| Time | Speaker | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00:26.78 | Walfred Solorzano | Good evening, Mayor. The City Council of the City of Sausalito is holding its meeting today at April 15th over here at City Hall Council Chambers. It's also being broadcast on Zoom, the city's website, and cable TV channel 27th. |
| 00:00:42.34 | Steven Woodside | Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the special meeting for the City of Sausalito for Tuesday, April 15, 2025. I will call the meeting to order and ask the City Clerk to call the roll. |
| 00:00:54.25 | Walfred Solorzano | Councilmember Blaustein. Thank you. |
| 00:00:56.07 | Steven Woodside | Here. |
| 00:00:56.23 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Hoffman. |
| 00:00:58.49 | Steven Woodside | here. |
| 00:00:58.66 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Sobieski. Thank you. Vice Mayor Woodside here, Mayor Cox. |
| 00:01:04.34 | Steven Woodside | here. First up on our agenda is interviews for the Planning Commission. We had three interviews scheduled, but Walt Lemmerman has withdrawn. his name from consideration. So we will start off with Bob Lalonde. |
| 00:01:28.52 | Bob Lalonde | Good evening, or good, I guess it is evening. |
| 00:01:30.87 | Steven Woodside | Good evening, Bob. We've allocated five minutes for each of these interviews, and we customarily start off with you introducing yourself and sharing with us your interest in the planning commission. |
| 00:01:31.66 | Bob Lalonde | Yes. |
| 00:01:41.69 | Bob Lalonde | Great. So my name is Bob Lalonde. I know I've met many of you over the years. My wife and I, we've... lived in Sausalito now, I think for seven years up at 6 Josephine Street, which is actually a That home, which I thought was a, it is a historic home. Um, when we purchased it, it had a demolition permit. and plans to build condos on that site. which always surprised me when we first moved here and found out that in Sausalito, you could tear down 160 year old home. Um, uh, In many cities that would never happen. But anyway, we purchased it and we actually did not demo it and we renovated it and we've loved living here ever since. So I graduated from the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley in architecture and planning. Worked in construction and then have been a developer for the last 40 years. mainly doing urban infill mixed use projects, so multifamily over retail. We've I've I've been before many planning commissions from Placer County to projects in Novato, San Rafael. Obviously, the home here in Sausalito, done many projects in San Francisco. We did a number of projects when Mayor Jerry Brown was in Oakland, urban infill projects in the downtown, Cupertino, Mountain View, et cetera. So I've really been, again, an urban infill developer trying to fit large multifamily projects into existing environments. So architecture has always been a big part of that, fitting into the fabric of the current city. so to speak. Um, I've been, actually when I was in San Francisco, I actually sat on the, San Francisco redevelopment advisory committee. Um, when the giants built the ballpark because that was a big, uh, planning issue. And, uh, I've always had an interest in, uh, you know, watching and looking for good development And, you know, always thought that getting involved in planning would be something fun and interesting because I've been doing it basically my entire life. So that's a brief background. my interest in the built environment. |
| 00:04:20.19 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. And have you attended... Sausalito Planning Commission meetings. |
| 00:04:25.85 | Bob Lalonde | Yes, not consistently, but when projects have come up, I've certainly come and listened and done some public comment. |
| 00:04:37.62 | Steven Woodside | Thanks. Other questions for Bob? |
| 00:04:40.64 | Ian Sobieski | Just quickly, Bob, given your background and your interest in urban infill and looking at Sausalito, what can you say about the opportunities or lack of opportunities here for that kind of multifamily environment? |
| 00:04:49.12 | Bob Lalonde | Yeah. Thank you. |
| 00:04:56.07 | Bob Lalonde | So, uh, Great question. You know, when I first moved here, I was on EDAC, and then... Ian, I think it was Omit where I looked at, and there was a gentleman, was it Steve Wagner? I think the city hired to help look at, Mike Wagner. look at a lot of property, actually looked at all the property that Sausalito owned. And as part of that, looked at MLK, you know, the property, the lots downtown, certainly, you know, the working waterfront area, And And I think there's a lot of opportunity certainly you know, the infamous project, next to the Angelenos is not one that I would call, you know, the right kind of opportunity. Um, But I think there's a lot of opportunity for multifamily to be built in Sausalito that's done tastefully and right-sized. Many of the projects we did in San Francisco have been award-winning projects. One of them, which is by the DMV, was a was a 80 unit condo project that we had the ability to go four story over retail. But the neighbors, all of the homes in that area in Buena Vista Heights were all Edwardians. And one thing we did is we took the fourth floor and we put it into dormers so that the bedrooms are upstairs and took the roof line down to 30 feet. And and things like that that you can do, I think, architecturally and also, you know, from a design standpoint, I mean, um, yeah. you know, building, I like modern architecture, but putting, putting modern architecture in a historic district to me just doesn't make sense. So I think you can do things tastefully. Um, and I, and I really do think that we need a lot more multifamily, uh, to be built. Um, and I, you know, kind of been following the, the housing element, um, which is a very complicated issue. I would maybe would like and wish that that was done by now. It's kind of a tough thing as I think is a new... commissioner to inherit because it's got such a history and it's in its complexity um i mean there's a lot of things that have gone on over the months with that issue that uh you know it's a huge learning curve i guess i would say so Thank you. Yes. |
| 00:07:33.56 | Steven Woodside | Thank you so much. So appreciate you coming in. |
| 00:07:34.68 | Bob Lalonde | Okay. Thank you. |
| 00:07:36.01 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:07:42.98 | Steven Woodside | Next on our list is Joshua Richmond. |
| 00:07:49.63 | Steven Woodside | Welcome. |
| 00:07:50.86 | Joshua Richmond | Hi, and thanks for having me. Sure. Um, So a little background of who I am. My name's Josh Richman. I am a resident in Sausalito and I have over two decades of experience in industrial design, product design and product development. So I come to this council with a slightly different angle. Um, I have also most recently been active in helping with the, helping with the a committee called the ODDS Views Committee. And there we introduced kind of new pragmatic methods and objective methods for looking at how we can Uh, David Bainwright-van-van-van-van-van-van-van-van-vanvan-vanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvanvan And Yep. And I have some. Do we have any questions? Sure. |
| 00:09:06.33 | Steven Woodside | Sure. So your education lists industrial design and human factors. Can you say a little bit more about human factors? |
| 00:09:14.26 | Joshua Richmond | Certainly. So Human Factors is about accessibility, about people's use of devices, products, spaces, buildings. And it's about the interpretation of those rules into things that we can build. And so this directly relates to what we're talking about, which is how we build communities, how we structure building code. and translate that to things that we want to create in the future. And so that's kind of how I would interpret best looking at that. |
| 00:09:49.42 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. I have a follow-up question on the, so you were on the odds, you were on the odds working group. Thank you. |
| 00:09:56.27 | Joshua Richmond | Yes. |
| 00:09:56.31 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. And you work with Sophia and Michael Rex and I think David Marlott and that group to develop the odds program. And tell us a little bit more about that, just briefly about how you are working to develop that program. |
| 00:10:12.00 | Joshua Richmond | Yeah, so we were looking at how do you create an objective system to look and protect all the views of new development and existing properties? And what was interesting about this is it wasn't just a restrictive order of plans of here's what you can't do. It was a system where you could identify opportunity spaces. So new development, where it would best fit within the community and kind of objectively be able to determine what kind of conflicts it may interface with and also where it would, would. where the opportunities were for architects and developers to be very clever and creative about how they could alter that plan. before they even come to the Planning Commission. So it's that kind of proactive type of methodology. kind of processes that we can put in place. And we're very proud, very happy, that much of that maybe is being adopted. So it's that type of thinking that I like to kind of bring to the table. |
| 00:11:23.08 | Jill Hoffman | And you were specifically looking at the current zoning and the current parcels in Sausalito. |
| 00:11:28.02 | Joshua Richmond | Correct. And the within our current code. So yeah. |
| 00:11:37.07 | Babette McDougall | Yes. |
| 00:11:38.32 | Melissa Blaustein | big fan of the view thing, I think. Any other technology solutions that you imagine to solve our problems in planning? |
| 00:11:46.16 | Joshua Richmond | Well, we're going to have to take a look and a little deeper dive into certain things. I'm not kind of ready to propose anything quite yet, but I think there's a lot of room for improvement. I think we can take some of those methods and the ways we were thinking about things, maybe apply them to other problems that we're working on within the city. And sometimes it's a very straightforward, how do we best interpret the code and how do we best interpret those things so that they make sense with the feel, the look, and the atmosphere that we have here. |
| 00:12:24.73 | Steven Woodside | When you say you're invested in resilience and sustainability and long-term vitality, can you give an example of that? |
| 00:12:32.94 | Joshua Richmond | Sure, aspects of nature, aspects of art, I think there's two folds to it, two sides to this, where there is the opportunity to Build new things that are. aesthetically historic, also very modern. There's opportunities to protect the existing things that we do have, the deep, rich history of Sausalito. So I think all of that kind of comes into play. |
| 00:13:04.33 | Steven Woodside | All right. Thank you so much for coming in. Thank you. |
| 00:13:06.64 | Joshua Richmond | you. |
| 00:13:06.69 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:13:06.85 | Steven Woodside | much. Thanks, everybody. That's the end of our interviews for this evening. We are going to pause for five minutes before we, well, actually two minutes before we adjourn to closed session. |
| 00:13:23.82 | Jill Hoffman | I think there are people here for public comment. |
| 00:13:26.98 | Steven Woodside | Yeah, but it's noticed for 530, so I'm going to wait till 530 to take the public comment. |
| 00:13:32.02 | Jill Hoffman | Sorry, I didn't see it on there. Yeah, thank you. |
| 00:13:44.58 | Steven Woodside | What were you wanting to give public comment on? |
| 00:13:48.59 | Jill Hoffman | Extend. |
| 00:13:50.97 | Steven Woodside | Oh. |
| 00:13:51.09 | Jill Hoffman | On the Planning Commission. |
| 00:13:52.49 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. So we're, we are not going to consider those appointments until the very end of our meeting. |
| 00:14:03.29 | Chris White | I thought I understood you better. |
| 00:14:07.66 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:14:07.68 | Jill Hoffman | Mayor, I... It's now 5.30pm. |
| 00:14:09.69 | Walfred Solorzano | Now 5.30. |
| 00:14:10.72 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. I discussed this with Art. Thank you. City Attorney actually earlier today about when we would take public comment and whether not it would be under interviews for planning commission and he said it would be under both. |
| 00:14:26.95 | Steven Woodside | It's not noticed under interviews. It's only noticed at the end under consider making appointments. |
| 00:14:26.97 | Jill Hoffman | even though it's not noticed. |
| 00:14:33.45 | Jill Hoffman | It's not a notice under that either. |
| 00:14:36.15 | Steven Woodside | Well, it was in the draft. I don't know how it disappeared. |
| 00:14:38.75 | Jill Hoffman | you So that was my question to him. And that's why his comment back to me was it was it could be properly under either. And so that's why there may be an. |
| 00:14:52.21 | Walfred Solorzano | Hold on one moment. We have the city attorney. |
| 00:14:57.97 | Steven Woodside | I didn't. |
| 00:15:04.99 | Steven Woodside | Yeah, I will. But I just it was on the agenda. And that is really And why? |
| 00:15:11.97 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 00:15:12.02 | Steven Woodside | removed. |
| 00:15:12.68 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 00:15:15.79 | Sergio Rudin | And Mayor, I certainly think that it is acceptable for the council to take public comment on interviews. It is listed as an item on your agenda, so... If you would like to take public comment now on the conduct of the interviews, you certainly may. |
| 00:15:30.77 | Steven Woodside | It's not public comment on the interviews. The public comment pertains to the appointment of a planning commissioner, which is being heard at the end of the agenda. But I am going to make an exception, and I will go ahead and hear your comment. |
| 00:15:47.23 | Steven Woodside | And in the future, if there's discussion about the agenda, perhaps someone could share that with me in advance. Okay. Yeah. |
| 00:15:53.86 | Chris White | Thank you. Thank you again that's very kind of you. I think I know everybody at the head table. My name is Chris White. We've been living here for 14 years and we've had quite an extensive relationship with the planning commission over the past several years because of new neighbors that have joined. joined us in Sausalito. But I'm really here to drop to the bottom line and strongly urge the council to extend Christina Felder's membership on the planning commission, even though I know it would be above and beyond accepting somebody else to fill that void because of one specific reason. And that's the crisis and the controversy and the confusion over the housing element. I don't think there's anybody in the entire North Bay area that has as much experience and wisdom and, um, knowledge about the Sausalito housing. So it would seem to me, as well as several of our neighbors who have discussed this, really criminal not to have her wisdom and background and experience involved in this. Just that one issue. not talking about anything else, just that one issue, she could help you immensely. So I hope you seriously give that some thought at 10 o'clock. But again, thank you again for allowing me. I'm old. I got to go to bed early. So thank you. |
| 00:17:27.33 | Steven Woodside | You're very welcome. Thank you for your public comment. All right, I'm going to move on to closed session. We will be considering four items in closed session. One, C1, Conference of Legal Counsel, Anticipated Litigation, Initiation of Litigation, one case. C2, Conference of Legal Counsel, Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation, one case. C3 conference with legal counsel existing litigation Sullivan versus city of Sausalito and C4 conference with labor negotiator agency designated representative Kathy Nikitas and Charles Sakai employee organization Sausalito Police Association. Is there any public comment on closed session items. |
| 00:18:10.95 | Walfred Solorzano | See you then. |
| 00:18:11.52 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Okay, then we will adjourn to closed session. We will reconvene at 7 p.m. Thank |
| 00:18:42.23 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. |
| 00:18:43.96 | Steven Woodside | Good evening and welcome to the regular meeting of the Sausalito City Council for Tuesday, April 15 2025. It's 7pm I will call the meeting to order back to order we are resuming coming back from closed session and ask the city clerk to call the roll. |
| 00:19:04.14 | Walfred Solorzano | Councilmember Blaustein. Here. Councilmember Hoffman. |
| 00:19:05.94 | Steven Woodside | here. She'll be here momentarily. |
| 00:19:10.70 | Walfred Solorzano | Councilmember Sobieski? Vice Mayor Woodside? Here. And Mayor Cox? |
| 00:19:15.80 | Steven Woodside | Here. Okay, next we will do the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| 00:19:22.50 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 00:19:22.62 | Steven Woodside | Let the leaders do the flag. |
| 00:19:24.69 | Babette McDougall | of the United States of America, and to the public for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice |
| 00:19:24.81 | Steven Woodside | of the United States of America. Thank you. |
| 00:19:29.25 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:19:29.38 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:19:30.28 | Jill Hoffman | my interest |
| 00:19:35.04 | Steven Woodside | We're all. |
| 00:19:38.58 | Steven Woodside | Next item on the agenda is closed session announcements. I want to correct, Karen Hollweg, Two things from my announcement of closed session at 530 one is item C to had two cases, not one case, I think I mistakenly said one case another item is that. Karen Hollweg, um. uh, Councilmember Sobieski recused himself from item. |
| 00:19:59.44 | Jill Hoffman | I'm not. |
| 00:20:03.35 | Steven Woodside | one of the items in C2. There are no closed session announcements. I'm going to ask for approval of the agenda, but first I'm going to announce that I'm going to ask that we continue item 3b to our next meeting that's the formula retail ordinance And so I am asked, we will still take public comment on it tonight, should anyone wish to comment. I would like to ask for approval of the amended agenda. So moved. |
| 00:20:34.61 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:20:35.99 | Steven Woodside | Second. |
| 00:20:36.61 | Jill Hoffman | All in favor? Aye. Aye. And, Mayor, I'd like the minister to reflect that I have now joined the meeting, and apologies for my late. |
| 00:20:37.76 | Steven Woodside | Bye. Bye. |
| 00:20:43.03 | Steven Woodside | No worries. That motion carries 5-0, and I will let the record reflect Councilmember Hoffman joined us as we were making the Pledge of Allegiance. Okay, we have... Give me a second. |
| 00:21:00.09 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 00:21:24.76 | Steven Woodside | City Manager, we have something on the agenda, but the recipient is not here. |
| 00:21:28.42 | Chris Zapata | a mayor or public director will accept that honor in his stead. He apologized that he could not be here. He said he loves us. So he was glad for his 31 years of service. |
| 00:21:37.01 | Steven Woodside | OK, so the first item on the agenda under special presentations is a proclamation honoring the career of Kent Basso. I'm going to briefly read it for us. It is. Whereas Kent Basso began his distinguished career with the city of Sausalito on September 11, 1995, when he was hired as a maintenance worker one, bringing with him a strong work ethic, a commitment to public service, and a deep dedication to the Sausalito community. And... Whereas Kent quickly proved himself to be an invaluable member of the team, earning a promotion to maintenance worker to just three months later on December 21 1995 and continuing to grow and lead within the Public Works Department and Whereas on June 3, 1998, Kent was promoted to public works foreman, taking an increased responsibility and demonstrating exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and a tireless commitment to the improvement and maintenance of the city's infrastructure and public spaces. and whereas on December 15th 2010 Kent received a well-deserved promotion to public works supervisor a role in which he guided his team with professionalism integrity and a spirit of collaboration ensuring that Sausalito remained a safe beautiful well-deserved promotion to public works supervisor, a role in which he guided his team with professionalism, integrity, and a spirit of collaboration, ensuring that Sausalito remained a safe, beautiful, and well-maintained city for residents and visitors alike. And whereas Kent has served the city of Sausalito with honor and distinction for nearly three decades, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues, community members, and city leadership through his unwavering dedication and positive attitudes. And whereas Kent's retirement marks the end of an era, but his legacy will live on through the countless improvements he made to the city and the lives he touched throughout his career. Now, therefore. I, the mayor and the city council of the city of Sausalito hereby recognize and honor Kent Basso for his outstanding service and congratulate him on the occasion of his well earned retirement. Be it further resolved that as Kent embarks on this exciting new chapter, we will always remember time flies enjoy each and every day in witness where I've here on to set my seal and cause the city of Sausalito to be affixed. This 15th day of April. 2025. And thank you, Public Works Director Kevin McGowan, for being here. to accept this on his behalf, |
| 00:23:52.33 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you, Mayor and members of the City Council. Kent apologizes for not being here. He had a pre-planned trip to go to Texas as well, where he has a ranch down there, or at least his family does. So many apologies for that. But I did want to mention that Kent really loved working here. He had a great time. He liked the people he worked for. That's one reason he stayed for 30 years. And he's one of those gentlemen who knew where everything was. So we were trying to glean some of that institutional knowledge from him. And we did our best, but I'm sure there'll be something that comes up in the future where we'll have to say, what's Kent's phone number so that we can find it. But many thanks. And again, he enjoyed working with you. He enjoyed working with all the residents of Sausalito and appreciates everything that they have done for him as well as he has done for them. |
| 00:24:46.63 | Steven Woodside | Thank you so much. I see Carolyn Revell is dying to do something. So please come up, Carolyn. Thank you. |
| 00:24:54.03 | Carolyn Revell | We were hoping that Kent would be here, but very briefly, on behalf of Sausalito Beautiful, I'd like to express our appreciation. for Kent Basso's years of service to the city of Sausalito. During the 10 years since our organization's founding, Kent was a part of our successful partnership to enhance the city's parks. Leaders of our Green Thumbs and more recent Adopt-a-Park volunteers have coordinated closely with Kent to assess the extra maintenance needs at the various parks and to work with the gardening staff he has supervised. In 2018, we presented Kent our Little Willow Award for extra service in the beautification of Sausalito. We appreciate that he and Pat Wasco recently facilitated the location of a new shed that Sausalito purchased for our tools and supplies, as well as cheerfully solving other issues that may have occurred. We found Kent consistently supportive of our efforts and pleasant to work with. We wish him well in his retirement. Thank you for letting me make those remarks. |
| 00:25:46.96 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, Carolyn. And welcome, Pat. I didn't see you sitting in the back back there. . Okay, we're gonna move on to item 1B. A budget presentation from the Department of Public Works. Welcome back, Director McGowan. |
| 00:26:02.61 | Kevin McGowan | Good evening, Mayor, members of the City Council. We do have a presentation this evening. And I'd like to get going with that. We have a few speakers this evening that I'd like to bring up to present about public works. And as you mentioned, I'm Ken Legan, Public Works Director for the City of Sausalito. Next slide, please. Tonight, we would like to cover a few topics, including who we are and what we do. And initially, I'd like to have Pat Guasco up to address our next few slides related to who we are and what Public Works does for our community. Pat? |
| 00:26:43.00 | Kevin McGowan | Next slide, please. |
| 00:26:48.03 | Pat Guasco | Good evening, Mayor Ford and council members. So, Who are we? When I say that, who are GPW staff? Public Works is composed of 21 full-time positions equivalent positions. We have four major sections. which include road maintenance, park maintenance, sanitary maintenance and engineering. Within each of these divisions, our staff includes licenses, between professional engineers, licensed sanitary workers, certified permit technicians, project managers, and very experienced landscape maintenance workers. We pride ourselves on being able to address multiple types of problems with limited staff in order to best serve the residents Sausalito and the general public. Our staff also responds to emergencies, especially during inclement weather. Next slide, please. |
| 00:27:53.66 | Pat Guasco | Our team, our team maintains 25 miles of roadway, 42 stair systems, 15 parks, 21 miles of sewer collection system, as well as five public facilities. Our department also addresses issues such as trees right away and coach encroachments nine signal systems and the repairs of all of these. We also provide custodial services for parks, restrooms, and the city hall. This is accomplished with 15 maintenance staff. We also address minor projects such as the stairway repair shown in the upper right-hand corner of the slide, And we also provide custodial services. Oh, sorry. We also... Haven't done this for a while. We also address minor projects such as the stairway repair shown in the upper right-hand corner of the slide and coordinate efforts with our engineering division with regard to capital projects and permitting. Next slide, please. Our department also is a primary first responder to police and fire matters with regard to emergencies. With weather related emergencies, we keep the roadways clear and manage storm drain systems. We also assist police and fire when requested or other emergencies such as power outages and tree mounting. The city's public works department is also the lead agency for the city, uh, regarding stormwater compliance for both public and private development. I'm not sure. We all act as the FEMA flood administrator for the city and manage repairs of several buildings, such as Martin Luther King School and City Hall. Our engineering division is responsible for the development of the annual capital improvement program, which is other items is another item on this evening's agenda. Our engineering division also reviews private property development and coordinates that review with our community development department. And with that, I'm going to turn the rest of this over to Ali. Thank you. |
| 00:30:08.74 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Welcome, Ali. |
| 00:30:13.05 | Ali | Thank you. Good evening, City Council. Over the last year, City Council or the city has... |
| 00:30:18.94 | Steven Woodside | Ali, can you speak into the mic so people on the television can hear? |
| 00:30:20.69 | Ali | Yes. Sure. So over the last year, the city has utilized a web slash mobile device app called the Fix-It app. So generally speaking, this app allows users to notify public works if something needs fixing on city property. Next slide. One benefit of the app is that it allows someone to submit photos and videos directly from their mobile device. before the app, we would get an email saying, the streetlight is broken. So we weren't sure if a light was out, if the pole was teetering, we didn't know what condition it was in. But now with the mobile app, this picture right here with the streetlight is one that was taken from the app. Pretty good quality. And now we know exactly what... A broken street light means you can see that over the green light that that cylindrical flap is about to fall. So we know exactly how to fix this. Um, And since we started this application, we received more than 400 inquiries with an average response time of about six calendar days. So on the way home, if you get on the app and you submit an inquiry to us, tomorrow, Wednesday would be day one. Thursday would be day two. Friday, day three, Saturday, four. Sunday 5, Monday 6. When it gets fixed. Um... But you would also remember that city staff doesn't work on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. So we believe that the six days are really actually a two or three day turnaround. Next slide. Undoubtedly, some issues take much longer. Sometimes when the maintenance team defers to other departments, things get more complicated. Sometimes they're... passed on to code enforcement. A recent complaint was the Little League baseball fields at MLK. And that was directed to Parks and Rec and Brian Vitale. Um, and another one. that this picture represents is a 99 Marion. This one... It's also from the app. And this was a neighbor taking a picture sent. saying that the limbs from this eucalyptus tree were falling on the roadway and causing a concern. So the maintenance team, went to the engineering division to see whether that was actually in the city right away, or whether that was on private property. Uh, it was deemed that it was on private property. So. DPW reached out to the homeowner saying that they would need to cut the limbs, or remove this tree. Um, the homeowner hired a contractor But the contractor said that they weren't going to touch this tree because of all of those power lines in the way. |
| 00:33:32.24 | Ali | The contractor said you should probably reach out to PG&E that they would help resolve and cut this tree down for you. So PG&E has said that instead of just cutting the limbs, that they'll actually cut down this whole tree. So now PG&E has reached back to DPW saying we need an encroachment permit because we need to shut down this road to take this tree down. So from a complicated project like this to a minor pothole, the FixIt app takes care of all of these issues. With that, I'll hand it back to Kevin. |
| 00:34:05.25 | Kevin McGowan | All right, thank you, Ali Ali is our project manager one of them we're going to have Sarah course should afford also talk to us this evening. And I have a few slides to cover first so currently public works needs to backfill two positions let's see go to our there we are. Currently public works needs to backfill two positions within our department over the last several months there have been there is for transfer the store collection system to the sauce lead omer in city sanitary district. We currently have two vacancies in that division and if that transfer occurs in the next few months, the district should be responsible for determining if backfilling those positions is necessary. Next slide please. DPW has four main budget centers, which include road maintenance, park maintenance, engineering, and the Sewer Enterprise Fund. As noted in previous presentations to the council, our maintenance division needs to replace its older vehicles. We have quite a few of those. We are currently renting a work truck, and we anticipate that another parks truck is on its last legs, so to speak. and replacing in the next few months is necessary. Some of our vehicles are over 20 years old. So as part of our budget, we would like to include those as line items, at least for next fiscal year. In addition, the number of employees with the engineering division has outgrown the available space at City Hall. Some of our employees are occupying spaces that may not be compliant with current standards. The capital project capital program includes a project to convert the game room, which is downstairs to office space, which is needed to address the number of employees in public works in the public works engineering division. In addition, most cities need the assistance of engineering professionals over each year. For example, a traffic engineer is needed to address warrants for adding new stop signs or changing some of the constraints on each one of the public roads. In addition, a geotechnical engineer is needed to assist staff during heavy storm events. We do not have full-time licensed traffic engineers or geotechnical engineers on staff. And we will need to have on-call services, a on-call service contract next year for each of these professional services in case something does arrive. Next slide, please. The council also asked each department for their thoughts on reductions in cost to the city. A reduction in public works staff would be detrimental to the city in that the amount of maintenance work would be significantly reduced such that the city's amenities would not be adequately maintained. However, there may be some other areas where cost reductions may be realized. tree maintenance has become a large cost to the city. We spend more than $100,000 annually to remove trees in the right of way that the city did not plant or maintain. vegetation from the edge of the pavement or the curb, To the property lines should be the responsibility of the fronting property owner modifying the municipal codes, similar to other marine jurisdictions could reduce the cost to the city by requiring fronting property owners to maintain vegetation, including trees. Similarly, the sidewalk ordinance should be rewritten to note that the fronting property owner is to maintain sidewalks regardless of whether a tree pushed up the concrete or not. The city would remove and replace the tree, obviously, if we planted it. This change would not yield a significant savings to the city right away, but Over time, it would yield an additional savings to the city. So it will take a little while. Another concept which we haven't been able to implement is developing our own water supply for water for watering our medians and parks. I've mentioned this in past years. This could be a savings to the city over time, especially when Sausalito has springs that run year round on some of our streets. |
| 00:38:39.75 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:38:40.12 | Kevin McGowan | So now I'd like to turn the presentation over to Sarah Korshidafard, who is our project manager for many of our projects. And she's going to run through a few slides related to the capital improvement program. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:38:53.95 | Sarah Korshidafard | Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council Members, City Manager, members of the public. I'm going to present the last three slides of our night presentation. The first one is related to our capital improvement program and some of our funding needs. One of the more challenging and complex tasks that are the function of our department is to develop the capital improvement program. And in 2025, many of our longstanding projects are moving from design and planning to construction. And that transition will require us to secure a fairly large funding at the cost of about $14 million that is excluding the grant funding that we have. In addition to that being complex, it is also time consuming and It takes definitely over a month to develop, and we will be presenting our CIP tonight to you as well. Also of interest to our department, our safety issues related to the deferred maintenance of our roads, buildings, sidewalks and stairs. Next slide, please. In this next slide, I'm going to summarize some of our achievements and ongoing efforts. We anticipate that 22 of our capital improvement projects will be complete completed by June 2025. And this includes some of the long-avaded projects, such as the Ferry Landside Improvement Project that has started in 2017, naming some of the other projects that we completed, the MLK, the tennis courts, the internship tennis courts that are up and running. We put the sea lion back on the water and the North Street steps, some of the old city hall flooring repairs and the ferry land site improvement project in construction on the screen. In addition to our CIP projects, our staff issued more than 600 permits over the past year only, and we also assisted PG&E in its fairly large conversion, electrical conversion system, electrical system conversion project that was happening in town. In addition to the permits, the CIP projects, our staff provide ongoing feedback and actually comments to building planning permits, especially with regards to compliance to our state and local laws, providing knowledge about stormwater management, about grading, drainage, and all other site work. Next slide, please. In this last of the three, I'm going to talk about some of our future goals and challenges, what is ahead of us. We're going to have many challenges, especially to advance our CIP projects and at the same time, maintaining the level of service to the public and making sure we are maintaining our infrastructures. Our staff have to work proactively and collaboratively with the other departments at the city, making sure our processes are streamlined and that we are responding to the public needs and desires. In addition to all those, we do have workforce and equipment needs coming up. We have to backfill two of our maintenance division positions and we also have to procure new equipment and machinery so that our maintenance staff could perform what they need to perform. With this, this concludes my end of the three slide presentation, and I would like to hand it back to you. Thank you. |
| 00:42:59.32 | Kevin McGowan | All right, one last slide. So many thanks to Sarah, Ali and Pat who don't usually come up and talk to you. And we kind of put them on the spot today, but I think they did great. So a couple other things, Public Works is a group of 21 individuals who are dedicated to their work and doing their best to address the needs of Sausalito residents. Having staff that are versed in multiple issues, such as repairs of two streets, buildings and parks will help the city reduce costs. I'm continually amazed at the willingness of our staff to step up and assist with almost any task. We have to wear multiple hats many different times. A lot of us don't really know sometimes how to repair a road or put a pothole in, but we have somebody on staff who does. And that's what's very important. So multiple hats for our public works employees is super important. our employees' efforts are what allows Sausalito to continue to thrive. So that concludes our 20-minute presentation, and we're here for any questions or comments. Thank you. |
| 00:44:09.52 | Steven Woodside | Thank you so much. Sure. |
| 00:44:13.30 | Joan Cox | Thank you very much. And it was really nice to see Pat Ali and Sarah on the mic. So I love getting to know your team and appreciate all of the hard work. I wanted to ask specifically about sidewalks because you mentioned the trees and the responsibilities associated with homeowners versus the city. And I know that we heard maybe it was in the spring of last year, a proposed sidewalk program. where the city would offer X amount to support towards improvements to sidewalks that the property managers wanted to take on what what's the status of that now and do we think that that might help contribute to some of these issues with trees that you mentioned. |
| 00:44:48.66 | Kevin McGowan | So those are several different questions. So first up, our sidewalk program is moving ahead. We have one of our land development engineers, Sherry, who's moving forward with developing a plan. We have that all ready to go, but we would like to notify the property owners that this is coming towards them to give them plenty of time to move forward. Our emphasis is on Caledonia, on the east side of Caledonia, as well as on the west side of Bridgeway. In the same corridor corridor right out in front of us here at City Hall. Now, about a year ago, I talked to you about a sidewalk program and the possibility of helping our residents out. The idea is that if folks, residents have to replace a lot of their sidewalk, the city would contribute to that up to about $1,000. We haven't moved forward with that at this point in time or develop the documentation, but I am anticipating that to happen before this summertime. Because we want to move it forward and we want to bring it back to you to see if you would be interested in allocating funding to help our citizens. |
| 00:45:53.12 | Joan Cox | And just a quick follow-on on that, that would also potentially help reduce our liability because insurance has been an issue for us? Yes, absolutely. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Director McCallum. |
| 00:46:00.04 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions of Director Gowen? Okay. |
| 00:46:07.36 | Melissa Blaustein | Just a quick one, Merit. The new vehicles you may need to purchase? I'm sorry, yes? Will any of them be electric? |
| 00:46:14.53 | Kevin McGowan | We need to look at that at this point. We know that we need maintenance vehicles. And when we look at the prices of these, we will take a look at electric trucks to see if they can actually work here in the city going up and down our hills. We've noticed that that could be a problem in the future, but we will develop options. options before we purchase any type of a truck like that. |
| 00:46:38.45 | Melissa Blaustein | As you know, we invested some money in electric chargers for the city and the police department also had that same issue and on a trial basis got one vehicle. Will you come back when you're when you're considering that to take some get some input from the Council about the priority of electric vehicles given. Apples, oranges, choices. |
| 00:46:57.80 | Kevin McGowan | We will. we would be happy to do that because it has other consequences as well. If we put electric vehicles at the corp yard, we'll have to get electricity to power those overnight time as well. So it'll take some more infrastructure to implement that type of thing. Thank you, sir. |
| 00:47:14.47 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. City Manager. |
| 00:47:17.09 | Chris Zapata | I can. One of the things that was mentioned in the public works report is this idea of more space for city employees. If the city council does decide to relocate the corporation yard, that's going to mean we're going to need a couple more office spaces for people. And, you know, so the idea of adding more space where we have people under stairways and clustered together to make sure that the work environment is right for productivity is really important. So that project is one that you may not be aware of, but it is something that I believe is really important to align with future goals that the council may have regarding housing and that site. |
| 00:47:57.12 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. All right. Thank you very much. We're going to move on. The next item on our agenda is communications. David, you're the first one up. I'm going to go ahead and call your name, David Lay. Yes. Mr. Lay, I last saw you when we had a big storm and your boat was pulled up at the outside of the bay model. We rescued you from the drink. I guess that was back in 2020. I can't. I can't hear a thing in this room. |
| 00:48:32.98 | David Lay | So I've asked Jeff to help me out. Okay, will you speak into the mic? |
| 00:48:37.47 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:48:37.48 | David Lay | Will you speak into the mind? There. And if I can't understand something you say, he's going to relate it to me because I can't hear a thing. OK. I mean, I can hear noise. OK. So you're going to have to. |
| 00:48:49.70 | Steven Woodside | So you're going to have two minutes to speak. We welcome you. |
| 00:48:53.34 | David Lay | Yeah, okay. I'm here to get you to put something on the agenda. And that is about climate change and a piece of work we need to do for ourselves to to get data, because data is what we need. So. Look there in there. |
| 00:49:11.86 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:49:12.57 | David Lay | Thank you. |
| 00:49:12.67 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:49:13.75 | David Lay | Thank you. |
| 00:49:13.76 | Steven Woodside | Yeah, pass that to the one of you. You have to hand it to the clerk if you have something. |
| 00:49:19.89 | David Lay | The first thing is, No, no. Oh yeah. Okay. Sorry. Um, |
| 00:49:30.79 | Steven Woodside | Your time is limited. He has to keep talking. He's going to run out of time. |
| 00:49:31.21 | David Lay | Just limited to that. |
| 00:49:35.20 | David Lay | Population growth is really the problem. You're looking at me and I, since I was born, the population of the world has grown by a factor of four. The blue model has really got too many people. And the atmosphere cannot take that. Number two. The comparison of temperature to Uh, CO2. is undeniable. And three, this is a brand new chart, and the publication is the World Almanac. I made copies of that, and it's all copyrighted material, so don't give it to your kids to take to school, or we're going to be in trouble. I'm going to be in trouble. |
| 00:50:20.45 | Jill Hoffman | I'm going to be in trouble. Thank you. |
| 00:50:22.28 | David Lay | but you can see there that the end of that is going up. That means the rate of, of warming of the water is going up. But the next thing in four shows that really It's not the water and it's not the rising of the ocean that we're worried about. It is the air. And in the five, it shows the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere over a number of years. And when you study that, you can see why I drew arrows there to get you a look. Was that three minutes? |
| 00:50:59.37 | Steven Woodside | It's two minutes. |
| 00:51:00.51 | David Lay | Oh. |
| 00:51:01.24 | Steven Woodside | But I'm going to give you 15, Jeff, we tell him, I'm giving him 15 more seconds because he paused as you were walking to the- Well, thank you. |
| 00:51:07.06 | Jeff Jacobs | Well, thank you. 15 seconds, brother. Go get it. |
| 00:51:10.28 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:51:10.76 | David Lay | Thank you very much. Ach, shoot. Six. Yeah. |
| 00:51:20.16 | David Lay | I got... I got tears in my eyes. is a comparison of sulfur and ozone. And we know how that was dealt with. But the sulfur problem was... acid rain across New England. And the ozone was a problem in South Africa. And those have kind of been cured, but not completely, because some of that was converted to HFC from CFC. Thank you. |
| 00:51:49.69 | Steven Woodside | Jeff, you have to cut him off. |
| 00:51:50.89 | David Lay | Oh, my God. |
| 00:51:51.44 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Definitely. That's it, Mr. Lay. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. |
| 00:51:59.97 | David Lay | . Thank you. |
| 00:52:00.88 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:52:03.09 | David Lay | What I'd like to do is get... Sure, I'm sorry, your time is up. Put it on an agenda and get a team to organize... |
| 00:52:04.32 | Chris Zapata | Again, you- |
| 00:52:05.57 | Steven Woodside | I'm I'm sorry. |
| 00:52:05.97 | Chris Zapata | you're welcome. |
| 00:52:06.02 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. So. Jeff, will you let him know if you leave his email address? I'm going to refer him to the chair of our sustainability commission. |
| 00:52:11.51 | David Lay | if he can leave his house. I'm not going to be a |
| 00:52:19.68 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:52:19.79 | Dilworth Cannon | Thank you. |
| 00:52:19.84 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:52:20.00 | Dilworth Cannon | Thank you. |
| 00:52:20.01 | Steven Woodside | I've got... Jeff, you said you were going to tell him? Thank you. Are you going to get his email address for us? |
| 00:52:24.50 | Jill Hoffman | TO BE ABLE |
| 00:52:24.59 | Alice Merrill | THAT IS A THAT IS A |
| 00:52:24.67 | Jill Hoffman | THE END OF |
| 00:52:24.87 | Alice Merrill | Yeah. |
| 00:52:26.14 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:52:26.16 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 00:52:26.19 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:52:26.21 | Alice Merrill | Yeah. |
| 00:52:26.27 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:52:26.80 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 00:52:26.81 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:52:26.83 | Alice Merrill | Okay. |
| 00:52:27.81 | Steven Woodside | All right, next up I have Alice Merrill. |
| 00:52:37.58 | Alice Merrill | Good evening. I was just recently down in the number one parking lot. And lo and behold, we've lost more parking spots. Um, because Tracy way, which took all the bicycle parking now doesn't. So now it's all in the number one parking space. So I would very much like for you guys who cheerfully got rid of how many spaces to figure out, um, how you're going to get them back. Cause you did say that you didn't want to lose them. So, um, I'm always amazed at how changes happen around here without, without any word or I don't know. So that's all. I just noticed that we've lost even more parking spaces. Thank you. Thank you. Bebe McDougall. |
| 00:53:31.14 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:53:43.51 | Babette McDougall | Thank you for acknowledging me, Babette McDougall, Sausalito resident. So thank you. Obviously, this public comment phase will include the presentations. I'm sorry. Again, point of order issue, one of many. that there ought to be a public comment specifically for special presentations or any presentation. So with this in mind, I'd like to say that I'd like to thank our Department of Public Works Director, Kevin McGowan. I think he does great work, and I think he's got a really good team, mighty good team. the issue of things coming out of this report, the fact that we have to look at a serious redesign of City Hall. That's all great. We have the corporation yard. We are really well poised. We may have to relocate more of Department of Public Works at the corporation yard. That actually makes practical sense to me. And I think we have a lot of solutions like that right in front of us. And I continue to encourage all of us to remember All of you. to remember that we need to work together, because if we continue to divide and argue against each other, We'll go down. I mean, we're standing at the last threshold before we lose control of what this city's going to look like in the next 10 years. And you've been warned by thousands of your constituents that don't ever expect that you will be well remembered upon your grave. So with that in mind, I just have to say... Who wants that? I don't. We need to work together. So we need to use that small d democracy model, because so far, as the Greeks have said, it's so imperfect, it's easy to corrupt, But there still is no other way to assure that each person may have a say in how their community is organized and run. So this earthquake epicenter in Washington, D.C. has reverberated all the way to Sausalito. Although, frankly, we've had our own problems. |
| 00:55:44.74 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:55:45.04 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 00:55:46.04 | Steven Woodside | Jeff Jacobs? |
| 00:55:54.59 | Jeff Jacobs | Thank you, Madam Mayor, City Council. staff and those people who showed up And I feel like the more people that show up, the better. Democracy will fare, whether it's nationally or here locally in Sausalito. Not much time, two minutes. Thank you for putting the public comment Back to the beginning of the meeting. The first item that I promised Govinda who runs the Sartage restaurant That... He has been attempting to open a buffet. that there is a paucity of cheap eateries here in Sausalito. And an Indian buffet... Seems like it would just hit the spot. It has been delayed because of the health department. The same thing happened During, I don't know if anybody remembers this, the Sartaj under Bossy and Belbir, the former owners, used to run a free Thanksgiving feast. Two hours before Thanksgiving, the health department showed up and told them they could no longer do it. resourceful people that they are, They went to 4th Street in San Rafael to an Indian restaurant there, and they got enough food and drink. from there to be able to complete their mission. But they never did that again. So I don't know if it's the county or the city that runs the health department interaction with restaurants here, but I want to see this buffet open and quickly. And please, no more delays. I want to eat a meal for less time. than $10. Thank you. |
| 00:57:56.97 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:57:56.99 | Jeff Jacobs | Thank you. |
| 00:57:57.11 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. City Clerk. |
| 00:58:03.39 | Walfred Solorzano | No further public comment? |
| 00:58:04.62 | Steven Woodside | Okay, we will close public comment, we'll close communications and move on to the consent calendar. Matters listed under the consent calendar are considered routine and non-controversial, require no discussion, are expected to have unanimous council support and may be enacted by the Council in one motion We have five items on consent. I'm removing one. We're continuing 3B to our next meeting. So we have remaining 3A, adopt the draft minutes from March 18, 2025. 3C, review and approve the state-required annual progress report on implementation of the housing element. 3D, waiver of second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 04-2025, an ordinance of the city council of the city of sausalito municipal code re-adopting chapter 2.60 military equipment use policy and 3e receive and file the sausage police department's crime and traffic report calendar year 2025 first quarter report any questions regarding consent items I'll open it up to public comment on the consent calendar. I have no speaker slips. |
| 00:59:21.60 | Steven Woodside | All right, Ms. McDougall, I'll call you first. |
| 00:59:28.00 | Babette McDougall | Thank you for allowing me to speak with regard to the consent calendar items. I just want to say... that, remember, these people have your constituents. They reminded you that they are your constituents. They're the ones who cast the votes. And thousands of them have reached out to you one way or the other. To let you know that we want to conserve it. By the way, is our city attorney attending this meeting today? |
| 00:59:48.79 | Mika Stefani | No. |
| 00:59:48.84 | Jill Hoffman | Bye. |
| 00:59:48.87 | Mika Stefani | Bye. |
| 00:59:54.39 | Babette McDougall | Why isn't he? |
| 00:59:55.03 | Steven Woodside | present. |
| 00:59:55.37 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 00:59:56.04 | Steven Woodside | We're not gonna answer questions. This is your opportunity. |
| 00:59:57.63 | Babette McDougall | But why isn't he present? |
| 00:59:59.00 | Steven Woodside | President. |
| 00:59:59.47 | Babette McDougall | Well, I don't know that, do I? So here's the point. We need to be much more conservative in our approach to governing Sausalito. We cannot continue to push the lines and even color near them or outside them. I believe in the redemptive spirit of the soul. This is the Easter season. I think we need to remember what the constituents are asking you to do. And they're asking you to reel it in. Special interest may not win here. What is really important is the character of this town going forward. And if you are not the oath keepers and the guardians of this character, then who do we rely on? We really do have to work together on this. So this housing element, the way it's been handled so far, has engendered a great deal of mistrust among your constituents. They have told you that. And I'm begging you. Consent item calendar stuff is not really a compatible deal. Everything needs to be carefully passed through. so that the citizens are finally on board with what's going on because There's a lot that they're not too happy about. I'm one. I have a few complaints. How much time have we got? Thank you. I really appreciate your consideration for your constituent will, majority constituent will. Thank you. |
| 01:01:14.92 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Next is... Well, I can't read the No, it's this one. I can't. Oh, okay, Jeff Jacobs. |
| 01:01:32.38 | Jeff Jacobs | Okay. Thank you again. And Chag Sameach, which... In Hebrew means happy Passover. Thank you. So the. I maybe I can answer the question of who we can rely on. Uh, It says in the... Torah, the holy Torah. Do not rely on the flesh of Even your closest brothers and sisters, I'm paraphrasing this. Rely on the one. Um... I'll talk on the consent calendar, though. First, about the bicycles. from the last meeting on March 18th, the minutes of March 18th. that there was half a million offered for a bike path, And There were a lot of people that came to Speak against that. As a bicyclist with no car, It feels a little personal. that a bicycle has a lot of advantages. I understand I'm from Detroit. I understand the pleasure of cars. I've had many of them. that, to have Bicycles through the city cost nothing. And... for the same thing with the housing element, to encourage people to talk against low cost housing and against bicycles. to have a lot of people pack This meeting to do that does not seem real advantageous to me. I'd like to congratulate, this is another consent calendar item, Only 16 arrests The first quarter in Sausalito, the police department is doing much, much better job. |
| 01:03:36.62 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:03:37.16 | Jeff Jacobs | And- |
| 01:03:37.29 | Steven Woodside | And then... |
| 01:03:38.29 | Jeff Jacobs | We love them. Thank you. |
| 01:03:40.46 | Walfred Solorzano | for the public speakers. |
| 01:03:41.78 | Steven Woodside | Okay, we will move on to the next item on our, oh, I'll go ahead and entertain a motion to adopt items 3A, 3C, 3D, and 3E of the consent calendar. |
| 01:03:53.54 | Ian Sobieski | So move. Thank you. |
| 01:03:54.40 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 01:03:54.44 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 01:03:55.11 | Steven Woodside | All in favor? Aye. That motion carries five zero. We'll now move on to public hearing items. City manager, city attorney. If you could... help us we noticed this for 8 15 p.m. it's only 7 45 p.m. so should we take a business item and come back |
| 01:04:17.47 | Sergio Rudin | I think that would be appropriate, particularly if the appellant is not there. |
| 01:04:23.34 | Steven Woodside | Well, I don't know if the appellant is here. |
| 01:04:24.73 | Unknown | I can confirm the appellant is present. |
| 01:04:28.05 | Steven Woodside | Okay, so, but I mean, I think to the mayor. When we noticed it publicly, what time was it noticed for? |
| 01:04:30.03 | Sergio Rudin | I think to the mayor. |
| 01:04:38.28 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:04:38.51 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:04:38.55 | Walfred Solorzano | I believe it was 7 p.m. |
| 01:04:40.37 | Jill Hoffman | when he did it. |
| 01:04:40.74 | Steven Woodside | The public hearing notice was 7 p.m.? |
| 01:04:40.76 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. |
| 01:04:43.36 | Walfred Solorzano | Just for the record, those are estimates that we do for convenience for the public? |
| 01:04:49.33 | Steven Woodside | Please don't call out from... The audience, if you'd like to speak, you can step out into the hallway. All right, then we're gonna go ahead with the public hearing item. First item is 4A. Appeal of a retroactive design review permit, 2024-00049, issued by the Sausalito Planning Commission to conditionally approve the expansion of a second floor deck at 27 Central Avenue. First, welcome, Senior Planner Matthew Mandich. First, may I confirm that we... provided the notice required by law, sir, |
| 01:05:23.89 | Brandon Phipps | Yes, Mayor. |
| 01:05:24.53 | Steven Woodside | All right. Then we will open the public hearing and we'll hear your staff reports. |
| 01:05:28.82 | Matthew Mandich | Thank you good evening members of the Council mayor vice mayor. Yes, this is appeal of a long standing code enforcement case this case has been going on now for almost eight years. It was actually adjudicated by the Council in 2018 and both Mayor Cox and Council Member Hoffman were on the city council at that time so maybe a bit of a familiar item for them again very long standing code case that we're hoping to get a final resolution on this evening next slide please. So this is the location, unfortunately, I believe the laser is not working. But as you can see outlined in yellow there, that is the subject property, 27 Central Avenue, right at the kind of hairpin turn there on Central at the base of Cable Roadway. And 31 Central is the other property adjacent there, which is another property in question, whose view has been impacted by the constructions at 27 Central. Next slide, please. So project summary, this is an appeal of a retroactive design review permit that was issued by the planning commission approving a deck expansion and addition of a roof cover to a second floor deck on the eastern elevation of 27 Central Avenue. I've highlighted some plans there from the original permit, a zoning permit in 2017, which we'll discuss in a second, and the addition or extension of the deck as it exists today. Next slide, please. So, again, there's a lot of background on this case, so bear with me here as we kind of go over that. Obviously, the appellant will have, you know, their version of the story. City has our version. And I'm doing my best here to kind of memorialize the events as they exist in the city records that we have. So a zoning permit, the genesis of this whole story here, was issued in 2017 by CDD for a project on May 15th, 2017. So pretty much almost exactly eight years ago. Building permit was subsequently issued on July 6th and the project was constructed. However, after that project was constructed, the neighbor at that time of 31 Central wrote into CDD with a complaint of a view impact and the idea that the zoning permit was not properly noticed, was not posted on site as is required by the code. A stop work order was issued on July 24, 2017, to investigate this claim. After an investigation was performed, CDD found at the time, the staff, in 2017, that no confirmation of a zoning permit was available to show that it was publicly posted. As such, CDD required the applicant to repost the zoning permit, November 29, 2017, and that zoning permit, after being reposted, was subsequently appealed by the neighbor at 31 Central within the 10-day appeal period. Just to remind, this is things that happened a long time ago. This is not the subject of the hearing tonight, but rather an appeal of a design review permit that was issued in 2024. But this is just the genesis of this story and really water under the bridge at this point. So next slide, please. Planning Commission meeting April 11th 2018 so the zoning permit was appealed this administrative decision as such it went up to the Planning Commission for review at this hearing the Planning Commission ruled that indeed a design review permit was required the zoning permit was not the appropriate permit for this project as there was a potential for view impacts that PC ruling was subsequently appealed by the applicant up to the City Council this is when when the city council first heard this item back in July 31st, 2018. After reviewing this case uh at the time the city council did not uh denied the appeal stating that they agreed with the ruling of the planning commission that view potential view impacts or rather in this case since it was constructed realized view impacts were observed and at that time the city council gave two options to the appellant who's here tonight um they said either submit for a design review permit as the planning commission had ruled or demolished the extension um resolution five three nine five seven three nine was adopted by the city council next slide please just have a look at that here fortunately the writing is a little bit small for the screen here but basically the portion that I've highlighted and read there stating that the city council denies the appeal there are view impacts that exist and a design review permit is required as specified by the planning commission next slide please So, um, Eventually, after some code enforcement actions and the opening of a code enforcement case in 2018, a design review permit application was submitted to CDD on October 25th. A first of several Planning Commission meetings was held February 27th, 2019. At this hearing, the Planning Commission instructed the applicant to submit revised plans to reduce the view impact created by the deck and continue the hearing. Between hearings, the applicant submitted revised plans that proposed 45 degree cuts to the northeast portion of the deck and roof covering to reduce the review impact. The applicant also proposed at this time to add another third floor deck and enclose the existing second floor deck with windows and a sliding glass door. Next slide, please. So these are the plans that were presented at that hearing. Unfortunately, I can't quit get up there, but the corners there show that the deck has been reduced by 45 degrees on each side. And you can see there too that there is a third upper level deck proposed at that time, March 25th, 2019. Next slide, please. So these plans were considered by the planning commission at that hearing. PC reviewed the project and suggested edits to further reduce potential impacts and decrease project massing rather than increase that massing as the applicant had proposed and they continued the hearing to May 29th. The next planning commission hearing additional materials were requested as above to continue to reduce the view impact. No more submitted, no materials are presented. So that meeting was again continued until June 26, 2019. Next slide, please. So at this hearing, the applicant's architect submitted a certification of story poles, which really in this case were not story poles, but rather visual aids, which we'll see in a second. A set of revised plans was submitted to the department on June 18th, 2019, which shows 60 degree corner cuts of the northeastern section of the roof. This edition of the plans shows a removal of approximately 7.7 square feet of decking, 13.9 square feet of roof cover, and these were the plans that were eventually approved by the Planning Commission. Next slide, please. So these are the plans here with the increased cut in the deck up on the upper left here. You can see the slice on the side, yep, right in there. So that's the 60-degree cut that was proposed, and these were the plans that were approved by the Planning Commission at that hearing. Next slide, please. So this is where we see the visual aids that show the view impact and the removal of the 60 degree cut right there. That black material, tarping is used to show what part of the deck will be removed. And as we can see in the upper slides in particular, not the lower because of the fog, that you can see how that upper roof area encroaches onto the San Francisco skyline. And that is the area that was proposed to be removed in the approved plans. Next slide, please. So. Plan Commission meeting June 26, 2019, where those plans were presented. The PC believes that the revised design does reduce the view impact to 31 Central Avenue, as they were proposed. They passed a resolution, adopted a resolution passing that at that meeting, and it approved a retroactive design review permit with specific conditions. The conditions attached to the project were conditions of approval that stipulate that the removal of portions of the existing deck and roof cupboard are required as shown on the approved plan and as seen in the visual aids in the last slide. The applicant is given two months at this time to apply for a building permit and six months to carry out the removal of these sections of the deck. The application is subject to code enforcement actions if there is failure to comply. So this is all in 2019 ruling of the Planning Commission going forward with the deck reduction that we just saw. Next slide, please. So, unfortunately, the applicant fails to comply with the conditions of approval attached to this Planning Commission resolution. No action is taken by the applicant on the approved retroactive design review permit. And no code enforcement actions are taken by the city at this time due to flux in staffing and just the lack of attention to the matter at that time in the city, unfortunately. That design review permit that was issued in 2018 with the 60 degree cuts showing the removal of those portions of the deck eventually expires after two years as design review permits do. It expired on June 26, 2021. The code case, however, that was opened in 2018, originally attached to this project, stagnates but remains active as code enforcement cases do not expire and remains active and unresolved until 2023 when the code enforcement officer at that time, Paul Van Hook, takes on the case. Next slide, please. And with that, I'm going to pass over to our new code enforcement officer, Justin Goger-Malo, to present on the code enforcement actions that took place. Thank you. |
| 01:14:35.18 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, Mr. Mandich and welcome Mr. Hallow and welcome to the Sausalito City staff team. |
| 01:14:41.73 | Justin Goger-Malo | Excellent. Well... Thank you for having me. esteemed members of the council mayor cox city employees who are helping out today. I just wanted to start by saying Justin Goher- My name is Justin goger me lo. code enforcement officer for city of Sausalito. I'm gonna ask the city clerk to pause the time. This does not go towards their time. Okay. Sure. First name, Justin. And then the last name's a tricky one, given my parents. They went with Goger, G-O-G-E-R, and then a space for some reason. And then Malo, M-A-L-O. It's a mouthful. So I'm here today to provide a clear and chronological overview of the code enforcement timeline. There's a lot that's happened, but I feel that it's really crucial to break this down into small little chunks so that you can see the pattern and the cycle that we all seem to be stuck in repeating itself. |
| 01:15:40.03 | Steven Woodside | Okay. And so, city clerk, how much more time does staff have for their presentation? |
| 01:15:47.12 | Walfred Solorzano | We have six minutes. |
| 01:15:48.40 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:15:48.42 | Justin Goger-Malo | Okay. Perfect. Thank you. So this all started, as Matthew had said, with the request for a design review permit application or demolition permit. These were not received, which required code enforcement actions in October 1st with a compliance order and October 15th with a citation issued, which then resulted in a design permit application being received. I have to say throughout all of this, I do need to point out that the staff really recognizes how difficult this process has been, particularly with all the disruptions that you'll see throughout the timeline and staff transitions, the pandemic hit, and we recognize that both of the applicants' engagement in this has been very, very attentive to our requests and we really appreciate their interest in trying to resolve this matter. So after we received that design review application, it was reviewed and we had another public meeting where the planning commission adopted a resolution once again bringing us back to the beginning asking for. a certain change to protect the view. It's always about the view that we're trying to get resolved here. And this was not addressed. And then no building permits were obtained, no work was initiated and the pandemic hit Code enforcement was transferred over to the police department, and the case was administratively closed at the time. It was then reopened again in January of 2021, where the code enforcement officer issued a new courtesy letter just reminding the applicants that the case was active, required conditions hadn't been filled, and the permit was set to expire in June 2021. Again, no action, and code enforcement was required to get to the next step where a design review modification application was submitted. |
| 01:17:57.86 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:17:57.88 | Justin Goger-Malo | I guess. |
| 01:17:57.93 | Steven Woodside | Is there another slide we should be looking at? |
| 01:17:59.50 | Justin Goger-Malo | You can advance through. There's really only two code enforcement slides, but it's really going to be that same pattern over and over again where we are receiving what planning commission and city council have asked for. It's not being acted upon. Code enforcement action is required to get to the next step. If there's no code enforcement action, we don't see any action from the applicants. And that cycle continues to repeat. Okay. |
| 01:18:04.94 | Steven Woodside | That's the one. |
| 01:18:26.98 | Justin Goger-Malo | until We get to a point where there are now windows added which further impact the view so code enforcement action is taken to try to prevent that from going any further and escalating, and there is a series of escalating citations that are issued, $100, $200, $500, And then Again, a new design review application was submitted. And at that point, it was not acted upon. And we're back to where we are today, where we are asking again for the impact of the view to be resolved and to get the project in line with the general planning and to meet the required design review findings. There's been a lot of opportunities to get in compliance. Staff is still available to the applicants to work through this and see if we can get to the end of this and resolve it according to the code standards. |
| 01:19:31.74 | Steven Woodside | Okay. Is that it? That's it. Okay, I had a question. So you said that another design review permit application was... submitted and that no action was taken. But my understanding is that the, application was issued, it was heard by the Planning Commission on May 8th 2024 and conditionally approved and that the resolution of approval was appealed by the applicant to the city council. Thank you. |
| 01:20:00.66 | Justin Goger-Malo | Yes, that is correct. I think in referring to no action taken, I'm referring to advancing the requests of either removing the obstructed view elements or submitting a new plan that addresses those issues rather than what had been submitted, which were just enlargements on the structure size, which is how we got windows added as well. |
| 01:20:27.09 | Steven Woodside | And so the last citation that was issued by your department was issued on March 7, 2024. Is the code enforcement case still open since the new design review permit has not yet been approved? Yes. |
| 01:20:41.42 | Justin Goger-Malo | It is still open. It does not expire. That code case from 2018 is still open and it is At this point, we're hoping that the applicants will be able to move on and take the recommendations and resolve some things. If not, I... I'm really afraid that we might have to go back to enforcement actions again in order to get to the next step. And we'd all really love to avoid that if possible. |
| 01:21:07.74 | Steven Woodside | And I note that a number of citations have been issued exceeding $1,000. Have those citations been paid? |
| 01:21:14.53 | Justin Goger-Malo | Thank you. Um, To date, I believe all of the citations that I'm aware of have been paid. I did not encounter any over the $500 amount during my review of the case, which is very, very long review and there's a lot of material, but I believe that those three final citations have all been paid up in full. |
| 01:21:39.82 | Steven Woodside | Great. Okay, thank you so much. |
| 01:21:41.04 | Justin Goger-Malo | So, yeah. Thank you. |
| 01:21:41.69 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:21:41.80 | Justin Goger-Malo | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 01:21:41.85 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:21:41.88 | Justin Goger-Malo | Thank you. |
| 01:21:41.90 | Steven Woodside | Questions of staff? |
| 01:21:43.30 | Unknown | I just wanted to note, Mayor, that there are some additional slides that Matthew will finish the presentation with. Oh, I... Apologies if we gave the wrong... Yeah. |
| 01:21:49.19 | Steven Woodside | Oh, I... Yeah. |
| 01:21:52.31 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, in the |
| 01:21:53.07 | Steven Woodside | All right. So I don't know how much time is left. It was 50. We allocated 15 minutes to staff. So |
| 01:21:53.10 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:22:00.78 | Steven Woodside | Okay. Sorry, I didn't know. |
| 01:22:03.26 | Matthew Mandich | Oh, no worries at all, Mayor. No worries. We'll make this brief. Just wrap it up here. So, yes, those citations did prompt the submittal of a new design review permit application that was submitted March 13th last year following those code enforcement actions. A review of that submittal showed that the project is compliant with the zoning standards of the R225 zoning district. However, it's not consistent with general PAM policies, which govern private views, as well as design review finding number four, which also governs the obstruction of views. photographic evidence shows that the Seren it's not consistent with general PAM policies which govern private views as well as design review finding number four which also governs the obstruction of views photographic evidence shows that the San Francisco skyline which is a protected view in our code is indeed obstructed by the deck extension as viewed from the primary viewing areas of 31 central avenue next slide please Just again, a highlight of that image there showing the deck extension and the visual aids there showing the area that will be removed by that approved design review permit. Next slide, please. So the Planning Commission did rule on this in 2024. We were here in this very room last year for this project. They approved the project with a retroactive design review as the same conditions as before. So again, rinse and repeat back back in the cycle the conditions require that within two months of approval of that last permit the applicant must apply for building permits to remove portions of the existing deck and roof if that removal does not occur within six months of issuance a building permit application will be subject to code enforcement fines we do have code enforcement officers here in house now we have our our new code enforcement officerin goger malo and or malo excuse me and uh we will be very much moving forward with the enforcement of these fines if these conditions are not met this time uh next slide please so again that was the design re-permit that was issued last year it was appealed by the applicant slash appellant um 20 of 27 central mika stefani in a timely matter the appellant wishes to appeal the decision of the Planning Commission which is what you're ruling on today this appeal regarding the approval of the retroactive design review permit which requires alterations to the existing enclosed deck the appellant argues there is no in view pack no view impact and that the view is determined at time of purchase the appellant also states that the views impacted are not primary views and that the photos are misleading the appellant cites a change in circumstances prior neighbor consent and increasing property values as justification to retain the expansion next slide please so staff's response for this is that again as our code enforcement officer already said the appellant has received multiple rulings from the planning commission and the city council stating a view impact does in fact exist and must be remedied the appellant failed to implement previously approved design review permit and associated conditions of approval requiring reduction the appellant also installed additional windows and enclosed the space without permits and the appellant ignored the direction of city council and the planning commission on multiple occasions and was subject to numerous code enforcement actions again this is this is a long standing eight year case that we'd like to get some conclusion and resolution on today. So next slide please with that staff recommends that the city council deny the appeal in front of them today as was done in the past and uphold the planning commission resolution approving retroactive design review permit with the attached conditions of approval requiring deck reduction and associated code enforcement actions. Thank you. |
| 01:25:09.71 | Steven Woodside | Can you advise when the current owner acquired the property, the current appellant? |
| 01:25:15.05 | Matthew Mandich | THE FAMILY. 31 set the 27 central. Yes. |
| 01:25:18.27 | Steven Woodside | Yes. |
| 01:25:18.71 | Matthew Mandich | I do not know. I'll let... 2013. |
| 01:25:27.31 | Steven Woodside | the appellant. |
| 01:25:28.66 | Matthew Mandich | Well, in this case, the appellant is both the applicant and appellant as they applied for the retroactive design review permit as stipulated and then appealed the approval of that permit. |
| 01:25:32.29 | Steven Woodside | Right. |
| 01:25:38.57 | Steven Woodside | But one of the arguments to the to the conditions of approval. Can you go back to your second to the last slide? |
| 01:26:05.70 | Steven Woodside | They are saying that the |
| 01:26:12.45 | Steven Woodside | No, prior one, please. |
| 01:26:17.77 | Steven Woodside | Okay, they are saying that there is no view impact and that view is determined at the time of purchase. But if they purchased it in 2013, then |
| 01:26:27.42 | Matthew Mandich | They are referring to the view of 31 central. |
| 01:26:30.93 | Steven Woodside | Okay, and when did 31 Central? |
| 01:26:32.86 | Matthew Mandich | Uh, since this whole case has started in the last eight years, the property has changed hands, I believe three times. Um, when was the property acquired most recently? 2021. 2021. |
| 01:26:43.84 | Steven Woodside | Okay, and since 2021, the appellant has paid numerous fines from the code enforcement folks. |
| 01:26:51.86 | Brandon Phipps | Correct. Those that were identified. Yes. |
| 01:26:53.26 | Steven Woodside | identified. Any other questions? Yes. |
| 01:26:56.53 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that presentation. But I believe that when the neighbor purchased the property, there was the knowledge that there was an order to remove and reduce the deck. |
| 01:27:10.71 | Brandon Phipps | That is correct, Councilmember. |
| 01:27:11.72 | Jill Hoffman | And that was relied upon when they purchased the property. |
| 01:27:13.68 | Brandon Phipps | That is correct, yes. |
| 01:27:17.86 | Steven Woodside | Cable. |
| 01:27:18.45 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:27:18.49 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:27:19.09 | Brandon Phipps | Thank you. |
| 01:27:20.66 | Steven Woodside | Mm-mm. All right. At this point, we will hear a presentation from the appellant. You have 10 minutes. |
| 01:27:45.27 | Mika Stefani | Good evening, Madam Mayor, Vice Mayor and esteemed council members. Today, I want to talk to you about why we're appealing the Planning Commission decision, which failed to address the change of circumstance that occurred on June 2019. The design review failed to comply with the city council ruling in 2018 that the view is determined at time of purchase. What I'm showing you here actually is the view from 31 central. What was presented earlier in the staff response was simply the view in the far right. 10%. of this total view. Next slide, please. And here I want to show you the facade of 27 Central, as well as the interior of the addition at 27 Central. Next slide, please. So, first of all, I realize that this feels like it's going in circles and circles again. And every time the circle happens, we are able to get consent from the neighbor to allow us to build this addition. Over here, we can see that on May 5th, 2017, 31 Central signed the written consent to our proposed addition in exchange for a tree trimming. This consent fulfilled the community outreach requirement for the zoning permit application next slide please. Shortly afterward, on May 9th, 31 Central cut the branches and limbs from our oaks to acquire the panoramic view that they have now. As you see on the left, they initially had no view of San Francisco, and on the right, you can see they acquired the view of the Sausalito Hill and San Francisco skyline as well. Next slide, please. |
| 01:29:30.79 | Mika Stefani | As a result, after the execution of the agreement where they agreed to let us build the addition, you can see in this photo 31 Central's panoramic view after the tree work with our structurally completed addition on the far right. It is so small that even... My little image is covering it. So now you sit, you know there's no view impact from our addition downtown San Francisco and all the other protected views to Angel Island are clearly visible from the primary vantage points and this panorama existed at the time that 31 central submitted a late appeal claiming our addition impacted the view that existed at time of purchase before she trimmed the trees next slide please So here in 2018, the retroactive design review ignores 90% of the view. The initial review ignored the newly acquired panorama because it was not part of the 2017 time of purchase. Thus, it only considered the limited view on the far right of the oak, as you guys saw earlier in the staff report. And that view is angled and zoomed in only to look at our addition exaggerating the view impact and consequently demanding our partial demolition of the addition, however, you can see how much more of a view they have the addition is just a small piece on the peripheral next slide please. which is why I come to show you the change in circumstance today. The new and the full view should be considered. When 31 Central sold on June 26th, 2019, that created a new time of purchase in 2019. The subsequent owner inherits the panoramic view as is, including the view of the addition. The recent design review failed to comply with the 2018 ruling that the views determined at the time of purchase, and there was no impact to the view after the time of purchase in 2019, since no construction happened since then. Next slide, please. |
| 01:31:41.70 | Mika Stefani | In May 15, 2017, the construction was ministerially approved as an addition and per Sausalito Municipal Code. In addition, it's exempt from design review because it had minimal view impact at the timing of the zoning permit application. It adds less than 10% square footage of living area to multifamily residents. And as you can see, its exterior is consistent with the existing exterior. Next slide, please. Here is just evidence from the posted zoning permit, which the initial tenant stated falsely that we hadn't posted we have evidence that it was posted on time and then below you see that the building permit also calls this a 200 square foot addition. Next slide, please. |
| 01:32:31.64 | Mika Stefani | So here are the testimonies we have from the various parties at 31 Central. They agreed to this quid pro quo preserving the dining room addition in exchange for an annual tree trimming agreement to be recorded with the title of both 27 Central and 31 Central. This is us showing good faith efforts trying to break this cycle that happens again and again and again with every new tenant that comes just to flip the house for a better view and sells it leaving us coming back to you year after year trying to solve this accordingly we hope that the city can honor the sentiments of the following parties next slide please You'll see that the first approval for the proposed addition by the first owner, she gave written approval to the proposed addition in exchange for tree trimming. Next slide, please. Here you see the second approval by the new owner after time of purchase, giving written support for the addition and requesting the Planning Commission to dismiss this DR in exchange for a tree trimming agreement. Next slide, please. You can see this third approval by the realtor in September 22, um, where, uh, they said under the proposed tree trimming agreement, your porch will remain in place forever. Let's move forward. This email from the realtor was CC to Dan Hortet, the community development director. Next slide, please. the fourth approval in docu-sign in october 2022 where the second owner approved the addition saying i support the sauce the city of sausalito dismissing the resolution the diminished view experience at my home over the past three years are due entirely due to the rapid growth of the pitosporum, which is a plant. and the permanency of the present balcony slash porch at 27 central does not impair my views. The property is attractive, well maintained, and I'm pleased to look upon it from my home. Next slide, please. And here's the MLS listing showing the primary view from the formal dining room. Next slide, please. You can see that they even describe it as light filled with San Francisco and bay views from nearly every room, a cozy couch covered porch on the main level offering panoramic Bay Bridge to city skyline. line views as it does the bedroom. Next slide, please. So you can see that the view at 31 Central not only is preserved from multiple photos from primary vantage points, but it's also greatly improved. None of these views they had initially until their time of purchase in 2019. Next slide, please. This is an additional view and you see that the deck is not a significant impediment. Next slide please. |
| 01:35:17.82 | Mika Stefani | However, the demolition would have an unbalanced effect. From the photos that you saw, you see on the bottom, there will be a marginal improvement to the view at 31 Central, but a significant detriment to our addition on 27 Central. Next slide, please. So I just want to recap that we're in full compliance with the Sausalito Municipal Code. We always did what we were required to. The addition was designed and built consistent with minimizing the obstruction of primary views from the private property. The minor obstruction of the primary view is acceptable to protect neighboring property rights if there is a valid use for the structure. And the Planning Commission review is not required for additions to multifamily residences that increase the size of the structure by less than 10%. I want to note from all those four examples of written consent, we did our community outreach with multiple signed agreements with the original and subsequent owners. And lastly, due to this change of circumstance, the addition is a tiny and peripheral fraction of the panoramic view. It was inherited at the time of purchase in June of 2019. Next slide, please. So here's my request to the council tonight. I want you guys to recognize a few things for me, please. The full compliance, the fact that we're in full compliance with Sausalito Municipal Code We did our community outreach and got neighbor consent. Under the change of circumstance, the new owner inherits the panoramic view as is. The demolition would not significantly increase the view of 31 Central, but would render our addition obsolete and cause significant loss. So please accept our appeal and dismiss this DR, reapprove the zoning permit as originally posted in May of 2017, and consider a site visit at both properties open to the neighbors. We're willing to sign a formal tree trimming agreement with 31 Central as proposed by the neighbor's realtor, and we're willing to maintain 31 Central's view at the time of purchase. And as Commissioner Janelle Kellman said previously, Stephanie's, you've done nothing wrong. |
| 01:37:33.01 | Mika Stefani | Thank you for your time. |
| 01:37:37.09 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Any questions from council members? |
| 01:37:45.75 | Steven Woodside | Yes, go ahead. |
| 01:37:47.72 | Melissa Blaustein | Is there a tree trimming agreement in place currently? |
| 01:37:54.89 | Steven Woodside | Hold on. |
| 01:37:57.66 | Melissa Blaustein | Is there, there was one. |
| 01:37:59.26 | Steven Woodside | If there's a spokesperson who wants to step to the mic, that's fine in response to the question. |
| 01:38:05.47 | Melissa Blaustein | Is there an agreement currently recorded with the property? |
| 01:38:09.03 | Mika Stefani | The agreement will be with the property upon the acceptance of the property. |
| 01:38:12.43 | Steven Woodside | Is there one in place right now? No, there's not. Okay. Yeah. |
| 01:38:16.43 | Melissa Blaustein | And then are you under any obligation to continue to trim the trees for your neighbor at 31 or not? |
| 01:38:23.77 | Mika Stefani | I could trim the tree, but so far the owner of 31 Central has not requested any tree trimming. So I was able to observe if there's any trees impacting the view last year. I took some pictures and I was standing all the way in the back in the formal dining room against the mirrored wall. And I took several pictures and San Francisco is clearly visible. So I did not trim any trees at that point because there was no need for it. I don't know how the trees are looking right now. But so far, I have not received any requests for tree trimming. Thank you. But I'm happy to do so. Thank you. |
| 01:38:24.39 | Melissa Blaustein | Absolutely. |
| 01:39:10.51 | Mika Stefani | Thank you. |
| 01:39:10.54 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:39:13.09 | Mika Stefani | Thank you. |
| 01:39:15.81 | Steven Woodside | Okay, we'll now open it for public comment. I have no speaker cards. |
| 01:39:30.81 | Steven Woodside | If anyone else would like to speak, please fill out a speaker card and hand it to Babette McDougall. |
| 01:39:44.65 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. I'll tell you what I find most instructive about this public hearing thing. I actually took the time to watch the video of the attachment that our community and public economic guy sent as part of his report, and I was so glad, because you can look at this if you click here. that I get. So I clicked. It was so instructive for a lot of reasons, because it pertains to the Planning Commission attached meeting. Correct me if I misspoke. but it was planning commission from an earlier hearing on this very matter. And here's what was instructive. Number one, the importance of institutional memory. Seeing Janelle Kelman sitting there And coming forward to the city council with that body of knowledge and remaining having the record available to look at was so meaningful. Well, one thing that came out was the importance of institutional memory. That relates to the current Planning Commission, of course, The issue, I have no idea whether... Ms. Feller would ever agree to extend her time on the Planning Commission, but this is no time to lose institutional memory, that is for sure. So, and I recall very much when y'all, very much supported her extension for a second term on the Planning Commission. Well, I say it is not without precedent, Madam Mayor. I believe you yourself. had to be requested to extend service. So further, I would just like to say, let's define what we mean by view. Because I found from that meeting that there's the primary view, which was the one most of us care about. Then there's the uphill view. And there was a huge amount of argument historically about that. But that's actually an issue that's alive and well in my own neighborhood. So it's something to consider going forward. I usually tell people I live in a ghetto, and then they get to my house and they go, You call this a ghetto, and I show them the picture with that points uphill, and it's quite different. Looking forward to the water, it's great. And over time, you have to learn how to live with your neighbors up the hill. Thank you. |
| 01:41:45.64 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Jack Carlson. |
| 01:41:54.92 | Jack Carlson | Hello, thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the City Council. My name is Jack Carlson. I'm the owner and resident at 31 Central. I'm actually not the appellant today. As we've heard, the owners of 27 Central are actually appealing their own thing that they had agreed to before. But I just want to say the view is very directly impacted of the San Francisco skyline. It almost couldn't be more perfect. Could you hand the pictures? Yes, I have plenty of view of the blue water, which is very, very beautiful. But the main thing, as far as the view goes in the house is of the San Francisco city skyline. And from the living room and from the primary bedroom I'm sorry. as far as the view goes in the house is of the San Francisco city skyline. And from the living room and from the primary bedroom suite, it almost couldn't be more perfectly positioned, balcony, which has really become an enclosed room. that's in addition to the property is perfectly, perfectly placed to block the view of the San Francisco skyline. As was referred to earlier, when I purchased the property, it was in 2022, in fact, when I purchased the property, I was very, very aware of the outstanding code enforcement actions and the prior decisions. We just heard many, many decisions taken by the planning commission and the city council over and over again and it was very clear that that addition was to be removed or was to be dramatically reduced so as to restore the view and i bought the property of course with that understanding and that is the thing that i want to make the most clear and i don't want a bait-and-switch situation with my own home and that very important view, which is a big part of what we love about Sausalito. Thank you. |
| 01:43:52.22 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Next up is Bob Leff. then Andrew Machado. |
| 01:44:01.74 | Bob Leff | Hello, I'd just like to read a letter that I wrote about the subject. I'm a tenant next door at 21 Central Avenue. |
| 01:44:02.01 | Mika Stefani | Hello. |
| 01:44:12.20 | Bob Leff | My name is Bob Leff. I live at 21 Central next to 27 Central. I am a tenant of Parrish Chang. He asked me to represent him in this issue as he is having some health issues. I've been involved with planning issues in Marin County since serving on the West Marin Planning Commission in 1985. I've been a commissioner with the Historic Architectural Review Committee in Telluride, Colorado. I've been an electrical contractor for 40 years. From this perspective, I make my case. I think it's a good thing. with the historic architecture review committee in Telluride, Colorado. I've been an electrical contractor for 40 years. From this perspective, I make my case. I've never met the owners of 27 Central as they do not reside on the property. I'm in contact with the tenants over parking issues. A central Ave at this point is out of the Sausalito parking grid and such has no written instruction for cars parking in the neighborhood. This greatly affects those of us without driveways who rely on the street to park our cars. My landlord Parrish has been very impacted by 27 Central. The previous owner of 27 Central asked him to sign an agreement to reduce the setbacks and height for a new garage claiming the second floor addition was only for family visits. With the current owners, the second floor has become a rental. Parrish states that he was approached by the present owner of 27 Central to sell a portion of his land adjacent to his property. When he refused, the owners of 27 set up story polls on his property claiming he was on their property. Parish house sits close to 27 Central and is impacted by all the activities that has occurred at 27. that window. facing him was enlarged and additional windows have been proposed that affect his privacy. Parrish had to Parrish has had to continuously fight the slow encroachment by his closest neighbor, Thank you. |
| 01:46:03.02 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:46:03.04 | Bob Leff | THE END OF THE END OF THE Thank you. |
| 01:46:04.94 | Steven Woodside | Thank you so much. |
| 01:46:09.65 | Steven Woodside | Next is Andrew Machado and then Dilworth Cannon. |
| 01:46:15.68 | Andrew Machado | Hi, my name is Andrew Machado. I'm the assistant to Mr. John Carlson, the resident at 31 Central Avenue. I prepared a statement regarding the view obstruction. On August 21st, 2024, the resident of 27 Central Avenue originally introduced to me as Stephanie, but later identified as Mika entered the premises at 31 Central Avenue under the stated intent. determining how she might restore my view acting in good faith and relying on that representation i granted her access to the property and accompanied her to the main landing from which she had an uninstructed vantage point to evaluate the vegetative overgrowth affected in the Scenic View corridor. Despite this opportunity, Ms. Mika took only limited and selectively framed photographs that failed to capture the full extent of the obstruction caused by unmanaged plantings and the expansion of her deck structure. Before departing, she stated that her gardener, allegedly present at the time, would reduce the height of the vegetation by one to two feet. However, no landscape maintenance has taken place, nor professional has been observed on site. The overgrowth remains unchanged. In light of the objection, I'm submitting my statement. Thank you. |
| 01:47:20.63 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Dilworth Cannon. And that's the last card for the chambers that I have. |
| 01:47:45.11 | Dilworth Cannon | I'm Dilworth Cannon, I live at 35 Central Avenue. This is like Dejuvu all over again, multiple times, so I'm getting tired of it all. I was here on July 31, 2018, it's been alluded to already. And this was a case brought by Heather Wiles, who was a previous owner of 31, And she was complaining about the same things that we're talking about right now. And she appeared to have won her case in front of the council on that day. And, but she was so frustrated with the bureaucracy of what's going on in town that she just sold her house and left. Um, So I'm here to support what Jack Carlson has already said in the letter that he submitted to you is a very complete, um, I have seen in Jack Carlson's letter that Miss Stefani had trespassed on his property to take the photographs, and I believe that Agnes Caprilein said the same thing in her letter. So... It's also during the minutes of July 31, 2018, you will find stated that Heather Wiles went to a business outside of Sausalito, and she I think it was a tree service, but I'm not sure. But anyway, she said, I'm Heather Wiles. And they said, no, you're not. Heather Wiles was in a while back. And that was impersonation by Miss Stefani for Heather Wiles. And that was in the minutes of this meeting. I'm not making it up. So I'm here in full support of what Jack Carlson is claiming. And I think that Miss Stefani has continually added on to the deck that I think is totally inappropriate. No reductions have taken place that I've been aware of. So thank you very much. |
| 01:49:44.28 | Steven Woodside | Thank you so much. City Clerk? |
| 01:49:47.71 | Dilworth Cannon | Thank you. |
| 01:49:47.73 | Walfred Solorzano | We have Vicki Nichols online. Okay. She what? Thank you. |
| 01:49:52.91 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:49:53.06 | Walfred Solorzano | Uh-uh. Do you still want to speak, Vicki Nichols? |
| 01:49:55.73 | Steven Woodside | Give her a moment. |
| 01:49:57.58 | Vicki Nichols | Yes, thank you. Thank you, Mayor Cox. I'd just like to say normally I wouldn't comment on anything like this, but as one of the planning commissioners that heard this particular project, and growing project repeatedly. I would just summarize what I was going to say in agreement with the last speaker. The neighbor did ultimately sell her home. Apparently someone came on her property to take some of the photographs. And I think most importantly, this project started out as a, Um, A repair job that was done over a holiday weekend with no permits. And then it was just added to and added to. And now I hear that it's enclosed We actually made suggestions about decreasing the angle to pull this back to help with the issue. And I think if you go on the record, I believe it was my colleague, Morgan Pierce, who actually showed the architect how this could be angled back. I believe many of these solutions have been proposed, but I think that it's indicative when you hear that The tree cutting plan has been discussed, but when it was actually asked about, it still has not been done. So I would encourage you to deny this appeal. get this project done. back in the way that it should have been handled before. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:51:30.33 | Walfred Solorzano | Yeah, and we have somebody on the telephone line. We can speak. |
| 01:51:39.24 | Walfred Solorzano | You can press star nine. |
| 01:51:43.54 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:51:43.59 | Agnes Kaprilian | Hello? |
| 01:51:44.13 | Steven Woodside | Yes, we hear you. |
| 01:51:47.12 | Agnes Kaprilian | Okay. My name is Agnes Kaprilian. My husband Leonard and I moved into 42 Central. over 50 years ago. I've seen a lot of changes in the neighborhood I've been in 31 Central Avenue, it had a far more panoramic view than Stefani is presenting now. What Mr. Carlson has is not the panoramic view that was there before this added room. It's very disturbing that a precedent is being set that someone can build something that impedes a neighbor's property's view and get away with it. We live here because of the views. It's also disturbing that a precedent can be set that someone can ignore an order of the city council for years and years and get away with it. You're aware of the past history of Mikey's interactions with Heather. the previous owner of 31 Central, and the fact that Mikey essentially drove Heather away entered her home without permission et cetera. Mikey has also entered my home without permission on at least one occasion. You've witnessed Mikey making further additions to the balcony as well as the rest of the property. And further in closing it, even while she has been supposed to be reducing it, or to removing it. The view that she is presenting is less than half the view. that 31 Central had. before the addition of Mikey's whatever room you want to call it. |
| 01:53:33.78 | Agnes Kaprilian | And also the parishes have had to hang plastic over their window their bedroom window because Mikey's floor to ceiling windows. Look right into it. |
| 01:53:47.17 | Steven Woodside | Thank you, Agnes. It's great to hear from you. |
| 01:53:50.22 | Walfred Solorzano | No further public speakers. |
| 01:53:51.52 | Steven Woodside | All right, so I will close public comment. we will give the appellant five minutes for rebuttal. |
| 01:54:08.14 | Mika Stefani | Hello. First of all, I wanted to address some of the public comments. I want to address the fact that everything we did was legally permitted. While there was a stop work, that stop work was rescinded and we have proof of that. Second of all, if the current owner feels like it was a bait and switch, that was not our responsibility to fix. They were aware of the situation, sure, but we were still appealing something. We have that right now. Thank you. |
| 01:54:36.74 | Unknown | So it's strange that no neighbor has ever inquired about our stories. It's all one sided, poisoned by the neighbors. |
| 01:54:44.34 | Jill Hoffman | And, |
| 01:54:50.24 | Unknown | In terms of institutional memory, we just heard Nichols say, oh, there was no permit pulled. That's absolutely false. That, the non-pulling of a permit by the owner of 27 Central, was the one's previous owners who he bought the property from. They initiated a deck renovation with no permit. Not us. You see how that institution memory poisons. It spreads and it poisons. So who's afraid of a new site visit? We're not afraid of a new site visit. Why don't you make up your own minds and let the poison be gone? Maybe you guys are all right. Maybe we're wrong. How do you get to find out what that is? A new site visit. You want to say something more? |
| 01:55:33.41 | Mika Stefani | I just want to emphasize, like, Again, we've been working with the neighbors. There's no written agreement yet because no one has been signing it. Yet the neighbor acted on the agreement and then put in the appeal. after she cut down our trees in excess of the agreement. We also want to end this cycle, but I think it's really unfair that we went through all the rules. We did the zoning permit. We did the building permit. We did everything legally by the books. And now, as a result, 31 Central has a massive view, and our edition accounts for a very minuscule amount of it. |
| 01:56:13.66 | Unknown | What kicked all this off is that Ms. Wiles, the owner of 31 Central, circulated a petition among passersby spoon-feeding them a false premise that the building was constructed without a permit. That's a false premise. She was feeding them, spoon-feeding them this false premise. And, of course, they signed saying, oh, yeah, that's terrible, that's terrible. The premise was wrong, and so the poison continues to seep in. She was also noticed, granted a late appeal by the PC, while conveniently she sat on the historical preservation board. a sister commission of the city. Isn't that a clear conflict of interest, a minimum a perception of conflict of interest that a late appeal would be granted to someone sitting on a sister commission. Let's open our eyes. Try to understand our obstinacy, and we are being obstinate for a reason. It's not just to waste everyone's time. Number one, there's been a lack of transparency on this part of the city just answering simple questions. Simple questions, it just were met with mute looks, and no one really wants to get in under the hood to see what's really going on. Recall David Churson off the city planner. He admitted that the city made procedural errors in the process of permitting. He admitted there was errors made on the part of the city. This made us obstinate. Commissioner Kelman, Janelle Kelman, on the last PC meeting, she walked right down to us. She was here. We were there. She walked right up to us and said, Stephanie, you did nothing wrong. So now you're wondering why we're obstinate. Well, my god, you guys are telling us we did nothing wrong. So ethics just demands that you do the right thing. |
| 01:58:00.93 | Mika Stefani | We really appreciate your time and consideration. |
| 01:58:07.33 | Mika Stefani | may I respectfully ask you for a continuance of this hearing after a site visit. And our neighborhood, it only takes one bad apple to waste the whole basket. Our neighborhood, there is a war going on, at least in my perspective. Everybody hates me because of the disinformation that has been spread around. And I'm asking you, I'm begging you respectfully, please have a site visit, a publicly announced site visit. So everybody who is hating me can actually see the real view of... instead of a tiny little view that is implied by the planner that really is not true, it's not the overall view. |
| 01:58:56.87 | Unknown | Well, so we don't expect you to believe us, and we don't expect you to believe the owner of 31 Central. Find out for yourselves if there... There's an impact with a site visit. |
| 01:59:08.16 | Mika Stefani | An on-quorum site visit with all the public involved. |
| 01:59:15.64 | Steven Woodside | All right, so I'm going to close the public hearing. |
| 01:59:36.11 | Steven Woodside | And bring it up here for a motion and city council discussion. AND I THINK THAT'S A I will disclose, you heard at the very end The appellant said we'd like a quorum site visit. I'm sure they recall. I did visit the site. I don't know if Council Member Hoffman. So the two of us did visit the site prior to our hearing in 2018. Okay, who would like to lead off? |
| 02:00:05.72 | Ian Sobieski | I'll take a shot at this. This is a very frustrating thing when neighbors can't seem to work things out, and it would be much better if they could. However, the process here seems quite clear from the record, which I thoroughly reviewed. I read all the letters submitted. I did not make a site visit, but I did look at the photographs that were submitted, and we in Sausalito clearly protect certain classic views particularly the skyline of downtown San Francisco that's one of the very specific protected views and that's the view that the Planning Commission has more than once |
| 02:00:41.52 | Mika Stefani | issues. Thank you. |
| 02:00:45.89 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. Thank you. determined was interfered and modifications needed to be made to the building. I'm prepared to move to deny the appeal because it has been heard twice by the Planning Commission. Orders were given to make modifications that haven't happened. Fines have been levied. and it's gone on way, way, way too long. And when it comes time for future agenda items, I have some thoughts about modifications to the process. It's really upsetting. that it's taken so much time and energy from so many people, despite what I think was a clear direction to make a modification that didn't happen. Sorry. |
| 02:01:35.52 | Ian Sobieski | Yeah, I'm moving to deny the appeal and upholding the Planning Commission Resolution No. 22409 that conditionally approves a retroactive design review permit for the expansion of a second floor deck at 27 Central Avenue. |
| 02:01:37.07 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:01:37.10 | Mika Stefani | with the |
| 02:01:54.16 | Steven Woodside | Is there a second to that motion? Second. All right, who else would like to comment? |
| 02:02:00.03 | Joan Cox | I'll just say a few things. I have to agree with the vice mayor that it's really upsetting when neighbors can't reach consensus and the fact that this has gone on. for seven years is rather disappointing, but the bottom line, what we're here to do is to make sure that we're effective in enforcing municipal code When there is an impact of the view, which is what the Planning Commission has determined, There should be a design review permit issued, and that wasn't issued for the work that was done here. And I'm just... Our planning commission has heard it twice and we've heard it before. And so I just agree and I'm sorry to see that this has been going on for so long, but I hope that, you know, that the work can be done in such a way that the neighbors will be able to move forward and have a, you know, cordial relationship going forward. |
| 02:02:55.67 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, I viewed the property in 2018. I remember this fairly clearly, and I think it's fairly clear from the record and the presentation tonight that the direction from the Planning Commission in 2018, and when we saw it at the council level and the presentation tonight from the Planning Department was fairly clear clear that the direction was to remove or modify the deck and that their work was done without the proper permits, especially the new additions that have been done since the intervening time and the addition of new things. So I'm sad to see that. I'm sad that there are issues with the neighbors and continuing issues with the neighbors. That's always. things. So I'm, you know, sad to see that I'm sad that there are issues with the neighbors and continuing issues with the neighbors. We that's always disturbing to us up here on the council because we all live very closely with all of our neighbors and we are, you know, it's hard for us to see when, when we can't work well together with our neighbors, but I'm ready to, you know, deny the appeal. |
| 02:04:05.62 | Steven Woodside | I'll just say I saw some challenges. I do recall this from 2018. I'm a former planning commissioner myself. Um, There were some assertions made this evening that have no backup in the record. So one was that the initial notice was properly posted. I saw a slide on the presentation and in the written materials asserting that the initial notice, permit was posted, but I saw no evidence of that. The piece of paper in the... there's not a time stamped photo of the permit posted on the tree. I also saw this evening reference to various testimony, but I saw no written confirmation of the testimony. I did see several copies of the letter from the one-time neighbor at 31 central, but even when that neighbor wrote the letter, there was already an order pending from the city council. And so, had the applicant wanted to rely upon the consent of their neighbor in 2022, they needed to come back. and seek a revision of the order that had been issued by the city council. You can't just ignore A code enforcement action. and a resolution from the city council because a neighbor says, I don't have a problem with it. You actually have to go through the proper channels to memorialize that agreement. Um, So I am... I appreciate the candor of the applicant that they have, and the appellant, that they have been obstinate. I think it's unfortunate. that the lack of action by the city due to turnover and due to The passage of time and due to COVID has actually encouraged the applicant to make additional improvements without the proper permits. And so I also am in favor of the pending motion. Councilmember |
| 02:06:22.44 | Babette McDougall | So, yes. |
| 02:06:22.93 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:06:22.96 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 02:06:23.05 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Okay, so there's a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. That motion carries 5-0. |
| 02:06:29.39 | Jill Hoffman | Hi. |
| 02:06:49.17 | Steven Woodside | All right, next are our business items. City Manager, you asked me if we would be to this point by 9.15 where we made it. Thank you. Oh, well, I see that. Let's take five minutes since one of the council members has left the dais. |
| 02:07:20.71 | Steven Woodside | Okay, we are back. We are moving on to item 5A, review of the draft fiscal year 2025-2026 capital improvement program. And we will welcome back Kevin McGowan, our public works director. |
| 02:07:37.53 | Chris Zapata | Mayor, I'm going to lead this off, if you don't mind. |
| 02:07:40.05 | Steven Woodside | Yes, of course. |
| 02:07:42.09 | Chris Zapata | I thank the public and thank you and the council for your time and attention on this very, very important subject. Sausalito is over 130 years old and quite beautiful. And when I got here in 2021, one of the things I wanted to see was the planning and policy direction of the city council in terms of how they directed their resources toward needs in the community to keep Sausalito beautiful, enhance Sausalito. And one of the planning documents that caught my eye was the 20 through 2026 strategic plan. In that strategic plan, there were a number of items related to public works and infrastructure. And so that was really important for me to understand that this was something that our councils and administrations have talked about |
| 02:07:42.44 | Steven Woodside | I was waiting for the- |
| 02:08:31.94 | Chris Zapata | And so that was a start. The second piece was to look at the city itself. And looking at the city, I noticed a brand-new police and fire station, infrastructure investment. I noticed brand-new parks, infrastructure investment. I noticed a brand-new parks, infrastructure investment. I noticed that they had passed a measure called Measure O for infrastructure in 2050. So this is a very solid start. But in looking further, can you go to the next slide, please? In 2021, we had a city council retreat where said the parks look fine. The police and fire facilities are great. But some other infrastructure, namely your streets, are not in optimal condition. So the idea of the city council working on things that matter to the community was what I called a back-to-the-basics approach, which is let's look at our finances, let's look at our people, and let's look at our infrastructure. So one of the things that you do when you look at infrastructure is you kind of figure out what you want to do, what the need is. And so the city council took a lot of steps to do that. The first one that they took, which was really important, was they extended and expanded Measure L with the vote of the community. The community support for that was something that was truly significant. It means about $2.8 to $3 million a year to our community to invest in infrastructure that can't be overlooked because that's the seed that allows us to start cooking with gas so what i want to do is tell you again the city council said even if you have resources you can't get projects done if you don't have people so you added two project managers to the budget and, and you heard two of them tonight, Ali and Sarah. So they're here in the flesh and doing the work that they were hired to do. So can you go to the next slide, please? I want to take you on a little journey in the city to say that, you know, looking at what was done and what needed to be done, this particular past year, the last 15 months have been really, really important to Sausalito and showing the community that the city council, city staff is working very hard to meet the infrastructure needs in our community. And I'll start on the south end of town. If you start on the south end of town, last year the city council approved and city staff completed with contractors, a million dollar street project on Edwards Avenue. |
| 02:10:14.07 | Mika Stefani | Thank you. |
| 02:10:59.80 | Chris Zapata | with City Council direction and support, a $1.2 million project at what we call Block 303. At the North Street Steps, close to a three-quarters of a million-dollar project done there. A small but important project, the Sea Lion, done there. Up the street, you go to the Ferry Project. The $2.5 million project that had been languishing for eight, nine, ten years is almost done. That's another infrastructure improvement. At City Hall, there are EV charging stations, which is another infrastructure improvement project. There are 22 parking spaces paved in our area around Dunphy Park, which had been dirt for some time, and those were paved. The Marinship Park project, which was the home of our encampment for a couple of years, now is home to tennis again and pickleball. At the same time, the city council approved an agreement with Climatech to be more energy conscious, lower climate footprint, and that's in play right now. We completed at the direction of the city council a landslide task force recommendation to do a geologic hazard study. That's complete. And then the one that really matters in the capital improvement program that aligns with all this is the Bureau Veritas study to look at all of our facilities that we have to do. So those are all things that have been done in the last year. So I want to make sure that the community understands that we're starting to cook with gas. I think some of the questions about what needs are are pretty clear. We understand them. We're going to talk about them tonight. There are some new ones. We also want to talk a little bit about some of the funding sources that we believe help us to get through some of these investments in our infrastructure and I want to go to the next slide please Katie I mentioned measure o slash measure l as a source of funds to invest in infrastructure there is also the parking fund which you can invest in infrastructure there are title ends monies that can be invested in specific geographic areas infrastructure wise there are county funds for parks and streets that we get every year that can be invested in infrastructure as well next slide please There's also some work that's almost done but not done, and that's important that the council and the community know that we have not dropped the ball on them. One of them is impact fees. We talked at length about the need to deal with the growth mandated on the city of Sausalito by the housing element process. That's going to mean houses get built in Sausalito, you know, who's going to pay for the streets, the parks, the lighting, et cetera, and that's where impact fees come in. So that discussion is not done. There has also been a conversation around developing a 10-year forecast, a 10-year financing tool. So we definitely are working on that, and we certainly want to align our processes, our infrastructure projects with sustainability and climate change. Next slide, please. One of the things the council directed us to do is to pursue grants more aggressively. We've had moderate success. Katie Tho Garcia is sitting here right now. She's been a big reason for some of that success, whether it's Gate 5 Road or, you know, former Councilmember Mayor Kelman's work to get a million dollars in sea level rise money. So the city is taking other people's money and applying it to infrastructure. I want to talk a little bit about the CIP itself, and then Kevin's going to get into some detail. But a CIP process is a rolling process. It's a fluid process. You know, it involves investment in a multitude of areas, and the Public Works Department has their criteria that they work through, that they speak to that involves what I call solid, solid approaches. But my approach is a little bit different. as a city manager, I believe that you need to look at things that are maybe not as confined as our process. And so those are pretty clear to me. One is what is going to help public safety? What infrastructure investments are going to help public safety? Emergency preparedness. What is required by the law that the city has to do that we should be doing in our capital improvement program? What projects or facilities generate revenue? And so which ones are those that we need to take a look at? And then finally, you know, sustainability. What is involved in sustainability? What projects should we do to increase sustainability? Battle climate change and things of that nature. So even though the CIP process is fluid, the projects that you will see tonight and probably have seen before, there are a couple of additions that I want to highlight. One of them is the Spencer Avenue fire station. The idea that, you know, we live in a very threatened environment when it comes to wildfires. With the new fire maps, there's a renewed effort on our part in partnership with the Southern Marin Fire District to start looking at that Spencer Avenue fire station. What does that mean? Unfortunately or fortunately, we didn't sell it. And at the same time, we have used it as a repository for city records going back dozens of years. So, you know, in order to get that project or that facility ready, the Bureau of Veritas study analyzes, identifies work that needs to be done to make it usable. But we also need to let the council know that, you know, there is, in fact, a trove of records there that are not going to be easy to move, and that's going to require some resources in order to get it ready for use in the future. The other one is the Bridgeway corridorridor from Princess to Richardson Street. You know, all of the conversation around that particular process and matter, and, you know, it was very informative for me to see some of the ideas that came out of it that would enhance safety. So some of the things that you see in the capital improvement program, you may want to advance. They may be in years too far out. You may want to do them now. I'll give you some examples. The sea level wall that was what I call recommended as an interim step is something that, you know, we saw as a potential price tag of about $2.5 million. Well, you can start that next year. You can start that this year, and I'd recommend you start it soon because it's something that's attainable. If you expense it out over 20 years, that sounds like a lot of money in one year, but your title and funds generates money every year that you can use to service any type of project that you're going to do there over time. And then the other one is some things as simple as a proposal to make that corner on Princess Street safer. We've talked about doing some things that are upstreet in terms of crosswalks and more safety efforts there, but that little corner on the southern end of Princess, that curve has been something that we keep getting questions about in terms of what will we do for that so kevin has some ideas about how to deal with that there are probably 25 new projects but those are a couple that i wanted to highlight and obviously this is your capital improvement program it's not staffs so if you want to deviate move suggest something new please do And know that we listened to some of the things that you talked about in your strategic planning retreat last February. Infrastructure was one of the things you wanted us to look at. So we've paid attention to those requests by the city council or direction from the city council. When we heard different ideas about how to make our roads more effective for the community on various fronts not just our pavement management index making roads more effective in the sense of emergency evacuation prioritizing them that was important when we heard about reconfiguring our roads so maintenance costs are lowered or you know we put them on what's termed a road diet, there are some opportunities to do that in Sausalito, maybe not citywide. And then certainly, I just want to highlight that some of the capital improvements related to sewer, we want to make sure that you understand, I don't believe we should look past the next two years. We're on track to bring forward a transfer of services memorandum to the City Council in the next quarter, I would hope. And then you would be out of the sewer business. And so that wouldn't be a capital improvement line item for you. So I really want to thank Kevin and his team, the project managers, the staff that supports him, and all the work that they've done. And you'll see a lot of it in his presentation. But I really wanted to say that, you know, we can probably make a bigger impact this year on our infrastructure needs, invest more in infrastructure with your direction. We just need to know what you believe is the right thing to do. Thank you. |
| 02:20:15.39 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you, City Manager Zapata. I'm Kevin McGowan, Public Works Director for Sausalito. Our City Manager mentioned just a few projects that have been completed, but I wouldn't mind mentioning a couple others that kind of happened behind the scenes. Over the last five to six years, we've been trying to recuperate costs from the federal government from FEMA associated with a slide that occurred here in 2019. And our staff, and specifically Andy Davidson, has been pushing this with a consultant's help to try to get that money back. And we have received some of it, and we're hoping to receive the rest of it this year. So it's little things like that that happen way behind the scenes. We don't usually let many people know about it, but they require effort and they require time. Little things come up also throughout the year. I don't want to point out the ceiling, but if you look up, We're doing a little work on the ceiling. And so these things come up and we have to address them as they come up. So as I work through my presentation here, some of this will come up as we move forward. So as you know, the capital improvement program is a fluid document. which can change throughout the year and does change over the five-year period. This planning document is utilized to address improvements to our public infrastructure, similar to other cities in the country. We have a need for many improvements to our roads, buildings, and public spaces, but we have a limited amount of funding to facilitate repairs and improvements. The CIP is utilized to develop a list of possible improvement projects and estimates the amount of funding needed to support those projects. The CIP also prioritizes the improvements with the intent of providing recommendations to the Council to allocate funds in conjunction with the annual budget. Sausalito's five-year capital improvement program is updated annually and it's included in the annual budget. Next slide, please. So this year, the city finished the facility assessment study, which included more than 980 tasks for the city-owned facilities, including leased facilities. We have included a new category in the CIP this year called building assessment, which is separated into a different category so that we can keep track of all these different tasks. Attachment 1, noted in the draft CIP, is a 224-page document. Loads of fun. It's intended to list the details of each capital project to be considered over the next five years. So how does it work? I'll just go through this super quickly. Each of the active projects completed, proposed and existing ones are individual have individual summary sheets. Each of the estimated allocations then rolls up into a summary for each category. All the categories are then rolled up into a summary. This summary, listed on page 3 of attachment 1, shows all the projects and summarizes the allocation per fund. This amount is then compared to the amount of available funding which is provided by our finance department. From now until the end of the fiscal year, additional balancing of the accounts compared to the projects is needed. So if you'll notice in the staff report, there may be available funding in a specific fund, and it doesn't necessarily match attachment one. We'll need to rebalance those projects so that these two can at least match, and we don't overspend in one fund compared to another. Next slide, please. Great. As noted earlier, staff utilizes a rating system to assist with prioritizing new projects for funding in the next fiscal year. Attachment three in your packet denotes a rating criteria. The reading is also shown on page 25 of Attachment 1. I'm going to note these pages for you because Attachment 1 is so huge, and it may help if you want to find things. |
| 02:24:40.23 | Steven Woodside | Well, just so you know, if we print it out, it's like it says 320. It's not. Well, I guess you do have 39 of 224. So is that when you're saying page 25? |
| 02:24:54.45 | Kevin McGowan | Yeah. Great. I'm hoping. So this process is a subjective process, and staff is recommending some projects that may not be the highest priority with the intent of dressing multiple type of projects in each fiscal year. Council is welcome to add, delete, and change the projects listed in the CIP. As our city manager mentioned, this is your capital improvement program. Each individual project sheet also shows a rating as well as on the summary sheets. Next slide, please. Staff has made an effort to examine the more than 100 projects in the CIP. Based on that analysis, staff recommends moving forward with nine new projects shown on page 33 of the CIP. These projects include safety related repairs to city infrastructure, including sidewalk repairs, library access issues, street resurfacing, and others. We are recommending proceeding with the Coloma Street Improvement Project as well, based on the fact that the city received an additional $450,000 from Safe Routes to School on this specific project. Um, This project has been on the books for many years, and the plans could be bid this summertime, so we could move fairly quickly on the project. In addition, we have included a few new items, noted a new item specifically as minor facility repairs, which was developed with a facility assessment study and includes various improvements noted on that report, which are less than $35,000 in cost. So with the facility assessment study, it had 980 different line items. Some of those were greater than $35,000, which we think should be a capital project. Those that are less than that can be simply maintenance projects, painting, fixing wall switches, that type of thing. And so we would recommend that we have a specific contractor come in to help us with that. Currently, we do not have staff to address all these minor facility repairs. An outside firm or contractor will be needed to address this work unless additional staff is added specifically to perform the tasks. Some other communities here in Marin have their own dedicated staff to deal with facilities repairs specifically. San Rafael does, county does, as well as Novato. Next slide, please. Great. Lots of pictures. Sorry. On the list are a few projects that you may recognize. Bridgeway sidewalk repair is needed in front of lot three. The root system in this area is pushing the root system from, I think they're called stone pines, are pushing up the sidewalk and damaging the road as well as the parking lot. Funding is needed in order to address that. The facility assessment study identified an issue at Humboldt Street Dock area, and this is the promenade area or the wooden sidewalk in front of joinery, and there's an area underneath that that needs specific attention. The repairs include structural issues as well as access issues on the boardwalk area, as I mentioned. The city library also needs to increase the access aisles to be in compliance with current standards. So if you'll notice on the front door to the library, you've got a vertical book rack that needs to be moved so you have more space as you enter the library. We have added a project to re-stripe bridgeway with thermoplastic. This project is separated into two years, with the south section being addressed first and the north section being addressed second. The idea is to repair or replace our current striping on bridgeway. Other projects, such as pathways at Gabrielson Park are in need of replacement. So let's not forget also the minor facilities projects, which I just mentioned before. Next slide, please. Thank you. In addition, we have included a supplemental list of projects that could be added, and this and this. This list is located on page 37 in attachment 1 and is in the staff report as well. This list includes projects such as stair repairs, skylight repairs, and additional access improvements. These projects are highly rated. They have high ratings. However, staff considers them to be projects that should be done and compared to what have to be done. Next slide, please. The projects that are on the future list include Bridgeway medians that came up at the March 29th, 2025 council meeting stair projects on Litho Street and repairs to fire station to which were mentioned by our city manager. The facility assessment study noted that the Humboldt Street bulkhead should be repaired. and that other improvements to the wall systems on Lot 3, that's the old masonry walls that support some of the hillside on Lot 3, and Old City Hall need to be implemented as well. In addition, staff is concerned about the downhill slope adjacent to Bridgeway, which is showing signs of geologic movement, And this is between Nevada Street and Easterby on the east side, such that an additional study is needed to determine what needs to be done and who is responsible for that repair. Next slide, please. As noted earlier, the facility assessment study had more than 980 tasks listed for the city's leased and city-managed facilities. Staff re-examined the list and separated out tasks estimated to be more than $35,000 in cost. This total amount should be included. Sorry, these tasks are separated into individual projects and are listed under building assessment in the capital improvement program. Staff also added additional percentages and contingencies to those amounts because the original facility assessment didn't include those amounts. So we added a percentage on top of that just in case we needed some additional help. Next slide, please. The staff report for this item has a total need of $14 million, which does not include grants. and also only includes active and new priority projects. It does not include the future projects that are listed in your staff report or on page 37 of attachment one. At the time of the report preparation, staff has not had a chance to balance the available funding compared to each project or each category. We'll do that in between now and bringing the budget to you later on this year. Additional effort with our finance department will be needed to perform this task prior to finalizing the budget. Next slide. And last slide. |
| 02:32:35.07 | Jill Hoffman | No. |
| 02:32:35.29 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. Last is... This is a very dynamic process. Our intent is to identify capital projects before they become emergencies. Moving forward with a facility assessment study has helped address current building needs. Putting local funds into projects that directly improve the safety aspects for residents, such as road projects as well as the repair of city maintained sidewalks is important. This evening we are asking Council for their concurrence with the general strategy to address capital projects for the next fiscal year. We anticipate bringing an item to the Planning Commission in the next few weeks when they have time. So to seek their concurrence that this CIP is in compliance with the general plan. And with that, that concludes my presentation. Thank you very much. |
| 02:33:37.19 | Joan Cox | Thank you, Dr. Hamster. |
| 02:33:38.91 | Melissa Blaustein | Thank you, Director McGowan, and congratulations on all the projects that your hardworking department has completed and that you've helped lead. Thank you. Congratulations. There's a lot here. There are a lot of pages and I apologize that I try as I might. would just love a simple summary of a couple of things. Are we repaving Bridgeway from the south end of town to Napa Street. anytime soon. So that's the detail. |
| 02:34:04.12 | Kevin McGowan | So that's a detail within the 2024 street resurfacing project. And I'd have to get back to staff to find out specifically the limits. But I think you are correct. |
| 02:34:14.03 | Melissa Blaustein | that is being done. Thank you. |
| 02:34:15.17 | Kevin McGowan | Yes, I believe you sent me an email on that, and we responded that all of those streets are within the next street resurfacing program. |
| 02:34:15.21 | Melissa Blaustein | Thank you. I believe you, Senator. |
| 02:34:22.33 | Melissa Blaustein | So that's bridgeway, and this goes to a point the vice mayor has been bringing up a couple times about prioritizing safety corridors that... Uh, you know, obviously I relied on for evacuation. So, uh, when that's being done, is it being repaved as is? You had a picture that looks like it has different colors and striping. It looks different than it does today. So is that reflective of a... I'm no expert on what is referred to as complete streets. It's just a buzzword for me, but is that reflective of that completely? |
| 02:34:48.92 | Kevin McGowan | I think we... Street's policy. I think that we are anticipating micro-sealing a lot of our streets, including Bridgeway. So maybe we should be clear about what you are thinking of. Complete resurfacing is a very expensive proposition. We have to grind out the entire road and put back asphalt. I believe on a majority of our streets, we're doing micro seal, which is a It's a thin coating, and it has rocks in it or small pebbles, and so it bonds to the top of the surface of the asphalt. Now, I'm not sure if I can answer your specific questions on the details you're asking for. |
| 02:35:33.16 | Melissa Blaustein | Okay. Would it be possible to, well, we'll see what my colleagues think, but I have a hard time figuring out what the choices are that we might be able to make because it's not presented on the one hand, but on the other hand, here are some tradeoffs you could make. For instance, on this question of grinding Bridgeway down, which I know is more expensive to resurface it completely, repave it. versus micro sealant that might be a choice we might be willing to make if we understood the costs and the benefits of that choice uh and i'm just wondering if there's a way on some of the primary projects to consider a range of options like that. |
| 02:36:15.34 | Kevin McGowan | Yes, we can do that in the future. If we know your preference, like you were recommending to take a look at street resurfacing and say, hey, look, if we want to increase this budget, where would staff recommend putting that funding? Would we consider putting it into a full resurfacing or maybe expanding the amount of treatments we do on the roads within the city. We can look at it that way. If that's what your council is interested in, of putting more emphasis on resurfacing. |
| 02:36:46.88 | Melissa Blaustein | And then I'm no asphalt expert, but how much money do you save as a project gets bigger? So if you have a, let's say a $3 million paving budget that gets you, I don't know how many feet you want to say that gets you. But if that became a $6 million budget, do you get twice as much as linear or do you get two and a half times as much, or do you get four times as much? Like what's the non-linearity of the savings as a paving project gets larger? |
| 02:37:13.09 | Kevin McGowan | So in a way, that's kind of a trick question, but that's okay. And If we bundle all of the resurfacing together, let's say we put a package together for not just this year, but for the next two years, and put it all together as one, We can receive some order of savings by putting this together in this current market compared to the future market, which we know will probably be more expensive. So you could save money that way. Then if you bundling all these things together, You do not have to pay a remobilization cost. So you're saving money on mobilization. How much is that? probably eight to 10 percent. I would guess when you have to separate projects out for each year, you may save 10% of your original budget, which is, let's say, $2 million, something like that. Okay, thank you. |
| 02:38:10.95 | Steven Woodside | Okay. Thank you for your presentation. I had a few questions from, and thank you for all of these materials. You mentioned that for fiscal year 25, 26, it would be $14 million. Thank you. But when I'm looking at page 5 of 224, it says $7.7 million. |
| 02:38:31.64 | Kevin McGowan | So I would hope that you would take a look at the staff report first. And if you'll take a look at the staff report on the fiscal impact, which is the last page, you will note that it shows $10.2 million for the current projects and $3.9 million for the new projects. Now, you can find those numbers on page 40 of the attachment one for the active projects and page 34 on attachment one for the new projects. |
| 02:38:44.79 | Jill Hoffman | right. |
| 02:39:09.61 | Steven Woodside | Okay, but if I just look at 25, 26, So we've already budgeted for the active projects, I hope. |
| 02:39:18.47 | Kevin McGowan | So that's a great question. And so I wanted to clarify that, and I just didn't get to it. So thank you so much for bringing that up. So as I've looked at all of the projects, we have gone, the staff has brought these projects to you in the past and said, hey, we think it's going to cost, let's say, $1.7 million for resurfacing since Council Member Sobieski brought it up. That's great. But has that money really been set aside in the budget itself? and it hasn't been committed. So maybe our finance director can talk a little bit about it. So the way I've addressed it this year is whatever, whatever we've talked about before with you, has that money been set aside specifically for a contractor? And generally the answer is no. So that's why we're saying, as we're moving these toward construction, This is the amount that we're going to need this fiscal year, even though you may have in the past seen numbers on this project and said, yeah, that's great. We saw this in last fiscal year. but the money wasn't committed. So, |
| 02:40:23.51 | Steven Woodside | But any time you bring a project to us, we ask, how is it being funded? And even in the agenda title, when you bring a project to us, it says, approve Edwards Avenue utilizing X number of dollars from Measure L, utilizing X number of dollars from Tidelands. So when we approve a project from the dais, we adopt a resolution, and it includes the allocation of the funding. So are you saying that when we approve a project from the dais, we adopt a resolution, and it includes the allocation of the funding. So are you saying that when we approve a project, those funds are not encumbered? |
| 02:40:56.12 | Kevin McGowan | It's my understanding that those funds are not committed, that they are still in a bucket. I'm Jesus, are you here? Well, I don't. |
| 02:41:04.19 | Steven Woodside | Well, I'm not going to engage with the finance director tonight, who's been here not yet a month. I'm asking you. I feel as though... I don't know what the process is, and perhaps that's something we can discuss offline, but when the city council gives direction to... spend money on a project, those monies should be segregated from monies that remain available to spend so that we're not double spending things, as you mentioned earlier tonight. Would you agree? |
| 02:41:35.12 | Kevin McGowan | Yes, but are those funds committed or not? Are they in the... The budget. Or not. |
| 02:41:42.53 | Steven Woodside | Well, you would not bring us a project that's not in the budget. |
| 02:41:42.68 | Kevin McGowan | I don't know. |
| 02:41:43.04 | Chris Zapata | I would not. Let me answer that question, Mayor. |
| 02:41:47.09 | Steven Woodside | Okay. |
| 02:41:47.38 | Chris Zapata | When the city council directs a project gets spent, you want to know where the money is coming from and if it's there. And when we bring it forward to you and you give us direction and we tell you the funding is there, the funding is there. Now, the question is, is it enough funding? And so sometimes we have to come back with requests for more funding, and that's happened. It happens in many cities. But when we bring a budget before you, we try to figure out what's committed in terms of need, and that's what Kevin's speaking to. So what he's saying is our proposal would involve $14 million of need, and what he's suggesting is if you budget this year, then the question becomes city staff, is that money there, or is a portion of that money there, is none of it there and the answer is we'd have to come back to you and tell you we have this much money in gas tax we have this much money in measure l we're short here or we've got it all because there's a grant that's supporting it or the bids came in lower but we commit money to projects when you give us direction and approval of projects i don't think that should be a question |
| 02:42:50.99 | Steven Woodside | So the challenge I'm having is that his staff report shows 10 million in active project amount. than $3.9 million in new priority project amount for a total of $14 million that he is characterizing as need. not as something that's already funded. And yet some of these projects that I know that are in this matrix, we have specifically said, use this money, use that money, having been assured those monies are there. |
| 02:43:18.25 | Chris Zapata | Yeah, when you tell us that, we do that. |
| 02:43:20.66 | Steven Woodside | Okay. So, and the other question I had is you're saying active, you're saying new project amount, 3.9 million, But when I'm looking at uh, 20, 25, 26, it's saying, um, Right. Completed or to be completed by end of fiscal year 2526, $7.7 million. |
| 02:43:51.42 | Kevin McGowan | So are you looking at the staff report or are you looking at the attachment? |
| 02:43:54.92 | Steven Woodside | I'm looking at the backup because I like the data. So I'm actually looking at the data rather than just the summary. |
| 02:43:59.81 | Kevin McGowan | Great. Thank you. Okay, so if you look at the data, looking at attachment one, starting on page four, |
| 02:44:08.18 | Steven Woodside | Yep, that's where I am. |
| 02:44:09.19 | Kevin McGowan | You'll notice that all of those projects are noted as C, completed projects. And you'll note that under prior year allocations, a column that is in the middle of the page, you will note that there are no numbers on fiscal year 2526. So all of those have already been committed. So let's keep going. So if we go on to active projects, starting on page six, you'll notice that active projects, there are 25 of them. And you'll notice that there is some funding that is needed in the next fiscal year, specifically A02, which is Dunphy Park. And we're estimating that we'll need 1.8 My numbers are small. 1.67 million. in the next fiscal year. |
| 02:44:57.15 | Steven Woodside | And if you go to the bottom of that column, it's showing a need of 9.2 million. Yes. In the next fiscal year. |
| 02:45:04.09 | Kevin McGowan | Yes. However, if you keep going, If you go to our active projects, some of those funds are already committed. In other words, we already have contracts in hand for, let's say, designers or whoever is working on that. So we have to take that out. All right, in order to make the funding correct. So if we, let's see, I mentioned another page here before. I think it was page 34. Dun, dun, dun, page 40. |
| 02:45:40.18 | Kevin McGowan | So if you go to page 40 on the bottom of the page there, and do. |
| 02:45:48.22 | Walfred Solorzano | do you |
| 02:45:48.65 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. |
| 02:45:53.65 | Kevin McGowan | Well, maybe I'm not correct here, but I do need to find the exact date numbers for you. My apologies. |
| 02:46:00.28 | Steven Woodside | Okay. Okay. All right. That, I mean, this is a work in progress and there's a lot of work that I can see. has gone into this, but I was having a hard time reconciling numbers in the staff report with the numbers in the with the data in the sheets. So I had a few questions about some of the sheets. and how projects are classified. So let me get there. |
| 02:46:33.41 | Steven Woodside | Okay. On page 73, we have the citywide design strategic plan climate change adaptation plan and there's a picture of the flooded Gate 5 Road facilities Um, And it's showing the expenditure for design in fiscal year 2526 of $540,000. Is that from grant funding? That's the WRT contract? |
| 02:47:03.46 | Kevin McGowan | I'm not positive. |
| 02:47:04.03 | Chris Zapata | I think that's correct. Time out. Gate 5 Road. Katie, can you touch on that? Because I think that's the grant that we applied for. |
| 02:47:11.38 | Steven Woodside | It does say WRT contract. |
| 02:47:16.37 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:47:16.39 | Mika Stefani | Can you read the title of it one more time? It says... |
| 02:47:19.15 | Kevin McGowan | Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Project includes the development of the plan document that addresses a wide range of impacts, climate change, sea level rise. |
| 02:47:30.56 | Alice Merrill | Yes, that's the shoreline adaptation plan, the sea level rise plan. Okay, okay, great. |
| 02:47:36.97 | Steven Woodside | On page 76, it lists a storm drain on Liberty Ship Way, and we're going to spend $50,000 in 2526. We asked you to undertake a study of all of our storm drains and the need um, Do you know when you'll have the outcome of that study and whether there are other storm drains you'll be asking us to include in 25, 26? |
| 02:48:10.17 | Kevin McGowan | Yes, I think we should have the results of that later on this summer, probably after the next fiscal year. CSW Stuberstro is working on the study itself. |
| 02:48:22.96 | Steven Woodside | Okay, but I thought we commissioned that in February or something. We're not going to have it until after the end of this fiscal year. |
| 02:48:28.44 | Kevin McGowan | We're not going to have that. they still have to investigate all the linear footage of each one of the storm drains. That's not an easy task. So page 76 on the report is storm drain capture device program. So that might be a little bit different. |
| 02:48:46.16 | Steven Woodside | Right. But that's what made me think of the storm drains, because we were hoping, I thought, to include in the next fiscal year, the first of 10 years to address storm drains, among other things. All right, I'm turning to page 87. This is for parking lot one. It's listing parking lot one as already active. It is. Okay, but This says, what this says is, So you're developing a project outline, but we haven't committed any money to spend on lot one beyond the ferry landing improvements. |
| 02:49:23.56 | Kevin McGowan | That's correct. We're putting together an RFP package so that we go out to consultants to provide us options for that area. So once we get the RFPs back, we will return to your council to award a package if you so choose. |
| 02:49:38.81 | Mika Stefani | Okay. |
| 02:49:39.10 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:49:44.13 | Steven Woodside | On page 92, you have the sidewalk repair program with $140,000 in the coming fiscal year. Is that the loan program? Is that to fund the loan program? Or is that to repair city-owned streets, sidewalks? |
| 02:50:02.77 | Kevin McGowan | It's a little bit of both. I had to go with kind of a rough idea of what I thought we would be working with. Usually other cities will set aside maybe 30% of their original budget to help residents out. So it's a little bit of both. And in order to develop the CIP, I just simply had to throw a number in there. And that's what I threw in. |
| 02:50:26.55 | Steven Woodside | I saw the city hall game room conversion to office space. I was very happy to see that work progressing. Um, on page 107 is the MLK Building 7 parking lot. We are about to undertake a a valid initiative to see about developing housing. I'm wondering if we should and there's also another page for the corporation yard. Um, |
| 02:50:59.78 | Steven Woodside | I'm wondering if we should be delaying some of that work as we consider reusing those sites for a different purpose. |
| 02:51:09.73 | Kevin McGowan | As you may recall, the CIP is simply a document to list projects out for a five-year period. If you'll take a look at the same sheet, 107, we're not anticipating doing anything with the parking lot until 2728. That can also be moved out for future years. Each year we come back and go, okay, where are we with the corp yard? We can move things around. |
| 02:51:36.94 | Steven Woodside | On page 117, we are showing a future project of fixing the trident. restaurant pier So I know that was listed in the, study, but again, |
| 02:51:58.60 | Steven Woodside | I'm not sure the city council has. indicated that that's we haven't gone through that study and said, Yes, we want to update these facilities or no, we don't want to update these facilities and so. Is this just an assumption that we're going? Because that's a very expensive... It was attempted 10 years ago, The Planning Commission could not approve it because of the changing Um, requirements for how high The water underneath would be and the distance that need to be maintained between that and the deck of the dock. |
| 02:52:36.13 | Kevin McGowan | there was no intention on my part to try to understand those complexities. I had a report from the facility assessment report. It had a listing of projects that they prioritized. And so I took those projects and re-looked at them and then included those that are greater than $35,000 for a five-year period, only those that are listed. I made no distinction of the complexity of whether we would move forward with it or not. It's only listed because it's on the Building Assessment Study. |
| 02:53:11.33 | Steven Woodside | Okay, I really appreciate that clarification. |
| 02:53:11.35 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. |
| 02:53:14.14 | Steven Woodside | Um, And then City Hall on page 131. It's City Hall ceiling. Update and paint all ceiling finishes in City Hall. And it says not started. But we know you just did this ceiling. |
| 02:53:29.76 | Kevin McGowan | So I think the building facility assessment says all ceilings in City Hall. We only started this one because we had some issues with some things flaking off the ceiling. So we had to get to this one immediately. So based on the facility assessment study, we probably need to do the rest of the things in the building. |
| 02:53:51.43 | Steven Woodside | Okay. Thank you for your indulgence. I just really wanted to understand how these projects were assembled and categorized in terms of their status. |
| 02:54:01.32 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. It was good questions. |
| 02:54:04.54 | Ian Sobieski | I'm taking off a little bit from what the mayor has just asked in terms of funding. I just want to go back to the fact that this is a five-year horizon. These are your recommendations at this moment in time without really reconciling all the funding. necessary and certainly without having us given direction for the forthcoming budget yet. But this will help us do that, and that's how I see this document. Um, And I just want to compliment you for doing a couple things that I think are really important and shouldn't be overlooked when the public looks at this volume. There's an attachment three that you list your criteria for your evaluation. And I was pleased personally to see public safety being put into the mix because if we are, for example, trying to choose between paving five roads and we don't have enough money to pave five, but we may have enough money to pave two, which two should be paved? Is it the one that's the most deteriorated, Or is it the one that has the greatest impact on public safety or is used by the greatest number of people? These are the kinds of things we'll be looking at, I assume. since we don't have unlimited funds to do all these things. So that's, to me, that was a real plus to read that and see how you think about that and you put it in writing. I really appreciate that. I also am thankful. But you look at each project and where it's appropriate. You separate design from professional services needed, then construction costs, and then construction management. So you might have to hire a construction manager to supervise a particular project like the Ferryland landside project. And then my question to you, though, as head of DPW, do you have enough staff to coordinate these things? |
| 02:55:58.36 | Kevin McGowan | So that's a great question. Um, it. I would say yes and no. If you'll notice, if you compared the CIP from last year to this year, we had some projects on there that we thought we could get to, and we just haven't had the time. So what we'll try to do is take care of the most important ones that the council recognizes, and some of the smaller things, they may get pushed off, and we may have to come back after them later on. One of the things I mentioned in our DPW update was a water storage system. It was on our list last year. We just didn't get to it. So we do our best with our project managers. We have two. The most that they can manage is probably six to eight projects at one time. And you'll notice we have 25 active projects and another nine. So we'll have to spread these out over the year. We can't handle them all at once. And that shouldn't be expected. We'll try to get to them sequentially and do our best to handle the highest priority ones first. |
| 02:56:59.77 | Ian Sobieski | Speaking of priorities, I served on the Landslide Task Force, which was really so glad to see the work that's been done subsequent to monitor landslides. And then I know I think there are at least two projects that involve some retaining walls in slide-prone areas. |
| 02:57:17.74 | Kevin McGowan | Yes, that's right. |
| 02:57:19.13 | Ian Sobieski | And are they underway? Are they funded? What's the status of those? |
| 02:57:23.41 | Kevin McGowan | Oh, the two projects, one is on Bridgeway, just below Woodward. And we have plans in hand. We'd like to bring that to Council to move that. out to bid, So we're ready to go out for the construction end of that one. The other wall, which is at Marion and East, no, not Easterby, but... Thank you. |
| 02:57:46.84 | Ian Sobieski | Edwards |
| 02:57:47.38 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you so much. |
| 02:57:48.07 | Ian Sobieski | I can't participate when that one comes up because I live too close, but I'm well aware of it. |
| 02:57:52.86 | Kevin McGowan | That one has the plans ready to go, but we're going to need an easement. So that may take a little time just to get the easements from the uphill property owner. So our senior engineer is working on that. And with any luck, we would hope to have both of these out closer to the end of summer, which is more opportune time to do soil work. |
| 02:58:14.39 | Ian Sobieski | I think you've answered the mayor's questions about parking lot one, and I know there's a lot of interest in parking lot one, and I think your approach is to get some alternative designs to look at first before we make any hard decisions. That's great. And then you mentioned docks, and I'm very close to docks, having participated in building one that – actually two floating docks for Matthew Turner and Schooner Seward. And there's been some talk about the possibility of public-private partnerships that we could pursue, perhaps at Humboldt Street and perhaps next to the Trident. I'm not saying it's a burden of hand, but it's certainly something we ought to look at when we're concerned about limited funds. What projects on your list might we go to the private sector for contributions, for coordination, for volunteer work, et cetera, that might be useful and might be doable? Just a thought. But again, thank you for your hard work on this, and I look forward to our new finance director having to help us understand the finances and what we think we can afford to spend this coming year. Thank you. |
| 02:58:28.10 | Mika Stefani | you |
| 02:58:28.11 | Joshua Richmond | That's great. |
| 02:58:28.52 | Mika Stefani | Thank you. |
| 02:59:23.80 | Steven Woodside | I'm just going to follow on very quickly. As I now understand it, the, the, attachments, one, two, three, are all based upon the assessment study. in your staff report on pages... where you list primary and future for 2526, you list 31 projects. Those are the projects you're recommending we undertake in fiscal year 2526. |
| 02:59:53.18 | Kevin McGowan | I'm recommending the nine projects known as primary because they have safety-related issues. We wanted to bring up some other projects that we felt could be important to the council or could be important to the city. Those are listed as future projects, picking and choosing from those. You're also welcome to go back to the entire huge document and pick out other projects that you may think are important. |
| 03:00:19.52 | Steven Woodside | Grab others. But your recommendations right now are really memorialized in the staff report and not in the attachments. Yes. Even though you did use the weighted. |
| 03:00:25.06 | Kevin McGowan | and not in the world. Yes. |
| 03:00:28.45 | Steven Woodside | analysis in attachment three that we appreciate. Okay. Thank you for that clarification. |
| 03:00:34.32 | Joan Cox | Thank you. Thank you for that great presentation, Director McGowan, and also City Manager. You guys have accomplished a lot with the Capital Improvement Program, so great to see things moving forward. I had a couple of questions. I'm aware that we're considering a sewer consolidation, and when you talked about what would be in the breadth of the CIP, you mentioned 21 miles of sanitary sewer collection system that we're responsible for. When we think about our priorities for the CIP moving forward, do those shift? Should we pursue or be successful in our consolidation efforts? |
| 03:01:07.08 | Kevin McGowan | But when you say shift, |
| 03:01:08.51 | Joan Cox | I mean, I'm sorry, like, should we be successful in following through on that? I know we're in talks to complete that consolidation potentially, so that might take some of the burden of cost associated with sewer upkeep from our CIP and allow us to make some changes. |
| 03:01:24.14 | Kevin McGowan | Yes, that would be a good idea. The district is more familiar with handling specific issues related to sewer collection systems. Not that we're not familiar with them, but that is their business. That is exactly what they do compared to some in my division where we deal with buildings, streets, and other things. So they're more attuned to dealing with that work. |
| 03:01:48.47 | Joan Cox | Okay, but it won't shift to our overall prioritization for our CIP. |
| 03:01:52.87 | Kevin McGowan | It shouldn't this fiscal year. However, next fiscal year, let's say for the sake of argument that the district decides to do a whole lot of projects in one area. We may want to change our focus so that we address our roads and our systems if they're going to dig it up for us just to put their new systems in. So we may want to work closely with them in the future so that we can coordinate our CIP with the work that they're doing. Thank you. |
| 03:02:22.61 | Joan Cox | Okay, and being aware, since a lot of those pipes run along Bridgeway, and I hate to bring this up again, but we did talk at our Bridgeway meeting at length about specific improvements to the crosswalks and potentially adding bollards, and I didn't see those directly mentioned in this CIP, so I'm wondering... you know, what our plan is, should we want to move forward with some of the crosswalks that we had discussed or, and then I have a follow up on that if you want to just |
| 03:02:47.85 | Kevin McGowan | Yes. So if you'll notice on the staff report under future projects, the first one listed is the Bridgeway Pedestrian Crossings Princess to Richardson. So it is on there if your council wants us to proceed with that. It would be generally working with a consultant first up to lay those out and make sure that they work. Some of the other projects that were mentioned in that meeting are also on here, and I'm trying to find the rest of them. But take a look at that future list, and it should include most of those issues. |
| 03:03:20.37 | Joan Cox | And one of the pieces of direction that was given at that meeting also was to use some of the, and I know Katie is here, some of the funding from the sea level rise assessment to address the seawall. I saw it in your staff report as if you wanted us to give you direction to move forward on that. So would that be something we would do? this evening in the context of this meeting, or would you have to come for, because there isn't a clear page on it in the CIP as there are for a number of other projects. |
| 03:03:45.21 | Kevin McGowan | I would be, I'm interested in whether you would like us to move that forward. I think it is on the list, but it's listed as a future project. If you want to have it emphasized next fiscal year to start the design. Sure, we can do that. |
| 03:04:00.26 | Joan Cox | Okay, great. And then I just wanted to clarify one more thing on the staff report. Obviously we're all very aware of the $58 million for the facility assessment, which has a huge impact on this. But in the first part of the staff report, it was a typo where it said, and I'm not trying to, I just want to make sure I'm getting the number right, because I don't, it seemed too small, that they did incorporate 34 of these projects at an estimated 35K construction costs, but it's $350,000 for those first 34 projects, right? |
| 03:04:27.11 | Kevin McGowan | So where are we in the staff report? |
| 03:04:27.52 | Joan Cox | I don't know. I don't remember exactly where I copied and pasted into my notes. I can find it. |
| 03:04:33.29 | Kevin McGowan | So I think it's... |
| 03:04:34.92 | Joan Cox | It doesn't matter where it is. I just want to make sure I'm clear on the costs that we have with regards to these projects and the facilities assessment because it does shift, you know, how we think about what we need to immediately do. |
| 03:04:44.04 | Kevin McGowan | Right. What I was trying to do with all the new projects from the facility assessment study was separate them out between projects that are $35,000 and less get to be included into one project. |
| 03:04:59.11 | Joan Cox | Okay, great. |
| 03:04:59.58 | Kevin McGowan | And those that are more than $35,000 would be included in building assessment in attachment. |
| 03:05:07.83 | Joan Cox | In the FAS section that you have? Yes. Okay, perfect. Okay, I appreciate that you separated that out. Okay, great. Thank you. That's all I have for right now. |
| 03:05:09.50 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. |
| 03:05:16.74 | Joan Cox | So, Member Hoffman? |
| 03:05:17.47 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:05:22.01 | Jill Hoffman | So for tonight, thank you for this presentation and the tremendous amount of work that you guys did to put this together. So I know it clearly it's a lot of work. And so for tonight, it appears to be this is sort of informational. This is the scope of what we could be doing. I mean, clearly there's more infrastructure work that needs to be done than we have budget for. And so it's just the universe of what could be done, what your prioritization is, certainly in recommendation of what the highest priority is, and that's your primary work. Those are your nine priorities. you know, recommendation for primary, what we should be doing. And then, potential optional future projects, and then a universe of projects that we could be doing. And that's the whatever, 224 pages. Yeah. |
| 03:06:11.75 | Kevin McGowan | Sorry about that. That's okay. |
| 03:06:12.95 | Jill Hoffman | That's okay. But projects. And, you know, I'm very happy that we got the facilities assessment done. I think that's super helpful. And also telling us the universe of deferred maintenance that we have on all of our facilities and gives us a scope of kind of the enormity of what we have of all of our facilities across Sausalito that we own and gives us a scope of what we can focus in on and what we need to do. And so, you know, some of the things that I've been looking at as I go through here, different buildings are sometimes referred to different ways across some of them. |
| 03:06:36.12 | Mika Stefani | Cross-off. |
| 03:06:56.32 | Jill Hoffman | some of the different reports. And so I thought it was interesting as I was looking through here. So the Arts Building is referred to, as I'm looking through here, and it's Arts Building and it's Bank of America Building, but those are really, When it says arts building, that's the Bank of America building, right? |
| 03:07:18.21 | Kevin McGowan | Yeah, if I missed one, it should be listed as the Arts Building Bank of America. I'll take a look again to see if I can find that. |
| 03:07:26.71 | Jill Hoffman | No, that's okay. It's just page 99. I just want to make sure that I'm capturing this correctly. And then also in the. Facilities assessment that we got from Veritas, it's also referred to a little bit differently. I think it says Sausalito Arts Building, but I think that's also the Bank of America Building. |
| 03:07:45.76 | Kevin McGowan | It is. That's correct. |
| 03:07:47.05 | Jill Hoffman | And then I think in one of your slides, it's also listed a little bit differently tonight. I think it was also something, some sort of variation about that. So, but is that, is that one of the optional projects or primary project or is that just |
| 03:07:56.82 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. |
| 03:07:56.87 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. |
| 03:08:02.77 | Kevin McGowan | You know, any one of those, you can always move them forward. So far on the arts building, I have most of these in not next fiscal year, but the year after that. |
| 03:08:16.10 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, because I did see that on the Veritas, that there was some maintenance, well, some work that needed to be done, a million six or something that needed to be done on that building, on the arts building. So, okay, along with the maintenance across town on the building. So, okay, just want to make sure that was clear. Um. Okay, well, thank you. So then we'll address this. Then you're expecting to get our recommendations and feedback on our recommendations to move forward during at what point would you expect our |
| 03:08:53.87 | Kevin McGowan | Maybe I can I can help a little bit. Councilmember Sobieski had a suggestion of do we want to put more emphasis on roadways? Right now we have about two point something million set aside annually for roadways. Do we want to do you would you like to do more? And if so, We can increase that budget and come back to your council and say, okay, Let's include these roads as well. Or maybe there's an emphasis to take a look at accessibility issues different places. Do we want to emphasize that? Or sidewalks? So just getting your input on what your thoughts are and on where we should be moving in the next year may be very helpful. And then I can work with our finance department so that we balance the accounts and balance the projects so that they align with how much money we have. |
| 03:09:44.26 | Jill Hoffman | Did you want that tonight? |
| 03:09:46.20 | Kevin McGowan | Just your thoughts would be good. |
| 03:09:48.34 | Jill Hoffman | So I think, I wanna thank the city manager for including our strategic plan that we did in January. on tonight's report. So I was reviewing that. And I think that was a very good refresher for us to include that with this packet tonight. Because I think that still holds up. And that was from the strategic I don't think we called it a retreat, we called it a planning session. back in January, but I mean, those priorities that we had listed are still you know, pretty good priorities. And, you know, with infrastructure, obviously, it was number one. And I was just reading it, so let me go back and – Let's see if I can find where that list of 10 was. but it was still, you know, um, those were still, I would say those are still the priorities of the city council. Um, Streets were number one, I think. So that would always be streets. Shoot, I just had it up here. I was just looking at it, sorry. |
| 03:11:02.88 | Kevin McGowan | I think the attachment number five. Yeah, it was maintenance officer. |
| 03:11:07.28 | Jill Hoffman | You know, maintenance on facilities, right? Maintenance on facilities, sea level rise, flooding. Thank you. storm drains, repair existing stairs, landslide, the task force recommendations, which you were just talking about, geologic hazard, ADA transition, and those things, which I think are probably in your top nine anyway. So I wouldn't, anyway. |
| 03:11:26.47 | Mika Stefani | anyway. |
| 03:11:32.41 | Jill Hoffman | I think as we move through this, you know, I wouldn't want to start readjusting too much with your $12 million. Of course, we're going to give you feedback as we move through this, but I know how complicated the plan is and allocation of the funds is, too. |
| 03:11:47.70 | Walfred Solorzano | I'm |
| 03:11:49.94 | Jill Hoffman | but I'll be reviewing it as well. Thank you. |
| 03:11:54.18 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 03:11:54.25 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:11:54.33 | Chris Zapata | manager. Thank you, Mayor and Councilmember Hoffman. I think that's good to refer back to what the council agreed upon in February. And what I think is important to kind of take note of is what's happened since then. And what's happened since then, I think, points to the Spencer Firehouse as something that we hadn't really talked about that's new. To talk about the Princess or the, not the Bridgeway improvements from Princess to Richardson, which we hadn't talked about then either. But I think those are two new add-ons to me that have some significance that I believe we should bring back. And also, once we look at our numbers, what's available to augment our road funds, our storm drain funds, and maybe come back to you with that as a starting point. I think that's what I would recommend. But I heard good comments about, you know, what is important to you, and the questions to clarify some of the information from staff is good, and now it's a matter of, you know, giving you something to look at and say yes or no to. And so I think we can do that. We won't get it totally right, but we can do that for a swath of the budget. My understanding is we're looking at three budget meetings. One of them could be the start and finish of this. The second one could be the draft budget. And the third one could be the budget adoption. So those three steps would involve your time to do this thing that's really important because, again, you know, capital improvements are a portion of the budget and a significant important part of the budget, but there are other aspects of the budget as well. But we need to nail this down pretty quickly. |
| 03:13:38.00 | Steven Woodside | Okay, with that, I'm going to open it up to public comment. Thank you. |
| 03:13:46.74 | Walfred Solorzano | We have Babette McDougall. |
| 03:13:52.19 | Steven Woodside | Actually, I have Carolyn Revell. I have a card. I don't have a card yet for Babette. |
| 03:13:55.07 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. She's online. |
| 03:13:59.09 | Carolyn Revell | Thank you. |
| 03:13:59.11 | Steven Woodside | Oh, okay. |
| 03:13:59.53 | Carolyn Revell | Thank you. |
| 03:13:59.56 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:14:02.85 | Carolyn Revell | Good evening again. I'm here representing Sausalito Beautiful, Carolyn Revell. I'd like to focus on green infrastructure in the proposed CIP, specifically street trees and parks. Sausalito Beautiful has advocated regularly for funding for street trees on both Caledonia and Bridgeway for aesthetic and sustainability. reasons. with the successful completion of the ferry landing and the creation of the downtown Sausalito improvement district, we feel completing the replacement of the dying calorie pears on downtown Bridgeway, all afflicted with fire blight, should take precedent for the next couple of years. Following recommendations in the 2018 report by Bartlett tree experts, the city has already replaced eight of these dying pear trees with Chinese pistache trees. The current budget allocates $60,000 to add six new trees on downtown Bridgeway this year, and we hope to work closely with Kevin and staff on implementing that. the proposal in your staff report for FY2526. CIP is $30,000 and similar amounts. And we would love to see $60,000 for the next year and the following year so we can really get a jump on. completing that project and enhancing our downtown. So we would love to see 60,000 for that. And the longer you spread out the project, the more the price rises. And I've been documenting that over the years. for all the trees. Also, the staff report has a recommendation for sidewalk improvements, and we'd love to work closely on that as sidewalks are, trees are removed for sidewalks, we'd like to work to be sure new ones are added. Regarding parks, our main proposal is to include the proposed city parks master plan in the FY 2526 budget. Currently it's recommended for a few years hence, but we think it's important that, you have a master plan for parks so that improvement recommendations for spending money on parks aligns with a, with a master plan. So those are our recommendations and thank you very much. |
| 03:16:10.28 | Walfred Solorzano | Online. |
| 03:16:11.63 | Carolyn Revell | Thank you. |
| 03:16:11.68 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 03:16:12.10 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 03:16:12.23 | Carolyn Revell | Thank you. |
| 03:16:12.76 | Walfred Solorzano | Online web of Beth McDougal. |
| 03:16:17.58 | Babette McDougall | am I on? |
| 03:16:19.42 | Walfred Solorzano | Yes. |
| 03:16:19.79 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 03:16:20.32 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. So for the record, the agenda reflects three minutes per public comment for this section of the meeting. Are we not doing that now? |
| 03:16:29.83 | Steven Woodside | We are not. We had a number of members of the public who wanted to comment on various items this evening, and so we reduced the public comment time to two minutes for the agenda item. |
| 03:16:40.65 | Babette McDougall | I see. Okay, I wasn't sure if this applied to this particular section. Thank you for clarifying. First of all, I want to thank you, Madam Mayor, because I thought the way you zoomed in on Director McGowan to explain a little more clearly what he meant by goes back in the bucket thing. I really appreciated that because, boy, that raised a flag with me. And so thank you for making sure that was clarified. I also want to thank Mr. Sobieski because I think... This idea of going stem to stern on Bridgeway is more practical, and I believe that he is correct. I said... I personally agree that if we do a greater lengths of Bridgeway, that it will not only look better, but ultimately it will be a net savings. And that's important because the city is oozing red ink right now. between the combination of carrying the debt of our own tenants, which is really cost prohibitive for this city at this point, because we're paying lawyers. I mean, my God, it feels like we've met the annual budget month by month lately. It's just crazy how much money is being poured out for these things. So I really am so glad that we're having this. Big picture discussion. It really matters. And I want to thank Director McGowan for putting together such a fantastic presentation. And thank you all very much for paying attention. Remember, we have to work together. We need a conservative approach if you want to win the constituent majority support for what you do going forward. And you won't end up on the ballot when we vote for on the zoning. We won't look for new members on the council. So there you go, where we are. This is where we are. Thank you so much for what you're doing. I'd like to see you guys keep going in favor of the citizens, the majority of constituent citizens. Thank you. |
| 03:18:25.73 | Walfred Solorzano | Next speaker is Sybil Boutier. |
| 03:18:31.05 | Steven Woodside | Welcome, Sybil. |
| 03:18:32.80 | Unknown | Thank you, Mayor Cox, City Council members, and Director Phibbs. I just want to... City manager, I just want to put in a word for the Coloma Street sidewalk and the, uh, Thank you. Safe Foods to School project, which also included your sidewalk all the way to Lima Street. which is so important for the seniors and other people, the dog walkers and all the folks up at this end, who have to walk down the middle of that street to go to Bridgeway. and get to any services And it's very dangerous. It's a blind corner. and people moving in various directions, especially when school is getting out. or beginning in the morning, at the French school and Cars are coming out of that driveway and coming in both directions on the street. And there's no other place to walk to get down to Bridgeway or to get to a grocery store. So it's very important for the folks that live here, as well as for the students that are commuting from Marin City and elsewhere. I just wanted to elevate it again. I know that There may be an opportunity to do more development at Miranda. at the MLK Park. if the ballot measure goes through and so forth. But that's a little bit down the line. And this is an issue that we've been working on for over a year or more. And every day that passes, when people are walking down the middle of the street, sometimes at night, |
| 03:20:19.35 | Steven Woodside | I ask whoever in the audience has a device to step out into the hallway. |
| 03:20:26.78 | Unknown | I'm sorry. Sorry. |
| 03:20:28.53 | Steven Woodside | I couldn't hear what you're saying because someone's listening to a news broadcast or something. |
| 03:20:34.54 | Unknown | Oh, thank you. So just elevating the attention to completing the project, doing the project for a sidewalk along Coloma Street from Bridgeway to Olima with the crosswalk and the safety issues that have been discussed. |
| 03:20:55.48 | Walfred Solorzano | All further public speakers? Thank you. |
| 03:20:56.90 | Unknown | All right. |
| 03:20:57.25 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 03:20:57.57 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. I will close public comment and bring it up here for any further discussion. |
| 03:21:05.45 | Steven Woodside | Councilmember Sobieski. |
| 03:21:06.91 | Melissa Blaustein | I think Director McGowan solicited our thoughts, and I probably have a lot, it's a lot of material, Virg ways look terrible for a long time. I don't know if we want to grind it all the way to the base and pay the big money to professionally reseal it for another 20 years of expected life, or if we only want to do a slurry seal, they'll have a three-year expected life. That's a choice I'd like to consider. From the southern end of town, at least to Napa Street. So that's a priority. Okay. That's a thought I have that I want to share. So that's it. |
| 03:21:50.41 | Joan Cox | So we go in one of three. I agree with your comments about Bridgeway. I also would really like to see us make improvements to safety on Bridgeway a priority, given the amount of safety concerns that we did here in the context of the conversation about what to do regarding the lack of crosswalks, the bollards, the Golden Gate Market. I think there was a lot of community requests for us to respond to that, so I'd like to see us do that. And also, you know, in thinking about climate resilience and how do we move forward with a plan for us for sea level rise, we'd like to see us immediately start to look more closely at what that project means. And so I think a lot of the potential future projects that are addressed, I'd like to see more of an outline for what those could be. But in general, I'm really supportive of the work that the department's put together and appreciate all of the time and effort. Thank you. |
| 03:22:48.31 | Jill Hoffman | I think it was a great report, very detailed, and I appreciate all the work that went into it. I think this is now that we have the facilities assessment back from Veritas, now is a really great time to do a matchup with our deferred maintenance against the funds that we have, or the segregated funds or the enterprise funds that we have, the way that we've budgeted and match up, especially those funds against the deferred maintenance and the maintenance schedules that we have with the Veritas report, and match those revenue producing capital assets that we have against the required maintenance that we see that's outstanding in the schedule that Veritas gave us. And so the revenue that's produced by those capital assets that we have should be specifically, this would be the time that we would start marrying those capital generating assets directly back into the maintenance that's needed for those assets. And this would be the time to start doing that. And this year is when we should start doing that. So that would be my request that we start doing that, and we see that reflected this year in our budget. |
| 03:24:12.07 | Steven Woodside | Thanks. I don't have a lot to add. I endorse the comments of my fellow council members. I was really pleased to see under the future projects, a bunch of access projects, not a whole lot of money to invest in those, but we do have in place an ADA project. decree and so I'm very pleased to see access improvements for several of our parks. I do not see lot one in the active or future projects. I think we do, although it's listed in the matrix as being active, and so I do think we need to that Um, You know, we certainly have a rough order of magnitude of funding that we could use for reference. I just don't want it to be left out of our... proposed expenditures. We're just about to do a ribbon cutting of the ferry landing and the, Lot one. potholes are really challenging. So, And I was really pleased to see Fire Station 2, some of that commenced. What would be helpful for us the next time is this staff report lists total amounts, and then it has allocations from the Tidelands Fund, but it would be great to see. you know, on the left hand side of the 31 projects and then the matrix of how they're each going to be funded so we can see how you arrived at $284,500 for Tide lands, $80,000 for stair fund, et cetera, et cetera. So, but I want to echo my fellow council members in saying this is a great first effort, and a lot of work obviously went into this. It's great to see you. capitalizing on the work of Bureau Veritas, and I look forward to receiving the work regarding the storm drains, which will help us to complete the picture. So thank you so much. All right, and with that, we will move on. |
| 03:26:31.02 | Steven Woodside | Sorry? He said he didn't have any. Um... We started early, but we ended late. So we're on to city manager reports, council member reports, city council appointments and other council business. So first up is 6A city manager. |
| 03:26:49.69 | Chris Zapata | Mayor, I want to thank the council and staff for allowing me to take a week off. So I appreciate Brandon Phipps doing the work. So I do not have a report that's important enough to talk about tonight. |
| 03:27:05.94 | Steven Woodside | Great. City attorney, any information for counsel? |
| 03:27:10.83 | Sergio Rudin | No, not at this time in light of the late hour. |
| 03:27:14.97 | Steven Woodside | Okay. Will you stay on the line, city attorney, because the next item is city council member report, committee reports. And there are two proposed letters here for opposition that Councilmember Hoffman and I provided. We're seeking endorsement for the city to. utilize the sample letters to oppose SB 79 and SB 634. So that's the requested action. First, I'll ask, are there any other city council member reports? |
| 03:28:03.87 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. |
| 03:28:05.64 | Jill Hoffman | I just had a follow-up request on the, we had a board meeting for the Sausalito Sister City organization, and they asked me to follow up on the Sister City. July 1. July 1. Since. |
| 03:28:15.40 | Steven Woodside | THE CITY IS A Since Kashkish is coming July 1 to 5, we said July 1. Yeah, that would be great. Okay, thank you. I'll pass it along. Thank you. Um, Did you want to report on the forum that you moderated and your role as? |
| 03:28:32.39 | Jill Hoffman | Oh. Sure. North Bay. Oh, yeah. Well, we had a we had a the North Bay Executive Committee and it was broader. So I think it was I can't I don't know who always invited, but it was broader than just the executive committee. But we hosted Congressman Huffman and Congressman Thompson. So it was all of the North Bay community. committee. So it was the entire Solano County and Contra Costa County. It was a very broad group and we hosted both of the congressmen for an hour conversation about sort of what was going on in just free-ranging sort of conversation about what was going on in Washington, D.C., and legislation that was coming down and ways that we could navigate sort of all of the changing landscape, the never-ending changing landscape, and how cities could help our congressmen actually help us, help them help us. And it was incredibly interesting as we talked our way through that conversation and what we could expect in the next few months, which was you could expect more changes. And, you know, it was interesting for the scope and breadth of changes that we've seen in the last four months of changing for funding and the narrowness of what we've seen and the scope of change of funding. So that's about all I can report. report i'm sorry it was sort of a grim conversation um um but know that our our the two congressmen are working very very hard to support our districts and um that was sort of the conversation so Thank you. |
| 03:30:34.31 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:30:35.58 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:30:35.95 | Steven Woodside | Any other committee reports from council members? Okay, then I'm going to open it up to public comment, and then we will see if we can take action on these two requests. Any public comments? I see none in the... Chambers. No, we have it listed here specifically, City Clerk, for item 6C. |
| 03:31:01.55 | Walfred Solorzano | All right, Bobette McDougall. |
| 03:31:05.82 | Babette McDougall | Once again, what a confusing agenda page. because 6A and 6B were supposed to have independent public comment. So just like the other items. Thank you for acknowledging me, but I'm just sorry that I'm so confused by this. preparation of the agenda tonight. I apologize for that. Okay, so here's what I want to say, bottom line, with regard to these reports. with regard to the city manager's information in particular. I think it's very clear at this point that we're getting a pretty darn good staff team together. And I really strongly believe that. And I've even told Miss Garcia how I feel about this. I believe everything that we do up and down this community, especially as it affects Bridgeway, either east or west, needs to begin with Miss Garcia and the tasks with which she is responsible for oversight. I don't think she needs to have consultants. And I was... With Ms. Garcia and the tasks with which she is responsible for oversight, I don't think she needs to have consultants. And I was sorry and dismayed to hear that institutional memory would be interpreted as neighborhood idle gossip. This is terrible because they are not one in the same. They are not co-equal. Therefore, I urge you to consider looking at how to effectively give this woman a team. And I don't mean paid consultants. We need that memory. We need the data. inside our facilities. And I really want to make sure that we're clear going forward that everything that we do to improve our community will rely on the choices we make right now. Right now. particularly along Bridgeway. Thank you so much for letting me speak. |
| 03:32:43.62 | Steven Woodside | City Clerk. |
| 03:32:44.30 | Walfred Solorzano | Yeah, we have Senator Bushmaker. |
| 03:32:49.99 | Sandra Bushmaker | Good evening, Council. I am fighting a cold, so I will just quickly say I'm glad to see SB 79 is on your agenda. You know it is due tomorrow at noon through the legislative portal. That's the deadline for your response to... SB 79 for the hearing. The League of California Cities has already submitted a letter, Catalysts of California, I attended their meeting last night, have submitted a letter. And they were very clear that the deadline is tomorrow at noon. The other one, I'm not so sure when the deadline is, but I would certainly check. and make sure that we have access to that legislative system portal. in Sacramento. Thank you. |
| 03:33:35.31 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:33:37.13 | Walfred Solorzano | No further public comment? |
| 03:33:38.30 | Steven Woodside | All right, so I'm seeking consensus that we issue on behalf, that I sign and issue on behalf of the city Opposition letters to SB 79 and SB 634. |
| 03:33:54.94 | Ian Sobieski | I'll make that motion. |
| 03:33:55.93 | Steven Woodside | Great. |
| 03:33:58.01 | Jill Hoffman | Second. |
| 03:33:58.45 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:33:59.41 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:33:59.53 | Joan Cox | Yeah. |
| 03:33:59.97 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:34:00.15 | Joan Cox | All in favor. |
| 03:34:01.18 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:34:01.40 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 03:34:01.47 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:34:01.48 | Joan Cox | Thank you. |
| 03:34:01.52 | Steven Woodside | Bye. |
| 03:34:01.84 | Joan Cox | Bye. And I abstained because I didn't have enough time to effectively review the legislation, so I want to make sure I'm fully aware. |
| 03:34:07.68 | Steven Woodside | Okay, that motion carries for one. |
| 03:34:10.46 | Joan Cox | I abstained. I didn't vote. I said 4-1. But that's on the nay. It's an abstention. So... |
| 03:34:15.22 | Steven Woodside | you |
| 03:34:15.24 | Joan Cox | you |
| 03:34:15.25 | Steven Woodside | you |
| 03:34:15.31 | Joan Cox | with one |
| 03:34:16.17 | Steven Woodside | abstaining. |
| 03:34:16.94 | Joan Cox | you |
| 03:34:17.03 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. 4-0-1-UPS. Yeah. um all right i'm going to move on to appointments um we have a member of the planning commission whose term is expiring um and we have interviewed several folks and i will um At this time, open this matter up for public comment. |
| 03:34:43.49 | Joan Cox | Yeah, because... No, you don't have to tell me why. I believe you. |
| 03:34:45.51 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. |
| 03:34:48.67 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:34:48.75 | Steven Woodside | Hello, Carol. |
| 03:34:48.80 | Alice Merrill | I love you, Merle. |
| 03:34:49.36 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. Go ahead, Alice Merrill. |
| 03:34:51.00 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. Um, I know that it's not an easy thing to get the people, the right people for boards, for anything, for all of these things. But it's going to take a Herculean effort to replace Christina. She's good. She's smart. She has been there a long time. And I know that you're not willing to extend her until we're finished with the housing element. But boy, oh boy. really work to give somebody who understands all of that stuff because it's complicated. And, you know, it's our town. This is big. Thank you. |
| 03:35:32.09 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:35:33.32 | Walfred Solorzano | Bye-bye, Montego. |
| 03:35:42.16 | Babette McDougall | Thank you for acknowledging me. I would like to say that further to Alice Merrill's comments, we are both now speaking on behalf of the majority of your constituents. And yet somehow I get the sense that you don't buy it. And that's unfortunate for you, especially you that are commonly referred to. as the gang of four. I would be careful if I were you on what you decide not to support or to support. I think you should. Thank you. on bend and knee and ask Christine Feller to stay on. I know that you spoke very strongly in favor of extending her second term. This is not without precedent. Let us not forget. If I'm not mistaken, please correct me if I'm wrong, Madam Mayor, but were you not also extended at a certain point for one of your tenures of service? So I ask you to consider strongly the wisdom of maintaining what is in fact institutional memory, not idle community gossip, I suppose if you don't want to re-up Christine Feller, you better be damn well prepared to say why. And show that you can do better than her. And I challenge you to try that. not to diminish the public's will, but to in fact respect the public's will. Thank you so much. |
| 03:37:00.14 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Next speaker. is Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 03:37:06.33 | Sandra Bushmaker | Hello again. I, too, support Christina Feller's extension. of her position on the planning commission. She has participated in that. in the housing element, the sixth cycle, from the get-go, chaired the committee and shared the working group and shared a number of other things with regard to the housing element. And I think we need that institutional knowledge. We do not need a newbie. uh, on Thank you. handling this until we get this amended housing element completed. Thank you. |
| 03:37:42.50 | Walfred Solorzano | No more further. |
| 03:37:43.04 | Walfred Solorzano | public comment. |
| 03:37:43.61 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 03:37:46.09 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. I do want to briefly respond to the comments. |
| 03:37:57.48 | Steven Woodside | The staff report points out that the City Council has a resolution, has an ordinance in place, allowing Um, commissioners to serve for up to a maximum of six years. Is the city attorney still with us? |
| 03:38:19.87 | Sergio Rudin | I am present. |
| 03:38:21.09 | Steven Woodside | Three years ago when we had to ratify some of the actions taken by planning commissioners that had not been reappointed, I seem to recall you advising us that the danger Thank you. of having a planning commissioner serve outside of the term allowed by the city council ordinance is that there Any actions they take or votes they make could invalidate the action on that matter by the Planning Commission. Do I have that right? |
| 03:38:55.08 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, there is a risk that unless someone is properly appointed to serve their term, that their participation in decisions could be subject to challenge. I have also on this same subject received questions from Council members about the ability of the city to change 258.090 with respect to term limits on city boards and commissions and That term limit provision does exist in the municipal code. It has been created by the city, so it can be modified by the city council. |
| 03:39:32.42 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. City Attorney, our protocols indicate that when you receive a question from a City Council member, that you are to provide a response to all Council members. So could you adopt that practice moving forward? |
| 03:39:47.24 | Sergio Rudin | Yes. |
| 03:39:47.74 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Okay. Appreciate that. Okay. With that, obviously we were privileged to, hear from a number of very qualified candidates. |
| 03:40:00.97 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:40:01.02 | Steven Woodside | Actually, I have a comment. You can make a comment after I make a motion, a nomination. Thank you. |
| 03:40:06.61 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:40:06.64 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:40:06.68 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:40:06.69 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:40:26.33 | Steven Woodside | I'm. |
| 03:40:31.21 | Steven Woodside | All right. I nominate Joshua Richmond to serve as planning commissioner. |
| 03:40:40.75 | Steven Woodside | And if there's no second, I invite other nominations. |
| 03:40:44.12 | Ian Sobieski | I'm going to invite Fred Moore, nominate Fred Moore. It's getting late. |
| 03:40:46.99 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. Second. |
| 03:40:49.99 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:40:51.28 | Steven Woodside | OK, so any other nominations? |
| 03:40:53.72 | Jill Hoffman | I'd like to nominate Bob Lalong, and I'd like to make some comments. |
| 03:40:57.96 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:40:58.01 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:40:58.03 | Steven Woodside | Okay, is there a second to the nomination for Bob Lalonde? Okay, there's not. So the pending nomination is for Fred Moore, and I will entertain comments. |
| 03:41:10.28 | Ian Sobieski | made the nomination. You started to say, I think, Mayor Cox, that we had several excellent applicants with great credentials. I think I know all three of the sort of final three that still had their hat in the ring and in particular have worked with each of them. Therefore, okay, I'm sorry. But anyway, the point that was made earlier that I think the city attorney confirms, we have an ordinance. We have term limits. I personally think term limits are a good thing for planning commission. Planning commissioners have tremendous authority. Their decisions, unlike almost any other commission, can be final unless appealed to the council. This is probably the most important body we have for appointments. So I take it very seriously, and I also think that because of term limits, we have to follow our own rules, our own law. We can't just willy-nilly change it, extend it, and, as the C. Attorney points out, jeopardize some of the decisions that might be forthcoming, which are very crucial, as we've seen tonight and as we will see in the future. So speaking to Mr. Moore, he's very experienced in the area. He's a lawyer. He's been representing developers. He understands. He served on the Tustin City Council. And if you go look about Tustin, it's a great family-oriented community. And I would say anybody who served on another planning commission in another community could add some real value. That might be good for us to consider. He lives here. He walks every day. He knows the city north and south. And I think he would make a good addition to the commission. |
| 03:42:57.23 | Jill Hoffman | And so with regard to my comments, I would just like to acknowledge all of the public comments and the concerns that we saw under this item. We had 30 pieces of public comment that we received, written public comment in addition to the ones this evening. of those 30 public comments that were received, 31 of those were principally concerned about completion of the housing element and requesting that Commissioner Feller was extended principally, I think, out of concern to complete the housing element and acknowledging how complicated it was. and I think respecting the current makeup of the housing, the Planning Commission as it is, and wanting that team to get it across the finish line and out of respect for the current CDD. And so my conversations with the Um, City Attorney, I believe that under the 2.58.110 additional policies regarding city boards, commissions, and committees does give the out to the City Council. that additional policies regarding city boards, commissions, does allow us by resolution or minute order to a state. additional policies, procedures, and standards governing city boards, commissions, and committees. He and I have gone back and forth about, you know, the risks involved in that. But there's no question that in the past commissioners on the planning commission have overstayed their second term. There's no question that numerous planning commissioners have overstayed that second term. There's also no question that I agree that that shouldn't have happened and that I believe that this is the way that you would do it if we decided that because of the risks, that we don't want to introduce somebody new into the Planning Commission with the risk that you don't know how that new person, you know, And you wouldn't want to impose that responsibility on somebody new and trying to figure out how to navigate those decisions, what may come from HCD and what taskers may come, and not having the background. So that's principally, I think, what people are concerned with. And when you weigh what's the best path forward, I think it warrants consideration by the council and not just you know not just ignoring those concerns that are voiced by the people in our in our town so with that. You know, I nominated Bob, it didn't get a second. I think He would have been a stellar person on our planning commission. And sorry that no one up here decided to give him a second. So that's all I'll say. Thank you. |
| 03:46:06.77 | Joan Cox | Thank you I. Oh, go ahead. I mean, I'm happy to make some comments, because I think, as someone who has applied for the planning commission and not been appointed I know how this process goes quite well and I've been through it and Karen Hollweg, And the planning Commission is indeed a critical body for our Community it's extremely important and. Karen Hollweg, And I definitely want to extend in response to all of the comments that we did receive. Karen Hollweg, With regards to the extension of Commissioner fellers term, first of all, you know, obviously a great deal of gratitude to Commissioner fellow for her six years of service on the planning Commission. Obviously, it goes without saying that she put in extensive hours and volunteer capacity for our city, and we're so lucky to have such a talented field. of folks to do that um the idea given what's going on nationally and the way government is just making decisions uh to change things because they feel like they can i would be deeply uncomfortable with making a change in our municipal code to extend a term when we have qualified applicants here um who i mean i'm i wanted to support fred moore because not only do i you know know him as a really wonderful community volunteer who I see at basically every Sausalito event, whether it's Sausalito Village or, you know, even just Cleveland. cleaning the stairs on your walks or whatever you're doing. He also has 40 years as a real estate attorney. So if anyone is able to get up to speed and bring forward the necessary competencies that we would like to have on our planning commission, I know that Fred has what it takes. And I think the right move going forward right now, given that we did have a number of really exciting candidates apply, is to move forward and start a new chapter with a new commissioner. So I'm excited that we have so many great applicants. And I'm really proud to support Fred Moore. So I'm sorry, but I just have to |
| 03:47:55.02 | Steven Woodside | Wait, not everyone has yet had their first comment. Sorry, pardon me. Anybody else? |
| 03:48:00.93 | Melissa Blaustein | I just want to, we all put in long hours here on the dais. Thank you. for not much money. The Planning Commission puts in long hours, and I think for no money, right? Completely unpaid. So I want to tip my hat to outgoing Commissioner Feller and thank her for service to our community and all the people that apply, Joshua and Walter Lemmerman and Ron Olson and... and Bob Lulon, all of whom have exceptional backgrounds, uh, better than mine in many ways, and I hope that and I expect that they'll stay involved and hope that we can tap their engagement on some other commission, maybe on the planning Commission in the future or historic planning Commission or volunteer groups to help us manage our challenges in town and so thanks again Commissioner feller. |
| 03:48:50.16 | Steven Woodside | So let me just be clear. Hold on. I haven't gotten a comment, nor has the vice mayor. So once each of us can comment, then you can respond. |
| 03:48:57.33 | Jill Hoffman | or did... |
| 03:48:57.90 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:48:58.02 | Jill Hoffman | moment. |
| 03:48:58.27 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:48:58.32 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:48:58.34 | Steven Woodside | Oh, he did. Okay, then I'm the only one who hasn't, so let me. Thank you. This was really a tough toss-up. I was very disappointed. I came in with one perspective tonight based on prior interviews, and then tonight I was just remarkably impressed with Joshua Richmond. But I agree with my colleagues that Fred Moore is an absolutely also amazing candidate, and I look forward to working with him, assuming he is – Um, appointed, and he brings also an impressive... Um, body of knowledge and experience, he also has been very present and participatory on various issues that we've been confronting over the last year. So I appreciate that. I also want to personally thank Christina Feller. So, um, when we have difficult issues on housing to listen to. I always look forward to hearing the Planning Commission deliberations, not just Christina, also David Merlot, also his name always escapes me. Yes, Jeffrey Luxembourg. We are blessed with riches of talent on the Planning Commission, and it's always difficult to say thank you I'm not sure. for now, but I will point out that when I was first appointed to the Planning Commission, Janelle Kelman was, um, the chair. And when I was elected to the city council in 2016, I invited her to come back. to the Planning Commission, and she did. She came back and served again. And then she ran for the city council and became the mayor. I hope that Christina's career on behalf of the city of Sausalito is not at an end, but is just on to the next step. |
| 03:50:55.79 | Jill Hoffman | of the Sorry, sorry for jumping in line. But the comment that this in any way reflects what's going on in national politics, I think is completely out of line. And I don't think that anybody that wrote in, any of the 30 people that wrote in and suggested that Christina stay on beyond her end of her term any way reflects anything that's going on in the national politics or any way reflects that. I think it's concerned about people that want us to get across the line with our housing element in the most competent way that we can. that helps the CDD department. continue with the team that is currently on board. The only thing that I saw was that she would stay in place until the housing element is certified. My only proposal was that the appointment would be suspended under our 2.58.110 by resolution until the housing element was certified. that the appointment wouldn't be, she wouldn't be reappointed that the ordinance wouldn't be changed or modified that it would merely be suspended for a certain small period of time. because of the exigent circumstances. I think that would be reasonable, it would be small, it would be by resolution of the City Council to an ordinance that the City Council put into place, and I think that would be within the scope and the power that we would do, that we would have authority to do, and I think that would be within our authority, actually. So we choose not to do it. That's up to us. That's fine, but I found those comments made by Council Member Blalstein offensive, frankly, to me and to Council Member, and to, sorry, Commissioner F commissioner feller so and to the people that wrote in because i think that was not true so |
| 03:52:58.77 | Steven Woodside | All right, thank you. City Clerk, will you call the roll please? |
| 03:53:04.39 | Walfred Solorzano | Council Member Blasting. |
| 03:53:06.92 | Steven Woodside | Yes. |
| 03:53:07.40 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Councilmember Hoffman. No, for the reasons I've stated. Councilmember Sobieski. Thank you. Vice Mayor Woodside. Yes. Mayor Cock. |
| 03:53:15.50 | Steven Woodside | Yes, that motion carries 4-1. Congratulations, Mr. Moore. I will move on to 6E, future agenda items. We have attached to our packet a one-page list of future agenda items. It does not yet reflect some of the last couple of meetings, but we are updating it. We are also going to add another column that will reflect when some of those items will be heard. as you all review those future agenda items, you know they're not being ignored. Many of them have already been calendared. into future meetings. questions. |
| 03:53:59.31 | Joan Cox | I just want to make sure that we are going to hear the e-bike ordinance because I've had a lot of outreach from the county and I'm on that special committee so I just. |
| 03:54:05.99 | Steven Woodside | Yeah, I think we were going to hear it. It depends on when we hear the housing element, but it's either going to be heard in May or June. Okay. We were initially told it wasn't gonna be ready till June, and now we've heard that it's gonna be ready sooner. |
| 03:54:17.14 | Joan Cox | The first readings already happened at the county. So, you know, Tiburon's agendized it, Mill Valley's agendized it, Corte Madera's agendized it, and it's quite simple. So anyway, the sooner the better we are. |
| 03:54:27.50 | Ian Sobieski | Just a couple, and I don't want to take time. It's late. But in light of our hearing we had earlier, I'd like to at least explore the possibility of alternate means of conducting the factual part of these kind of hearings. I know the Planning Commission and our council sometimes has to try to decide disputed facts in a very difficult and time-consuming manner when in other jurisdictions many of them have a hearing officer who produces a factual record that can be reviewed Maybe you don't like that, Mayor, but I'd like to at least have a discussion about how we can streamline the process because, as we all know, eight years is far too long to have that particular issue that came up. Maybe it's an exception. I hope it's an exception. |
| 03:55:10.72 | Steven Woodside | Well, I think it would have to be considered whether it could be feasible in the case where we are serving as the appellate body. So I would want to include that as something to be considered. I understand. |
| 03:55:22.23 | Ian Sobieski | I understand. I just think we should look at the process. That's the main point. |
| 03:55:25.70 | Melissa Blaustein | I don't know. |
| 03:55:25.92 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:55:25.98 | Melissa Blaustein | Thank you. you |
| 03:55:26.21 | Ian Sobieski | you |
| 03:55:26.40 | Melissa Blaustein | I would second. |
| 03:55:27.21 | Ian Sobieski | you |
| 03:55:27.39 | Melissa Blaustein | that general category also that there are these processes where we ping pong back and forth between us and the planning commission and back and just having the general category of how to Tighten that up and make it less time consuming is what I'm also interested in. giving staff direction on it. |
| 03:55:43.34 | Ian Sobieski | So the second item is something that came up during our Bridgeway discussion. I know we will be addressing some of the particular safety improvements, but there's also an issue raised concerning parking in the median, and I'd like to at least have a discussion and get more information and have a discussion about enforcement not just a parking or the rules of the road but we also i hear complaints every day about speeding And we did lower the speed limits, so there's going to be a question of how that gets enforced vis-a-vis both automobiles and cyclists. |
| 03:56:20.50 | Steven Woodside | So we already gave direction on that. That's already on the future agenda items list. |
| 03:56:24.19 | Ian Sobieski | that particular topic? Enforcement. |
| 03:56:25.02 | Steven Woodside | That was enforcement. OK, great. We gave direction on that at the Saturday meeting. Thank you. |
| 03:56:29.90 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 03:56:29.95 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:56:29.97 | Ian Sobieski | that. |
| 03:56:30.66 | Steven Woodside | Yeah. Thank you. Okay, next is minutes. Any, that's just an informational item. Any other reports of significance? |
| 03:56:45.15 | Steven Woodside | OK, I'm going to open it up to public comment for the last time. |
| 03:56:49.59 | Walfred Solorzano | By Beth McDougal. |
| 03:56:51.65 | Steven Woodside | Oh, sorry, Alice. |
| 03:56:56.31 | Steven Woodside | I said I'm opening it to public comment. |
| 03:56:59.72 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 03:56:59.75 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:56:59.77 | Sandra Bushmaker | Bye now. Ciao. |
| 03:57:01.17 | Steven Woodside | It's on items 6E to 6G. |
| 03:57:07.46 | Steven Woodside | as reflected on the agenda. |
| 03:57:11.78 | Walfred Solorzano | All right, Babette McDougall. |
| 03:57:18.57 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. Well, it's nice to have this chance to do the aggregate instead of looking at future agenda items. That means I can really open it up. So future agenda items. Frankly, we really need to look at seriously examining the context of our infrastructure plans, which are vitally important. keeping the town safe keeping us free from harm. and keeping us free from litigation and unnecessary debt. So I'd like to see a future agenda item on implementing the city and how it manages to implement savings measures and corrective actions in the budget process when we find ourselves oozing red ink And this is no time to ooze red ink. So what that means is we're really not tightened up as much as we need to be. I thought the strategic planning session was awesome. I think you guys are really moving in wonderful directions in many ways. But it needs to be in concert and in lockstep. And we need to look at this as a future agenda item, since this is where we're supposed to be in public comment. And the future agenda item is this. You need to think more carefully about how we're going forward. We all know the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is coming. That's why Stephanie Moulton-Peters came and gave that wonderful surprise presentation. She put it all on the table. And it's all imminent. Now, if we don't get serious about our role in this, I don't know what we're going to do next, because frankly, the housing element, I'm sorry if I'm boring you, Ms. Blaustein, but if the housing element is frankly the tip of the iceberg and you all know it. So thank you so much. And I'm really sorry that I'm just not able to hold your attention. And I'm sorry that you don't agree with my ideas on what ought to be agendized for future discussion. These are things that are always slipping through the cracks. That's why you're voting against the citizens will tonight. Thank you. |
| 03:59:19.93 | Steven Woodside | All right. |
| 03:59:21.35 | Walfred Solorzano | No further public comment. |
| 03:59:22.61 | Steven Woodside | Thank you. With that, I will adjourn the meeting, but I would like to adjourn it in honor of... A friend to all of us on the dais and to many in Sausalito, Joanne Wishart, who is the owner of Joanne's Print Shop. She died unexpectedly on March 21st. Many of us have dealt with her partner, Dee, and anybody who has... looked for the highest quality and lowest price printing of anything in Sausalito knows Joanne's print shop. It is a landmark, both in terms of the length of time that they have provided service, as well as the competency, quality, friendliness. That is just the perfect example of a community partner. I did not know until I saw her obituary that she began her printing year 57 years ago. when she and her husband founded 4th and D copy center in San Rafael. before she came here to Sausalito. So she earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sausalito Chamber in 2017. Well-deserved, and she will be missed. So we will adjourn this evening's meeting in her honor. |
| 04:00:55.90 | Jill Hoffman | you |