you know, |
| 02:37:20.93 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:37:20.95 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:37:21.04 | Joan Cox | It does refer to plantings. |
| 02:37:24.75 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:37:24.80 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, it does reference the once exotic and historic plantings |
| 02:37:29.34 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, I see that. I don't know anybody I don't see any downside to that. |
| 02:37:35.75 | Jill Hoffman | I don't have a downside unless there's |
| 02:37:39.23 | Unknown | Mayor, with you, if I may. I think plantings is fine. Gardens and then in parens, plantings. |
| 02:37:47.85 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 02:37:47.90 | Unknown | Okay. |
| 02:37:48.12 | Joan Cox | Yeah. |
| 02:37:48.14 | Jill Hoffman | Fine, that's fine. Thank you, guys. Yeah. |
| 02:37:48.20 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:37:48.26 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:37:48.34 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:37:49.07 | Joan Cox | So it was a great time. So, |
| 02:37:52.73 | Jill Hoffman | Do you want to move make a motion? Sure. |
| 02:37:55.61 | Unknown | You want me to? |
| 02:37:56.03 | Jill Hoffman | I move that we adopt the resolution removing the |
| 02:37:56.12 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:37:56.14 | Joan Cox | Yeah. |
| 02:38:01.30 | Jill Hoffman | approving the removal of gardens parentheses plants plantings from the local historic register designation at 168 Harrison with the proposed amendments second |
| 02:38:11.76 | Joan Cox | All in favor. Aye. |
| 02:38:12.84 | Jill Hoffman | I. |
| 02:38:13.18 | Joan Cox | Aye. Any opposed? No. Comment. Thank you for the report, because it was very enlightening. I learned a lot, so it was really neat. |
| 02:38:22.58 | Joan Cox | Okay. Thank you. Good luck. |
| 02:38:36.97 | Joan Cox | Okay. So we're now on to section seven, which is a variety of reports from city manager and council members. We have one appointment to make, as well as discuss future agenda items. We take public comment on item seven all in one go. Is there any member of the public who'd like to comment on item seven B through F? Seeing none. We'll hand it over to our city manager for his report. |
| 02:39:13.19 | Adam Politzer | Thank you, Mr. Mayor and council members. Just a few items here of highlight. And these will, some of these have been in the currents. These are also current, so the others will be coming. shortly, but worth noting that the 13 applicants, that news story in the current has set our new record of 247 clicks on that particular story, so that's the new That's the new high. So we're pleased that the public thought that was important. And obviously we were pleased with the readership of the current We also had good news this morning that I passed along to the council earlier today. that are new license plate reader program that went live last night, had its first hit. and we suspect that we prevented some serious crime activity with the stolen car that was picked up as it came into town. PD and the sheriff were alerted. and they worked together to apprehend The driver who was arrested on stealing the vehicle and the other three passengers were released. So we are pleased that right away the program was successful. we'll have a report We'll have a report. in June from Lieutenant Frost. Thank you. Sorry, Lieutenant Frost on the license plate reader and its program and all of the details at an upcoming city council meeting in June. Just a quick reminder that MCCMC is in Ross. Um, I'm sure that Councilmember Hoffman will give you a brief report on the RBA meeting that happened last week. And we're also very pleased that we had 34 applicants for the general plan. Advisory Committee. Council will schedule those interviews. for June. fifth. And so that's another good sign of people really wanting to get involved with our community and with our city government. I think that our local boards and commissions will all benefit from this interest from our residents in participating with our various boards and commissions. and task force and committees. One other thing that I'd like to share is that for a number of years I've been leading the effort on shared services throughout the county on how do we work together with the county and the other cities and towns throughout the county. And one of the things that I'm working on right now with the deputy county administrator and with the assistant city manager for the city of San Rafael. is a common application, similar to the college application where there's a common app where you fill out one college application and that's shared throughout the state system, the private schools. and or the UC and then there's amendments to those where supplemental questionnaires and what have you. So we're looking at how do we share the resources so when someone applies for an associate planner position here They're also applying for an associate planning position for the city of Tiburon or Mill Valley or Ross. And again, sharing those resources, creating community panels, to interview those candidates and then offering them positions to cut down on all of the administrative costs associated with recruitment. interviews and hiring. So we're excited about that. There's a lot of excitement. at the county level to move this process forward. And we'll be presenting this to the the Marin Managers Group later next month. |
| 02:43:26.89 | Adam Politzer | I think that covers my list. Just an announcement if you didn't catch it in the paper, but the City of Belvedere hired their city manager's name is Craig Middleton. He comes from the federal government side of government, working for Nancy Pelosi, and also working for the Presidio Trust here in San Francisco. So he comes with a very different skill set, but compliments, I think, the other managers in the county and will be, I think, a true asset to Southern Marin. So that concludes my report. Happy to answer any questions from the council. |
| 02:44:02.24 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Any questions for Adam? No, okay, council member committee reports. I don't know if we have any this evening. |
| 02:44:13.53 | Sybil Boutelier | Thank you. |
| 02:44:13.55 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:44:13.56 | Sybil Boutelier | I have one. |
| 02:44:13.97 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:44:14.63 | Joan Cox | Yeah, let's go with RBRA first. |
| 02:44:19.60 | Jill Hoffman | We had our we had an RBRA meeting last week and I fully expect that we will go forward and withdraw from RBRA June 30 as we said in our letter in December, and for the reasons that we were motivated to put our letter in in the beginning of December. So there's been some, I will say there's been some improvement with regard to the enforcement and operational matters on the water, but that's largely due to our police chief taking over the enforcement lead and coordinating that. And so that, you know, That's good news on the RBRA front, but they The Arbor area board chose not to go forward with other issues that Sausalu had with regard to the cost sharing makeup and the you know the voting of the members we had suggested some governance discussions about more effective ways for representation of Sausalito on that board, given the fact that we You know we don't we spend a whole lot more money than any other municipalities in addition to what we give to our era but that's not reflected in the governing methodology for the board and so I think we're going to we will move forward and withdraw. And I think that will result in better efficiencies from the Sausalito side, better enforcement in Sausalito waters and also better enforcement by the way in RBRA as a total as our chief I expect will continue to lead the enforcement efforts with RBRA and he's got a very good relationship, working relationship with the RBRA Harbor Master Bill Price and with the Sheriff's Department and with the Coast Guard. And so all of that coordination began last October. It's been carrying forward. I think RBRA has had their most successful THEIR OWN management and enforcement season ever. They removed in very early on they removed 30 unattended more ins. and several more moorings that were removed with boats when they went through and the sheriff's department removed some of the boats out in the county water so I think I can't I can't remember the total number Adam do you remember the total number of boats removed since October I think it was a hundred and Is that right? But by boats I mean unregistered vessels and marine debris and just floating stuff. |
| 02:46:59.19 | Adam Politzer | I want to say the total number from July to date was in the neighborhood of 100. 102. But they had it broken down in a variety of categories, so I don't remember the specifics of the categories. Thank you. |
| 02:47:14.18 | Jill Hoffman | AT ANY RATE, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PERIODS, I THINK, FOR RBRA, AND I EXPECT THAT TO KEEP GOING FORWARD. OUR CHIEF, AS I EXPECT, WILL CONTINUE TO BE LEADING THE ENFORCEMENT EFFORT AND WE As we withdraw from RBRA, the intention is that the money that we've been paying into the RBRA budget, will shift over to our police department to subsidize our efforts in our own water. So I think we'll see increased efficiencies as we're going forward and better management and enforcement of our waterfront in the near term and certainly in the long term. And I think that's I think that's the report. That's it. That's it. Oh, sorry. There is one more thing. RBRA said that the board indicated a desire to meet in July after we've withdrawn and they're going to sit down and discuss their governance going forward. |
| 02:48:03.53 | Unknown | I'm not sure. |
| 02:48:19.16 | Jill Hoffman | Because Erin Tolini, her term was about up anyway, but she was the Tiburon member. She's moving to the East Coast. So Marty Winter from Belvedere was appointed as the chair, and Kate Sears, the county supervisor, was appointed as a new vice chair. |
| 02:48:38.58 | Joan Cox | Thanks for that. Could I just add to that that the sort of the plan for our use of the money that would otherwise have gone to RVRA is going to be part of the budget we're going to hear next month. So that's going to be programmed into the budget. And so we can pick that up then. |
| 02:49:05.09 | Joan Cox | And the chief is working on derelict boats that are in the county. And do we get reimbursed for that? |
| 02:49:12.54 | Jill Hoffman | The chief is specifically, up to this point, my understanding is the chief has been managing and coordinating the efforts in our very total with specifically what who's picking up what where I think there was there has been some crossover so we they did it by task so our police department took up the moorings and the unintended moorings and the sheriff took up the boats that were you know the unregistered floating unnavigable things that were floating so so. Does that answer your question? |
| 02:49:52.30 | Joan Cox | And then more so going forward then |
| 02:49:54.59 | Jill Hoffman | Going forward, they have an operating agreement. So the county sheriff and the chief and the Coast Guard all have worked together for an operating agreement going forward. how that works out operationally it's up to them. And there will be, you know, but the main focus for our chief obviously will be, you know, Sausalito's assets will be Sausalito Waters, county, you know, RBA will be RBA Waters. But naturally there's anticipate there'll be crossover and that they're gonna support each other. That's the idea going forward. So let me just say, Sausli PD, huge, huge effort on this and a great success. And so my hat's off to them, specifically the chief and Bill Frost and the guys that go out on the boat. you |
| 02:50:42.68 | Joan Cox | Okay, did you have anything? |
| 02:50:44.10 | Joan Cox | I have the MTA, the Marine Telecommunications Agency. We've had a meeting, and I think the results of that meeting have already been forwarded to this group, at least through Melanie, as far as an increase in the PEG fees that we receive. So we had a small bump because there was basically a previous PEG fee debt that was expired. So I mean, just a tad bit more money from that relationship. at this point. Library trustee update is always done really well by Abbott, so I don't have anything there. |
| 02:51:09.78 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 02:51:09.97 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 02:51:19.44 | Joan Cox | And on the school we've been quiet on the on the kids of information back but getting them. Yeah. |
| 02:51:26.96 | Joan Cox | you Okay. Do you have anything? |
| 02:51:30.81 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, I attended a meeting of the Sustainability Commission on May 11. We sadly did not have a quorum that night, but we nevertheless received some interesting reports on the greenhouse gas inventory update and the zero waste grant characterization study. you know, Marin as a county and including Sausalito is already very forward in terms of its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases through sustainable energy sourcing but in addition Sausalito in particular has greatly reduced its waste, particularly multi-family waste, through the recycling program that was implemented several years ago by the Sustainability Commission with the provision of the various garbage cans to each home. And we discussed whether, you know, whether the cans being provided are adequate or not but bottom line is we're moving in the right direction and committed to continuing to reduce the the waste generated by each family in Sausalito |
| 02:53:00.22 | Joan Cox | Yeah, that's been a great success over the years. Our garbage is down to a bag about this size. Everything else is going into compost and recycling, so it's fantastic. I don't really have any reports tonight, but I will next time. Future agenda items. The only feedback, the only thing I would say, some feedback from our, Oh sorry, I should have put my glasses on. I missed item D. Our most important agenda item tonight. Sybil's been sat here since seven o'clock, right? |
| 02:53:46.52 | Unknown | Thank you. The Pressure. The Pressure. |
| 02:53:48.73 | Joan Cox | Right, so it's too late, we're adjourning. No, no, Sybil, was there gonna be a staff report on this? No, so Sybil, please, why don't, you go ahead and briefly introduce what you're doing. |
| 02:54:07.24 | Sybil Boutelier | Um, okay. |
| 02:54:09.23 | Joan Cox | One minute no big deal |
| 02:54:11.23 | Sybil Boutelier | Right, okay so for the last three, well more than that, for the last two terms I've served as your commissioner on aging for the Marin County Commission on Aging and in that function I've been, I'm currently co-chair of the legislative committee along with our senior, our representative on the California Senior Legislature and a member of the executive committee, part of the housing and transportation committee and planning committee and the Marin Age Friendly Committee. And so I've been really active and I have to say that Sausalito has as you all know really been leading in a number of areas and one of them of course is the age friendly process. And another important thing that the county is looking at this year is the issue of falls and Tripping and falls incident and incidents and in Sausalito that's the number one reason why our older adults are transported to the hospital called EMS and are transported to the hospital. And so I'm happy that the county is taking this up as our needs assessment there did show that it was a very important thing and Danny Castro and I will be coming to you in July with some ideas on how to mitigate some of those issues especially in the home here in Sal Salido. Just a couple of other things we as part of the Age Friendly Committee Task Force we presented to you a plan and one of the elements was that the Commissioner on Aging would be have a certain responsibility to see that the elements of the plan get carried forward. And so I intend to be vigilant and try to help along the way as the general plan is being worked on and other members of the South Salido Age Friendly Committee as well as the village and other members of the community will also be very happy to work with you on looking with the aging lens at the different elements of the general plan going forward. |
| 02:56:43.28 | Joan Cox | Sybil, thank you very much. On behalf of the sole thank you for all your hard work on these fronts. Anybody have any questions or comments? Sybil? |
| 02:56:54.42 | Jill Hoffman | No, I will move that we reappoint Sybil Boutelier to the Marin County Commission on Aging. |
| 02:57:00.68 | Joan Cox | All in favor? Second. Aye. Any opposed? No, that passes 4-0. And thank you again, Sybil. |
| 02:57:01.27 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:57:01.39 | David Archer | Thank you. |
| 02:57:01.49 | Jill Hoffman | I. |
| 02:57:10.32 | Joan Cox | Future agenda items. The only comment I'd like to make is that You know? Finance Committee's been working on the budget and June's budget month, so we're gonna have two, we're gonna have both our meetings, we're gonna be budget discussions, so. The other thing is that, I'm not sure. We discussed in agenda setting the fact that we will come back once we've got either a city council, fifth city council member seated, or we've decided not to. We'll come back in, to have a review of some of our protocols, and in particular, one issue that's come up that we do need to work through is how we're going to interface with state assembly and senate bills and what we're going to do about those, what are the processes that we will intervene or not, as the case may be. So we'll come back with a protocol discussion on that before we move ahead. And again, when it comes to, I know, future general appointments to boards, commissions, and outside things for us, not necessarily appointments of residents to things, but us working on things. Can we sort of keep the status quo until we see what we're doing with a fifth council member or not? And if not, we'll have to shuffle the deck a little bit because the block grant thing, for example, Herbie was on that one, so we'll have to pick someone for the block grant and so on. There are things like that, but as soon as we know which direction we're heading. Is there anybody, any other? Agenda item, future agenda items anybody wants to bring up? No, any other reports of significance? We're adjourned. |
| 02:59:28.31 | Joan Cox | 35 minutes early, I will add. |
Peter Romanowski — Neutral: Commented on poor air conditioning at recreation hall affecting his nonprofit's activities and mentioned a buried fire pit at Dunphy Park that could impact construction. ▶ 📄
Vicki Nichols — In Favor: Supported moving forward with Dunphy Park design amendment, emphasizing the project is within the $1.8 million budget and delays could increase costs. ▶ 📄
Peter Romanowski — Neutral: Requested a cold shower in the new Dunphy Park restroom for anchor-outs and noted the buried fire pit as an archaeological site. ▶ 📄
David Sudo — In Favor: Advocated for thorough engineering in Dunphy Park to avoid future issues like subsidence, supporting the design amendment for proper planning. ▶ 📄
Daniela Semeco — Neutral: Expressed safety concerns for Bridgeway Marina adjacent to Dunphy Park due to dilapidated conditions and rough weather exposure. ▶ 📄