City Council Meeting - February 26, 2019

The meeting begins with Joe Burns playing music and calling the meeting to order, requesting a roll call from Serge. This is the opening of the meeting following interviews for the general plan advisory committee.

The meeting was called to order with roll call confirming attendance of Councilmembers Cox, Withey, Vice Mayor Cleveland Knowles, and Mayor Burns, with Councilmember Jill Hoffman noted as absent due to work travel ▶ 📄. Mayor Burns announced a closed session covering items D1 through D3, which include anticipated litigation and conference with labor negotiators ▶ 📄. Public comment was invited on these closed session items, but none was offered, so public comment was closed ▶ 📄. The council then adjourned to closed session, with plans to reconvene at 7:00 PM.

Mayor Joe Burns calls the meeting to order at 7:00 PM on February 26th, noting the council has just concluded a closed session with no items to report ▶ 📄. He welcomes attendees, advises caution due to weather, and proceeds with roll call ▶ 📄. Councilmembers Joan Cox, Withey, Vice Mayor Cleveland Knowles, and Mayor Burns are present. The Pledge of Allegiance is led by Kevin ▶ 📄. Mayor Burns confirms no closed session announcements and asks for public comment on closed session; there is none ▶ 📄. He then requests approval of the agenda.

Mayor Joe Burns opened the item by stating he had no special presentations or announcements ▶ 📄. He then asked if there were any other special announcements from the council, and hearing none, he closed the special presentations section and transitioned to the public communications portion of the meeting ▶ 📄.

Public comment period with two speakers. Jeff Jacobs raised concerns about Councilmember Jill Hoffman's financial disclosure Form 700, alleging she failed to report income from a wine company and referencing her absence from meetings ▶ 📄. Mayor Joe Burns noted Hoffman was traveling for business ▶ 📄. Crystal Giff discussed safety issues on the water, recounting an incident where her anchor line was cut and she faced dangers while seeking shelter during a storm, highlighting conflicts and lack of support for liveaboard boaters ▶ 📄.

Ray Withy moved to approve the action minutes of January 22nd, 2019 ▶ 📄. Susan Cleveland-Knowles seconded the motion ▶ 📄. During the vote, Joan Cox abstained because she did not have a chance to review the minutes ▶ 📄.

Councilmembers provided updates on their committee and commission activities. Susan Cleveland-Knowles reported on the Sustainability Commission meeting ▶ 📄, noting a postponed Marin Clean Energy presentation and discussions on recycling grants and ferry landing improvements. Ray Withy reported on OMIT committee review of MLK rental properties ▶ 📄, Business Advisory Committee work on business condition reports, and cancellation of the Marin Clean Energy board meeting. Joan Cox reported on RBRA meetings and a joint presentation to BCDC ▶ 📄, attendance at a Chamber event with Mike McGuire, sewer district subcommittee meeting, and disaster preparedness committee briefing. Susan Cleveland-Knowles added information about Bay Model planning meetings ▶ 📄. Joe Burns reported on speaking at a school district meeting about the city's support for public education ▶ 📄 and noted the city's support for HR 530 to protect franchise fees and public channels.

The consent calendar included two items: a quarterly update from the Sausalito Police Department and approval of a contract with MBS. Public comment was given by Jeff Jacobs, who criticized the police department's role in enforcing council decisions he alleged were financially motivated ▶ 📄. Councilmember Joan Cox clarified that a revised resolution and staff report for the rate study approval were on the dais ▶ 📄. Mayor Joe Burns inquired about an optional $10,000 review for the sewer lateral ordinance, to which Cox stated it was to keep options open ▶ 📄. Ray Withy noted the major change was an extra $3,000 for a help desk during protest hearings ▶ 📄.

Abbot Chambers presented a comprehensive report on the mudslide that occurred on February 14, 2019, on Sausalito Boulevard. The presentation included a timeline of events, starting with the slide at 2:55 AM and the first 911 call at 2:56 AM ▶ 📄. Key details: approximately 3,500-4,000 cubic yards of earth moved, destroying a duplex at 406-408 Sausalito Boulevard (where resident Susan Gordon was rescued) and a home at 57 Crescent Avenue. The slide was attributed to heavy rainfall (about 5 inches in 24 hours). Response efforts involved multiple city departments and external agencies, with successful evacuations and no serious injuries. Current status includes road closures, five remaining red-tagged structures, and ongoing stabilization efforts with the National Park Service. The debris pile contains hazardous materials like asbestos, complicating cleanup. Staff highlighted departmental efforts and recommended waiving permit fees for in-kind replacement of damaged structures. Council discussion included questions about hillside stability (David Brocken indicated it is relatively safe except for a leaning car deck) ▶ 📄, patrols during weather events (Chief Rohrabacher described proactive efforts) ▶ 📄, and details on fee waivers (Lily Whalen explained the difference between permit fees and plan check fees) ▶ 📄. Councilmembers expressed support for fee waivers and emphasized community support and lessons learned.

Councilmember Joan Cox presented the findings and recommendations of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Housing. She thanked the task force members for their extensive work, highlighting that meetings were often held on Sundays in her home from August onward. ▶ 📄 The task force's original purpose was to make design review standards more objective and less legally vulnerable, but it expanded to develop low-impact housing strategies to address state housing bills and avoid high-density mandates. ▶ 📄 The six recommendations include: 1) Increasing low-impact affordable housing stock via ADU/JADU ordinance amendments, zoning expansions, and incentives like tandem parking; 2) Enhancing the city's ability to subsidize affordable housing through impact fees and a housing fund; 3) Promoting housing through GPAC referral, including exploring multi-unit zoning expansions and public sites; 4) Revising design review standards for objectivity; 5) Updating the plan review process with better training and resources; and 6) Tailoring approval processes to Sausalito's specific zoning needs. ▶ 📄 Vice Mayor Susan Cleveland-Knowles added her thanks and emphasized the importance of being proactive and creative with workforce and affordable housing to argue effectively with the state. ▶ 📄 Councilmember Ray Withy expressed appreciation but noted that the recommendations are not in the city's strategic plan and raised concerns about resource allocation and prioritization amidst other ongoing projects like the housing element. ▶ 📄 The council agreed to refer recommendation 3 to the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) immediately and parse out the remaining recommendations to the legislative committee during agenda setting. ▶ 📄

Staff presentation by Calvin Chan outlined the project for a two-story western addition, garage rebuild, and encroachment agreement at 416 Napa Street, which had undergone five Planning Commission hearings. The Planning Commission initially directed staff to prepare a denial resolution in October due to inability to make findings on light/air and crowding, but after applicant revisions and new information, approved the project in December. Councilmembers visited the site and reviewed all hearing records. Key discussion points included: the side yard projection and its approval via design review ▶ 📄, FAR comparisons within the neighborhood ▶ 📄, and whether the second-story western addition causes crowding and light/air impacts on the adjacent property at 420 Napa. Councilmember Cox expressed concern over the addition's bulk and proximity, suggesting the backyard as an alternative ▶ 📄. Councilmember Cleveland-Knowles leaned toward upholding the Planning Commission, noting the project's compliance and constraints ▶ 📄. Councilmember Withy supported denial of the appeal, emphasizing the project's modesty and the Planning Commission's thorough review ▶ 📄. Mayor Burns highlighted the unique nature of a four-bedroom single-family home on a substandard lot in the neighborhood and crowding concerns due to the side entry orientation ▶ 📄.

Lily Whalen presented the item, explaining that the council previously adopted permanent fees for ADUs and JADUs on February 5th, but there is a gap before those permanent fees take effect. The council had adopted interim fees to cover this gap, and this hearing is to extend those interim fees to continue covering the gap until the permanent fees become effective ▶ 📄. Staff recommends extending the interim ordinance, with another extension expected in a couple of meetings. Councilmember Ray Withy clarified that after the next extension, the permanent fees will kick in and no further action will be needed ▶ 📄.

The item begins with the conclusion of a previous motion, which carried 4-0 ▶ 📄. Mayor Joe Burns notes that interviews were conducted for the General Plan Update Committee (GPAC), with six or seven candidates interviewed and more to go, so no appointments are made tonight ▶ 📄. The City Manager is not present to give a report. Future agenda items will include transitioning from the Blue Ribbon Task Force to the GPAC.

The discussion focused on a potential future agenda item regarding amnesty for short-term rentals used to assist flood or disaster victims. Joan Cox raised the issue based on public comments, suggesting consideration of non-enforcement of code violations for those offering housing aid ▶ 📄. Joe Burns proposed adding it to a future agenda with staff directed not to enforce codes in such limited situations ▶ 📄. Ray Withy questioned the issue if no rent is charged ▶ 📄, and Joan Cox clarified the need to protect even those charging minimal rent for assistance ▶ 📄. No further items were discussed before adjournment.