| Time | Speaker | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00:15.72 | Walfred Solorzano | Tobieski. And council members, this special and regular meeting of December 17, 2024, is being held in council chambers located at 420 Little Street. Staff and members of the public are also participating through Zoom. This meeting is being broadcast live on the city's website and on cable TV channel 27. |
| 00:00:38.66 | Steven Woodside | Thank you very much, C. Clerk. Would you kind of... |
| 00:00:40.30 | Ian Sobieski | Mr. Kyrrhoden has raised his hand. |
| 00:00:41.97 | Steven Woodside | Post. |
| 00:00:43.27 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:00:43.30 | Steven Woodside | Go ahead, Mr. |
| 00:00:43.97 | Walfred Solorzano | Mr. City Attorney. I think he just wants to be made a panelist. |
| 00:00:48.95 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:00:48.97 | Shelby Van Meter | THE FAMILY. |
| 00:00:49.04 | Ian Sobieski | OK. |
| 00:00:49.12 | Shelby Van Meter | Okay. |
| 00:00:49.19 | Ian Sobieski | . |
| 00:00:49.24 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. We need to do this at the end of the meeting. in the future. Sorry, go ahead. |
| 00:00:52.98 | Ian Sobieski | Sorry, go ahead. I just thought there was something he wanted to say about our |
| 00:00:54.40 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 00:01:00.90 | Steven Woodside | CALL THE ROYAL CITY CLEAR. |
| 00:01:03.67 | Walfred Solorzano | Council member of Lostin. |
| 00:01:04.14 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:01:05.03 | Steven Woodside | Here. |
| 00:01:05.74 | Walfred Solorzano | Council member Huffman, not here yet. Council member Cummins. |
| 00:01:10.30 | Steven Woodside | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 00:01:10.35 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:01:10.38 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:01:10.40 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Vice Mayor Cox? Here. And Mary Sobieski? Here. |
| 00:01:13.39 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. All right, so the following items are in closed session. Conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, yes in my backyard versus the city of Sausalito. and then Conference with Real Property Negotiation, 750 Bridgeway Associator Center for the Arts. Is there any public comment on these two items? |
| 00:01:34.03 | Walfred Solorzano | seen none. |
| 00:01:35.51 | Steven Woodside | All right, we'll close public comment and we will return at 7 p.m. Thanks. It was a pleasure to use the gavel almost one last time. No report out from our closed session, and we will move on now with beginning our last city council meeting of the calendar year by reciting the pledge of allegiance. Will you please stand? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. There are no special presentations. We will now move on to adopting the minutes from the December 3rd, 2024 meeting. Is there any public comment about these minutes? Any persons that would like to hear |
| 00:02:20.97 | Walfred Solorzano | I'd like to provide public comment over at the table by the TV. There are some speaker slips, and you can turn those over to us. And if you're on Zoom, you can use the raise hand function. Seeing none. |
| 00:02:31.65 | Steven Woodside | All right, thank you. We'll close public comment. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? There's a motion, is there a second? |
| 00:02:38.62 | Steven Woodside | I wanted to... Item 4A in the minutes doesn't indicate that we opened and closed the public hearing, which we ultimately did. So I would like to amend the minutes for 4A to demonstrate that we... held the public hearing. |
| 00:02:56.75 | Steven Woodside | Without objection, will you add that to the minutes that will be approved with the motion initiated by Councilmember Kelman? |
| 00:03:03.38 | Steven Woodside | I'll second the motion regarding the amended minutes. |
| 00:03:07.46 | Steven Woodside | Seconded by... Vice Mayor Cox, all in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? |
| 00:03:11.53 | Steven Woodside | Hi. |
| 00:03:13.22 | Steven Woodside | The motion carries unanimously. We'll now move on to the consent calendar. These are items that will be passed with one unanimous motion, but any city council member may remove them. if they so wish. The council consent calendar items are 3A, adopt a resolution certifying the results of the general municipal election held on November the 5th, 2024, declaring the result... and such other matters as provided by law 3b authorized the city manager to execute an amended professional services agreement with robert brown in an amount of 13 065 for a total cost not to exceed a contract amount of 108 280 3c adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a maintenance and operation agreement with the sausalito marine city sanitary district to support the cost of one full-time equivalent position and service truck in an amount estimated to be up to $268,720 annually, plus variable costs for equipment, materials, and engineering services from sewer enterprise funds. 3D, receive and file the City of Sausalito Bicycle Parking Program Report for the 2024 season. 3E, approve the updated agreement from the County of Marin for Public Safety Dispatch Services in an amount of $350,725 from the General Fund. 3F, receive and file a report related to parking prohibitions under California Assembly Bill 413. And 3G, consider and approve amended and restated lease agreement with the Sausalito Center for the Arts for 750 Bridgeway. Does any Councilmember wish to remove any of these items? Vice Mayor Cox. |
| 00:04:44.96 | Steven Woodside | Um, Mayor, I would like not to remove, but to make one brief change to three E, which is just to add another whereas clause that's consistent with another matter that we're working on. But I would like to remove three F and move that to our January meeting to give us more opportunity to weigh in on alternative means to, um, of to comply with AB 413 without losing 44 parking spaces in town. |
| 00:05:16.45 | Steven Woodside | Okay, so... there's a your your request is to remove 3F and then to continue the item so we're going to remove it and put it on the agenda and then continue it and take public comment on it at that time yes |
| 00:05:26.75 | Steven Woodside | Yes, I would like to continue because Director McGowan is not able to be here. |
| 00:05:30.39 | Steven Woodside | So we'll remove 3F from the consent calendar. Well, here it is, business item, with the expectation that the... |
| 00:05:30.60 | Steven Woodside | WE'LL RUN. |
| 00:05:36.49 | Steven Woodside | At that time, you're going to make a motion to continue the item, but we'll take public comment on 3F on its own separately. 3E, did you describe the additional whereas you wanted to insert? |
| 00:05:47.17 | Steven Woodside | Yes, so I've described it to the city attorney. I simply want to say that whereas this services agreement will terminate upon transfer of the collection services to the district. And I forwarded that language to the city attorney, and he's fine with that. |
| 00:06:03.79 | Sergio Rudin | Sure. |
| 00:06:08.53 | Sergio Rudin | Are you referring to item 3C, the maintenance operation agreement with Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District? |
| 00:06:08.62 | Steven Woodside | Is that true? |
| 00:06:14.69 | Steven Woodside | Yes, 3C. |
| 00:06:15.80 | Sergio Rudin | I'm sorry. So that would be a change to the resolution to suit any whereas clause. |
| 00:06:19.97 | Steven Woodside | Correct. Correct. Just one additional whereas clause. |
| 00:06:24.71 | Steven Woodside | So I was mispronouncing it. It was three C not three E and city attorney. You're okay with that. Whereas, and does anyone here have an issue? |
| 00:06:31.68 | Sergio Rudin | Um, Yes, and let me just read that into the record. So the the provisional would just add a whereas clause that says, whereas the operation maintenance agreement shall automatically cease upon transfer collection services to the district. |
| 00:06:46.62 | Steven Woodside | Okay, that's in the record. Any objection to that change added to the consent calendar? Without objection, it will be added. Any other items to be removed? |
| 00:06:53.67 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, Mr. Mayor, I would request that item 3G be removed from Lincoln St. Calendars. |
| 00:06:58.11 | Steven Woodside | Okay, so 3G will come off and be the first business item Anything else? Okay, is there a motion to approve the consent calendar of, I'm sorry, public comment first of items. So we'll take public comment please on items 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, Al, that's it, and not 3F or 3G. We will hear both of those later in the meeting today. So is there a motion to approve? |
| 00:07:25.58 | Walfred Solorzano | We have public comment. We'll start with Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 00:07:25.62 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. We have. |
| 00:07:26.11 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:07:26.27 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. I'm sorry. |
| 00:07:26.96 | Jill Hoffman | THE FAMILY. |
| 00:07:27.03 | Unknown | Public comment. |
| 00:07:27.47 | Steven Woodside | Public comment, please. |
| 00:07:28.23 | Unknown | We'll start it. |
| 00:07:33.56 | Walfred Solorzano | Where did she go? So... But she is. Okay. |
| 00:07:39.93 | Sandra Bushmaker | Can you hear me? I just saw that I was going to comment on 3G, but I see you pulled it off. and it'll be heard as a business item. So thank you. |
| 00:07:49.60 | Walfred Solorzano | Any other public comment? Seen none. you All right, is there a motion? |
| 00:07:53.85 | Steven Woodside | move we approve items 3a through 3e with 3c uh approve as amended Second? |
| 00:08:02.49 | Steven Woodside | in favor say aye. |
| 00:08:03.42 | Steven Woodside | Bye. |
| 00:08:04.04 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:08:04.09 | Steven Woodside | I'm going to go to the next episode. |
| 00:08:04.41 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:08:05.14 | Steven Woodside | All right, motion carries unanimously. There are no public hearing items. We'll now move on. To the business items, the first will be 3G turned into a business item. Consider and approve the amended and restated lease agreement for the Associated Center for the Arts for 750 Bridgeway. |
| 00:08:16.80 | Ian Sobieski | Mr. Mayor, if I may, I'd just like to begin on this issue. So when we heard this issue at our first meeting or the last meeting of November, there was a question as to the Levine Act and whether or not I should be conflicted from a vote. And I, in fact, did receive an official letter of advice from the Fair Political Practices Commission in the state of California, noting that I am not conflicted on this matter. And for the knowledge of the general public, I have asked that the city clerk attach this item to our agenda. It is attached. If you go online, it's on page five. You can read the letter. in its entirety, which explains why there is no conflict on this item. So I will be participating in the vote for the SCA lease. |
| 00:08:57.41 | Steven Woodside | Thank you very much, Councilmember. |
| 00:08:58.90 | Ian Sobieski | And just to add, I did provide that as well to our city attorney and our city manager so that they might use it going forward for questions that come up with regards to the Living Act. |
| 00:09:07.13 | Steven Woodside | Thank you very much. Any questions for staff or Councilmember Hoffman? |
| 00:09:12.67 | Jill Hoffman | No. The reason I pulled it was to discuss a question that I had asked to Mr. Hess about the financial analysis of adopting the additional – the additional costs for for the structural, sorry, yeah, the capital costs under the new lease. |
| 00:09:33.12 | Sandra Bushmaker | Structural, yeah. |
| 00:09:34.07 | Jill Hoffman | you |
| 00:09:34.13 | Steven Woodside | Sorry. |
| 00:09:34.40 | Jill Hoffman | THE FAMILY. |
| 00:09:37.39 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. Would you like to ask your questions? |
| 00:09:40.48 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. What's your question? Yeah. What is it? |
| 00:09:41.11 | Steven Woodside | What's your question? |
| 00:09:42.13 | Chad Hess | Yeah. |
| 00:09:42.20 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:09:42.24 | Chad Hess | So you're asking what type of repairs or maintenance would the city be responsible for under the new lease? |
| 00:09:49.21 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, it was unclear to me when we had discussed it, um, in addition to reducing, um, the lease cap, um. from I think it was Was it 11,000? |
| 00:09:59.95 | Chad Hess | Originally, yeah, it was over 11,000. |
| 00:10:01.47 | Jill Hoffman | 11,000. |
| 00:10:02.98 | Chad Hess | The city manager recommended 8,000 and council approved 6,000. |
| 00:10:05.17 | Jill Hoffman | THE END OF THE END OF THE And Councilmember Cox or sorry, Vice Mayor Cox also suggested that we accept all of the capital costs with regard to the building, maintaining the building. |
| 00:10:08.49 | Chad Hess | and... |
| 00:10:18.52 | Chad Hess | The structure of the building, yes. The walls, the roof, the exterior of that building, so the structure of it, that is correct. |
| 00:10:20.68 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. |
| 00:10:26.99 | Jill Hoffman | And at that time, we didn't know what that number was. And so. |
| 00:10:30.35 | Chad Hess | That is correct. We are still working through that. We had our property manager, Kimber, go through that property the other day and do kind of initial assessment and provided some feedback. We also are having Veritas, our facilities assessment consultant, is going through that property and is going to provide a report to the city in February is the current expectation of when that report would be available. |
| 00:10:31.19 | Jill Hoffman | And we are so. Yeah. |
| 00:10:56.64 | Chad Hess | That information will help direct us on the capital needs of that structure. |
| 00:11:01.63 | Jill Hoffman | And so at this time, we still don't know what that cost is going to be. |
| 00:11:04.45 | Chad Hess | That is correct. |
| 00:11:05.18 | Jill Hoffman | So at this time, we still don't know what that additional cost is going to be to the city from amending the lease and accepting those additional costs. pursuant to the change in the lease structure. |
| 00:11:16.01 | Chad Hess | That is correct, council member. Okay. |
| 00:11:17.41 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:11:17.46 | Chad Hess | Thank you. |
| 00:11:18.24 | Jill Hoffman | Do we have any idea at all? Any estimates at all? |
| 00:11:24.06 | Chad Hess | No, I'm not qualified to offer that opinion. That would be more of a public works department on those improvements. I know that there are electrical panel upgrades that need to take place. There are HVAC challenges in that structure that need to be repaired, and then also the bathrooms I'm aware of. So there are considerable improvements that need to be made to that structure. At this point, I don't have a dollar value that I can provide or assign to that. |
| 00:11:50.55 | Jill Hoffman | And at this time, the bathrooms are not operational. |
| 00:11:53.20 | Chad Hess | That's my understanding. The upstairs bathrooms. |
| 00:11:56.00 | Jill Hoffman | Are there any other bathrooms there? |
| 00:11:56.05 | Chad Hess | Thank you. I don't know. I don't know the answer. |
| 00:11:59.14 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, thank you. |
| 00:11:59.88 | Ian Sobieski | you |
| 00:12:00.05 | Chad Hess | Thank you. |
| 00:12:00.07 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:12:00.12 | Chad Hess | Thank you. |
| 00:12:00.22 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Any other questions, Councilmember Bosting? |
| 00:12:03.97 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. I'm just wondering, in our general budgeting for the year going forward, when we look at all of our facilities, do we typically have a preemptive assessment of the cost for potential improvements that we're not yet aware of? |
| 00:12:17.38 | Chad Hess | No, we're charting new territory with this facilities assessment and really trying to take a comprehensive look at all of our properties to ensure that we're keeping them safe, we're investing in them and maintaining those facilities. |
| 00:12:30.46 | Ian Sobieski | But in your budgeting, when you're considering the general fund, you've been generally facilities assessments and potential costs for facilities. |
| 00:12:33.62 | Chad Hess | No. |
| 00:12:37.92 | Chad Hess | We plan for general repairs and maintenance in a lot of our facilities, but this is above and beyond, and this is new information that is developing after we prepared our fiscal year 24-25 budget. So it will be part of the mid-year process. We're going to have to assign some additional dollars for some of these improvements. Very much so. |
| 00:12:58.36 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, Vice Mayor. |
| 00:13:00.96 | Steven Woodside | And indeed, this lease is not the only one for which Sausalito is responsible for capital repairs for the properties it leases. Is that right? |
| 00:13:08.23 | Chad Hess | That is correct. |
| 00:13:08.99 | Steven Woodside | And indeed, we incurred significant costs this year with respect to another property that we own that is not a nonprofit but is actually a for-profit large business. Is that not correct? |
| 00:13:20.68 | Steven Woodside | That is correct, Vice Mayor. |
| 00:13:21.76 | Steven Woodside | Thanks. |
| 00:13:22.98 | Steven Woodside | Councilmember Kelman. |
| 00:13:24.46 | Janelle Kelman | Yeah, and just to clarify, it's been a while since we heard this. Maybe city manager, can you remind us, you had recommended that we set the lease rate at $8,000 a month. Is that right? |
| 00:13:35.72 | Chris Zapata | That was then, this is now, there was a vote last time this came forward to take a $6,000 look at it, $6,000 fee assessment as requested by the SEA board. And so when the council directed us to bring this back, it was convoluted by the question of can the council actually vote on this because there was this whole question of the Levine Act. And so the earlier statement by Councilmember Blaustein now presents this as a new opportunity if you so choose as a council to you know undo what you were directed us to do last time I mean that's your call we we are here to make recommendations and follow through on your direction and so when when we recommended that the lease be $8,000 a month and the council directed us to charge $6,000 a month and to look at the cost that might be incurred with some of these capital items, we followed suit and started that process, and that's what Chad was referring to. |
| 00:14:34.81 | Janelle Kelman | Thank you, Senator. |
| 00:14:36.28 | Steven Woodside | Okay, let's take public comment, please, Mr. City Clerk. |
| 00:14:40.92 | Jill Hoffman | I'm sorry, I have a I have just one clarification and follow-up question. I'm looking at the agenda right now. There's a, the, The attorney letter from Council Member Blaustein, I don't see it attached to the agenda right now. |
| 00:14:56.77 | Steven Woodside | Page five of the agenda as she announced. It's not attached to the specific item. |
| 00:15:00.89 | Jill Hoffman | Oh, pardon me. Okay. Oh, pardon me. Oh, gotcha, gotcha. Okay. I thought it was a touch on that. All right. |
| 00:15:06.05 | Walfred Solorzano | We have Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 00:15:13.41 | Sandra Bushmaker | Hello? |
| 00:15:13.90 | Walfred Solorzano | you |
| 00:15:13.96 | Sandra Bushmaker | you |
| 00:15:14.84 | Steven Woodside | I can hear you. Go right ahead. |
| 00:15:15.89 | Sandra Bushmaker | Oh, you can hear me. We've got a new system. I just like to request that the council members speak into the microphone because we when you turn your head, we can't hear you in it. We lose quite a bit. I just have a couple items that I would like to note for the record. We never did a request for proposals for the SEA building, as stated in the staff report. We did a request for ideas. And I do think there is a difference between those two processes, and I would like that noted. So I would also like noted that it appears and doing some arithmetic that based on the loan requirements that the city is required to pay, we will have a net additional cost of $7,109 as a result of this lease modification. plus the cost of the major major repairs. And I think the public should know that I'm particularly concerned because we have other Expanses, we have unfunded police officer positions in our police department. And I just want that noted in the record that we are taking on $7,000 a month for this particular lease, plus the cost of these major repairs. And that's all I have. Thank you very much. |
| 00:16:35.49 | Walfred Solorzano | No further public comment? |
| 00:16:36.79 | Steven Woodside | All right, we'll close a couple of... |
| 00:16:37.75 | Unknown | you Thank you. We just had somebody raise your hand. Oh, no, not for the public comment. All right. |
| 00:16:41.29 | Steven Woodside | All right, we'll close public comment, please. Any discussion here before we vote? |
| 00:16:46.30 | Steven Woodside | I move we approve the amended and restated lease agreement with Sausalito Center for the Arts for 750 Bridgeway. |
| 00:16:53.63 | Steven Woodside | Okay, motions made and seconded. All in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose? |
| 00:16:57.80 | Shelby Van Meter | Bye. |
| 00:16:58.15 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:16:59.74 | Shelby Van Meter | No, no. |
| 00:17:00.66 | Steven Woodside | Okay, motion carries three to two. Let's move on to three F. That's the item pulled from consent, receive and file a report related to parking provisions under California Assembly Bill 413. The vice mayor already stated her reasons for pulling it. Is there any public comment on that item? Seeing none. None online. We'll close public comment. You want to make a motion? |
| 00:17:23.09 | Steven Woodside | I move we continue item 3F to a date certain, our first meeting in January for further discussion with the Director of Public Works. Second. |
| 00:17:38.43 | Steven Woodside | Motion made and seconded. All in favor say aye. |
| 00:17:40.66 | Steven Woodside | I... |
| 00:17:41.20 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:17:41.21 | Steven Woodside | Opposed? Motion carries unanimously. We'll now move on to business items. The next business item, which is adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the memorandum of understanding between the city of Sausalito and the Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District to transfer sewer collection services. Mr. City Manager, would you like to? |
| 00:18:01.33 | Chris Zapata | Thank you, Mayor, members of the council, members of the public. I want to first begin by thanking you all and the board of the Sassuva Marin City Sanitary District and their general manager for their work on this particular effort, and especially like to thank Council Member Kelman and Council Member Hoffman for their work as members of the sewer committee. I want to start with some general stuff so that we can all kind of get our arms around this because it's a big thing. first and foremost you know I think everyone can agree that the sanitary and I want to start with some general stuff so that we can all kind of get our arms around this because it's a big thing. First and foremost, you know, I think everyone can agree that the sanitary and safe disposal of sewage is essential for public health, protecting water quality, environmental health, and supporting economic activity. Without sewage, you don't have a civilized society, so that's really important. Our Sewers Enterprise in Sausalio currently is a legally separate enterprise fund, and what that means is any revenues we collect from sewer bills go into the sewer system, not into the general fund, not into the Thailand's fund, not in any fund, but that fund. So that's what an enterprise fund in a legal term is. What's going on in Sausalito is the residents currently have a long-standing sewer system that is split between the city of Sausalito and the Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District. And what that means is we have two distinct government agencies. We have two different oversight boards. We have two different workforces. We have two different oversight boards we have two different workforces we have two different billings we have two different rate reviews we have different communications that we do that we do differently than the district and district does differently than us so all of that is complicated and to unwind that and make that simpler is one of the objectives of this exercise so this, that what the city does do is we provide collection services and the district provides treatment services and they move the effluent. conveyance of it. In 2020, the city council formally began the work of exploring the effectiveness of combining the city system with the district system. As part of this process, the city was requested to make a full inspection of its 21 miles of city pipes and facilities, which we did, and presented it to the city council and the district. That was about a year ago that we presented that and showed you condition of the pipes that we have and tiered them into five categories and that was done by our consultant Vivian Housen. Last year at the City Council strategic planning session a priority of the City Council was to work to streamline the critical this critical service with the Marine City Sauceloo Sanitary Sewer District to do two things predominantly gain economies of scale and enhance resident service from sewage and an understanding of what they're getting So since then, the city and the district have engaged over the past year to work on and identify steps necessary for the district and the city to transfer their portions or the city to transfer its portion of the collection system to the district. That's been a very involved process in which the sewer subcommittee has been involved, The district board, the district subcommittee, the district staff, our legal counsel have all been involved in. One of the aspects of that was the local agency formation commission, LAFCO, and what would happen if this were to occur. There was some questions asked from the legal standpoint as to was LAFCO to be involved or LAFCO not to be involved. And the answer came back from the council at LAFCO that it was the district's call as to involve LAFCO or not. And the city was essentially a bystander. The district elected to not go through the LAFCO process. They'd rather streamline it and go straight city to district and district city and staff would support that. So in this work, one of the outcomes is is what you have in front of you tonight, which is a memorandum of understanding. What is a memorandum of understanding? What is an MOU? It's a... non-binding formal agreement to provide specifics so the city and the council can try to reach the goal of transferring services from the city to the of Sausalito to the Sausalito Marin Sanitary District so what we're doing right now is providing you a a pathway in which to achieve this that will be followed down the road if this is approved to create a schedule but there are specific components of this that need to be understood by the public first and foremost there has to be an assessment and understanding of the condition of the collection system which we did that was a study done by housing and associates identifying our 21 miles and what condition they were in and providing that to the district which they have there has to be an agreement on the responsibilities in transferring equipment there has to be consideration of hiring two of the three city employees currently on staff that's the district's request We have to provide all related documents that we have that involve our sewer system. We have to engage in public outreach with the district to notify the public of the city's intent to transfer services to the district. We have to commit to collaboration and communication in a future relationship with the district. We have to work with the district on the fiscal aspects of it, including the transfer of bond debt. The city has a current bond loan with our own enterprise, which has to be satisfied through the bond covenants and the bondholders. There has to be acceptance of that by not only the bondholders and the bondholders, in the city, but also the district as well. So that's gonna be something that's gonna take some work. And then we have a couple of things that are part of the financial aspect of it, which are we have a state revolving loan fund, and we also have some legacy pensions that we need to resolve through this memorandum of understanding process. So as we determine the legal and administrative needs and issue, We would be coming back to the city council with some more concrete information. This is just the beginning. It's important to take this step to build that roadmap, to adopt a schedule, so this system could be transferred if that's what the city so wants to do, and that's what the district agrees to. One of the things I will say is the city of Sausalito may not be known to the public, but it's known to city council and city staff. We were under an administrative order from the Environmental Protection Agency since 2008, along with the district. Through the work to document the management of sewage and wastewater over that period of time, we requested and appealed that this decision be removed and so we received a letter from region nine saying that they granted that to the city so we're no longer under administrative order from the environmental protection agency which is a good thing and the district is no longer under that same order theirs was removed as well so that concludes the information I have for you mayor and council in public thank you very much happy to answer in |
| 00:25:14.93 | Steven Woodside | Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. Are there questions, please, for our City Manager? To Councilman Kellman. |
| 00:25:16.33 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:25:20.15 | Janelle Kelman | Thank you. THE END OF THE END OF THE Thank you very much, City Manager. So a member of the Council, so let me start with some questions. Does the MOU contain a provision for closure of the system following transfer of Saucedo's collection system? We've discussed that in prior meetings. |
| 00:25:36.52 | Chris Zapata | I apologize, but it does not, and that would be something that we would want to incorporate into our MOU process going forward. |
| 00:25:44.53 | Janelle Kelman | Okay, we saw consolidation a long time ago with Southern Marine Fire. So spurred on by that, given that the transfer of service will result in the transfer of significant services for Saucedo residents, now overseen by the Saucedo City Council, is there any provision for ensuring that Saucedo residents are able to participate in the governance of the district? |
| 00:26:06.52 | Chris Zapata | Again, a memorandum of understanding is a document that is non-binding. And these two items, that item that you mentioned about service expansion and about governance are really important ones and we miss those. You know, that's what happens when you have changeover of staff over a four or five year period. Something gets lost in that time frame. So we definitely would want to bring those forward as part of an MOU and final agreement. |
| 00:26:33.01 | Janelle Kelman | A couple more questions, and that's okay. So I know there's a capital condition assessment and understanding. I think 2021 was the first year that the district began to look at sea level rise in its planning, and we all know where the district is located. How is that contained in this assessment and understanding, and how is the work that we're doing with KD, with WRT for our vulnerability assessment play into that? |
| 00:26:55.27 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:26:55.39 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. As part of this particular document, there isn't a specific language, but there is an intent on our end and on the district's end. They've spent a big sum of money. I toured their facilities about three months ago to, you know, make their facilities more climate resilient. You know, they're doing work around what we call the Block 303 area to make sure that, you know, the bay is protected, you know, and that's been a heavy lift as well. And then as part of the analysis that we have, if you look at the Vivian Hausen report, you know, there is, you know, a rating of all of the status of each of the five, the pipe, the 21 miles, in which five is bad and one is good, and we have some that are five, and I'm not sure if those are along the waterfront, but we can certainly take a look because that would be important. We don't want to have a compromised collection system because we failed to plan and look at anything related to climate change or sea level rise. |
| 00:27:59.77 | Janelle Kelman | Okay, yeah, I would strongly urge that we include that and have a risk mitigation factor around that. We own the conveyance, but they, of course, have the treatment. And there are some areas, including the pump stations, there are low-lying areas of Lumberjway. So I guess my additional question is, you may not know this, but we handle waste that comes all the way from Amir Woods. It goes through TAM, it comes into us, and then goes through our city to the district. My understanding from prior discussions was that after this transfer, the district would close its system and not undertake any additional collection obligations. I don't see that in the MOU. Was that discussed? |
| 00:28:37.16 | Chris Zapata | Yeah, that's been a miss on our part again. I thought that's what you were referring to earlier with us closing the system, having language in it that says we don't want it to be such a large system that, you know, SOS that was forgotten in governance or it becomes too large to manage in terms of the operation and maintenance of it. So, yeah, I think that's a fair conversation to have with the district. |
| 00:28:59.25 | Janelle Kelman | Okay, and last question is about staffing and Chad, you may wanna weigh in. We talked a little bit about the sewer fund. Why is the district only gonna hire two of our three sewer maintenance staff? And if they only need two of the three, why are we separately planning to pay an additional FTE for operations and maintenance? |
| 00:29:17.16 | Chris Zapata | So that's a hard question for me to answer because I'm not Kevin, but I'll do my best. We are only planning to hire two people in our department. We had three when this process was started. We have since lost one. If this goes forward, we don't intend to hire another person. I think the sewer services agreement that was earlier approved by the council is a way to fill that gap for operational and system needs. So we're happy or we're content with the fact that we wouldn't have to, they wouldn't have to lay someone off if we had three and there were two. We have two and we'll keep two for the time being. If this slows down significantly, we may have to revisit this. |
| 00:30:00.12 | Janelle Kelman | Okay, and then maybe for the city attorney, do we have a copy of the 1953 and 1958 agreement and subsequent amendment that this agreement replaces? Do we actually have copies of that? |
| 00:30:10.75 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, we do. I'm happy to forward those to council if you would like copies of them. |
| 00:30:15.41 | Janelle Kelman | Thank you, thank you, City Manager. |
| 00:30:17.30 | Steven Woodside | Vice Mayor. |
| 00:30:19.48 | Steven Woodside | I noted in the MOU there's language about each party bearing the total attorneys fees and consultant costs. I wonder if it would be clearer to say each party to bear their own attorney and consultants costs. |
| 00:30:39.58 | Steven Woodside | This is directed to the city of the Hernia. |
| 00:30:41.28 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, I believe, yes. Yes, we should make that revision. That is non-substantive. |
| 00:30:45.36 | Steven Woodside | that. And then I wonder also if we, you know, right now, it only shows the principal's signing. I know that we've both had the benefit of counsel and indeed the, agreement recites that we've had the benefit of counsel from our respective attorneys. And so is it possible to add approved as to form by the attorneys for each attorney? agency. |
| 00:31:10.52 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, that definitely is a change we can make. |
| 00:31:13.54 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:31:13.93 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:31:15.40 | Steven Woodside | Any other questions? Councilmember Hoffman. |
| 00:31:18.57 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you, city attorney. I feel like this is an initial presentation, and I feel like that this is going to come back to us again with a more in-depth explanation and how impacts, based on some of the questions that Councilmember Kelman has asked, and a more in-depth presentation of how the, what are we calling this, an expansion of service? Correct. a transfer no no it's not and a more in-depth presentation of how the, what are we calling this, an expansion of service? Correct. A transfer, no, no, it's no longer a transfer. Is it an expansion? |
| 00:31:46.13 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 00:31:46.15 | Sergio Rudin | Correct. Thank you. It's a transfer of service and assets. |
| 00:31:53.71 | Jill Hoffman | So we've gone through another. Okay. Well, it was a consolidation. It was an expansion, but now it's a transfer. Very well. I'm happy to accept whatever term is the current term. But I, especially because of the caution that we all feel based on previous metamorphosis of services with different agencies here in Sausalito, that the community is going to want a much more in-depth description of what's going to happen and how we're going to be impacted by that. And that's going to happen before this actually goes into effect. I'm assuming that tonight is not the night where we're going to approve. This is just the initial explanation. Thank you. The MOU, |
| 00:32:44.97 | Steven Woodside | actually calls for the community meetings. |
| 00:32:46.63 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT. |
| 00:32:47.02 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:32:47.03 | Jill Hoffman | approving committee at the MOU. Well, I'm actually the city manager. |
| 00:32:47.42 | Steven Woodside | I'm actually... |
| 00:32:49.41 | Chris Zapata | Yeah, so absolutely. This is a non-binding action that you're taking tonight, if you take it. In the agreement itself, it speaks to public engagement that is a part and parcel to this current MOU, that that must happen. And certainly before anyone would sign on a dotted line that this is final, you'd have to have more public input, more council review of the actual final documents. An MOU is just a starting point. |
| 00:32:49.97 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:32:50.02 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you for that. |
| 00:33:17.61 | Jill Hoffman | So this is just the first step in what will be a long process. |
| 00:33:21.07 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. I'm hoping it's not long. |
| 00:33:24.28 | Jill Hoffman | Give me your estimate of what the next steps are going to be. |
| 00:33:27.01 | Chris Zapata | Well, I would hope that we would target by the end of this fiscal year to get this done, because there are a couple of reasons. One is we're building a budget, and, you know, if we have the sewer enterprise in our budget for the coming year, that complicates how we move forward in that regard. Secondly, you know, as we try to figure out our risk profile, the things that we can do to mitigate risk, this would be something that I believe would be helpful in that vein as well. I understand there's history in the community over the district, the fire district and fire department transfers, and that's all water under the bridge, but it's got people's eyebrows raised a little bit. This is not that. This is a totally different thing. The money that comes in comes from the rate payers. Unlike the property tax segmentation in the fire district situation, this one is you've approved rates for three years. Those rates are there. They'll stay there. If, in fact, the district takes it over, as we would hope, sooner than later, then it's their obligation to look at the rates to pay for all the things that the system requires, which we Thank you. fact the district takes it over as we would hope sooner than later then it's their obligation to look at the rates to pay for all the things that the system requires which we are doing and we're doing it halfway we're not in full control of this is I think maybe the community is confused by that maybe not but it's not a good situation for a city to have half of a utility |
| 00:34:50.72 | Jill Hoffman | And the question, one of the questions, primary questions is going to be, who's going to pay or who accepts the payment or the responsibility for payment of the bonds. |
| 00:35:00.92 | Chris Zapata | That's the financial aspect that we need to work through, Council Member Hoffman, and that's a good question because that's the, I believe it's the place where it either happens or it doesn't. And so we need to have that conversation with the district after we do some financial work on our end to understand the bond covenants and what the process is, and we started that. |
| 00:35:23.04 | Jill Hoffman | So when would we expect to see a full sort of explanation and a full report on the questions that we've discussed here on the dais and how we're going to move forward? |
| 00:35:34.16 | Chris Zapata | So we're going to have to get back with the district to talk about some of these things that are currently in the MOU and get their temperature on them. And we know we should be able to do that in the next, you know, first part of next month and then come back to city council early February and say this is where the district is or isn't. And then keep trying to move the train forward. |
| 00:35:54.11 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:35:54.12 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:35:55.24 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Vice Mayor. |
| 00:35:55.96 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 00:35:55.98 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:35:57.67 | Steven Woodside | One other issue is that the MOU as drafted says that we've already signed the services agreement, which we just approved tonight. So again, Mr. City Attorney, if we can just, you know, approve the MOU subject to the minor revisions to reflect the actual status of the correlating services agreement. |
| 00:36:20.48 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, and so to the extent that Council's inclined to approve the MOU tonight, my recommendation is the items agendizes adopt a resolution, there is no resolution in the packet so I would recommend that your motion be Authorize the city manager to execute the memorandum of understanding in substantially the form presented tonight, subject to modifications as approved by legal counsel. Um, |
| 00:36:47.26 | Steven Woodside | And then would we come back in January to add to the MOU the provisions that Councilmember Kelman raised about governance and about closure of the system? |
| 00:36:59.06 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, if the council wants to direct staff to engage in those discussions with the district, and assuming the district is agreeable to make those amendments, then yes, we would be able to come back with an amended MOU for the council to approve. |
| 00:37:12.12 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 00:37:12.24 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:37:12.26 | Chris Zapata | We'd like that direction tonight, the vice mayor, mayor and council to incorporate the questions that were asked so that we can come back with a ready-made document rather than revisiting it. you |
| 00:37:21.98 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:37:21.99 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 00:37:22.03 | Steven Woodside | Remember, Bluffstein. |
| 00:37:22.99 | Ian Sobieski | Yeah, I just wanted to ask a few questions about the more practical applications of this for Sausalito residents. So when we think about the cost of something like improvements for our pipe system that's something that has if a pipe breaks the potential for millions of dollars in shortfall for infrastructure improvements so if we move forward with this memorandum of understanding for example right now we have a service agreement whereby the district operates four pumps with in partnership with us will they also be taking on liability associated with the maintenance of those storage pipes or where does the shift go with |
| 00:37:56.70 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:37:56.74 | Ian Sobieski | Yes. |
| 00:37:56.79 | Sandra Bushmaker | Yeah. |
| 00:37:56.97 | Chris Zapata | Oh, |
| 00:37:57.33 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:37:57.58 | Ian Sobieski | Yes. So that would significantly reduce our liability as we're thinking about how to decrease our insurance costs, for example. |
| 00:38:05.04 | Babette McDougall | Hopefully. |
| 00:38:05.77 | Ian Sobieski | Okay. Okay, great. I just wanted to make that clear so members of the public understood what the benefits were for this type of agreement and why we've been pursuing it. So thank you. |
| 00:38:14.64 | Steven Woodside | Any other questions? Seeing none, we'll move open public comment, please. |
| 00:38:20.70 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:38:20.72 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. And I'll see you next time. |
| 00:38:21.31 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:38:21.32 | Steven Woodside | Bye. |
| 00:38:21.39 | Sandra Bushmaker | to be able to get the |
| 00:38:22.59 | Steven Woodside | Seeing none. All right. We'll close public comment. Is there a motion? |
| 00:38:25.76 | Steven Woodside | I move we adopt the MOU in significantly the form presented with the revisions discussed from the dais this evening regarding adding approved as to form lines, with updating the provision regarding the date of adoption of the services agreement and revising the clause regarding payment of each party's own attorney's fees and consultant costs with direction to staff to add provisions concerning governance and closure of the system following transfer of Sausalito's collection system. |
| 00:39:06.33 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:39:06.35 | Steven Woodside | Second. |
| 00:39:06.74 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:39:06.91 | Steven Woodside | All right, motion made and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Bye. Okay motion carries unanimously. now move on to 5b the presentation to outgoing city council member janelle kelman by chris sapata our city manager Our city attorney advises me that we need to take public comment on these since they're all agendized as business size so. So. So city clerk, is there any public comment here on five B. |
| 00:39:36.66 | Walfred Solorzano | Yeah, we have Morgan Pierce. Thank you. |
| 00:39:41.20 | Jill Hoffman | See you. |
| 00:39:46.17 | Morgan Pierce | Thank you. Good evening. Good evening, Mayor Sobieski, Vice Mayor Cox, members of the City Council. city staff, and members of our community. My name is Morgan Pierce, former member and chair of the Saucydo Historic Preservation Commission. former member and chair of the Sausalito Planning Commission and current president of Sausalito I've had the distinct pleasure and honor of working with Commissioner Kelman during my tenure on the Historic Preservation Commission and partnering with her as a fellow planning commissioner over a period of several years. During that period, I found Janelle to be a committed hardworking, thoughtful. and compassionate servant to our community. And I learned a great deal about civil service through our many deliberations. I'd love to thank Janelle. profusely for her selfless dedication to our community, for her objectivity. in assessing a wide array of challenging development applications And last but not least, for friendship. I wish her great success in her future endeavors and encourage my fellow Sausalitans to join me in thanking her for her service. Thank you, Janelle. |
| 00:40:59.44 | Walfred Solorzano | All right, we have Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 00:40:59.80 | Jill Hoffman | which is... |
| 00:41:08.98 | Sandra Bushmaker | I want to join in the thank you for Janelle for all of her years of service on the planning commission and on the city council and the endless work she's done on climate change and adaptation and resilience. And kudos to you, Janelle. Thank you so much. |
| 00:41:32.77 | Steven Woodside | Ms. Merrill, did you want to make your comment? Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. |
| 00:41:33.78 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:41:34.12 | Sandra Bushmaker | of the |
| 00:41:34.27 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:41:35.47 | Steven Woodside | To cut in front of you there, Mr. State Clerk, I saw her approaching the dice. Go right ahead, Ms. Merrill. |
| 00:41:39.93 | Alice Merrill | Sorry. I want to thank Janelle, too. I know I get up here and whine and complain about things and argue with you, but I really appreciate what Janelle has done and your sensibility and your thoughtfulness and professionalism. And I thank you in all the years. It's been nice knowing you. Thank you. |
| 00:42:09.56 | Walfred Solorzano | Bye-bye, McDougal. |
| 00:42:15.20 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:42:15.21 | Steven Woodside | Is McDougal? |
| 00:42:15.91 | Walfred Solorzano | you |
| 00:42:21.00 | Babette McDougall | Good evening. So I can now explain that the reason for the delay is it takes a while for the unmute button to present itself. And too bad y'all didn't see my raised hand for earlier items. But I do also want to join in saying thank you, Janelle Kelman. Now, I don't want to repeat everything that everybody said, but I do want to take up where Alice Merrill left off. because she mentioned the professionalism that, Janelle Kelman has consistently demonstrated And I would like to speak specifically to that. I really appreciate and value that this woman started from the ground and worked her way up. There is no better place to learn policy chops than on the Planning Commission, in my opinion. And I really applaud the time that she invested in our planning commission because it has made a world of difference in how she sits at that dais and can run a discussion together on rather complex particularly, you know, infrastructural items in particular. that like nobody else can. I mean, it's thanks to that kind of training and discipline that she has accrued to herself. And finally, I wish her every success going forward. Don't forget Sausalito when you become president of the United States. Thank you so much. or governor of California for that matter. Thank you so much, Janelle. You've done a fantastic job for us. You've brought us into the current century. And it's thanks to you, Janelle, that we are going forward in such a positive way, especially with the mitigation of sea level rise. I'm so pleased that you were able to take that on and bring it to us. We're going to miss you horribly. We're going to really miss you. But we understand that there is a higher calling, and we all support that. Thank you. |
| 00:44:05.95 | Walfred Solorzano | All right. Next speaker is Vicki Nichols. |
| 00:44:11.33 | Vicki Nichols | Good evening Mayor Sobieski and council members. Many of my comments are similar to Thank you. Morgan Pierce says we both served with Janelle on not the HLB, but when she was on planning commission and as planning commissioners, There are many wonderful statements that have just been made about her, but even before she started really her volunteer service, I remember her as a very younger member coming into Sausalito who organized a salon for members of friends that she met to discuss issues and policies. And so she was really reaching out, even at that very early stage, to learn more, to engage the community. And then she just rocketed right off of that trajectory. she's really been a talent that's going to be hard to be replaced in that. She has reached out on her own accord with keeping good reputation to other groups. I've coming to mind is the innovative solution for a different kind of way to do insurance. Sea level rise is, you know, we would not be near in the position that we are without Janelle. So I hope she stays in touch too. I'm really rooting for her and her next adventure. But I have a feeling that she just doesn't ditch people easily. So we hope to see you around Janelle. And thanks for everything. With great affection and a lot of respect. Thank you. |
| 00:45:43.30 | Janelle Kelman | Thank you, Vicki. |
| 00:45:52.82 | Steven Woodside | Mr. Melton. |
| 00:45:53.73 | Charles Melton | Good evening, my name is Charles Melton. I just wanna say thank you, Council Member Kelman, for one, your friendship, and also for being a leader, an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ plus community of Sausalito. Because of you, because of your tireless efforts, we had our first ever Pride celebration here in Sausalito because of you. Our Pride flag, Clyde's here at City Hall. We have a crosswalk downtown where a large history of this town, the LGBTQ plus community has been part of it. But oftentimes you've been hidden in the hills and hidden in the houseboats. You brought great visibility to our community and we couldn't have done it without your leadership, your passion and your advocacy. So thank you for all that you've done for this critical community here in our town of Salcedo. Thank you. |
| 00:46:34.67 | Janelle Kelman | Thank you, Sean. |
| 00:46:43.46 | Walfred Solorzano | I believe that. |
| 00:46:44.10 | Steven Woodside | Okay, we'll close public comment then. Mr. City Manager. |
| 00:46:44.13 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay, well, |
| 00:46:48.00 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. It gives me great, great pleasure to speak to some of the things and maybe repeat some of the things about planning commissioner, former mayor, and Councilmember Kelman. We are certainly grateful for your service to the community and the city during the past three decades. Three decades. Thank you. So Janelle is a very special public service in her rigorous but kind approach to problem solving will be missed by city staff. We will miss that. |
| 00:47:16.55 | Jill Hoffman | No. |
| 00:47:16.70 | Adrian Brinton | to the world. |
| 00:47:16.77 | Jill Hoffman | really |
| 00:47:24.31 | Chris Zapata | Among your many accomplishments, part of the team, sometimes leading the team, sometimes finding resources for the team or a path forward for the team, you united the council to achieve a compassionate and successful resolution of the homeless encampment as mayor. At that time, I believe we were the first city in California to achieve this with a federal court case hanging over them. So that was leadership that you provided. But you were just getting started. The focus and push on the Sea Level Rise Task Force, you actually working to secure $1 million from the state for a coastal adaptation plan. You pushing for the hiring of a talented resilience and sustainability manager. Who's here tonight? Carito Garcia. |
| 00:48:16.68 | Chris Zapata | And you work with our city council and our consultants to acquire grant funding, a million dollars for longstanding needs such as Gate 5 Road and the Tony Street Dock. So thank you for that. As a member of the Finance Committee for two years. you push for transparency and new leadership in the department. And that resulted in our Cracker Jack Finance Director, Chad Hess. |
| 00:48:39.25 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:48:44.86 | Chris Zapata | It's been mentioned, but I know you did many hours of work on the state-mandated housing element. You co-authored the appeal of the housing numbers allocated to SOSU and the methodology. Thank you for that. You served on the Economic Advisory Committee, planting the seeds for a blue economy and innovation ecosystem in the Marin ship. It was mentioned by Charles, you launched SOSU's first ever pride celebration, including the installation of the Rainbow Crosswalks on Which way? You supported the Ferry Landside Improvement Project and the Business Improvement District. You worked as a city council member to create workforce stability by supporting middle-of-the-market pay philosophies, 36-hour work schedule for non-public safety, non-management employees. And so the people here that I work with that are my colleagues, on behalf of them, you know, we certainly thank you. We express our gratitude for your leadership and your service. We wish you the best in all your future endeavors. And we expect to continue seeing you and your impact in Sausalito in California. So I want to present something to you, if I can, on behalf of the organization. |
| 00:50:05.54 | Steven Woodside | The plaque says, the city of Sausalito City Council, Janelle Kelman, in appreciation of your dedicated service, December 8, 2020 to December 17, 2024. Congratulations, but I'm sure we all want to add a word, so maybe I'll kick it off. I met Janelle at the Spinnaker Restaurant when we did the town hall about the future of the town, really. And I was so taken with her. I said, we got to have coffee. And I said, you should run for city council. Little did I know that I would have the incredible, distinct honor to serve with you. And in that time, it was a great time. The challenge, I think, has created a bond of common purpose. And I'm really proud to have migrated my admiration and kept it while developing a friendship. So I won't add to the laundry list of accomplishments, but I know you already have come so far. And the best is yet to come. So congratulations. It's truly been an honor. And best interest. |
| 00:51:09.74 | Steven Woodside | I think, um, |
| 00:51:15.77 | Steven Woodside | At that time, she was the chair of the Planning Commission. So I learned from her because it was my first foray into public service. And then eight years later, I returned the favor. I was the chair of the Planning Commission who had just gotten elected to the city council. And I invited her to apply back to the Planning Commission, which she did. And, of course, she then ran for city council. Something not a lot of people know is that this guy beat me by one vote in 2020 And so I was not on the council in 2021 and 2022, and Janelle faithfully kept in touch with me and solicited feedback and partnered with me as I continued to try to work behind the scenes on things of real importance for Sausalito. And I am so grateful. She's not the only member of this council who did that, by the way, but I'm so grateful to Janelle for doing that. And, you know, through it all, we have just become, you know, it's a privilege to call you my friend as well as my colleague and my partner on the dais. So thank you so much. |
| 00:52:29.63 | Ian Sobieski | Well, I first met Janelle in 2017 when I naively knocked on your door because I did not know who you were, which obviously showed my nevitae because at that point you'd been engaged for over 10 years in our community as a big time leader. And you were so warm to me and you actually invited me in and we talked for, I don't know, almost at least a half hour. And I really liked you right away. And then I figured out how impressive your resume was, which did not surprise me at all, critical you were to the community. So then my admiration grew. And then we got to serve together on the general plan advisory committee, which was some of us up here served on that. And it was quite a lot of fun. Many hours spent. Yes, fun. And then I remember going to coffee with you in 20, like late, mid 2020, just to see like, hey, you know, are you going to run for city council? And at that time I was thinking like, if Janelle's going to do it, I don't really need to, because Janelle is going to be great. And to get to serve alongside you has just been so, rewarding for me because you are like my climate companion every time something needs to come up about resilience or sustainability or climate change we are just always in lockstep and you come up with the most. incredible ideas to have a climate lens to put resiliency first to remind us of that you got a million dollars then another $600,000 just chasing all of the opportunities for making our city of real. beacon and example for what climate resilience can look like. And one thing that you don't talk about from the dais a lot that people might not know that you do is you're actually an international leader in all things sea level rise and climate. You frequently are asked to speak all over the world about sea level rise solutions. You have a nonprofit that you started that focuses on sea level rise solutions. And you're the president of the North Bay League of Cities. So just outside of what you bring to Sausalito, you represent Sausalito's flag so impressively all over. And I've had the opportunity to work with you in the Jewish community. And that's been a really special way for us to bond together and share in our values. And and I'm just really going to miss having you up here. And Bowie's going to miss you, too. And we're going to continue to knock on your door and show up. And I hope you show up on zoom and make lots of frequent public comment and engagement and you are just such a leader for our community for for decades and i hope you continue to stay engaged as you move on to bigger Bigger, but not necessarily better, but bigger things. So you will be missed. |
| 00:54:57.56 | Sandra Bushmaker | big, big, |
| 00:55:08.07 | Jill Hoffman | I'll do the wrap-up. Yeah, you don't know how lucky we are to have had Janelle with us the past four years, to have the incredible talent that she brought to the table and the professionalism. She's just a huge well of talent that she brings to us. We met, I don't know, I think it's 20 years ago at a law firm where we crossed paths briefly I think Stoll Reeves was the law firm and I worked there we worked there as associates briefly and so I walked in and someone said oh yeah you guys live in Sausalito she's on the planning commission We were both, I was a litigator. I think we were both litigation attorneys there for a little bit. And, um, You know, what a delight to work with her on the council. And I was, found out that she was running when I was deployed and we, my phone still worked occasionally and I got a call from her, she said, I'm running. can I have your endorsement? I'm like, well, let me get back, let me get back inside the United States and we'll talk when I get back. And, um, and we did. And of course I endorsed her and she ran and it's been, um, she won handily and thank God. Right. Um, and what a tremendous, tremendous job she's done for the people of Sausalito and you have no idea. I mean, all the things that we've heard up here on the dais, um, You know, today... And tonight, the incredible amount of work that she's done for us and the incredible amount of the mountain of assets that she's brought to the table and how she's brought us into the future on climate change and really led the way, not just for Sausalito, but for the region and for other cities and towns here in our region and led the way along the coast and other coastal cities. It's just tremendous. And so thank you, Janelle, in addition to all the other comments that have been made up here. Thank you for everything you've done, not only for us, but for everybody along the coast and for our community and all the fun that you've brought to us as well. So thank you. All right. |
| 00:57:22.50 | Steven Woodside | All right. So, Councilmember Kalman, future Lieutenant Governor, the last word is yours. |
| 00:57:29.82 | Janelle Kelman | Thank you. I'm not crying. You're crying. No, nobody's crying. Uh, My turn for some thank yous. So I had to write it down. I normally go off script, but I didn't want to miss thanking all of the people who have made this so important. Today I do conclude my official service to Sausalito. Probably not going to reapply for the Planning Commission, don't worry about that. And it is a journey that began over two decades ago. I was a young law firm attorney, a land use attorney, and there was this vacancy on the planning commission and I applied. I didn't really know what it did, but I got it. And here I am. So from my early days as a planning commissioner to my recent role as mayor and member of the city council, each step has strengthened my love for this remarkable community. I've spent 14 years in this room. Sausler has been my home since 2001. And the truth is, I am deeply in love with Sausalito. Never has a place captured so much of my imagination with its beauty and its saltiness. All nestled so close to the trails I love and the water. Wherever I travel when I mention Sausalito, people smile. And as a city council member, I have loved serving. From every extra meeting, to every July 4th parade, to every chili cook-off, this is an amazing place. And together we've achieved so much. We've advanced climate resilience and taken key steps to plan for Salisados infrastructure. We have reinvested in our downtown and built new bridges for the business community. And we have created one of the strongest staffs in City Hall that I've seen. And I worked with six different planning directors, so I know this. It is definitely bittersweet to step down from this dais. And the highlights are many. I've had the honor of helping plan and approve the public safety buildings back in the day. I worked with Saucydo legends like Bill Warner. and Susie Shea. I spent three years developing a vision for Sausalito in our general plan, pushing with council member Blaustein for new features like a sustainability element, more disaster preparedness planning and a path to economic and climate resilience. And then I spent another three years working on Saucino's housing element. Together, we have served through remote meetings, COVID restrictions, economic challenges, and a homeless encampment. I ran as a collaborator and a team player. And I believe I delivered on those promises. |
| 01:00:02.56 | Janelle Kelman | I am so gosh darn proud of the progress we've made together during my time on council. I tried to balance compassion and practicality. These moments have shown me that the decisions we make at the local level can ripple outward in shaping the lives of people far beyond our city limits. But of course, none of this happens in isolation. There are so many volunteers and dedicated members of this community who have supported me. Please allow me to name a few. I want to extend a huge thank you to my planning commission colleagues who took the time to join today. Morgan, Vicki, your dedication and shared commitment to this community is immeasurable. I also wanna thank Phillip Snyder, who is actually the chair when I first served on the commission, who pulled me aside on the bus home and told me I needed to talk more. I guess I solved that problem. I want to thank the inventors and creators and fabricators in the working waterfront. During COVID, you indulged my crazy idea to make face masks. And sure enough, together we fabricated and shipped 15,000 plastic face shields nationwide for free. Reason Bradley is the real mayor of Saucyedal. I want to acknowledge and thank our amazing Sausalito Sea Level Rise Task Force. I see Michelle, and I see Terry back there, Cass, Wilford, Greg, Christina, Lisa. We have thorough planning commission reviews, public hearings, a comprehensive white paper with immediate and long-term recommendations. And ultimately, you supported my efforts to secure a million-dollar check from the state of California to address flooding in Sausalito. If you don't believe Sausalito floods, please see last weekend. I still have a picture of that million dollar check on my phone. Thank you city manager. And what makes me most proud is how wisely we've used that funding, hiring our first ever resilience and sustainability manager and assembling a world class team to lead our vulnerability assessment. And things like this create momentum. This year alone, and a huge thank you to Katie, we secured about a million more dollars in grants for gate five road flooding, the tourney street dock, and to assess the vulnerability of our city owned property along the waterfront. And I also want to offer a heartfelt thank you to the Sausalito Pride Committee, especially Scott Thornburg, Charles Mountain, Wayne Kallick, Michael Rose, Joel Carr, and Ken Fong, I launched the first ever Sausalito Pride celebration as an idea, but these amazing humans have been key to execution. With the support of my council colleagues and the Pride Committee, we gifted Sausalito with rainbow crosswalks and three days of inclusivity and celebration. It's been an incredible run. I also want to thank our amazing city employees, many of whom I've known for a very long time and consider both neighbors and friends. Sabatha, Katie, Brandon, Kevin, Brian, Chad, Walford, Maria, Peter, Kathy, and of course, the chief hiding in the back, to name a few. And there are, of course, many more. From capturing our special moments and amplifying our good work, to working with demanding council members, and emerging victorious with new grant monies, So working through giant planning documents with respect and grace. to navigating our aging infrastructure with patience and awareness. and to helping turn ideas into action, whether it was Sausalito Pride or new wind guards at the MLK Pickleball courts. Thank you. I wanna thank our city manager. |
| 01:03:41.41 | Janelle Kelman | I want to thank our city manager Chris Zapata, who this council hired in our first big act together, and who's 30 plus years in that seat as city manager has been a secret weapon for me, for teaching me that ROI also stands for return on involvement. A lesson I'll carry with me. And to my fellow council members, I am deeply grateful. Councilmember Blaustein, for your thought, partnership, and support on all things climate, your commitment to equity, and your solidarity and leadership as a fellow Jewish elected official. I thank you. |
| 01:04:28.32 | Janelle Kelman | Mayor Sobieski, for your ability to shake the snow globe, and encourage this lawyer dominated counsel to think outside the box. and for your dedication to following through on projects you believe in. I thank you. |
| 01:04:51.17 | Janelle Kelman | Vice Mayor Cox. for your long time friendship, your collegiality, your professionalism and your diligence. from our time on the planning commission to now on the city council, your expertise and direction on critical policy and legal overlaps has been invaluable. I thank you. |
| 01:05:16.26 | Janelle Kelman | And to Councilmember Hoffman. For your amazing guidance as mayor during my first term on this beautiful council, your pragmatic approach to problem solving, and your willingness to dig deeply into the issues you care so deeply about for a community you care so deeply about. I thank you. |
| 01:05:40.12 | Janelle Kelman | And finally, I want to thank the people of Sausalito. You were the heart of this community. Serving as your mayor has been the honor of a lifetime. While my role in the council is ending, I will always remain an advocate for this city. And I'm excited to see the seeds we plan to continue to grow in the years to come. Before I conclude, I'm just going to ask my council members and city manager to pull out what I've given to you in your bag. Cause nobody ever wants to be forgotten. So I've stubbornly come to you with |
| 01:06:16.14 | Steven Woodside | A kerchief. |
| 01:06:17.62 | Janelle Kelman | pocket squares. |
| 01:06:28.71 | Janelle Kelman | And since I still have the mic and it's still on, I'm going to embarrass myself with one last thing. I was asked in the EDAC meeting yesterday, was it Scott? The Sausalito have a poet laureate. And I thought, well, I've got free time. Right? One of my favorite poets is Mary Oliver. It urges us to pay attention and be astonished and tell about it. So I wrote a poem. And my effort and style akin to Mary Oliver, and it's called For Sausalito. |
| 01:07:09.66 | Janelle Kelman | I am deeply in love with this place. where salt air tangles with dreams, and trails meet water meets sky. Sausalito. Name it and watch smiles bloom. A town that holds imagination like a harbor holds light Here I learned the art of care. drafting plans, building safety into foundations, raising questions against the rising tides, I've seen the waterfront hold its stories while waves come to whisper change. In a year when the world stopped and we stitched shields from plastic and sent them to strangers, it felt good to be a part of something bigger. And so I stayed to fight for what I love. Campaigns under stars six feet apart. Conversations like tides pulling truth to shore. |
| 01:08:01.77 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:08:08.96 | Janelle Kelman | I walked the stories of this campus with my chosen family. Learn to read the currents, the pride in the boats, and the fear in the floods. Sea level rises, but so do we. a million dollar check in my hand and a task force with answers. Solutions built plank by plank. We hired resilience and we found wisdom in the winds. As mayor, I saw the city through the lens of care, housing shaped by values and compassion balanced on the edge of a homeless encampment. Big victories gleamed, but small winds sang. A pickleball court's wind guard. A dock restored for our community. We have planted seeds in stormy soil and trust the sun to guide us. Sausalito, I leave this role. and not this love. Your waters and skies still hold me. Your future still calls. Let us rise together like the tides. Let us ride together at dawn. Thank you. |
| 01:09:25.24 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:09:44.59 | Steven Woodside | We will do a picture, sure. I want to come up to the middle and behind the dais. You want to be in front of the dais. You want to come right here. You want to be in front, right here. Come in. |
| 01:09:46.31 | Peter van Meter | Thank you. |
| 01:09:58.43 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:09:58.51 | Sandra Bushmaker | Oh, excellent. |
| 01:10:00.03 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 01:10:00.22 | Sandra Bushmaker | So, |
| 01:10:00.23 | Steven Woodside | Someone in the audience take a picture. This is sitting there. |
| 01:10:00.56 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you very much. |
| 01:10:01.35 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:10:03.71 | Shelby Van Meter | Anybody? Anybody. Well, first thing I got this. |
| 01:10:08.35 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:10:10.51 | Shelby Van Meter | Did you be in the middle? |
| 01:10:11.80 | Steven Woodside | I thought I was gonna sit in the middle. |
| 01:10:12.28 | Shelby Van Meter | that's it. Let's go. |
| 01:10:16.94 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:10:16.96 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 01:10:17.08 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:10:17.24 | Shelby Van Meter | Bye. |
| 01:10:17.40 | Steven Woodside | that too. Yeah, it'll be actually in the mail. |
| 01:10:17.43 | Sandra Bushmaker | THE FAMILY. |
| 01:10:17.60 | Janelle Kelman | Thank you. |
| 01:10:20.06 | Sandra Bushmaker | are pocket squares. |
| 01:10:20.96 | Steven Woodside | I have a pocket, which you've got. |
| 01:10:21.09 | Sandra Bushmaker | I have a pocket. That's... |
| 01:10:22.98 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:10:27.88 | Shelby Van Meter | Don't shoot. |
| 01:10:37.09 | Shelby Van Meter | Oh, my God. That was beautiful. |
| 01:10:39.30 | Sandra Bushmaker | Add that to me. No, no. |
| 01:10:49.76 | Steven Woodside | Yeah, at the risk of inciting some sort of complaint from the public, I will off agenda hereby appoint you the Poet Laureate of Sausalito for the remainder of this meeting. Uh-huh. And wish you fair winds in following seas. Thank you. Well done. And now we'll move on to item 5C, which I hope will be the much briefer presentation of outgoing to outgoing Mayor Ian Sobieski, myself, by our city manager, Mr. Chris Zapata. But again, we have to take public comment on this item. So, Mr. City Clerk, is there any public item on 5C? |
| 01:11:31.07 | Steven Woodside | We have some people coming up. No, they say. These are all the Janelle fans can leave. Well, look. |
| 01:11:40.29 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:11:40.93 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:11:40.96 | Walfred Solorzano | We'll start online. We'll start with Babette McDougall. |
| 01:11:52.61 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. So, Mr. Mayor, I know that you and I don't always agree politically. And I know that you and I have certainly gone nose to nose over more than one issue this past year and last year, too. But I thank you so much for stepping up to volunteer yourself as a civil servant, a servant of the people of this town. I've seen you actually mature a great deal this past year. And I'm glad of that. And I'm glad to know that you have taken this job seriously. I wasn't too sure at first. but watching you perform over the last two years I came to really appreciate that. In fact, you do take it seriously after all. So I thank you very much for that. I wish you fair winds going forward. I know you are not stepping away from the dais. unlike our Ms. Kelman, who will go off to bigger... and better opportunities that will be better for us all, I know. But I want to thank you, Mr. Mayor, for your work on behalf of us, we the people of South Salido. Thank you so much. |
| 01:13:14.75 | Lorna Newland | Hi, Lorna Newland, homeowner for 31 years, small business owner here for 22 years. And I want to thank Mayor Sobieski for all his leadership. I wasn't sure exactly which agenda item to speak on, but I wanted to, besides Mayor Sobieski, commend the city manager and city council for following through and especially approving the lease for the SCA. I think I spoke on that in January. And also for the forward thinking of hiring Kimber Company for property management. I've been a tenant at MLK for 19 years now, and it's really important for all of us. So I want to commend all of city council for your service because I know it's tireless and especially the mayor. So thank you very much. |
| 01:14:11.27 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:14:14.66 | Walfred Solorzano | I'm starting to block it. |
| 01:14:17.92 | Marcia Obieski | Marcia Obieski, I just want to thank you so much for your leadership and for all of the positive change that you've helped lead us through. And just helping us create a Salsalita renaissance. So just been very excited. Love the new Ferry Plaza that I know all of you were in support of. But it's looking amazing. I think they just removed some of the fencing. And I keep hearing people, they're so excited about being down there and having a beautiful space. And your leadership was critical to that. The PBID, we're super excited to see everything that's happening, starting to happen downtown with that. And the SCA. So just wanted to thank you for your leadership and for helping us navigate change. I think that's happening, starting to happen downtown with that and the SCA. So I just wanted to thank you for your leadership and for helping us navigate change. I know it's not always easy, so thank you. |
| 01:15:00.19 | Sandra Bushmaker | Good. |
| 01:15:05.62 | Shelby Van Meter | Hi, I'm Shelby Van Meter. I have. Ian, years ago now, of one morning at Poets' Corner which I was redoing and Ian lived next door and was very supportive. He came down and sat next to me and he said, Shelby, I think I'd like to run for the city council. Would you support me? And he didn't really know anyone. He'd never been to a council meeting, I think. Is that true? Sort of. And I thought, well, sure, of course I'll support you. I like you a lot, and I know you will be... you work very hard, and sure enough, He won the election, and... So I'm very proud of you, Ian, in my own way. And I thank you for all you've done. I love that you think out of the box. I love how creative you are. I love how you follow through. And I love how you make a point of meeting individuals in the community. It seems every time I turn around, you're having coffee or lunch with someone else. And I know that one by one by one, you have made a huge difference in making contact with the community members. And I know that's very much appreciated. So I thank you for everything. I've loved watching you become mayor and navigate the waters, and you've done a great job. So thank you for everything, Ian. You're appreciated. Thanks so much. A lot. |
| 01:16:36.41 | Steven Woodside | Anyone else, Mr. City Clerk? I think that's it. Okay. Okay. We'll close public comment then, Mr. City Manager. |
| 01:16:44.29 | Chris Zapata | Thank you, Mayor and Council members of the public. I'm going to do something that I've been tasked to do every year, and I enjoy it because it's an ability to recap the work that's been done by the city council and honor the mayor as the mayor leaves office. So by the numbers, Saucyotl City Council had 26, now 27 city council meetings this year. You considered 342 items as of last agenda, so now it's more than that. So it's closer to 350. Over 90 hours of public meeting you've had in a year. That's an average of 3.6 hours per meeting. And guess what? We appreciate the rigor, and the service and almost volunteer time you put into this community in your roles as mayor and council. So let's start with what's happened in Sausalito. You began the year by proclaiming and honoring and observing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You issued proclamations recognizing Juneteenth, LGBTQ plus Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, gun violence awareness, Alzheimer's and brain awareness, as well as welcoming delegations from our sister cities and adopting a resolution acknowledging loneliness and isolation in older adult communities to support services that enhance the well-being of older residents in Sausalito. And you recently honored Sean Saylor and his family for their contributions to Sausalito. So that's just some of what you've done. You've taken resident talent and volunteerism. You've recognized this. You've conducted interviews and you provided placement of our talented city residents on various city and county commissions and committees. Thank you for that. This past year, you held a strategic planning workshop to direct attention on five priorities. A general fund emergency reserve policy, city insurance, sewer consolidation at the time, property leasesases and a hillside ordinance you adopted a 25% general fund reserve level this year you split it 20 percent for economic shortfall and 5% for budget stabilization and that was a council priority you approved a new risk manager position and third-party claims administrator you You approved a new city insurance policy with public risk innovation solutions and management, another city council priority, so thank you. You held study sessions to provide direction on a draft amended 2023 to 2031 housing element and to begin the adoption of comprehensive objective design and development standards, a state mandate, not a city council priority, a state mandate. You reviewed and approved the 2425 capital improvement program for the city. You heard about our sidewalk challenges and ideas for sidewalk repair. You authorized half a million dollars for the North Street Steps slide repair project. You directed work with the landslide task force to implement recommendations, providing mapping remedial measures and land use regulations in high risk areas through a contract with Miller Pacific. So that's in process. You invested in infrastructure, again, by approving the Edwards Avenue pavement improvement project for approximately one and a half million dollars. You reviewed a comprehensive request for proposal template, and you approved it. And this comprehensive building and facilities assessment is a work in process. We hope to get this done in February sometime. You initiated the sewer rate process, and you uniquely set sewer rate fees after reviewing and hearing public engagement for a three-year term, not a five-year term. You were unique in that regard. You completed the Woodward Avenue sewer main realignment project. You approved and saw the completion of the C-Click Fix app for maintenance and problem solving of city infrastructure and facilities. You authorized electrical vehicle charging stations at City Hall and Dunphy Park with completion at City Hall. You applied for and received over $2 million in grants for Gate 5 Harbor Road, technical assistance, public safety grants, Turner Street Dock grant, Safe Routes to School, and Surrender and Abandoned Vessels program. You authorized the hiring to provide design services for the Ferry Landside Improvement Project, and you awarded a construction contract to spend the grant funds for this project, which were $2.3 million. You begin the implementation and community engagement to complete the Saucyus shoreline adaptation plan. You approved an installation agreement with Climatech to implement conservation measures, create lifecycle savings, and honor prior direction and work done by our Sustainability Commission, our Sea Level Rise Commission, all the different people that have worked in Sausalito to bring this forward, culminated in that action last month. You received a million dollars after making sure that the state and the county understood the homeless situation in Sausalito. That money is predominantly for the Dorothy Gibson House project. That is going to involve housing for two unhoused individuals who will be city employees and that was big. As a million dollars that the state and the county, Senator McGuire, as well as the county of Marin, approving for the city of Sausalito. Monday, you had in the rain. The rain stopped for everybody, which was great. You completed, you funded, you opened the Marinship Park Improvement Project with new pickleball courts. Wind guard's coming. You again authorized and began the process of a business improvement district downtown. You approved a six-month SACHO CENTER FOR THE ARTS TO HOLD THEM AT 4,000. AND THEN WE BROUGHT FORTH A REVISED AGREEMENT WHICH YOU APPROVED TONIGHT, WHICH IS $6,000 PER MONTH WITH ESCALATORS AND CITY RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS. You approved fireworks funding for the best small town fireworks show over the water in Northern California. Congratulations to them. |
| 01:22:54.39 | Chris Zapata | and you the work on the promotion and hosting of the second annual Toast to Sausalito event on Caledonia. You brought over 3,000 people to Sausalito to see our downtown, our Caledonia downtown. You also approved, with some support from staff and the city attorney, our second annual Sausalito boat show at the Clipper Yacht Harbor. Thank you, Councilmember Hoffman, for pushing me on vacation on that day. Got that done. You authorized a property management consultant through a competitive request for proposals process. We have a mini agreement. We're bringing back a longer term agreement in the coming month. You completed new long term lease agreements with New Village School which is the city's second largest tenant rent paying tenant to pair with Licee Francais last year which was rent-paying tenant. You responded to Marin County Grand Jury reports on cyber preparedness, sea level rise, e-bikes. You supported the appointment of Chief Gregory, which allowed for leadership development and opportunity within the police department. You have been doing excellent work on the water. In 2017, the city vessel count on Sosilo water was 93. As of today, it's two. So one of the big things was the work that the team here led by the police department did to remove the Vadura. That was a work, a work, a work. So that was important. You approve safety systems to help our public safety, which is a new camera system to help with crime reduction in our city. And last but not least, put it up there, Wolfert. |
| 01:24:45.24 | Sandra Bushmaker | laughter Thank you. |
| 01:24:51.12 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:24:51.13 | Sandra Bushmaker | I'm sorry. |
| 01:24:52.10 | Chris Zapata | So that's a recap of the year, and now I want to speak a little bit about former council member, Mayor Ian Sobieski. Like all mayors, it goes without saying that there's a great deal of extra work and responsibility, and Mayor Sobieski certainly approached this public service with vision and energy. Let me go back a little bit. I had the good fortune of working with former Mayor Susan Cleveland Knowles when she was on the council. She was a council member then. I've had the pleasure of working with former Vice Mayor Joan Cox in her roles as council member and vice mayor, but not as mayors. I've worked with four mayors in Sausalito, and I want to speak about them individually in a short, brief way, because they've each made their mark in distinct ways. then Mayor Hoffman successfully guided the city through a global pandemic into a more stable financial position. Thank you. Then Mayor Kelman, we've heard a lot about her tonight, climate resiliency, focus on consensus building and resources to acknowledge Sassler's waterfront, planning needs and opportunities. Then Mayor Blaustein was successful in working with the council and community to acquire major infrastructure money through Measure L and spark building and energy efficiency to further bring Sausalito into the 21st century. |
| 01:25:15.59 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:25:15.62 | Jill Hoffman | here. Thank you. |
| 01:26:07.78 | Chris Zapata | Now we're to Mayor Sobieski, the fourth mayor in four years. Mayor Sobieski has been instrumental in negotiating the two largest revenue-producing leases in the city. He's been a champion for a more dynamic business environment through support for the Business Improvement District, Social Center for the Arts, and as an advocate for local business retention and expansion. Specifically, this past weekend was an example of the city council at work and the mayor's commitment to communicate and support utilities doing work in Sausalito, city staff doing work in Sausalito, our fire district doing work in Sausalito, and regional responders to the severe weather we faced. You know, it seems these happen on weekends, mayor. I can't tell you why. Mayor Sobieski's financial acumen was instrumental in strengthening city finances through safe and higher yielding investments. Mayor Sobieski was a strong supporter of employee retention and stopping the loss of city employees via compensation and work-life balance. Mayor Sobieski has always supported community events along with the council such as Jazz by the Bay and the Toast of Sausalito. He's worked hard to begin place making in Sausalito by advocating for a design lens on city projects. |
| 01:26:17.92 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:27:20.90 | Chris Zapata | along with Councilmember Kelman's resiliency lens. So that's something he's brought forward, and he continues to bring forward ideas related to creating a better parking enterprise in Sausalito. And behind the scenes, with little fanfare, Mayor Sobieski is a generous person. His public service includes serving six years on the Meals on Wheels program to help our seniors age in their home with dignity and care. He's worked with Saucido Village, assisting with the provision of pet food delivery and donation of robotic pets to help ease loneliness. He quietly donates personal funds. He wouldn't want me to tell you that. Community causes is unfailing and is unfailing in his 24-7 approach as a member of the Sisala City Council and Mayor. So on behalf of the organization, I would like to thank Mayor Sobieski for his support of city staff, his commitment to maintaining and growing a high quality team of employees to serve the community, |
| 01:27:21.78 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:28:14.83 | Chris Zapata | And that has been unwavering. So can I have the plaque, Wolfram? |
| 01:28:48.06 | Adrian Brinton | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:28:48.77 | Steven Woodside | Well, sure, I'll let other people speak, but I want to speak first. It's my last, I guess, privilege to do so. Thank you for this. I've always wanted one of these gavel things. Hey, one thing I often talk about my service here to other people that have not had the privilege of serving, and I say in city service, You get credit for things you shouldn't get credit for. don't get credit for things you should get credit for. You get blamed for things, you shouldn't be blamed for it, and you don't get blamed for things you should. It is truly a team effort, and when you're not actually in the room, even when you're in the room, you don't even always really know what's going on. It's just the case that it is a team effort. Uh, Even when you don't disagree, we had a 3-2 vote here tonight. The opposition makes the whole discussion sharper, and presumably, over time, cyclically, it makes the outcomes better. It's the way you make change. It is democracy in action. And so I am so pleased that the city manager started with the litany of all the things that were accomplished this year. And none of them do I get sold credit for. Many of them I had nothing to do with. But I'm happy to take the credit for if anyone would give me any. It is the result of the work up here, the result of the work of the staff. only a few of whom are here. And as Councilmember Kelman said, we have the finest staff. In my time, it is just getting better and better. And it's a result of the work of many of the people in this room and many who aren't here together. We are indeed a little village, and we are in this boat together. So I am just pleased to do my little part to help. That has been my north star, which is just to try to be helpful on any particular thing i uh see a problem and i want to try to help solve it and that's the that is my north star on it i'm glad when that's useful sometimes it isn't often i hope it is but that's been my guidance and in that it is common cause with all of you all of you here and common cause deepens bonds That's it. guidance. And in that, it is common cause with all of you, all of you here. And common cause deepens bonds. That's it. It deepens bonds. So I'm actually deeply moved at the beginning of the meeting, seeing everyone in the audience and reflecting on your beautiful comments and the emotion of everyone to your comments and to each other, just because I have the... in this very uncompensated job, right? Everyone, just to remind you, is basically working for free. It is a treasure that you cannot mint in coin, which is the value of the bonds that are created by the privilege of service and engagement on these issues with all of you as friends and all of you as colleagues behind the wall and all of you as members of the community and my neighbors. So it is a kind of richness that you cannot buy and truly extremely gratifying. I am, of course, continuing and will soon be moving over and working for four more years as part of this team. And I hope we'll continue to make things better one step at a time. I think my greatest gratification is that over this year, we've added on to the previous year, the previous year and the previous year. in making Sausalito better. I genuinely think it's fair to say that there is a good feeling that we are making progress. City managers and product calls it creeping excellence. And that's... not what I'm used to in the startup world, where we leap from one step to another, and sometimes we leap off the cliff, which is what you want to avoid as a city. So it has to be incremental. But it is seemingly. Creeping excellence. Things are getting better. There is optimism and hope. And that virtuous circle of optimism that feeds a good feeling, that then invites people to take a step forward, is what I think we're seeing more and more of in town. And that is immensely gratifying and due to all of us, all of you and all of you. So thank you very much for the privilege of serving. |
| 01:32:41.37 | Chris Zapata | Serving at a... Mayor? |
| 01:32:42.86 | Steven Woodside | that's a myth. |
| 01:32:43.40 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 01:32:46.99 | Chris Zapata | Mayor, if I may. I'm going to give you some city manager advice. Okay. Don't forget to thank |
| 01:32:55.61 | Steven Woodside | Oh, yeah. Well, I thank the love of my life there, Julie. also. Nailed it. I've been through a lot over these in these four years. As you know, she had a tremendous accident that nearly cost her her life. So that was tough. And I appreciate everyone's support during that time. And it's nice to be here together. And I'm so glad that you are here and in all those ways and I look forward to all the exciting days ahead. So thanks, everybody. And thank you. Always catching me when I'm about to step into it. |
| 01:33:32.99 | Sandra Bushmaker | . |
| 01:33:44.13 | Janelle Kelman | If I may, I've already spoken a lot, but I just want to weigh in on your fellow female council members. We also are grateful for, Julie, the love of your life for so many reasons. And, you know, Ian, you and I have grown together on this council and pushed each other and I do believe made every decision a better one together. And so I'm grateful for your leadership this year and for your friendship moving forward. And I just want to hope that continues. |
| 01:33:57.94 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:33:58.04 | Lorna Newland | Thank you. |
| 01:33:58.20 | Jill Hoffman | All right. |
| 01:34:13.38 | Steven Woodside | Well, thanks, Joe. |
| 01:34:17.36 | Ian Sobieski | Okay. I mean, I could also wrap it up, but I could talk about Ian for a really long time because, I mean, I feel very lucky to have you as a colleague, but I think I feel even more lucky to have you as a friend. I love that you refer to me as clutch because I am your clutch on decision-making, but I also just really feel like you are someone I can truly count on and are so honest and forthright in all of your decision-making and And if you say you're going to do something or if you say you feel a way about something, it's true. You aren't someone to... walk back or to mislead or to you know, say something that isn't what you're going to do. And that can be very rare in politics. And that's something really special to have on the dais, not to mention that you're a rocket scientist. So I mean, I often talk about how lucky we are in Sausalito because everyone on our council is so bright, but it is especially amazing to have someone with a PhD in rocket science from Stanford, who is also a brilliant angel investor, bringing a really much needed business approach and making us think about the way businesses think and what they need in a way that really was truly missing before. But I think what was it, beyond just your council work and your work as mayor, you know, you remind people that they have agency. I think that you have really let everyone know that their voice matters, that you will listen no matter what, and that if they show up, things will change. And you've done that with such a positive perspective, always through all of it, even when things got really tough, even when people said things that weren't fair, even when it got unnecessarily personal. You always persevered and you're such a strong leader. And I'm really thrilled that I'm gonna get to serve with you for another four years and be friends with you for another 40. Thank you. |
| 01:36:05.54 | Morgan Pierce | Thank you. I hope it's longer than 40, but yeah, thank you. |
| 01:36:12.33 | Steven Woodside | So Ian is another one of those who reached out to me immediately after the challenge of the election was over. And we started having regular lunches where he would pick my brain. And what public servant doesn't love to be able to share the institutional knowledge that they've gathered over? over time. I had served on the general plan advisory committee, and then I didn't get to actually adopt the general plan that I had worked on for so long and so hard. But Ian did me the privilege of actually calling to consult with me, ask me questions. He read the damn thing cover to cover as a brand new council member, and to ensure that his vote was thoughtful and appropriate and I was so honored and touched by that outreach and then last year he made a vote of confidence by nominating me as his vice mayor and Ian is from the private sector and I work in the public sector and so believe it or, we don't agree all the time. He is frustrated at the pace of municipal government, and I am all about getting things done, but understand that it takes time and that it is important to have process behind it. And so something that I've really appreciated is his, he has not been, you This has not been a monarchy. This has been a partnership this year, and I so appreciate that. And when we do go sideways, he insists that I sit down and talk it out with him. And so I have appreciated that as well. So it's been a privilege to serve with you, and I feel as though it's been a productive year in large measure to a lot of the work that you've done, not just on the dais but behind the scenes ensuring that projects got vetted and worked through and approved. So thank you. Thank you so much. |
| 01:38:26.31 | Jill Hoffman | You know, it's a strange relationship up here, and it's a unique relationship up here. And so anybody that you ever serve with up here, you always have that relationship with that person up here. And so when we see each other, we're always going to have this relationship. And any time we see anybody that you've ever served with up here out in the community, you always have, no matter who it is, you always have that relationship. you know, throughout, even when it's gone. And so I'm delighted that we've had this relationship and that we're continuing to have this, and that Janelle and that we all have this relationship moving forward. Because, you know, I clearly, vigorous debate, I find that valuable. And I think I'm not shy about vigorous debate. Anybody who's ever been with me on the dais up here knows that. But I find that helpful. And I think that drives us to better decisions. And having rigorous debates and challenging assumptions, I think, is a good exercise and helps us, keeps us, everybody accountable in a 360 kind of way. And I appreciate that about Ian. And I know that you're good at that as well. And also, you know, we met a long time ago at a pitch conference that Ian was, he was one of the investors and I had this little company that I was pitching. And we quickly got off that though, because somebody said, Ian lives in Sausalito. And I said, oh my God, you live in Sausalito. You should run for city council. And so thank God. Thank God you did, and I appreciate it. We don't always agree, of course. But nobody agrees all the time, and I appreciate the talent that you bring to the table and all the other talents and assets that you bring to the table and your creative thinking, of course. And so thank you for all that you've done to our town. Thank you, Jill. |
| 01:40:22.06 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. |
| 01:40:22.62 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:40:26.36 | Steven Woodside | All right. Thank you so much for being here. Now we'll move onwards and upwards. We will go to the next business item, which is the oath of office for council members elect. Melissa Blaustein, myself, Ian Sobieski, and Stephen Woodside. I believe in that order, right, Mr. City Clerk or Mr. City Manager? |
| 01:40:44.81 | Jill Hoffman | So, |
| 01:40:44.98 | Walfred Solorzano | No. |
| 01:40:47.02 | Steven Woodside | No, we still don't have time for Thanks, Chuck. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. I guess actually we have to do, according to the city, according to the city attorney, Mr. City Clerk. |
| 01:41:00.08 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay. |
| 01:41:00.28 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Mr. City Clerk, we do have to take public comment, apparently. They can't imagine why anyone would, but if they do, is there any public comment on administering the oaths of the three council members elect? |
| 01:41:14.76 | Walfred Solorzano | Seeing none. |
| 01:41:16.41 | Steven Woodside | Okay, we will close public comment and move on with the. |
| 01:41:25.06 | Walfred Solorzano | You can have Dave Sachs, please. That's a... |
| 01:41:34.51 | Steven Woodside | Oh, yes. |
| 01:41:36.85 | Shelby Van Meter | Thank you. |
| 01:41:37.02 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Yep, I'm right. Why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself as the agent who's duly sworn. I'm Dave Sacks. I am now a |
| 01:41:40.73 | Sandra Bushmaker | Right. |
| 01:41:44.97 | Dave Sachs | I'm Dave Sachs. I am now a deputy city clerk. And I'm here. Wearing in, is that the proper terminology? My beautiful girlfriend, Melissa. |
| 01:41:58.25 | Sandra Bushmaker | Amen. All right. |
| 01:42:00.24 | Dave Sachs | I, Melissa Blaustein, do solemnly swear |
| 01:42:06.41 | Dave Sachs | that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States |
| 01:42:14.31 | Dave Sachs | in the Constitution of the State of California |
| 01:42:19.90 | Dave Sachs | against all enemies, foreign and domestic. that I will bear true faith in allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, |
| 01:42:33.74 | Dave Sachs | And the constitution of the state of California. that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion |
| 01:42:50.22 | Dave Sachs | And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. |
| 01:43:20.18 | Walfred Solorzano | Oh yeah. Amen. |
| 01:43:28.34 | Steven Woodside | The pinning ceremony is getting a pin. Bet you already have one. |
| 01:43:44.32 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:43:44.34 | Chris Zapata | Here we go. |
| 01:43:44.97 | Annette Rose | There we go. |
| 01:44:01.45 | Steven Woodside | Congratulations, council member. For my spring in, I decided to invite a legend of our community, a stateswoman, Ms. Annette Rose, the first maritime mayor of Sausalito, served as mayor from 1988 to 1992. And after that, as our city, as our county supervisor until 2005 for more than 12 years. It's a privilege and honor to have you here as an homage to the town. |
| 01:44:42.66 | Shelby Van Meter | It's a little scary fun stuff. Thank you. |
| 01:44:46.12 | Steven Woodside | you have to speak to them up in front. This is Xander Rose, grew up in Galilee Harbor among other places and dear friend of reason Bradley and legend in his own right. Great to have you here, sir. |
| 01:44:59.60 | Annette Rose | Thank you. |
| 01:45:03.15 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:45:03.43 | Annette Rose | Thank you. |
| 01:45:03.45 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:45:03.47 | Annette Rose | Thank you very much. Is it on? Thank you. |
| 01:45:05.07 | Steven Woodside | Okay. |
| 01:45:07.16 | Annette Rose | If you'll repeat after me. I will. I, Ian Patrick Sobieski, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:45:16.46 | Steven Woodside | I, Ian Patrick Sobieski, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully Thank you. |
| 01:45:23.08 | Annette Rose | Support and defense. |
| 01:45:23.18 | Steven Woodside | Support and defend the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:45:24.31 | Annette Rose | Thank you. and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies. |
| 01:45:30.89 | Steven Woodside | and the constitution of the state of California against all enemies. |
| 01:45:34.87 | Annette Rose | but I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:45:40.02 | Steven Woodside | that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:45:44.32 | Annette Rose | in the Constitution of the State of California. |
| 01:45:46.94 | Steven Woodside | the Constitution of the State of California. |
| 01:45:49.54 | Annette Rose | But I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. |
| 01:45:56.07 | Steven Woodside | that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. |
| 01:46:01.06 | Annette Rose | and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I'm about to enter. |
| 01:46:06.31 | Steven Woodside | And I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I'm about to enter. Thank you very much. |
| 01:46:22.78 | Steven Woodside | We'll come and stand here and we'll do a photo right in front of the diocese. And... |
| 01:46:30.93 | Steven Woodside | there. And your last official public office after your storied career is Deputy City clerk, Ms. Rose. |
| 01:46:43.01 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:46:50.08 | Steven Woodside | Awesome. Thank you so much. |
| 01:46:56.70 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. And now, Mr. Stephen Woodside, please approach the dais. and |
| 01:47:09.15 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you, sir. |
| 01:47:11.38 | Steven Woodside | Just a quick introduction for those of you who do not know my lovely wife Lucinda, my main campaign this season, and our dog Farley, who you probably already know. And I'm really honored that my dear friend, Sheila Lickbow, judge of the Marin County Superior Court, who I first met more than... Benoit Levy, Ph.D.: And 12 years ago, and she was elected to be the first Latina on the Marin court in 2016. |
| 01:47:44.25 | Sheila Lickbow | And my former boss. . |
| 01:48:03.17 | Sheila Lickbow | Right hand? Thank you. |
| 01:48:04.98 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:48:05.33 | Sheila Lickbow | Bye. |
| 01:48:05.38 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:48:05.62 | Sheila Lickbow | Sure. that. Can you hear me? OK, it's on. All right, great. OK. I, Steven Woodside, do solemnly swear. |
| 01:48:14.78 | Steven Woodside | I, Steven Woodside, do solemnly swear. |
| 01:48:17.07 | Sheila Lickbow | that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:48:20.94 | Steven Woodside | that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:48:24.31 | Sheila Lickbow | and the Constitution of the State of California. |
| 01:48:27.05 | Steven Woodside | and the Constitution of the State of California, |
| 01:48:29.78 | Sheila Lickbow | against all enemies, foreign and domestic, |
| 01:48:32.06 | Steven Woodside | against all enemies, foreign and domestic. |
| 01:48:34.40 | Sheila Lickbow | that I will bear true faith and allegiance |
| 01:48:36.65 | Steven Woodside | that I will bear true faith and allegiance. |
| 01:48:39.10 | Sheila Lickbow | to the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:48:41.12 | Steven Woodside | to the Constitution of the United States. |
| 01:48:43.25 | Sheila Lickbow | and the Constitution of the State of California. |
| 01:48:45.58 | Steven Woodside | Constitution of the State of California. |
| 01:48:47.97 | Sheila Lickbow | that I take this obligation freely. |
| 01:48:50.12 | Steven Woodside | that I take this obligation freely. |
| 01:48:52.29 | Sheila Lickbow | without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, |
| 01:48:55.60 | Steven Woodside | without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. |
| 01:48:59.19 | Sheila Lickbow | And that I will well and faithfully discharge. |
| 01:49:01.79 | Steven Woodside | that I will well and faithfully discharge |
| 01:49:04.31 | Sheila Lickbow | the duties upon which I am about to enter. |
| 01:49:06.50 | Steven Woodside | duties upon which I'm about to enter. Congratulations. Thank you very much. |
| 01:49:22.79 | Steven Woodside | Congratulations, mate. Congratulations. |
| 01:49:25.18 | Steven Woodside | You're gonna have Lucinda pin you? |
| 01:49:28.39 | Steven Woodside | I didn't realize there was a pin, but there was a pin. You get a pin. |
| 01:49:29.67 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. |
| 01:49:45.74 | Steven Woodside | All right, well, it's a privilege then to be the first to ask you to take your seat, Council Member Woodside. |
| 01:50:02.66 | Steven Woodside | So our next business item is the selection of the next mayor of the city of Sausalito city clerk, is there any public comment on this item? See none. We'll close public comment on this item, and then it is my privilege to nominate John Cox to be the next mayor of the city of South Salido. My two cents is, I won't make a long speech of it, but what she said is true. She's a team player. We've had a great year. Let's keep the metham going, but I do want to open the floor for other nominations. Are there any other nominations? seeing no other nominations, then we will close nominations and I will ask for a vote to approve the election of Joan Cox to be mayor for the next year. All in favor, well, we gotta vote. All in favor, say aye. Bye. The motion carries unanimously. Congratulations, Mayor. |
| 01:50:54.30 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:50:54.32 | Shelby Van Meter | They're cooked. of |
| 01:51:03.60 | Steven Woodside | And the floor is the meeting and the floor is yours. And I'm on my way to Miami tomorrow. |
| 01:51:07.70 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. The next item on the agenda is city council selection of vice mayor. So I will ask for nominations for vice mayor. I will actually lead off the nominations by nominating our newly elected council member, Steven Woodside. So I really thought long and hard and I wanted to choose someone who I believed could best collaborate on a lot of the important business coming our way next year. And that, I have a municipal lawyer on the dais with me, and I just could not resist that partnership. We have lots of important municipal affairs to manage, and so that's my nomination. But I open the floor for other nominations. |
| 01:51:47.00 | Unknown | I assume. |
| 01:51:47.30 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:52:03.18 | Sergio Rudin | And mayor, before we vote, public comment. |
| 01:52:05.97 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. I'll take public comment. Babette McDougall? |
| 01:52:18.56 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. So first of all, I too would like to congratulate Stephen Woodside on winning election to our city council. I look forward to his good work. I honestly don't understand why you are overlooking Councilmember Hoffman. She's a fantastic stalwart. She raises things that are usually not thought of. If you think of them, you don't articulate them audibly for the rest of us to consider. And I don't mean to put anyone in an embarrassing situation here, I just simply want to state for the record, And I do not understand why you would not draw upon the talent within your own pool How could you possibly even fear the kind of level of discussion. especially from the legal angle, as you have so rightly pointed out, Miss newly appointed, newly elected mayor, Um, I just don't understand why in the world You would want to choose from the brand new kid on the block who obviously has got civic experience. I don't doubt that. But we also have someone write on our team already. who was, a past mare herself, and aptly capable. So I apologize if I am forcing some embarrassment upon any of you, especially Ms. Hoffman. I'm sure she didn't know I was going to speak, But I don't understand why she is not either the mayor or the vice mayor, if you want to know the God's truth. And with that, I shall say thank you and withdraw. Thank you. |
| 01:53:50.46 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Any further public comment? Yes, Alice Merrill. |
| 01:53:52.99 | Alice Merrill | Yes, Allison. |
| 01:53:56.85 | Alice Merrill | Thank you very much. I have to say that I agree with that. It's way out of protocol not to include the person for Vice Mayor who has been on the dais for a long time and already is in on things and isn't just learning. And I know that our new council member knows plenty, I'm surprised, and I'm sorry that you didn't. And if I can nominate someone, I would nominate Jill. Thank you. |
| 01:54:31.33 | Steven Woodside | to be able to get the |
| 01:54:31.38 | Alice Merrill | further public |
| 01:54:31.97 | Steven Woodside | comment? |
| 01:54:32.41 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 01:54:32.44 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 01:54:32.48 | Walfred Solorzano | Yeah, Senator Bushmaker? |
| 01:54:43.53 | Sandra Bushmaker | Yes, I do support Jill Hoffman to serve as mayor or vice mayor. Given all of her incredible experience and I'm not sure. thorough investigation of the issues. I think she would be great. and not putting down Steve Woodside for his his experience, which I think will be put to good use in time with the with the Council. I think that it is important to recognize that Jill is a perfect candidate for either mayor or vice mayor. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:55:19.19 | Steven Woodside | Any further public comments? |
| 01:55:20.92 | Walfred Solorzano | See you, man. |
| 01:55:21.97 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Oh, yes, please. Oh, Charles. |
| 01:55:28.40 | Charles Melton | Sorry, I didn't fall for warm. My name is Charles Melton, South Dakota resident. I want to thank all of our city council members, including new city council member, Stephen Woodside, for your service to our community. Recognize all the great work you all do. You all have tremendous assets and benefits that our city provides from. And no matter what position you sit in behind the dais, you will provide that benefit to our city and make our city better every step of the way. If it's Councilmember Hoffman, Councilmember Cox, Councilmember Sobieski, Councilmember Blostein, Councilmember Woodside. You will all do a tremendous job. I think our city has made great progress so far that we've seen over the leadership of and look forward to that continuing progress going forward. So I encourage the city council to look forward to the future. Consider everyone's ideas, look at new ideas coming in, and build that bright future together behind the dais with everyone's opinions coming together here today. Thank you. |
| 01:56:22.16 | Steven Woodside | Any other public comment? |
| 01:56:23.60 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 01:56:23.70 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:56:23.77 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:56:24.26 | Steven Woodside | Seeing none. I'll close public comment and call the vote. |
| 01:56:29.52 | Jill Hoffman | Actually, I would like to make a comment. So first let me just welcome Mr. Woodside to the dais. Thank you. I'm excited, actually, to have you here. |
| 01:56:38.67 | Sandra Bushmaker | THANK YOU. you |
| 01:56:40.79 | Jill Hoffman | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 01:56:40.83 | Sandra Bushmaker | THANK YOU. |
| 01:56:41.03 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. And let me congratulate Councilmember Blaustein and Councilmember Sobiessio, your re-election. Excited to have you back. And as we indulge me for just a second, because we have had public comment on this, and I'd like to address it very briefly. Thank you. And as we consider nominations for vice mayor, I am a little taken aback by the fact that we appear to be deviating from the council's usual practice of rotating the mayor and vice mayor positions. As you and I recently discussed, Mayor Cox, the past practice of the council is that we normally do rotate. And this means that if I'm not serving in the vice mayor position, this means during this four-year term that I'm on the council, I will not serve as vice mayor and likely mayor during this four-year term. This is in fact quite a large deviation from the normal rotation of the council. And so many of you know that I have served on the council and steadfastly and strong advocate for fiscal stability, transparency, and rigorous compliance with ethical rules, including the two times in the past that I've served as mayor and that my record shows that I'm a strong and reliable leader for Sausalito. Importantly, I have a deep and sustained community record of support. I've been reelected twice with the largest margins ever in city council elections by 5% or more. Nobody has had these margins of voter confidence in elections. I'm disappointed, obviously, that I don't have the confidence of Mayor Cox in this appointment and her nomination. I understand that people on the council want to support her nomination and I accept that. but I am disappointed that I won't be able to serve in the position of vice mayor or mayor during this term that I'm on the Council, given the strong support that I've had in the community during my elections. I think that we just came off of a very strong election cycle. I think that this would be the time... to be bringing the community together. And this would be an opportunity to unify different perspectives on the council that are represented on the council. And this would be that opportunity. I fear that this is a missed opportunity. I also, having had this happen with me in the past, It's a difficult position to step directly into the position of vice mayor your first term on the council. But I am committed to help Mr. Woodside in this transition. And I know that with his prior experience that he will be able to do this with our assistance. And I'm I am disappointed that we're departing from our normal protocol. And with that. I think that we should move forward. And anyway. |
| 01:59:55.53 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. I will say I did spend an hour meeting with Councilmember Hoffman and explaining the reasons for my choice before today. So I'm not going to discuss those reasons. She's welcome to share those with those of you she would like. That's a private matter between her and me. Okay, and with that, I'll call the vote. All in favor of Stephen Woodside as Vice Mayor, please say aye. Aye. |
| 02:00:26.92 | Jill Hoffman | Aye. Any opposed? No. Respectfully. |
| 02:00:30.01 | Steven Woodside | or for the reasons |
| 02:00:31.04 | Jill Hoffman | just enumerated. |
| 02:00:34.06 | Steven Woodside | All right. Congratulations, Vice Mayor. Thank you. |
| 02:00:36.57 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:00:43.54 | Steven Woodside | I may just, in the interest of time, say just a couple of things, words of thanks and words of really looking forward. First of all, I want to say that I'm very excited to be here tonight. I'm also very humbled to be here. I see some wonderful people in the audience who, like Annette Rose, who I've known for a long time, and Sausalito is so fortunate to have the people in the community who care so much about it and have done so much to make it the wonderful place that it is. I look forward to working with each and every member of the council. I want to say that I've been very impressed by the members of the city staff that I've had a chance to meet over the last couple of years and I'm very much looking forward to working with each and every one of you and to the people in the audience who are still here at nine o'clock I did campaign kind of on a promise to try to end early this meeting this this meeting will set a record as far as I'm concerned but it was a lot longer than I was told and And to my three adult children and my six grandchildren, who I think are watching on Zoom, I simply will say goodnight. |
| 02:02:02.58 | Steven Woodside | All right, moving on. Our next item of business is consider revising the 2025 City Council calendar to cancel the regular meeting of August 19, 2025. Call for 2025 special meetings on January 11th at 8.30 AM and February 25th at 7 PM. City Manager, did you want to make a report? |
| 02:02:21.80 | Chris Zapata | Yeah, if I can, thank you, Mayor. Council members, I have asked our staff to put together some documents to help determine the dates that you may want to consider moving or not. And one of the things that I want to be really clear on is, you know, this council has always tried to respect each other's needs and beliefs. And so I want to make sure that that's the case with the September meetings. There's two meetings scheduled on September 2nd and September 16th. in my review of those. I thought that those were solid dates, but if they're not, I'm happy to ask you all to consider a different date in September, keep the dates we've recommended in terms of the cancellation in August and the special meetings that were approved. So if the 16th is a problem, or the second is a problem, I'd like to know so we can take advice from you and direction from you. |
| 02:03:23.60 | Ian Sobieski | Sorry, it's agendized for the 3rd and 17th at this point? The 1st and 3rd. Okay, so the date that was a conflict is the Tuesday, the 24th. So there's no scheduled meeting then. Okay, that's Rosh Hashanah, so I just wanted to make sure that that was acknowledged and we had no meeting on that day. |
| 02:03:40.10 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 02:03:40.14 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:03:40.20 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. And it's my birthday on the 2nd, so that's a holiday too. But. |
| 02:03:43.31 | Ian Sobieski | Yeah. Well, I had a meeting on my birthday this last year, you'll recall. |
| 02:03:47.01 | Chris Zapata | But that's okay. You can sing. Thank you. So that's my report. We gave you some city holidays, some league information so that you all could direct us as we prepare for the coming year and schedule meetings. You will also note that we have scheduled, based on conversations with you all, a January 11th special meeting on a Saturday at 830, which may or may not be |
| 02:03:59.63 | Sergio Rudin | you |
| 02:04:17.95 | Chris Zapata | fit all of you but hopefully it will but you know that's the special meeting that uh sets the tone for what it is you have in terms of a work program resource allocation and strategic direction to city staff so that's set for september the 11th no it's |
| 02:04:32.80 | Steven Woodside | No, it's January 11th. |
| 02:04:33.63 | Chris Zapata | January 11th. January 11th, pardon me. And January 11th from 830 to 4. If there are issues with that, we need to know as soon as possible so we can work with the consultants that are working on that with us. |
| 02:04:48.14 | Steven Woodside | Okay, any questions of the city manager? I'm going to take public comment and we'll bring it back up here for comment. |
| 02:04:53.43 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:04:55.59 | Steven Woodside | Is it a question? |
| 02:04:57.04 | Ian Sobieski | Yeah, but I mean, I don't know. I just. I had mentioned in previous agenda items, and we have discussed at length a request for a specific town hall with regards to the Virginia media and the conversation. |
| 02:05:07.01 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:05:07.03 | Lorna Newland | That's on future agenda items. Okay. |
| 02:05:08.04 | Steven Woodside | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 02:05:08.29 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:05:08.33 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. I'm going to be a stickler. So we have future agenda items coming up. All right. I'm going to open it for public comment regarding the 2025 City Council calendar. |
| 02:05:23.72 | Walfred Solorzano | Sunshine, did you want to speak on this item? |
| 02:05:25.62 | Steven Woodside | No, she's for communications. |
| 02:05:25.94 | Walfred Solorzano | Spirit. And there's no public comment. |
| 02:05:30.30 | Steven Woodside | All right, I'll bring it back up here for any discussion. Or emotions. |
| 02:05:36.96 | Steven Woodside | I move to approve those changes. |
| 02:05:39.48 | Steven Woodside | Second, |
| 02:05:40.39 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:05:40.49 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:05:40.51 | Jill Hoffman | Sorry. |
| 02:05:40.96 | Steven Woodside | What are the changes? |
| 02:05:41.98 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:05:42.14 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:05:42.16 | Steven Woodside | As read by this mayor. |
| 02:05:42.24 | Jill Hoffman | to the |
| 02:05:43.75 | Steven Woodside | It's on the agenda. So we are adding two special meetings, one on January 11th, Saturday, and one on February 25th, a Tuesday, to do the odds. Got it. And we are canceling August 19th so that we have a little bit of a break. Okay, so it's on here. I'm sorry. |
| 02:05:53.59 | Jill Hoffman | Got it. |
| 02:05:57.38 | Jill Hoffman | So it's all right. Okay, fine. |
| 02:05:58.97 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:05:59.31 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:06:00.81 | Steven Woodside | Just a quick question, comment. Obviously, for future agenda items, we will be adding to this list. This is not exhaustive. |
| 02:06:09.28 | Steven Woodside | So in January at our strategic planning session, I anticipate we will be discussing additional meetings, perhaps workshops that can be held by the city council, but this is our regular calendar that we wanted to get approved now. |
| 02:06:22.32 | Steven Woodside | Understood. |
| 02:06:22.78 | Steven Woodside | you |
| 02:06:22.80 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:06:23.47 | Steven Woodside | All right, I'll call the vote. All in favor? Aye. Aye. |
| 02:06:25.66 | Steven Woodside | I've been talking. |
| 02:06:26.71 | Steven Woodside | That motion carries 5-0. We'll move on to communications. This is the time for the City Council to hear from citizens regarding matters that are not on the agenda, except in very limited situations. State law precludes the Council from taking action on or engaging in discussions concerning items of business that are not on the agenda. However, we may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by a member of the public, ask clarifying questions, make a brief announcement, or make a brief report on his or her own activities the council may also refer matters not on the agenda to city staff or direct that the subject be agendized for a future meeting Are there any communications on items not on the agenda? We have a- |
| 02:07:06.30 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:07:06.32 | Peter van Meter | We have us. |
| 02:07:12.58 | Peter van Meter | I strongly feel that this item, communications of items not on the agenda, should occur at the beginning of each meeting. and not at the end of the meeting like we have here tonight. You can limit the time. both by individual speaking, and also to the total amount of time for comment. maybe 15 minutes altogether, you know. No more than two minutes for a person. Please move it forward like it used to be for many, many decades. prior to recent history. Thank you. |
| 02:07:43.19 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:07:43.26 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:07:43.27 | Peter van Meter | Thank you. |
| 02:07:43.61 | Steven Woodside | So. |
| 02:07:48.42 | Jill Hoffman | Good evening and congratulations for everybody who's been elected and reelected. An item I know that's going to be coming up to you in 2025 will be the center medium and the bike pass that was presented by the commission. And I'm hoping that when you have that item heard that you ask staff to attach two documents that were not attached during the committee report. One of those is a contract for the consultant who came up with the designs. and the second is the grant money for whatever improvement is being done. I know there was some opposition to the approval process that was presented from the committee, and I think some of those items were not looking at other opportunities for improving the safety of the bike paths. So I think the public will have a better opportunity to respond if they have those two documents as part of the staff report. So I hope that you're able to do that. Thank you. |
| 02:08:39.06 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Any other communications on items not on our agenda? |
| 02:08:44.63 | Walfred Solorzano | Sunshine |
| 02:08:56.32 | Unknown | Thank you, and I want to congratulate all of you. You've really helped me understand Sausalito. I once said a statement that my daughter taught me in Croatia. Odom Podom. And that's everything happens in its right time. I'm still puzzled though what has happened to me. I've spent all of my life volunteering. and I didn't realize it would get me into the position at age 84. that I'm in low income housing. And Four of us. three in the 80s that are 80s over 80s and one under 80. have been given eviction notices by our manager. We've denied. All the claims. And It still is happening. Couple, last week someone came and said, do I know where this person can sleep at night because she's been evicted? I didn't know where she could sleep. Today, I spoke with someone at St. Vincent's DePaul because my neighbor in the next building was evicted and they're putting her up in a motel because she hasn't found a place. I found a place. The people are wonderful. I would love to live there. but they require a Section 8 voucher. And that, Marin County has not offered it for two and a half years. Thank you. and I need help. I need to find a place to live. And it's very hard. I've lived in my place for 12 years. And I have all my things that I'm moving out. Fortunately, my son is helping me and other people are offering. But it's hard at age 84. to move, first of all, everything somewhere else, and then maybe be able to find a place. But. A couple days ago, I was told, maybe you just have to leave Marin County because there's nothing here. Thank you. |
| 02:10:59.04 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you, Sunshine. Any other? |
| 02:11:03.26 | Walfred Solorzano | Yes, online we have Bette McDougall. |
| 02:11:08.73 | Babette McDougall | All right. Thank you all for bringing that unmute button up right away. So, yeah, I totally concur with Peter Van Meter and many others who have also said moving the public comment to the front of the meeting as opposed to the very end. is really kind of a crazy thing too. Consider leaving it at the end of the meeting. I just don't get it. You've seen so many people show up and just not be able to tough out the long hours, and then they turn around and leave. others that barely hang on. So there's that part of it. And the reason I raise this issue generally is because even after tonight's setup with the new mayor and the new vice mayor, you are absolutely flouting you are just defying the traditions of this community, which I suppose in some ways It can be okay, but in other ways, I think it creates a tremendous amount of insecurity among we citizens. And why is that? Because I just heard each one of you, newly elected, re-swear an oath of office. I didn't get the opportunity to hear any of you state your oath Previously, I was not around for that. However, I did hear this one. And the fact that you are affirming the Constitution of the United States of America, and then you behave and do some of the things that I have seen each of you do. as your elected position flies in the face of saying that you actually support the Constitution because Let's face it, the first thing that we're guaranteed is the freedom of speech, and that seems to be something that some of you just have a hard time reconciling. However, I would like to ask you, if you're going to uphold your oath of office, I will be watching carefully, and as much as you love to hear me complain and shout out these disagreeable remarks, you will hear more of them, unless I see you guys honestly sticking to the oaths that you just swore to uphold. So with that, I will thank you and wish you Godspeed going forward. And I hope we all win from this. Thank you. |
| 02:13:08.13 | Walfred Solorzano | all of us. |
| 02:13:11.63 | Steven Woodside | Any other public comments? |
| 02:13:12.64 | Walfred Solorzano | Yeah, Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 02:13:12.65 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:13:18.12 | Sandra Bushmaker | It was when I was mayor. a few decades ago, Exactly. The comments were moved from the end of the agenda to the beginning of the agenda. And it was stayed that way until very recently. During the campaign, I can't tell you the number of people in the community who asked me why do we have to sit through the entire meeting when we have to say something that is not on the agenda. Please, please move this to the front of the agenda. as a courtesy to your constituents. Thank you. |
| 02:13:52.40 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 02:13:52.48 | Steven Woodside | any further Thank you. |
| 02:13:54.45 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 02:13:54.47 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:13:54.52 | Walfred Solorzano | clerk. Seeing none. |
| 02:13:56.11 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, we will close communications. I will take the privilege of briefly responding to statements made by announcing that even before this meeting, I shared with the city manager my intention if I were bestowed this position to move public communications back up to the front of the agenda beginning next year. So that will be one of my first official acts as mayor. All right, moving on to council member committee reports. |
| 02:14:30.79 | Steven Woodside | It's the holiday season, so seeing none, we'll move on to, but I will take a public comment on Committee reports. |
| 02:14:43.32 | Walfred Solorzano | See you then. |
| 02:14:43.95 | Steven Woodside | Okay, I'll move on to city manager reports and other council business. First is city manager information for council. |
| 02:14:50.66 | Chris Zapata | I'll be brief, Mayor and Council. The first thing I'd like to do is thank you all for your work this past weekend during the storm events. The first responders that responded out of police, fire, public works, community and economic development and communication. They worked with PG&E during the situation where half of Marin County was without power. Most of our downtown was without power. And so to communicate the urgency of the need and the population in Sausalito to PG&E representatives from the mayor on down was really helpful to kind of get through that troubled time. I also want to let you know that Christmas week, city hall offices will be closed to the public and the library on 1224 and Wednesday 1225 and city offices will be open on Monday 1223 and 12 Thursday 1226 as normal and on New Year's Day City Hall will be closed to the public on Wednesday on New Year's Day. |
| 02:15:53.22 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, city manager. Future agenda items. I do wanna address the, median on Bridgeway. So there was a pedestrian bicycle advisory committee meeting on this matter uh this past a week ago monday and roughly 40 members of the public attended that meeting uh with following that meeting this item with the cooperation of former council member kelman was referred for a sea level rise lens And so this item will also be heard by the Sustainability Commission in January. And the plan is to bring this back for a city council meeting in February. Given the need to agendize our planning retreat in January and a in february in order to adopt the odds there is no plan right now to schedule an additional special meeting of the city council in january or february before the grant deadline for um saying yay or nay to the grant and so we've been publishing the notices of these meetings in the currents now that we have scheduled three separate meetings at which the public is invited to attend the feeling was of the agenda setting committee that we did not need to schedule a further special city council meeting but after i take public comment i'm happy to hear from the council |
| 02:17:27.30 | Ian Sobieski | Are there any questions? I just have a comment on that and on another item. So I'd like to. |
| 02:17:31.48 | Steven Woodside | Okay, great. Actually, I can't take public comment till the end. |
| 02:17:36.19 | Ian Sobieski | Yeah, I mean, I had I thought we had discussed before. I just think we've received quite a lot of robust comments from the community on this specific issue. Well, I think it is important for our boards and commissions to review it |
| 02:17:36.24 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:17:47.28 | Ian Sobieski | I don't think it should be rushed. I understand we have the deadline of the grant, but I've heard it time and again from so many residents that they'd like to have a dedicated conversation with members of the council on this topic. And I worry that if we put it into a packed agenda without the opportunity for folks to amply engage and look at the issue, people will have cause for not having had a chance to weigh in. So I would rather spend the time, and I'm happy to take a vote, or to just, you know, we can think about what makes sense. But I do think that given the community interest that we have had on this issue, it deserves a specific, special meeting. So I have other future agenda items, but I'll just leave it on that. Thank you. |
| 02:18:25.40 | Steven Woodside | So I'll invite feedback from others about scheduling another special meeting of the City Council. |
| 02:18:31.22 | Steven Woodside | I think for the reasons that Member Blofstein just articulated, this I think would be well suited for a special meeting where it would be the only topic so people would know it could come at a certain time, have a pretty good idea of how long the meeting would last, and then we could move on. And then just to add a little bit of substance to it, from my perspective, learning about this, mostly during the campaign, it seemed to me that the primary issue throughout any discussion about that section of the road is safety. And I think it would be important for us to have a meeting where we had input from our own safety experts in-house as well as the outside consultant. I just want to add that. Thanks. Okay, thank you. |
| 02:19:21.69 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, Mary. Just to dovetail on that, I did not attend, but I did watch the meeting. And I just wanted to highlight to the head of the agenda setting committee for your consideration to compare the charge that we gave staff back in May with the work product that was presented. And in my view, it was not complete. And I would just propose in terms of agenda setting for future agenda items that we consider whether we should wait to have the work complete go back to that meeting and make sure it was complete for bringing it forward uh there are some key elements i'm going to write a letter to the city manager outlining where i think the admissions are but i just wanted to highlight that for your benefit |
| 02:19:59.51 | Steven Woodside | And where do you come in on special meeting or regular city council meeting? |
| 02:20:03.82 | Steven Woodside | Since I think the work's not finished, if you look at the key material items that the City Council charged were simply not done around other configurations and safety considerations. And so I feel as though there needs to be more work done, frankly, so I feel that the meeting is fine for feedback from the public, I suppose, but it's a half-baked potato. and don't feel like we gave them good direction back in May and it's not finished. That's, of course, a... So, speckle me. |
| 02:20:31.17 | Steven Woodside | So special meeting or regular meeting? |
| 02:20:33.40 | Steven Woodside | Oh, for sure it would be special. I don't think you want to cock this gun and make people think something's going to get approved. So it should be, I would even say that there's no, that such a meeting shouldn't have the agendized ability to actually implement any changes. It ought to be a consideration for future direction of work. |
| 02:20:49.61 | Steven Woodside | Okay, so as a member of the agenda setting committee, I can tell you this will not be ready in January. So that means we will be scheduling four city council meetings in February. I'll ask the city clerk to send out a doodle poll regarding council availability for an additional special meeting in February beyond the 4th, the 18th and the 25th. |
| 02:21:13.00 | Ian Sobieski | Any other future agenda items? Yes. So I think we all experienced the storm events where we lost power, and also I had the opportunity with Supervisor Moulton Peters to walk through some of Gate 5 and visit with some of the folks who were heavily impacted, and so that brought up two really critical future agenda items that I think we need to address. One is I know that our city manager has been in conversation with PG&E about their response, but a lot of businesses were really deeply and adversely impacted, having the inability to serve on the lighted boat parade night, not to mention not one of the busiest days. So I think we need to have a conversation about emergency response and our relationship with PG&E and what that looks like and how we prioritize that. That's one. And two is we need to immediately agendize an update on gate 5 flooding and resilience and and i would like to bring that to the january 11th meeting just how do we address that more specifically so i think gate five pg and e and then more generally a resilience conversation for the january 11th meeting |
| 02:22:10.38 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. And you raise a good point, Council Member Blaustein. So for the January 11th retreat, we are asking that department heads each provide to us in advance of that meeting their five top priorities for the year. I invite the council to do the same, to think about and communicate to the city manager your five top priorities for 2025. Also, each of you will be hearing from Amy Howarth, our consultant who will be... facilitating that meeting, and I invite you to engage in an interview process with her as well. |
| 02:22:50.27 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. I just want to dovetail off that on the Gate 5 Road and the flooding issues down there in the Marin ship. I know that we have a lot of, historic studies on that. And we have a lot of engineering work on that. And so I would ask that that, you know, be brought forward. I'm sure we're going to talk about that. at the meeting. So in the context of all of the work that we already have on that, in addition to the ownership issues, which I always have to go back and look at who owns what roads, and also who owns what pipes and what sewers, because it's very confusing. But that always helps us in determining the path forward until we all forget about it until the next storm. So that's helpful in looking at grants that are available now in the context of the sea level rise and climate resilience. |
| 02:23:51.73 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:23:51.95 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:23:51.97 | Steven Woodside | any other proposed future agenda items all right uh with that i'll open it to public comment on uh item on the city manager report and on future agenda items peter van meter |
| 02:24:05.38 | Peter van Meter | I recommend a very simple future agenda item, namely simply to authorize the city manager to issue a request for proposals for the reconstruction and design of parking lot number one, and to that's an item that you can address very quickly to get that work in progress so the rejuvenation of downtown can be complete get rid of that horrible piece of asphalt and dead trees that we have there now to go along with the new plaza and so your first step is issuing that rfp for engineering and design proposal work to get that project going thank you |
| 02:24:38.76 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:24:38.79 | Scott Thornburg | Thank you. |
| 02:24:42.71 | Scott Thornburg | Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council. Scott Thornburg, Chair of EDAC. At our meeting yesterday, one of the things that came up was some of the Gate 5 Road flooding and the impact to local businesses. There were businesses... In the marineship that were significantly affected, there were also businesses downtown that had flooding, which was news. I think we oftentimes think of the marineship as the only area that floods, but there were businesses downtown that were thriving prior to this past weekend. And this was a really important weekend for the business community, as you all know. One of the things that we discussed as a committee is considering the impact of sea level rise on our businesses. And so as a future engine, I would love for you also to consider priorities for EDAC, as well as other committees where there may be some overlap, where we need to align on what those priorities are and come together, potentially cross committees to address some of the issues facing our community. Thank you. |
| 02:25:49.30 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:25:49.31 | Alice Merrill | Alice Merrill. Thank you. I went to that meeting about the bicycle lane. And. There were, the house was packed. I would say that of the people that spoke, 95% said do not get rid of the median lane. Don't do it. Please don't do it. And at the end of it, I heard, maybe I heard it wrong, the leader of the committee say, we will propose to the city council that they proceed with the plan. So to me, they did either not listen or they did not hear, and I hope that you guys did hear what the people said. Thank you. |
| 02:26:39.60 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:26:46.20 | Adrian Brinton | Hello, counsel. Just a quick comment on a future agenda item to Look at the appointments. |
| 02:26:51.45 | Steven Woodside | Will you identify yourself, Adrian? Just for those who don't. |
| 02:26:53.17 | Adrian Brinton | Adrian Brenton, Sausalito resident. I just wanted to suggest an agenda item to make appointments to the pedestrian bike advisory committee. I know that there are, applications out there and with all the work going on here around the bike lanes I think it would be great to fill those seats Additionally, I think looking at the scope of the committee and refocusing it a bit from strictly pedestrian and bike to be more transportation oriented might be a great consideration. There's a lot of discussion has been had around it being, you know, to focus strictly on bikes and pedestrians, where the issues around that they're talking about are transportation issues. So I'd love to see that come up in the future. |
| 02:27:35.61 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Anything online? |
| 02:27:39.74 | Walfred Solorzano | Yes, we have Babette McDougall. |
| 02:27:47.88 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. Well, I'm starting to feel reassured about the coming year. So thank you all for your comments and especially to Mr. Woodside, because, um, You are spot on. There's one thing I'd like to amplify, however, Mr. Woodside. When you talk about public safety, I hope that you realize that within the context of that, that median... was created specifically for emergency response. And I imagine that when you speak of public safety, you must surely be thinking of our first responders and people who have a need for a first responder to show up quickly. whether it's a health concern or a fire or something else, and trying to remove that median for those reasons just seems Well, seems kind of oxymoronic in a way. You know, it just doesn't seem to make any sense because this is a highly... This is a high density area And because of the way things are laid out, I mean, I hadn't, none of us had anything to do with it, but here we are. And, to take away something so essential as the ability for first responders to move through this town, whether they're going all the way out to the Cavallo Point area, or whether they're going in some other direction in our town, we have to have access. And the more we start to look forward, like to the housing element, for example, and elsewhere, to where we're looking at higher density of people and populations, more vehicles, more this and more that, the more we can, in fact, reserve these spaces and acknowledge them now. I really think in this case, I think Ian Sobieski, because I agree There's an awful lot of work to lay out yet. We are nowhere near the area where we can save time to, as you say, pull the trigger. And I really appreciate that you are willing to go thoroughly through this. Perhaps you were one. to what Alice Merrill just said, who actually heard? that the vast majority of people said, do not get rid of this median. You'd be crazy to do that. And yet, There was one resolution and it was, let's dump the media. Thank you. Anything further, City Clerk? |
| 02:29:52.30 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:29:52.85 | Walfred Solorzano | Seeing none. |
| 02:29:54.93 | Steven Woodside | All right, with that, we will close public comment. I do want to announce with respect to the storms this weekend that the city manager is in the process of scheduling a meeting with PG&E's regional vice president, district staff, the city manager, the police chief, the fire chief, the public works director, and myself to address this, to commence the dialogue about better addressing challenges like this moving forward. Um, And with that, we're ready to adjourn. Happy holidays, everyone. Thank you all so much. We're adjourned. |