| Time | Speaker | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00:03.51 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | you . Great, good evening everyone and welcome to the regular meeting of the Sausalito City Council. It is Tuesday, July 7th. We're starting a little early tonight. for a special forum um could the clerk please call the roll |
| 00:00:23.15 | Heidi Scoble | Yes, Councilmember Riley. |
| 00:00:25.38 | Damien | here. |
| 00:00:26.32 | Heidi Scoble | Council member Burns. Take care. Councilmember Cox. here. Vice Mayor Withey. |
| 00:00:32.87 | Unknown | here. |
| 00:00:33.83 | Heidi Scoble | Mayor Cleveland Knowles. |
| 00:00:35.96 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. |
| 00:00:36.85 | Heidi Scoble | All members are present and there is a quorum. |
| 00:00:40.24 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, we are going to start off with our first item this evening, which is a special forum, a community discussion on racial justice. And I just wanted to thank staff for The work that they've done preparing for this evening, greatly appreciated, including our chief of police and Heidi Scoble, our clerk. And I will let Heidi kick us off with a staff report. |
| 00:01:09.83 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 00:01:10.62 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Let me. And I understand Ms. Scoble will not be able to show her video tonight because she has too many screens as she's also running this meeting. |
| 00:01:22.95 | Heidi Scoble | That is correct. And thank you. Good evening, Mayor Cleveland Knowles and council members. Before I start this presentation, I would like to first start off by thanking Mayor Cleveland Knowles and the city council members for their pledge, not only to stand up and be an active ally for racial justices, but also initiating this conversation on how the city council and city staff can positively affect change and continue to chip away and make organizational commitments through the creation of policies and programs to facilitate putting an end to institutional and systemic racism. The purpose of this conversation is important to the city council and city staff. The city honestly wants to hear and learn from our local and regional communities so we can make the necessary changes to address racial and social injustices. So with that, let's begin this conversation. The recent horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as past killings has brought life back to the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter movement has created a purpose to look introspectively and provide an opportunity to inspire meaningful change and commitments. Institutional and systemic racial and social injustices exist in the United States. At a more local level, Marin County has the highest level of racial and ethnic inequities of all counties in California, according to a 2017 report by the Advancement Project California. In support of those figures, according to the 2010 US Census, Sausalito's racial composition is approximately 92% white, 3.5% Asian, 1.5% black or African American and 3% other. As I stated previously, the purpose of this special forum is to facilitate a community conversation on how the city of Sausalito can work towards addressing racial and social inequities. The city is interested in hearing from the community to see what Sausalito can do at a local level to affect meaningful change. Oops. |
| 00:03:30.21 | Heidi Scoble | As a starting point, the staff report includes a list of suggestions related to policy and programmatic ideas to promote racial justice. Some ideas include the following. Support the residents council in Golden Gate Village in their request for the housing authority to assist with the community land housing trust so that more residents can own their own homes in Marin City. work with the business community to foster a culture where local businesses commit to dynamic and inclusive organizations that provide meaningful careers for people of color. expand efforts within all city departments and city functions to improve collaboration and interchange the more racially and economically diverse community of Marin City. create and promote pathways to civic engagement for all members of the community. join and work with the local and regional government Alliance on race and equity, also known as G-A-R-E. expand city council and city staff required training sessions to include diversity and inclusion training. develop a Sausalito Library partnership with the Sausalito Historical Society on research exhibits and presentations related to the experience of African-Americans and other minority groups in Sausalito and Marin City. and to promote local programs related to anti-racism, racial justice and the legacy of racism the staff report includes many more opportunities for the city's consideration In support of committing to promoting racial justice, SAFA has also prepared a resolution for council consideration. to formally recognize and support Black Lives Matter, condemn institutional and systemic racism, and commit to developing and implementing action plans related to racial equity initiatives, policies, and programs. So with that staff is recommending the council solicit input, listen and commence the discussion regarding racial justice, identify priority actions and direct staff to further investigate and recommend these steps, direct staff to provide quarterly updates to the council to ensure action and follow through, and consideration of the adoption of a draft resolution. So with that, I will conclude my presentation and I'm available to answer any questions. |
| 00:05:46.88 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much, Heidi, for that presentation. Any comments or questions from council members before we open it up to public comments. |
| 00:06:03.10 | Unknown | Will we still have a moment for comment after the public comment? |
| 00:06:07.33 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Oh yeah, of course. If you'd like to make any, if anyone wants to make any |
| 00:06:07.37 | Unknown | All right. Of course. |
| 00:06:11.35 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | opening statements or anything that's planned to, whichever you would like. I mean, this is a forum, so we don't have to, adhere to our exact practices. I would ask members of the public who would like to speak to please raise their hands in the zoom application and perhaps Heidi you could read how that works for those who might not be familiar and might not have participated before. |
| 00:06:40.10 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:06:40.63 | Heidi Scoble | Yes, at this time members of the public may address the city council regarding this community discussion on racial justice. Public comment will be accepted by video or audio audience participation via Zoom. Video or audio public comment participation is limited to three minutes per speaker. If you would like to make a comment, please raise your hand in the Zoom application and you'll be called upon when it's your time to speak. To raise your hand from a phone, press the star nine button. each speaker will be notified when your time has elapsed. |
| 00:07:11.27 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great. So I'm gonna start public comment, but before we do that, I did just wanna say that this is an emotional, and highly charged topic. And I know people feel very passionately and sometimes feel angry or feel vulnerable PB, Sarah Silver, So I just want to say I hope everyone does feel comfortable commenting, if you would like, and I just like to ask that everyone who speaks be respectful of those who have already or who might want to speak and voice opinions, yes, Council Member vice mayor with me. |
| 00:07:49.46 | Ray Withy | Oh, thank you, Madam Mayor. I just thought I'd I'd like to make a couple of personal comments. I don't know if this is the right time, Um, You know, we've had some communications of you know, Why are we sort of almost appearing like we're putting this in with other matters, it should be a separate item, separate meeting, and I fully understand those sentiments. But I think it's important for us The most important thing is that we recognize that this is the beginning of a conversation and the sooner we start that, the better. I would hope, and we're going to, after hearing public comment, we're going to talk about what we can do next. And I think the important thing right now is that is a really good friend of mine um said to me some years ago, Right? on this sort of topic, the best thing to do is really keep your mouth shut and just listen. because you can't possibly hope. to really understand. And I think that's, I took that to heart some years ago. And so. this is the beginning, hopefully, for us to begin to listen and perhaps realise we should have had this conversation a long time ago. So I just wanted to make those comments. |
| 00:09:35.28 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you very much. Right. Anyone else would like to Yes, Council Member. |
| 00:09:43.97 | Tom Riley | Um, This is Tom, thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I'm anxious for public comment, as Ray said, to listen and learn. And I hope when we think of the public, especially in this matter, We look to our neighbors in Rennes City. who I think we should embrace more. We should listen more. We should build much closer relationships with, I have learned a lot since you asked me to be a liaison to the school. and understanding some of the inequities in our education And I think when we are in public comment, I certainly hope to our public is expanded into Marin City so that we can also gain their perspective. As diverse as our communities are, that is an opportunity that we are so close to one another to work on some of the opportunities ahead for us. That's my comments. Thank you. |
| 00:10:29.50 | Unknown | is |
| 00:10:42.41 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Okay, and you know I had spoken on this topic or at an earlier meeting, and I think the most one of the most important things for me is that this is just a very There've been a series of very tragic and painful events. And that challenges we face are very daunting, but it really does feel like we are at a very important moment in our country's history and that these tragic events have led to a kind of galvanizing movement And I just hope that we can seize this moment to make permanent and transformative change. And for those of us, as you've mentioned, who don't have the lived experience of racism. It's a challenge to understand, but I think this is a challenge we need to meet. So with that, I will open it up to public comment. unless there are other council members that want to speak. Okay, great. Crystal Wang, three minutes. Welcome. |
| 00:11:57.47 | Heidi Scoble | Crystal has been unmuted and we've asked her to share her video. |
| 00:12:03.56 | Crystal Wang | Hi, can you hear me? Yes, we can. Welcome. Okay. Hi, I am Crystal from Marin City. Police accountability is extremely important throughout the whole process. And we have had a perfect example of how it hasn't worked from the 2013 incident when Deputy Evan Kubota committed nine department violations during what was classified as a high-risk traffic stop in Marin City. He fired 16 shots into our community and struck the suspect. an unarmed black man a community member three times in the arms. His actions put the public himself and the suspect in danger. And the undersheriff describes Kavoda's conduct as nothing less than negligent and flawed and the extreme. I'm quoting him. and his notice of intent to terminate. However, when the incident first occurred, the sheriff changed the narrative when speaking with the media and falsely claimed people were throwing rocks at the officer after the incident. that drew the public's eye away from the officer's misconduct and misleadingly vilified our community. I think it's extremely important for the, the sheriff to be it, very sensitive when he's talking to the media. about our community. um, when violations occur such as the nine violations the sheriff's department fired Kubota for. they should vigorously defend those decisions and findings as it goes throughout the whole court process. In this case, Kubota ended up suing the county. Later, the Personnel Commission then took away six of those violations. And the sheriff didn't contest the findings, which made the decision final. and Kubota was able to be restored to his desk position And now he's trying to steal or he is suing the county again to get the last three violations cleared. And that decision will be made in nine days on July 16th, He could be cleared. of the last three violations And be patrolling our streets again. And it was all because the sheriff didn't, pursue the case as it went through, he didn't contest any of the findings and I think that's Awesome. a step that they need to take. throughout the police accountability process. I also, during, And that, incident there were no body or vehicle cams and I think now they do have I'm not sure if they have vehicle cams Um, I think the police also need to reevaluate implicit bias training and make improvements They also need to demilitarize the police equipment and tactics. the, the, police on every single corner in Marin City when that happened. They had huge guns every single corner There are helicopters everywhere. it felt like we were in a war zone. It was insane. They also need to stop the unnecessary and excessive patrolling of Renn City. We constantly have patrol cars going around. I lived in the mission in San Francisco and never had police just constantly patrolling us. It feels like they're looking for problems here. We don't deserve that. |
| 00:15:51.41 | Heidi Scoble | So with all due respect, your three minutes has elapsed. |
| 00:15:52.52 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'm sorry. Okay, thank you. I'm finished, thank you. |
| 00:15:55.78 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 00:15:57.97 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And I know Crystal Way has written extensively on this issue and I appreciate what I've read from her in the past, so thank you for coming tonight. We have Jamie Whittington, welcome. |
| 00:16:16.43 | Heidi Scoble | Jamie has been unmuted and has been asked to share the screen. Thank you. |
| 00:16:23.98 | Unknown | but you're going to |
| 00:16:24.38 | Jamie Whittington | Thank you. |
| 00:16:26.04 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:16:26.07 | Jamie Whittington | Yes. |
| 00:16:26.48 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 00:16:26.56 | Jamie Whittington | you. |
| 00:16:26.83 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:16:26.88 | Jamie Whittington | Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having this. My name is Jamie Whittington, a 13 year homeowner in Sausalito. I'm heartened and encouraged by the city council's newfound interest in finding a path toward racial healing. But it's inexplicable to me that the city council has chosen to behave as though the historic juncture. that our school district has reached has nothing to do with issues of racial justice denied. As Nelson Mandela so eloquently pointed out healing cannot begin until harm has been acknowledged. I would suggest that for starters, this city council and your predecessors, all the black and brown residents of Marin City and their children who did not attend Willow Creek Academy, a full and sincere apology. Absent such an apology, anything you might possibly say about your interest in racial healing rings hollow. Over the years, this city council has shown a total indifference to the needs of the children in the district who do not go to Willow Creek. In fact, the city council has shown nothing but hostility to the needs of the children who did not go to Willow Creek. The sole focus of the city council's interest has been in Willow Creek well being and the benefit to Sausalito real estate interest that follows Willow Creek success. Any consequences to the lives of the children who did not go to Willow Creek was of no concern. and the consequences have been severe. To anyone who doubts that, I would say read the California Attorney General's 2019 complaint against the district. It's the strongest condemnation of a California school district on civil rights grounds since the 1970s. This city council's reaction to the legal protection that the state attorney general has recently provided the Marin City children who do not go to Willow Creek was to file an amicus brief. supporting Willow Creek's attempt to get the Attorney General's settlement set aside. Someone's telling me something. In your to read institutional and systemic racism in our community. I would urge you, the members of the city council to keep your eyes open to agendas that seek to discredit the current school unification process to in effect slow it down until such time as it may be more as auspicious for white Sausalito interest to regain complete control. Anything short of the Sausalito City Council moderating its unwavering support of the Willow Creek agenda as attested by your almost unanimous endorsement over the course of the last several school board elections of school board candidates who base their platforms on priorities. that benefit Willow Creek to the exclusion of the Marin City children who have not gone to Willow Creek. makes a mockery of your declarations of solidarity with black and brown communities. |
| 00:19:43.96 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you, Ms. Weddington. Appreciate that. Lisa B. Welcome. |
| 00:19:53.35 | Lisa B. | Hello? Hi, I put my video on. Last night at seven o'clock, I got a call from Homer Hall. |
| 00:19:56.55 | Unknown | Um, |
| 00:20:00.77 | Lisa B. | an African-American man who lives in Marin City, He serves on the Marin Housing Authority Board. He was at CVS. And he was shopping in the back and he heard a scuffle in the front. He heard the manager of the store call the police saying that there was a white woman with brown hair Um, Homer heard all of that, paid for his stuff and left. walked out of CVS and was approached by three sheriff's deputies. asking where he was going and what he had in his bag. And he had a moment. He could have run. He could have. fought back. Instead, he calmly said, I'm sorry, I've just got the stuff I bought. You're looking for a white woman with brown hair. She just went the other way. That happened yesterday. in Marin City. That's, an example of what it feels like to be black. in this community. And I'm telling you straight up, Black people don't feel safe in Sausalito. They don't feel welcome in Sausalito. And I would really hope that the work we do here start here. manifest in a community where black people feel welcome and feel safe. And the work that we're doing publicly is one thing, but I would encourage all of us, especially the city council to do the work that needs to be done inwardly. And that is a lifelong commitment and that doesn't get quarterly updates, but that's something that you have to commit to personally. That's what I have to say. Thank you. Great. Thank you, Lisa. David Sudo, welcome. |
| 00:21:36.37 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:21:45.70 | David Sudo | Good evening. I'm going to take I think we should be trying to listen. I did notice that we have several Marin City residents who have engaged this city in the past and I hope they speak tonight. AND I THINK THAT'S A I would just say that one thing one step that the our city could take that would be fairly easy is to be inclusive with all of the residents in the 94965 ZIP code when it comes to extending participation in city events or city benefits, things like our parking discounts system so that all of the residents in our zip code can be, you know, included as much as possible in our city. Thank you. |
| 00:22:45.32 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | PB, Sarah Silver, Thank you, David. PB, Sarah Silver, Sandra Caballero. |
| 00:22:53.23 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Welcome. |
| 00:22:53.81 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:22:53.83 | Sandra Caballero | Thank you. |
| 00:22:56.61 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:22:56.63 | Sandra Caballero | on YouTube. Nope. Bye. I'm sorry. Bye. Hi. Not as presentable as I'd like to be with video, but my name is Sandra Caballero. I am a Latina that lives in South Salito and I would say that there's so many different ways that the city of South Salito can. so many things they can do to make the city more inclusive. One very obvious way is in terms of its urban planning infrastructure. So if you look at where Marin City is and its physical layout, and then Sausalito's physical layout, there's very limited entry into Marin City. So you have a big 101, sort of the 101 freeway separating Marin City and South Salito physically. um, And then you have, I think, Donahue and Bridge Road that connect to Bridgeway. And it's an underpass under the freeway and then a pretty chaotic freeway entrance on Bridgeway heading onto the freeway. I mentioned this because a disproportionate amount of black and brown People of color do not have vehicles. And a lot of the residents in Marin City don't have vehicles. And so their only form of transportation is public transportation. walking infrastructure. and pedestrian infrastructure. SO THE GATEWAY CONNECTION the gateway and cycling infrastructure Um, the connection from Marin City to South Salito itself is very vehicle oriented. There are some transportation services, but it's a pretty unsafe pedestrian and cyclist location. And oftentimes, if you're going to see a black or brown person walking around this area, it's gonna be in that intersection crossing into South Salito. So there's a lot of pedestrian and cyclist focused infrastructure that you can you can implement and fix in order to fix that specific intersection. It's extremely unsafe, it's extremely car oriented, and part of being an inclusive city is going down all the way into the urban planning infrastructure. Obviously there are many other ways we can implement equity, But that's just my particular focus as an urban planner and something I see as a clear flaw in the urban plan infrastructure of South Salito connecting to Marin City. Thank you. |
| 00:25:58.02 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. David Duncan. Welcome. |
| 00:26:16.61 | Unknown | All right, there it is. Thank you very much. My name is David Duncan and I am a PhD student of history from UC Santa Cruz. Some of you may have heard of me. My research involves school desegregation in Saucyote and Marin City in 1965. And I really only wanted to respond to the city council mentioning that there was some interest in outreach for setting up some kind of historical exhibit or presentation to the public. I advise, the desegregation advisory council for the school district currently on kind of the history of the district and how things went. So I'm happy to do any kind of research in that regard. I'm an oral historian. I've interviewed around 30 people about this topic and I'm, expanding it to the rest of the state for my dissertation. But I just want to throw that out there. And if anyone wants to contact me about their own experiences in school, the city council and historical society, you can Google me, David Duncan, DUNCAN, UCSC, and my email and contact info will come up. So thank you very much. And I'm encouraged that this discussion is getting started. So thank you. |
| 00:27:28.89 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Thank you for joining us tonight. Natalie Geischer. Welcome. Hi. Can you hear me? |
| 00:27:37.04 | Natalie Geischer | Yes, we can. Welcome. Great. Thank you. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to speak. So, Council Members, I'm a resident of Sausalito. I moved here in the past five years. I first want to express that I'm very supportive of the Sausalito City staff's suggested actions on implementing zoning and subdivision regulatory reforms This action, I suggest, should be implemented through binding threshold requirements for more low-income housing. Thank you. and through a concurrent removal of existing regulations on housing tenure. The city should also implement a policy to remove the current deviations between market rate and affordable housing units. If the city council is truly committed to racial justice reform, it would begin with addressing housing policies that overwhelmingly favors a homogenous demographic. Second, the Sausalito City Council needs to acknowledge and address the California Attorney General settlement with the Sausalito Marin City School District which mandated fair treatment of the Bayside MLK students. The AG's office found the former SMC SD school board guilty of racial discrimination and intentional segregation. However, despite the AG's finding and subsequent settlement, it is disconcerting that the Sausalito City Council instead filed an amicus brief in support of Willow Creek Academy suit to strike a settlement agreement. The Sausalito City Council must address this discrepancy between their desire for racial justice and the filing of the amicus brief. I hope that the steps the Sausalito City Council chooses is not an exercise in performative justice, but one rooted in direct action. Thank you for your time. Thank you. |
| 00:29:27.23 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 00:29:28.78 | Natalie Geischer | Thank you. |
| 00:29:28.97 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Kristen Woslegel, welcome. |
| 00:29:38.34 | Kristen Woslegel | Hello, good evening. Thank you for convening this forum. I appreciate the work that this takes and the difficult conversations that will most certainly follow, but it is absolutely work that we must embark upon, so thank you for your efforts. um, I would like to tackle that all famous third rail topic of affordable housing. And we can no longer truly deny the legacy of systemic racism. that blankets our community and I'd like to propose a few solutions And just start by looking at Marin City where we see clearly a segregation of blacks in the region and we really should call it that and not pretend that it didn't happen. And it started as a result of housing immigrants from the Southern US who came here to work in the Marinship but then led to codified restrictions on blacks becoming homeowners. For example, my street Ray Avenue in Sausalito originally had a covenant in place that expressly prohibited people of color from buying homes. Although the covenant is no longer in place, the fact that as was stated earlier 1.5% of our community is African American. is a legacy to that scar on Sausalito's history. As a result, African Americans were excluded from home ownership during the post World War II economic boom. And they are largely now priced out of the housing market in Sausalito. We need to make amends for this. I strongly advocate that we revisit a very serious discussion on the topic of affordable housing and begin the hard work of becoming a truly welcoming community. As a start, I have two suggestions for how we can embark upon this. One is to create a community housing trust where residents can contribute funds to perhaps using equity from their homes that they bought many years ago and share the wealth. Other towns in Marin have created community housing trust. It is possible to do this successfully and there are templates available that can help us embark upon this. And then my second suggestion is that we work toward disaggregating any concerns we have about the potential negative effects that development will have on our small town and balance that with the need for with the need for affordable housing, we need to Reconcile any fear we have of development with the more pressing need of becoming a truly welcoming community. Thank you for your time. Thank you. |
| 00:32:36.62 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Next we have a speaker who Telephone number 3062 or the last digits, 3052, sorry. THANK YOU. Yes, we can. Welcome. |
| 00:32:53.19 | Ava Crisanti | Yeah, thanks so much. Eva Krasanti here, and I want to point out that without a real discussion, of both the need for restitution for the damages inflicted on the African-American community through the racially restrictive housing covenants, which actually predate in Teosolito, the New Deal era. Um, that, you know, without without discussing that, I think we're always going to be stuck. Um, So there is restitution due. And it also really asks um, Sausalito proper. to take a hard look at Who gets on to city council? And I think you'll find some answers. in terms of that amicus brief that the Sausalito City Council offered up. And if you look at the ties to real estate and investment banking, Um, that the city council and the mayors have been so entwined with I think it answers a lot of questions. The other thing I would say is, To a lot of people who've been watching what's going on with Willow Creek, Um, and Bayside MLK. It doesn't look so much like a charter school fight. as it looks like an attempted land grab. And I wish the South Florida City Council, instead of offering up an amicus brief, would do a really hard investigation of the conflict of interest. of its council members and its mayors. with regard to that particular school fight. So I asked the people of Sausalito to bear down on city council to be more accountable. in that regard. Thank you. |
| 00:34:39.66 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Lau Gonzalez, welcome. |
| 00:34:51.32 | Lau Gonzalez | Hi, I'm Lau Gonzalez. I'm a Mexican living in Marin City. And I just wanna echo |
| 00:34:59.62 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:35:00.46 | Lau Gonzalez | things that people have already mentioned. One, I know that the African-American community does not feel safe in South Salido. My background's in psychology. Right now I'm doing a master's in marriage and family therapy at USF with a strong social justice background. It's very important for people with privilege and white people to use that privilege and use the voice. To not just not be racist, but to be anti-racist. and to kind of use that privilege to really bring opportunities to the people who don't have it. I understand what someone was saying was listening, I don't think we're out of time where listening is enough. I don't think. |
| 00:35:43.48 | Kristen Woslegel | I don't think. |
| 00:35:45.38 | Lau Gonzalez | It's hard talking sometimes, especially for people who have had a lot of trauma. Right now, it's unquestionable that the black community has gone through a lot of historic trauma. being redlined in property. I mean, it's been there for a long time. So I think it's more important to research with the privilege that people have and use the voice of privilege to bring good. especially with the unification. Yesterday there was a meeting and somebody brought up that they're worried that unification, will have difficulties because it will affect real estate. So I hope that as the city council, you will hold the schools accountable. and doing a good job with the unification. Thank you. |
| 00:36:34.86 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And that's all. Thank you. Great. Thank you very much for joining us. Uh, Kirsten. with no last name. |
| 00:36:49.61 | Kirsten Thomas | Hi, Kirsten Thomas here. Dear members of the Sausalito City Council and fellow neighbors. Race is one of the most difficult topics for leaders to address, and so I applaud your courage for putting this dialogue out in the community. It is said that silence speaks volumes when it comes to addressing racism And these courageous conversations are a first and necessary step. The work won't be done by the end of tonight, but may this be a start. While there is so much to discuss, I'm choosing to focus my comments on two areas. The first is the statement in the suggested actions document stating, require the city council and city staff to participate in training sessions related to diversity and inclusion. May I emphatically suggest that this is not enough. If you, all of you are truly serious about making a difference, if this is not just lip service to the topic, then diversity training is not enough. I vigorously implore you to do facilitator guided deep introspection on anti-racism, racial justice, white supremacy, and the legacy of racism in Marin County. Eliminating systemic racism requires systemic change. It is not going to come from symbolic gestures, such as giving Marin City residents parking passes to our town. And that change needs to start with ourselves. We are all products of a white dominated society. And without a deep and true personal commitment, we cannot expect these racist structures to change. As another suggestion, allow me to ask you this. Did you engage with any black people or persons of color as you prepared the documents related to tonight's agenda item? It's absolutely critical. As noted in the staff report, Sausalito is 92% white and less than 2% African American, So hopefully you're not counting on this forum to provide the needed perspective. The second area of my focus tonight is related to our schools. Next month marks the one year anniversary of the California Attorney General's desegregation mandate. The desegregation mandate should have united our entire community against racism and illegal and unconstitutional segregation and harm to children. by definition, children of color in 94965. I must say that I've been deeply disappointed by city council's response to school segregation over the past year. Your amicus brief in December supported setting aside the AG judgment with the rationale that is rooted in your white property values and white real estate interests. Is that the racist legacy you would like to leave of your tenure on city council? If not, it's not too late to issue a statement to denounce segregation and present your unequivocal support of developing equitable education in our district. regardless of your personal affiliations or lack thereof with either of our district schools to date. As a parent of school-age children, I look forward to school unification but our support of unification is not enough. This is why your personal work on racial issues and reflecting on your white privilege, as well as ours is so important. Thank you. |
| 00:39:49.04 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Shelby Van Meter, welcome. |
| 00:40:03.94 | Shelby Van Meter | Hi, good evening. |
| 00:40:07.77 | Shelby Van Meter | You hear me? I'm here. |
| 00:40:09.93 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, we do. |
| 00:40:10.41 | Shelby Van Meter | You're welcome. |
| 00:40:10.71 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. |
| 00:40:10.73 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 00:40:10.74 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | come. |
| 00:40:11.45 | Shelby Van Meter | Okay, thank you for doing this forum. I'm so appreciative of all the comments and the passion behind of speakers this evening. And I'm not going to speak about social or economic elements because I think there are people who are very articulate about that. But I just want to talk about something that is a physical, barrier between our communities. A younger woman earlier talked about the tunnel The tunnel to me is not only a physical barrier, let alone the freeway, but it is a symbolic barrier. And It has been a mess forever. I personally paid to have the fennel removed from it two years in a row. And just this year, a member of South Suddutiful worked very hard to try to get the fennel cut. There are different jurisdictions here. There's the California Department. see what is it, the California I'm missing my word here. There's the county, there is the California freeway system. There is the city of South Toledo, and it seems like there's a lot of problem in deciding who for example, was going to put the lighting in the tunnel. The lighting took years because no one could agree on who would pay for it. So that's a huge problem. It's an ugly, ugly thing. It is a separate, it separates our communities, I think, in a very real way. And it is a symbol of this separation. it, It's so unfortunate. take a lot of money to do something good with it but I really hope that the jurisdictions involved beyond all these wonderful person-to-person things that we're talking about, we'll somehow get this tunnel taken care of and make it a portal that connects our communities that says that we are one zip code, we're 94965. We want to be closer to our neighbors. I know many do. I'm looking at the number of people participating tonight. It shows you how many people care deeply about this and what we really need in order for all these expressions of concern to be put together and to come up with something meaningful is leadership. And I know that's going to come from our city council. You have a very good start. But without leadership, without strong leadership, nothing is going to happen. So I leave that thought with you and thank you so much for all you're doing to try to get this conversation going. |
| 00:42:53.23 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you Shelby for joining us. Vicki Nichols, welcome. |
| 00:43:00.25 | Vicki Nichols | Hi there, thank you. Um, I... I would just like to say, I'm sorry I joined a little late. I'm very happy to see so many participants But a few more sort of process things. When I read the staff report, I'm really appreciative of the city's willingness to have this conversation, start this conversation Some of the ideas seem to be boilerplate and not maybe feasible. So I would really hope that anything we do, since we keep referencing Marin City, I want us to go there and engage with them. And I want this community to help us understand what helps them. I think there's, Unfortunately, sometimes, you know, these incidents happen and everybody is sympathetic about our neighbor. But how much are we really doing to engage with them? How many of us go over there and volunteer in this school? and participate and know the long I'm not sure. the long living community members there So I think that has to be a component of this. I think there has to be a commitment to a joint task force or some kind of organization And I would like younger people in this as well. And in terms of the covenants, the covenants were all across the county. Terrific. stain on our history, in my view. So there, you know, that has gotten us someplace. I don't know how we get around the definitions of the the amounts of affordable housing As a planning commissioner, I would love to know that, but I know that they're dictated by state formulas, county formulas, I don't know what we can do there, but starting a conversation about how they're calculated would be something I think that would be worthwhile if we can engage. And I hope we don't get into personal I heard a little bit of personal Um, you know, discomfort about our sitting council and their investments, what they have to disclose form 700. let's not make this personal. This doesn't do any good. If you're dissatisfied with something I think we elect our individuals and I hope we keep it at a higher level. So thank you mayor for starting the process and I look forward to keeping involved in it. |
| 00:45:24.57 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 00:45:26.07 | Vicki Nichols | Thank you. |
| 00:45:26.09 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. Sybil, hotelier. Welcome. |
| 00:45:33.02 | Unknown | Oh. |
| 00:45:33.29 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:45:33.59 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Mm. Oops. |
| 00:45:35.99 | Sybil Goutelier | Thank you. Let me get back in here. |
| 00:45:42.86 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Take your time. . |
| 00:45:44.50 | Sybil Goutelier | Thank you. |
| 00:45:44.85 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 00:45:48.31 | Sybil Goutelier | Okay. you Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm very happy to to participate in this hearing today. And I wanted to make just a couple of comments on some of the suggestions that were put forward by staff But before I do that, I just wanted to say I'm very happy to also introduce you to my new colleague, on the Marin Commission on Aging, a resident of Marin City who had just been appointed by the board of supervisors to represent district three and that's Everett Brandon who has joined us today and is I see is on the link on the Zoom. Then I just want to mention that um, A few of these things so. I think the idea of expanding the Age Family Home Adaptation Grant Program to include Low-income people is a great idea. And, The Green and Healthy Homes initiative can help with actually the cost of energy efficiency projects. If the permit is waived, is to make a tremendous program that can be put forward quite efficiently and without too much having to create. Ann Marie Buerklein, New. Also, the proposal to work with the business community. to foster a culture where local businesses commit to die. to provide meaningful careers to people of color, I would add, of all ages. people of color of all ages. And in the next one that also deals with the workforce, I would, You know, of course, one of the protected classes is older adults. Um, Another one I wanted to comment on was creating the scholarships opportunities for parks and recreation programs for underserved residents throughout the zip code. It's a wonderful idea and I'd very much like to see that happen. Um, And not just for Um, the events between the school district, but also other activities and other ways that we can connect with organizations that occur or have their peers in the two cities. The another thing I wanted to bring up was the opportunities to partner with Marin City Community Development Corp. which has held a handout to us on a couple of occasions to, So, share opportunities. They had a new van they offered that we could use occasionally for senior trips and, um, and bring people from both cities for those, um, um, Two other things I wanted to mention. Um, under communications. The data would show that about 42% of a low income, particularly people of color, as well as older adults. have actually entered into the digital world. And So there's some wonderful opportunities to work on Um, the digital divide issues jointly with Marin City. and I'd like to like propose some ideas on that. |
| 00:49:41.18 | Heidi Scoble | Cybil, with all due respect, your three minutes has elapsed. And if you will, would you please email me the list of your suggestions, and I can definitely move them forward. Great. |
| 00:49:52.04 | Sybil Goutelier | Thank you very much. |
| 00:49:52.96 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 00:49:53.00 | Sybil Goutelier | Thank you. |
| 00:49:53.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And Sybil, you said you were introducing PB, Sarah Silver, Everett brandon would he like to pop on now or maybe we can just welcome him and thank you both for your service on the Commission on aging, but if Mr brandon would like to just say a quick hi that would be fine too. We're going to have a great day. |
| 00:50:10.97 | Sybil Goutelier | Thank you. |
| 00:50:11.11 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 00:50:11.29 | Sybil Goutelier | There he is. You're muted, Emory. |
| 00:50:11.63 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 00:50:11.68 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 00:50:11.75 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. |
| 00:50:11.81 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. Yeah, Everett, if you could use the raise hand function so I can find you. That would be fantastic. Thank you. |
| 00:50:21.58 | Everett Brandon | Okay, let's see. |
| 00:50:23.61 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yep, you're here. |
| 00:50:25.14 | Everett Brandon | something like that. |
| 00:50:26.04 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | You are, thank you and welcome. |
| 00:50:28.10 | Everett Brandon | Okay, hello. Good to be here. |
| 00:50:33.73 | Sybil Goutelier | I look forward to working with you on some of these issues. Thank you for being here. |
| 00:50:33.78 | Everett Brandon | Thank you. |
| 00:50:33.82 | Unknown | Go with that. Yeah. |
| 00:50:38.88 | Everett Brandon | I look forward to it and I look forward to working with Sausalito. I've been a resident of Marin City for 20 years now, so I've I've related to the benign relationship. between the two communities and I I know of the incredible talent that your city has and I've always said that, I hope some of that would come over into our community. And I hope that you will rally, not just yourselves, because there's a lot of talent here as it is, but there's just enormous talent there in your community to just bring together, to bring into our community. Could be just one of the happiest developments. I think we could be a, We could be a landmark success story if we could ever bring our resources together. So, I'm hoping that this won't be just a one meeting event, but a five-year plan, a 10-year plan, and commit ourselves for that period of time to see what we could accomplish. So look forward to working with civil and working with the members of the council and other people from the community. The welcome here may not be that easy. because the relationship hasn't been that easy. But I think that's part of the, part of the, where we go, you gotta build that relationship and make it work and just make yourself be available. Make yourself successful. Thank you. |
| 00:52:07.73 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:52:07.74 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Okay, appreciate that Sybil. All right, Sam Rubin, welcome. |
| 00:52:21.01 | Sam Rubin | Thank you, Council Members, Ms. Mayor. I really appreciate your taking the time to have this first and what I hope is ongoing and continuing conversation. about It's a very, very important topic that frankly, we have a deep history ignore. which we've heard I think from many speakers highlighting instances throughout our history that connect directly with where we are today. I'd I want to also thank the city staff for pulling together that initial list of recommendations and for the draft resolution. there. Good first steps. but I would also call on the city staff and the council Thank you. to ensure that we have mechanisms accountability, transparency, and follow-up. Thank you. because they're wonderful words, but until we actually act on them and put in process those structures, |
| 00:53:05.47 | Unknown | What do you think? |
| 00:53:07.70 | Sam Rubin | that no longer perpetuate the systemic racism that we're facing today. and that we've been dealing with throughout our history. then they will just remain that. words. And I'm excited to see what action you provide. I see you the rest of my time. Thank you. |
| 00:53:24.88 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great. Thank you, Sam. Simone McBride or Simon McBride. |
| 00:53:34.06 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. |
| 00:53:36.37 | Jasmine | and everybody. Simon, I'm actually his wife. I'm sorry. I don't want to dupe anybody. Yeah, my name is Jasmine and I'm actually calling |
| 00:53:42.40 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:53:48.44 | Jasmine | from Novato, but I grew up in Sausalito and my mom still lives there. and I am a person of color and I'm a person of color. I couldn't wait to get out of Sausalito. growing up. I didn't understand the inequities. I didn't have all of the information, but it never totally felt welcoming I just found it really crazy at how segregated schools were, you know, |
| 00:54:26.34 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:54:26.36 | Unknown | you know, |
| 00:54:28.03 | Jasmine | Oh, I'm talking on a meeting, Rumi. Thank you. Sorry. And, um, |
| 00:54:34.30 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:54:34.39 | Jasmine | you know, and my parents who |
| 00:54:34.66 | Unknown | you know, |
| 00:54:38.59 | Jasmine | immigrated, and we're able to buy a home. in Sausalito, like a townhouse Um, they they were really hardcore in their assimilation into American culture. |
| 00:54:53.49 | Unknown | So a lot of people, |
| 00:54:54.42 | Jasmine | microaggressions and macroaggressions, they let slide. which is a really hard way to cope. As I visit my mom, what still strikes me is how much policing there is for such a small town. And to see these you know, there's like the same older white gentlemen on his motorcycle just policing around. It's so symbolic. And it just reinforces the idea of protecting property to generate income. I understand it is has to do with safety. But it's just. too much and so you know defunding I... I am for that as well. And if you, um, And also, you know, as far as real estate and, You know, how much access do do people have to to the water? beyond yachts and boats and sailing companies, do they Is there a way for them to be involved in the community and offer the water to our neighbors in Marin City and children in Sausalito Um, as I'm an educator and I, Do equity, I belong to an equity team at my school. And if there could be an equity team developed with the council, that would be great. I do really appreciate the idea of, the council listening and going into Marin City. you know, that, Um, and as far as There's the Sausalito Art Festival, which I know generates a lot for the awesome recreation center that maybe. |
| 00:56:55.97 | Heidi Scoble | Jasmine, with all due respects, your three minute time has elapsed, but you're more than willing to email me the city clerk and provide additional thoughts that I can forward. |
| 00:57:05.86 | Jasmine | I will. Thank you so much for having this. having people's voices heard is wonderful and I appreciate you |
| 00:57:15.09 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 00:57:15.11 | Jasmine | So, |
| 00:57:15.90 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 00:57:16.46 | Jasmine | for providing this space. |
| 00:57:17.77 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Great, thank you very much for coming tonight. Thank you. Atula Biedermann, welcome. |
| 00:57:28.54 | Atula Biedermann | Hi, can you hear me? |
| 00:57:29.69 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, I can. Welcome. |
| 00:57:31.14 | Atula Biedermann | I'm speaking through a mask. I know it's harder to understand, but important. Thank you, Madam Mayor and Council. Like the others, I very much appreciate your having this forum. I think it's incredibly important first step And I'm very grateful that We have Marin City residents, Anselt City residents and other members of the local community involved. I also liked a lot of what I saw suggested in the staff report. Um, I wanted to bring up a couple of points that I thought were particularly pertinent. One. for any detractors, which unfortunately I saw at least one of in the emailed statements from public community members. Any detractors, I would point to a 2018 LA Times article that lists of the counties in California, Marin has the largest inequity between racial groups of any county in California. I think that we cannot ignore that. I think that we cannot say it isn't here, it isn't now, it isn't in Marin. I think that this is also a deeply personal issue. It is political. And I respect what the community member was saying before about not making it overly personal, however, I think that it is very personal. It matters who our legislators are. Thank you. It matters what their backgrounds are, their investments and their interests. And I don't think that that's something that we should overlook. as we move forward to this, as we consider who the stakeholders are, who are making decisions, were brought in to consult I think it's very important that we are very mindful of that and don't try to overlook I also wanted to say, I know that we've had speakers talk about the sheriff's department and the police presence in Marin City. And I know that that isn't the jurisdiction of Sausalito City Council. However, I hope that in every Every collaboration and every opportunity that the council and that Sausalito city officials have in working with County officials and the Sheriff's office, they advocate for Marin city, they advocate for Marin city residents as part of our community in the 94965 zip code. Although they do not technically represent them as constituents. More specifically, I wanted to comment on Chief Warbucker's statement on behalf of the Sausalito PD, which is attached to the agenda. I really respect Chief Warbucker, I've said it in the past, and I appreciate his commitment to racial justice in this way. However, I wanted to address one specific quote. We also hope to partner with the Sheriff's Office in reestablishing our relationship and presence on the school campuses to build trust and relationships. Well, I appreciate the sentiment behind this. I think it's a very misguided statement and that we need to come to terms with the fact that police presence on school campuses does not build trust and meaningful relationships. It makes things more tense. It leads to lower test scores for African-American children And it only builds further distrust in this community. I think that we can see that police presence in general in Marin City, has created a lot of tension and a lot of fear. and I think introducing that on the school campus with the youngest children only worsens the problem. I think there are ways that the Sausalito PD can collaborate with the Sheriff's Office to improve the community and make it safer and make it more welcoming for all. I do not think that an increased presence on school campuses would add to that in any regard, I think if anything it detracts. But again, thank you so much for having this and thank you for giving me time to speak. |
| 01:00:42.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Karen Hollweg, Thank you to Melissa blasting welcome. |
| 01:00:42.65 | Atula Biedermann | Great, thank you. |
| 01:00:43.34 | Karen Hollweg | Thank you. |
| 01:00:48.93 | Karen Hollweg | Thank you so much city council and city staff for convening this very important forum. It's really incredible to see 105 people on here who are deeply passionate about and concerned with this issue from not just Sausalito, but from Marin City, and from across the county. We are the most racially disparate county in the entire state. And that's an uncomfortable thing to come to terms with. And I think this, Discussion is hopefully. the beginning of all of us really looking at ourselves and starting to do that. I wanted to mention specifically from the city staff's recommendations, There's a mention of a program of working with the library and the Historical Society to take a look at the experience for African-Americans and people of color in Sausalito. And I would say it's critical that we look really, really hard at not only where we are now and where we stand, but really addressing what we've done to get here and whether or not it was the legislators who were there 30 years ago or 50 years ago. the experience of the community that we've created. And many of the words from those documents might still be in existence and continue to create an ongoing community that is, as we've heard from some residents, unfortunately, and I know that we can do better and do more to be not just a not racist community, but an anti-racist community. And I think that we'll take really looking at our past and also acknowledging our present and being brave enough to say we are a community of privilege and we have a lot of people who are done things that are discriminatory or made mistakes. And it's very uncomfortable to sit with in a community that is overwhelmingly white. But the fact that there's 106 people on this call means that we're willing to do that. And I would echo the statements of others in saying that it's extremely important that each of us, but in particular, our city leaders and city staff take the time not just to participate in diversity and inclusion trainings, but in trainings that really dig deeper with a facilitator to look at the history of white privilege and what it means and also to do more to lift up voices for people of color in our communities so that we can be truly welcoming. And again, I really appreciate the city staff and the city for convening this. I do hope that this is the beginning of a long conversation because this work takes years. It's not gonna happen overnight. Thank you. |
| 01:03:11.35 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. All right, Victor F. |
| 01:03:20.59 | Unknown | Welcome. |
| 01:03:22.07 | Victor F. | Hi, thank you. I'm using a different account. I'm not sure. I'm not sure what else I can add except that The mayor. is one of the founders of Willow Creek. And her husband sits on the board. Now in 2012, One of the people they worked with was found guilty of felony conflict of interest and running a scam through charter schools. So I'm not sure whose interests lie where and this is purely speculation on my part, but I believe that a lot of people on this very board have benefited financially from redlining and segregating and are now spending taxpayer money on these lawsuits against whistleblower Mary Jane Burke and the amicus brief that the city filed in favor of Willow Creek. So I think it's clear that something is very, very wrong with the leadership in Sausalito. And I would suggest that a good place to start with racial equity instead of this pageant that you are holding for Black Lives Matter is to drop the lawsuits, shut your mouths, and open your wallets to make up for the children's lives that you have hurt and destroyed. When we talk about racial equity, we talk about reparations. We talk about making amends financially and legally for what we have done. And there are people on this council who are directly responsible for the segregation. Whatever else you say today, means nothing until you drop those lawsuits Admit to mistakes, admit to crimes if they have been committed. and make up for the education that you have cost those children and the pain that you've cost those families. There is no need to sit here and wax philosophical about how we can possibly help. You started this. in 2010, 2011. Willow Creek was being told that they were open to fraud and were in danger of segregating. They've known for 10 years about this. Thank you. |
| 01:06:12.89 | Victor F. | I see. |
| 01:06:12.96 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 01:06:13.11 | Victor F. | more time. |
| 01:06:13.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 01:06:13.66 | Victor F. | Thank you. |
| 01:06:14.85 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Sarah Silver, All right, thank you, would you like to state your name for the record. |
| 01:06:23.21 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, Jackie Kudler, welcome. |
| 01:06:27.63 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:06:27.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Oh. |
| 01:06:31.76 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And then after Jackie, we've got Barbara Sapienza and Peter Van Meter. Hi, good evening, Jackie. |
| 01:06:40.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | We can see you. |
| 01:06:41.23 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. Can you see me? Can you hear me? Yes, both. Welcome. All right. I just want to thank you for doing this and I appreciate what all of members have been saying. support it. I had written you a letter and I just want to say it Uh, in this forum. that's a great deal. I would be very happy to see the city council support the residents in Sausalito who are trying to in Marin City who are trying to establish a community land trust in Golden Gate Village Uh, It's important. because that community will disappear. the only Black community. in Marin County. will disappear if it's turned over to a private developer. because that's exactly what's happened in every city. where that's happened all over the country. gentrification, means that a number of the people And it's a community that goes back 50 years. in Golden Gate Village will lose their homes and have to find homes elsewhere, which in Marin County is pretty impossible. So, I see that the staff recommended That's it. idea. supporting Golden Gate Village. the community there. And I want to second that. Here's something tangible we can do. This is a microcosm of the rest of the country. We can't solve the country's problems, but we can do something really important here. Thank you. |
| 01:08:36.48 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Barbara Safienza, welcome. |
| 01:08:55.69 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Barbara? |
| 01:09:00.14 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Hello. Susan Nemitz- Hi great we can hear you now. Susan Nemitz- Oh, thank you Susan. |
| 01:09:05.66 | Barbara Sapienza | I just wanted to thank everybody for coming here tonight and talking about what they think is important. So many, so many great ideas. are floating around. And I think the conversation is important and As I was talking, I was thinking about the first black woman that I ever met that I considered a friend. Her name was Vivian Barron and she lived in Marin City in those houses that, We just heard about. where the land trust might happen, And I was working with crippled kids in Marin County at Marindale School. And, um, Vivian Barron was my Teachers Aid. And Vivian Barron was the most beautiful woman I have ever met. She had the biggest heart. I mean, we had, as teachers, we were lucky. We had to deal with ABC. but she dealt with all the nitty gritty of kids who didn't have bowel control and didn't have um, needed so much help and she taught me so much. And I think the experience of Vivian Barron brought me in some way to Marin City to work with the kids at MLK. and, to become somebody who would love them and, See their beauty and advocate for them. And so I come to this forum here to ask each of you, Susan, the board members, to talk. to the elders of Marin City, the Vivian Barons of Marin City. They know so much and there are so many of them and ask them what it's like. What can we do? How can we help? but really talk to them. talk to each other. and listen and feel. And I think that's really a good beginning. And I love that you're beginning this. to the board, but I think we so many people have said it, we have to look at ourselves We have to look at how we were raised, how we don't even know about white privilege, how we think we're not racist. We have to look at all that. And we need to build, somebody suggested, Shelby Van Meter, the tunnel, we have to build bridges. We need to make parks that include both the kids, maybe a park over the freeway. that connects the two, the ocean with the town of Marin City. Anyway, those are just my rambling thoughts. Thank you for listening. And I hope we can do this more. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:11:59.17 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you so much for joining us. Peter Van Meter. Welcome. |
| 01:12:13.63 | Heidi Scoble | Peter has been unmuted, so he will just need to click on his mute button. |
| 01:12:24.58 | Peter Van Meter | Okay, thank you for having this session. that's a good idea. Ultimately, I think this comes down to every person's heart and mind, their personal views. And what I wanna say in that regard is importance of the Not only the officials of Sausalito, but the residents and everybody on this call today. to be supportive of our unification program in the schools, and to be supportive of a quality education for all 94965 students. And I say this from a personal perspective, I had what I now call the fortunate time in my youth to attend. integrated schools. where I was in the seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th grades, whites in my school were less than half. |
| 01:13:15.77 | John Flavin | Thank you. |
| 01:13:21.28 | Peter Van Meter | The next largest population group was African American, Hispanic, and a few others. This had a profound effect as a child on my future view of the world and the people in it. And I think if we have a school that's successful for all the residents of 94965, where the kids are going and being exposed to Everybody. At every rate. Where they're coming from. can have that same profound effect on them I'd be certainly hopeful for that. So I think that's something that can create the personal relationship between people and an understanding of cultural differences, similarities that are so important in getting rid of this problem of systemic racism. So I hope we can do that in support of our schools. Thank you. |
| 01:14:14.69 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Mike N, welcome. |
| 01:14:21.55 | Mike N. | Thank you. Hi. I just wanted to say that I'm a resident of Marin City, and we look forward to working with the people of Sausalito and by the way, trying to do a couple of I'm going to ask the try and really get money invested in the community so that the community can actually help itself and be able to help the residents here start their own businesses and grow their own community even with Sausalito's help but be able to stand on their own legs independently financially And I really do think, uh, that it's important that we instill the ability for the minority community members to be able to have their own businesses and be able to grow here in Marin County, regardless of what Sausalito does. So, but Sausalito can be really helpful in this here by helping, by reaching out to businesses that start here and helping those businesses to get help the Sausalito people get comfortable with the people in I have a business that I work in, uh, that I do work in Sausalito. And it's often surprising for people to see me doing this type of work in Sausalito. But I'd rather it not be a surprise. I'd rather people be comfortable and understand that I'm coming from a good place. And, I pay taxes just like everybody else. I got to pay corporate taxes like everybody else, and I really would like it if everyone helped. Besides that point, though, I have started a nonprofit corporation who would really love to get some help getting it off the ground. If people would like to help us in Marin City here, we're trying to do something I think that's going to help everyone. And people can reach me at 415-570-4050. Again, 415-570-4050. And I would really thank the council here for having this meeting. I would ask that you all please try to do something comprehensive where you build your policies around the whole community so that The Marin City community is included in your financial plans so that, you know, things, you know, gifts of living next to a Sausalito, for instance, maybe. I think we can do a lot together. I thank you for your time. |
| 01:17:20.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. We've heard about your work and appreciate that. Thank you. for being here tonight. Betsy Stroman. |
| 01:17:32.82 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | You hear me now? Yes, we can. Welcome. |
| 01:17:36.28 | Betsy Stroman | Thank you. Um, I wanted to speak to the same issue that Jackie Kudler just spoke to. which was a staff suggestion for a community for Sausalito's support of a community land grant in Marin City. And I wanted to go beyond that because the community land grant request is just a part of a plan that a group of residents have put forth for renovations and repairs of building of the public housing complex called Golden Gate Village that was erected in the 60s. And, um, the County. is not that supervisors seem not to be interested in this plan and have their own plan. And this is causing a great deal of problems of the, residents are very much opposed to the, county's plan. And I wanted to recommend that one thing we could do very easily and quickly now would be to lend our support for that plan, which is presently slated for a further hearing on July 21st before the Marin housing. Commission. And I just wanted to mention that Sierra Club supports the plan. The IJ... supports the plan, the residence plan. And I just noticed somebody called to my attention this morning, David Brooks writing about So, improving neighborhoods in underserved communities. And he said, it's the people who live in the neighborhoods themselves who have the expertise. No outsider with a foundation grant or a government contract really knows what's going on in any neighborhood, or would be trusted to make change. The people who live in the neighborhoods know what to do. They just need the resources to do it. And I just echo that statement, which David Brooks made better than most of us could, and I hope that the City Council will support the staff suggestion to support the residents plan for improvement of Golden Gate Village. Thank you. |
| 01:19:58.67 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. Okay, Chris Durbin, welcome. |
| 01:20:04.82 | Chris Durbin | Oops. |
| 01:20:10.52 | Chris Durbin | Hello. Hi. Thank you so much for holding this forum. Um... Sorry, just a minute, I'm trying to get to my... |
| 01:20:20.41 | Vicki Nichols | to get to my |
| 01:20:22.15 | Chris Durbin | comments. that I typed up. So again, I appreciate your calling for this forum as a start, using your words to confront and work to overcome the toxic legacy of racism. We have a very real and well-documented history of deep harm from racism, right in our multiracial 94965 community. in this town, where African Americans came during World War II to build ships, to find meaningful work. They faced unfair union practices during the war. And after the war, they lost their jobs. Then when white counterparts were given an easy path to job training and home ownership, and then went on to rebuild their lives post-war and amass wealth. These opportunities were denied to African Americans here in this area. The consequences of just this chapter of racism are overtly evident in the stark disparities in income and housing between whites and Blacks right here today. right there. Right there is an indisputable case for reparations. This community has never moved an inch in that direction. And now is the clear time to move in that direction. Let's start. as many have said before me, Let's start with Golden Gate Village, the only housing option made available to many people of color in our community. Let's grant the plan the residents of Golden Gate Village want and deserve. I know it's not, in our hands to grant the plan, but we certainly can help it move forward and we have to. In three minutes, there's just not time to speak sufficiently to glaring racism, racist treatment of children of color in our school district at Bayside MLK Junior Academy, So toward treatment, the top law enforcement agent of our state, Attorney General Becerra said just 11 months ago, that that mistreatment was warped. Wicked. Morally bankrupt and corrupt. And I honestly thought When we heard that, when we heard the Attorney General speak, that we would see acknowledgement acknowledgement from Sausalito. and humble, sincere apology to the children harmed in their families, in their communities, And that we would finally begin a process of what we really need. And that's truth and reconciliation. So I was deeply disappointed and angered, but mostly so disappointed that nothing at all came from Sausalito. And then things went from worse bad, terrible to worst. When Willow Creek sued to have that settlement that offered protected correction of that severe harm, From... correction of the severe harm to children thrown out. And then the council- Christine, you're three minutes. |
| 01:23:18.93 | Heidi Scoble | Christine, your three minute time limit has elapsed, but if you would like to send a follow up email to the city clerk, we will take that message and forward it to the city council. |
| 01:23:28.99 | Chris Durbin | Thank you, Heidi. I just want to say in closing, As Kristen Thomas said, we all have to do that deep personal work. And that's what I really want to end on. Let's do that. We have to. It will heal our souls and we will all benefit. Thank you. |
| 01:23:45.12 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you, Chris, for joining us tonight. Carlo Berg and Carlo is the last speaker that I see with his hand raised. So if there are any other Okay, I've got one more. If there are any other members of the public who would like to speak after Carlo and Elias Karkawi, please raise your hand. And Welcome, Carlo. |
| 01:24:09.42 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:24:10.79 | Carlito Berg | Thank you, Susan. I'm glad I'm not the last to speak because there's been so much that. meaningful, significant stuff said before me, and it's really important that Um, Hopefully I'm not the one to close this out. Something I just wanted to mention very briefly is, as you can probably tell by my two names together, I come from a mixed-race background, Hispanic and Hispanic. the European. And we're one of the only minority landowners in the Marinship, one of the only women owned businesses as well. And it's really nice and heartening to see all this come together. And I really hope that Over the course of this process, everyone everyone really takes a good look at themselves. something that helped our family get out of poverty and and other things when we immigrated to America was really education. that's a good idea. and economic empowerment. And Now that we have those things, we're very passionate as a family about giving back to the community. And so I would just like I texted the gentleman who came up before and left his voicemail or left his phone number, but I would just like to reach out to the community at large and if there's any way that we can help, As a family, I would really like to uh, engage in those discussions. And those are really our two primary focuses. education and I'm not sure if you're not economic empowerment. So we also have an open internship program where I take interns from all over the state and we do We learn about real estate and construction, a whole bunch of other things. I also wanted to mention at the very end, I think some of the statements made about the city council members are misguided. I've I had the fortune of going to at least 43 meetings in the past couple of years. And I've seen firsthand, specifically Susan Cleveland Knowles and others, vigorously defend the be. putting in place actual historic representations of what happened in Sausalito and I think it's a that we have. unfortunate and disparaging that certain people are saying certain members of the Council don't have that in mind. They've had that in mind for years. Thanks very much. |
| 01:26:31.91 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you, Carla. Elias Karkabi device. |
| 01:26:42.59 | Elias Karkabi | Hi, good evening, Madam Mayor. um, So I'd like to first start by addressing the incredible amount of calm and composure that I'm hearing from the BIPOC community talking about this issue. Um, It's great that we're having this discussion now, but it almost seems like now that white people, in our county. are waking up, we're saying, well, we just noticed you guys. And now it's okay for you to speak. And so I really want to address how measured people of color are being and how accepting their being of us as white or passing individuals in having this conversation. And I really want to give them applause for that. Um, In regard to Marin City, I grew up here in Marin County. I didn't know Marin City existed until I was like 17 years old. Now that's pretty crazy. And so I think something that really needs to be addressed is the visibility of Marin City. And that needs to be part of the restitution to the people living there. is some kind of grant program that meaningfully invests in the Marin City community Um, Mike N. spoke about this. that the Marin City community needs to have agency and to be self-sustaining. And that needs to come through serious restitution. and serious reparations. for the harm that has been caused to that community Bye. white individuals, in our county. I mean, these people, built our ships. you know, for the whole country. during World War II. They're the backbone of our economy. And they haven't been seen. and there hasn't been a reckoning. Thank you. I'd like you to think about that, please. |
| 01:28:57.24 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | but |
| 01:28:58.05 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:28:58.07 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Anne Lee. And after that, Jameera Reynolds. |
| 01:29:11.60 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Welcome, Anne. |
| 01:29:13.40 | Anne Lee | Can you hear me okay? |
| 01:29:15.38 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, we can. Thank you. Welcome. |
| 01:29:17.20 | Anne Lee | Thank you. Thank you for having this first discussion. agree with many of the speakers before me that this is overdue in a sense and we have a lot of work to do. What I'm interested in is how we can create some sort of independent task force or committee to hold the City Council accountable to working on the resolutions. I read the resolutions and there's a lot in there, And in terms of like working on priorities and also, holding timelines to get certain steps in place what you know, the council supports are on that. And also my interest would be that A committee or task force to hold the council accountable would have to include a wider member of the community, the 94965. And I'd hope that it would include the Marine City leaders as well as, you know, we haven't discussed so much, but I live |
| 01:30:21.06 | Unknown | It would include. |
| 01:30:28.23 | Anne Lee | in the houseboats, which, you know, if you, take a look at the history of the redlining that occurred after World War II, that was also a place where So, so leader city council was able to divide and, and leave out voices in this local community. Um, because the house voters as you know, historically worse wanting on, on the water, they weren't legal. So we should, should look at that again. Which voices are you leaving out? people living and contributing and going to schools in a houseboat, why can't they run for city council? Why can't they be on these communities? So I really want you to look at that as well as the Marin City residents. They need to have a a real stake, a real voice. not just to be part of a pageant as one person had brought up earlier on. I want it to have some teeth. So that is what I would suggest for moving forward. Thank you. |
| 01:31:38.55 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. Jameer Reynolds, welcome. |
| 01:31:44.57 | Jameer Reynolds | Hello. Um, So let me start off by saying, My name is John Mayor Reynolds. I'm the community school manager for Sausalito Marin City School District. And I am also the author behind the Frederick Leon Marcus Youth Academy. Um, And what I really want to address tonight is There was a petition created by a group of individuals. who did not have the proper information about the youth academy. And. the purpose for the Youth Academy was to collaborate with Oh. enforcement agencies to teach young men and women life-saving skills or safety protocol, such as CPR, First aid training, if someone has a grand mal seizure, how to treat a wound, in addition to doing community service projects, such as collaborating with maybe the Sausalito Police Department and the Marin County Sheriff to host a talent show. feed the seniors to deliver groceries to, uh, individuals who may have mobility issues. the young men and women are part of the Youth Academy are not being trained to be police. What is happening is they're being Talk to how to save a life And in addition to this academy, they will be learning financial literacy. they will be doing public speaking. They will be doing civic engagement, which means going to the county office and meeting with the board of supervisors to prepare them to be comfortable to speak in front of crowds of people. They will be taking courses on social activism. and volunteerism and they will volunteer through the Marin City Cooperations teams. And if some of you are not familiar, I welcome you to go to Marin City Cooperations teams dot net and it will provide all of the information. And lastly, Um, I just... I implore on you to really do your homework as it pertains to this Youth Academy. again There have been a number of drownings, heart attacks, accidents that occurred in Marin City. But just imagine if you have young people who are able to step in and potentially save a life until emergency medical services arrive. or having young people who are able to read the stock market. And also a part of it is there will be a mindfulness component as well. Meditation, yoga. And so I know my three minutes is up and I apologize, but again, It is all part of the Marin City Public Safety Initiative. We are trying to build young men and women to be productive citizens in Marin City. Thank you. |
| 01:34:46.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you so much, Jameer for that clarification and for all that great information. Really appreciate that, thank you. Next speaker is Dame M. Welcome. |
| 01:35:05.47 | Damien | Hi, can you hear me? |
| 01:35:06.89 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, we can. |
| 01:35:08.37 | Tom Ford | Thank you. |
| 01:35:08.39 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 01:35:08.40 | Tom Ford | Thank you. |
| 01:35:08.51 | Damien | Yeah. |
| 01:35:08.98 | Tom Ford | Damien. |
| 01:35:09.97 | Damien | I am a borderline. |
| 01:35:11.21 | Unknown | Thank you. Yeah. I was born and raised in Marin City, I'm a TAM High graduate. All right, well. I want to be nice. I know in Marin County, you have to be extremely nice. I know that. You have to be kind. people get uncomfortable. Um... you know, white America, you owe black folks. That's simple. White America. You owe us. If you guys want to meet and have meetings so Black folk can continue to tell you the issues. Black folk, keep telling white folk issues. Keep saying what's going on, what's happened, how we're getting pulled over. So if you guys wanna hold those meetings, I have you have them good luck. But. You owe us. You owe us a lot. and talk about redlining. the same folks who are who benefited from redlining. of the same folks who cut black folks, black kids out of education. And these are the same people who were behind the taboo of cannabis, weed, marijuana. The same folk who chase down black folk. for a handful of marijuana, me being one of them. I was arrested for having a pocket full of marijuana 20, 20 some years ago. The same folk who chased me down the same people who are now invested in cannabis. unequal playing field. You know, your chase is down. put us in jail. And now, oh, now it's good we want to invest. and make money. but the black folk, you can't do that. So it's unequal playing field and you wanna meet and talk. Talk about what? What do you want to talk about? keep putting measures in place till school is over. There's nothing to talk about. You owe us. in a nice way, nice kind way. So have your meeting. Feel good about it. but simply you owe black America. It's that simple. Cut and dry. Be nice. Have your meeting, coffee, tea, pastries, all that good stuff. You owe us, okay? So if you want to help out, both to the county, or Thausolito write some policies to give black folk some permits to sell cannabis legally. That's one thing, do that. Okay, write a policy or the county in case here's no she's complicit Help caseeers. write some policies, some measures and plays, so we can have a cannabis business. Okay, do something like that as you're talking in your meetings and want to hear more from black folk. Tell us more. Tell us more. No. Do something meaningful. Thank you. |
| 01:38:05.76 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you, Damian. Steven Allison, welcome. |
| 01:38:19.30 | Steven Allison | Hi there. My name's Steven Allison. I'm a physician. who primarily serves the underserved in our county. I live a few hundred yards from the Sausalito city limit in the houseboat community. I don't want to be in the city limit. In fact, I question the existence of the city government of Sausalito itself. |
| 01:38:37.98 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 01:38:38.04 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:38:38.16 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:38:40.49 | Steven Allison | The city limit was clearly set to exclude those. that had been considered undesirable by wealthy white residents of Sausalito. Your city limit reflects a racist local history of redlining. The very existence of your white city council is what systemic racism is all about. your police profile, and disproportionately stopped people of color walking into our community from, Marin City. You can spire with the county. to destroy people's homes anchored out on Richardson Bay. |
| 01:39:17.02 | Steven Allison | You have stalled integration of the public school in the face of a historic desegregation order from the state. Why do you get to decide? Why do you have power? when it comes to these decisions, when I and my neighbors in Marin City do not. Why are we tolerating the systemic racism here? The solution is for people with privilege and power. to give up that power. You should be on the same footing with everybody else. my proposed disincorporation of the city of Sausalito You can do this yourself. Otherwise we can do it by petition. Defund your police. disincorporate the city give real power to the surrounding excluded neighborhoods. Those are the kinds of change we need to redress these requirements. Bang. |
| 01:40:07.97 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you so much. Okay, I don't see any other hands raised, but if there is anyone else who would like to comment at this time, please raise your hand. I'm just going to... Heidi, do you see any additional answers? |
| 01:40:28.86 | Heidi Scoble | Yes, we have a Sabrina. that has raised her hand. Okay. |
| 01:40:33.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Okay, two more, Sabrina and Made at O. Thank you, Sabrina. Welcome. |
| 01:40:39.97 | Sabrina Clifton | there. I'm here to also request a divesting from the police department. I'm gonna read something that I came across that I found to be very insightful. that you can't be anti-racist without being anti-capitalist. And here's why. Capitalism is a political economic system built on an inequality. By nature, it concentrates power via wealth, material resources, control over the means of production into the hands of a ruling class at the top of society, which we know are. white people. This creates a system of haves and have nots where the people have increasingly less equity, less social mobility and less power. It is a competitive hierarchical structure that necessitates oppression, exploitation, and domination. And in order to survive, capitalism deploys many ideological tactics to distract us from this fact. racism is an ideology that upholds this imbalance. Much like capitalism, racism is built on hierarchy. It is a false belief system that ranks certain races as superior or inferior. But more than that, it is a tool used by capitalists to divide and conquer the masses, rationalize poverty amongst people of color, inhibited class consciousness that could unite a multi-racial coalition together to overthrow this unjust societal order We must remember that slavery was an economic enterprise and the United States racism provided the ideological cover to justify the brutal exploitation of African labor for profit. The police are the ultimate enforcers of capitalism. Dating back to interstate slave patrols, police forces were created to protect the wealth and class wealth class standing of the rich. rather than serve the people, their job is to repress the masses through violence, intimidation, and imprisonment. isolated from any Democratic control police represent the cornerstone of austerity draining public funding meant for universal aid and social programs that better our communities. The brutality against people of color manifests from the same hierarchical oppression and domination that capitalism cultivates. Please also facilitate a racist criminal justice system that funnels prison slave labor to the private sector, a system that uses these instruments has no conscious, conscience and therefore no legitimacy. This is what you're supporting. |
| 01:42:55.99 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Is this Charlene Eldon? Speaking now. Do you want to give us your |
| 01:43:02.03 | Sabrina Clifton | Oh, my name is Sabrina. |
| 01:43:03.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 01:43:03.55 | Sabrina Clifton | Okay, and what's your last name? Sabrina Clifton, I'm a lifelong resident in Marin County. Okay, great. All right. |
| 01:43:10.07 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 01:43:10.09 | Sabrina Clifton | Bye. |
| 01:43:10.78 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:43:11.54 | Sabrina Clifton | Thank you. |
| 01:43:11.55 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 01:43:15.35 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, Neda. |
| 01:43:20.09 | Neda | Hi, I'm glad to be able to take part in this. Um, I worked in Sausalito for over 10 years on working on boats and that sort of thing. And I actually now decide in Mill Valley, So, I'm speaking being neighbors and friends of Moran City, there is Um, There is a movement going on right now called Marin City Friends and Neighbors for Sovereignty. And what we are doing is we're um, essentially on a mission to make foreign city its own city. really empower the citizens and the community members of Marin City to have a voice in what happens in their community. have a financial stake in what happens in their community. As of now, it's unincorporated. And so that means that the council County takes all the taxes and decides what they feel like giving back to Marin City, which is essentially peanut So, If anybody is interested in getting involved in this and actually empowering Marine City, by giving them again a voice and financial state. in what happens. There is a post on Nextdoor by myself as well as Damian Morgan. with the information on how to get involved in It's called MCSANS, F-A-N-S. And I see my time. Thank you. |
| 01:44:55.05 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you and thank you for that information. Okay, Alice Merrill. |
| 01:45:03.62 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Welcome. |
| 01:45:04.18 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:45:04.84 | Alice Merrill | So I am jumping in here at the very end. I just feel like if I don't, I have something in my car that says end white silence. And then here I am not saying anything. I had that at our little, um, our thing down in Sausalito by the No, I guess I made that when I went to a march down in Palo Alto. So all I can say is I agree with, we got to get the integration of the schools going or the unity of the schools, we've got to stop. We've got to get Golden Gate Village supported. We've got to get the superintendents to listen. We've said it a thousand times. I've been to so many superintendent meetings and they just, Super yeah. Supervisors, County, County supervisors. They, they, they just smile maybe. And, um, We've got to get the leadership in Marin City to be supported, to have us behind them. I love the idea of we literally talk to them that Barbara Sapienza said, we have to do this. And if we don't, we're just What? We're doing the same thing we've always done. Just walk along, not saying, no saying, oh, I'm outraged and then I'm not anymore and all business as usual. And we have a new world here. We need to stop business as usual. And we need to help the people who live in Golden Gate Village and in Marin City The woman who talked about the man on the motorcycle who goes around town, the policeman, I'd be scared too. Um, I... Well... She... It's just, it's just, It's hard to fathom. THE FAMILY IS nitwitty we can be and we have got to stop we've got to end white silence thank you very much |
| 01:47:06.13 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you, Alice. I have Jacques' iPad next on our list. |
| 01:47:11.38 | Unknown | and |
| 01:47:20.88 | Jacques | on you. |
| 01:47:24.95 | Jacques | Hey. You mean? |
| 01:47:28.93 | Unknown | Yes, you can. Welcome. |
| 01:47:32.69 | Jacques | Can you hear me? Okay. |
| 01:47:34.15 | Unknown | I, |
| 01:47:34.94 | Jacques | Well, All I wanted to... to add to this is that It seems to me that So we're doing the marine ship specific plants. And I remember when I, first moved here. There were businesses, there was light industry in the Marin that employed people in the city. I used to do a lot of work with Gerhardt's sheet metal and with Interbay Lumber. And, So, when we do our zoning, for the marine ship. instead of going in the direction of office buildings and so on, If we go in the direction of light industries, I know we want it. to be, marine oriented, but even non-marine oriented light industry and some industry it might help to blend us more with Marin Shibuya. Burien Siddiqui. and, uh, have, a commercial activity that serves Marin City in the Marin ship and also It might we might encourage better commercial facilities, in the Marin in the Marin City shopping area so that We serve Saucenito residents better and that will help to blend our communities more. Thank you. |
| 01:48:55.08 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Okay. I do not see any additional hands raised. Heidi, could you please confirm? |
| 01:49:05.76 | Heidi Scoble | Mayor Mrakas- Mayor Cleveland Knowles, there are no additional hands that are raised. |
| 01:49:09.20 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great. All right. Well, I would, um, I'd really like to thank all of the members of the public who joined us tonight, and for those of you who spoke, and I'm sure for many people who also did not speak, But thank you for being here. I would love every member of the city council to turn on their mics and speak as I Can't see it on the screen. Thank you. |
| 01:49:37.08 | Tom Riley | Hi, this is Tom. |
| 01:49:38.46 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 01:49:38.51 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 01:49:38.53 | Tom Riley | I don't know. |
| 01:49:38.60 | Ray Withy | Yes, Susan, I think Alan Olson was trying to raise his hand manually |
| 01:49:44.88 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Oh, okay, sure. Heidi, could you unmute Alan, please? |
| 01:49:46.24 | Ray Withy | So. |
| 01:49:56.99 | Ray Withy | Alan, you need to unmute yourself. |
| 01:50:00.38 | Alan Olson | How about that? |
| 01:50:02.32 | Ray Withy | in the future. |
| 01:50:02.41 | Alan Olson | Thank you. |
| 01:50:02.44 | Ray Withy | you know, |
| 01:50:02.49 | Alan Olson | Can you hear me now? Yes. |
| 01:50:03.49 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 01:50:03.51 | Ray Withy | Yeah. Thank you. |
| 01:50:03.86 | Alan Olson | Thank you. |
| 01:50:03.98 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:50:04.06 | Alan Olson | Oh, sorry about that. |
| 01:50:04.18 | Unknown | Oh, yeah. |
| 01:50:05.60 | Alan Olson | Bye. I just reading all the things about the marineship plan and all the differences, I appreciate that there's a lot of understanding of the value and the soul of the marineship. But it seems like it all of a sudden turns to how we're going to make money. And, you know, and I just feel that there's something more important to Sasauito than just money. I think there's who we are and I would just like us to think about how we can ensure some of the ideas that are part of that plan are protected. Because I don't see that. I see that it could change any bit, you know, down the line and all of a sudden it becomes a whole different |
| 01:50:31.99 | Unknown | I wish to find that. |
| 01:50:45.79 | Alan Olson | area and the great diversity that we have. uh, And the soul of Sausalito is part of that whole, not just the marine ships alone, but the whole waterfront. And I would like to see stronger protections for its future. Thank you. |
| 01:51:05.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Okay, and then we have one more hand raised, Peter Teague. |
| 01:51:15.85 | Peter Teague | Is it appropriate to talk about the Marin ship now? |
| 01:51:19.65 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So we're having, this is a special forum on racial justice. So if your comments are about the friendship and that issue, yes. Otherwise we are having a discussion in another about a half an hour about our general plan. |
| 01:51:35.54 | Peter Teague | Thanks. |
| 01:51:36.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Great. Thank you. Thank you for asking. Okay. Great, so I'm going to close public comment and bring it back up to the Council for discussion. Joan, could you unmute yourself so that I can get you up. Please, thank you. Great. All right. Um, Great. So anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone who spoke. It was really Appreciate everyone's comments and everyone's perspective. This is a very a difficult issue. Um, This is, you know, the beginning of a conversation. or it's actually the It's a continuation of the conversation. And for many of us, you know, having lived here number of years and You know, there are some organizations that do bring our two communities together. building on those while we also, build on our institutions is an important thing. So I'll open it up first for council member comments and then on our five. You know, we have a staff report if you'd like to make uh, prioritize any of the items in the staff report, comments on the resolution, or just make your own comments on this issue. Anybody? Want to start? All right, Tom. |
| 01:53:15.80 | Tom Riley | Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you to all the public that gave tremendous comments. I took three pages of notes of tremendous ideas. I have five things that I would like to share. that I think we should do. One, we have serious challenges and many challenges that are hard to address. I want to make sure that we are up to the task of addressing them versus just putting words in place. I think that was a lot of the feedback that we received. And so I've got some actual things that I think I'd like to reinforce. First and foremost, I believe that we as a community need to embrace Marin City. and look at 94965 as a holistic community that we work to bring together. And that can include everything from we heard, you know, better paths, better biking, better access between us, having events, Um, And we need to get to the point where Marin City residents feel as safe in Sausalito as Sausalito residents. and vice versa, saw Ceuta residents feel as safe in Marin City as Marin City residents. And so I think there's things we can do. The next action I believe is that when we form committees to advise the city council, We should invite Marin City residents into some of those committees. Today we include business owners who are not SOS leader residents on committees. And so that's another way for us to get to know leaders, thought leaders in Rent City, in collaboration with us. And that's a recommendation. Number three. We need to focus on making the school district successful with unification. And that's gonna be a difficult task over the next coming year, beginning with this fall. but building in phases up to next year, and we should provide our support. Number four. And this is kind of unspoken, but I believe we have a physical barrier that creates segregation, and that's a freeway. And so everything I talked before was about how we bring our community closer together But quite frankly, we need to break down a physical barrier and our community should become more diverse And not just saying let's have good relations with Marin City, but how do we build a more diverse community? And it was, Uh, brought up as the third rail, which is affordable housing. is our path there. And I know we'll be discussing that in the next item. And then finally, I wanna make a comment on our resolution, which I think is very well written. And I know we all provided input. But I think we leave out two specific things. In that resolution, we don't name Marin City, Um, And I think we should. Marin City is our opportunity to learn from neighbors, for us to listen to them and I think we should call it out is that we want to build those relationships And lastly, in our resolution, we don't call out the need for a successful school district. built through unification. So those are my actual comments, and I thank the public for their input. |
| 01:56:41.94 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. |
| 01:56:44.69 | Joe Burns | Yeah. Me next there. Thank you. |
| 01:56:48.02 | Unknown | I'm sorry. |
| 01:56:48.64 | Joe Burns | Thank you. Thank you so much for doing this. Um, I have a lot of comments that I think we're emotional and then I also realized that a lot of them just don't, aren't relevant to the, some of the words we heard today, which Um, are saved for another time but I do want to say that I have known the mayor for years And this is exactly what I would expect from her. and her immediate reaction to do this type of, THE FAMILY. forum. and knowing her compassion that she has put in towards diversity for our community for a long time. I'm not sure. We titled a lot of this Black Lives Matter. And to me, that's where this meeting and for me I want to reiterate that Black Lives Matter I'm not sure. There's a lot. of, of, things being said and and all sorts of ideas that I think are great I'm not sure. I want to support. that message and that process in all that we do. And I think there's a lot of, in fact, council member Riley just brought up a great reminder. And I think it's an awesome idea on Um, on our boards and commissions. And as we later talk tonight about community safety divestor preparedness, I can even see that as a committee that might be able to Um, that I think we might wanna talk about housing. Somebody from Marin City has a closer community for us. to me it came down to what can I do and what can I do? in my sphere. THE FAMILY. For eight years, I have, in fact, I'm going to read this part because I I'm not sure. For eight years I have, looked after the girls softball program here in Sausalito. And I will say that I did not do enough to recruit and encourage young women of color from Ren City to join. I made a cursory call each year to Paul Austin and we would get a small handful of girls each year. And we did a scholarship program. but simply that wasn't enough. and THE FAMILY. as I look back now and I hope I'm on a continual spectrum of, you know, becoming more aware of what my privilege means. and more aware of how We all need to step up and change our individual actions and our individual how it looks. I want to say that I was not as inclusive and inviting as I should have been. accepting, And I and we had a program, but it wasn't what it should have been. And so I'll say one of my actions, if I get to run the softball program for the next few years is make a much more. inclusive and inviting. opportunity. for all kids of 94965. to play in the softball program that we have here. And I know Little League has done a good job and I know their sporting programs have done a good job. And I've always said that sports and arts were our social bridge amongst communities and I want to do my part to honor that bridge. And from my role in city council, I would like to explore what Councilman Riley said. I think that's a great idea. I support so many of the other comments from the Golden Gate Village. land trust to, um, anything that we can do. I also come from the industry that was fully responsible for the redlining And, um, and the fair housing or the fair housing, the, uh, FHA that created the CCNRs and allowed the CCNRs that we see across our entire country that are repugnant to actually come across them in a prelim still THEIR HOME. And so I take that to heart as well as something that I would be committed to making substantial changes in both my industry, my city council, and then my work Thank you. |
| 02:01:05.97 | John Flavin | Thank you. |
| 02:01:05.98 | Joe Burns | INVOLVED. Amen. girls softball. I can't thank enough all the people that spoke the passion here, the emotion. and for mayor for bringing this forward and for staff, uh, job writing this up. I really appreciate this evening. Thank you. |
| 02:01:22.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. Joan, do you have thoughts? |
| 02:01:28.04 | Joan Cox | Yes, thank you. |
| 02:01:29.61 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 02:01:29.66 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:01:29.69 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'm not. |
| 02:01:29.85 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:01:29.91 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 02:01:30.47 | Joan Cox | Thank you for scheduling this forum and for continuing this important dialogue on racial justice. I know that this conversation is uncomfortable for some, and I really praise all of our residents and neighbors who stepped up to share their views, because I think we all acknowledge that there is much to do And it's not going to be easy, but everyone will benefit equality puts us all on the same footing, which is a fundamental right. We cannot ignore the fact that all of us have been brought up and educated to see the world And that's, all that. diversity and not homogeneity is not a bad thing, but Once you start to realize that, That bias is there. You need to acknowledge it. And then you do the work to change things that are wrong and not be acceptable in our society today. And that's our job. as local leaders. And so I endorse the steps outlined in attachment to to our staff report, particularly those steps that support the efforts of our neighbors in Marin City and to treat Sausalito and Marin City as a holistic community as Councilmember Riley stated. I endorse undertaking steps to ensure police accountability I am pleased that we found money in our budget to follow the grand jury recommendation that our police officers wear body cameras. And I am supportive of additional appropriate steps. I endorse all of Councilmember Riley's additional recommendations regarding including Marin City, Our general plan, which we will be for this evening, in fact, advocates, including Marin City in our sphere of influence, because we are already inextricably intertwined with our school district, our sanitary district, our parks and much, much more. I also endorse our participation regionally as the Vice Mayor of San Rafael undertakes continuing work with Surge to increase awareness on racial justice and the steps to take. and has invited all of us to participate in that. So I think that we need to not only continue this dialogue locally, but to also embrace the opportunities to uh participate regionally because it's not confined to a local future. So thank you for having this forum. |
| 02:04:18.51 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Vice Mayor. Thank you. |
| 02:04:24.79 | Ray Withy | I am not going to repeat a lot of what my fellow council members have said, I fully endorse everything that's been said. In particular, I think we We do want to pass this resolution and I very much support Tom's suggested incorporations. I don't know, we don't need a wordsmith perhaps, but perhaps we can figure out how to do that. The unification schools, the inclusion of Marin City and so on. Um, To me, the It was called the third rail of affordable housing. I mean, that just rises to the top. You cannot. hope to increase diversity in Sol Soledo if you don't increase the diversity of available housing for a multitude of income levels. It is of crucial importance and that will be obviously peripheral to our next topic, but is a central issue that we need to grapple with. Um, I was, you know, Very disturbed. to hear. As I said, I came here tonight to listen. trying to keep my mouth shut and here I am talking, but I'm, I, Yeah. I was really disturbed to hear that residents. Um, Marin City feel unsafe in Sol Soledo. That's got to be corrected. Um, And in more generally with regards to Um, uh, racial justice, social justice issues. Um, I know our police department are doing I think. an admirable job of of training and of, um, You know, leadership starts at the top and our chief, I think, is totally committed to that. I think something that we might want to consider, we obviously won't be able to take any action tonight, but I'd just like to put on the table that We consider, um, a formation or a reformation of something which was an old concept here, which is a police citizens advisory council. I'm not quite sure exactly what to call it, advisory committee. in which we invite Marin city residents to also participate. So that there could be an ongoing dialogue between residents and our police department and so that we can begin to work on those issues. I don't have any solutions, this just came to mind as something that we might want to consider, So I would just ask that we direct staff to sort of think through that and come back with some ideas for us to consider. Um, the The other thing that was interesting is Yeah, we put into the suggested next steps and the idea of sort of diversity training or whatever. And we heard some comments tonight, which I actually agree with, that, you know, that's all very well and good, but you need to do a really deep dive. You need a facilitated discussion on that looks back and helps people understand Pure coincidence by pure coincidence. Um, You know I've been associated with Drawdown Marin, efforts on a countywide level to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. partly through a grant from the marine community foundation which is one of the leading sort of advocates for social justice in our county. arranged for, actually provided a grant to draw down for a sort of diversity training social justice session. And we won a session. It was nine hours of over three-hour sessions, which was run by a facilitator, which did just that. It was very uncomfortable. You know, I've been through a lot of diversity training, but this was one of the most intense experience I've ever been through. you know, it makes your toes curl because you realize how much just without unwittingly is of social injustice and racial Racism is built in and those nine hours, at least for me personally, were incredibly beneficial. Um, I would fully endorse that we, um, really do a deep dive on this for us and our staff members is expensive. It can take a long time, but over time, I think, that it's not just mere paying lip service to diversity, it's a real real deep dive. And then the final thing I was realizing, obviously, we need to enhance the dialogue the collaboration between ourselves and Marin City, and in various ways we are trying to do that. And obviously through the school unification, that's a really important issue. But it also seemed to me that We need to actually have a conversation with the county. We need to have a specific conversation between the city of Sao Cevito and Marin County Um, about our ways we can collaborate and support Marin City. Because what I was hearing from a lot of folks is that Many of the issues are that the Residents from Marin City are feeling very disenfranchised and feel remote from their government, which is the county, We're next door. We either need to wake the county up or we need to somehow enter into a dialogue so that we can help enable the issues such as the Golden Gate Village land transformation to really increase on the county's radar screen and up on their priorities, Marin City on their priorities. So, That was the immediate thoughts of things that came to mind. And I think we need to do more work. The most important thing is that This doesn't just become a talking exercise, passing a resolution saying, yep, that's done, now let's move on. This has got to be an ongoing thing that we find ways that we are looking at every action that we take at the City Council through a racial equity, social justice lens. And we've got to think of ways to achieve that. So again, let me also. |
| 02:12:10.03 | Damien | to say Madam Mayor, thank you for your organization. |
| 02:12:14.81 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you all. I have had so many of the same things that I wanted to say that you've all so eloquently touched on already. But I just following on sort of um, just the important work that we have to do, both each of us personally and individually. but also together as a council. And I would just like to, advocate and agree with the vice mayor's comments on an intensive discussion and conversation that is deeper than a training, along the lines that you have gone through. So I would like to support that. And I also, I really think that the comments urging accountability transparency and follow up and also the fact that this is not a meeting tonight. This is not a meeting for the next three months. This is not a quarterly report. This is a five year, 10 year, process are very important to acknowledge. The issues that we're talking about, you know, have been becoming entrenched over hundreds of years and it will take a deep commitment and many years to begin to address them. So overall, I think this is a long-term challenge We need to take some actions now and immediately, but we also need to continue to commit and be accountable over the long term. took those comments to heart. I also think housing is one of the key issues and that was how Vice Mayor Witte and I, and, uh, sort of entered into the city conversation long ago on the housing element task force and, um, eventually came across Council Member Cox. I was a planning commissioner at that time and I have been pressing and pressing on this issue of housing along with some of my colleagues for years and have met, I have to say, a lot of resistance in town and continuing to meet resistance in town to expanding our housing opportunities. And we do have constrained resources, but we also can do better. And that to me, is the only way that we can improve on you know, the diversity in our town. I think Council Member Riley touched on this. We are an overwhelmingly white community and one of the reasons for that part of it is historic, but the other aspect is the extremely high cost. of our housing. So I am renewing commitment on that front. And we will talk about that later tonight. Um, I... I am very strongly supportive of unification of the schools. advocated for that. very strongly in our last election. Um, There were a lot of comments made about our position on the schools, about Willow Creek Academy, where my children have gone. And I don't wanna make this a personal, discussion tonight. I am proud of the fact that Willow Creek was able to be a school in Marin County with no racial majority. that we had equal numbers of students from Marin City and from Sausalito. and that the learning curriculum was very inclusive and reflected the communities where the children came from. I do also want to acknowledge, as Joe kind of touched on earlier, could we have done better as a school in addressing the issues being faced by the kids at Bayside MLK? Yes, absolutely. And I think at an earlier meeting last year, I addressed that issue and apologized for that and said, I did think that we could have done more. Bye. We didn't. And we are continuing to work hard on this issue. We are continuing to fight for unification and we're continuing the struggle with doing unification in the best way for all of the kids to ensure successful outcomes |
| 02:17:05.93 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 02:17:05.95 | Unknown | Please. |
| 02:17:06.31 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 02:17:06.36 | Unknown | you |
| 02:17:06.41 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. especially for the most you know, for the kids with the hardest paths. We have a lot of challenges, but I'm really encouraged, and I think we're on a good path at this point. And I wanna thank all of the members of the Sausalito Marin City School Board and the Willow Creek Academy Board who have been meeting and working very hard over the last months and weeks on the unification issues. and for having the courage to start that conversation. together. I mean, I think everybody's been having the conversation, but now that we're having it together. Um, Going back to some comments made by the vice mayor about Council member talks about police issues, that's been a very strong focus of Black Lives Matter. And We, the vice mayor and I have started the conversation with our city manager and our police chief about shared services. with Mill Valley and hopefully we've committed to having that conversation continue about also looking whether there are any opportunities for reform or other issues as part of that process. I just wanna thank the vice mayor for also raising the issue of including Marin City in that conversation. and also the idea of some kind of a citizen participation in that process. I think that's a very |
| 02:18:45.45 | Unknown | you |
| 02:18:47.74 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | good idea. And I think those would be excellent conversations to have at this point as we rethink Um. are police services. So I want to thank you for that. I also want to touch on Two issues I don't think came up, which is jobs and transportation. And we had some public comment. on those issues and jobs. We had, I think, a really good staff recommendation for training and mentoring in the public sector. for people of color and doing more outreach to Marin City and other jurisdictions to make sure that our trainees and mentees are of a diverse group. So I want to really encourage that. And I really also, um, like the idea of increasing the opportunities for jobs in the mindset. and other places in Sausalito. We have a lot of people who work here who travel from extremely far away. and having more local population that can work in the community would be great. And that just kind of dovetails with transportation. There's some inequities. I was talking to David Sudo, who's on our pedestrian and bike and I wanna thank him for pointing out to me that some of our transit providers here in Marin do not have as they do in San Francisco and other urban areas |
| 02:20:19.31 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:20:22.75 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | uh, low income transit passes and, um, It seems like there's a lot of good work that we could do there. And I will try to also excuse me, advance that work on the transportation and authority of Moran board that I sit on as a representative of this council. |
| 02:20:39.83 | Unknown | And |
| 02:20:46.24 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | um, Lastly, I guess I'll just end on a symbolic note. I have so much to say and I'm looking forward to continuing this conversation, but I really loved the comments that we had sort of of and real things about the divide between the city and Sausalito and the tunnel. We had some written comments about just how You know, we've done a lot to try to make it nicer. And thank you to Sausalito Beautiful. Thank you to all the people who advocated for the lights. I mean, just the fact that we had to advocate both communities to get that tunnel well lit and that that took years. was just kind of a sad statement. Um, but, uh, I did have an interesting, um, The head of Caltrans, the Department of Transportation, controls of freeways came to the Transportation Authority Marine Board and one of the things that he talked about was their efforts to do pedestrian bridges and other types of bridges across the state to try to you know, undo some of the damage done by the freeway system. You know, I just think anything that we can do to connect our communities would be fantastic. And so whether it's a bridge, a pedestrian bridge or if it's better access and more pleasant. access under the channel. I think all of those are great ideas. And I would like to say someone also talked about a park You know, Rocky Grand Park in Lone City has become really kind of the gathering place for all of our kids in the 94965. It's this beautiful. park with a really excellent playground. and just a fantastic space. So it's not above the freeway, which would be lovely, but it is just a fantastic resource in Marin City for all of us. So with that, I am... They, um, appreciative of the community and everyone who spoke tonight. This is a It's a hard topic, it's an emotional topic, we can't even hope to do justice to it fully in the time that we have tonight. but I'm glad that we were able to continue the conversation and to commit to Thank you. continuing it further and taking concrete actions to advance. the goals of racial justice. We do have one action item in front of us tonight. which other than to provide feedback to staff, which I think we've done, which is to adopt a resolution that was in our packet. And I think we, Is there any objection to the amendments that Councilmember Riley proposed? Great, so I think instead of wordsmithing that, we will leave it to staff to add those, to our resolution and his staff was where they clear Councilmember Riley's additions. |
| 02:24:02.78 | Heidi Scoble | Council or Mayor Cleveland Knowles, yes, staff is clear as to what Council Member Riley is requesting. |
| 02:24:09.28 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay. Okay. Do I have a motion on our... As amended. |
| 02:24:15.98 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:24:16.82 | Joe Burns | Second. I'm sorry, Tom, why don't you take it? You made the changes. |
| 02:24:21.26 | Tom Riley | Thank you. I'll follow you, Joe. Thank you. |
| 02:24:24.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, we have a motion by Councilmember Cox and Assistant by Councilmember Riley Burns. Could you please file the rules? |
| 02:24:39.79 | Heidi Scoble | Council member Riley? |
| 02:24:41.32 | John Flavin | Yes. |
| 02:24:42.22 | Heidi Scoble | Council Member Burns. |
| 02:24:43.52 | John Flavin | Yes. |
| 02:24:44.31 | Heidi Scoble | Council member Cox. |
| 02:24:45.88 | John Flavin | Yes. |
| 02:24:46.62 | Heidi Scoble | Vice mayor Withy. |
| 02:24:47.94 | John Flavin | Yes. |
| 02:24:48.40 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 02:24:48.67 | Heidi Scoble | And Mayor Cleveland Knowles. |
| 02:24:51.08 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, thank you. Okay, thank you everyone. It is almost eight o'clock. So the next um Karen Hollweg, going to open, we have our open session starting and the first item is approval of the agenda. And I would suggest, since it's close to 8 o'clock, we tried to make a commitment not to start our general plan discussion. as you can see on our agenda, any later than eight. a suggestion that we go directly after approval of the agenda. to our general plan items and then come back to anything |
| 02:25:33.03 | Unknown | that we've missed on the agenda. So with that, I don't know if there's other, comments on the agenda. |
| 02:25:44.10 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:25:47.73 | Joe Burns | I'll move that we amend the agenda to bring item 3A to the to the top of our list |
| 02:26:02.12 | Joan Cox | Mayor, if I might, I believe we have some people attending who are here simply for consent items. So perhaps we could approve our consent calendar and then move on to. the general plan so that we could let those staff members go. |
| 02:26:18.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, that's fine. I have some comments on my consent. fault. So... |
| 02:26:25.10 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:26:28.94 | Joe Burns | I'll resend my motion until we have further comment. |
| 02:26:35.62 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'd be happy to do that. I'd like to be there. Thank you. maybe I can just reserve items like COVID items. And I don't know. |
| 02:26:48.04 | Unknown | know how late we're going to go tonight, but if you have time, then a lot of |
| 02:26:55.31 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And so I'd like to put that off consent if we have time at the end of the evening. I don't want to approve that now. And then I have comments on the waterfront enforcement update that are brief, but. |
| 02:27:08.41 | Unknown | but. |
| 02:27:09.99 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | if our staff for that item are staying anyway, maybe I could make those comments later as well to save time. I don't want to take it off the agenda necessarily. I just had a couple of comments. So minus 2a and 2k, maybe we could. um, Go ahead. OK, so we will. I think the proposal is to |
| 02:27:39.02 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | other than consent and to carry the right to the general plan. Is there any objection to that? |
| 02:27:46.44 | Joan Cox | Move approval as amended. I second that. |
| 02:27:51.69 | Heidi Scoble | Okay, Heidi, could you please call Until member Riley. |
| 02:27:55.71 | Tom Riley | Yes. |
| 02:27:56.50 | Heidi Scoble | Council Member Burns. |
| 02:27:58.09 | Tom Riley | Yeah. |
| 02:27:58.83 | Heidi Scoble | Council Member Cox. Yes. Vice Mayor Withey. |
| 02:28:02.64 | John DeRay | you |
| 02:28:02.69 | Heidi Scoble | Yes. and Mayor Cleveland Knowles. Thank you. |
| 02:28:06.32 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So I'm going to skip over our action minutes, and I'm going to go to the consent calendar. Thank you. And I am going to remove the item QA, please. |
| 02:28:16.89 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:28:16.92 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | and |
| 02:28:22.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I guess I'll just make my comments on the waterfront update now. So, So thank you to chief Warbacher and Councilmember Cox for the staff report and for all of your work on this waterfront update. I have first a procedural comment, which is that I hope We have not had public comment from our anchor out community. since we started our Zoom meetings and have been sheltering in place on COVID-19. As I did at a past meeting, my discomfort with having an item on the waterfront on our agenda. I understand the reason is that there is an upcoming BCDC meeting. So I understand that there's not a lot of choice in that matter. but I still did wanna just express my concern about this issue. and hope that you will in your presentation, make it clear to BCDC that public outreach on those questions have been difficult. and more challenging under COVID-19. I also just wanted to note as I do every time I think we have this presentation, that I'm still uncomfortable with the movement from our prior policy that's indicated on of, um, of you know, kind of allowing the legacy anchor outs who are permitted and registered to continue in place to a more active program of attrition and that's reflected on slide four with a complete. And now I see a goal of ending the anchor out community. in five years. So, I know we talked about attrition and, um, I did want to just say that I still feel like we need to have a more fulsome discussion on this issue and our options, understanding that BCDC takes the position that anchor outs and living on the water is not permitted under state law. Um, And then just a minor comment that slide 26 talks about how many showers that we were, giving in 2018-19 and I'm sure that there is more updated information. And just lastly, I would say, I think Council Member Burns has brought this up in the past that the lack of funding that we have been able to get for our really excellent Safe Harbor program is concerning. And, you know, with especially with our budget, the way it is, I am 100% supportive of the safe harbor program, but I'm very concerned that we have almost five I, applicants or successful safe harbor participants now and that we will not be able to sustain that economically ourselves so i understand this is a continuing conversation but um I did just want to highlight highlight that and I know that you're all pursuing actively grants, but we will not be able to run this program ourselves. So are there any other council member comments on the consent agenda? |
| 02:31:57.54 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Mayor, for all of your comments. I think all of your comments are valid, and I think we share in your concerns. Um, May I suggest that the next time we have to report back to BCDC that we make this a business item rather than a consent item so that we can better publicize and include the anchor outs in our discussion. I will say there was a very robust participation by anchor outs at the RBRA meeting, which preceded our meeting and who will also be presenting and where the majority of the anchor outs are housed. And so there was a very robust participation by anchor outs at that meeting. So I'm confident that if we're able to publicize our meeting in advance, we will also get significant participation. Thank you. |
| 02:32:49.35 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. Any other comments? If not, I'll take public comment. Vice Mayor, did you want to comment or were you? All right, I'll open the consent calendar up to public comment and we are taking our COVID 19 item off of consent we'll hear that later but the items that remain are southern run fire district shared services grand jury responses. Pickleball projects are Southview Park agreement, Professional Services Agreement for gate six. and the ordinance about emergency generators amending the city's position allocation list for a wage schedule. And Information Technology Management Services, in addition to the waterfront update. I see two members of the public who would like to speak. Start off with Paul's iPhone, welcome. |
| 02:34:01.35 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'm sorry, we can't hear you. So you have to unmute yourself. |
| 02:34:05.02 | Paul Dines | Very good. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor. I just wanted some clarity. Did the matter pertaining to the anchor outs get postponed or is it appropriate now to comment on that? |
| 02:34:17.59 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | You should comment on that now and we will be keep that. I'm sorry. Can we stop this time, please? Thanks. Yes, this is the appropriate time. It will be. |
| 02:34:29.18 | Paul Dines | Absolutely. Thank you very much. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Paul Dines. I've been a Merchant Marine Officer and held the rank of Captain for over 25 years. I've lived in Southern Marin and raised three sons working as a Merchant Marine Officer out of Sausalito. on the gaslight, five stars. And currently I own a business with my partner, Marina O'Neill. We have the schooner Free to Be. And last year we were able to employ 14 people in our small business. We're in the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, but we also have boats over at Schoonamacher and I've been a tenant at Clipper as well. And I certainly recognize people who are I would just ask to please allow there to be a distinction made between anchor routes used in a disparaging manner and the many voyaging mariners who do travel up and down the coast and use Sausalito as a resource for mail and groceries and West Marine. I think you're probably aware that there are two very large yachts just anchored off Sausalito. make a distinction between anchor outs and the voyaging yachtsmen and the people who are sort of the snowbirds that migrate up and down the coast. So I appreciate the time to make a few comments. Thank you, Madam Mayor. |
| 02:35:57.71 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you for joining us. Okay, I have comment from a phone number ending in three zero. |
| 02:36:04.64 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. you |
| 02:36:11.17 | Ava Crisanti | Thank you, Mayor Knowles. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Thank you. Thanks so much. I apologize on my bike commute home. So you're probably going to hear a little freeway noise and a little wind. Um, I felt that it was importan comment after. That's in your general comments. regarding the Willow Creek matter. I was very concerned that you seem to glaze over Uh, some really vital points in the Attorney General's report. Um, particularly the siphoning of funds, from Bayside MLK to South Florida, where the city, I'm sorry, to Willow Creek. And it concerns me that in a discussion about everything that's going to happened since the George Floyd killings. There seems to be a whitewashing of your involvement with Willow Creek. and with the South Lido River City school district. Um, and that's that's alarming. But I think it points to a larger problem of conflict of interest. And I'd like to remind the public that the form 700 that Council members and all the other representative are obliged to fill out are completely self reported. and there is virtually no penalty or not reporting assets and property. And I do find it concerning and I do wish, Mayor, that you would look a bit more closely at the issue of conflicts of interest, particularly your own, but also other members of South Sudan City Council. |
| 02:37:52.42 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, thank you. I would like to remind the public that this is public comment on the consent calendar. only please at this time. So thank you. I've got Sybil Goutelier and then Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 02:38:06.14 | Sybil Goutelier | Thank you. Mm-hmm. So... Thank you, Mayor. And I just want to congratulate the city on the completion of the pickleball courts. It was... a big favorite project of a large portion of the community who've been learning to play this new competitive game that's all the rage in a lot of places and becoming that here in Sausalito as well. It's unfortunate that right now because of COVID-19 we can't play partners, you know, doubles with members outside our households. So for the seniors who are living alone, And wish to continue to build up their strength and be able to play. It's a little bit challenging, but everybody's enjoying it. I've been out there quite a few times. and seeing many people enjoying the courts and it's a wonderful addition I just want to thank the city for completing this wonderful project. Thank you. |
| 02:39:17.20 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you, Sybil. I'm Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 02:39:29.81 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you for having that workshop. I think it's the beginning of a very, very long process as I've communicated with you, it, uh, this is a century old problem and we need a lot of reparations. On the other hand, I wanted to clarify, Mayor, whether we are having a discussion on the COVID-19 now or later. Thank you. |
| 02:39:54.31 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | We're going to hold it until the end of after the general plan. |
| 02:39:59.24 | Sandra Bushmaker | All right, thank you very much. |
| 02:40:00.98 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. Thank you. Okay, I'm not seeing any other public consent calendar. So with the removal of the COVID item. Do we have a motion? |
| 02:40:17.13 | Ray Withy | I move adoption of consent calendar items 2B through 2K. |
| 02:40:24.22 | Joe Burns | Check it. |
| 02:40:26.12 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | We have a motion and a second. |
| 02:40:29.97 | Heidi Scoble | Councilmember Riley. |
| 02:40:31.62 | Tom Riley | Yes. |
| 02:40:32.45 | Heidi Scoble | Councilmember Burns. |
| 02:40:33.75 | Tom Riley | Yes. |
| 02:40:34.46 | Heidi Scoble | Councilmember Cox. Yeah. Vice Mayor Withee. |
| 02:40:38.19 | Tom Riley | Thank you. |
| 02:40:38.24 | Joe Burns | Yeah. |
| 02:40:38.29 | Tom Riley | Yes. |
| 02:40:38.52 | Joe Burns | Thank you. |
| 02:40:38.56 | Tom Riley | Thank you. |
| 02:40:39.03 | Heidi Scoble | I'm Mayor of Cleveland Knowles. Yes. |
| 02:40:41.63 | Joe Burns | Mayor, I'm also wanna use this time to announce that I'm officially retiring from competitive pickleball. And I'm going to use COVID as the reason for that. So I just want to thank everybody for their support. |
| 02:40:55.69 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right. Thank you. I missed your humor when we were in person. We had a lot more of the, with Joe humor. All right, so let's move to our Next big item tonight, which is our item three, on our general plan. And this is the review of our draft general plan update and a council study session. I think we're going to be kicked off by our community development director, Lily Whalen, and followed by our M group, representatives Jeff Bradley. but correct me if I'm wrong. |
| 02:41:39.33 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:41:40.14 | Lily Whalen | Thank you and good evening Mayor Cleveland Knowles, council members and community members. I am Lily Whalen, your community development director and I'm very pleased to be before you this evening to introduce our consultant team who will be providing a presentation on tonight's general plan update item. First, I wanted to touch on how challenging it is to have an agenda item after that very powerful start to tonight to the discussion of racial justice in our community. However, I know that this conversation will be continuing through this general plan update process, which is a vision for the next 20 years for the community. Over the last three years, over three years, we have had a number of community events, public meetings and community outreach touch points in the general plan update process. including 42 general plan advisory committee meetings, seven general plan working group meetings, five general plan task force meetings, four community workshops, two pop-up workshops, two walking tours, 15 city council activities, updates, seven city council meetings, three planning commission meetings, three joint city council and planning commission meetings, at least two meetings each with our boards and commissions, which include the historic preservation commission, the community safety disaster preparedness committee, the Business Advisory Committee, the Hospitality Business Development Committee, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, and the Sustainability Commission. We've also had four stakeholder meetings and four environmental review meetings. We have reached out to the community through mailed postcard notices, current articles, and an email distribution list. We've collected public comment at public meetings through email and online at the general plan website. We have most recently conducted a community survey that received over 400 responses during a two week window. We have also maintained a dedicated website with resources and up-to-date materials regarding the general plan update. So tonight the council for the first time as a body will discuss the general plan as a complete draft document. And I wanna thank the entire community for their engagement through this process, robust Public participation is the key to a well-rounded document that will guide the city for the next 20 years. And we sincerely appreciate the number of hours and investment that the community has put in and will continue to through the fall to make this a successful process. So with that, I'd like to introduce Tom Ford who is the project manager for the general plan update. with the M group. And with that, I'll ask Tom to start his video and his presentation. Thank you very much. |
| 02:44:29.59 | Tom Ford | Thank you, Lily. I think Jeff was going to say a couple of words first. Jeff Bradley of M Group. |
| 02:44:42.08 | Jeff Bradley | Thank you, Mayor Cleveland Knowles, members of the council, this is Jeff Bradley with M group. I just wanted to thank the community for all their comments tonight. And we look forward to working closely with you and your staff and your community to incorporate these important concepts around racial justice and social equity into the general plan. We are approaching the home stretch. It's been an intense series of meetings and community outreach as community director Whalen indicated by our team, Tom Ford, project manager and Asher Cohn, and Aaron Tao have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting on this. I just wanted to thank them. and thank you for your patience with us as we work through our presentation tonight. and go back to concentrate on the documents before we come back to the Planning Commission. and the council later this year in September and October. Thank you. And Tom Ford will walk us through the presentation tonight. Thank you. |
| 02:45:42.93 | Tom Ford | Thanks, Jeff. |
| 02:45:48.49 | Tom Ford | So, Again, my name is Tom Ford. |
| 02:45:51.32 | Damien | of you. |
| 02:45:52.38 | Tom Ford | And I just want to provide a real brief overview of some of the ideas that got us to tonight. |
| 02:45:56.48 | Damien | of some |
| 02:45:56.94 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:46:03.32 | Tom Ford | Mm-mm. So I just want to touch on four things real quickly. Um, remind everyone how we got to where we are tonight the draft general plan I want to briefly discuss the two optional elements because for some of the council members, the last time we actually spoke with you officially was on January 14th when the decision about those hadn't been made yet. So, remind everyone what the schedule is going forward from tonight, and then provide an overview of those five issues that were in the staff report that we requested some discussion and direction from the council. So as Lily already mentioned, there's been a lot of different kinds of meetings, so I won't go through them all again. But the important thing is it all led up to April 6th when we were able to publish the public review draft And since April 6th, we've continued to have more meetings. Since the day after Memorial Day, there's been really a flurry of meetings. The night after Memorial Day, we met with the GPAC for the first of two review sessions. We continued to have meetings with the working group, which were four great people that just really dove into the draft elements and provided a lot of comment and direction. And then also as many of you participated in, the June 20th community workshop. So, With all of that, it gets us to where we are. And even with all the work it took since Memorial Day to get all those meetings to happen, We still have a lot of work ahead and that's moving on tomorrow morning from the direction we received tonight and starting to develop the final plan. So let me just touch real quickly on these two optional elements. I think it was the Vice Mayor, Vice Mayor Withey on January 14th that said, One of the, one of the advantages of having optional elements is it really offers you an opportunity to match what that element offers to your specific community. You really get to tell your community story through those two elements. So we have two, a waterfront element and a sustainability element. The waterfront element has received a lot of critical thinking from the working group and the general plan advisory committee. And so we have a lot of work to do to incorporate working group direction into some of the prose writing in the earlier parts of the elements, as well as So, edits to policies and programs moving forward The sustainability element received specific interest from the Sustainability Commission, which was great. And they recommended and GPAC accepted, they recommended that they help, they assist in restructuring the element. And we've actually begun that process with one of the sustainability commissioners. And we're in the process of developing the new draft. Um, really focusing on making sure that all of the work that's been done in the climate action plan and the low emissions action plan are really incorporated and represented I think this is going to be an important element also because One of the attachments that we included in the staff report, if you noticed, was sort of an overview of the online survey. As Lily mentioned, it was taken by over 400 people And I found it kind of alarming that, uh, one of the questions, 20% of the participants don't think that their life is going to be affected by climate change. And personally, I don't really agree with that. But I think it's one of the roles of this element is to explain to people the the future that we face with the effects of climate change and moving forward and some of the policies and programs that we can put in place. |
| 02:50:15.14 | Tom Ford | So the process, to go forward from tonight. We're obviously having tonight. We're going to have some discussion by the council and we'll get some direction on some of these issues. We'll then start drafting the final draft. We have a lot of work to do. of discussions with age-friendly Sausalito the Sustainability Commission, a number of groups that have, the working group has recommended that we continue to connect with. And then We hope to have that. final draft published in mid-August. Well, we don't hope that we will. We'll have it published in mid-August. And that'll leave about a month before the first Planning Commission hearing September 16th. So there's two Planning Commission meetings in September to review the final draft the adoption level draft And then the city council will have two hearings. in October at which it can consider the general plan for adoption. So as I said, I wanted to just give a real brief overview of those five issues that we, um, pointed out in our staff report. I'm just going to go through, and we have just some high-level points to make about each of them. And then when you get actually into your discussion, we can pull up the actual staff report on the screen. And we also have all of the elements available to pull up to, onto the screen to help in the, in your discussion. So if you'll remember in the staff report, there were five issues that we identified and then there were 11 issues that also received a lot of discussion since April 6th. particularly and we feel they're resolved, but we also left it up to individual council members to pull any of those issues, should you want to discuss it with the other five. So the first issue is the citywide vision And we provided a sheet, one of the attachments to the staff report shows. the original vision statement in the April 6 draft in the middle of the page, if you will. and then down below it, is a draft proposed by a GPAC member that made some really good progress, I felt. I think it was Peter Van Meter, and he made some really good comments, some observations about the original statement, that he felt it could be written in more of a positive vein, looking to the future, looking forward. And then above it, at the top of the page, is sort of a reworking of Peter's version that was done by a planning commissioner and reviewed last Wednesday night by the planning commission. We've, M-Group has done a slight edit of that. So what you have is three different types of vision statements to review. You'll notice that you also received some mail today with some other suggestions. but I'll leave it to you. as a body to decide whether you want to wordsmith it or give us broader direction. at the working group meeting a week ago last night, One of the members actually picked out a phrase from the original statement that she was particularly fond of and thought was really a good thing to keep. So I'll let you build your discussion and give us direction as you may. The next issue is the social equity And, racial justice statement that we developed. And that statement is in the It's in the staff report and we're willing to, we will be able to bring that up when you get to that issue and talk about it. We developed it in advance of the final, excuse me, the final working group meeting last Monday night, June 29th. or June 30th, excuse me. And the GPAC reviewed it. The GPAC also suggested that that statement be forwarded to all of the various Sausalito boards and commissions and solicit some feedback. That would have to go concurrently with while we're developing the final draft and while we're waiting for Planning Commission comment in September. I'm not sure. The other issue about that is that You can direct M group to develop further policies and programs that sort of activate that statement put the city policy behind the statement and we spoke to the working group that we believe those might be in any number of elements you could start to see the issues that that statement surfaces you could see those in in various you know the land use element any number of elements you've got a piece of mail today from david pseudo that actually has potential policies that would support the statement that would be in the circulation and parking element. So there's a lot of things that we can pull from. and provide to staff for review before we publish the August draft. |
| 02:55:33.62 | Tom Ford | So this issue, relates to a policy in the draft plan, policy LU 1.19, And we can bring that up, but we'll actually bring the staff report up first so you can see the full range of the discussion that's taken place so far. We've got We received direction from the working group and then we also received some direction from gpac regarding this But the working group really wants to expand this from an affordable housing Um, a policy to include seniors so that it be affordable and senior sort of have a two prong approach in the policy. and they also advise that we break it into two policies one that specifically addresses water-based housing for affordable and senior and another one that expresses no land-based housing in the marineship, but the consideration should be given for affordable housing and in close proximity to the Marin ship and that it's support maritime art and industrial workers in that area. So underneath policy 1.19, exist a couple of draft programs and one that has gotten a lot of specific Attention is LU 1.19.2. the issue of overlays. There's positive and negative feelings about overlays in your community. People feel strongly in one way or another. What we've settled on here is some language that we believe can still be used to I have to move something here so I can see it. some language that can be used to create this program evaluate the feasibility of overlay zones as a potential residential planning tool. in light of Housing Accountability Act, SB 35, and other relevant or recent relevant housing legislation So this is not targeted at any area in the city. It's just a zoning overlay potential. Consider it or evaluate it, as the program says. but no specific segment of the city is targeted. Last of note, is that last week the planning commission recommended on a 3-2 vote to actually remove this program and not have any reference to overlay districts in the future as part of any zoning update. The last issue I just wanna touch on to introduce you to is, It's a program that was in the the M group draft of the sustainability element. That's the element that is getting restructured based on sustainability commission recommendations. So, the program dealt with I'm not sure. if a property was forced to raise its finished floor elevation because of sea level rise, I that perhaps in that case you could look at raising the height limit so that they weren't essentially their development rights were taken away. Some of the working group discussion pointed out that in 32 feet you can build three stories, so it would take a lot of sea level rise to suddenly make 32 feet go away and not even be able to put one story. But depending on who you listen to, there may be a lot of sea level rise. |
| 02:58:56.01 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 02:59:11.62 | Tom Ford | So M Group is proposing that we keep this idea, but that we target it to a very specific situation. And in this, M Group recognizes the importance that that 32-foot height limit represents for the city. So, we would write the program and we can see it later when we actually get to the staff report, that the elevation rise has to be triggered by sea level rise. It can't just be some other situation that's causing the property owner to raise their |
| 02:59:44.76 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 02:59:44.98 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 02:59:45.03 | Tom Ford | I love you. |
| 02:59:45.23 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 02:59:45.33 | Tom Ford | Thank you. |
| 02:59:45.43 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 02:59:45.47 | Tom Ford | Thank you. That sea level rise has to be tied to verifiable data, and you'll notice that in other parts of the plan, there are programs and policies for adapting maps from reputable sources, maybe just matching what the county uses with their efforts, and that that be a verifiable data source before anyone can actually cite sea level rise as the reason. And then thirdly, the process for an individual property owner coming forward and seeking a change would be a CUP process, not a variance as I believe is a way someone would currently do that. But this would be a conditional use permit in a public process that would have to go through Planning Commission and Council. We have that recommended language when we look in greater detail. at these policies and programs. So what we're requesting for you to do tonight is to discuss those five specific issues There may be some of the other issues on the resolve issues list that you want to pull forward. And then we're asking you also to recommend or approve the Planning Commission recommendations that were included in your packet. One of them is actually related to one of the issues you'll be discussing tonight, issue number four. but the other planning commission recommendations, unless you want to pull one, you could actually move forward with the recommendation. So just a reminder, we have tonight. We're going away tomorrow morning to start all the edits and all the updating. showing that to the city staffer review by about Monday, August 3rd. and then in mid-August publishing that final draft. and coming to the Planning Commission in September and the City Council in October. And, Madam Mayor, that's the end of my presentation. you |
| 03:01:56.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much for that presentation, Tom. Do we have questions from council members? Again, I can't, And that's... |
| 03:02:08.28 | Tom Ford | You want me to stop sharing? Bye. |
| 03:02:10.37 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. Yes. Hi, Joe. You have a question? Yes. Just for now, Tom. Thank you. |
| 03:02:19.89 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Go ahead, Jeff. Oh, did you have a question? |
| 03:02:22.78 | Joe Burns | No, I was just bringing my screen to the front. I thought you wanted to bring it to the forefront. |
| 03:02:27.22 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Tom, |
| 03:02:27.55 | Joe Burns | Tom, Tom, coming to the forefront. |
| 03:02:29.51 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right. |
| 03:02:29.56 | Joe Burns | All right. |
| 03:02:29.59 | Tom Riley | Okay. |
| 03:02:29.61 | Joe Burns | I'm sorry. |
| 03:02:29.63 | Ray Withy | Yeah, hi. Sorry. |
| 03:02:31.77 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. All right, I did have one question. for staff, we got a letter yesterday I think from Clipper Yacht Harbor about some issues and I was wondering if those you had a chance to review that letter and whether the concepts in this letter are more appropriate for the zoning phase that we anticipate of the MENSHIP specific plan or if This is something that needs to be addressed here at our general plan level. |
| 03:03:15.11 | Tom Ford | By staff, do you mean me? |
| 03:03:17.17 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 03:03:17.18 | Unknown | Yes. |
| 03:03:17.91 | Tom Ford | Oh, okay. |
| 03:03:19.66 | Unknown | Or any other? |
| 03:03:19.90 | Tom Ford | Thank you. Was that the letter from Michael Rex to the owner of the Yeah. Um, I, I thought they, I don't remember all of the issues. I remember specifically the horizontal mixed use. I thought they were zoning code issues. But, and I thought they were reasonable issues that somebody should be discussing at the time that you update and develop the new zoning ordinance. |
| 03:03:49.75 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay. We'll be while we're taking public comment. Did confirm that. |
| 03:04:00.57 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Ray? |
| 03:04:02.22 | Ray Withy | Yeah. Following on on that, this is a more if you like, generic question. Being not a land use expert is by now everybody knows. The question I have is If something is not, I'm trying to understand the relationship between Um, If a program is not specifically If something is not, let's take this as an example. The idea of, I think Michael called it horizontal zoning or something. Um, If you take, let's take that just as an example, but this applies more generally. Um, If we were not to put such a program or idea somewhere in the general plan, You're saying we still have room, if we deem it appropriate, to then put it in the zoning ordinance. So more generally then, um If we have were to want to, some years when we work on the zoning ordinance, change things from they are now, Does that, what does that impact does that have on all the work we've done for the general planning, particularly the EIR, I'm trying to get a feel for what is the scope all latitude for you know, amending the, you know, coming up with changes to the zoning ordinance. but that we haven't prescribed it generally as a program or whatever, a policy or whatever it is in the general plan. I apologize for that very general question, but I think, you know, Jeff, I know you just were going to respond there. I think, Jeff, did you see what I'm getting at here? |
| 03:06:01.36 | Jeff Bradley | Yes, Council Member Whitty, I think I understand the question. And for me, it gets back to the very basic idea that the zoning ordinance has to implement and further the goals and policies and programs of the general plan. The zoning ordinance is not an independent document out there doing its own thing. A lot of people are more familiar with the zoning ordinance because it does have the full force of law and it's used more frequently on a daily basis to regulate land development, among other things. But the zoning ordinance is really meant to implement the general plan. So I agree with Tom that some of these ideas from the letter from Michael Rex could be within the scope of a zoning ordinance update, but the planning commission, the council would ultimately have to find that any changes to the zoning ordinance are consistent with the general plan. And so to the extent that what he's calling horizontal zoning, which I really actually think of as vertical zoning, if we're talking about allowing different uses on different levels of a building. going up or down vertically like an elevator Um, if the city were to allow uses on the second floor that are not currently allowed on the first floor. I would argue that would require some foundational program or policy in the general plan to change what would essentially be allowed uses within that area within that general plan and or zoning district. |
| 03:07:39.32 | Ray Withy | So follow up question, Madam Mayor, if I may. Essentially, the key to our zoning is, I understand it, an amateur at this, is the zoning map and the outline of, in this case, using this particular case as an example again. the difference between the W zone and the I zone. So if you've got the difference between the W zone and the I zone, clearly delineated on the zoning map, without having the ability to introduce the concept of merging those zones in a sort of vertical level and layer as you've indicated Jeff. Doesn't that say there would be a very high burden, if not an impossibility. to actually do that in the zoning phase if you haven't addressed it at the general plan level. |
| 03:08:35.50 | Jeff Bradley | Yes, and that was one of his, I think he had three different proposals here. I do believe that one was the one that's really triggering the question of general plan consistency. |
| 03:08:53.89 | Tom Riley | Um, may I ask a question, Jeff, this is Tom. On this same topic, I'm familiar with the building that Michael Rex is writing about And this building is sinking. You know, it's four to six feet below sea level. and it's susceptible to sea level rise and flooding. And the owner of the building, has maritime on the ground floor as zoned, but to fund a new building that's elevated is asking for arts on the second level as the industrial zone is But since it's related to sea level rise, does that create an opportunity down the road to revisit that request or do we need to address it who's zoning up front. |
| 03:09:43.03 | Jeff Bradley | I would have to look at the details of that. It sounds like the building may already be at or over the maximum building height. So it'd be a question if, it's a three-story building, I believe, no? |
| 03:09:58.28 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 03:09:58.47 | Tom Riley | No. |
| 03:09:59.26 | Jeff Bradley | Just one. |
| 03:09:59.55 | Damien | Bye. |
| 03:09:59.70 | Tom Riley | It's currently a one story building that they'd like to make two, but address sea level rise where it's at. |
| 03:10:07.87 | Jeff Bradley | And that was the that was the other program that Tom was talking about is having some consideration within the general plan for if if if a building had to be elevated to have so that the finished floor was a safe distance above the floodwaters, whether they're coming from 100 year flood or sea level rise or some combination of that. And if that made it, uh, difficult to do an additional level, uh, to have a process where the city could look at that on a case-by-case basis and make a determination, uh, if it was, um, if it was the right decision for that building. |
| 03:10:43.36 | Tom Riley | I'm sorry, Jeff, the request is not a height issue. It is a second floor use issue. because the owner believes that they can't find maritime businesses on a second floor. |
| 03:10:57.45 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, I think Council Member Cox had a comment and then it looks like our Community Development Director would like to weigh in. |
| 03:11:04.06 | Joan Cox | I will defer to Lily if she's weighing in. I had a couple of follow on questions on this same issue. |
| 03:11:10.51 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, and the other thing is if staff, I think we could also take public comment and if staff needs to confer on these issues, it doesn't look like It's been a complete review, but go ahead, Lily. |
| 03:11:24.28 | Lily Whalen | Yeah, if I could request, I don't think I fully understood the question. I was going to respond, but then something that comes when we're Riley said at the very end there. made me realize I don't think I fully understand the question. Do you mind repeating the question Council member Riley and then I can confer with the M group. |
| 03:11:43.25 | Tom Riley | Certainly. This building is in a W zone requiring maritime uses. It currently has maritime uses. They want to build a new building that elevates and addresses sea level rise. but they'd like to have a second floor that accommodates arts. It's right across from the ICB building. And so they'd like to have arts on the second floor. That's the request, but it's not zoned to that. |
| 03:12:11.26 | Lily Whalen | COB, Jean Gatza, And the issue is not that the floor area would be exceeded correct that's not the issue. It's the use. OK, great. Yes. Let's get back to you. |
| 03:12:17.20 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 03:12:17.23 | Tom Riley | Correct. |
| 03:12:17.65 | Unknown | you |
| 03:12:24.12 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, are there other questions? Yes, Mayor. Yes. |
| 03:12:31.34 | Joan Cox | if I might. I wanted to follow on to, I have two questions following on to what Jeff and Tom had said. um, I'm mindful that what Jeff said is that the zoning ordinance must be consistent with the general plan. We all know that for this general plan, we kept intact the existing housing element, which is not due to be updated until 2023. So what if in updating the housing element, the city wants to adopt a program not now contemplated by the general plan. May we at that time adopt a general plan amendment and if necessary, do an MND piggybacking on our extensive DEIR being adopted now. Thank you. |
| 03:13:23.11 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 03:13:23.13 | Joan Cox | So Joan, maybe just for the |
| 03:13:24.28 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | public. |
| 03:13:25.37 | Joan Cox | yes is mitigated negative declaration right now we are undergoing a california environmental quality act analysis of our general plan to fully understand the implications of our proposed general plan on the environment with in terms of noise traffic and all kinds of other environmental factors and so my question to jeff is |
| 03:13:25.44 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes. And |
| 03:13:53.08 | Joan Cox | Could we do a mitigated negative declaration? In other words, a very brief follow on document with piggyback on the extensive work already being done for this general plan, if indeed, upon adopting our housing element, we saw a need to be able to do that. adopt a program not now contemplated by our general plan, since we're not right now addressing an update to our existing housing element in our general plan work. |
| 03:14:29.26 | Jeff Bradley | Thank you, Councilmember Cox. Is the question simply for the housing element itself, if a mitigated negative declaration would be sufficient? |
| 03:14:39.15 | Joan Cox | No It's you said that our zoning ordinance must be consistent with our general plan. Piggybacking on that statement, if we were to adopt a program for the housing element or for the zoning ordinance, not now contemplated in our general plan, could we simply do an update or an amendment to our general plan with a corresponding CEQA, you know, environmental document if necessary. |
| 03:15:08.23 | Jeff Bradley | The short answer would be yes, unless the program itself had some outsize environmental impact. |
| 03:15:15.89 | Joan Cox | And piggybacking on that question, The environmental impact report that we are already undertaking includes our existing housing element and I presume includes the fact that we will be required in 2023 to identify additional units of low income and very low income housing at that time, does it not? |
| 03:15:40.51 | Jeff Bradley | It does not... It does not look into the future and try to- |
| 03:15:45.42 | Joan Cox | You've done a report that you've included in our land use element that has a table that talks about all of the additional housing that could be, you have already included an analysis of how our population will grow and what additional housing will be required and contemplated. So is, does not our environmental document already contemplate that information that you have today projected for our future? |
| 03:16:19.56 | Jeff Bradley | Yes, both the land use element that we're updating is consistent with the housing element which the city has already adopted and has a net increase of approximately 300 new housing units spread throughout the city based on the analysis that was done in the housing element previously. Um, And, but we don't know exactly what the next housing element cycle is gonna require. We have some indications, but, If the next cycle fits within that existing profile of housing development envisioned by the housing element and now the land use element, then yes, you'd be correct. |
| 03:17:00.11 | Joan Cox | So I'll be a little more specific. You say we have some indication. We've gotten a report from ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments, that indicates that our next RHNA, Regional Housing Needs Allocation Number will be 125%. or 135% of what it is now. So right, our last number was a little under 100. And so it's likely that our new number will be around 135. And so is that within the projections that you have included now in our general plan? and in our environmental document. |
| 03:17:36.76 | Jeff Bradley | In terms of the raw numbers is definitely within the projection and within the planned amount. But as the council's aware, the rules around housing elements are changing rapidly And so some of the sites that were counted under the current housing element, if they were not used or developed during the housing element period, planning period, then the city would might be under some allegation to either change the designation of those sites or come up with additional sites. So I just wanted to put some caveats out there. |
| 03:18:09.21 | Joan Cox | Understood. And so, um, The truth. And so in, in conclusion, our, our general plan and our environmental impact report regarding our general plan already contemplates the requirement to identify additional housing, including low income and very low income housing. And it will only be if we markedly Um, Uh, move away from what we're already projecting that we may have to consider a general plan amendment and or supplemental environmental documents. |
| 03:18:48.77 | Jeff Bradley | Correct. |
| 03:18:49.85 | Joan Cox | Thank you for that clarification. |
| 03:18:51.80 | Jeff Bradley | Thank you. |
| 03:18:52.24 | Joe Burns | Thank you. Your Honor, cross examination, please. Um, I think Jeff, did we have 90 something units in our EIR of ADUs looking forward past this, correct? So we have that kind of wiggle room. |
| 03:19:05.25 | Jeff Bradley | We did project additional ADUs just on an annual basis going out. OK. |
| 03:19:11.48 | Joe Burns | But my other question was related back to the finished floor Are we looking at something like FEMA requires, if you're in a flood zone, to raise your your ground-based elevation. Could we consider something like that for a geographical area where basically all of our evaluation, elevations are going to be changing. throughout the world on maps, but would we look at it just establishing a new base level elevation and allowing that 32 feet to take from there, but that base elevation would have a 40 year window given that's close to the depreciation of built property. So is that type of calculation you'd be looking for in that type of, |
| 03:19:59.32 | Jeff Bradley | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 03:19:59.91 | Joe Burns | agreement on |
| 03:20:01.02 | Jeff Bradley | finished floors. The program as written envision the city having the opportunity to look at properties specifically within the marine ship, but also anywhere within the city that might be impacted by sea level rise. and having a local decision about setting a minimum floor elevation that not only accounts for the 100 year flood that we get from FEMA, and is incorporated into the California Building Code but having a local standard for a sea level rise elevation knowing that those areas are going to be susceptible to see a rise in the future. On the other hand, hopefully those types of requirements will come down from the state in the form of building codes, but that may take longer than what the city would like to see if you're seeing development activity in those areas. That was the thought. |
| 03:20:56.04 | Joe Burns | Okay, and the building code still went... and address our 32 foot, we'd still have that in our plan. |
| 03:21:00.37 | Jeff Bradley | That's definitely a local control matter, yes. |
| 03:21:07.01 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, are there additional questions? And I think we'll get some additional answers after we take public comment. as well, unless I see our Community Development Director. |
| 03:21:21.37 | Lily Whalen | COB, Elaine McLaughlin, So thank you mayor Cleveland also I just took a quick look at the marine ship specific plan. Sarah Silver, To address comes up question about the. I think it was applied arts and arts uses on the second level and in the waterfront zoning district. So there are some areas of Some as you know that my friendship specific plan is very specific for each parcel. So there are some parcels in the waterfront zone that don't allow any applied arts or arts uses. On the whole though, there is some extent of applied arts and arts uses that are allowed on waterfront parcels. However, they're limited and so, If we're talking about the Clipper property in particular, the only Marine applied arts is allowed and Marine and industrial arts are allowed on that property. Does that address your question, Council Member Riley? |
| 03:22:18.25 | Tom Riley | Yes, that's specific, but that doesn't address the property owner's request. So they're asking for applied arts, not marine arts above. |
| 03:22:30.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Right, which I think goes back to my original question, which is, is there a So what we did with the MarinShip specific plan is we, in the extensive memo that M group drafted is that some aspects are being we're moving into the general plan now. Some aspects are more specific and they're gonna go in the zoning code and then other issues, Are. you know, even more specific perhaps for design review or I can't remember. But anyway, right now we're just talking about the general plan or the zoning. So I guess my follow up question is, is there a policy in the general plan that we have now that would preclude treating the Clipper property like other waterfront properties with some allowance for arts or applied arts. |
| 03:23:19.78 | Jeff Bradley | Mayor Mrakas, MNC, There is a program of mayor Cleveland knows that talks about getting away from personal specific designations or restrictions and if a certain use is allowed. Mayor Mrakas, MNC, And you know most of the waterfront properties, most of the industrial properties to make the to make the use table more consistent on that basis and more applicable. to similarly situated properties. |
| 03:23:45.93 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay. Right. And I don't know if we have any additional policies that might implicate this later, that would be helpful. Okay, any other questions for staff right now or for M Group? |
| 03:24:04.55 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay. So we have two items about the general plan on our agenda tonight. This is about the draft. general plan itself, and then we also have following this, An item on the draft EIR so right now i'm taking public comment on. items that relate to the draft general plan. And we will also have public comment on the EIR at a later time. |
| 03:24:41.15 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, so if you'd like to speak on this item, please raise your hand. And first I see Peter Teague. |
| 03:25:00.59 | Jameer Reynolds | Thank you, Mayor. |
| 03:25:01.70 | Peter Teague | Thank you, members of the City Council. Am I there? Yes. So, After months of talking about the Marin Shep, I'm struck not so much by what's in the general plan and what the city is discussing, as what's not present. Um, As a Sausalito small business owner, I can tell you that certainty is high on the list of things that I need to succeed. And yet, as I look through the plan, as I listen to the city, I can't find any consideration of measures to provide businesses in the Miran ship with the certainty that they would need to succeed, to invest in their physical plants, to invest in staff, to grow their operations in ways that would benefit both Sausalito And Marin City. It seems to me another thing that's missing is a strategy to create good jobs by attracting more light industrial and maritime businesses. I don't see any studies or committees dedicated to figuring out what it would take Thank you. to make the Marin ship what it could be. which I think could be a robust center for these kinds of firms, a place that grows broadly shared prosperity. And yet we're hearing all kinds of rhetoric and it's in writing as well. about how much the city values the very things it's doing nothing to support. So, And I think the city knows how to provide that support if it wanted to. When we look at the focus on attracting more tourism related business, there are studies, there's committees, there are public funds spent on those things. And I suspect that there's a reason for the rhetoric. And of course, it's the fact that the people of the city want light industrial and maritime businesses to thrive in the Marin ship. I think we've spoken. I mean, I've been to the meetings before we were in lockdown. Go to the meetings. Scores of people would show up to say this is what we want, We don't want residential. in a place that it doesn't belong. We don't want the kind of development that's going to bring more traffic. The studies show our seniors want to stay where they are. They want to stay at home. to an expensive care facility built on subsiding Bayville. So I hope you'll forgive me if I want, I begin to wonder if there's something at least a little disingenuous about the process. Is it an honest democratic effort designed to bring the community together to plan for the future? Or is it a distraction? Are we ticking the boxes on public participation When the real plan is simply to turn the marine ship over to developers. Thank you very much. |
| 03:27:50.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Riley Hurd. will come. |
| 03:27:58.82 | Riley Hurd | Hello. And Good evening, members of the council. My name is Riley Hurd. I've been advising the Berg family in regards to their property at Marina Plaza. I think it was the one that was just being referenced. When they came to me, they asked me, to craft proposed general plan language that respected the history and future of the Marin ship, while also acknowledging that, A, every property isn't the same, and B, the city has said there's a dire need for senior housing. Well, Marina Plaza makes sense. It's a large, built-out, legal, non-conforming office building at the edge of the Marine ship. So how can we harness the opportunity of a site like that Well, respecting the heritage, the things we just heard about, of the rest of the area. So it was with that in mind that I crafted proposed edits to the general plan that would only give the city the power to even consider an application for senior housing in the Marin ship, at a property that is not and has not been traditionally utilized as a maritime or industrial use. So zero displacement was the goal. Also, Use a conditional use permit. make it analyze adjoining maritime or industrial uses regards to noise, dust, fumes, and other factors. The narrowness of this proposal cannot be understated. It's the most restrictive of entitlements, that's a C-O-P, You can do a case by case investigation This is, The exact opposite of what the previous speaker was alleging. This does not open the door to development. This is laser-like precision. that would only ever apply to non-conforming uses. So the council's on record, with rightful immense support for senior housing. But at the same time, the production is minuscule. And this disconnect cannot be ignored. It's also not without reason. Land costs, development costs, We keep hearing about different sites throughout the city. We've looked at them. The build out is not possible. State aid is going to be tapped for years. Even if you get it, it's going to be a decade before a senior moves in. Waiting for the housing element 2023 only exacerbates this delay And the housing element has to be horizontally consistent with the rest of the general plan. You need shovel ready. actually buildable projects that can come online soon. So we ask that you incorporate these edits And stand by the actually overwhelming voice of your residents that we heard at the workshops that said, We want senior housing. in the right place, that doesn't displace industrial and maritime uses, and that can be done with the language that we've provided, we ask that you'd be willing to at least consider the concept. Thank you. |
| 03:30:58.00 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Peter Van Meter. |
| 03:31:13.51 | Peter Van Meter | Okay, there we go. Tonight you have before you a memo on including in the general plan update a so-called community plaza downtown. And this is something that's been requested by residents over approximately the last 20 years. I'm gonna ask you to make a vote on this issue tonight. So the M group has firm direction as to how to proceed. Now, when this was discussed at the JPEC, Some members who objected, and I'm a member of the JPEG, some members who objected, We're not given an opportunity to explain why they would not want to support this. So I've been racking my brain trying to figure out why someone would not like to have this as a focal point in our downtown. The only ideas I could come up with was, well, we don't have the money. Well, that's another reason to include this as a long-term goal. over the next 20 years. So as funding becomes available, in fact, this concept could be implemented. The only other objective that I might have heard over the years is, gee, we might lose a few parking spaces. Well, you need to be aware that the Saucyutl Yacht Harbor nearby neighbor to our lot downtown is seriously considering making their property into a daily paid lot. So that would more than make up for any alternative short-term parking loss, which of course people are predicting less need for vehicle parking anyway in the future. |
| 03:32:37.28 | Unknown | or a |
| 03:32:43.13 | Unknown | Anyway. |
| 03:32:45.43 | Peter Van Meter | So... The point is we need to get some firm decision on this program. I'd like to make sure that you include that to your list of the five items that were discussed earlier. as outstanding issues. and take a vote on that tonight. So there's firm direction to the M group. Will this concept be included in the general plan? or not. Thank you. |
| 03:33:08.09 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Ken Peterson. Welcome. |
| 03:33:19.36 | Ken Peterson | Okay. I, I really appreciate the fact that you were addressing you know, addressing what we're talking about. Yes, we are asking for a lot, zoning changes, but I've met with a lot of you, and it is absolutely important that we make these changes. The building code right now for a floor height of a building is 10 feet. the building we're talking about, and we have others that are the same because we're one of the oldest marinas, oldest property owners in the W zone, in Sausalito. The current building height is 10 feet. We're at a four foot elevation. It is under a normal high tide. It can't work, it can't be sustained. And it's a single story building. What we're proposing, and we've done our homework, we've hired, and economists to help us to say, like you guys, the M group has done the same thing, saying it can't be sustained. You cannot build a, new modern legal building with water-oriented tenants only and make it pay. Guess what? you're that building isn't going to get built. But if we allow the horizontal, vertical, whatever you wanna call it, building zone that Michael Rex has, has alluded to, It can work. But again, we've hired KERS-KLASSEN. respected engineer, developer, everything helped us with the design of the building, helped us with the cost of the building, we're staying in context with the, It looks just like the rest of our buildings on our property. We did an It Will Pencil Out. If we have the second floor, in applied art. We also, I've also reached out to some of my friends who are on the Working Waterfront group And I've run this biome and they go, I get it. the same tenants, the Harbor Dive, Mike Brown, yacht sales, everybody on the first floor now would be absolutely welcome in the new building on the first floor. W to try to find a tenant for the second story is not easy for us. So in what we're saying, It can be done. but we have to have that. We did also in this letter propose a Third story. live, work for fine art, Fine Art and Studio. you know what? My friends that I'm working closely with in the in the Working Waterfront, They do not want that. I'm taking that off the board. |
| 03:36:32.63 | Heidi Scoble | Peterson, your three minute time has left. |
| 03:36:33.34 | Ken Peterson | Thank you. I have their support. I have their support. And I'm taking that off Thank you for listening to us. |
| 03:36:44.14 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you, Mr. Peterson. |
| 03:36:46.07 | Ken Peterson | Thank you. |
| 03:36:47.13 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, Vicki Nichols, welcome. |
| 03:36:53.02 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Welcome back. |
| 03:36:53.61 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 03:37:05.88 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Vicki, I'm Tammy Vicki. |
| 03:37:07.97 | Vicki Nichols | Thank you. |
| 03:37:08.10 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 03:37:08.54 | Heidi Scoble | Vicky has been unmuted. There we go. |
| 03:37:12.07 | Vicki Nichols | Thank you, Mayor. I'm gonna, I just was saying that my comments have been submitted at the various meetings, so they will be very general tonight. And I want to do say though that I appreciate the structure of the working group and have had the pleasure of working with all four members as planning commissioners They did a really thorough job Um, somewhat what I was perceiving the planning commission do, but we would have been still doing this till about January with the detail you had to do. So I appreciate that. I wanted to know, this is more of a general, actually just let me make two comments that I found out through the meetings that I think been some consternation in the community. Um, There has been comments about the COSMET study to drive some of this general plan. And I have learned and I want to just have it confirmed the community that that information is not formally received by the council. So while that was done, It has not been integrated within this draft and will not be used. Also that the fair traffic initiative which prohibits housing in the marinship still holds legal consideration in that to change it, it would require a vote of the community. So that's a document that's also been considered. And my understanding is that's the two resolutions of those two issues. So on a lighter note, I just want to ask, I'm not clear. what it means when someone is in our sphere of influence. Obviously I see Renn City being proposed to be that, But what does that actually mean? There's no way we're going to annex Marin City because I can tell you the County of Marin's not gonna give it up. And so is that what that means, that we're trying to annex this? I don't know. I'd like someone just to state that. been asked that by other people. And then lastly, to keep it really general, I just want to reiterate and appreciate Mr. Teague's comments, I know in previous meetings, We're very lucky to have someone with his professional qualifications who at least in our joint meeting, I believe it was in January at IDESK Hall, volunteered to share his expertise and bring in resources for sea level rise mitigation education. So I hope that he will get to read the sustainability issue when it comes out and I'd like to know when that will be out and available to be looked at. and I hope the city will take him up on his generous offer to provide us with the guidance we need for that. And that's my comments. The rest will be in writing later. |
| 03:39:59.13 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. We have a phone number again, welcome back, ending in 3052. And could you state your name for the record? |
| 03:40:10.51 | Ava Crisanti | Hello, can you hear me? I've, Hello? |
| 03:40:14.24 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, we can hear you. |
| 03:40:14.54 | Ava Crisanti | Can you hear me? Thanks. This is Ava Crisanti, and I speak From the perspective of someone whose great-grandfather came through Angel Island before the 1906 quake and whose great-aunts worked at Marinship. I'd like to provide a little missing historical perspective. My family's been in the Bay Area long enough to remember when there were black mariners. extraordinary black captains and black sailors. And black sailors in particular were prized for their swimming and diving capabilities, but also all of their very complete knowledge of ships and shipmaking. And this was well before, obviously, marinship. So, I do wish as you're putting together this general plan, that you're looking to our maritime history here in the San Francisco Bay Area and how black that was. and how much that relied on black labor, black skills and black knowledge. I'd also like to recommend a book to Peter Van Meter, and to the other Willow Creek proponent It's by Andrew Carl. It's called The Land Was Ours. how black beaches became white wealth in the coastal south. And it documents. the theft of Black Waterfront property from the Chesapeake Bay through the Gulf Coast and even into Southern California. from black property owners, which included small black farms and also included black resorts, beautiful and quite prominent black beach resorts that started after reconstruction. And I think the elision of black voices in the Sausalito general plan is is very telling And I do think that that. one of the points Andrew Carle book make. is that the black property owners treated Thank you. the coastal properties, much more environmentally and much more soundly. than the white property developers. And that's something that is missing. in your plan. And I think it should be addressed. And I will be writing further on this. I will certainly send you an email on this, but I will be writing further. on, uh, the scarcity of black voices in your general plan for the Marin IJ. So I do wish you would do more outreach. And I also wish Some of you would do a little more historical research because it's quite telling that this is missing. |
| 03:43:06.11 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. David Sudow. Welcome back. |
| 03:43:16.81 | David Sudo | Hi. I sent a late mail today. I'm not sure if it's council members had a chance to look at it regarding circulation elements. I just want to circle around some of the comments that city council made regarding moderate and low-income housing in Sausalito. I'm glad that it was recognized that it's been up to now a third rail. I think my first exposure to city politics was walking my dog past city hall when we were discussing housing at the Willow Creek campus for teachers about 12 years ago. And the, Um, and the level of animosity to that proposal. by city residents. I'm hoping that when we have another discussion We don't have the same reaction. Um, We need to find space for low and moderate income housing in our town. if we want to have any hope of of, increasing racial and social diversity in our town. And we're just grappling. Uh, we're accelerating our gentrification in town. Um, And. The other thing I would like to bring up related to that is a discussion on our zoning map And the fact that R1 zoning in particular is widely seen as exclusionary. zoning. And that, Um, somewhere during our discussion of housing. we need to maybe discuss our zoning map again. And the third element I would say is I've worked both in urban and rural areas where zoning maps really didn't exist. And I would say it's much easier to have a diversity in Uh, a community Overall, when we have less rigid zoning. Thank you. |
| 03:45:35.86 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. We have our call-in user, number five. Welcome. And if you could state your name, that would be great. |
| 03:45:49.19 | Sonia Hammons | Thank you. My name is Sonia Hammons. I'm a 37-year resident of Fossilito. I love it here. And I want to love it here even more in 20 years. So thanks to all of you, council members, GPAC members, everyone who's put work into this product and this process. Thanks to everyone on this meeting, participating and contributing to our amazing community. Um, you know, we're reflecting on the general plan, the 20 year plan, it's a big deal. And I just imagine in 20 years, New residents, maybe my kids asking. Wow, you worked on developing a 20-year general plan in the midst of some of the biggest shifts in social values in a century. when the whole country put its meetings and economy on pause and people got real, about local economies, How about moving from superficial discussions about diversity into really meaningful discussions around inclusion and equity and justice. And in that incredibly unique set of circumstances, that really opens doors for creative, visionary thinking, How did you and the town incorporate all of that into the general plan of Sausalito? Yeah. And when I look at our current draft plan, I fear that I would have to tell my kids, You know, we carried on pretty much exactly the same but on Zoom. maybe some less advertising. We added the word pandemic in there a few times. but pretty much the same, same schedule. still aiming for a downtown focused on visitors. Still a lot of kind of thinking around divisive thinking in our conversations and And even tonight I'm hearing, you know, there's discussion around individual properties. And I could comment on those, but my understanding is we're here to talk about a vision, a planning for 20 years. And I, I don't feel that we're ready. I'm concerned that we haven't had the voices of our amazing range of community members. I submitted a request for information a couple of weeks ago asking what kind of participation and outreach has taken place to make sure we get input from Marin City on this plan. I haven't heard a response, so I feel concerned about that. And not just about here. I wouldn't be satisfied to hear that, you know, three posters were put up and two pop of events were held. I want to know in a meaningful way. How are we integrating these discussions of racial justice and equity um, visions of the local economy and, and the value of local industry and the power of art to, um, keep us honest in our thinking, how are we integrating that into our general plans? And I'd encourage us to reflect on that to take this amazing opportunity at this very strange moment to be creative Be bold. And if that means pausing for a few months, during a time when the whole world is on pause and recalibrating and making sure checking ourselves. Did we get input in a meaningful way from our full community? |
| 03:49:01.51 | Heidi Scoble | So now your three minutes has elapsed. |
| 03:49:01.55 | Sonia Hammons | Sonia, your treatment in Taz. I appreciate all of your work. Thank you so much. |
| 03:49:08.13 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Sandra Bushmaker, welcome. |
| 03:49:17.76 | Sandra Bushmaker | All right. I have a couple of points. Can you hear me? Yes, I have a couple of points I want to make tonight. First, I strongly object to two specific projects being the center of discussion for a general plan update. And I will hold my document. in front of the camera. This is something that has gone through so many permutations. It is difficult for the public to even grasp what the current draft is. And I think we need more time on this. We need a document that we can read coherently in order to make our comments. And in doing so, I'm going to just say that I have participated in many of the GPAC meetings, almost all of the working group meetings, City Council meetings for the past two and a half to three years. and I'm not gonna repeat everything I said. However, I am going to refer to everything I've said and written to the city council and request by reference that those statements be fully incorporated into this transcript. And lastly, I want to thank Mr. Tigg for making a very clear statement of the issues that are facing the area in the Marin ship. I would strongly support low income and moderate income housing in Sausalito, but we've got to find a safe, Uh, unexposed area for that housing for our seniors. I support aging in place, and I support programs in Sausalito that will support that process. Thank you. |
| 03:51:07.87 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. John Flavin, welcome. |
| 03:51:17.41 | John Flavin | Thank you. In the current housing element, there is it basically bans the marineship from housing development And it's subject to flooding landfill, subsistence, antiquated sewer systems, sea level rise, and cyclical tidal actions that pollute sidewalks, streets, and structures with environmental contaminants. I don't think this is going to change. next time. So I'm just I hopefully, as an apparent result of the above, The current draft of the general plan makes it a policy to promote marine industrial-oriented uses that require waterfront locations and ensure the preservation of the existing general industrial uses found in the Marinship waterfront area. But all this appears to be just lip service. Because even before the public comment is completed on the draft general plan, The city council members have reviewed a one-way communication staff memo dated June 11th, 2020, regarding senior slash affordable housing opportunity sites with two marine ships, one on the water, listed as potential sites. is absolutely incredible in me. This study specifically identifies potential housing sites on or near the Marintiop waterfront. many of which are in a floodplain and heavily impacted by subsistence and sea rise. What are we doing? I go back to Mr. T is this general plan to some sort of academic exercise that we're going to toss aside and redo what we ever we want to do come five years from now, three years from now. I am. We're here. Thank you. |
| 03:53:17.57 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. Susie Bushwaltz, welcome. |
| 03:53:26.52 | Susie Bushwaltz | Hi. I'm Susie Buckholtz. Thank you, Mayor and Council members for Can you hear me? Thank you. |
| 03:53:34.30 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, we can. |
| 03:53:35.06 | Susie Bushwaltz | Okay. Um, thank you for the forum to discuss this. I have some comments that I'd like to read into the record. I'm an artist and I have a studio in the ICB. I've been a tenant in the ICB for more than 20 years. I have read some, but not all of the letters that were submitted on this topic. And I have several thoughts I'd like to share. number one, um, The unique character of a place is something that cannot ever be recaptured once it's dismantled. There are two examples that come to mind. I lived in Carmel for many years and my kids spent their formative years there. It was a diverse and vibrant community. of surfers and teachers and gardeners and bankers and retired people and affluent second homeowners and hotel owners and hotel workers. And Carmel now is home to affluent residents and absentee homeowners. Ocean Avenue has become like Rodeo Drive. Tourists who used to come for the natural beauty now just come to shop. It's now a place for the wealthy and it's forever changed and you can't unring that bell. I also think of Santa Barbara and how their shoreline is forever changed by the offshore oil rigs that were allowed. along the coastline and you can never unring that bell. And I think I worry about the same thing for the Sausalito waterfront and the Marin ship. Number two, artists tend to gentrify communities and elevate property values. It is a myth that artists perpetuate a below-market rental market. I have only to drive into the parking lot at the ICB to see how things have changed over the past 20 years that I've been there. just by looking at the cars, the majority of which are luxury cars that are owned by the artists who are able to pay what now are the market rate rents that we pay at the ICB. And number three, artists contribute to the city's revenue, visibility, and prestige. ICB artists bring thousands of people to Sausalito every year looking to spend money on art, food, lodging, shopping, artist contribute to sales tax to the city, And the ICB Artists Association has a well-organized professional PR program that brings significant and ongoing coverage for Sausalito, positive coverage for Sausalito and the Bay Area media. So I'm here to urge the council to see that the Marinship is protected from fine art, and the six-year-old. |
| 03:56:33.07 | Heidi Scoble | Susie, your three minutes has elapsed. |
| 03:56:36.82 | Susie Bushwaltz | And I finished that sentence. Yes, please finish your sentence. And that the character for which Sausalito is known be protected and not allow just short-sightedness or personal interests to forever change the treasure that's in our hands. Thank you. |
| 03:56:54.55 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Craig Merlees and then Sybil Boutelier, Casey Peterson, Mike N and Paul's iPhone. |
| 03:57:12.86 | Craig Merlees | Great. Madam Mayor and members of the council, good evening. Um, I would add my thanks to the efforts you're making stipulate at the beginning that this is a difficult process. Thank you. I do join those among the speakers tonight who expressed perplexion. a bit of outrage that This has become kind of an open forum for people lobbying for their projects. I guess that's to be expected. General plans and zoning decisions are inherently political, and they inherently involve powerful people with their self-interest at stake. What concerns me is that it's not clear to me that the council has put up the kind of firewall and, independent spirit that's necessary to come up with a document and a plan. that reflects the best interests of the entire city. And I think you're being unduly swayed by individuals with political agendas, which more often than not coming down to make more money than they're already making. I think that's certainly the case with the, the developers that are asking you for a waiver, essentially, a loophole Um, a way to modify zoning that allows them to add a second story and use it for a different use. There's going to be a long line of people like that. And the way that you respond to those people in these meetings, um says a lot, I think, about where you're at and the quickness with which you seek to meet their concerns as though these are, I'm not sure. compelling interests, and you're having a hard time looking at the broader public interests, Um, I've been involved in a nine month maritime project and I've seen a lot of what goes on in a marine ship. And I'll tell you a couple of things I've seen that you may not have noticed. Many of the people working down there are people of color. They're doing the work, they're doing the difficult, grungy work involved in the maritime industry and they're making good wages. And those jobs are directly threatened by the land developers and speculators who are coming to your board meetings and, hiring consultants and having a lot of influence in this process. And you need to be independent. And you need to push back against those people and you need to do what's right for the entire city. not just the rich and the powerful. which have their voices, they have their lobbyists, And they have a lot of influence and they have friends on the council and they have people that have pledged to. do what they can to help with their projects. I find that really a concern. The people you just appointed to your economic development council, two of them experience in Carmel, which some of you found as a qualification. for the kind of development that you think we need here. I'm really concerned. I hope you take a step back. increase the amount of independence. Thank you very much. |
| 04:00:18.15 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Sybil Hotelier. Welcome back. |
| 04:00:29.20 | Sybil Goutelier | Bye. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Mayor, City Council members. I want to say something about the vision plan that's being considered tonight. Um. when I've sent in a memo yesterday with some proposed language very simple language. to go into whichever one of these plans you may decide to approve as part of your consideration tonight, just to include the fact that Sausalito is an age-friendly city and a livable community. Those are designations we've received by national and international organizations. that really point to the excellence of South Salido. To start that process, the city council signed a letter stating that the city committed to continually working to improve the city in terms of accommodating older adults and all people of all people in the community. Um, So I have, offered an opportunity to just add that language in a very simple and appropriate way in the three versions before you, which simply, for example, in the version that is being considered as by the M group provided to the Planning Commission and the M group, in the after the sentence that says, The Sausalito for 2040 is a thriving, safe and diverse community that sustainably cultivates and celebrates its natural beauty history, its arts and waterfront culture, period. The next sentence would say, as an age friendly city and livable community, our vision for the best quality of life and then all of the rest of that is what's already there. So as simply stating, that we have those designations, which are something we should be proud of. I did offer some additional language, which may or may not be able to be considered this evening, but it's really following up on Peter Van Meter's comment at the General at the working group meeting, Um, which said that there, you know, where are the people in this vision statement? And so to that end, I offered some language that could be included that talks about the city's community spirit and the way that it collaborates across sectors in making some of the decisions that I mentioned in the vision statement before you. So it's really just adding the words creativity, innovation, collaboration across sectors, and the spirit of the community, which I felt really brought in some of those elements that are unique to South Salido. |
| 04:03:46.05 | Heidi Scoble | and then- three minutes has been |
| 04:03:47.26 | Sybil Goutelier | I don't know. |
| 04:03:47.35 | Heidi Scoble | collapsed. |
| 04:03:48.21 | Sybil Goutelier | and important in any 20-year plan. Thank you. |
| 04:03:53.10 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Casey Peterson. Welcome. |
| 04:04:00.26 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 04:04:02.79 | Casey Peterson | time. Thanks for having us here tonight. I just want to address some of the concerns that I've heard throughout this. I just want to say, I'm a third generation property owner in the Marin ship. We've been there since after World War II and we love the culture in the Marin ship. We love the marine industry. We're a marina first and foremost. |
| 04:04:16.19 | Unknown | in a way. |
| 04:04:23.73 | Casey Peterson | So to call us developers is a little off because we're not looking to build these skyscrapers on the water's edge. We're looking to protect our W tenants. We're looking to do that with adding a second story of arts, fine arts, applied arts, which is already in the Marin ship. We're not proposing anything that's not already in the Marin ship. We like the culture in the Marin ship. We like our neighbors and we would just be adding what to adding to our property, what we have directly across the street from us in the ICD building. We don't want to be as tall as that, obviously, but we have a site that is subsided four feet and we need to raise that and to be able to do that to protect our w tenants we need to be able to have a more diverse culture upstairs. And again, we're not proposing, we're not asking for anything that is not already in the Marin ship. And we're coming to you asking, not telling you what we need. proposing this is what we need. These are our concerns. We're asking for feedback and pushback from you what you would like for us to change in that. That's why we've had people like Michael Rex help us. He knows this area better than almost anybody around. He's been around here for a long time. And then, I know there's the concern between the general plan and the zoning ordinance coming in a few years later. So we're just asking for, we know those two have to be They have to coincide with one another, so. for this. horizontal zoning, vertical zoning. language to be available in the general plan so that when we come to change the zoning or amend the zoning and whatever. is to be that this is allowed in that because obviously this is not the exact time for it, but the wording and the language Thank you. general plan would allow for that when the time is to come. Thank you. |
| 04:06:26.97 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Mike N. Welcome. |
| 04:06:32.44 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 04:06:40.84 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Well, |
| 04:06:41.87 | John Flavin | Thank you. |
| 04:06:41.89 | Mike N. | you |
| 04:06:42.12 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. I can now, yes. |
| 04:06:45.72 | Mike N. | Yeah, I wanted to... talk about as far as the rezoning and everything is concerned, if they're going to do something in of. If you're going to involve Marin City, what I would think would benefit Sausalito is helping Marin City residents own their property. And Sausalito has a lot of powerful people in it, and they should use their power to help. uh, the residents of Marin City. uh, either get access to capital or to just, you know, help them with no interest loans or whatever the case is, to be able to buy the property that they should rightfully own really, or just give them the titles period because they've earned it. And or just give the original residents who established this land the land that they properly owned. and allow them to zone it. And I agree with some of the remarks earlier by a couple of people earlier, I believe Craig was one and another guy that spoke earlier that I think that you guys might be going about this here a little bit fast and that you might wanna slow it down and actually give some consideration to uh, What? is going to help all of the residents as opposed to some developers here. And I would just like to stress that home ownership and developing the properties through the residents in the Marin City area here Uh, with their help, use your muscles to help them. make it better so then they don't have to move into which is of course the resistance I believe that you're experiencing, Mayor. And sorry, I don't see the clock, so I don't know what the time is. But the issue I would like to this ask is that investment be driven towards business ownership and helping, again, the people to enrich themselves rather than increasing police presence and more of this authoritarian crap that nobody needs. We need opportunities. We need to help people become intelligent and learn to stand on their own. Thank you so much. |
| 04:09:30.96 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right. Thank you very much. Paul Alt icon. And then Lauren de Rummer and Michael Rex. And I don't see any other answers after that. Oh, Alice. |
| 04:09:47.29 | Paul Dines | Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council members, Ms. Whalen, Tom Ford and Jeff Bradley. I'm certainly appreciative to have an opportunity to participate in this revision of the general plan As part of my work to get ready for this, I had an opportunity to review the the previous general plan, which was produced by Sausalito residents And, One of the things that the that the general plan was very effective at, was limiting changes of zoning and, um, There were very specific prescriptions regarding items such as there was the matter that was discussed about the baseline for sea level as it related to building height. The previous general plan was very specific in as much as it specified which data was to be used and it was the FEMA data in certain cases and sources of data, but the general plan was very specific so that the data upon which important decisions were made was specified in the general plan so that the source couldn't be manipulated in any way. I thought that was very effective. And of course, the marinship plan for whatever its shortcomings are certainly has been effective at controlling. development. One of the other elements that was addressed in the previous general plan was the manner in which changes were made. And often the recommendation was that if changes to a zoning, for example, were going to be done, that it would be done with the consensus of the citizens through a public policy. electoral process so that the line whereby the city might be influenced by influential people was maintained by assuring that the citizens were the final arbitrators of any changes. Now, it relates in particular to zoning. There's some discussion about harmonizing the zoning along the waterfront, about using the applied arts as opposed to an applied arts with a maritime focus. These are really important decisions, I believe that it's important to maintain the distinction about the applied arts that are used with a maritime use as opposed to the more general applied arts. We've seen that more general applied arts label really stretch to incorporate organizations which really aren't, in my opinion, consistent with the intent of the regulation. There is so this discussion about harmonizing the zoning between parcels, and I know that that'll all get taken up in zoning, but it's also relevant to recognize that the recommendation regarding this harmonization is towards a decrease in regulation rather than a maintenance of the regulation and greater enforcement. All your concerns. |
| 04:12:52.68 | Heidi Scoble | All your three minutes has elapsed. |
| 04:12:55.25 | Paul Dines | Thank you so very much for your time, Madam Mayor. |
| 04:12:58.27 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Lauren, Lauren Derremer. Welcome. |
| 04:13:13.47 | Heidi Scoble | Lauren has been unmuted and we've asked her to share her screen. for a video. |
| 04:13:21.99 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So we can't hear you, Lauren, so maybe you are muted. |
| 04:13:25.99 | Lauren Derremer | Oh, can you hear me now? |
| 04:13:27.44 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Now we can, yeah. |
| 04:13:28.96 | Lauren Derremer | Okay, thank you city council members for hosting this evening. and Clipper Yacht Harbor for submitting a new project. But this, what we're talking about now is a zoning issue from my standpoint. And I don't feel that is right To discuss this further tonight, as part of the general plan, it should be addressed. later during a zoning discussion. And I also think I'm not sure. that it would be inappropriate to make any decisions simply to help one specific project. It seems very odd to me. that this is the first and only time I've heard this issue being raised. And I guess a lot of you guys know me from speaking at previous meetings, I'm a maritime worker, worked in over eight businesses in Sausalito. I grew up here, so I've been here over 36 years now and I take issues with the statements around maritime business. businesses without any evidence of attempts by the city yet to conduct a proper Port Townsend like study or to actively attract new maritime business and that promotes a thriving waterfront and the passing on of marine trains. I think this is extremely important. We've talked about in previous discussions Hiring someone like Martin Associates, who's surveyed over 500 ports in the US, including Oakland and Port of Oakland, who can really help with this. We can give all you council members a really, really good overview of what our town can become with a foundry and more educational programs and community involvement that is tangible and attractive to a local tourism economy as opposed to Um, you know, furthering the city in a direction that a lot of people that live here for many years don't agree with. Um, And again, in the senior living topic, I think we can achieve those things with age and place programs. And the community majority, as I've discussed in previous meetings, wants to do this in their homes. They don't want to be, in an expensive facility. Thank you. |
| 04:15:34.58 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Michael Rex. And then I have Alice Merrill after that. And there are no further hands raised. So if anybody else here would like to speak, please raise your hand. Welcome, Michael. |
| 04:15:48.43 | Michael Rex | Hi, thanks. I just lost my camera. Oh. Hang on one second. I don't know. I moved my screen and the camera fell. All right, here we go. |
| 04:16:02.42 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 04:16:03.44 | Michael Rex | Yeah. All right, thank you. |
| 04:16:12.99 | Michael Rex | Okay, here we are. Um, Yes, first of all, I wanted to reiterate Peter Van Meter's request to put policy in there that allows the city to look at converting a portion a lot one into a public plaza down at the Ferryland. As you know, I've worked on that personally for the last 20 years. If we want a vision for our future, it should be we should consider using the best part of our downtown for a better use than just parking cars. I also want to mention, talk about the letter briefly. I'm looking for the time frame here. Yeah, okay. I take issue with the supposition that we have a property owner who's greedy and looking for money. or that we're even talking about a specific project. I agree with the comments that we should not be talking about specific projects, and we're not. We're using a Pacific project to point out that We're talking about the future of our waterfront. and how to implement the public interest, the public goals, which is to preserve the marine and art industrial uses. And if we just talk about it and don't look at reality, then in fact we've accomplished nothing but talk. The reality, and there's plenty of documentation, that there is not sufficient demand for marine uses on the upper floor levels. And the W zone only allows marine uses, no other uses, okay? So what we have is if you really want to promote marine, industrial and art, then we need to provide some economic incentive to improve property and build those kind of facilities that sustain those uses. So, Clipper is simply suggesting in my letter, I simply asked, because we heard Mr. Bradley say that any changes in zoning have to be reflected in the general plan. Well, then that's why I'm proposing you put a program in there that says, let's consider modifying zoning on upper levels in the W zone, For other uses, that actually there is some demand. instead of not building those upper floors or not building the buildings at all because it won't pencil out, given the high land costs and our construction costs today. So this is an opportunity so we can simply have the discussion down the road. to put these programs in there to consider a mixed use, different uses on different levels, call it whatever you want. But that's what it's about. It's not about a specific project or some developer trying to be greedy and make more money. It's about accomplishing our community goals. |
| 04:19:11.49 | Heidi Scoble | Your three minutes has elapsed. Thank you. |
| 04:19:17.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 04:19:18.31 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 04:19:19.71 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, Alice Merrill, then Carter Berg. and Mary Crowley. |
| 04:19:27.86 | Alice Merrill | Good. Mary Crowley's weighing in. Hooray. Okay, so here's what I have to say. Here we are. I'm reading. I actually have something planned. This is a new paradigm. We are in a new paradigm. This council, Adam and the other leaders in this city, They seem to be determined. to race through this general plan, business as usual, as our realities are changing and profound and really who knows where we as a society and closer we as a town, will land. Everything is changing. Government may have to reinvent itself. And will you all be willing and or able to think creatively and in new ways? If you are so determined to plow forward with business as usual, I'm sorry. I know I sound cranky. I really am cranky. I've been cranky all day. I'm really sorry. So, um, Well... the studies for what's possible down there. Does anybody Can we just get something like that done? Can we... get something like that done so we know what we're talking about instead of just Well, let's just put in housing because there's space or let's just put it. I mean, we just have to be better about this. And then, and of course, the guy who talked about supporting Marin City to develop what they want to do is it's much more much more sensible. THEN Then, oh, housing in the Marin ship. There we go. Put the black people down there. I mean, really. I'm just nervous. So there's a new, there's some kind of a study out called sfportresilience.com. I didn't send you this cause I just learned about it. It's about San Francisco. Um, Does anybody on the general plan the the sustainability group of the general plan know about this have you guys looked into it It's something San Francisco is doing. Yes, they're huge. but, There's things coming up, the world is changing life is going to be different for everybody. We don't know where we're going. Please slow down. Just please. I know you're not gonna listen to me. or any of the other people have asked you to slow down. You know, we'll remember, I mean, I don't know if that, it's just, It's just a shame that this is just plowing through with all the people that have asked it not to with all of the new information that's coming out with all the new information that we don't know yet. I'm just sorry. So thank you very much. you |
| 04:22:34.04 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you, Alice. And we do listen. especially to you. All right, Mary Crowley, welcome. |
| 04:22:49.23 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. |
| 04:22:50.04 | Mary Crowley | Can you hear me okay? |
| 04:22:51.58 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 04:22:51.59 | Mary Crowley | Yes, I can. |
| 04:22:52.10 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 04:22:52.91 | Mary Crowley | Thank you. Okay. Um, I am actually joining you from Hawaii where Ocean Voyages Institute that's based in Sausalito. has brought in 103 tons of ghost nets and consumer plastics. But I would say the relevance of this is I have operated two maritime businesses in Sausalito for the last 41 years. And I have never been able to find a good office within Marinship. that was affordable or any better deal for a maritime business and eventually I've seen business after business move away from Sausalito. And I believe that there is lots of maritime industry and worthwhile things that can be done within the Marin ship. Peter Sutter and Robin Sweeney, Both spent a lot of time with many other citizens. in my home living room. doing one of the former marineship plans, the one that was being discussed that had so many excellent details in it. I would absolutely second everything Alice Merrill has said. and many other people have said, Sausalito, makes me proud when I hear all of the good people speaking up and asking the city council and others to slow down I attended some of the previous meetings on this. Thank you. It's moving too quickly and not necessarily in the directions that the citizens want. I believe that there are wonderful things that can be done of a maritime nature that makes sense along the waterfront. I believe that doing positive things in Marin City and being good neighbors would create a much better situation for many. And I don't see why there is a need to adopt anything quickly. what another six months of planning for something that already takes a lot of time got. would mean is possibly getting a plan that better fits for the town and its people. So I would ask you to please consider that. I care a lot. about Sausalito. I travel, but Sausalito's my home. And I ask you, please preserve the unique nature of the town of Sausalito. that is a great deal based on the weigh the waterfront. and the waterfront people are part of our town. |
| 04:26:02.43 | Heidi Scoble | Mary, you're in three minutes. |
| 04:26:03.12 | Mary Crowley | to the lab staff. |
| 04:26:06.28 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 04:26:06.30 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you so much for calling in from Hawaii. All right, Melissa Blastain. and Karlo Berg and Anne Lee. And then don't see any further raised hands. So if you are going to speak tonight, please raise your hand. Now. great. Okay. |
| 04:26:23.76 | Karen Hollweg | It's a... Great, thank you, Madam Mary, appreciate it. And council members, I wanted to speak specifically to the sustainability element and just make the point again, because I know it came up in some of the public comment and many of the people who are participating have mentioned the seriousness of sea level rise and preparing for resilience in our community. The sustainability element is very much still a work in progress. So we have just begun our coordination and working with M Group on on following through on making sure that our recommendations for the element, which were very specific and well thought through, and we spent quite a bit of time working together on ensuring that they were representative of what we hope to see for the future of the community in terms of sustainability and resilience and sea level rise. And that's still a process. So when you're considering what you think the general plan as a whole will look like and sea level rise, that issue in particular, Just know that the sustainability element is still being considered and What Alice mentioned about the resilience plan for the waterfront can still be incorporated into that. And that's something that we will absolutely look at. And we're really happy to have part of the process with M group and hopefully the element that is completed will be representative of what the sustainability commission would like to see. |
| 04:27:42.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Carlo Berg, Ben and Lee. |
| 04:27:51.68 | Carlito Berg | Hello everybody, Carlo Berg here Berg family Berg Holdings Marina Plaza. Nice to be able to talk again. I just wanted to agree with Craig and a bunch of the other folks who have spoken regarding The fact that this is not about any particular project or any particular area or any particular property. We're talking about the entire city at large. And so. Thank you. Specifically, what I wanted to address in that is I submitted a letter with a quantitative analytical analysis of the demand for senior housing across the city of Sausalito and within a five mile radius. this evening. And the results of that analysis were a need for over 800 units within a five mile radius in the next couple of decades and over 300 in the city by itself. So it's not about our family, it's not about making money, it's not about any of these things. It's about how do you feasibly look into the future, see the data, incorporate it, |
| 04:28:49.19 | Unknown | to. |
| 04:28:50.91 | Carlito Berg | and ensure that people don't have to leave the city that they've loved and lived in for decades. Um, And I think Michael Rex's comment is absolutely right. If anyone is doing anything, we're doing it specifically to look at a sample. I would be, happy. and I've given lots of time and lots of energy to various nonprofits throughout the city and throughout the Bay Area to look at the feasibility of constructing affordable housing, whether that's light tech housing loan from housing tax credit. or other types of housing. Um, and throughout the entire Bay Area. And right now there's a bill in California that is gonna allow churches hopefully to convert their lands to affordable housing. That's a project that I'm working on right now in Inglewood, which is a rapidly gentrifying area. or the church down there to make sure they can have affordable housing on their land. So in conclusion, What we're suggesting is not about any particular property. It's not about any particular project. It's about having the ability to look into the future, look at the data. and understand what the wants versus the needs are of the of everyone in the city and provide for those and not just pay them lip service but provide for those specifically through land use policies that allow the consideration and flexibility for the city to do what it needs to do for its citizens, not for any particular property owner. Thank you very much. |
| 04:30:17.04 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Ann Lee? |
| 04:30:27.27 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | We can't hear you, so you may not be unmuted. |
| 04:30:35.47 | Heidi Scoble | And you will need to unmute yourself. |
| 04:30:37.24 | Anne Lee | Yeah. Hi. Hi, thank you. Hi, thank you. I'm coming into this fairly late. I stayed on at the meeting I was interested most interested tonight in the discussion on racial inequities in Sausalito. Thank you. So I'm coming to this discussion and realize it's, you know, you've had a lot of medians I wish I had taken more time to look at the general plan, I just wanna echo some of the voices that have THE END OF spoken before me about how the time has really changed and we were at a pivotal point. and I just want to You know, question, are we looking at this general plan now in, with a framework of racial, inequity that we you know, have in Sausalito. that's not going to be I don't think it has addressed it simply because of the timeline of when the general plan came together. Um, so I would say that, you know, I'd echo like let's slow down. Let's, let's really reframe this, um, and look at you know, development and how gentrification or anything where there's rising poverty values that really to the THE END OF I'm a fan of of people who don't have enough to be here So I would just say, I don't know enough, but I would hope that we slow down and really analyze the whole general plan through that lens. Thank you. |
| 04:32:12.25 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much. Elias Karkabi and then Ron Albert. |
| 04:32:22.86 | Elias Karkabi | Hi. So I just want to echo what some of my fellows have been saying, which is that it seems like we're moving too fast. and the general plan needs to reflect all of the statements that you've been hearing from from the citizens here, especially with regard to segregation. Yeah. And, uh, I don't need to tell you that. Sausalito is one of the most segregated areas in the country. the kind of language that I would like to see in the general plan. especially as it relates to sustainability. is that segregation is unsustainable. We can't go on living like this. is destroying lives. And it's destroying our future. I would like to see a general plan that recognizes that. and makes the statement that there is one human. And that every single racial disparity that we see in our community. is the result of systemic racism. I think that is very important. |
| 04:33:44.06 | Elias Karkabi | Marin County going forward. that everybody is on board with the idea. that we have been living in a racist society, and we need change. that is meaningful and it will propel us to the future. |
| 04:34:03.55 | Elias Karkabi | And I want to say something that, My colleagues have been saying, on a lot of these council meetings, which is, If our representatives aren't on board with this idea, We're very ready. as a generation to come for your jobs. |
| 04:34:30.57 | Elias Karkabi | So if you want to keep your job, Get on board. |
| 04:34:44.65 | Elias Karkabi | Are you of my time? |
| 04:34:48.78 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right. Thank you very much. Ron Albert. Welcome. |
| 04:34:59.29 | Heidi Scoble | Ron, you'll need to unmute yourself. |
| 04:35:08.15 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, and Ron is the last public speaker that has raised his hand. |
| 04:35:11.15 | Ron Albert | All right, can you hear me? |
| 04:35:12.81 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, we can. |
| 04:35:14.75 | Ron Albert | Can you hear me now? |
| 04:35:16.12 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 04:35:16.13 | Unknown | Yes. |
| 04:35:16.45 | Ron Albert | Okay, great. Um, Ron Albert, uh, 31 year Sausalito resident. former mayor, former council person, former planning commissioner. And, uh, lot of involved in a lot of things here in the community. I, uh, was upset by some of the things I heard in the early public comments. Two things. One was a basic misstatement of facts. Um, We heard that the community overwhelmingly, someone said the community has spoken They don't want housing in the Marin ship. Everybody wants to shelter in place. Yes, everybody would love or not shelter in place, agent place, excuse me. I'd love to age your place. I'd love to live. to be 104. jump out of an airplane and break that record that some of us saw in the news the other day of the 103-year-old parachutist. and I'd like to be able to walk in and out of my house. up to that time. but if I need, Uh, medical assistance if I need Wow. care that doesn't allow me to age from place. I would love, love, love, love to have the opportunity to do that in Sausalito and not have to leave the community. That's the reality many of us are going to face when we age. the misstatement of facts. Back in September, nearly a year ago, the city widely advertised the workshop on the future of the Marin ship. There was an overflow crowd there. we were randomly broken into different groups. Every one of those groups emerged with different thoughts, but there were a couple of common themes. |
| 04:37:05.06 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 04:37:11.95 | Ron Albert | people wanted to preserve the marine heritage of the marine ship. wanted to preserve the marine related industry. two. They wanted the city to consider housing where appropriate within the Marinship, which is a very large district. and has a tremendous variety of uses, including housing, which was already there. You've got. the floating homes, which are legal, and you've got people living illegally within the Marinership. And that dates back even to the pre-Marinship specific plan days. people are living in the Marin show. Not a lot, but they're there. Um, But that workshop, as I say, there were two consensus that emerged from every one of those groups, randomly created working groups. There were dissenters within those groups, but they were in the minority. the overwhelming majority of People who attended that workshop said they wanted the city to consider housing. Ron, your three minutes has |
| 04:38:20.36 | Joan Cox | Ron, your three minutes has elapsed. |
| 04:38:22.33 | Heidi Scoble | you |
| 04:38:22.85 | Ron Albert | as well. All right, I've had more to say, but I'll put it in the ladder. Um, The second thing that bothered me were people casting aspersions on the integrity of council members who don't agree with our point of view. And it's just, I think it's despicable people who resort to that kind of rhetoric are worthy of all of our contempt. That's all I've got. Thank you. |
| 04:38:50.45 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, thank you. John DeRay. Welcome. |
| 04:38:57.96 | John DeRay | Hello mayor. Thank you. very much and thank you for the late hours you guys are putting in. I wanted to make a couple of quick comments. We realize marinship is the economic engine of Sausalito more so than ever now. The property that's being discussed here, the Marina Plaza, should be a property where we have maybe 50 to 100 high paying industrial and maritime workers working on that property. including dozens and dozens of Marin cities. residents. We have 35 to 40 million people unemployed in this country. |
| 04:39:36.23 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 04:39:40.28 | John DeRay | and several hundred in Sausalito that are going to be looking for jobs and several hundred in Marin City. I wanted to just say something about this age in place. Gage Friendly had that survey that we hear a lot about. We don't hear much though about the other facts in that survey, 76% of seniors actually plan to stay in their home as they age. 74% say that staying in their homes as they age is very important. I'd also like to make a couple of comments on the other property. I urge you to really understand what a change in the water zone will do. It will drive changes up and down the entire waterfront. who wouldn't, what hedge fund wouldn't want to be in the second story of a building on the waterfront if allowed to. So it's something to really think carefully about because there are a lot of unintended consequences that could happen in that area. And there are other options for that particular building. There's someone in the Marineship who has hired an architect and is designing floating structures, land, based buildings that can float when sea level rise comes. I got my hands on the renderings and I put them into one of the earlier meetings publicly. So it's in one of my letters or emails to city council. And so in terms of, Maritime uses. On the waterfront, I would like to see the evidence that there is no maritime use that they cannot fill those spaces with maritime uses. I'd like to see the evidence and I'd also like to see the history of the marketing plan that tried to fill those uses over the last 30 years. There's a lot of maritime businesses around the Bay Area that were created. SAIL drone. Thank you. All these places should be in the Marin ship and they're not. It's unfortunate. So if there's a problem, leasing some of these properties I think they should consider perhaps reducing the lease rate. |
| 04:42:01.66 | Heidi Scoble | John, your three minutes has elapsed. |
| 04:42:05.33 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Hey, thank you, Steven Allison. |
| 04:42:11.60 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 04:42:20.99 | Steven Allison | Hi there. My name's Steven Allison, and the juxtaposition of this hearing with the last forum on racial justice is really telling. I live in the house post just outside the city limit. and you're making a plan for the future of my neighborhood, but I don't vote for you. neither do my neighbors in Marin City. We're hearing from families and individuals with money and privilege who want to protect that privilege. The last hearing was about, oh, we're gonna do things differently. The vice mayor proposed, including Marin City leadership decisions. you're advancing the plan for the next 20 years that doesn't include a comprehensive social justice framework. You're questioning your legitimacy in making this plan if you proceed in this manner. Thank you. |
| 04:43:09.81 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Okay, simple. I see your hand, but you've already spoken through our usual practices to give everyone one opportunity. So I see no other hands raised And we will close public comment. So thank you very much. to everyone who took the time to stay with us tonight. Um, and for your comments. So we have, a number of items to address and I guess if I could get all the council members on the same screen that would be great Joe and Tom |
| 04:43:52.21 | Damien | year. |
| 04:43:52.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 04:43:53.23 | Damien | Thomas? |
| 04:43:53.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. out. Okay. Perfect. So I guess I'd just like to ask if council members have further questions or if not, if you want to make any overall comments before we go through the specific items we have in front of us. |
| 04:44:20.01 | Ray Withy | Madam Mayor, I'll make a couple of comments. Uh... So, |
| 04:44:25.03 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 04:44:25.04 | Ray Withy | Thank you. |
| 04:44:25.15 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 04:44:25.26 | Ray Withy | Right. Um, First of all, Ron, Albert, I appreciate your comments. So, Thank you. |
| 04:44:37.28 | Ray Withy | And Alice, yeah, government will have to reinvent itself. Um, But... The... I, have had. the pleasure. Um, possibly the mind-numbing pleasure of having spent the last two weeks listening to every GPAC working, every general plan working group, meeting. Um, the two GPAC meetings that were held. the Oh. the overall workshop that was recently housed And so I have a pretty good flavor as to what the issues are now. And so I think we do need to go through. Obviously, we've got to solve the problems that Tom and Jeff put forward for our job to do tonight. I'm not sure. There are a couple of things that haven't actually been mentioned. I just want to make a couple of comments of some reflections on all of the discussion I heard and sort of sitting down listening to most of these zoom meetings the early ones weren't but most of them were zoom meetings I'm not sure. The first is, I'd really like to... to start off, you asked for general comments, let them air, so I'm giving them, right? I'd really like to thank Oh, and I listened to the Planning Commission on its last deliberations. Um, So I'd really like to thank the working group and really thank the Planning Commission and all the other groups that have weighed in because in the last time period, because these have been really useful, very, very productive conversations, I thought. It really sort of got to the grips of the issues You know, the four of you in the working group didn't quite agree on everything, and some of that is before us tonight. Um, You know, one of the things that hasn't been mentioned is everybody seemed to get their sort of knickers in a knot over this economic, cosmic economic study. It was really interesting to listen to the conspiracy theories emerge about staff sort of subvertly putting in all the Cosmoth data, where in actual fact the Cosmoth data came from staff. It was really quite amusing. Um, And The important thing is that But one thing I wanted to emphasize is that One thing that Janelle, Commissioner Kellman proposed that I'm 100% in agreement and that we should consider actually advancing to staff and asking is there any ability in our economic development program to do this. is an economic study of the marine industry and waterfront industry. I think that's a really important Y'all. What we asked Cosmo to do was, Um, a basic land use economic study, which was only one study of a number of studies that needed be done over an economic program over two years. and it gives a piece of data. data points that we need to evaluate, get some recommendations, some of which are totally inappropriate, so so you know, of course, But, A focused marine industry study and the concept of vertical studies, I think is a very important thing. And when we have the budget to do that, we really need to do that. The second thing is that I would I would suggest that each one of us And anybody who's ever thinking of actually really seriously Be serious. about the economic problems that exist in the marineship, and they are serious. it, Actually read Michael Rex's letter. Forget the specific property he's talking about, but actually My core. and in his comments, has managed to summarize in three pages the essence of the problem that I've been trying to communicate for eight years. I've been obviously doing a very bad job. Michael's managed to crystallize the essence of the problem. If a property owner 10R have. rate actually collect to rent and have the cash flow to invest in their property The property will not get. Next. it will further degrade. that isn't fiction. that isn't advocating for any one property, That's fine. And the problem is And here's the problem. is that it's a medium-term problem, not a short-term problem. It's a medium-term problem. There is going to be an accumulation of environmental damage And there's going to be an accumulation of environmental liability that in the end, the city will be on the hook for. Because in Sacramento, there's already efforts underway in working groups to begin to develop Concepts for legislation that is going to come down really hard on environmental cleanup, especially on the waterfront. And it's the city that is ultimately going to get charged with it because of all the infrastructure needs that are in, lacking there. This is a really serious, serious problem. Now, hopefully, if we can figure out if through economic studies of the marine industry and so on, that we can actually get a vibrant waterfront moving that will help us solve that problem, create cash flow to make investments so that the waterfront properties can actually improve, that will be good. And that's why I'm so totally supportive. I mean, John Flavin listed out the problems. They're there. They're happening. but their liabilities for the city as well as the property owners. And this is what people are forgetting. And who in the end is going to be paying for that? Residents. through parcel taxes, because we don't have the money to do the environmental clean-up, So we better get serious over the next five to 10 years of figuring out how to make the investment in infrastructure into the Marin ship so that we can actually deal with those liabilities that are accruing. This is a really serious problem. I said, I've been talking about this for eight years, And Michael's managed to put it in one letter. I'm not sure. The other thing is, again, general comments you ask for. One of the saving graces of all of this. is that the lifetime of the general plan is eroding. There's also a lot of effort going on in Sacramento. after this next housing cycle to start harmonizing all the other elements And in particular, in particular, to make the land use element coincide with the housing element on the same rena cycle. And in the various policies to do with greenhouse gas emissions and environmental to actually put mandated audits in place that are actually going to again, have the city on the hook. for making sure this is done. This is coming. I'm absolutely certain that within the next five, eight years, this is happening. And a lot of lawmakers and the governor is starting to work on sinking it all up so that not in this REMA cycle, but in the next one, we'll be doing our general plan every seven years. Okay? Um, So those are my general comments. with that background that's the background i'm going to be coming for from in answering the questions that we need to answer um to move this general plan uh thing forward uh as tom and jeff have asked us to provide input tonight sorry for going on a bit longer there, but I'm there. |
| 04:53:34.63 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I know that's fine. Would anyone else like to address issues that of a general nature that weren't put forward by the M group. And staff for tonight? Okay, I would just, I guess, like to just add on to what, Ray just said that I completely, I agree with a lot of what you said. I also think it's not really just about the residents and the liability for the city. It's also, If we can't invest in the infrastructure. in the Marin ship, our vision for the Marin ship which I think is a great vision of maritime industrial and arts uses and their success. cannot be achieved, that the people working in those industries will will not have um jobs in the sense that sea level rise, inundation, and other infrastructure issues will overcome a lot of the of the maritime uses. You know, we worked very hard, I think, as the city council to come up with a vision that we really stood behind for the marineship, and which I believe is consistent with many, many of the speakers tonight. And the issue now is making sure that that can be a successful reality. and that those businesses that we all see in our vision and those livelihoods. and those traditions. are able to remain and thrive. And that I think that economic underpinning is something that I think we've been struggling with along with a trust a trust issue and back about I don't remember, maybe a year or more ago, you know, I had really hoped that we would be able to struggle with the individual with the zoning decisions at the same time as our general plan and to move those forward simultaneously so that we could perhaps breach some of the trust issues that seem to have emerged. And unfortunately, we did not have the funding or We didn't have the funding to enable us to do that. And so I think there is a disconnect Um, and still a fundamental distrust, which I am really I think has been The one thing about this process that I was hoping that we could breach And I feel like we are still still have that issue. And I think we have some repair. Um, work still to do. But I am committed to the vision that we all agreed on early in this process. I still think that that's the right set of uses for the marineship. And I think we, you know, all need to pull in that direction. but also to recognize the realities that this isn't just a discussion about, the uses, it is a discussion about the property and there's and what, um, what incentives they need to be able to stay in the businesses that we want them to be in. So we definitely need to hear from the tenants and the artists and the workers and the business owners, but we also need to hear from the property owners. And they're all very important players. And I think one of the issues with the Wham Committee was that that really brought together those impacted parties in a way you know, that I was hoping would carry through to this discussion. But I think some of the comments that we heard tonight indicate that there's still just as I just said, a lack of trust. So I think that's a main priority moving forward in this process is to regain that in our next steps. So that's my only kind of overall comment other than to thank the members of the Planning Commission and the members of the Working Group and the members of the GPAC who I have thanked at our meetings, but... |
| 04:58:07.40 | Unknown | you |
| 04:58:07.67 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | just for the amazing and hard work that everyone has put into this and mostly for the public who has really hung in there and shown up to these meetings and put in a lot of thoughtful effort and very reasonable consideration. I guess the last overall comment that I would make is we hear a lot about what the community has said and what the community wants. And I think everyone that speaks to this issue is right. I mean, the community is not completely unified. We have heard comments on many different um, issues. from across the spectrum. And I think, There's community support. wrong. there's community housing, There's passionate beliefs against that. And there's are You know, so I just would like to say, I think the community has not spoken uniformly with one voice and nor should they. So we've heard a lot during all these public meetings and I'm not sure there's an ultimate reality as to Um, exactly what our community is looking for. So that's the hard job that we have is to try to sift through that question. Councilmember Cox. Thank you. |
| 04:59:32.67 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. |
| 04:59:33.14 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I don't know. |
| 04:59:34.07 | Joan Cox | I Just in an overview, comment, I would like to endorse what, uh, The chair of the planning commission Janelle Kalman recommended with respect to the economic analysis of the maritime industries and the endorsement by the vice mayor of that approach. So, I don't know if you remember, but I that we undertake that economic study. I recommended to that to the city council two years ago and shared excerpts of an economic study performed for the Port Townsend town. uh we decided at that time we didn't have the time or the budget to undertake that analysis And Perhaps it was fortuitous because That whole analysis had it been done would now be thrown out the window. because of the effect of the pandemic. So, I think that as we assess each potential use in the Marin ship, we now have to, evaluate its health before the pandemic and its health after the pandemic. And Um, You know, senior housing is an issue that we don't yet know what the appetite for clusters of senior housing will be in the wake of a pandemic. Um, similarly, uh, you know, a lot of the Um, industries currently existing in the Marin ship. are more readily adaptable to some of the challenges that John Flavin mentioned earlier tonight, subsidence, sea level rise, liquefaction, Um, climate change. And so I think that undertaking economic analysis recommended is now more timely than ever. I also wanted to comment on Another comment that the Vice Mayor Made. Um, about the audit. That's another program that is recommended by the Planning Commission. at program 10 audits and necessary updates to the sustainability and economic element. That's already a planning commission recommendation and I heartily endorse it for the very reasons that the Vice Mayor mentioned. This process moving forward I think appropriately will become a much more holistic process that integrates transportation, sustainability, economics, infrastructure improvement, with the need to with housing production. Because if we don't have the infrastructure and the other aspects to support sustainable housing, then we can never be expected to realistically meet our RHNA goals. And so I agree wholeheartedly with the vice mayor that the whole landscape by which we will be undertaking this process will necessarily evolve. majorly in the next 10 years. Thank you. |
| 05:02:59.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, thank you. And just before I go to Council Member Riley, those two policies as well were recommended by our working group, the economic study and |
| 05:03:08.82 | Unknown | And, um, |
| 05:03:09.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | That's it. So I'm also support those as well. So thank you, Ray and Joan for highlighting them. Council member Riley. |
| 05:03:20.38 | Tom Riley | Thank you, Madam Mayor. Just a general comment, but it's related to the Marinship, which a lot of our discussion is about tonight. When I was first appointed to city council, Um, my first task that Councilmember Jill Hoffman gave me was to meet with John DeRay and to be educated about the merchant. My wife and I spent A couple hours with John on a tour and I learned a lot and I became convinced of the great heritage and the great opportunity that the internship presents. In the vision that we worked on last December, I fully support. We want to preserve the maritime industry We want to embrace our artists and we want light industrial. And I think there's tremendous opportunity. However, I've also learned that we have tremendous infrastructure challenges. And, And I, concur with the vice mayor On his comments that we need to be creative on how we find. ways to address our infrastructure challenges and not let our properties go to waste. And what I think we need to do is um preserve all that we have. and work with the landowners to protect what we have. The biggest fear that I continue to hear about the marineship is that there is a plan to let developers in and create a pure 39 and put hotels down there and condos. We have a vision statement that directly contradicts that. What we want to have is some flexibility. I think what Michael Rex pointed out is a way of Well, that specific project. How do we help our largest, probably our largest maritime owner protect his maritime business. And so I think we need to be creative to preserve where we want the MarinShip to be. yet be creative in how we protect it and build out our infrastructure. That's my comments, thank you. |
| 05:05:24.49 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Member Burns, do you have anything? |
| 05:05:28.66 | Joe Burns | Yeah, I do. Um, I, I agree and I've been saying for a long time, years that our business communities and our different areas should form a voice amongst themselves. And I'm going to say it again within the Marineship. I think our Marine industrial. industries should create an association and have a strong voice but more importantly have a shared services voice. We talk about that in right now in our budget and our economics. you know, the path to Solvency financially is to share some resourcing and some share some expenses. Given the infrastructure challenges of that area, I think that's a prime area where owners and business leaders need to get together and help provide solutions to the growing uh, landscape of losing property to sea level, let alone to subsidence. which is occurring way rapidly more mathematically than sea level rise. Um, And again, I'll remind everybody that is the group that hired the Um, Port Townsend Trade Association is who hired the Martin Associates to do their their analysis. So I think it's very important that all of our districts do that downtown and Caledonia to an extent. Um, my concern. At first, before I say my concern, my incredible and how impressed I am is the process that we have gone through over four years and from huge public forums to city council members, to planning commission, to you four, with commissioners Fowler and Kelman included with you two, Mayor and Joan Cox, That was just so fun to watch. Painful, but so fun to watch you guys come to so many great ideas and conclusions and of 500 bullet points, I have like a couple that I didn't agree with. So, That can't be lost. That was an amazing process. And the few that I don't agree with are small, and we're going to talk about some of them and maybe we do agree on them. Kind of a larger concern is There seems to be a, you know, I know we have a fear of change in society and that's just common. When you really look at, I think we rightfully put in this general plan, a lot about innovation and sustainability. And more than any two words in the entire general plan, those require the most flexibility and openness to some change. I look at the traffic initiative was put together in 1985. We can all hear Herbie's voice telling us about how bad traffic was in 1985 hence they had to have I was in college I I don't know that's how long ago it was So we're making that, that's going to be a 55 year old document. whose prime primary planning goal was around the automobile. not public transportation, not AI, not bulk, not scale. the automobile. Same with 1128. It wasn't about public transportation. It wasn't about shared it. multimodal or anything to do with alternative sources of transportation. It was about the automobile. And we're looking to go ahead and enshrine the automobile for the next 20 unless we are allowed the opportunity to change. So I was really kind of bummed to see that those two documents were put aside as we can't change them at all. We cannot change those in the next 20 years. I thought, boy, how are we going to get innovation? and sustainability done if the automobile is still our number one concern. Removing parking lots is actually a really good thing for GHGs. And, um, We don't need to remove them all right now, but we should certainly have on the boilerplate the opportunity to discuss it in the next 20 years. So I just hope that we can kind of come back to We have to have the courage to make the changes. It's going to do what we want to do with this vision, which is protect the maritime, the industrial, the arts, and be innovative and be sustainable. And that's gonna take a little bit of, of courage and change. So I just think that's more of a subjective. That's why I'm doing it in general. And I want to get back to, I really appreciate your two and the other two insight into this process. This point. Thanks. |
| 05:10:12.51 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. Thank you, Joe. All right, I think, appreciate all of those comments. And why don't we, take the five, I guess first I would ask before we go through these five issues. for each council member to be thinking if there are any issues after issue number five, that are sort of in the resolved issue list that you want to bring back up. You don't need to tell us now, but just have that at the ready. We had... Six to |
| 05:10:54.96 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | 16. And some of these I think we've already touched on in our general comments. And then there were also some planning commission recommendations. that if you want to call those out now, if you don't agree with them, this would be the time. And if you do agree with them, they're just moving. forward as recommendation. Okay, so with that, The first item is the citywide vision. I think we will have to try to Resist. you wordsmithing, but I think if we have general comments or concerns, We can go through those now. I really appreciated the attention that Sybil Boutillier gave to the language and I really thought she made some very positive. editions in her letter that she wrote to us earlier today. So I would endorse those. I... I would like to make The language instead of Sassarito recognizes racial, cultural, and economic diversity. I think recognizing is not our goal. I think we need to, be trying to attain or Embrace. Yeah, embracing is just that, I mean, we're not particularly, at least racially, very diverse at this time. I think we need to beef that up Um... |
| 05:12:30.77 | Tom Riley | And while we're on that one, I had the same comment. And I use the word similar to Councilmember Cox I said Sausalito embraces and fosters racial, cultural, and economic diversity. |
| 05:12:43.44 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, I like that. And then |
| 05:12:46.36 | Ray Withy | Sounds good. |
| 05:12:47.97 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | My last overall comment was talking about best quality of life for the residents. And I'd just like to make clear that we're talking about not only people who are here now, but the people people that we would like to feel comfortable and wanting to move here. So current and future or. All. something of that nature. |
| 05:13:16.15 | Joan Cox | You could say the Sausalito community. |
| 05:13:20.69 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, I just want to recognize that it's not just about who's here now, I guess. All right. And then we didn't really say anything about people who work here. And I think that's an important part of our community. So those were my overall comments. |
| 05:13:40.72 | Tom Ford | Thank you, Madam Mayor. Would it be helpful if we brought this up on the screen? |
| 05:13:46.71 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Uh, I think we all have it, but if you're the public, yeah. |
| 05:13:49.85 | Tom Ford | Yeah. |
| 05:13:52.87 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | That would be great. If you can share your screen. |
| 05:13:55.62 | Tom Ford | Ashley will share her screen. |
| 05:14:03.89 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, any Councilmember Byrne? |
| 05:14:07.33 | Joe Burns | I remember there was some comment about removing friendly or welcoming and I, I kind of like having those in there. I think you know, Black Lives Matter is the issue of now and it's gonna be the issue for a long time, We're also fairly in intolerant as a community and um I think. opening our doors to be a little more welcoming or friendly would be a nice to try to strive for. I don't think it says anything specific other than it was in that first line of we're diverse and welcoming or friendly as it was friendly was mentioned before. I don't remember what your discussion was on removing that work. |
| 05:14:51.71 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | We didn't really discuss it. We just presented with an alternative or a couple of alternatives. very strongly inclined towards welcoming. |
| 05:15:07.78 | Tom Riley | Mayor, this is Tom. on that topic, And I don't want to get into wordsmithing, but just give feedback. The second sentence, starting with our vision, actually conflates three concepts. It has diversity, Achieving a balance in old and new, in adapting the future. I'd like to have a specific sentence that encompasses welcoming and addresses us embracing and fostering diversity. and then a separate sentence. that addresses you know, balancing old and new and adapting to the future. |
| 05:15:46.81 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, is there any objection to that? I'm supportive of that. |
| 05:15:52.61 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, thank you. |
| 05:15:53.79 | Ray Withy | Yeah, that sounds good to me. |
| 05:15:58.30 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, Ray, did you have, I'm sorry, Tom, did you have further comments? |
| 05:16:02.38 | Tom Riley | No, I do not. |
| 05:16:04.49 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. Ray, did you have anything on the vision? |
| 05:16:08.24 | Ray Withy | No, no, I like the suggestions that are being made. |
| 05:16:12.58 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay. Joan? SAME. Okay. Great. Okay, let's move on to number two. um, I, I think as Tom Ford mentioned during his staff report as the beginning of a statement, and social equity and racial justice. I'm hoping to get input from our boards and commissions as well. So, um, Thank you. Anyway, I don't have any specific suggestions right now, other than I think it needs to be socialized a little bit more. |
| 05:17:01.28 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Were there other comments on this? I mean, I'm strongly in favor of having a statement. Thank you. I thank you. We used some good tools from the government alliance on race and equity. So I want to thank council member Cox for uh kind of highlighting that organization's good work. Um... But I can't wait. |
| 05:17:28.06 | Ray Withy | Do... |
| 05:17:29.04 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | overhead. |
| 05:17:30.27 | Ray Withy | No, I was going to ask, I fully support us Sending this off to our boards and commissions for feedback, are we going to. What's our timeframe for this? worried about the timing here. |
| 05:17:44.68 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, and I think the M group is as well, and I think basically that we would need to just take another look at this when we look at the final, not the final, but the next draft. |
| 05:17:55.73 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:17:56.39 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | which I think is late August or September and the Planning Commission |
| 05:17:59.97 | Unknown | Also, I'm not that man. and we can text them off how that happens. |
| 05:18:06.03 | Joe Burns | I hope in 20 years, the next group that does the general plan update feels like this isn't needed anymore. |
| 05:18:13.03 | Unknown | So that's a good one. That's it. |
| 05:18:14.26 | Tom Riley | Yeah. |
| 05:18:14.30 | Damien | and grow. |
| 05:18:14.55 | Tom Riley | Thank you. |
| 05:18:14.68 | Damien | Thank you. |
| 05:18:17.69 | Tom Riley | Mayor, my only general comment on this for the drafters, and I'm very encouraged we're doing this, It basically says we're committed to social equity and racial justice. I would rather us include also in this diversity and use the words from the vision statement of embracing and fostering diversity social equity and racial justice in our community. And that should be the overall theme that we want in the statement |
| 05:18:48.15 | Unknown | Yeah. and that sounds good. |
| 05:19:02.17 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay. And then I think the idea is also that we are going to have staff will be recommending policies and programs throughout I think that's a good thing. each of the elements and I wanted to thank specifically thank David Sudo who submitted some comments on the circulation element. that I think are very helpful. And if there's time for the pedestrian and bike advisory committee to look at those comments and either add to them or |
| 05:19:36.63 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:19:39.35 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I think that would be great. that's a good start for that work. Okay, so should we move on to item number three? And actually items number three and four are both discuss the now infamous land use policy 1.19. |
| 05:20:10.36 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | um, The first one is a, |
| 05:20:20.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | is an edit to the policy. And then the GPAC had recommended adding clarity to this no land-based housing and the marineship. Um... |
| 05:20:39.32 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So, I mean, it sounds like everybody has heard the discussions that we had at the general plan Working group. I, I think we had a good discussion when we talked about the friendship vision And we talked about encouraging and promoting housing opportunities for all economic segments citywide. and sort of did not specifically call out more specifically specifically not include the marine ship. We just settled on policy aside from a marinship vision that informs housing throughout the area. And that's the way I see this affordable housing. |
| 05:21:27.38 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:21:27.62 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | policy. So I would like, I continue and have advocated for it not to limit housing and the membership to land-based housing. I'm sorry, to water this, Kazem. |
| 05:21:43.38 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So that, and I think... that was a fairly intensively discussed several of our meetings. Councilmember Riley. |
| 05:22:00.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'm sorry, I think you're on mute. |
| 05:22:03.64 | Tom Riley | No comment. I was just turning up my volume. |
| 05:22:05.82 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were raving at me. |
| 05:22:08.74 | Joe Burns | In the discussion, it sounded like there was support for live work housing water-based. So that means they would, their industrial, their wherever they worked and lived would be only water and not on land. I'm not sure that's going to be really efficient or effective and Um, might hit some of the goals. I think live work should be mandated frankly in all zones from even a state level, but I would surely support at least that, but I'm not ready to say that I don't support any land-based housing. and I'm not ready to restrict to that level in a 20 year document. I think that's irresponsible. |
| 05:23:02.69 | Joan Cox | I will say that the vision was a land, was another Galilee Harbor type of development. that could be And chef. And I would also like to clarify that one of the sites on the memo from city staff to Um, the city council identifying potential housing sites. the site that was at the gates was water-based housing. It was not land based housing that was being proposed by City staff. |
| 05:23:40.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I remember when that memo went out, I heard Mr. Flavin referencing that |
| 05:23:45.97 | Joan Cox | And Lily sent it out about three weeks ago on a Friday evening. to all city council members. |
| 05:23:54.97 | Unknown | her. |
| 05:23:56.54 | Joan Cox | And that's the memo of sites that I've been referencing Senator McGuire, had requested city staff to do that work. |
| 05:24:05.41 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Well... |
| 05:24:05.63 | Joan Cox | all. |
| 05:24:05.84 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:24:06.07 | Joan Cox | you |
| 05:24:06.14 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:24:06.24 | Joan Cox | and request of other municipalities as well. |
| 05:24:09.58 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, great, thank you. tracking that. |
| 05:24:15.24 | Tom Riley | But let me, this is Tom, if I may make a comment. |
| 05:24:18.91 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 05:24:19.25 | Tom Riley | Um, Looking at number three, affordable housing and senior housing. The first policy statement says, consider areas four. You can read it here. |
| 05:24:28.16 | Unknown | I'm going to go. |
| 05:24:28.23 | Unknown | here. |
| 05:24:29.90 | Tom Riley | My concern is we're just saying consider areas four. without really having any targets. of, what we're going to do. And yet all tonight, we've talked about the importance of improving our diversity with affordable low income housing. addressing the need of housing for our seniors, and also providing housing for our artists and maritime and industrial workers. Yet. We heard in our presentation We only have 300 new units in the next 20 years. I think we have a real task to improve our diversity to bring in new workers, and to meet the needs of our seniors with just 300 units. And I don't think we're tackling it other than saying, let's consider finding places for these folks. That's just a general concern I have. And I think We need to, this goes to the overlay discussion, I think we're going to need to be very creative on how we become a more diverse. community. and not evict our seniors. and attract workers. And I think having an overlay zone helps us find that creativity throughout our city. |
| 05:25:57.90 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. full heartedly endorse that statement. |
| 05:26:02.73 | Joe Burns | Yeah, we kind of run about out of places to eliminate. The hillsides are not necessarily great for seniors. I don't think we need to put workers further away from the work product. and you know we had some property that was good for housing but we turned it to open space and everything else is water-based at the sea level rise so when you start putting an excuse to everything you you wonder why the state has to constantly put legislation out there to make us put in housing because i'm even looking at views are an item that we can say would restrict us from adding housing in a lot of places. At some point we have to pick the evil of the best evil and say, where are we going to put housing if we can't put it on bills, water, freeways, jobs. I mean, you know, the state's going to make that decision for us. |
| 05:26:55.19 | Ray Withy | Well, if we're not careful, the courts are going to take over our land use policies. |
| 05:27:04.15 | Joan Cox | Well, I think this is an issue for our housing element. Right now, we are ahead of schedule of our current We know numbers for housing element, except in the category of above moderate housing. So, Council member Burns I see you shaking your head that's the last report we got from our Community Development Department. |
| 05:27:29.55 | Joe Burns | I think we're, We're missing on a couple. full levels I have in front of me. but we'll talk about that another time. But- |
| 05:27:38.11 | Unknown | Any of it. |
| 05:27:39.03 | Joe Burns | irrelevant if we have no land-based housing allowed in the maroon ship. that would make the housing element discussion irrelevant. |
| 05:27:46.87 | Joan Cox | My point is that this is a discussion for the housing element. that the policy as drafted says, consider areas for affordable housing. So, you know, We have... |
| 05:28:03.65 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:28:05.58 | Joan Cox | You know, the Planning Commission, I think unanimously voted in favor of banning land-based housing in the Marin ship. General Plan Working Group voted three one. against Um, Our vision is not clear. Our vision says senior housing throughout Um, So concern I have is that we're conflating affordable housing, with senior housing. So, AND I THINK WE HAVE A I have expressed my concerns about putting senior housing in the where we have contamination, subsidence, sea level I have the same concerns about putting affordable housing. You talk about racial justice and inequities, or I would hate to see us put our you know, Most vulnerable populations into our most challenged area. |
| 05:29:06.62 | Joe Burns | It's funny because we talk about the most challenged area when we talk about it for affordable housing, We just had a bunch of comments that think we're going to try to sell it out to developers for high-end housing. So you mean, is Is it a bad place or a good place? All the items you make are mitigatable or it can be mitigated. So, and have been mitigated in other communities. |
| 05:29:29.89 | Joan Cox | There is no underground boring report for the high end senior housing development that's being proposed for the membership. So we don't know land situation it is. |
| 05:29:45.29 | Joe Burns | Thank you. |
| 05:29:45.34 | Joan Cox | Um, |
| 05:29:45.92 | Joe Burns | But we can look around. We know the ICB hasn't been doing okay. You know, it was built a certain way. So, I mean, there is quantified available data out there. We developed the people that would do this aren't flying blind. |
| 05:30:01.27 | Joan Cox | In any event, I think this whole conversation is premature. Our housing element is due in 2023. We'll know our RHNA numbers. the next year and then we can plan uh, for where we're going to identify sites. for the various categories required. |
| 05:30:25.42 | Ray Withy | So, Joan, if this discussion is premature, Why are we then putting in a policy that is actually the head of the housing element, specifically saying nothing will be So the, no land-based affordable housing would be located in the Marinsia. I mean, isn't that a contradictory argument? |
| 05:30:52.27 | Joan Cox | It's consistent with the Marin ship specific plan, which we said we were migrating into the general plan. |
| 05:30:58.23 | Ray Withy | No, okay, fair enough. Yeah, I see that one. What is- |
| 05:31:02.19 | Joan Cox | And we specifically said at our joint meeting that we were going to migrate the restrictions in the Marinship specific plan into the general plan. I think that's the basis for that recommendation. |
| 05:31:14.75 | Ray Withy | And so getting back to an earlier discussion, if we kept this in and then During the House and Allemand discussion, realize that We've run out of space. We've got to do this. Is your argument then that we could modify this? |
| 05:31:31.98 | Joan Cox | Yeah. |
| 05:31:32.85 | Ray Withy | by general plan amendments. |
| 05:31:33.19 | Joan Cox | the agenda. Exactly. A general plan amendment with a corresponding environmental study of that limited impact to the extent I don't think even a general plan of management regarding zoning would require further environmental review because our environmental review already contemplates the number of units that we're going to have to create. in the next 20 years. |
| 05:31:58.98 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. That's it. |
| 05:32:02.08 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So, and just to counter that statement, I mean, I do understand Jones position and I respect that, but on the other hand, this is our general plan, it is now. I see housing, affordable housing as not only you know, housing our seniors, but also as a civil rights issue. I've said this at meetings months ago, I think we just need to have a strong statement about senior and affordable housing in our land use element. It is very nonspecific, maybe too nonspecific for Councilmember Riley. who is advocating for something stronger. But I also want to have openness and transparency. I mean, I think these are issues we're gonna be considering. I would just, you know, I know it's not a popular position among some people, but I think we are gonna be having to look everywhere in town when we come to our next housing element. |
| 05:32:57.20 | Tom Riley | And this is... Tom, Madam Mayor, if I may follow on that comment. My preference is that we do not have to have land-based housing in the Marineship. And that's kind of been my thoughts. until I started listening to all the demands we have, in the coming years and we only have 300 units that we can plan with. And there was a public comment that came in via email from a gentleman who really wanted to preserve the marineship and have no housing. but then suggested that the post office would be an ideal place for low income housing. And I go, but the post office is in the Marineship. And there are parts of the leadership where it may make sense. and along the periphery or long little bridgeway that we might want to consider in the future. my My thing is I prefer not to see any, But to address our diversity challenges, to meet the needs of our seniors, We made to be creative on the periphery while preserving |
| 05:33:56.31 | Unknown | We made it. |
| 05:33:59.77 | Tom Riley | Um, our maritime. light industrial and arts. |
| 05:34:06.53 | Unknown | Yeah, that's well said. Thank you. |
| 05:34:08.65 | Joe Burns | be innovative and sustainable in protecting those uses by saying that at some point in the next 20 years or five years or seven years we very well might find a sustainable and innovative way to put affordable housing and workforce housing and live work housing in the marineship without impacting those other uses which i don't think would be at all. And I'm not talking hundreds of units or thousands of units. Even if it's a few units. |
| 05:34:35.58 | Tom Riley | Well, one last thing, I am very supportive of what Councilmember Cox said about a floating community. I think we should strongly pursue floating communities. the design of sea level rise. This is an area we can be innovative in building communities that do rise with sea level. And that's a unique opportunity for us. |
| 05:35:04.04 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So it's getting, you know, a little past 11 here. Do we have . I can't tell if we have agreement to keep the working group direction That's just the first policy. there under number three. ending with split LU, I don't think we And that's just, yes, that. Thank you. |
| 05:35:32.06 | Unknown | So, Do we want to |
| 05:35:41.29 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | It sounds, I'm not sure where the vice mayor, I think council member Cox would prefer to see this. later. Is that correct, Joan? |
| 05:35:52.00 | Joan Cox | This policy is fine so long as we have the clarification of the following two policies recommended by the m group which is one policy focused on water-based housing which should be located in Section and one with the added language no land based affordable housing will be located in partnership, but consideration will be given to affordable housing in close proximity to the region area. to support the maritime art and industrial workers in that area. |
| 05:36:19.71 | Ray Withy | I don't know what that means. |
| 05:36:24.44 | Joan Cox | So if you look at |
| 05:36:26.31 | Ray Withy | I mean, but I know a theory what it means, but what are we talking about? Where are we realistically talking about? |
| 05:36:30.99 | Joan Cox | Well, Okay. You're talking about Olive Street, you're talking about Coloma, you're talking about the second story of the shops below MLK. You're talking about the sites identified by city staff in the report to Senator McGuire. |
| 05:36:50.97 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. Mm-mm. Mm-mm. |
| 05:36:57.83 | Ray Withy | Well, You know, I mean, I'm Reluctantly, I could suppose live with no land-based affordable housing in friendship, in light of the fact that you're proposing water-based, but I really do think you're, foreclosing opportunities that we may be forced to make. So we may be forced to be changing this in two to three years time. |
| 05:37:27.31 | Joan Cox | I fully understand that and I'm I am committed to undertaking whatever creative solutions we need to undertake to meet the requirements at the time we know what those requirements are. |
| 05:37:44.00 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, so it sounds if I understand the comments made by Councilmember Riley and Byrne and myself that we have a small split here, is that correct? |
| 05:37:57.84 | Joe Burns | three to two. |
| 05:38:00.34 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So I would prefer to just keep the overall general language the first statement without the split. up until the split. and keep the zoning overlay. that I think was very nicely drafted by Council Member Cox. |
| 05:38:19.91 | Ray Withy | Oh, we definitely want to keep the zoning, the overlay, that language. I think that was well done and it was a good compromise. Yeah. |
| 05:38:32.35 | Joan Cox | But what is the direction we're giving on LU 119? Are we, we're including the M group language? |
| 05:38:43.62 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So I'm in favor of having a working group direction up until the word split. Asher, could you just... highlight that without the clarification. |
| 05:38:56.01 | Joan Cox | But I thought there were three of us who would favor the clarification. |
| 05:39:01.53 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, I guess Council member Riley, do you want to? weigh in again. |
| 05:39:08.63 | Tom Riley | I am reading this, so give me a moment, please. |
| 05:39:18.50 | Ray Withy | Yeah, the problem is in this format, this is actually tough because If you actually go to the copy of the general plan we got, it's different language, right? So I, you know, what are the two policies? I know it's described, but what's the language? is, |
| 05:39:40.53 | Joan Cox | what's in the working group direction. |
| 05:39:48.54 | Joan Cox | Can you highlight it, Asher? |
| 05:39:50.68 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'm just not... |
| 05:39:59.97 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | But I think Ray is asking what's the current one? And I actually didn't, I don't have my copy of the general plan right here in front of me. |
| 05:40:11.42 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So could staff find the actual language. |
| 05:40:21.26 | Ashley Cohn | This is Ashko with M group. I'll pull up the general plan, if you can give me one moment, please. Thank you. |
| 05:40:36.28 | Unknown | Thank you. But thank you. |
| 05:40:41.83 | Ashley Cohn | Okay. goes over a page break, which I apologize for. |
| 05:40:46.79 | Unknown | you |
| 05:40:46.84 | Ashley Cohn | THE FAMILY. |
| 05:40:47.05 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:40:47.06 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So the original Language, I think, didn't have policies under it. Is that correct? Thank you. |
| 05:40:57.78 | Joan Cox | the original language. |
| 05:41:02.74 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | You keep going down. Oh, there they are. Um, |
| 05:41:12.75 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. |
| 05:41:19.19 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | but I like these policies with the zoning overlay amendment that council member Cox had proposed. |
| 05:41:33.60 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And I think the M group drafted these two programs after our Thank you. |
| 05:41:38.50 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 05:41:39.19 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:41:39.24 | Unknown | of the vision. |
| 05:41:56.33 | Tom Riley | So just so I may understand, are we looking at the red verbiage here of LU1.19.1 and.2? |
| 05:42:05.26 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. So there's two There's two choices. One is the working group proposal, which was up that we had on the screen earlier, which says. housing overall, but no land-based housing in the morning. |
| 05:42:20.16 | Joan Cox | but it says, please put water-based housing in the Marineship, no land-based housing. land-based housing in close proximity to the Marinship. |
| 05:42:27.67 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | It's a little hard to read because it's all conflated in this paragraph. |
| 05:42:32.85 | Joan Cox | Can you hide the whole thing Asher those. starting affordable? |
| 05:42:37.60 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | starting with that. |
| 05:42:39.74 | Joan Cox | Yeah. |
| 05:42:40.19 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | That's one option, which makes it clearer. that it does. point in time. |
| 05:42:50.45 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | No land-based housing of any type, affordable, senior, anything will be considered. The original language was vaguer. It didn't commit to providing housing in the friendship, but it didn't preclude it. And that's the language that was in Rhett. |
| 05:43:18.74 | Unknown | you. |
| 05:43:19.06 | Ray Withy | You know, is this water-based housing a bit of a red herring? I mean, what's the chances BCBC's going to allow this? |
| 05:43:19.07 | Unknown | You know, |
| 05:43:27.12 | Ray Withy | I mean, I thought they were going to basically say no new sort of. basically uses in the water. I mean, isn't this just a figly |
| 05:43:37.30 | Joan Cox | No, we've been having discussions with them. Thank you. |
| 05:43:41.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | But it is a complex issue. I mean, it's Bayfill, any shadowing of um you know, water is, you know, it was a long process to get Galilee approved. I think it's great. I think water-based housing and membership is a great and we should be pursuing it, but I think it's an uphill battle. even if BCDC is |
| 05:44:07.71 | Unknown | Thank you. favorably inclined. |
| 05:44:11.30 | Tom Riley | May I just... and I'm really thinking through how we can find a common ground here. On this last sentence in this blue box, Could we have something that went along the lines of no land-based housing, will be located in the Marin shift. unless it is determined it is necessary to support our goals for maritime art and industrial workers in that area. or to satisfy future housing requirements. So we're basically saying, No land-based housing will be there unless is necessary to support our maritime and industrial vision, right, with bringing workers in, or to satisfy future housing element requirements. |
| 05:44:58.87 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I like that effort to compromise, Tom. I mean, I don't see our housing obligations purely as a function of our housing elements. I mean, I think, We also have an obligation to identify housing. And yes, the other issue is the as I think, you know, Riley Heard has suggested and I have promoted in a couple of meetings. I would not ever support any housing in the membership unless it was displacing office. But I find that housing a better use than office. personally, provided a more I don't see, I see office as more incompatible with the morning shift. than housing. |
| 05:45:53.43 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | But I think, I mean, I think your proposal is very good. Thank you. So, |
| 05:45:59.93 | Joe Burns | and housing elements don't directly discuss senior need that we have here. |
| 05:46:07.20 | Joan Cox | Yeah, that's the reason for considering an overlay zone is we have a very, we cannot spot zone. specifically for affordable housing. |
| 05:46:45.56 | Joe Burns | I think somebody's mic is off. be talking |
| 05:46:51.31 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | No, I think we're all just sitting here. |
| 05:46:54.04 | Ray Withy | Heh. |
| 05:46:56.26 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | At an impact. |
| 05:46:56.46 | Ray Withy | We've reached sudden silence and |
| 05:47:00.27 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, and I mean, I think this is just a really hard issue. We've had very intense public debate on both sides of this issue. I think people feel very strongly about it. I respect everyone's position on this issue. Okay. |
| 05:47:14.58 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:47:15.81 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I don't see housing as a boogeyman that some people do that will destroy the character. you know, and again, not rampant housing, but housing in very selective places, only where there's currently non-conforming uses and only for senior or affordable. And I don't see that as the end of the character of the men ship as we know it. I see it as an improvement. and something that will really help integrate the workforce and folks that we want to house. and provide for our seniors. know i don't see that downside to it but i i respect and understand that people do |
| 05:47:58.78 | Ray Withy | I don't know. So to pick up on, Susan, your idea of the office and uh, Is there a way to find a compromise here such that we literally just overtly restrict this to Um, No land based affordable housing will be Um, considered in the marineship. except for in Karam office building, I don't know, something like that. |
| 05:48:40.61 | Joan Cox | I mean, if that would then allow housing at Schoonmaker, Thank you. |
| 05:48:46.84 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:48:46.99 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 05:48:47.06 | Ray Withy | Mm-hmm. |
| 05:48:47.49 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:48:48.29 | Joan Cox | at, I mean, that is the concern Even. |
| 05:48:52.03 | Ray Withy | Yeah, yeah, yeah. |
| 05:48:53.13 | Tom Riley | Yeah, yeah. |
| 05:48:54.95 | Ray Withy | Yeah, it is. |
| 05:48:56.88 | Joan Cox | And it's difficult to confine it. That's the whole issue with the Housing Accountability Act. and the being objective versus subjective. If we allow one office complex to convert, we're going to be challenged to not allow other office complexes to convert. |
| 05:49:19.67 | Damien | Yeah, I see that. I see that. |
| 05:49:19.78 | Joe Burns | We need to. first one to 500 wins? We have a limit, a max. |
| 05:49:30.98 | Joan Cox | I don't think HAA, look, our governor wants to generate as much housing as possible. So I don't see our ability to limit it. it by number. uh, |
| 05:49:44.30 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So at this point though, this is just a policy. I mean, this is not a zoning change, right? So, I mean, I get the concerns. But, and it's a citywide policy. |
| 05:49:58.03 | Joan Cox | I mean, I think this, the way the M group has drafted this Um, It is. is adequate. It it. addresses this for now. And we then can address this more Thank you. more holistically as we undertake the housing element and the zoning ordinance. And Susan, I could not agree with you. I wish we had been able to confront the zoning ordinance as a part of this process. since we haven't. I believe that this dialogue |
| 05:50:32.79 | Unknown | THE FAMILY. |
| 05:50:35.87 | Joan Cox | properly belongs with the housing element and the zoning ordinance. And I think. in favor of the M groups policy for the land use element. |
| 05:50:48.44 | Joe Burns | I don't think the misinformation will be any softer then. If we say we're gonna build only in the office You tell one person it's like the telephone game, the next person says they're going to build waterfront housing. You know, I mean, that's the type, that's what we're up against right now. You simply need a document that gives us assurances of what's going to happen. not fears of what might happen. |
| 05:51:11.10 | Joan Cox | I think that's what this does. |
| 05:51:12.72 | Joe Burns | Well, it says for sure we're not going to build any housing in the Marineship. |
| 05:51:16.35 | Joan Cox | It says we're not gonna build land-based. We are gonna put water-based housing in the Marinership. |
| 05:51:23.35 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Well, if there's a majority in favor of this, then I would think to address Joe's point that we should say, this policy will be evaluated in our next house. |
| 05:51:36.03 | Unknown | on it. |
| 05:51:36.46 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:51:36.53 | Unknown | medical. |
| 05:51:36.80 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:51:36.82 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:51:36.83 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:51:37.95 | Joan Cox | That's fine with me, we already have a policy to do an audit of our general plan to comport with our strategic plan, periodically. So it's fine with me. I think we absolutely should be re-looking at these key issues periodically as our requirements, and Thank you. evolve. |
| 05:52:05.05 | Ray Withy | So Susan, what would you, what would be your language specifically? |
| 05:52:11.83 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Well, I don't, that's, this isn't my preferred route. |
| 05:52:15.33 | Ray Withy | No, I understand, but we're trying to get |
| 05:52:16.79 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | trying to get Yes, just to say at the end, to have a policy or Right. You know, but this sort of, it's along the lines that council member Riley was suggesting, but not as close to those students. that he had to do. was discussing. you know, this policy may be These policies may be revisited during um, Housing element and zoning updates. I mean, I just think that for full transparency, if we're not actually saying that we're committing to maintaining these policies, that we need to. That's still up in the air. I mean, |
| 05:53:06.93 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'm not sure why we would preclude something that we don't know if we want to preclude yet, |
| 05:53:13.61 | Joe Burns | Well, that's not a housing issue we have in California. Kicking it down a little. |
| 05:53:13.68 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:53:13.70 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:53:17.33 | Joe Burns | Thank you. |
| 05:53:17.36 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And this is the main challenge that we are facing right now and our community. And, you know, as I said earlier in the evening, I think it's the main bar to increase diversity. But I, you know, so I would add a statement that we will... audit it or look at it in the next thousand element cycle if we are going to go. this. |
| 05:53:42.50 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Thank you. I would say that we would audit this these policies in conjunction with the housing element and the zoning ordinance update. |
| 05:53:54.77 | Tom Riley | I would go back to what I suggested before. I would just say no land-based housing will be located in the marineship. unless at the time of our next housing review. This policy is altered. And I don't think we need to say consideration for affordable housing in close proximity, because we're already, I have a whole other statement about that. |
| 05:54:23.71 | Unknown | Amen. |
| 05:54:24.03 | Tom Riley | Thank you. |
| 05:54:24.17 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:54:24.19 | Tom Riley | Thank you. |
| 05:54:30.51 | Tom Riley | that was not well received. |
| 05:54:34.55 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I think we're tired. So am I correct that Councilmember Riley Cox and Withy are generally in favor of the policy highlighted currently in blue. Is that correct? |
| 05:54:55.32 | Tom Riley | and the government I... do not like the definitive statement that in perpetuity, effectively that no land-based affordable housing will be located in the friendship. I use the post office as an example. |
| 05:55:04.84 | Unknown | Why? |
| 05:55:07.30 | Tom Riley | I think the post office, if it goes away, could be a perfect low income housing location for workers in the marina. |
| 05:55:16.43 | Joan Cox | This policy does not preclude happening at the post office site. That site is owned by the federal government. It is not subject to our housing ordinance, our zoning ordinance. If the federal government were to lease that site to the city of Sausalito, we could build affordable housing there tomorrow. |
| 05:55:35.84 | Tom Riley | But then we're agreeing that we'd be comfortable with affordable housing in the marineship. |
| 05:55:40.36 | Joan Cox | It's not. I'm just telling you. |
| 05:55:42.40 | Tom Riley | I understand what you're saying. It's not our decision. But, that would be housing in the marineship. |
| 05:55:49.72 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And I also think, Joan, that would be, we'd be acting contrary to our own policy, even if we're not subject to federal, I mean, even if we're not. for the law. |
| 05:55:58.36 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 05:55:58.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:55:58.53 | Joan Cox | Thank you. I would be in favor of this in blue with and to address Tom's concern to add Susan's statement. that these policies will be reevaluated at the time of the housing element and zoning ordinance updates. |
| 05:56:26.36 | Ray Withy | So what's the objection to that? |
| 05:56:31.90 | Joe Burns | It's just further down the line. three, four years uh, that can. down the line because for some reason in four years, we're gonna be able to make a decision |
| 05:56:48.30 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I think I... |
| 05:56:48.60 | Ray Withy | Well, I think. |
| 05:56:49.38 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | what my objections are. |
| 05:56:52.92 | Ray Withy | Sorry, Susan. |
| 05:56:54.24 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Oh, I think I've already |
| 05:56:54.25 | Ray Withy | Oh, I do. |
| 05:56:56.72 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I've said what my objections to this. |
| 05:56:58.52 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 05:56:58.94 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 05:56:59.03 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 05:57:01.39 | Ray Withy | No, I am with Tom on this. I don't like this definitive no land-based affordable housing will be located in the Mariners area. Um, |
| 05:57:09.63 | Unknown | more. |
| 05:57:09.93 | Ray Withy | Thank you. sort of in perpetuity when we have a housing element coming up. I just don't... So, You know, I could... get on board, I suppose, with the language of you know, Thank you. We need to be reviewed. When we do our housing element, okay, I can just about live with the logic of that. |
| 05:57:40.74 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, so we're the three of you on board with that. |
| 05:57:51.56 | Unknown | I think Joan is correct. Um, |
| 05:57:57.49 | Tom Riley | I'm just, thinking through that. I go back to our earlier conversation today about Um, the need for affordable housing in our community to bring diversity. And we are just, cutting ourselves off from options to do that. And when we start proposing low income housing in other parts of our town, there is going to be revolts. We need to have all the options available to us. Um, And I'm certainly supportive of, you know, preserving the maritime. I don't want this to be like a crack in the door to let developers in and build hotels and what have you, high-end condos. I'm trying to think of how we can improve the diversity of our city. And Um, It's not going to be easy. And that's my concern here. And you know, Council Member Burns is right. |
| 05:58:52.78 | Unknown | So. |
| 05:58:52.97 | Joan Cox | That's my concern. |
| 05:58:56.68 | Tom Riley | kicking a hard decision down the road. some struggle moves. |
| 05:58:59.23 | Joan Cox | So I'm struggling with that. But we made a decision at the beginning of this general plan update that we were not going to tackle the 2023 housing element as a part of this general plan. It's that work. that will undertake that review when we know what the requirements are. And we've already identified other sites in town for affordable housing. The, we are talking about moving the city's corporation yard up to San Rafael so that the city can utilize that site for senior housing. if the city owns that site or sells it at a, at a, or nothing, we can designate that. affordable senior housing. And there are other sites in town with similar possibilities, if purposely not undertaken that effort. is if we identify affordable housing now, we need to be able to count new housing in our 2023 element. We're already meeting our quotas now. |
| 06:00:04.54 | Tom Riley | So- Councilmember Cox in all respect. We can wait till 2023 and see what's forced upon us. Or we could say we want to be proactive and build low income housing. and as much as we can to improve our diversity. Um, And so waiting four years, to see what we are required to do versus what we want to do. That's what I'm really impacted by our recent conversations. and think we need to be creative. Oh. |
| 06:00:37.97 | Joan Cox | So if we are required to build 150 units in two years, and we've already, built 150 units, then we're gonna have to find a new 150 units in two years. unless we've gotten special dispensation from HDD to identify now units that we'll get credit for in our 2023 element. And that's something we're working with Senator McGuire on right now to be able to identify |
| 06:00:58.25 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:00:58.27 | Lisa B. | unit. |
| 06:01:07.38 | Joan Cox | sites for affordable housing that we can build now and get credit for it in our 2023 housing element. That dialogue is ongoing. That dialogue has not come to fruition. It is not complete. if we now today say we're gonna identify 150 sites for affordable housing, without doing that work to get HCDs approval to identify now units that will be able to count in 2023, we may have to identify another 150 units in 2023. That's just the way these rules work. |
| 06:01:44.72 | Unknown | work. |
| 06:01:44.98 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yep. We've already discussed that just putting a policy in our general plan is not going to impact our ability to count units in the housing. So we've identified that and that's all we're doing tonight. So I don't wanna go down this like slippery slope that we're not gonna, I mean, the fact that we will actually get units produced in the very short term is probably given how I'm How much time things take is probably not So I think right now it's what message do we want to send? What policy do we want to set And how do we want to set the tone about housing going forward? I, you know, I think I would, you know, I've said this before, I wanna set a firm tone about senior and affordable housing and that these are goals and important items for our community and that we're not precluding any sites. We're not mandating sites either, but we're not precluding them. And I don't think this will impact our our ability to count units necessarily. And if we have to fight that fight, Well, and talk to our state legislators about that. |
| 06:02:56.36 | Joan Cox | All I'm suggesting is that we utilize the language recommended by the M group and at the proviso that we will update these policies as necessary as we undertake the work of our housing element and zoning ordinance updates. That's where that hard work belongs. And we haven't yet done that hard work Just figure out. where best to situate the various categories of housing that we need. |
| 06:03:24.20 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Right. And the hard work. The question is, will the hard work look citywide or will the hard work we can find outside the friendship? That's the question. And I think some of the sites that are identified already also have constraints. The corporation yard is a great site, but we had already had some speaker today talked about David Sudo about how the SIFARIS neighbor objection to housing on Nevada was for teacher housing. It's also backs up right on the Willow Creek with the riparian setbacks. So, you know, that site is a good site and I think it would be great for senior housing, but it's also heavily constrained. |
| 06:04:04.53 | Joan Cox | The objection to teacher housing was when we were proposing a huge tall building on Nevada Street in order to meet our 2006 housing element requirements. |
| 06:04:19.62 | Unknown | Thank you. but none of that. |
| 06:04:20.63 | Ray Withy | Okay, so we got to sort of draw this to a close, haven't we? We're going round in circles. Uh, |
| 06:04:29.19 | Unknown | We are. |
| 06:04:30.28 | Ray Withy | Right. So, Susan, your proposal is just to keep policy LU1 dot 19. the non-shaded, but not the blue area, just the paragraph above period with no extra additions, with not the extra two things, right? |
| 06:04:42.92 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:04:43.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I'm sorry. |
| 06:04:46.48 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | The blue right there. And then to go back to policy LU 1.19.1 from the original, down on the next page. and keep the newly drafted LU point 19 point |
| 06:05:07.92 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Asher, can you go down to the... |
| 06:05:09.55 | Ray Withy | I'm so confused now. Thank you. |
| 06:05:11.81 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I know. So the part that we just said on the other page, the policy and then this program, Housing element, identify locations citywide, including those on the water and funding sources for use housing for very low, low and moderate income households. |
| 06:05:31.25 | Ray Withy | And so there's actually no mention of the Marin ship here. |
| 06:05:34.92 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | know. THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 06:05:36.45 | Ray Withy | So this is just looking... So this is just... |
| 06:05:37.33 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. |
| 06:05:40.35 | Ray Withy | um, |
| 06:05:43.00 | Joan Cox | Citywide. It's implied because it says citywide. |
| 06:05:44.30 | Ray Withy | Citywide. Right. but you're identifying locations by what method Well, there's going to be some analysis done, right? in that analysis, you can make the decision that Well, It doesn't include the marine ship, right? because you're actively identifying locations. City, what? Okay. |
| 06:06:14.99 | Unknown | Correct. |
| 06:06:21.66 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And then LU 1.19.2 is the new zoning overlay language that was much better drafted by a general |
| 06:06:30.15 | Ray Withy | Right. |
| 06:06:33.54 | Ray Withy | Okay, so then that would be, 119. point two. WOULD BE REPORTED. place with the language that Joan Drafted. |
| 06:06:45.06 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:06:45.08 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Correct. |
| 06:06:45.30 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:06:48.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, I'm sorry it's not written out better. But yes, that's the proposal. |
| 06:06:54.03 | Joan Cox | Well, it's written out in our staff report. |
| 06:06:54.04 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | That's right. |
| 06:06:57.53 | Joan Cox | slide that Asher has. |
| 06:06:59.24 | Ray Withy | Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Thank you. um, Yeah, okay, I can go with this. |
| 06:07:14.88 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Council Member Eileen |
| 06:07:16.81 | Tom Riley | Um, so Let me make sure I follow. So first off in the staff report, L you one that 19 to Um, as edited, I'm very comfortable with. Yes, that right there. |
| 06:07:33.70 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 06:07:35.28 | Tom Riley | And then are we looking at 1.19.1 from the last slide in the red. |
| 06:07:42.05 | Unknown | Yes. |
| 06:07:42.49 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:07:43.08 | Tom Riley | I'm comfortable with that. |
| 06:07:44.92 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And then... |
| 06:07:47.79 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:07:47.81 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. |
| 06:07:48.03 | Unknown | And then Back up to the staff report will be the policy. |
| 06:07:59.16 | Unknown | What do you mean? this that is LU 1.19. |
| 06:08:07.01 | Joan Cox | I thought Ray just said he liked the LU 1.19 that was in red, not this one. |
| 06:08:12.63 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | There is no, Ellie, there's no, this is the policy. |
| 06:08:16.65 | Joan Cox | We'll be right back. |
| 06:08:16.71 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | NAMASTE. |
| 06:08:16.76 | Joan Cox | No, go back to the other one. That's what Ray just said. Go back to the other one, this one, yes. |
| 06:08:23.43 | Unknown | No, that's a program, Joan. |
| 06:08:23.58 | Joan Cox | That's a great question. Oh, I see. |
| 06:08:28.27 | Ray Withy | Okay, so go back to the policy again. Sorry. |
| 06:08:28.36 | Joan Cox | Yeah. Wow. LU 1.19.1. This is Eliu, just one point. |
| 06:08:38.33 | Ray Withy | Yeah, yeah. So this is the policy, right? Consider as a report as a merchant. |
| 06:08:39.01 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 06:08:45.86 | Ray Withy | Okay, so what's the difference between the policy and the program? |
| 06:08:53.21 | Ray Withy | It's just that we've got to do a better time. |
| 06:08:53.75 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I suppose consider to identify sites. Oh, I know. |
| 06:08:57.57 | Ray Withy | Oh, I see. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, okay. |
| 06:09:04.47 | Joe Burns | Let's give this the housing mix that will provide us units, right? Live, work, senior, and affordable of the various sections of affordable housing mentioned in 1-9. When we create one affordable unit, we create one unit. When we create a senior unit, we create two and a half units. Because we have the senior unit plus the unit that's senior moved out of, which is big enough for an ADU. So we have a kind of a, we already have that dynamic of knowing that when we create a senior unit, we're creating more housing mix than if we just create a single unit. I want to make sure we have senior housing and workforce housing included in this policy. |
| 06:09:40.73 | Unknown | Yeah, they're both in there. |
| 06:09:42.30 | Joe Burns | Thanks. I see it. |
| 06:09:44.70 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Oh. You're adding something new at this late hour. All right, council member Riley, do you We've got... We've now flipped over. We know Councilmember Cox is not in favor of this iteration. |
| 06:10:03.55 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 06:10:03.67 | Joan Cox | STATE. |
| 06:10:04.04 | Unknown | standalone version. Yeah. |
| 06:10:09.86 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 06:10:09.98 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | to member Riley, do you wanna? |
| 06:10:13.08 | Tom Riley | I am supportive of this. |
| 06:10:17.45 | Joan Cox | Okay. I do think the water-based housing should be located in the Murden Ship. |
| 06:10:26.85 | Joan Cox | and nowhere else. Yeah. |
| 06:10:29.72 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:10:30.77 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 06:10:30.78 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | We already have Galilee. |
| 06:10:32.19 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:10:34.55 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Well, what if, I mean, |
| 06:10:40.93 | Joe Burns | What about in our sphere of influence? |
| 06:10:44.89 | Joan Cox | Absolutely. One of the sites on the memo that you got from Lily was at the gates. which we're proposing be in our sphere of influence. And that state owned property, that's something McGuire can make happen. |
| 06:10:58.60 | Joe Burns | Thank you. |
| 06:10:58.61 | Joan Cox | outside of the friendship. |
| 06:10:59.17 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | There's housing that's not necessarily permitted down |
| 06:10:59.52 | Joe Burns | Bye. |
| 06:11:05.95 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | your the joinery kind of over to the left. I forgot. No. Why would we limit it to the men's show? |
| 06:11:18.61 | Tom Riley | That's the Bridgeway Marina you're referring to. |
| 06:11:20.51 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm really... at this point. Sorry, my brain. |
| 06:11:27.25 | Joan Cox | We're addressing Bridgeway Marina. We'll be bringing that to the council shortly. We're addressing that separately. But that's live aborts, that's not water-based housing. |
| 06:11:40.53 | Joan Cox | We have a board. |
| 06:11:41.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | which is that. |
| 06:11:41.53 | Joan Cox | water-based housing? Yeah, it's a different animal from Galilee. Galilee is... owned by the association, not owned by Marina and rent, those are owned units as opposed to which are rented. |
| 06:12:02.28 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, I mean, that proposal hasn't come to us, so I don't really know if I wanna preclude has in there, but if that's going to I mean, are you for this with that change, Joan? |
| 06:12:14.14 | Joan Cox | No. |
| 06:12:14.65 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I think, |
| 06:12:15.97 | Joan Cox | I think I am opposed to land-based housing in the Marinership. |
| 06:12:25.72 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, yeah, understood. Okay, does staff understand our direction here after a long difficult conversation. |
| 06:12:40.35 | Jeff Bradley | M group has it. |
| 06:12:42.16 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay. All right, thank you everyone. I know this is hard and I want people to feel friendly about this issue. |
| 06:12:52.50 | Unknown | . |
| 06:12:52.55 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:12:53.16 | Unknown | Thanks. |
| 06:12:53.95 | Unknown | So... |
| 06:12:59.00 | Joe Burns | I think we already talked about finished origin work to resolve issues. |
| 06:13:06.07 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, are there any issues with the financial levels? I do think we talked about that earlier. I don't see. |
| 06:13:14.03 | Joan Cox | Thank you. So before the resolved issues issue 11 we gave direction to include examples and this makes no mention of the examples I think the examples are going to be critical. |
| 06:13:26.25 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | It does say with example, But do you mean that it doesn't include the examples? |
| 06:13:31.74 | Ava Crisanti | Thank you. |
| 06:13:31.75 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. |
| 06:13:31.84 | Joan Cox | Yeah. |
| 06:13:32.12 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Because the first sentence says, with examples that describe how |
| 06:13:37.08 | Joan Cox | Yeah, I had pointed out the examples that were in the staff report to the WAM committee, but it didn't make it in there. So I just want to make sure. we get those examples. I think those are super important. And then for the vision statement, I want to make sure we add Sybil's feedback. That's item 10. Oh, no, Marineship vision statement. Never mind, never mind. |
| 06:13:58.67 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, I think we gave direction to add the bulk of it. And then I did just want to note for everybody, item 12, there seemed to have been some, confusion. at the initial election to add age-friendly policies and now civil has provided some really excellent policies from San Rafael. and I'm going to go to the camera. |
| 06:14:24.52 | Joan Cox | Thank you. And then item 16 is labeled beta testing for some reason. I think it should just be audit. court. of general plan beta testing. I don't understand what that means. |
| 06:14:41.12 | Ray Withy | That's a product development term. . |
| 06:14:44.85 | Joan Cox | Yeah. I think it should just be audit. These are, we're asking that it be audited slash updated. to stay current. |
| 06:14:52.87 | Ray Withy | Well, I think what Christina was trying to get at was you actually sort of virtually proposed some things and then run it through and see if the general plan sort of works as if you were just data testing a product. That was her theory. I mean, it's a fairly sophisticated concept and it can happen anyway. But I think the conversation from what I heard at the working group morphed into the concept of audits and evaluations. That was my understanding of where you ended up. |
| 06:15:30.50 | Joe Burns | Chris Wacker, A question on 14 pathway. It sounds like that the new Yeah. terminology in C5-2. that we've eliminated you bridgeway, adjacent bridgeway path. meeting with my kids. And, and that type of thing. |
| 06:15:55.10 | Unknown | I don't think so. path is still a circulation element policy. |
| 06:16:02.58 | Unknown | effort from. |
| 06:16:03.12 | Joe Burns | Thank you. Yeah. down below. |
| 06:16:08.10 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 06:16:17.94 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I think it was just the shoreline pathways that we were trying to consolidate. |
| 06:16:18.09 | Unknown | Thanks. |
| 06:16:23.67 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | is my understanding. that we had, by the time we got to the end of the general plan, there were three or four policies that all talked about shoreline pathways. |
| 06:16:34.81 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 06:16:35.45 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | But there's also, and I would ask them to to confirm this, but I think there's also a big way adjacent pathway. |
| 06:16:45.21 | Unknown | Okay, that's still in there. |
| 06:16:45.51 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. Thank you. Yes. Well, we certainly didn't take it out. If you look at the middle of 206, |
| 06:16:52.97 | Joan Cox | says that M group recommends program 1 W 1.3.2 service, the primary program to describe the path in a race ship, separate from bicycle paths described along Ridgeway. |
| 06:17:11.48 | Joe Burns | then further down it crosses it out okay so it was at it was taken out of added into 1.3, so it was added into the waterfront policy. Right. and taken out of CP. right below on CP5.26. out of that. right here where it says the water function with residents were separate from Bridgeway Jason Pass is crossed out. |
| 06:17:46.97 | Ashley Cohn | I, This is Ashley Cohen with M Group. So the bridgeway bike paths are covered elsewhere. The purpose of that in the staff report was to clarify the Marin ship paths. But if you can see my screen now, the Bridgeway or elsewhere in that policy 5.2. or a South Greenway. So they were taken out of the Language and Staff Report to clarify that the Bridgeway paths are separate from what's going on in the Marin ship. they do still exist in the general plan. |
| 06:18:21.17 | Joe Burns | Well, Those are different paths though right there. |
| 06:18:27.08 | Joe Burns | Those aren't the path in the marineship that goes from along the basically the storage area. Thank you. And then that traverses up to Nevada Street. We have a staircase there now. Bike and Ped talked about a slope that goes up. Kids get off right there to Nevada Street where we have a safe route to schools. That's the one I'm most concerned about. |
| 06:18:48.29 | Ashley Cohn | Thank you. |
| 06:18:48.31 | Joe Burns | Yeah. |
| 06:18:48.55 | Ashley Cohn | Yeah. Yeah. |
| 06:18:48.77 | Joe Burns | I'm sorry. |
| 06:18:50.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | You mean the one that goes on the Bay Models property? |
| 06:18:52.75 | Joe Burns | Yeah. |
| 06:18:53.49 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | by the quiet. |
| 06:18:54.99 | Joe Burns | Yeah. past the plant, past the SWA, and it would you know, head up towards where the stairs are and then over to Nevada. |
| 06:19:07.97 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | For purposes of tonight, let's just say that we agree with the pathway and we did not want to delete that portion of the bridgeway adjacent path that you just talked about and we'll have Emily make sure that that's going |
| 06:19:24.66 | Joan Cox | Agree. |
| 06:19:25.77 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Does that sound okay? |
| 06:19:27.68 | John DeRay | Yes. |
| 06:19:28.94 | John Flavin | Thank you. |
| 06:19:28.96 | John DeRay | Yes. |
| 06:19:31.33 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, well, I think, are there any other issues with the agenda? |
| 06:19:37.47 | Joan Cox | Karen Hollweg, Well, the planning Commission I endorse all of the planning Commission recommendations. |
| 06:19:44.52 | Unknown | Yes, except for the one that was separately called out in our last discussion. |
| 06:19:55.98 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Is there any other comments on the planning commission recommendations? |
| 06:19:56.30 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:19:56.35 | Joan Cox | or on water |
| 06:20:00.59 | Joan Cox | I also would like to endorse Alice Merrill's comment about waterfront resilience being incorporated. |
| 06:20:11.72 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, I thought that was a good comment. Agreed. |
| 06:20:20.84 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | PB, Sarah Silver, Okay there any other last final comments on this before we send it off with them group for. The next draft. |
| 06:20:33.44 | Tom Riley | I'm good. Thank you. |
| 06:20:35.25 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. |
| 06:20:35.60 | Tom Riley | Thank you. |
| 06:20:35.65 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | So. |
| 06:20:36.09 | Tom Riley | Thank you. |
| 06:20:36.44 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, it is a little before midnight. Um, We have now a hearing on our draft EIR. This is the fourth hearing of draft EIR. you due to a one section being omitted. um, from the first draft. So we had a joint hearing, I'm sorry, third hearing. We had a joint hearing with the planning commission. So do we have a very quick staff report on this item? 3B. And this is to take public comment. |
| 06:21:14.04 | Jasmine | So Hello, Madam. |
| 06:21:18.62 | Lily Whalen | Mayor, I'm going to let Lisa Davidson from First Carbon Solutions give the brief presentation here. All right. |
| 06:21:26.01 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:21:26.29 | Lily Whalen | Thank you. |
| 06:21:28.20 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | at least not. Thank you for hanging in with us. |
| 06:21:35.69 | Lisa Davidson | Can everybody see my screen? |
| 06:21:38.95 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yes, you are heavily getting feedback. you So we will all move ourselves. |
| 06:22:00.94 | Lily Whalen | Lisa, we can't hear you. |
| 06:22:02.96 | Lisa Davidson | Well. Can you unmute my phone? Cell phone. Thank you. |
| 06:22:12.14 | Atula Biedermann | What are the last four digits of your phone. 7-1. |
| 06:22:17.61 | Unknown | Okay. |
| 06:22:18.05 | Atula Biedermann | 05. . |
| 06:22:19.06 | Lisa Davidson | Bye. |
| 06:22:19.31 | Atula Biedermann | Thank you. |
| 06:22:20.40 | Unknown | You are absolutely right. |
| 06:22:26.45 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:22:28.51 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 06:22:36.39 | Lisa Davidson | Can everybody hear me now? Yes. Perfect. Okay. |
| 06:22:46.64 | Lisa Davidson | and the presentation everybody can see. Correct? |
| 06:22:52.64 | Lisa Davidson | Yes. |
| 06:22:54.25 | Damien | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 06:22:54.99 | Lisa Davidson | All right, still with me. All right. So, um, I'll be, I'll be very brief. Um, This is for the city of Sausalito 2040. general plan draft EIR. And the main reason I'm presenting is that we have an updated environmental review timeline for the EIR. The public services and recreation section was inadvertently not included in the public draft EIR, that was released on June 4th. And so the public comment period is being extended to August 5th. |
| 06:23:38.49 | Lisa Davidson | And you've seen this slide that just depicts the planning area. or the general plan. And this slide has the aerial map. and The bullet points here are identifying what the proposed project is that is being analyzed in the EIR. Again, these are the same bullet points you've seen before. |
| 06:24:08.02 | Lisa Davidson | And this is the update on the environmental review timeline. So the Notice of time extension of the Public comment period was issued on June 19. and the public comment period is extended by 16 days and we will receive comments through August 5th. on the draft EIR. And then the last two steps remain the same. Once we receive comments on the draft, we'll prepare a final EIR. and then there will be public hearings to certify the final EIR, and approve the general plan. And the purpose of this meeting is to allow the public to provide additional comments on the public draft EIR. Again, speakers are encouraged to provide written comments. No decisions are being made about the proposed general plan at this meeting. And if people do have comments, were encouraging them to focus them on that one section that was inadvertently left out. And so I recommend that the city council open the public hearing to receive public comment. on the draft EIR and continue to accept comments through August 5th. |
| 06:25:43.57 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you very much, Lisa. You're welcome. There was public comment also available at the Planning Commission last week, I think. Are there comments from council members? |
| 06:26:02.40 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, seeing none, I'm gonna open it up to public comments. And public comment will still be able to be received in writing as well as tonight. |
| 06:26:18.64 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I see one hand, Steven Allison. Welcome. Welcome back. Thanks for hanging in there with us. |
| 06:26:30.11 | Steven Allison | I just have to say that, |
| 06:26:35.81 | Steven Allison | Councilmember Tox's statements during the recent discussion are emblematic of the institutional racism that defines Sausalito. You blocked school desegregation, and now you're blocking land-based affordable housing in the Marin shift. Now is the time for reparations to bring the surrounding communities into the discussion, I think this is abominable how you're approaching the situation. and You don't represent me. in this community. and, I'm frankly ashamed to live in this community based on the discussion I just heard. Thank you. |
| 06:27:15.39 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, we have Vicki Nichols and then Alice Merrill. |
| 06:27:27.22 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Vicki, we can't hear you. I think you might be muted. |
| 06:27:33.33 | Heidi Scoble | The key's microphone is unmuted. |
| 06:27:35.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, I think I'm okay. Thank you. Um, go ahead, Vicki. I did just want to remind people that this discussion is about the draft EIR. |
| 06:27:43.35 | Vicki Nichols | Correct. And so I have a quick question and not to belabor this, but we have not any of us seen the sustainability element. And from Melissa's comments tonight, it seemed like it might be, more extensive if they're considering, which I totally applaud the San Francisco Port Authority updates I followed that plan a little bit so whatever we can get in there is great but at some point the community needs to be able to see this. since we will have no more. Thank you. chance to look at this. So I'm just wondering, is this going to be sent out in between now and September, it would be helpful. for at least the planning commissioners and maybe the other working groups. I didn't know |
| 06:28:28.03 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | the plan would be. So I'll respond to that after we've received public comment from everyone. Alice Merrill. |
| 06:28:42.99 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Hi. |
| 06:28:43.49 | Alice Merrill | Bye. |
| 06:28:43.76 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 06:28:44.01 | Alice Merrill | Bye. |
| 06:28:44.42 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:28:44.81 | Alice Merrill | Sure. Okay. Hi. I just am jumping in because So this, this, housing in the Marinship isn't It isn't what that fellow thought it was or not. It isn't or is not. So that was an incorrect understanding of what's going on. surprise because it's complicated and it's historical and it's old but It wasn't accurate. Thank you. That's it. |
| 06:29:17.98 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you, Alan. Hanley. Welcome back. |
| 06:29:29.36 | Anne Lee | Hi! Um, I'm not educated about the EIR, but I am happy to hear that we have more time to learn about it and comment on that. So I'll leave that. But I just wanted to make a public comment on, once again, the affordable housing and that, you know, I am unsatisfied with what transpired just now. feel like You know, there have been some council members who expressed the need for diversity and looking for more affordable housing that frankly is getting to the root of the problems of inequality in our city. I just wanted to state that again, I know that there is a lot of complexity, but at the root of it is we don't have enough affordable housing in the Bay Area. And there is simply more than one place that we can look for it. We need to look for it in the marineship as well as all the other suggested places. This is really important. It you know really I appeal into the decency in our Council members that we really look at this and make our decisions and I know there's a lot of pressure. within internally in the politics and there's complexities but I think we just need to step back and take a look and just be like, look, we don't have enough of affordable housing. 150 units by 2023, isn't enough for us to be is not enough for the Bay Area is not enough for Moomin County is not enough for the US and earth everybody has a equal right to be here, to be housed and to be safe. and to be able to live close to the communities where they work. Keep that in mind as you continue to look at every single plan that you have for the city of Suarez-Solito. Thank you. |
| 06:31:32.11 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, thank you very much. Okay, and other speakers, we are on the draft EIR at this point, so there's phone number, 3052 ending. Welcome back. |
| 06:31:48.86 | Ava Crisanti | Hi, thank you. This is Ava Crisanti, and I'm very honored to speak behind Mr. Allison and um Ms. Lee um I definitely second, um, their sentiments about what's been going on. But I also wanted to address Some of the comments made by a former council person and former mayor of Sausalito who called in and, reprimanded some of the callers who had asked pretty legitimate questions about conflict of interest and why our city council seems to be, uh, made up of people who have inordinate interest in real estate. And I think the amicus brief with regard to Willow Creek really raises questions. I'm very disappointed that that former mayor, um, the legitimate concern of citizens to call in and ask them that these issues be investigated. So I want to make that clear. And we will continue, I will continue to ask these questions. because they are The amicus brief was extremely extremely concerning. And I think everyone on the city council should be taking a hard look at what they did. and how it looks to the rest of the world. And I'm happy to put this into a formal letter to South Salud City Council, and I will certainly sent a copy to the former mayor of Sausalito, who questioned the motives of people who had reasonable and valid questions about conflict of interest. Those concerns should always be recognized as important. And we certainly wouldn't be in the mess that we are in in this country right now. if conflict of interest were properly addressed. I thank you for your time. |
| 06:33:49.54 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, thank you, Sybil. Just a reminder, we're talking about the draft EIR. |
| 06:34:02.51 | Sybil Goutelier | It's, oh. Okay. Um, Right. I did. It was quite some weeks ago that I looked at the EIR. But at that time, There was language similar to what you just discussed. in the EIR and I'm wondering, I'm sorry that I, if that was mentioned, I missed, I missed it. And I just wondered if that was still. the case and if You know, the restrictive language was still in the EIR as well. Um, if those have to be you know, brought into tune with each other whatever way it's going to go. And I just want to say one more thing. I, I, respect everybody's right to freedom of speech, but when it gets to a completely disrespectful defamation of character, without real knowledge. I think that people need to try to ramp down their emotionality and be a little more attentive to the issues at hand. that are being discussed here. And, I just have to say that because I think there have been a lot of crazy accusations being thrown out here that are inappropriate in this forum. and could be addressed in other ways that people have real concerns. Thank you. |
| 06:35:35.16 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | All right, thank you. Okay, John DeRay is the last person with his hand raised. Welcome back, John. |
| 06:35:49.26 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I can't hear you, so I think you need to unmute yourself. |
| 06:35:53.72 | John DeRay | Can you hear me? |
| 06:35:54.65 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I can hear you now. Yeah, thank you. |
| 06:35:56.84 | John DeRay | Thank you. I just wanted to agree with what Alice Merrill said. People sometimes say things are not educated on some of the issues, and it's a very complicated issue. There are people who look at the marine ship as an old World War II yard with toxic contamination in the soil and other hazards, sea level rise, subsidence, liquefaction, And they think to themselves, why is this being used as a dumping ground for housing? It's not fair, why isn't housing on the hill being proposed in areas like Cypress Ridge? That's something that needs to be, I think, brought forward. It's a complicated, issue. If you look at some examples, for example, Treasure Island, Um, And also, Hunter's Point in San Francisco. Those were developments that had to be stopped because of the toxic waste that was found. So there's a concern that people are being put into unsafe areas. And I think that needs to be brought up. Now, everybody may not agree with that, but there needs to be a lot of analysis of the soil down there. And the machine shop has already been designated as a Superfund site with toxic PCBs already found in that site down in the Marin Thank you for your late work tonight. |
| 06:37:41.43 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you for sticking with us. Okay, I'm gonna close public comment on the draft EIR and bring it back to the council if there are any comments. We have had a discussion on the draft EIR already. earlier meeting with the planning commission. Are there any council member comments? |
| 06:38:02.68 | Damien | and not at this time. |
| 06:38:04.79 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Okay, and just one point of clarification on the sustainability element. The Sustainability Commission provided detailed comments and the task was for them to work with the M group to incorporate those comments that were presented to a general plan working group meeting. So those are available. And if you can't find them, we can help you. locate them. The item that came up today, I will have to figure out if that impacts the environmental review or anything else. I don't think there was authorization to continue to change the sustainability element outside the comments that were made earlier. But we can take that up when we look at the next draft. Okay, so we are going to move back now to the beginning of our agenda. to item one. Um, action. |
| 06:39:00.73 | Joan Cox | Do we have to take action on the DEIR, further action, since we did not have that one element in it? Thank you. |
| 06:39:11.11 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | at the time. So I think I'll defer to staff, but I think this was just to accept public comment on the newly revised staff. |
| 06:39:18.60 | Unknown | Exactly. |
| 06:39:21.10 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | And if you or other council members don't have comments, then I think our business on this item is finished. Thank you. Okay. So we are going to go back to the action minutes of the previous meeting. Um, And if there are any corrections, they were for June 17th and June 23rd. I didn't have any comments. that I, except comments or emotions. |
| 06:39:52.11 | Ray Withy | I move approval of the minutes of June 17th and June 23rd. I see. |
| 06:40:03.27 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:40:03.30 | Heidi Scoble | Great. We have a motion in a second. |
| 06:40:05.56 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:40:05.58 | Heidi Scoble | Councilmember Riley? |
| 06:40:05.80 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:40:07.17 | Tom Riley | Yes. |
| 06:40:08.26 | Heidi Scoble | Member Burns. Thank you. |
| 06:40:09.41 | Tom Riley | Yes. |
| 06:40:10.12 | Heidi Scoble | Councilmember Cox. Yes. Vice Mayor Withey? Yes. Mayor Cleveland Knowles? Yes. Motion carries five zero. |
| 06:40:13.71 | Tom Riley | Yes. |
| 06:40:19.74 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Right, so I think my Then I think we will go to item four, which is our next business, which is our business item, which is seven 50. Bridgeway. Madam Mayor, we skipped the consent calendar. |
| 06:40:38.69 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 06:40:38.72 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:40:38.76 | Joan Cox | on my calendar. |
| 06:40:39.41 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 06:40:40.04 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:40:40.07 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 06:40:40.17 | Unknown | What? |
| 06:40:40.43 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah, I was going to wait until the end |
| 06:40:40.46 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 06:40:40.49 | Joan Cox | Bye. |
| 06:40:40.53 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 06:40:43.65 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | OK, I'm just thinking that a presentation might be Actually, if Abbott is still here and waiting for that, maybe we should just decide to let him go Um, You know, I just, there was so much happening last week and this week on COVID with our spike in marine cases. All right, so we'll go back to consent calendar. to the COVID update. I am not going to ask Abbott to give his presentation. but he did attach some additional items. Abbott, maybe you wanna just briefly update us on what the new attachments were and |
| 06:41:28.06 | Unknown | Sure, or I could just do the speed version of my presentation, and that would at least hit the points. I may be more articulate with some visual cues right now. |
| 06:41:39.88 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Yeah. Okay, we'll go with that, with the speed version. |
| 06:41:43.93 | Unknown | Okay. |
| 06:41:44.84 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | focusing on the more recent developments. |
| 06:41:47.12 | Unknown | OK. |
| 06:41:47.98 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Great, thank you. |
| 06:41:55.23 | Unknown | Okay, so my COVID update for you this evening. I'll just recap the current shelter in place order, talk about current data in Marin, including what's happening in San Quentin, how that data has affected the reopening schedule here in Marin. We've also been affected by a state mandate from Governor Newsom, from the watch list they have for COVID-19 activity. I'll briefly touch on a letter that the governor sent to local elected officials about enforcing shelter in place regulations. And also some pictures about outdoor dining, which has gotten underway on Caledonia Street. So we're still under the order that went into effect on May 18th until it's rescinded. We're in a phase where amendments are being added to it to allow new activities. But the data on COVID-19 is being monitored by our public health officials and they have reserved the right to provide slow down or roll back the pace of things that have reopened. So looking at the data right now, and as the mayor mentioned, We have been, well, we've increased the number of tests in Marin. moving up towards a thousand a day, the number of positive reported cases though has also increased, as you would expect by doing more testing. But what's troubling is that the percent of positive tests is also increasing. And you would hope that that number would be falling as we were testing more people who did not have the virus. Um, Just some interesting trends also that we're seeing with age, where younger populations now make up the majority of the cases. Most cases in Marin, the total number right now is highest for age group 19 to 34, with 35 to 49 seconds. And if you look at the far left on the graph, 65 plus, |
| 06:44:20.12 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | I think we've lost Abbott. Did anybody else lose sound? |
| 06:44:23.78 | Joan Cox | I lost Abbott. |
| 06:44:24.93 | Mary Crowley | Thank you. |
| 06:44:28.47 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | It's interesting because I could hear him very clearly. |
| 06:44:31.58 | Ava Crisanti | Yeah. |
| 06:44:38.35 | Joe Burns | The battery's just fooling us. you |
| 06:44:40.61 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:44:40.64 | Joe Burns | Bye. |
| 06:44:40.67 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Thank you. |
| 06:44:40.69 | Joe Burns | Bye. |
| 06:44:40.71 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Bye. |
| 06:44:40.74 | Joe Burns | Thank you. |
| 06:44:42.38 | Mayor Cleveland Knowles | Just wants to go to bed. Okay, so we'll just take a pause. Does somebody have Abbott's number and can maybe just check in with him? |
| 06:44:58.26 | Mary Crowley | Thank you. |
| 06:45:12.18 | Mary Crowley | I only have his work. I don't have his self. |
| 06:45:17.82 | Unknown | I have a cell. |
| 06:45:30.25 | Unknown | Who's dialing them? |
Jamie Whittington — Against: Argued the city council's indifference to Marin City children not attending Willow Creek Academy, referencing the California Attorney General's complaint and the council's amicus brief supporting Willow Creek, calling for an apology and moderation of support for Willow Creek. ▶ 📄
Lisa B. — Against: Shared an incident of racial profiling at CVS in Marin City, stating Black people don't feel safe or welcome in Sausalito, and urged inward personal work by the council. ▶ 📄
David Sudo — In Favor: Suggested inclusive participation for all 94965 zip code residents in city events and benefits like parking discounts. ▶ 📄
Sandra Caballero — In Favor: Highlighted urban planning infrastructure issues, noting unsafe pedestrian and cyclist connections between Marin City and Sausalito due to freeway barriers, and called for improvements. ▶ 📄
David Duncan — Neutral: Offered historical research assistance on school desegregation in Sausalito and Marin City, mentioning oral history interviews and availability for exhibits. ▶ 📄
Natalie Geischer — Against: Urged zoning reforms for low-income housing and addressed the city council's amicus brief supporting Willow Creek, calling for action over performative justice. ▶ 📄
Kristen Woslegel — In Favor: Advocated for affordable housing, referencing historic racial covenants, and suggested a community housing trust and balancing development fears with housing needs. ▶ 📄
Ava Crisanti — Against: Called for restitution for racially restrictive housing covenants, investigation of city council ties to real estate and investment banking, and scrutiny of the Willow Creek-Bayside MLK situation as a potential land grab. ▶ 📄
Lau Gonzalez — In Favor: Echoed that African-Americans don't feel safe in Sausalito, urged privileged individuals to be anti-racist and use their voice, and emphasized accountability in school unification. ▶ 📄
Kirsten Thomas — Against: Criticized diversity training as insufficient, called for deep introspection on anti-racism, and denounced the city council's amicus brief supporting Willow Creek as rooted in white property values. ▶ 📄
Shelby Van Meter — In Favor: Described the tunnel as a physical and symbolic barrier between communities, urged jurisdictional cooperation to improve it, and emphasized the need for strong leadership. ▶ 📄
Vicki Nichols — In Favor: Recommended engaging directly with Marin City residents through joint task forces, discussing affordable housing formulas, and avoiding personal attacks on council members. ▶ 📄
Sybil Goutelier — In Favor: Supported staff suggestions like expanding home adaptation grants, fostering careers for people of color, creating scholarships, and addressing the digital divide, while introducing Everett Brandon. ▶ 📄
Everett Brandon — In Favor: Expressed hope for collaboration between Sausalito and Marin City, advocating for a long-term plan and relationship-building despite historical challenges. ▶ 📄
Sam Rubin — In Favor: Emphasized the need for accountability, transparency, and follow-up mechanisms to ensure actions match words in addressing systemic racism. ▶ 📄
Jasmine — Against: Shared personal experiences of microaggressions in Sausalito, criticized over-policing, suggested defunding police, and recommended an equity team and inclusive use of waterfront resources. ▶ 📄
Atula Biedermann — Against: Cited Marin's racial inequities, urged mindfulness of council members' backgrounds, and opposed increased police presence on school campuses, advocating for alternative safety measures. ▶ 📄
Karen Hollweg — In Favor: Stressed examining historical and present racial injustices, supporting deep anti-racism training, and lifting up voices of people of color for a truly welcoming community. ▶ 📄
Victor F. — Against: Accused council members of benefiting from redlining and segregation, called for dropping lawsuits, financial reparations, and admitting mistakes related to school segregation. ▶ 📄
Jackie Kudler — In Favor: Urged support for Golden Gate Village community land trust to prevent gentrification and preserve Marin City's Black community. ▶ 📄
Barbara Sapienza — In Favor: Shared a personal story of friendship with a Marin City resident, encouraged talking to elders in Marin City, and suggested building bridges like parks over the freeway. ▶ 📄
Peter Van Meter — In Favor: Advocated for supporting school unification to provide integrated education and foster understanding among children from diverse backgrounds. ▶ 📄
Mike N. — In Favor: Requested investment in Marin City for business development and self-sufficiency, shared his business experiences, and offered nonprofit collaboration. ▶ 📄
Betsy Stroman — In Favor: Supported the residents' plan for Golden Gate Village renovations, referencing David Brooks on neighborhood expertise, and urged council backing. ▶ 📄
Chris Durbin — Against: Called for reparations, support for Golden Gate Village plan, and addressed racist treatment in schools, criticizing the council's lack of apology and amicus brief. ▶ 📄
Carlo Berg — In Favor: Shared his mixed-race background, emphasized education and economic empowerment, offered internship opportunities, and defended council members' commitment to historic representation. ▶ 📄
Elias Karkabi — In Favor: Praised the composure of BIPOC speakers, highlighted the invisibility of Marin City, and called for restitution and reparations to empower the community. ▶ 📄
Anne Lee — In Favor: Suggested an independent task force with Marin City and houseboat community representation to hold the council accountable and ensure inclusive decision-making. ▶ 📄
Jameer Reynolds — In Favor: Clarified the Frederick Leon Marcus Youth Academy focuses on life-saving skills, financial literacy, and community service, not police training, and invited community engagement. ▶ 📄
Damien — Against: Asserted that white America owes Black people reparations, criticized unequal playing fields in cannabis policies, and demanded meaningful action over meetings. ▶ 📄
Steven Allison — Against: Questioned Sausalito's existence due to racist redlining, called for disincorporation, defunding police, and giving power to excluded neighborhoods. ▶ 📄
Sabrina Clifton — Against: Argued that anti-racism requires anti-capitalism, described police as enforcers of capitalism, and called for divesting from police and addressing systemic oppression. ▶ 📄
Neda — In Favor: Promoted Marin City Friends and Neighbors for Sovereignty to make Marin City its own city, empowering residents with voice and financial stake. ▶ 📄
Alice Merrill — In Favor: Urged action on school integration, Golden Gate Village support, and ending white silence, emphasizing backing Marin City leadership. ▶ 📄
Jacques — In Favor: Recommended light industry zoning in the Marinship to blend communities and improve commercial facilities serving both Sausalito and Marin City. ▶ 📄