| Time | Speaker | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 00:04:16.75 | Deirdre Coyne | that if we lose public participation, we have to pause for an hour |
| 00:04:22.81 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:04:23.16 | Deirdre Coyne | and straight. |
| 00:04:24.43 | Mayor Woodside | So if we don't start the meeting, |
| 00:04:26.01 | Deirdre Coyne | If we don't start, we don't have to, but I don't know, see what it's all shared. Thanks. Yeah. |
| 00:04:31.03 | Councilmember Cox | Yeah. |
| 00:04:31.57 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:04:31.82 | Councilmember Cox | not when it's part of the posted agenda. because people choose not to attend because they think they'll participate. I see you. |
| 00:04:41.19 | Mayor Woodside | So apologies for being a few minutes late. I think systems are all go. I'd like to call this a special meeting to order. |
| 00:04:50.26 | Deirdre Coyne | Good afternoon, Mayor and City Council. Today's meeting of July 7th, 2026 is being held at 420 Litho Street, City Council Council Chambers. It's also being broadcast live via Zoom on the City's website and cable TV channel 27. |
| 00:05:06.21 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Would you please call the roll? |
| 00:05:08.32 | Deirdre Coyne | Council Member Cox. THE END OF THE YEAR. Here. Council Member Hoffman. Here. Councilmember Sobieski. Vice Mayor Blaustein. |
| 00:05:16.72 | Mayor Woodside | She's on her way, we're told, and we'll let the record know when she does appear. |
| 00:05:21.45 | Deirdre Coyne | Mayor Woodside. |
| 00:05:22.87 | Mayor Woodside | I'm here. We will now be going into closed session for the five listed items on our closed session agenda. It's possible we may... not consider one or more of them. Okay, so I think this list is correct. First item I will actually ask first if there's any public comment on the closed session items. |
| 00:05:50.14 | Deirdre Coyne | Seeing none online. |
| 00:05:51.47 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you very much. We will be considering item C1, conference with our labor negotiator, And these are negotiations regarding unrepresented employees. Secondly, a conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation pursuant to government code section 54956.91 case. Second, similarly anticipated litigation pursuant to government code 54956.9D1. And this is an existing case, Powelson versus Brian Mathers et al. in the city of Sunnyvale. Then we will consider item C4, public employee performance evaluation pursuant to government code section 54957 regarding city manager. And then the fifth item is existing litigation Pursuant to government code 54956.91. Link Holdings, LLC versus the city of Sausalito. And we will now. seeing no public comments and the vice mayor has arrived and we will go into closed session. |
| 00:07:04.22 | Mayor Woodside | We have... A relatively manageable agenda, we think. So we appreciate your attendance and we'll begin shortly. I just want to make one comment that we are in the uh beginning of a fiscal year and there are some other new beginnings that we'll be uh discussing as we go along um so this is an exciting time for sausalito so let's call the open session back to order and ask we just need to do the pledge of allegiance at this point correct okay so Monica, would you like to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? |
| 00:07:44.94 | Monica Cox | Yes. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. |
| 00:07:47.84 | Unknown | All right. |
| 00:08:03.89 | Vicki Ablees | Thank you. |
| 00:08:03.90 | Deirdre Coyne | you |
| 00:08:03.99 | Vicki Ablees | Thank you. |
| 00:08:04.16 | Deirdre Coyne | you |
| 00:08:04.39 | Vicki Ablees | Thank you. |
| 00:08:04.43 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 00:08:06.93 | Mayor Woodside | And we'll have a roll call for attendance purposes. |
| 00:08:07.30 | Patricio Cabezas | I have a... |
| 00:08:10.28 | Deirdre Coyne | Council member Cox? Here. Council member Hoffman? |
| 00:08:11.40 | Mayor Woodside | here. |
| 00:08:13.42 | Deirdre Coyne | Here. Councilmember Sobieski? Here. Vice Mayor Blaustein? Here. Mayor Woodside? |
| 00:08:17.96 | Mayor Woodside | or, Thank you. I don't believe there's anything to announce from the closed session. We did convene in closed session for the items on the posted agenda. |
| 00:08:28.78 | Ginny Irwin | There would be one reportable action which was... Thank you. |
| 00:08:33.34 | Mayor Woodside | Sergio? |
| 00:08:34.20 | Sergio Rudin | And yeah, Mayor, the one reportable action is the authorization for legal defense in the Palosan versus City of Sausalito matter by unanimous vote of the council. |
| 00:08:45.77 | Mayor Woodside | So we did authorize defense of that matter, and that's our report out, correct? And your firm will be handling that defense? |
| 00:08:49.03 | Sergio Rudin | That's right. |
| 00:08:52.88 | Sergio Rudin | Thank you. |
| 00:08:52.89 | Mayor Woodside | That is correct. Okay, thank you. We do have an agenda to take a look at. Are there any adjustments to the agenda to consider at this point? |
| 00:09:02.48 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, Mayor. Well, I'll just I would like to remove or pull item C I from the consent calendar. |
| 00:09:12.87 | Mayor Woodside | Okay? |
| 00:09:15.93 | Jill Hoffman | Three, aye. Correct clerical error rescinding |
| 00:09:19.00 | Mayor Woodside | June 16. Okay, so that item 3 I will now go? to the foot of our agenda. to business items, 5D. That will now become 5D. Okay. |
| 00:09:31.06 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:09:31.59 | Mayor Woodside | Any other changes to the agenda? So then, um, Ask for a motion to approve the agenda as amended. |
| 00:09:38.74 | Councilmember Cox | moved. secondary. |
| 00:09:40.60 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, all in favor? Aye. And no opposed, that passes unanimously. |
| 00:09:52.99 | Mayor Woodside | So we do have a number of unusual presentations and announcements to make. And I'm going to start by introducing one of our newest residents in Sausalito, Mr. Patricio Cabezas, who is the council general for the government of Chile, and he's chosen to reside in Sausalito. Patricio, would you like to make a few remarks? |
| 00:10:21.13 | Patricio Cabezas | Thank you, Major, Vice Major, Council Members, neighbors, I might say. Thank you. I'm really honored to be here. Thank you for the kind invitation. And as you mentioned, I moved to Sausalito like four months ago. I have been in San Francisco for almost a year, well, a little bit more than a year. And I truly love the people from Sausalito, which is also a sister city with Viña del Mar, a city, a lovely city in Viña, in Chile, where I also used to live. And one of the things that we have a lot of things in common, but one of the things that I like about both cities and I love about South Salito is the kindness of your people. So thank you, because so far I feel very welcome. I'm looking forward to work with Monica, who is a member and chair of the Sister City Committee. And whatever I can do to help you in any cultural matters or international matters, please count on our Consulate General. Thank you, Major. Thank you very much. |
| 00:11:32.50 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:11:34.17 | Patricio Cabezas | Yes. |
| 00:11:35.74 | Mayor Woodside | Yes. Um, um, Member Cox has a few comments to make regarding our sister city relationships. |
| 00:11:40.23 | Councilmember Cox | Thanks. Yes, I wanted to point out to you that we also have attending our meeting this evening, some members of Southern Marin Fire. They're sitting in the back of the room. Southern Marin Fire, for those who don't know, contributed a fire truck to Viña del Mar, Chile, as part of our sister city program and had their bombardiers up here training with our firefighters to learn better how to defend Viña del Mar and surrounding regions against fire and to protect from fire. And so I love it that you are both here this evening to be able to see one another again. So thank you. |
| 00:12:19.48 | Patricio Cabezas | Thank you, Council Member. And I saw the pictures of the fire track in Chile, so it's there. Don't worry. And thank you again. The ceremony together with Mrs. Jancos when she was the mayor. Thank you again. you |
| 00:12:32.69 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you very much. Sure. |
| 00:12:39.95 | Councilmember Cox | come on up. You can stand in front. We'll, |
| 00:12:42.87 | Mayor Woodside | Yep. |
| 00:12:46.53 | Councilmember Cox | Yeah. There we go. |
| 00:12:48.96 | Sybil Boutillier | Thank you. Thank you, guys. He goes back to Chile because I know all of it. He shows three. |
| 00:12:59.79 | Sybil Boutillier | Thank you. |
| 00:12:59.83 | Carolyn Revell | Thank you so much. |
| 00:13:00.47 | Sybil Boutillier | Thank you. |
| 00:13:00.50 | Carolyn Revell | you |
| 00:13:00.55 | Sybil Boutillier | you |
| 00:13:00.57 | Monica Cox | Thank you. it. |
| 00:13:01.31 | Carolyn Revell | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:13:07.08 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:13:09.24 | Mayor Woodside | Well, thank you. |
| 00:13:14.32 | Mayor Woodside | And Deidre, do you have one of our Sausalito pins? |
| 00:13:19.47 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:13:19.50 | Councilmember Cox | There we go. |
| 00:13:20.02 | Jill Hoffman | THE FAMILY. |
| 00:13:20.11 | Councilmember Cox | So, |
| 00:13:22.98 | Jill Hoffman | We want to take another picture of this. |
| 00:13:26.18 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:13:31.90 | Mayor Woodside | I'm looking in the audience is Mr. Hunter here. Oh, there you are. Sorry, you were blocked by the screen. Rip, would you like to come up and say just a few words about something that's brewing here in town? |
| 00:13:46.10 | Rip Hunter | Thank you, Mayor. I'd hate to think of it as brewing, but hopefully we'll find it as more aspirational. My name is Rip Hunter. I'm a local resident. I'm also the president of the Sausalito Foundation. I'm also on the board of the Sausalito Historical Society. And most recently, I serve as the chair of the brand new Sausalito Cruising Club Foundation. So today I'm here representing the 1,400-ish members of those three organizations, as well as a growing coalition of other local civic organizations and businesses and residents who have come together for just one common cause, and that is to transform a small portion of our city's most historic ground into something beautiful and something aspirational. And that would be the Marin ship peace park. For some background context real quick, this past week, America turned 250 and our city did a wonderful job of celebrating that. Many of us there were very proud to celebrate some of the good things in America, but many of us also recognize that there are things that have been and continue to be broken in America. So to be authentic about 250 years, we believe you cannot honor one without acknowledging the other. Our coalition's objective here is to not dwell on those things that are broken or to pretend to fix it, but instead view 2026 as an opportunity for us also to rise above the good and the broken. And the Marinship Peace Park project that we have will give us a chance to acknowledge some of the things of the past to learn from the past and to grow from that past. Alongside the 250-year anniversary, this year, 2026, marks the 80th anniversary of the closing of Marinship. that hollowed ground just around the corner where 20,000 Americans from every state came here and built 93 warships in three and a half years. A truly an incredible feat that helped win a war. This year is also the 75th anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty with Japan. Just across the bay, a victorious America chose reconciliation over retribution for our enemy. Another amazing achievement. This year also marks the 38th anniversary of Sosodos ongoing sister city relationship with that same former enemy. recognizing the proof of concept in that is that in three weeks, Sausalito will send 16 of its treasured youth to Sakaita, Japan, in an exchange program. And it's a genuine act of friendship and international peace. So we call our evolving program, Warships to Friendships here at Marineship. And these converging anniversaries do give Sausalito this great opportunity to recognize a true American story and a Sausalito story all in one. Marineship, honoring the incredible feats that were performed there, acknowledging the hardships that occurred there and celebrating a legacy of friendship and peace that this city has built from the ashes of a former war. The Marinship Peace Park would honor all that, the good, the painful, and the triumphant. So tonight, Council? Our coalition, our growing coalition, is here to respectfully propose three things to you all. First, we ask the city to give a deeper review of this initiative and consider the historical, social, and enduring impacts to Sausalito. Two, we ask the city to partner with our coalition to develop ideas on park location and the park design concepts. And then finally, we asked the city to join with us and the city of Sakaita leadership for a Marinship Peace Park commemoration event. It would be a project kickoff this coming September 21st, which is the internationally recognized Day of Peace. This date would be the official launch of a larger project, including the coalition's fundraising efforts and development efforts with the goal of completing a project, hopefully by the end of 2027. So in conclusion, with the growing support of our citizens here in Sausalito, we hope that you believe as we do that this is the right project for Sausalito at the right time. And what better legacy for the city of Sausalito on America's 250th anniversary than to transform a place of war building into a place of peace building. partnering together to create something bigger than our past and something we can all be proud of for generations to come. So thank you very much. |
| 00:18:30.79 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. This is time for announcements, and that is an announcement that is inviting participation not only from the city and officially, but also from other members of the community. And thank you, Rip, for your leadership in this effort. Sounds like a great idea that we can move forward with, but we'll be bringing this back for possible future action and more discussion at a future meeting. So thank you very much for for that. Um, I think now I can turn to reports from The city manager, that's what it says on the agenda. I'm going to say plural. We have the interim city manager, Brandon Phipps, and our new city manager, Elaine Forbes, sitting at the table. And I would call upon each of you to make a few comments at this time. |
| 00:19:31.53 | Brandon Phipps | Mayor, council, vice mayor, thank you for the opportunity. Firstly, I just want to say it's been an honor to serve as Sausalito's interim city manager, and I have a tremendous thanks to give to the city council, to their trust, and to To our dedicated staff for their professionalism during the six week period and to the community for their support. So I look forward to continuing to serve as the assistant city manager. And of course, working closely with our new city manager, Elaine Forbes, I'm really pleased and honored and grateful to be a part of this organization and this community. Thank you. |
| 00:20:10.54 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:20:10.58 | Brandon Phipps | Thank you. |
| 00:20:10.96 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:20:11.07 | Brandon Phipps | Thank you. |
| 00:20:12.55 | Mayor Woodside | Elaine, welcome. |
| 00:20:14.74 | Elaine Forbes | Thank you so much. I'm very, very lucky to be here. I feel I'm, as you know, I'm a 25-year veteran of the city and county of San Francisco. And I never thought I would leave San Francisco. And I feel like the luckiest city manager today because this is an exceptional community. It's exceptionally talented, exceptionally passionate. Um, I honestly have not seen so much passion and fervor in a community before, and I'm just so honored to be part of it. And already my first two days have been stellar. So thank you for appointing me to this position. I do have a couple of reports to give. The 4th of July festivities were amazing, but we also are all very well aware that there was terrible traffic and circulation problems related to the fireworks display for the Golden Gate Bridge. We, um, no one from the leadership team, including the chief of police is, is comfortable with how it went. And we appreciate all the council members and community members for getting us detailed photographs, reports, um, It should have been a non-emergency situation, and it could have been an emergency had someone needed to get out of that space, obviously, to deal with an emergency. So we will be doing an after-action report. We will be coming back with an open session item to discuss our learnings. I will say it was not Sausalito. It was the coordination with other agencies that caused the challenges. But we will be looking at what we would need, what we would need to have done better with that coordination, possibly compensation, possibly MOU agreements. and some forewarning to make sure that the circulation and the traffic would have worked smoothly so there was safe egress and access. So I wanted to make everyone aware of that. Also, there was a vehicle crash on the boardwalk at Bridgeway and Richardson, 221 Bridgeway. This is not the first time there's been an accident in that location. We're aware that while the design works, if nobody violates a traffic rule, that's not the reality of what happens. And there has been several accidents there. and I would like to say that the good news is we do have in our CIP funded a bollard for that location. And so we will be advancing that. The director of DPW is well aware of this issue, and I did want to let the community know that we are tracking it. It was a DUI on July the 2nd, but we need to take safety measures. And you have the budget and you have the staff to do it, and we'll be keeping you posted on that. And that concludes my comments for today. Thank you. |
| 00:23:13.74 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you very much and welcome. I think perhaps for ceremonial purposes, we'd ask Elaine to come up and I'll ask the vice mayor to to provide her with a pin and our clerk to administer an oath. Love it. |
| 00:23:33.24 | Lorna Newland | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:23:33.94 | Mayor Woodside | Okay? |
| 00:23:34.24 | Lorna Newland | Thank you. |
| 00:23:36.01 | Deirdre Coyne | you |
| 00:23:36.03 | Councilmember Cox | Oh. |
| 00:23:36.47 | Deirdre Coyne | Oh, yes. |
| 00:23:36.50 | Councilmember Cox | I'm not. |
| 00:23:38.36 | Deirdre Coyne | I'm going to stay here. Thank you. the end of the book. |
| 00:23:41.62 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:23:41.65 | Mayor Woodside | again. |
| 00:23:41.97 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. Yes, she has a pin. |
| 00:23:43.66 | Deirdre Coyne | Do I what? Yeah, she's gonna pin. |
| 00:23:44.52 | Mayor Woodside | Yeah. |
| 00:23:44.75 | Councilmember Cox | Yeah. |
| 00:23:45.87 | Mayor Woodside | Let's do the oath first. |
| 00:23:52.99 | Deirdre Coyne | The Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of California, against all enemies foreign and domestic, against all enemies foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance, to the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of California. that I will take this obligation freely I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. And that I will well and faithfully. And I will well and faithfully. Discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. Discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:24:46.03 | Monica Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:24:46.06 | Unknown | Bye. |
| 00:24:46.52 | Monica Cox | THE END OF |
| 00:24:46.67 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 00:24:47.19 | Monica Cox | Thank you. |
| 00:25:02.51 | Mayor Woodside | Again, welcome to Elaine and, She'll be very visible and accessible because we understand that she has purchased a houseboat just beyond our jurisdiction and plans to spend many, many hours in our town, either at work or at play. So welcome. Are there any other special announcements needed at this time? I'm not aware of any. Thank you. So now is the time for communications on matters that are not on our agenda. And just so everyone is clear, we can certainly and welcome your comments about things that are not on our agenda. They need to be however pertinent to things within our jurisdiction here at the City of Sausalito. We can't really take action on things that you may be suggesting or recommending at this time because they are not on our agenda. But we will listen and we look forward to hearing your comments. So I'm just going to read. The first speaker is Emmett Yeazell. Mr. Yezel, am I pronouncing that correct here? It's all right. And will be followed by Jenny Irwin. it. |
| 00:26:23.60 | Emmett Yeazell | Thank you. Thank you, and I just want to, as an aside, Whoever was in charge of the new seats, You've got my thanks. I appreciate it. Yeah. |
| 00:26:37.38 | Emmett Yeazell | I put some notes together, so bear with me. Your honor and council members, Thank you for your efforts. on behalf of our town. My name is Emmett Yeazell. And I may not agree with you at all times, but please accept my sincere thanks for your efforts. |
| 00:27:01.14 | Emmett Yeazell | the initiative. dramatically changes the character and administration of Sausalito. And I'm referring to the AIM initiative, make no mistake. I have traveled extensively on the main coast. and I'm familiar with the working waterfront. and development. AIM clearly promotes T-shirts. over travel. beliefs. in our town with the AIM initiative. |
| 00:27:40.13 | Emmett Yeazell | Vote for Sausalito. Vote for what we love. and already have. but don't allow developers to ruin it. Please. not 50 feet from these council chambers, are pictures. made by artists who actually lived here. and who were not helped by the aim initiative That ship has sailed. AIM will not unlock any studios. or studio space. It is a financial. reconsideration. not a zoning ordinance that attracts artists and always has. Fame will not open the waterfront It is already open. Heath Pottery is here. Let Marineship Evolve. vote for Sausalito. and vote against AIM. Thank you very much, and especially for the chairs. I really appreciate it. |
| 00:28:47.81 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. And just to point out, we do have an AIM-related matter that was taken from the consent calendar and is now going to be heard. as business item for, or excuse me, five D. So Jenny Irwin followed by Vicky, is it Abelis? All right. |
| 00:29:15.79 | Ginny Irwin | Good evening, Mayor, City Council members. staff, residents, thank you so much for being here. |
| 00:29:21.98 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 00:29:22.09 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:29:22.30 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 00:29:24.60 | Ginny Irwin | My name is Ginny Irwin. I'm a resident of Sausalito. And I'm here to speak to support the Marinship and Ordinance 1022. The tourist side of Sausalito and the Marin ship, they are not the same. the historic district the ferry traffic, the visitor traffic, the shopping crowds, the parking issues, the noise issues, which we know all too well for those of us that live up on the hill. Many locals actually avoid that end of town because it is crowded and it's hard to find parking. And it's even harder to find a bank. The north side, as I like to call it, also known as the Marines in the Runship District is different. People enjoy it because it's calmer, quiet, peaceful. It is the home of maritime businesses, industrial artists, floating homes, residents, grocery shopping, post office, medical offices in a bank. Two of my doctors are located over there, by the way. It serves a very different purpose. The Marin ship has a very different character and a different feel. And that is exactly why 1022 matters. It matters. It was put into place a while ago and it limits traffic and the impacts of new development. It protects maritime and industrial character of that area. It supports growth without harming our waterfront, the quality of life, and the environment that we find over in the marine ship. Let's be clear. Our waterfront is precious. We should be doing more to protect it, not less. and aim would strip those protections away. It opens the door to more density, more development, more traffic, more noise, more pollution of our waterfront. We do not need another tourist zone. We do not need another Pier 39. |
| 00:31:45.32 | Mayor Woodside | So I'm sorry but your time is up. |
| 00:31:47.43 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 00:31:47.46 | Ginny Irwin | Thank you. |
| 00:31:47.50 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:31:47.72 | Ginny Irwin | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:31:48.27 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 00:31:48.59 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, thank you. |
| 00:31:58.55 | Mayor Woodside | Vicki, welcome. You'll be followed by Rob McCullough. |
| 00:32:04.84 | Vicki Ablees | Good evening, Mayor, Council members. Thank you for your service. My name is Vicki Ablees, and I live at 25 San Carlos. I'm here because I believe there has been a breakdown in the integrity of the public review process. I'm asking that the revised plans for 33 San Carlos be returned to the Planning Commission or City Council for a public hearing because they are materially different from the project this Council approved in December. Last December, after two design review hearings and an appeal, the Council approved one specific project with conditions. Those conditions were the results of months of public testimony, planning commission review and Council deliberation. Today, a materially different project has been approved administratively. Among the changes are a new approximately 220 square foot third floor addition with significant new massing. A new... Eastern projection that does not align with the certified story polls presented during the public review process. A garage extension that was never reviewed by this council. A roof eve extending farther north despite this council's direction to reduce third floor massing and preserve space for tree canopy regrowth. The reintroduction of a bathroom window facing a property after privacy concerns led to its removal during design review. Thank you. these are not minor modifications they materially changed the project that the public reviewed and this council approved the public never had the opportunity to comment on the project that has now been approved if these changes are considered minor modifications i respectfully ask what changes would not be this is about more than my property the public participated based on one set of plans the The Planning Commission made findings based on those plans. This council approved those plans with conditions. The project now approved is materially different. That is a breakdown in process. When material changes can occur, after months of public hearings without returning for public review, confidence in the project begins to erode residents should be able to trust that hearings matter that council decisions mean what they say and that the same rules apply to every applicant trust in local government doesn't erode because someone disagrees with a decision it erodes when residents believe one project is reviewed in public but a materially different project can later be approved without returning for public review. I believe this council intended to approve one specific project. I do not believe that project that has now been approved is the project that exists. I respectfully ask that the revised plans be returned for a public hearing so this council can determine whether they remain consistent with the project you approved and conditioned. |
| 00:34:50.83 | Mayor Woodside | What we can do is ask that this matter be referred to. I'll ask the assistant city manager to take the information from you and be prepared to report back to us. |
| 00:35:02.77 | Vicki Ablees | Great. Thank you, Mayor. |
| 00:35:03.45 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Um, Rob McCullough, followed by Skip Cleggers. |
| 00:35:11.58 | Robert McCullough | Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Council members. My name is Robert McCullough. I'm a resident of Sausalito and a liveaboard in Pelican Harbor for 26 years. I had a few comments tonight about Pelican Harbor. On May 14th, this council made a clear decision after hearing extensive public testimony and reviewing Mr. Razavi's public record, you voted unanimously to deny the transfer of the Pelican Heart harbor public trust leasehold. That decision sent a clear message. Stewardship of the public lands in Sausalito requires transparency, accountability, and respect for the law. Events over the past several days suggest your decision is now being deliberately circumvented. On July one attorneys for the Flint family informed the city they had identified what they believe is a legal mechanism to avoid the effect of your decision. Notably, Mr. Rozzavi's name did not appear anywhere in that letter. That same day, Mr. Rezavi posted a notice in the Harbor Master's Office announcing that he was the new Harbor Manager. No notice of this management chain was provided to any of the tenants by Pelican Harbor associates LP. The following day, Sarah Flynn notified the Harbour Master, Tim Volka, and the maintenance employee, Roger Johnson, that their employment had been terminated affected the previous day. Not sure how you do that. Also on July 2nd, Mr. Rezavi was observed showing a prospective tenant vacant slip According to that tenant, Mr. Rezabi stated he was the new owner. Whether these events ultimately satisfy the legal requirements of the lease is a matter for counsel and, if necessary, the courts. But as a practical matter, the individual whose assumption of the leasehold discounts or rejected now appears to be exercising operational control of that marina. If that's allowed to stand, The Council's May 4th decision is becoming meaningless. The case is no longer simply about one marina. It's about whether decisions of this elected body concerning public trust property can be avoided through legal technicalities. However, the practical result remains exactly the same. I respectfully ask the committee to promptly act and investigate these events, determine whether the lease has been violated, whether the public trust has been compromised, whether additional legal action is warranted to preserve the accord authority that this council exercised on May 14th. The citizens of Sausalito are watching. They expect decisions of this council will be respected, not circumvented. Thank you. |
| 00:37:35.93 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. And again, we can refer this. We can refer this to our city attorney and we can, I guess, project that we could consider this item at our next meeting on the 21st of July. I think that's all we can do tonight. Mr. Klegger, I think you want to speak to the same issue. Am I correct? |
| 00:37:59.27 | Skip Cleggers | you guys. |
| 00:37:59.76 | Mayor Woodside | Well, you've said so in your paper. I would have guessed anyway. Go ahead. |
| 00:38:06.74 | Skip Cleggers | I am one of a growing group of tenants from Pelican Harbor. and I seek the council and the city attorney's advice on describing the extent to which Rezavi has the right to operate within the jurisdiction of Sausalito, specifically Pelican Harbor. based on his experience or lack of experience in operating his business elsewhere in Sausalito and in Sacramento. We've recently... All gotten. Rent increases. of 250%. And We are shocked. That's all. |
| 00:38:56.46 | Mr. Sobieski | Thank you. Could you be specific about your rent increase? Sorry. of it. Just 250% in the last week or something. |
| 00:39:05.69 | Skip Cleggers | We received notice two days ago, and it is effective in 60 days. Could you send a copy of that to our city manager? Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you. |
| 00:39:14.47 | Mr. Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:39:17.37 | Mayor Woodside | And as I stated earlier, we definitely will be referring this to both staff and our city attorney to review what um, options we may have as a city and, uh, Try to hear this matter on the 21st if we can pull our act together at that time. Okay, I'm sorry I didn't announce. Next speaker, Mary Robinson, will be followed by, I think, Mr. Hunter, you've already spoken. You're okay? followed by Sophia Collier. is Robinson. Fuck them. |
| 00:39:58.81 | Mary Robinson | Thank you. |
| 00:39:58.95 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:40:00.01 | Mary Robinson | Hi, my name is Mary Robinson. I've lived in Sausalito since 1970 and I live on Spencer Avenue, the lower block of Spencer. In the past couple of years, there's been a tremendous increase in traffic. And there was some discussion of perhaps putting a yellow line that would clarify that. the median strip of that area. And I think for safety's sake, because there are now not just a lot of tourists walking up and down, which is great, although there are no sidewalks and no area for a person to walk. either as a tourist or someone walking their dogs, but they're also is a real increase in bikers, which is, really dangerous for them. I think a lot of them don't realize exactly what the area is as tourists or people who are biking in from the city. So that's, and also... on the 4th of July. Um, At 1.15, I woke up to see still, a line of cars bumper to bumper coming up, Spencer. And I know that that was not entirely the fault of the city, but it could have been very dangerous if someone had been trying to get to a hospital or something. That's all. And thank you all for your hard work on behalf of our city. |
| 00:41:30.32 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you, Mary. And again, we can refer to our Public Works Department the issues you started out with, with respect to perhaps signage or other things that might help calm the traffic and provide better direction so miss collier will be followed by adrian britton. |
| 00:41:48.47 | Sophia Collier | Okay, thank you very much. It's Sophia Collier and I'm here on behalf of Save Our Sausalito in support of our Pelican Harbor neighbors. As I understand the applicant for the lease transfer figured out an end run as we just heard by acquiring the companies that already own the lease. As we know, Pelican Harbor residents are highly concerned. And I would ask if you didn't feel the operator was qualified to take over the lease, why would we want them to do so now through this method? On the council here, we have three fantastic lawyers. We have a fantastic support of our city attorney as well. And I hope we can all put our heads together and find a way to address the situation. SOS supporters throughout the city have previously weighed in in support of the Pelican Harbor neighbors, and we continue to support them. And we hope the council can find a solution to this problem. Also, while I'm here, I also want to bring to your attention one other thing, which is the One Harbor Drive project. As you know, the project has been filed, and now a new filing has been made of it. The project is now 80 feet tall. and 477 thousand square feet. SOS attorneys have fired a letter stating why CEQA is required to examine the environmental impacts of this project. check. and which are potentially significant. I know this is not right for council action at this time, but I want you to be aware of it and to monitor this situation. Also, I think we need to address development fees and what kinds of impact fees we might want to add, because as I've understood from various council members, this may be a weaker area of our municipal code. So as we look at the entire Measure J sites, of which we may have, there's 330 units that could end up being 866 units with bonus densities. This could be a very significant impact, particularly in the north end of town. So just want to highlight these two things. And thank you all also for your work and attention. |
| 00:43:47.11 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Mr. Brenton, you're the last speaker in the House. Anyone else in the audience wishing to speak? |
| 00:43:49.98 | Sophia Collier | and, |
| 00:43:56.93 | Mayor Woodside | very well if you could fill out one of these and hand it to |
| 00:44:04.38 | Adrian Brinton | Good evening, City Council and staff, and welcome to our new city manager. Super excited that you've started. My name is Adrian Brinton, and... I wanted to get up and just say a few things about the AIM initiative, given that I've spent the last year and a half of my life working on this, and I've been very involved and I'm very knowledgeable about it. You know, and I heard the folks that got up to speak about it and they hear the concerns that they have. And you know, I've heard those concerns from other people. There's a wide range of opinions about the Marinship in town, and I can say that having talked to over a thousand people while we were gathering signatures, we found that there's a significant block of our population. that really feels like it's time to try something and do something different. And this is what we came up with. And the way the speakers that spoke earlier, there's the friendship is very unique. It's an amazing place. We've talked to some amazing business owners, some amazing property owners. There's so much pent up, just, you know, creative energy waiting to come out and it's being held back. you know we haven't seen any meaningful investment in area since 1022 passed and that's a problem because those things do exist that are really great and also what exists is that there's a lot of decay and there's a lot of areas that are under invested in and there's a lot of issues with the infrastructure we have sea level rise issues we have sewer issues storm drain issues and we really don't have the tax revenue to pay for them and if we don't allow the area to grow and thrive, we're not going to have the money to be able to do that. So we think that's super important. And we can make this an area that works for us. Nobody wants tourist shops here. Nobody wants t-shirt shops. We have those downtown. They work fine there. And, you know, I want to see a new nursery go in that has a little cafe in the back growing under the trees that are growing out back. I talked to somebody who wanted to do that in the marineship, and they're not able to today. So I think that there's a lot of of things we can do. And if we come together as a community and we're really imagining how this can be, We can actually do it. You know, it's scary, I get it, it's hard to change, but let's come together and do it. I'm super excited for that, thank you. |
| 00:46:07.04 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. I did have one more card handed to me. First name is Warren. I'm not able to read your last name. |
| 00:46:15.85 | Hugh Woodall | Yeah, that's good. That's Hugh Woodall. Thank you. |
| 00:46:17.49 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, he would die. |
| 00:46:18.33 | Hugh Woodall | Yep. I'm going to go by Woz, but I answered pretty much anything. |
| 00:46:18.99 | Mayor Woodside | Bye. |
| 00:46:22.18 | Hugh Woodall | Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members, like I said, my name's Woz. Had a boat in Pelican Harbor for more than 10 years now. It's a home she found after we both sailed across the Atlantic together. And, um, I want to say like in my hand, I have my slip rent increase letter from our new Harbor master. And this letter actually represents a rent increase of 174%. So to put that in perspective, like a 10% increase in gases gets national headlines. It's like your employee suddenly slashed your salary by two-thirds overnight. It's as if your mortgage went from $5,000 to almost $15,000 overnight. This isn't a recent adjustment, it's a financial shock. An increase of this magnitude fundamentally changes whether ordinary people can afford to keep their boats in our community. More importantly, it raises serious questions about fairness, transparency, and whether this is the style of management our community works so hard to avoid. Pelican Harbor deserves stewardship that builds trust, not management that prices out the very people who make them the vibrant community it is today. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:47:41.69 | Mr. Sobieski | Would you kindly give that letter, sir, also to our city manager or a copy of it? That's important. Thank you. |
| 00:47:47.89 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you very much. Comments on matters not on the agenda from persons watching online? |
| 00:47:56.53 | Deirdre Coyne | We have first iPhone SE. |
| 00:48:01.88 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, we have an iPhone SE. |
| 00:48:05.52 | Eva Crisanti | Thank you. Can you hear me okay? |
| 00:48:07.90 | Mayor Woodside | If we can, if we could have your name, please. |
| 00:48:10.63 | Eva Crisanti | Of course, it's Eva Crisanti. I'm the writer and editor at marincountyconfidential.substack.com. And as the great niece of workers at Marinship, I'm pleased to see people talking about a peace park. And I do want to point out that this is a particularly... Thank you. um, fraught time, um, for anyone advocating for peace. Um, we are seeing massive bombing, uh, across West Asia. This is being done with American weapons, unfortunately. And, um, And I need to bring up something quite unfortunate in some of the advocacy for this mass bombing. We're not just talking about the mass bombing of Gaza. anymore, which is multiple times Hiroshima and Nagasaki. in terms of the tonnage, but We are also talking about South Lebanon, and we are talking about bombs rained down upon Iran, putting the entire American economy at risk. So unfortunately, a lot of the advocacy for this has been done. by the Israel lobby in the US and one of the most major components of that is the San Francisco Bay Area pro-Israel lobby of which your vice mayor plays a central role. She is a member not only of the Jewish Community Relations Council, which has targeted and terrorized anti-Zionists or critics of Israel, both Jewish and Asian over many years. But she's also on the, I guess she's also on the board of the Jewish Federation Bay Area, which funds much of the local Israel lobby. Now I do need to raise the issue of her ongoing participation with the Wexner Heritage Program. |
| 00:50:13.91 | Unknown | your kind stuff. |
| 00:50:14.60 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 00:50:14.61 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:50:19.09 | Mayor Woodside | next online. |
| 00:50:20.52 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 00:50:20.98 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:50:21.03 | Deirdre Coyne | Thanks. |
| 00:50:21.09 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 00:50:21.11 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 00:50:21.14 | Sandra Bushmaker | We have Sandra Bushmaker. Good evening, Council. Good to see you all again. Three topics, real quick. I'm happy here to see Elaine, the city manager, doing a study on the traffic that happened in Sausalito. It was, I'm wondering whether the mayor of Sausalito even consulted with the city of Sausalito about this particular event. I have had multiple neighbors Old and young. come up to me and say that they were very frightened for their safety. in case there was a fire or whether there was an accident requiring medical attention. So I'm happy to see this study going on. The AIM Initiative, I support 10-22. The AIM initiative takes a bulldozer to the marine ships. versus a shovel. When a shovel will do. It also extends up to the Spinnaker restaurant. Look at their website, you'll see the maps. three. Pelican Harbor. I support the residents in Pelican Harbor. I personally have seen several letters of the rent increases and rents have gone from like about $675 to $1,700 effective in October of this year. This end run cannot be tolerated by the city. And I am a neighbor in Sausalito Yacht Harbor, and I don't see increases like that. by any stretch of the imagination. So please city. of Sausalito and Council, please do something about this renegade who has taken over Pelican Harbor. Thank you. |
| 00:52:01.64 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you, Ms. Bushmaker. Any further comments? |
| 00:52:05.91 | Deirdre Coyne | Next, we have Babette McDougall. |
| 00:52:08.13 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. McDougal. |
| 00:52:12.35 | Babette McDougall | Thank you for acknowledging me, Mr. Mayor. First of all, let me just say that if you're going to enforce the timing, That you should at least show the timer by which you are timing. It's not evident. That's number one. And number two, I really wanted to just say that thank you so much for a lovely July 4th. I think the traffic scenarios were unfortunate, and I suppose it has as much to do, perhaps more. with this problem of the 250th anniversary of our country. which, you know, is what it was. It's unfortunate they decided to load the Golden Gate Bridge up with gunpowder. And then, expand the concentric areas of security So that everybody was caught in a tangle one way or the other. That's really sad. But going back to July 4th, I want to say it was a wonderful day. Really wonderful day, low turnout for a lot of good reasons. And I just want to say thank you. It was during that day that all the town was abuzz about what's going on with Pelican. Have you heard? Have you heard? Is it true? Oh, it can be. Well. That just shows you how the town does continue to roll. And I want to ask you to please look at our waterfront. with really fresh eyes, it's really important that we really appreciate what we have. We don't have to worry about what to build that we don't yet know about. But what if we just were to appreciate what we have? And what we have right now is a formula that can work really well for this town if we don't mess it up. So with that in mind, I guess that falls back to the work of the council ultimately and the work of the city. So I'm going to leave it to you to look with fresh eyes at how we can get our arms around this incessant need to develop, develop, develop. to bring more people, people, people, without any thought to have in the world, Sausalito can honestly accommodate greater numbers than we already do. Keeping in mind that we do our level best including since the days of the art festival, to make everyone feel glad to be here. So it's not that we don't want people here. We just have to be realistic about what realistically Can we absorb and accommodate at any given time. |
| 00:54:29.07 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. McDougall, I believe your time is up, although the clock is not behaving at this moment. Other speakers online? |
| 00:54:39.70 | Deirdre Coyne | No more online. |
| 00:54:40.84 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, thank you. That concludes the public communications on matters not on the agenda. We'll now move to our consent calendar. and I know there are people who may wish to leave, so we'll wait a few moments. |
| 00:54:58.66 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you for coming. |
| 00:55:05.24 | Unknown | you |
| 00:55:21.40 | Mark Palmer | Thank you. |
| 00:55:22.77 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:55:22.87 | Mark Palmer | Thank you. |
| 00:55:22.94 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:55:28.12 | Mayor Woodside | So we have items. On the consent calendar, which typically means for all of these items, we can, with one vote, approve them. and |
| 00:55:44.37 | Mayor Woodside | if we can, um, ask those in the audience to thank you very much for coming. |
| 00:56:04.57 | Mayor Woodside | Okay. We have several items on the consent calendar items 3A through J with the exception of 3I, which will be a regular business item at the end of this business agenda. So is there a motion to approve the consent calendar? |
| 00:56:22.15 | Sybil Boutillier | I move we approve. |
| 00:56:23.99 | Mayor Woodside | Okay. |
| 00:56:24.41 | Sybil Boutillier | OK. |
| 00:56:25.34 | Mayor Woodside | Yeah, anyone want to comment publicly on any of the items on the consent calendar? Seeing none in the audience, anyone online? |
| 00:56:33.90 | Vice Mayor | Not online. |
| 00:56:34.76 | Mayor Woodside | All right. |
| 00:56:35.65 | Vice Mayor | I move we approve the consent calendar, Mr. Mayor. |
| 00:56:38.61 | Mayor Woodside | Second. All right. Motion second. All in favor? |
| 00:56:41.93 | Vice Mayor | Bye. Yeah. |
| 00:56:42.96 | Mayor Woodside | Bye. Okay, that passes unanimously. We now can move to a public hearing item |
| 00:57:07.51 | Mayor Woodside | I'm not sure who's going to lead this. Okay. Sorry. Thank you. |
| 00:57:09.34 | Kathy Mikitas | Sorry, thank you. That's all right. Good evening. Good evening, Vice Mayor, Council Members. I am here tonight. I'm Kathy Mikitas. I'm the Human Resources Manager. And I am here to present the item of our annual public hearing about vacancies and recruitment and retention as prescribed by California Government Code Section 3502.3. So back in 2024, the governor of California signed into law legislation that was then AB 2561. And so there's a public interest, a compelling public interest, to the public knowing the staffing levels of governments and where the vacancies, et cetera. So that law, and if you could go to the next slide please. that that law said that we have to come to the public before our governing body once a year. So last year was the first year that it was required by the law. This year we start doing the first meeting after budget approval for the fiscal year. Let's see, the last time we did it was April of last year. So basically it's to let people know there are three groups of employees in the city. If you can go to the next slide, please. We have one representative, which are made up of city and police management. professional and technical employees that work in administration and finance primarily. The second group is our group of SEIU employees, the State Employees, Service Employees International Union, our SEIU Local 1021. And that includes positions that are in our library, in our public works, and in community development. So those folks are SEIU, and our third group is the Sausalito Police Association, and they are made up of sworn police officers, parking enforcement officers, and our evidence technician, and our admin need. So, we have, let's see, 80 full-time approved benefit eligible positions. And right now we have vacancies across the board. Some of those vacancies are positions that are purposely not funded and being kept vacant as basically being frozen for various reasons. so as far as positions are actually able to be filled we have um let's see one two three four we have you various reasons. So as far as positions are actually able to be filled, we have, let's see, one, two, three, four, we have four of those vacancies are frozen. So the other six are actual vacancies where we are recruiting. So I will go to the next slide, please, for SEIU. You're already up there. Thank you. So SEIU group has 27 total authorized positions. We have one that we can see there, and that is unfunded. That position is unfunded, and it will likely, if it stays that way, we look at things operationally, that position would probably go away in the future. So it's not something we're recruiting for. The next slide, please, is Cecilia Police Association. They have 23 positions. Two of those 23 are frozen, so they haven't been budgeted for a number of years. So we have four current vacancies. Two of those, the vacancies are the frozen positions. So currently the positions that are open are sworn police officers and detectives. So as far as recruiting, the police department, it's hard to recruit for police officers it really really is there's a lot of work that goes into it and Sassolita wants to keep a high level of quality in the people in the police force over the last 14 months, they have, our police department has evaluated 60 plus candidates. In the prior year and a half, I think it was over 200 candidates. And those are mostly candidates for people who are looking to go to the police academy Occasionally we have someone who's called a lateral, to recruit someone from a different agency, whether it's in another state or another locality. But mostly it's for trainees to go to the academy. So we have someone, as I noted here, we've got someone starting the academy next week, which is very exciting. So if you could go to our non-represented That's the biggest group by a few people. We have 30 positions. Five of them are currently vacant, but two of those vacancies are because the positions are frozen currently. They're not funded, but they still exist on the position list. So the council approved a few new positions. There were three positions last budget year. And we're currently recruiting for a community development director, which is a returning position for us, an administrative aide, and then also an IT manager, which is going to be split off probably a hybrid position that we have currently. So the other two positions, risk manager and capital planning and project managers, those are the ones that are not funded currently. And so some of those services are being provided by contractors and covered by staff. In addition to this, we have seasonal and part-time and temporary employees. We have interns. We have a really robust crew of people who support the city other than, in addition to, all of the full-time employees here. So how do we keep employees here? Well, we try to keep our best employees. We try to keep all of our employees happy here and serving our community. We try to provide our citizens with critical services. Think about our police department, think about public works, what they do, and they're the ones who you might see very often. You don't necessarily see the people in community development or the library, you may see, and resources you might not see as well, but all of those people are providing providing critical services. The council has adopted a mid-million market philosophy for wages and total compensation, which means we... that in county, we're not the biggest, we're not the smallest. We can't compete with San Francisco, but we can compete within Marin. to the best we can for our employees. This philosophy was included in the Police Association, and it was negotiated last year. And it was just negotiated for SEIU employees effective on last Wednesday. Is that when the first was? It was effective July 1st. So we evaluate those packages regularly to ensure that we're staying competitive within this market. We offer flexible work schedules for some positions. And we really strive to develop our team's talents so that they can do more than maybe what they are doing in a position where they are. We can help employees grow, and we really take that to heart. So that is what I wanted to reply to you. And if you have any questions, I am happy to take them. |
| 01:05:00.77 | Mayor Woodside | Are there questions? |
| 01:05:02.19 | Monica Cox | you. |
| 01:05:05.39 | Mayor Woodside | Well, it's actually listed. No, this is actually a public hearing item on receiving this report. So the action that we would take is we've heard the report. We are receiving it. I don't know that it requires a motion. Mr. City Attorney, do we need? |
| 01:05:15.66 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. |
| 01:05:23.32 | Mayor Woodside | Okay. I've seen no questions. I just want to clarify one thing. You went through the particular represented and unrepresented numbers, but the grand total is 80 total |
| 01:05:24.28 | Unknown | Okay. |
| 01:05:33.17 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. |
| 01:05:33.44 | Patricio Cabezas | Thank you. |
| 01:05:36.61 | Mayor Woodside | but actually 76 are funded and available for |
| 01:05:43.16 | Kathy Mikitas | direct. |
| 01:05:43.58 | Mayor Woodside | And of those 76, six are vacant at this. |
| 01:05:47.72 | Kathy Mikitas | 75 because there's the library, there are the two management positions and the two police department positions. So five are unfunded. So 75. |
| 01:05:55.13 | Mayor Woodside | open. So the total number for the entire city staff of all |
| 01:06:01.71 | Kathy Mikitas | No. |
| 01:06:03.58 | Mayor Woodside | of salaried permanent employees is 70 at this moment. |
| 01:06:08.44 | Kathy Mikitas | Correct. Full-time employees in place. Okay. Correct. Thank you for breaking that down. |
| 01:06:10.97 | Mayor Woodside | of the |
| 01:06:13.50 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 01:06:13.54 | Sergio Rudin | Okay. |
| 01:06:13.99 | Kathy Mikitas | Okay. |
| 01:06:14.94 | Sergio Rudin | And Mayor, to answer your question, there is no requirement for a motion to accept the report. basically the state law, which is Government Code 3502.3, requires that the public agency shall identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities. to address obstacles in the hiring process, but otherwise, I think the council just needs to receive a report about the city's vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts. |
| 01:06:49.77 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you, Mr. Rube. I think other public comments on this report Seeing none in the chambers. Anyone online? |
| 01:07:01.92 | Deirdre Coyne | being, sorry, I forgot her name, the iPhone SE. Eva. Yes. |
| 01:07:11.22 | Eva Crisanti | Thanks. Can you hear me okay? |
| 01:07:13.73 | Mayor Woodside | Yes. |
| 01:07:14.62 | Eva Crisanti | Thank you. I guess I have some questions about retention of police. My question is, if. Is there a trend of police officers coming in and then finding that the way the Sussler, the police department is managed, is not amenable to them or not hospitable for good policing? So that would be one of my questions. And I think one of the pitfalls is, unfortunately, when we see that the municipal police are actually used by a member of the council to target individuals, that is obviously a liability for the city. And there is now a suit in federal court regarding that, another suit. Um, but I think it It creates a problem. I think that is what we saw a couple of years ago for police officers who are misinformed about a particular threat or risk, which is not a threat or a risk at all, which is really just someone using their first amendment rights in a perfectly civil and reasonable way. And then being enjoined, by superior officers to physically abuse and detain individuals. So I would really ask you to ask yourselves if there might be a larger problem within your police department in terms of maybe there's some older officers who have a record of abuses that we've seen. I think Charlie Trezzo was involved in defending one of Nick White's victims. I think you maybe should take a look at what sort of a police department was |
| 01:08:48.97 | Patricio Cabezas | I, |
| 01:09:16.16 | Mayor Woodside | If your time is up. Any other comments online? |
| 01:09:19.63 | Eva Crisanti | Thank you. |
| 01:09:19.75 | Deirdre Coyne | Yes, next we have Babette McDougall. |
| 01:09:21.46 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 01:09:22.35 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. McDougall. |
| 01:09:25.52 | Babette McDougall | Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for acknowledging me. So within the context of this hearing... And also, I would like to just once again say welcome to the city manager, the brand new start today, I guess, as of the first, but this is where the rubber hits the road as of today. And, um, I just want to say thank you to the city of Sausalito. We're managing to keep it together so that we have a staff of employees to look to. We have a wonderful town here. And again, it's so easy to tear it apart and talk about what's wrong. And this is the right forum to do that. Make no mistake. But this is also the one place where we can maybe wave a little flag and say, nice going. And I say, nice going. And with that, I yield back my time. |
| 01:10:13.01 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Any other comments online? |
| 01:10:14.80 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 01:10:14.83 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 01:10:14.85 | Babette McDougall | Thank you. |
| 01:10:14.97 | Deirdre Coyne | No more comments online. |
| 01:10:16.60 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, so there's no action required at this point. Thank you for the report. We have received it. It's part of the public record. Thank you. Next, we have business items. And I think Ms. Nikita and city manager may be presenting the next item. This is the compensation and benefit plans for unrepresented employees. |
| 01:10:43.60 | Kathy Mikitas | Hi. I'm Kathy Nikitas, still the HR manager. So thank you. We're on the business calendar this week. just talked to an SEMU and SPO, our third group of employees are represented and represented employees. And the compensation and benefits plan for that group expired June 30th. So, Stoysha talking about Thank you. So historically, the same pay increases that have been negotiated with SEIU have been provided to represented groups. And that was what we did share as well. So the SEIU plan that was just running into place July 1st was a three-year plan that offered 3% cost of living increases on July 1st, 20 2027 and 2028 so three percent each year there were that is the cost of this plan including additional additional benefits basically so we've added some language about the reproductive loss. We've, and a little bit of clarification or additional language. education and wellness benefits, but no increase in the dollars. One of the things that we had had listed in this plan is some equity adjustments for a couple of positions, for three positions actually. We can discuss those, or we can discuss the plan overall. I just wanted to let you, it's similar to the last plan from three years ago, just with these updated wages. |
| 01:12:40.14 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Are there questions? Thanks, God. |
| 01:12:44.92 | Councilmember Cox | um, I believe that there was discussion about removing the equity portion so that the city council had more time to consider and weigh in on that. So is it your request that we delete from the proposed resolution and the. accompanying compensation and benefits plan on page six, the four bulleted points. That's that say equity adjustments and then the three positions. |
| 01:13:23.24 | Kathy Mikitas | Council Member Cox, yes, thank you. It's in section 5.2 wages. I apologize, I just realized I didn't paginate it. So that will be done when we come back. When we come back to you, I apologize. So 5.2 wages, we would like to pull that section, just the section for the four bullet points, as you mentioned, that note equity adjustments for those individual positions, and we'll come back with that. And I've calculated new figures for the staff report to be able to take those dollars out and give you new dollars, but we'll come back. I will come back to you with additional information for the next council meeting. |
| 01:14:04.27 | Councilmember Cox | So the direction is to return. We're not abandoning this. We're just going to |
| 01:14:04.28 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 01:14:08.23 | Councilmember Cox | continue this discussion item for our next meeting. |
| 01:14:11.60 | Kathy Mikitas | That sounds great. That sounds appreciated very much. |
| 01:14:12.65 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:14:14.63 | Mayor Woodside | And should we continue that portion, the equity adjustments, Those adjustments, should they be approved or otherwise modified or granted at our next meeting, perhaps, they would be retroactive to the 1st of July? |
| 01:14:31.62 | Kathy Mikitas | July 1st, that would be appreciated. Thank you. |
| 01:14:34.44 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, just to make sure we're clear on it, if that's the staff recommendation. We'd also give our new city manager time to look at |
| 01:14:34.98 | Kathy Mikitas | That's right. Thank you. |
| 01:14:42.71 | Mayor Woodside | positions and appropriate structures, et cetera, et cetera, to see if these fit with your thinking on those items. |
| 01:14:51.24 | Kathy Mikitas | And I would say that's another reason why we didn't approach this in a way that said we need to make some technical changes, because we have a person coming on board who has spoken about the general philosophy and the general contents of this, but this does give her a chance, as you said, to look at the bigger picture and come back with anything additional. |
| 01:15:16.40 | Mayor Woodside | One more question, Ms. Garx. |
| 01:15:18.38 | Councilmember Cox | Yes. So you also have towards the end of the compensation plan, tables 3C and 3D. And so those positions would be removed from tables 3C and 3D and then restored at our next meeting upon decision. |
| 01:15:37.58 | Kathy Mikitas | Absolutely. Correct. Thank you very much. |
| 01:15:39.74 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. |
| 01:15:42.38 | Kathy Mikitas | You're doing my job for me. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. So would you, let me give you the staff report. The fiscal- |
| 01:15:51.67 | Mayor Woodside | If you have them, that's fine, sure. Yes. |
| 01:15:53.48 | Kathy Mikitas | And I know that the dollars aren't included in the description, so there's no change for that. But the dollars for the record, and I can send these to Deirdre separately for you to have, but just so that I'm stating it for the record, the cost of the three-year wage increases provided to the, I'm just going to basically read the fiscal impact so that you've got it in context. To the non-representant employee groups will be approximately $14,162 in the 26-2027 fiscal year, $112,483 in the 27-28 fiscal year, and $115,858 in the 2028-2029 fiscal year for a total anticipated cost of $342,503 over three years, and that is wages and payroll expenses, which are primarily Medicare and CalPERS. So the cost of the year one increase of 3% was included in the budget that the council approved on June 16th. So again, in the fiscal impact on my staff report, I included the information about those equity adjustments, but we'll pull those from what I'm asking you to approve tonight, and I'll come back to you with additional information for more discussions. |
| 01:17:19.78 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Any other questions? Any public comments? |
| 01:17:25.85 | Deirdre Coyne | Seeing none online. |
| 01:17:26.85 | Mayor Woodside | All right. Let's bring it back for discussion and action. |
| 01:17:32.77 | Councilmember Cox | I'll move we adopt a resolution of the City Council establishing compensation and benefit plan for the non-represented employees for July 1, 2026 through June 30th. 2029 as modified by verbal direction to the human resources director and the city clerk. |
| 01:17:53.48 | Sergio Rudin | Thank you. Those changes are to remove the four bullet points from section 5.2 of the compensation plan and additionally to strike from the professional technical employee classification table, the affected positions until and direct staff to bring those back for approval at the next council meeting. |
| 01:18:13.39 | Councilmember Cox | Correct. And those are tables 3C and 3D. Thank you. |
| 01:18:19.40 | Kathy Mikitas | It'll actually just be tables 3D because 3C is the hourly people. All three positions are in 3D. I apologize. Okay. |
| 01:18:26.98 | Councilmember Cox | 3D. |
| 01:18:27.38 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 01:18:27.40 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. |
| 01:18:27.41 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. you |
| 01:18:27.80 | Councilmember Cox | Yeah. |
| 01:18:27.95 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 01:18:27.99 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. |
| 01:18:28.60 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 01:18:28.63 | Mayor Woodside | So... |
| 01:18:28.68 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 01:18:28.75 | Councilmember Cox | So, |
| 01:18:29.45 | Mayor Woodside | There's a motion second. I think it's clear that the across the board increases are granted as of now and that as to the equity adjustments will be considering that at our next meeting. |
| 01:18:41.64 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you. |
| 01:18:42.69 | Mayor Woodside | All right. |
| 01:18:43.49 | Kathy Mikitas | Thank you all. |
| 01:18:44.51 | Mayor Woodside | Let's have a roll call. No, we don't need a roll call. All those in favor? |
| 01:18:48.52 | Kathy Mikitas | Hi. |
| 01:18:49.10 | Vice Mayor | Thank you. |
| 01:18:49.86 | Kathy Mikitas | Bye. |
| 01:18:49.91 | Mayor Woodside | I'm not opposed. Seeing none, that passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. |
| 01:18:55.70 | Vice Mayor | I'm going to stop talking. |
| 01:19:01.06 | Mayor Woodside | Okay. Um, We now will move to 5B, which is a construction contract for safe pathways to schools. |
| 01:19:13.38 | Kevin McGowan | Kevin McGowan, Public Works Director for Sausalito and we have Mr Andy Davidson who's going to present this item. But before he steps up here, I just want to mention that Mr. Davidson has decided to retire. |
| 01:19:28.03 | Mayor Woodside | Oh, no. |
| 01:19:29.33 | Councilmember Cox | Oh. |
| 01:19:29.70 | Mayor Woodside | You can. |
| 01:19:30.49 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. |
| 01:19:31.56 | Councilmember Cox | Fine. Denied. Denied. Not allowed. We do not approve. No. |
| 01:19:38.68 | Vice Mayor | Absolutely not. |
| 01:19:41.02 | Kevin McGowan | He has been here for 17 years and he is... heart and soul of public works. If ever there's a question about, Hey, what do I do about this? I go to Andy. So lucky for me, I know where he lives. So I intend to be at his doorstep quite often going, hey, Andy, can you help with this? So let me turn it over to Andy for the next item. If we can wish him congratulations, that would be great. Thank you. |
| 01:20:06.00 | Deirdre Coyne | And the |
| 01:20:12.16 | Andrew Davidson | So before the item, I want to say thank you. It has been a great 17 years. I've really benefited. My whole family has really benefited working here in Sausalito. Because I was able to work here, I was able to be involved with my kids a lot more. I was able to volunteer in their classes because I had every other Friday off. And what a gift, really what a gift. Working for you folks, you haven't always been here. |
| 01:20:41.86 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:20:41.89 | Andrew Davidson | Thank you. But the body that's been up there has been really good. I've been very fortunate to work under great city directors of public works. I've been really fortunate there. |
| 01:20:53.99 | Andrew Davidson | So before I just babble on and start tearing up, I want to say thank you. And thank you to Sustainability, who did some great work when I was there. They still are, but I'm just not so familiar with it. But they did good stuff. I know it. Uh, Councilmember Cox and Councilmember Blasdene were highly involved. with sustainability. So, I think. It's been special. So thank you. And now let me mess this up. |
| 01:21:23.37 | Andrew Davidson | That's slide one. So good evening, Mayor, Council members. I'd like to thank you, the interim city manager, the new city manager, and of course, the director of public works for this opportunity to spring before you. the request to award the Safe Pathways to School Coloma street and Ebtide project. This project has been before you. Many times, and at least as far back as 2022. I don't remember the first time it was here. So as you know, my name is Andrew Davidson. I am senior engineer in your department of public works. Next slide, please. Here is a recommended motion before you this evening. Execute a construction contract, which includes the base bid and two bid alternatives. Authorize a construction contingency. Approve the plans and specifications. Find the project exempt from CEQA and authorize a professional service agreement for construction management and inspection for this project. Next slide, please. So as a brief reminder, the project is located basically in two locations to the south along Coloma Street between Bridgeway and Alema and to the north at Ebtide where Ebtide takes a 90 and runs into the MLK facility. Next slide, please. So first we'll take a look at Coloma. Next slide. So on the north side of Coloma, the base bid includes new curb gutter and a five-foot-wide sidewalk extending from where the existing sidewalk ends a little west of Bridgeway all the way to Lima. We have new curb ramps, a new six-and-a-half-foot-wide planter strip with eight crepe myrtle trees and other plantings, and two new concrete driveways. Amid block crossing near the entrance to MLK, consisting of a raised concrete sidewalk, pedestrian refuge and shielded rectangular rapid flashing beacons. at the intersection with a Lima, a new curb ramps and crosswalk. We will also repave Coloma and add new pavement markings, including high visibility crosswalk markings. Yield marking, center line, edge lines, and appropriate signage. Also included is a direct connection, a pedestrian connection from the existing AC path in the MLK field to the mid-block crossing. Next slide, please. In March, the city council directed that we include two additive alternatives to the bid package additive alternative one is for installation of a tree trench system to help treat stormwater and additive alternate two is the replacement of the existing chain link fence located along the MLK field and next to Columbus street. So this slide basically shows additive alternative one, the tree trend system, which is intended to collect some of the storm water from Coloma bring it into a vegetative swale, and allow some of it to percolate through the soil medium. Additive alternative two replaces the existing six foot chain link fence with a new six foot PVC coated chain link fence. |
| 01:24:51.03 | Mayor Woodside | me, Andy. |
| 01:24:51.99 | Andrew Davidson | Thank you. |
| 01:24:52.03 | Councilmember Cox | Yes. |
| 01:24:52.33 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. Cox. |
| 01:24:54.00 | Councilmember Cox | Yes, I apologize for not thinking of this earlier. I have moved, but I still own a residence up the hill from this property. And as you're describing the geographical boundaries of this work, I believe some of it may be within 500 feet of my former residence, which is on the market, but I have not yet sold. So I'm going to recuse myself and step off of the dais for this discussion. And apologies for the late light bulb. |
| 01:25:25.73 | Mayor Woodside | It's understood and you're not exactly sure how many feet it is, but you're going to be cautious. |
| 01:25:28.92 | Councilmember Cox | And... you abundance of, I just delivered an ethics training today. And so I'm abiding by my own wise words. Okay. |
| 01:25:38.70 | Mayor Woodside | you Well, we'll miss you, but... We'll deal with it. Okay. Andy, can you? Please continue. |
| 01:25:47.53 | Andrew Davidson | next, |
| 01:25:47.87 | Mayor Woodside | I'm not sure. |
| 01:25:47.94 | Andrew Davidson | Thank you. |
| 01:25:47.95 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:25:47.97 | Andrew Davidson | Amen. |
| 01:25:48.00 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:25:50.55 | Andrew Davidson | Okay, now we'll look at the base bid improvements proposed for Edtide and at the entrance to the MLK site. You can see there at the top of the slide. So next slide, please. All of these improvements are part of the base bid. They include two raised crosswalks, a raised median curb ramps, new curb gutter and sidewalks, a pedestrian refuge, and drainage work. New pavement markings will include a high visibility crosswork yield markings, edge lines, and center line. One of the new raised crosswalks will include the relocation of the existing crosswalk that's out there now a little bit westward past that 90-degree bend in ebb tides. Next slide, please. So during the design development of the 2026 culvert replacement project, two storm drains within the Safe Pathways to School project limits were identified as needing replacements. one on Ebtide, and one on Coloma. The approximate cost, the 30% cost estimate for replacement of these two systems is about $68,000. We are recommending that this work be performed as part of the Safe Pathways to School project as a change order. and let approximately $68,000 be moved from the 2026 culvert replacement project to the Safe Pathway Project to fund this additional work. Next slide, please. |
| 01:27:22.76 | Andrew Davidson | So here we see the revenue and expenses for the project. And I'll just highlight the actions you're being asked to take this evening. First is to award the base bid in the amount of right around $770,000. Award of the two ad alternatives. That's the tree trench and the fence at approximately $145,000. award a construction contingency of about $92,000 and award a professional service agreement for construction management inspection in the amount of about $122,000. This table also shows the $68,000 for the two storm drains that I just mentioned. Next slide, please. So here is the recommended motion for this evening. I'll just read it. So execute construction contract composed of the base bid plus two bid alternatives with Gelati Brothers Incorporated for the Safe Pathways to School, Coloma Street and Ebtide Ave project in the amount of $915,093.75, authorized construction contingency for the project in the amount of $91,509 approved plans and specifications for the project find the project categorically exempt from sequin and authorize the city manager to award the professional services agreement with Swinnerton management and consulting. for construction management in the amount of $121,670. And that concludes my presentation. I'd be happy to answer thoughts or questions. |
| 01:29:00.87 | Mayor Woodside | you |
| 01:29:00.88 | Andrew Davidson | Thank you. |
| 01:29:00.95 | Mayor Woodside | Mr. McGowan, did you wish to add something? |
| 01:29:05.27 | Kevin McGowan | So, Thank you. Just stepping in quickly for Andy. We've also reached out to the low bidder. Because this is a timing issue on certain aspects, it's close to the school. So I think they are able to move quickly on this, which is a good thing. And trying to get this moving before August, we may be able to get a lot of this stuff done. I have my fingers crossed. I can't guarantee anything. So if you ask me questions about it, I'm not sure yet. But the contractor has contacted me saying, hey, we want to get going, which is a great thing. |
| 01:29:36.81 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Thanks to both of you. Questions? Yes. Okay. |
| 01:29:42.08 | Vice Mayor | Okay. First, I want to say thank you, Andy, for everything. We're going to miss you so much. And I have many fond memories of working with you on the sustainability commission and seeing what an impact you had on mitigating climate. You were really responsible for all of that before we had a sustainability coordinator role, in addition to everything you did at DPW. So we're really going to miss you. Really sad you're going. Um. I just wanted to check a couple of things. So, uh, I know we were very careful about how we budget everything from within the CIP. And director McGowan, you might have an answer for this, but are the additional, uh, add ons budgeted within the CIP to have the trees and the tranches? |
| 01:30:20.01 | Andrew Davidson | Yeah. Yeah, they are. |
| 01:30:21.19 | Vice Mayor | Okay. So that's all within, within the budget. The other thing I wanted to ask about is when we first heard, and we're discussing this item, a lot of residents had asked specifically about stop signs at a couple of the different areas. And I noticed that that's not part of the presentation. Is that an add on that we'll be considering later? Because I definitely want to make sure we're. responding to those concerns. |
| 01:30:39.76 | Andrew Davidson | So the stop signs that were discussed were at the intersection of Coloma and Alima and they are in place. |
| 01:30:46.51 | Vice Mayor | Okay. Great. Great news. Fantastic. Thank you. |
| 01:30:52.23 | Mr. Sobieski | Mr. Sobieski. Thanks for coming, Eric. Congratulations, Andy. Good luck fishing or whatever you're going to do. |
| 01:30:58.22 | Andrew Davidson | You'll get through, I'm sure. |
| 01:30:59.77 | Mr. Sobieski | So there's a raised crosswalk section, correct? And that would be the wide one that the fire engines can... Correct. Is it pretty quick? Thanks. To Director McGowan's highlighting of the construction schedule, would the addition of the design bid alternates in any way slow down the primary work? |
| 01:31:10.72 | Patricio Cabezas | Right. |
| 01:31:23.07 | Andrew Davidson | There is added time to do the extra work. So, yes, the answer is yes, we've given them The contract, I believe, is for 60 working days, but that doesn't include the storm drain work that we're talking about. So that will add days to it as well. |
| 01:31:38.77 | Mr. Sobieski | I think he was bringing it up because of the school year, right? That's the anticipation. So my only question is, can the work be ordered in such a way so that Work that might impinge traffic flow to the schools could be done first and the other work could be done later. Or is it not possible because of the engineering requirements to. |
| 01:31:54.93 | Andrew Davidson | They'll have a standard way of doing it. I think they're going to want to do the underground work. first and then build up from there. We will work with a contractor about traffic. We always do. As you know, all throughout here in Sausalito, anywhere impacts traffic. So it's something contractors are aware of. Um, And it will be stressed that we need to provide access to both the schools. We have got one at Ebtide and one in the entrances down at Coloma. So both of those will have to maintain access to the maximum extent possible. |
| 01:32:24.58 | Mr. Sobieski | And then these two things, the fence and the bioswale, would either of those things, when stuck into the workflow, cause the potentially delays in traffic for the school year? |
| 01:32:38.05 | Andrew Davidson | I don't believe the fence will. Both of those pieces of the work are behind the new sidewalk. So there will be some excavation work that has to take place for the tree trench. But that's going to be up against where the new sidewalk is. Or maybe they'll do that before they put it on the sidewalk. That I'm not sure which one they'll do first. OK, thank you. |
| 01:33:01.13 | Mayor Woodside | Quick question. You're not retiring before this project is completed, are you? I am. I was just hoping that you weren't. But with respect to coordination with the various impacted people, their parents, there's the schools, there's recreation uses, et cetera, I know from public comments made before and also correspondence that I believe you personally and others have had several site visits walking with those same people to get their input before the design was completed. Is that an accurate statement? |
| 01:33:11.83 | Patricio Cabezas | I'm sorry. |
| 01:33:12.03 | Lorna Newland | Yeah. |
| 01:33:12.24 | John Geray | We're going to have a |
| 01:33:12.51 | Lorna Newland | Thank you. |
| 01:33:36.45 | Andrew Davidson | So we have primarily spoken with the folks up at Ebtide, the in the village school. I remember the name and residents along Coloma, particularly those interested in the plantings. But there have been a number of public meetings, as you know, here and when the PBAC was was constituted at those locations. |
| 01:33:59.79 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Any other questions? Okay, public comments? Oh, sorry, Ms. Harlan. |
| 01:34:07.23 | Jill Hoffman | Well, thank you for all your work, this and other projects. And the Landslide Task Force that you worked with us on. mayor and I a few years ago. So fantastic work on that. Thank you. So what is your retirement date then? |
| 01:34:19.06 | Andrew Davidson | Well, it's my retirement. The retirement date is the 15th of August. |
| 01:34:28.63 | Andrew Davidson | And so I want to highlight the importance to get People for Kevin. So. |
| 01:34:33.74 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:34:34.44 | Andrew Davidson | That's important. |
| 01:34:34.99 | Mayor Woodside | Thanks. |
| 01:34:35.21 | Jill Hoffman | We're happy for you. |
| 01:34:36.41 | Andrew Davidson | you |
| 01:34:36.43 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 01:34:37.37 | Jill Hoffman | Very happy for you. Thank you. |
| 01:34:38.42 | Mayor Woodside | I appreciate that. Okay, are there public comments? I do have two cards. First, I'll call on Carolyn Revell. We've also received your written correspondence, Carolyn. And you'll be followed by Mark Palmer. |
| 01:34:52.66 | Carolyn Revell | Good evening, representing Sausalito Beautiful. We're delighted to see this project go forward. We've been following it for several years, and Andy Davidson has kept us well informed throughout. So we're very pleased at the addition of trees and the basic base bid of... trees in a planter strip. Also, we're very pleased to support the bid alternates and hope you will for the bioswale and replacing the fence. And then finally, I am devastated to know that Andy is leaving. He has been such an exceptional representative of your staff, not only keeping us citizens involved and informed, for example, in this project, but also in Southview Park, when that was going forward, meeting regularly with a group of neighbors and keeping us informed. And I know where he lives, too. He lives right behind my daughter in San Rafael. So I hope to see him again. Thank you. |
| 01:35:40.60 | Patricio Cabezas | to have a great day. |
| 01:35:45.97 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you, Mr. Palmer. |
| 01:35:57.65 | Mark Palmer | Good evening, Mayor Woodside, council members. And a hearty welcome to Elaine Forbes, our new city manager. And congratulations to Andrew. It's been a pleasure knowing him and working with him over the years. I'm not sure. I'm Mark Palmer with the Sustainability Commission. I strongly support the Columbus Street Safe Pathways to School project. especially when The inclusion of bid alternate one for the construction of green infrastructure along the new sidewalk. This bioretention area is exactly the kind of nature-based solution and integrated design approach that council has asked for in the past Projects that don't just solve one problem, but deliver multiple benefits at once. Stormwater runoff from Coloma Street feeds directly to the Gate 5 area where perennial flooding occurs. WSP, the city's consultant for the Gates 5 Area Drainage Management Study, STATED. that the green infrastructure and bioretention features installed on Columbus Street We'll reduce... stormwater runoff, and help alleviate downstream flooding when high tides and storm events coincide. Additionally, this complete streets approach with trees and landscaping adds beauty provides visual interest creates oxygen, absorbs carbon dioxide, attracts pollinators and calms traffic on this well-used street improving both pedestrian and bicycle safety. This is a great example of climate policy turning into on the ground results. Thank you for supporting this important project. |
| 01:37:35.35 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. I see no other speaker cards from the audience. Anyone online? |
| 01:37:43.01 | Deirdre Coyne | We have Vicki Nichols. |
| 01:37:45.06 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. Nichols? |
| 01:37:47.05 | Vicki Nichols | Good evening, Mayor and Council members. Again, like others, I'd like to welcome our new city manager and again I'm very sad about Andy leaving but thrilled that he'll be able to. Uh-huh. go on to a new adventure. In addition to all of his wonderful institutional memory and knowledge, He has served all of us with a really unflappable demeanor. been very collaborative. So I just want to make sure that's not left unsaid. I'm thrilled about this project, and I would like to speak about the importance of the school children. I'd also like to thank my colleague, Sybil Boutier, who with Sybil and myself, and Juanita Edwards from Marin City. We were fellows on an AARP walking fellowship and we scoped this out, but it's really been Sybil that Um, helped work on this and get it to fruition. I am a resident now of the Olima Street Rotary Street Housing. Thank you. Thank you. The stop signs are installed. And I brought this to your attention at a recent meeting on un- Agenda eyes items, since it is now i'd like to bring it up again, the city public works has they're calling them barricades in speaking with pat galsko about a third of the block in front of the building. And I guess this is necessitated by the turning radius of the, um, cars coming up Olima. this has been ongoing for a number of years, but I think it's exasperated by the fact that Rotary And I think it was right to do so was allowed to exhaust all their setbacks, et cetera. So the footprint is built to the max, which has caused a real pinch point up here. Um, I think there's a solution. The city has some right away. I would hope that this be considered. And also, I don't understand where the parking is going to be done outside of the fence when we get the sidewalks. This is really important to talk about when you're going to have a housing site here. It is a thoroughfare. |
| 01:40:05.15 | Mayor Woodside | Thanks, girl. Sorry to interrupt, but I think we can refer your last two if there are additional comments to staff. They're not. actually part of the item before us at the present time. but certainly we can ask staff to look into those suggestions that you've made. And if you could confirm that in writing or some other messaging, we can follow through more appropriately. Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Anyone else online? |
| 01:40:35.56 | Deirdre Coyne | It's next we have Aaron Nathan. |
| 01:40:37.85 | Mayor Woodside | Mr. Nathan. |
| 01:40:40.89 | Aaron Nathan | Hi there, good evening, City Council. I will join in saying appreciation for everybody involved in making this happen. This project predates me even living in Sausalito. So I have lots of people that we're very happy to see this move forward. I live directly across from the site, and I have two young children. And I see kids walking across Coloma, dodging cars, racing towards school for drop-off. So this traffic calming and other matters are really going to be an improvement. So thank you, everyone, again, for making this happen. The one piece I did want to provide feedback, which was something that a lot of the neighbors voiced, is the Chamberlain fence item. Very happy to see that it's part of the kind of optional package, but for whatever we can to make sure that that is optimized or prioritized in the development, I know that it's been kind of a major eyesore and has continuously been deteriorated by a lot of the work that has been going on on Bridgeway and as that area has been used for staging for heavy equipment, the fences continue to degrade further. So I think this is an opportune time to invest in the overall beautification of that park. And I do hope that that part of this proposal moves forward as well with all the other excellent things that are being considered. I did have one thing I wanted to make sure it was doubly confirmed. I know the raised crosswalks at Ebtide were a big thing for the schools. And then we were also hoping to see a raised crosswalk that was cutting across Coloma. The engineering drawings admittedly are a little bit hard to read. So it would be great to just have confirmation that both of those crosswalks will in fact be raised. And again, thank you everyone that has made this happen. |
| 01:42:44.11 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you, Mr. Nathan. Andy can confirm your last, uh, a question or comment about seeking confirmation on Coloma. Base crosswalk. |
| 01:42:54.51 | Andrew Davidson | I've been firm. It's confirmed. |
| 01:42:56.99 | Mayor Woodside | Confirmed. Did you hear that? OK. Anyone else online? |
| 01:43:02.07 | Deirdre Coyne | Next, we have Sandra Bush. |
| 01:43:03.03 | Sandra Bushmaker | maker? |
| 01:43:03.57 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. Bushmaker. |
| 01:43:06.17 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you, counsel. First of all, I'm happy to see this project finally coming to fruition in a finalized way. It's been a long time coming and I know the residents and the children in that area have had concerns for quite some time. And I also want to give my best wishes to Andrew on your next journey. You may not remember, but I served with Steve Woodside and Jill Hoffman on the landslide task force. and appreciated your contributions. So best wishes, and we're going to miss you, and we're going to miss your institutional knowledge for sure. Thank you. |
| 01:43:45.71 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Any other online comments? |
| 01:43:48.05 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:43:48.07 | Deirdre Coyne | Next we have Sybil Boutillier. |
| 01:43:51.80 | Mayor Woodside | Sybil? |
| 01:43:53.66 | Sybil Boutillier | Amen. Yes, thank you, Mayor. Good evening. I am so delighted. What good news is It's been a very long time coming, and that time was obviously used very well to thoughtfully develop all the different details of this project to best serve all the neighborhood and the community. And I want to congratulate the staff Director McGowan and Andy Davidson have just been so open to hearing the neighbors' concerns, consulting. with other residents, responding to questions and issues, and working in collaboration to come up with the best possible plan, which I believe they have done. And I want to congratulate them and the whole staff for bringing this project home. Also, I want to thank Andy personally for his wonderful community relations and He's always willing to listen to a concern. I was so thrilled when he shielded the streetlights along Buda and in Sacramento, which, by the way, shined right onto my pillow at night, no matter how tightly I pulled the curtains. So personally, it was a great deal, caused great deal of relief and happiness for me personally. But they are wonderful staff. Andy, I wish you the best always. And Director McGowan, kudos and congratulations. And thank you from all of us. |
| 01:45:44.98 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Anyone else online? |
| 01:45:47.41 | Deirdre Coyne | Yes, next we have Lorna Newland. |
| 01:45:49.98 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. Newland? |
| 01:45:53.35 | Lorna Newland | Hello, council, and welcome new city manager Elaine Forbes. I'm sorry I'm not there to meet you in person. I'm a resident for 33 years in Whiskey Springs directly using the Coloma Crossway across the street. My studio for 20 years has been in the MLK building. And besides just school children, I have witnessed far more seniors, parents, people pushing baby strollers, dogs, dog walkers across that area. Crosswalk. I personally walk across it in my two-minute commute probably three to four times a day. And I am so pleased. After all these years, we are finally getting a crosswalk and improvement there. But many times at City Council, I have been vehemently opposed based on myself and neighbors on the flashing beacons. Um, when we had luckily a. speed limit sign on Coloma after a tragic accident of somebody speeding down there. At one point it was facing to the east. Once it was facing to the west, It went off constantly, whether there was a car or not, directly in view of my workspace window. So I can see from my workspace window that crossing area. I can witness how many people come across every day. I can also witness cars turning from Bridgeway, turning west on Coloma. And I can predict who's going to be speeding up and also who's going to be speeding through, slow down and then go speak turning west on Coloma, and I can predict who's going to be speeding up and also who's going to be speeding through slow down and then go speeding through the MLK parking lot at 610 Coloma. So I applaud all of that, but blinking lights. have been proven to not always deter somebody. I don't know if they're only going to go when a car is coming. At one point they were talking about putting them into the street instead of flashing in All the neighbors belong right there on Coloma windows. |
| 01:48:05.60 | Mayor Woodside | I'm sorry, your time is up. Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? |
| 01:48:12.23 | Deirdre Coyne | Seeing no more comments online. |
| 01:48:13.92 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, I'll bring it back and I'll make the motion that normally would be made by my colleague Ms. Cox, who does a better job reading these than I will. I would move approval of a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the construction contract for the safe pathways to school Coloma Street and Ebtide Avenue project with gelati brothers Inc. for the base bid plus the two bid alternatives in a total amount of 915,093 dollars and 75 cents. approving also a contingency for the project in the amount of $91,509 finding the project categorically exempt from CEQA, approving plans and specifications and authorizing the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Swinerton management and consulting for the construction management of this project in an amount not to exceed $121,670. So that's the motion. It's okay. There's a second, all those in favor, discussion, sorry. Sure. |
| 01:49:27.60 | Jill Hoffman | I just want to congratulate, again, our Public Works staff. And I just want to point out that because of their hard work, we got grants in the amount of $850,000. So this is a million dollar project. And because of over, we spent about six years working on this. So it looks to me from our from our agendas, past agendas, we started in about 2020 working on this project, applying for different grants across the county. And we pulled from, it looks to me like about five different sources of funding on this thing. And so if it hadn't been from our for our hardworking public work staff and other various staff members and community members of trying to figure out what we wanted to do here, So, and you heard from some of them, Mark came up and Carolyn came up and Sybil spoke about what we wanted this to look like in various community members. about how we wanted to improve this area around the park, it wouldn't have come to this. And it's taken... you know, some time, but I think that that was important for people to weigh in. And so certainly. you know, $450,000 from a measure AA grant. $400,000 from a TAM grant. in 2020 and the measure measure measure double a grant in 2025 and then other various funds construction impact fees twice we funded it ourselves from measure l funds so And then other various funds that we got money from. So congratulations to our community who pulled together and really came up with a plan that we all wanted surrounding our biggest one of our biggest parks in town so anyway i'm glad that we're getting across the line and that are we thinking we're going to get it done by the time school starts because that would be really No, he's saying no. Okay. All right. Well, maybe Andy will come back and help us ribbon cut. That would be fantastic. So anyway, thank you. That's all I wanted to say. |
| 01:51:23.93 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, any other comments? There's a motion and Second. |
| 01:51:29.52 | Vice Mayor | Councilmember Sobieski seconded. Right. |
| 01:51:31.14 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Thank you. So let's just ask all those in favor. |
| 01:51:35.96 | Vice Mayor | Hi. |
| 01:51:36.86 | Mayor Woodside | So that passes four. 0 with 1 abstention Ms Cox abstained herself abstain from discussion and decision in this matter. Okay, moving on now to item five, business item 5C. And this has to do with some corrections, if you will, and |
| 01:51:58.04 | Vice Mayor | Should someone go get Councilmember Cox? Yes. |
| 01:52:01.14 | Mayor Woodside | Yes, yes. I'll just describe the introduction of this a little bit. We've had a number of concerns over the last few months with regard to our business license tax ordinance, and with particular attention to the waterfront and some of the Interpretations of our existing ordinance that have led to some of those waterfront businesses, particularly Shipyards being taxed at the highest category rate. So there was a desire, I think, from the council change that as well as tighten some of the definitions so there would be little room for really varied interpretations of what category certain businesses would fall into. Thank you. So having said that, we do have a report from our director of finance and also our city attorney, who's been instrumental in looking at what what's required to make these changes. So Angeline, would you like to present this? |
| 01:53:10.04 | Angeline Loeffler | Thank you, the mayor for the good introductions. The good evening mayor and council members that this evening, I will be providing an overview of the business license tax ordinance and the staff recommendations. recommended clarifications. Next slide, please. To begin, I would like to provide you with the fundamental context regarding our existing business license tax structures as established in the municipal code. Currently, the business license tax classifications is into the four separate categories. The category one being the general retail and wholesales and the restaurants and hotels and basically for the retail businesses. And a category two is for the commercial and residential rental units. And category three being as a service and professional. the service businesses, and as well as the last category for that is the construction contractors. Next slide, please. Before moving on into the potential revisions, I would like to briefly summarize the recent appeals that prompt this broad review of these categories. On March 3rd of 2026, the City Council heard the tax category reclassification request from the KKMI Sausalito LLC, which is involved the consideration of the application of the Category 3, which is under the service and professionals. The council upheld the KKMI Sausalito LLC's request to be categorized as the category one. as a substantial portion of their gross receipts were generated based on retail sales, and they were not engaged in their professional services. As a result of the determination, staff has to reexamine the city's business license tax categories and seek directions on a potential modifications to the code languages and address the ambiguity, ensure the appropriate tax treatments for the maritime businesses and similar business service-based business that do not require professional licensors and ensure the tax the the city's tax structures includes Next slide, please. With that context, I would like to just briefly revitch the history of the business license tax ordinances to frame the today's discussions. The city of Sausalito established its business license, the ordinance in 1968. And since that time there was updated several times by the actions of the city councils. In 2018, city council placed on a ballot revisions to the city's business license tax ordinances, which is reduced number of categories from 22 to four. That updated BLT ordinance went into effect in 2019. Next slide, please. Turning now the challenges that staffs encounter in administering the current ordinances, I would like to highlight the several recurrence issues. The although the SMC 5.04230 allows business owners to apply for the reclassifications staff frequently encountered the business whose activities does not clearly falls within the existing definitions. The ordinances also does not have a separate classification for the maritime businesses, despite of the importance of the Sausalito's maritime economy and leave the staff to determine the categorizations on a case by case basis. based on whether the kind of activities are closer to the retail, manufacturing, or the service uses. In category two, three is not as considered as the city's catch-all categories, and there's no general catch-all categories currently exist in our business license tax ordinances. But lastly, municipal code does not state that right listed in our the ordinances. are not the max are the maximum rates or does it grant the council's authority to lower the rates by resolutions, which is important tools for responding to the economic conditions or the supporting the specific business sectors. Thank you. Next slide, please. In responding to these challenges, staff has prepared several options for Council's consideration this evening. The staff presenting with the options and the recommendations for the potential adjustments to the classification framework to ensure the consistency perspective, treatments of the similar businesses, including the legally permissible approach to refund or the rate adjustments within the constraints of the voter approved business license tax measures. Staff is seeking directions from the Council on the following suggestions. The creation of the Ameritine Business categories, new catch-all category for the non-professional services, Council authority to set the reduced rates, and as well as guidance on clarifying the business with the mixed business activities. Next slide, please. I would like to begin with the maritime sectors. with the representing step Nick in the history of the components of South Salir's economies. the absence of dedicated categories, of yet. The result in inconsistent classifications and uncertainty about the, whether the maritime business belong to category one or category threes. On new Category 5, Maritime Business will classify, clarify the expectations and ensure the consistent treatments. Staff recommends a, the rate of $2 for a. per thousand gross receipt and minimum with the minimum of 125 reflecting the large portions of the gross receipt in these sectors are resulted from the service and the labor. Next slide, please. The next thing I would like to discuss the service oriented business does not fall within the professional and semi-professional classifications. During the KKMI appeal, a question regarding interpretation of the category three of rows, including the whether category was limited to those business offering the professional. and semi-professional services requiring a form of the license. If this is the case, then there is no definitive categories for in which the general manual services such as The business is the basic repair provide the basic repairs like pet services, other non professional services may not requires any of the state or the government issues, the license or certificates. which is creating an inconsistency in the categorizing these businesses. Staff recommends the establishing category six general services for catch all which rate at $3 per $1,000 in a gross receipt with the minimum of 125. consists with the other service oriented classifications. The same rate is recommended because of the most, if not all gross receipts from these services are exempt from sales and use taxes. Creating this category would reduce the reliance of the reclassification process under the Sausalito municipal codes. Next slide, please. Another important consideration is clarifying the extent of the council's authority to respect to modifying the tax rate. The current SMC does not specifically states whether the list listed rates represent the maximum or does it, indicating the grant of the council's authority to reduce the rate by the resolutions. Adding the approvations stated, all business license tax rate in the SMC 5.04.230 represents maximum rates, and the City Councils may, by resolution, set reduced rates for all or or any categories. These changes will also provide the flexibility and clarify the clarity to the city's ability to respond to the economic developments, administrative purposes, and supported the targeted sectors. Next slide, please. I would like to now discuss the business engaged in a mixed activities, which is regularly create the classification challenges for the staffs. The mixed use of businesses such as engaging in retail sales related with the services such as a bike shop offering the repairs or the auto mechanics that repairs and majority of those parts sales are difficult to classify between the category one and category three. The codes offer no standard methods for assigning such businesses to the most appropriate classifications. STAB recommends that ordinance be modified to set forth that the collectors may determine the tax rate classifications as applying the following conditions. Businesses whose gross receipts for the prior year consist primarily majority more than 50% of the retail sales or manufacturing shall be classified under category one. Businesses whose gross receipts consist of the primarily services or their professional activities for the prior year shall be classified under category three with the approval of the tonight's it could be category three and category six. In known activities constitute a majority of the gross receipt, the collector shall assign the business to the category that most closely reflect its primary economic activities and consist with the... SMC 5.04.230B. to determine the proper classifications. In such determinations, collector may consider evidence the prior years, the business owners, the economic activities such as requesting for the financial statements. This classification will reduce ambiguity and reliance on the classification and appeal process under the municipal. the municipal codes of 5.04 and 150 and as well as the 5.04 and 230 C. Next slide, please. In summary, The step recommends incorporating following updates into the revised ordinances for the Council's considerations, creating a separate license tax category for the maritime related businesses. And creating a new catch all categories for the non professional services that does not fit into the existing category three of the professional. their service category. adding a provisions authorizing city councils to reduce the business license tax rates by resolutions. clarifying that all listed rates represents maximum allowable rates. Lastly, provide a clearer Got. guidelines on a business with the mixed activities. are assigned to the category one or category three. Next slide, please. Before concluding the presentation, I would like to briefly outline the anticipated the fiscal impact associated with these proposed changes. Physical impacts will be depending on a final tax rate adopted for the new categories and whether the council elect to reduce the existing rates by the resolutions. Staff is anticipating the idea about 10 to 25,000 in annual business license tax reduction by putting the maritime as their own separate categories. Currently, the majority of them are located in, placed in the category three at this point. Adding a catch all categories will improve the consistency, but not expect to material changes the revenues. Authorizing reduce the rates by the council resolution may decrease the revenue depending on a future council's actions. the physical impact model will be provided with the draft ordinances. Next slide, please. This concludes the staff's presentations. I am available for any questions. |
| 02:06:35.01 | Mayor Woodside | I imagine there'll be a few questions. Ms. Cox, you want to take the lead? |
| 02:06:38.83 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. Um, you made reference to adopting a resolution clarifying that, um, the city council has the power to lower the rates, um, This was the business license tax was adopted by ordinance. This may actually be a question for the city attorney who I see is here. If the, if the. initiative adopted by the voters didn't already grant to the city council the ability to lower the rates. I'm not sure that we can adopt that. such a provision. But I believe that because I was involved in drafting the business license tax initiative, I believe it did give us the, I believe it set the rates as a cap, but that we did have the ability to adjust beneath that cap. Sergio, have you had a chance to look at that at all? |
| 02:07:34.02 | Sergio Rudin | I have looked at it and I my concern is that there is no clear language that says that it is a cap. And so based on your comments, which I agree with, unless the resolution, unless the voter approved ordinance makes clear that the council has expressed authority to lower the rates. There would be potential for challenge if the Council did so by any other act, including by resolution. So the proposal from staff this evening is to If you direct staff to work towards modifications for the business license tax ordinance to ensure that that be included. |
| 02:08:08.43 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. Let me ask and then you. That being said, I can't imagine that many would object to our lowering tax rates. |
| 02:08:19.40 | Sergio Rudin | I agree. |
| 02:08:20.21 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. And is it clear that if we give the direction that's being recommended that what this does is set up yet another measure to go on the November ballot so that the voters themselves who had approved the original measure would be able to vote on this change, which effectively reduces taxes. |
| 02:08:46.54 | Councilmember Cox | So, |
| 02:08:46.60 | Mayor Woodside | Correct. |
| 02:08:47.48 | Councilmember Cox | Okay. And if it is an initiative, then we have a deadline. to accomplish that, which is imminent, and we aren't meeting in August. And our deadline is in August. So are you proposing that this go on the ballot For this year, or for a subsequent election. |
| 02:09:07.98 | Sergio Rudin | So that would be at the council's decision, since this is a tax measure and it is a general tax, it does need to go onto a election that is a general municipal election. Your choices are this year or the next election for which council members are being voted on. |
| 02:09:25.60 | Councilmember Cox | In two years. |
| 02:09:26.63 | Sergio Rudin | two years. So I do believe that we can |
| 02:09:27.71 | Councilmember Cox | So- |
| 02:09:30.63 | Sergio Rudin | uh, prepare a draft. Um, for the next council meeting if the council directs, because Most of these are not. significantly great revisions to the municipal code, but Of course, this would be something where the city has not done outreach, polling, you know, So those would be potential concerns about the viability of any measure. But that being said, this is a measure mostly to clean up existing provisions, add one new category, of businesses and grant the power, grant the express power to the council to lower tax rates below a maximum cap. |
| 02:10:14.15 | Councilmember Cox | So we have We're already granted exceptions to two different Um, organizations in the Marin ship to KKMI and also to the was it Mike Linders? Um, |
| 02:10:25.91 | Mayor Woodside | Yes. |
| 02:10:26.28 | Councilmember Cox | Boat operations? |
| 02:10:27.31 | Mayor Woodside | Is it Bayside? |
| 02:10:28.48 | Councilmember Cox | Bayside Boatworks. So we already granted this, whether or not we had the power to do that, we already granted exceptions to the business license tax. We could, could we not continue to grant exceptions on an ad hoc basis as we undertake the polling and the Um, homework we would ordinarily do in order to place an initiative on the ballot with the goal of placing the initiative on the ballot at the next general election. |
| 02:10:55.48 | Angeline Loeffler | Thank you. Just one clarification on a baseline boat work. They were still in the classifications three. We granted their penalty waivers, but they have not challenged the classifications at this point. |
| 02:11:09.67 | Councilmember Cox | But we did grant KKMI a waiver, so... surgery. |
| 02:11:13.96 | Sergio Rudin | And you did grant a reclassification request for KKMI. My concern would be that the rules that are in place currently with respect to treatment between category one and category three businesses do contain some ambiguities and the proposals that are being recommended by staff would ensure that there are clear rules to follow with respect to all businesses. It would minimize the risks to the city of numerous appeals outside of the maritime businesses category. |
| 02:11:45.07 | Patricio Cabezas | the new |
| 02:11:45.33 | Aaron Nathan | Thank you. |
| 02:11:45.34 | Patricio Cabezas | I'm going to... |
| 02:11:49.87 | Sergio Rudin | And it would also safeguard the city from the potential adverse financial impacts of a number of businesses being reclassified from category three to category one. Right now we're not facing a number of those reclassification requests, but we do not know how many may become popular. |
| 02:12:09.73 | Councilmember Cox | And is this as initiative if we placed on the ballot, you believe would be exempt from CEQA? |
| 02:12:14.42 | Sergio Rudin | I do because I believe it has solely fiscal impacts on the city, but no environmental impacts. |
| 02:12:19.67 | Councilmember Cox | And what would be the incremental cost to the city of adding another ballot initiative to the November ballot? |
| 02:12:26.84 | Sergio Rudin | I would have to defer to the city clerk, but I would anticipate that it'd probably be the same costs as the AIM initiative. So we can pull up the staff report from the June meeting and I can read those numbers. |
| 02:12:38.92 | Councilmember Cox | Roughly 20 or $30,000, right? |
| 02:12:42.84 | Sergio Rudin | So, Let me just pull up the staff report from the AM measure so you guys can have a comparison. |
| 02:12:50.48 | Mayor Woodside | We can wait for that. I do have a question for you, Sergio, related to timing. First of all, how long do you think it would take for you to prepare the appropriate time? both ordinance and other documents necessary to place it on the ballot. Could it be done by the 21st of this month or... Would you need hope? |
| 02:13:15.12 | Sergio Rudin | I think I only have until the 21st of this month, unless the council is willing to call a special meeting. So I think that is the deadline. I would have a week. |
| 02:13:24.47 | Mayor Woodside | And are you able to meet that deadline, do you think? |
| 02:13:27.23 | Sergio Rudin | I think so, yes. |
| 02:13:30.68 | Mayor Woodside | And then my other comments will be comments when it comes back. So any other questions? |
| 02:13:37.29 | Sergio Rudin | And the estimated additional fiscal impact for the AIM measure was stated in the staff report at 14,600. |
| 02:13:48.43 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you, Sergio and Angelina. |
| 02:13:51.76 | Mayor Woodside | Any other questions from council members? |
| 02:13:55.37 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:13:55.38 | Jill Hoffman | So, yeah, I have a question. So, um, When did it become uh, apparent that this was going to have to go on the ballot and that we did not have the authority as a counsel just to Amen. amended. |
| 02:14:12.58 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:14:12.60 | Jill Hoffman | Um, |
| 02:14:12.61 | Unknown | Um, |
| 02:14:13.09 | Jill Hoffman | I don't see in the staff report that it's noted that this was a case. you know, this was a ballot measure and that we don't have the authority to change it. And that we are talking tonight about putting another item on the ballot. |
| 02:14:35.60 | Councilmember Cox | I think I'm the one who just... alerted staff to that fact. Okay. |
| 02:14:39.76 | Mayor Woodside | Well, if I could intercede, |
| 02:14:43.26 | Councilmember Cox | Yeah. |
| 02:14:43.66 | Mayor Woodside | I'm trying to answer your question, Jill. I think we discussed it in June or whenever we heard the first appeal. And several questions were raised about fiscal impact and how we might go about it. changing. categories, for example, and I believe Mr. Rudin gave us advice at that time that we could only change categories and language by going to the ballot. I'm pretty sure that's when I first heard about the issue. |
| 02:15:14.39 | Jill Hoffman | but it's not in the staff report. |
| 02:15:16.28 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, so many of these issues were discussed in the context of the KKMI appeal, which was March 3rd. |
| 02:15:21.82 | Jill Hoffman | Right? |
| 02:15:21.87 | Sergio Rudin | Bye. Thank you. And so- |
| 02:15:23.34 | Jill Hoffman | I remember that very well. |
| 02:15:25.51 | Sergio Rudin | but I don't, |
| 02:15:25.56 | Jill Hoffman | I don't remember us talking about yet another... issue for the ballot, and it's certainly not in the staff report. So for our conversation tonight. for timing issues. And anybody else who's reading the staff report, a non-council member and somebody who wasn't at that meeting would have no that we were talking about putting yet another issue on the ballot. So I'm, very, concerned about talking about putting another Fast track tissue balance. |
| 02:15:59.48 | Mayor Woodside | Fast. is this a question or do you want to... |
| 02:16:04.58 | Jill Hoffman | No, I'm trying to confirm that we haven't talked about this as a ballot measure. I mean, we're talking about who we want to change. |
| 02:16:09.13 | Unknown | talking about who we want to change. |
| 02:16:12.98 | Jill Hoffman | I mean, there's two different issues. We talked about changing this from a charter city, general law city or charter city. on a fast track, we decided not to do that. And now we're talking about another, and run fast track on this issue. |
| 02:16:28.78 | Sergio Rudin | If I make comment on one thing. |
| 02:16:28.83 | Jill Hoffman | in the middle of shopping. |
| 02:16:32.81 | Sergio Rudin | Although some of these issues did come up in March, I believe staff were not prepared to bring an item to the council until recently because of the need to analyze the fiscal impacts about adding a new category. |
| 02:16:32.86 | Aaron Nathan | All those kids. |
| 02:16:44.91 | Sergio Rudin | And, um, provide recommendations. I do believe that did take some time and staff were just simply not ready until I believe sometime in June. then there were other items for the council to consider which were prioritized by agenda setting |
| 02:16:58.70 | Jill Hoffman | that, Look, that's totally understandable. I totally get that. But just as a general issue if you're talking about then amending |
| 02:17:09.85 | Mayor Woodside | Please, Ms. Hoffman, is there a question? We're going to have a discussion about whether... |
| 02:17:13.61 | Jill Hoffman | city attorney why was the issue that this is going to go on the ballot not including the staff report |
| 02:17:19.96 | Mayor Woodside | because it's not ripe yet, clearly we would have to come back with an ordinance and we would have to have a public meeting and make a decision to put it on the ballot. |
| 02:17:31.97 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, great. Let me just say this clearly. As a council member, I think that's important for me to know and understand that I need to know the timing of that. And that needs to be noticed to the public via the staff report. |
| 02:17:41.93 | Patricio Cabezas | Thank you. |
| 02:17:41.95 | Unknown | you |
| 02:17:41.98 | Patricio Cabezas | Thank you. |
| 02:17:45.58 | Jill Hoffman | that we're talking about putting something on the ballot. And if we're talking about doing that in one meeting, for the November ballot. then I need to know it and everybody who reads a staff report needs to know it and they need to be sitting in this council chamber. And they need to walk up to the podium and say, as public comment, This is not enough public notice for everybody who isn't concerned about what's going on for business license taxes and to come down to this meeting and message to the city council, We haven't had enough time to think about and talk about this to put it on the ballot. |
| 02:18:20.86 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, that's not a question. We're going to ask for public comment at this point on this measure. It's not a question. I'm sorry. |
| 02:18:25.85 | Jill Hoffman | It's not a question. I'm sorry. Because this is our city attorney. And I'm talking to our city attorney. Our city attorney looks at these matters and prepares a staff meeting. |
| 02:18:34.01 | Mayor Woodside | that this came up in March. And we're being asked now whether to give staff direction to come back with a ballot measure and accompanying ordinance in time for the November election. That would be the direction. if we so agree, and we can debate that. |
| 02:18:56.79 | Mr. Sobieski | I have a question. Thank you. |
| 02:18:57.60 | Mayor Woodside | Yes. |
| 02:18:57.97 | Mr. Sobieski | Thank you. Thank you. uh, I'm not sure who asked it of. Maybe city attorney. I'll ask you. Uh, So I've seen in the past when there've been ambiguities in ballot measures. that the city council passes clarifying resolutions. The current situation is, you know, we did that for ordinance 1022. So whenever there are ambiguities or errors in a initiative, the city council has tried to clarify them. My question is whether in this case for the tax rates and the business license tax, where whether we could strike a middle ground where we clarify ambiguities. meaning that the general population or one of the concerns you voice about not attending to this matter right away is that there would be many appeals. and people would be trying to explore where the city council would and wouldn't grant an appeal. But if the city council proactively clarified that marine businesses are we judge category two. And... XYZ businesses are category one. that would be providing guidance to the population about what would and wouldn't succeed on appeal, at least with this city council. and probably mitigate to a large extent who's going to file appeals and who isn't. uh, Is that a plausible path that we could go down where we're basically expressing answering staff questions, really. How should we deal with a maritime business? It's not explicitly called out in the ordinance. So city council, how would you judge? And here with KKMI, we judged we assess that, hey, for this, we are going to do I forgot what he said, category one, I guess, or two, or don't know what we did, but whatever he did, that's the thing. So it's not so much changing the will of the voters as it is just clarifying it. And I know it's not legally perfected, but a lot of the resolutions we pass are, um, workable until they're challenged. |
| 02:21:05.00 | Sergio Rudin | Well, and Council Member, I will say I agree with you that it is workable until you are challenged. And so there is some benefit to taking that approach in terms of clarifying the city's position and letting also applicants, as well as courts, know how the city interprets its own law. Oftentimes there is some deference paid to such interpretations, but they are not. Um, You know, they are not revisions to the text. They do not have the same weight and force in terms of a legal dispute as changing the actual underlying text of the ordinance. |
| 02:21:40.48 | Mr. Sobieski | So you're saying we could do that as a... potential, that's something we could do. So it wouldn't be so much changing If we were to do that, would we actually be taking the staff reports recommendations to change the municipal code in the ways you propose? Or would it be something else? Would it be a sense of the council that for these types of businesses, we would apply these types of categories? |
| 02:22:03.41 | Sergio Rudin | I think a resolution is useful to interpret ambiguities and provide guidance to staff in terms of existing code, but I do not think that you can change by resolution. Um, the plain text of the language. And so for example, it would probably be difficult to adopt a new category or a new tax rate that doesn't exist in the ordinance now. For that reason, I think it would be more defensible if you are inclined to create a maritime business category to do so by... ordinance that is approved by voters. Additionally, I do think to the extent there are concerns about category three serving as the city's catch all category. and there's a different catch-all category that's desired, it would be very helpful. to have a specific category that says, yes, this is the catch-all category. |
| 02:22:53.59 | Mr. Sobieski | Could we pass a resolution? I know it's not as legally perfected as what you say, but it would obviate the need for a ballot resolution, at least now. That would simply say that our sense of things is that maritime businesses fit in Category 2 and that any business not explicitly called out in the current BLT ordinance would be judged to be category B. three or category two or whatever it said in here, some category. |
| 02:23:20.48 | Sergio Rudin | Um, I do think you could adopt such a resolution. I will say that it is, So with respect to the KKMI appeal, the council decided that business was classified as category one. |
| 02:23:33.67 | Unknown | one. |
| 02:23:34.92 | Sergio Rudin | And so, |
| 02:23:41.57 | Sergio Rudin | category two is a different tax rate. Um, I do think that there is a actual, the recommendation from staff on the maritime business category is, is a different tax rate than category one, which was what was decided for KKMI. So I will just note that Very plainly. Um, |
| 02:24:03.78 | Sergio Rudin | I think some guidance on the issue of, um, Businesses that have a mixed component of retail sales and services is certainly going to be helpful for staff in terms of administration of the ordinance. I think that is one of the main things that staff are attempting to solve with the proposed revisions. I do think that guidance can be helpful in the form of a resolution. but whether or not it is It will not be entirely immune from challenge the same way that a modification to the actual underlying text would be helpful. |
| 02:24:43.77 | Mr. Sobieski | Right, and so just to pick the issue of your points, one after another, we judged on the appeal that KKMI would be category one, but we're not bound here and now if we wanted to pass a resolution Maritime businesses should be category two from doing so despite our previous assessment in that particular case, correct? |
| 02:25:04.85 | Sergio Rudin | I don't think that you are, but one of the other finer points on this issue is that The city is required to equally apply its laws to all similarly situated businesses. And so one of the benefits here of making clear rules and clear guidance for staff is to ensure that we are equally applying and equally treating all of our businesses that are similarly situated. |
| 02:25:33.13 | Mr. Sobieski | Yes. And when I say, when I asked the question about the, um, being good enough unless challenged. the way that someone would challenge the city's application of a business license category is of course to appeal to the city council as KKMI did. But then once the city council adjudicates that, if the challenge wanted to continue, if for instance, the challenge was this resolution you passed shouldn't apply, and we want to say it's in violation of the underlying initiative, that would require a suit, correct? In court. |
| 02:26:09.51 | Sergio Rudin | That is correct. And the applicant could sue over this collection of the city's business license tax ordinance or the city's interpretation of the business license tax ordinance as applied to them. |
| 02:26:09.55 | Mr. Sobieski | that is. |
| 02:26:21.33 | Mr. Sobieski | So they'd have to prosecute a suit, right? |
| 02:26:23.40 | Sergio Rudin | Yes. |
| 02:26:23.74 | Mr. Sobieski | Thank you. Okay, thank you very much. Those are my questions, Mayor. Thank you. |
| 02:26:29.83 | Mayor Woodside | Mr. City Attorney, is it correct that it is much, much, much cleaner and much, much more defensible and much, much more efficient in terms of avoiding appeals to have the underlying ordinance appropriately modified with voter approval? Yes. Thank you. |
| 02:26:58.72 | Jill Hoffman | So I have a follow-up question based on I think Councilmember Sobieski's question. If we're not. somebody's going to challenge a resolution. And I think, Councilmember Sobieski, your resolution was, in the interim. So if we don't put it on a ballot this time, if we pass a resolution that mirrors I think. Um, I believe your resolution was, can't we just do a resolution that... does what this proposes in the interim or if we decide to do it after some outreach and some polling Um, A challenge would come possibly come from somebody who didn't agree with the resolution. But somebody who didn't agree with a resolution would be somebody who didn't want to pay the lower tax. Potentially. But I... I can't see that. I can't see that possibility or think that it would become, it would come. |
| 02:27:57.87 | Mayor Woodside | Are you asking a question at this point? |
| 02:28:00.43 | Jill Hoffman | Well, that's, I guess I'm trying to figure out who the challenge would come from. Because... |
| 02:28:04.92 | Mayor Woodside | We've had a challenge already. We've seen two challenges so far this year recently. |
| 02:28:10.84 | Jill Hoffman | from people who are trying to lower gets right. |
| 02:28:12.68 | Mayor Woodside | That's right. I'll save my arguments until we get to the discussion time, but please, I would ask you to do the same. |
| 02:28:17.85 | Jill Hoffman | Please. That's good. That's why I'm asking our city attorney. So we're trying to create a new category of lower taxes. |
| 02:28:23.09 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:28:28.38 | Jill Hoffman | from people who have, based on the challenges that we've received, right? |
| 02:28:33.54 | Sergio Rudin | Correct. My concern with that approach would be that every business that doesn't fit into that lower category is going to argue that they also should belong in that category. |
| 02:28:50.33 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, but that's always true. So I don't know how. Questions. Okay. Thank you. |
| 02:28:59.06 | Mayor Woodside | Let's hear from the public if there's anyone who wants to discuss this topic. Can you hear me? |
| 02:29:09.91 | Mayor Woodside | Oh, I'm sorry. That's not this item, is it? |
| 02:29:16.35 | Deirdre Coyne | How about McDougall? |
| 02:29:17.87 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. McDougal? |
| 02:29:20.60 | Babette McDougall | THE FAMILY. Thank you for acknowledging me, Mr. Mayor. You know, I would like to echo Councilmember Hoffman's concern. It was my own concern before she said it out loud. Any time we have to put something before the broad voter electorate. I would just invite all five of you to remind yourselves. |
| 02:29:43.89 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:29:45.06 | Babette McDougall | that we have a timing issue to concern ourselves with. And I think many of you are just simply, certainly three of you are just too new to this governance process and its larger place in the calendar? And I mean, its place is large, not just that the calendar is large. So I implore you to really think about this and, you know, trying to back it back and forth and shove it down some. It's like foie gras. You keep force feeding these poor geese thinking that, you know. We're going to have... Pate really soon now. Well, it's just the same kind of thing with trying to force these things into the public will. It could just blow up in your faces for all you know. And yes, I'm a great champion for lowering taxes, please. But any time it has to go before the voter electorate, You have to be respectful of that. And frankly, we don't see a lot of that about most of you. So I would just like to, I think it's really an awareness issue. It's not a deliberate snub. I think it's just an awareness and that comes with experience, I suppose. Or just, you know, how to keep a better punch list of all the things that you have to keep track of. Being in these very difficult jobs that you've taken on, For free. So with that, I yield back my time. Thank you. |
| 02:31:03.80 | Mayor Woodside | Any other comments online? |
| 02:31:05.01 | Deirdre Coyne | Next, we have Sandra Bushmaker. you |
| 02:31:08.86 | Sandra Bushmaker | Hello again. Yeah, here's what I think. I think you're rushing this matter to put on the ballot. And just judging from your questions of Sergio and Sergio's responses to you, there are Many ambiguities that have to get worked out and shouldn't be worked out in a rush. And I think by putting it on this November ballot, you're already going to be creating confusion. We have a 200-some page ballot measure on the AIM initiative, how much, and we've got city council elections. So how much more are you gonna ask the city residents to absorb with a rushed ballot measure. I think this requires further discussion, further study, and further recommendation from staff As to a proposed, Yeah. ballot measure and it's too it's too much too soon all right thank you |
| 02:32:11.58 | Mayor Woodside | Anyone else? |
| 02:32:12.27 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 02:32:12.34 | Deirdre Coyne | Next we have John. |
| 02:32:16.16 | Mayor Woodside | John, I'm not sure. |
| 02:32:17.47 | Deirdre Coyne | Geray. |
| 02:32:17.81 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you. |
| 02:32:17.83 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Oh, John. |
| 02:32:18.97 | John Geray | array. Hello, thank you, Mayor, City Council. As you know, I'm a member of the Economic Development Advisory Committee and a member of the South Sea to working waterfront coalition. A couple months ago or three months ago when the KKMI matter came up, I advocated. for the retroactive forgiveness. Um, of, uh, of the tax from 2019, which was granted from, uh, 0.3% to 0.1%. Um, A few days later, I was contacted by Mike Linder at Bayside Boatworks, asking me what happened at the meeting. And he asked if he would also be granted that forgiveness. And I told him that's between you and city council. It sounded like from what the. Thank you. The attorney said perhaps he should be granted that forgiveness until then. He has always been at 0.3. KKMI now has always been at point one. Um, So that's something I think that needs to be addressed since there are very similar businesses. The other thing I want to mention is, Perhaps you could consider So, phasing in business license tax for new maritime companies, since I think we all agree that we would like to see new maritime companies come in. So phasing something in, perhaps no business license tax for a year, get them in. maybe the second year, 0.1, and then the third year, 0.2. sort of lock them in and then bring them up to the point too. So just an idea. Thank you for your time. Thank you, John. |
| 02:33:52.55 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Anyone? |
| 02:33:53.44 | John Geray | Bye. |
| 02:33:53.58 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:33:53.74 | John Geray | Thank you. |
| 02:33:54.44 | Deirdre Coyne | Seeing no more comments online. |
| 02:33:56.00 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, let's bring it back for discussion, if I can just take the lead. We did, as I recall, discuss rather clearly in the context of KKMI what it would take to clarify the various ambiguities in the existing law. Maybe not everyone on the dais remembers that, but it was very clear at the time that there was a real ambiguity with respect to whether or not there was even a catch all Secondly, we want, independently, we may want someday to do a business license tax holiday for new businesses, not only in the maritime world. context, but perhaps we may want the authority to encourage new businesses of different types in different parts of the city. It would be very helpful. if we had clarity in the ordinance to do that. I have to say it frustrates me when We get clear legal advice. on the best way to go. And we hear the refrain, no, we're rushing into it, when in fact we've been thinking about this for several months, and staff has worked on it and brought back to us simply a request for guidance, such that we could come back. and then consider and debate whether to put it on the ballot. And I think we have an intelligent population. in Sausalito who could very quickly take a look at this and determine that a tax reduction, particularly for maritime businesses is in order and they probably would be happy to approve it. That's my political judgment, but my legal judgment tells me let's do it right. We have a history of doing things by resolution. Let's try to interpret an initiative. And then we second guess ourselves months later, years later, decades later. It's not the way to run a good government, in my opinion. So, Let's take our city attorney's recommendation and our finance director's report and give the guidance, and then we'll take it up again and have the full debate whether we think this November is the right time to do it. Those are my comments. |
| 02:36:20.32 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:36:20.42 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Vice Mayor. |
| 02:36:21.60 | Vice Mayor | I just want to clarify, we as a council have not formally requested or put anything on the ballot. The AIM initiative was brought forward by I WANT TO BE ABLE TO I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE my recollection from the diocese that we said we wanted more research and we wanted to know what the best path forward was. And that's what we've received from staff. And I am very confident in our community's ability to interpret a ballot measure that we craft with public comment. And we will also be having an additional hearing where we'll see from Sergio whether or not it does indeed make sense. Or if at that time we decide, OK, we actually want to do more. So we'll put it on the next election ballot. So I think that staff has done what they were asked to do here and given us the information that we need to take the necessary next steps. And if we did put this on the ballot, then indeed it would be the first one that we as a council were agreeing and requesting ourselves beyond calling the election. So I just wanted to make that very clear that there's a difference between a citizen led ballot initiative of which we have no say on putting that on the ballot. Once it receives the required signatures and those that we facilitate via our city attorney. So I I'm very comfortable with the direction of, um, moving forward with, to see what Sergio comes back with and making sure the public is aware in a timely fashion so that they can give the feedback and we can give that feedback while still potentially meeting the deadline or if that time we decide let's wait then OK, but I have full confidence in our staff and our city attorney. |
| 02:38:05.40 | Mayor Woodside | Other comments? |
| 02:38:08.66 | Councilmember Cox | I endorse the phased approach. Let's see what Sergio comes up with. Let's consider it. If we deem it incomplete or too hasty, we can always take a slower route and adopt a stopgap measure at that time. But I would say, let's see. Sergio says he can come up with this. it's as someone who writes these myself, it's not that difficult. So and we're not making huge changes and we're not making changes that will likely be |
| 02:38:31.61 | Babette McDougall | as, |
| 02:38:40.58 | Councilmember Cox | objected to by many. So I would say, let's see if we can get it done. |
| 02:38:46.05 | Vicki Ablees | And. |
| 02:38:46.46 | Councilmember Cox | We can always decide to take more time at our next meeting should staff identify other obstacles. Thank you. or believe that that's a more prudent path forward. Other comments? |
| 02:39:00.80 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 02:39:01.51 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. So, yes, I remember very well the discussion that we had with KKMI, and I supported the change in the category. And I look forward to the staff coming back with the recommendations for us. And I'm wondering if we can't, if we decide not to go forward at this point to a ballot measure, if we can give direction that maritime industries would be Category 1 instead of Category 3 in the interim time period. I think that would be the fix that we would go with because we've already done it with KKMI. My issue is that the staff report's just wrong, that it says on page 2 that they're recommending that the council go with an ordinance change, not a ballot measure. So, and that's just wrong notice to the council and it's wrong notice to the public. So I think that, you know, that that's my issue. tonight and You know, it makes it unwieldy up here on the dais. And unfortunately, I think that the public wasn't informed. I did talk to members of the public and actually members of the working waterfront and said, Hey, Have you seen the staff report? Do you have any issues with this? They certainly did not know and were not aware that the council was considering putting something like this on the same ballot that it looks like the aim initiative is going to be And that's an issue. that I think they want to be aware of and, um, that they would want to weigh in on. So, um, that's, that's what I'm trying to articulate here today and, um, trying to avoid in the future. |
| 02:40:51.10 | Mr. Sobieski | Yeah, I, uh, |
| 02:40:51.28 | Mayor Woodside | Yeah. |
| 02:40:54.67 | Mr. Sobieski | I think Jill has a point on that. I often am not animated by the process arguments that some of my colleagues make. I find them to just be obstructionist. But in this case, I'd have to agree that the staff report that I read didn't highlight the ballot initiative direction. And you're absolutely right, Mayor, that had been talked about in the past. also agree that it was not highlighted in the staff report. So I thought it was, I was surprised actually reading it thinking, oh gosh, I guess there is a way to do it by resolution, not by ballot initiative. So what I'm hearing here today is that no, indeed a ballot initiative is necessary. And that's a surprise. So it wasn't clearly laid out in the staff report. So I am uncomfortable except that I also acknowledge what Joan, a congress member Cox said, which is, you know, this is a change that probably upon examination is going to be well understood. Um, so people will, I think be uncomfortable that it comes about quickly, but we'll also see that gosh, it just does make sense. Uh, It is still a long time before the election, and it is not that we're deciding to put it on the ballot, but we're asking Sergio to actually come back with something. So we're going to have two weeks, uh, both to hear from constituencies that care in the, in the community, uh, at least initially about this, about whether it's, it's truly, um, something that is being rushed or is a kind of stop the gap fix. There are indeed, I think, broader issues around our business license tax. If you look at the way we tax businesses in Sausalito, it is, I think, unfair. One of our, One of our residents has made a point of coming often and saying how unfair she thinks the business license tax is. I do think charging our hotels 14% while we charge other businesses 0.2, 0.1, and 0.3% just is strange. And it means we have a highly hotel tech-based business tax and think we could re-examine the business license tax altogether, but that's not this. This, as you have pointed out, Mayor, is trying to fix something. in a very precise way. Uh, and that looks like the staff's proposal would do that in a, in a very precise way and isn't so much a reformation of business license tax. It is, it is just a fix. And I think also you're talking about doing things right, mayor. Um, if we had the option to put it on some other ballot that maybe would make sense. But as the, the thing that's really forcing me to be amenable to this is what Sergio said, which is if it isn't done at this general election, it can't be done for two years, which means we have two years of ambiguity. So the calendar may force us to that. Um, But this may be also a case of better late than not at all and trying to do something right for the right reasons, even if it could have been done better by getting it organized earlier, it's better to get it done than be done wrong. So we're not deciding that today, we were just giving direction to see if it comes together and to see if the people who are hearing this for the first time upon reflection sort of agree that, boy, this is just fixing the code in a way that's, that is non-controversial and, uh, and that we have, uh, really a non-controversial measure to put on the ballot. So let's see if that's what happens. |
| 02:44:21.29 | Mayor Woodside | And I think your point is that we can take a look at this in two weeks. And if it's not ready in two weeks, we could still call a meeting before August 7th or whatever the deadline is for putting on a ballot. And I do think that, for example, Mr. DeRay, who made comments earlier, was on top of this issue back in March and recognizes the problem as well as most people. in the maritime industry would recognize it's a problem unless we fix it. Thank you. And we can debate the better way to fix it, the timing, and when it next comes back. |
| 02:44:57.52 | Mr. Sobieski | If I might just add, though, in terms of what the staff report said, it was unfortunate that the ballot wasn't explicitly called out, and I would ask that the staff report for this item |
| 02:44:57.74 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. that. |
| 02:45:07.29 | Mr. Sobieski | explicitly call out path a is a resolution and here are the pros and cons of it. And the weaknesses path B is a ballot measure. And here's the pros and cons of it so that we have a full story as to what |
| 02:45:19.04 | Mayor Woodside | we're doing and why. |
| 02:45:19.88 | Mr. Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:45:19.98 | Babette McDougall | I'm going to make a motion. |
| 02:45:21.18 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, we're going to have a motion. I just wanted to make one minor point. I think the hotel tax is a tax paid by the... Occupant of the hotel, it's not a business license tax. |
| 02:45:30.97 | Mr. Sobieski | As a student of Milton Friedman, I'm going to have to say that there is no difference between those two things. |
| 02:45:35.78 | Mayor Woodside | There is a difference as a lawyer. the student of Jesse Chopra. Sorry, sorry, this is weird. |
| 02:45:42.97 | Mr. Sobieski | makes no economic sense. |
| 02:45:43.49 | Mayor Woodside | I don't know. I'm going to go. |
| 02:45:45.04 | Mr. Sobieski | Sorry. |
| 02:45:46.49 | Mayor Woodside | Well, But you're an advocate for hotels, more hotels, so that we can raise the revenues, okay? |
| 02:45:53.33 | Andrew Davidson | news. Yeah. |
| 02:45:54.86 | Mayor Woodside | That's another Milton Friedman principle, correct? |
| 02:45:58.73 | Andrew Davidson | Mm-hmm. |
| 02:45:58.75 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, sorry for that aside. I believe a member Cox has a motion. |
| 02:45:58.96 | Councilmember Cox | Okay. |
| 02:46:04.33 | Councilmember Cox | Thank you, Mayor. I move that we direct staff to prepare potential amendments to Title V, Chapter 5.04, business licenses in the form of an ordinance accompanied by a ballot initiative to be placed on the November 2026 ballot. And in the alternative, prepare a draft resolution that we could adopt in the interim should we decide that we are not yet ready to place an item on the ballot this year. Second. |
| 02:46:41.86 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, do we need further discussion? Let's then ask all those in favor of the motion say aye. |
| 02:46:48.59 | Councilmember Cox | I. I. |
| 02:46:49.57 | Mayor Woodside | I. Opposed? Okay, so that passes four to one. And we can now move on to the next item. which is the consent item that is now 5D. It was 3I. And it has to do with, I'll just summarize it very uh, very quickly as a correction of a clerical error, rescinding actions taken in June, and acting now to have the appropriate measure, part of the record that goes forward on the ballot that's already been We've already called for the election on the so-called AIM initiative. So that wasn't a very articulate way of describing the issue, but that's the issue. And Sergio, are you prepared to give the report? |
| 02:47:43.15 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, I'm happy to give the staff report. So I think the summary was Fairly correct. The agenda item was put together mostly by me. and there was an omission of the AIM measure entirely from the agenda when it was published. At the last minute, catching this error, the city clerk, I think in haste, added, a copy of the AIM measure that had been previously withdrawn by the proponents to the June 16th agenda and it was Not reviewed by anybody. And this error was not caught until after the council acted to pass the resolution placing the measure on the ballot. So unfortunately, the June 16th agenda contains a copy of the Andrew Tuft, Measure that is not the actual measure and so and it was not the copy of the measure that was used to prepare the city attorneys ballot title and summary. Andrew Tuft, And it was not the copy of the measure that was used by the proponents to gather signatures, and it was not the copy of the measure that was transmitted to the county for verification of signatures. And so It is an error. And so for this reason, I am recommending the council rescind the prior action and to adopt a new copy of the resolution, placing the actual copy of the measure with the correct text on the ballot. |
| 02:49:07.46 | Jill Hoffman | And so city attorney, that was the section that changed in the 266 page. initiative was section 12 |
| 02:49:17.41 | Sergio Rudin | That was how we discovered that there were changes. There are, I believe, a couple other minor edits that may have taken place, but that was the main That is the most apparent change in the language between the two versions. |
| 02:49:36.87 | Jill Hoffman | In that section 12, Sorry, it's super loud in here, but that section 12 is the section that pertains to the city council action in the initiative and that's on page. I think it's 265 of the initiatives. |
| 02:49:50.12 | Sergio Rudin | Yes. Um, That is page 265. Let me pull up 265. But it is... the section that deals with the ability of the council to make modifications to the measure without seeking further voter approval. Correct. |
| 02:50:06.67 | Jill Hoffman | And so- and then, So the. initiative that's currently attached to the item 5F on the June... The 16th agenda. where it says we're taking action. I think it's five F, hold on. Oops, sorry, no, it's not five F, yeah, five F. that resolution is incorrect. |
| 02:50:36.24 | Sergio Rudin | Yes. |
| 02:50:37.54 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, so here's my question. I think somehow, and I'm asking the city manager, I'm looking at the city manager and I'm looking at you, the city managers, the interim city, no, Our assistant city manager. the actual city manager and you. My concern is that people are going to look at that 5F. Because that's the first action we took in the vote to send this back Um, the vote to send it back to the county for putting on the ballot. and think that that's the actual resolution. But now we know that that's incorrect, that that's not a correct resolution. And so what is the action that we take as a council? Well, not as a council. maybe it is as counsel, to correct that agenda item? How do we correct that record? Because we need to make it clear that anybody looking at that, that's not their actual resolutions. So we're taking action tonight to correct that. action. Right. Cause now we're going to vote and send the correct resolution to the county. But how do we amend that agenda? May I suggest? Well, no, I'm not. Let me let, I know you want to weigh in, Councilmember, but let's get the answer from the attorney first. |
| 02:51:42.39 | Sergio Rudin | Um, |
| 02:51:42.96 | Jill Hoffman | an answer. |
| 02:51:43.67 | Sergio Rudin | So typically you would not rescind or modify a prior agenda because it is part of the record of the actions taken by the council. But I do think that it would be appropriate for the city to have a public information webpage. you know, as it normally does with all of its measures that has the official copy of the measure. |
| 02:51:58.05 | Patricio Cabezas | normally don't. |
| 02:52:02.42 | Sergio Rudin | the impartial analysis, all of the ballot arguments, the same that has been done, that the public can reference and know to go to that specific page. And additionally on that page, I do believe it would be helpful us to include a summary of what has transpired with regards to the rescission of the prior resolution, just in case there are any questions that come up. |
| 02:52:24.19 | Jill Hoffman | And is it possible on that page to note that You know, that, that, that action and that resolution on five F that that's not, cause we don't want people to be confused when they're looking at, um, a prior agenda or something that we did in the past. you know, that that that's it's clear that that's not the correct I mean, that's my, my concern that people looking at this agenda item and that that resolution, that that's not the actual resolution. |
| 02:52:54.02 | Sergio Rudin | That is a very valid concern, and I wholeheartedly agree that the city does need to be proactive in putting out the appropriate, correct public information. And for this reason, I believe staff have already published information and currents. My recommendation is to do more proactive work via the city webpage, rather than to simply delete or I mean, we can add something to the June 16th agenda as a, you know, a clerical note or an asterisk indicating that the council took subsequent action. Um, |
| 02:53:29.05 | Unknown | That's kind of cool. |
| 02:53:29.10 | Sergio Rudin | But- I don't think that we should delete or otherwise eliminate the wrong copy of the resolution. |
| 02:53:30.25 | Unknown | I don't know. |
| 02:53:30.66 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:53:35.32 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, that's what I was thinking, but like maybe a notation. on that agenda item C, subsequent action by the council on X date. Right. For correct something or other. Right. Like that's, that's kind of where I was going. And then my next question was, do we know or have any record of, because it's a 266 page document, do we have any red line? so that we as a council and the public will know what other amendments were done between that version and the, Current version. |
| 02:54:06.62 | Sergio Rudin | So I have personally tried to create red lines between the two versions. I have found them not to be particularly useful, in part because the measures themselves are red lines of changes between the text of the ordinance and the current municipal code for the most part. And so when you try to create a red line and automatically create a red line between two versions, it becomes unreadable. So unfortunately, we do not have anything that is workable at this point. |
| 02:54:31.19 | Jill Hoffman | We asked the proponents for a red line. |
| 02:54:34.33 | Sergio Rudin | I have not. |
| 02:54:36.91 | Jill Hoffman | Can we? |
| 02:54:38.39 | Sergio Rudin | I think we can. I would personally... have concerns about, uh, the difficulty with which it would be to verify the accuracy of any red line that they create. |
| 02:54:49.82 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. All right, thank you, Fair enough. And we have confirmed that the current version that's on our agenda tonight is the one that was actually submitted to the county Just asking. |
| 02:55:03.72 | Sergio Rudin | I have the clerk's assurances that that is the case and it does reflect the version that I reviewed when I was preparing the title and summary. |
| 02:55:12.31 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. All right. Thank you. Those are all my questions. |
| 02:55:16.72 | Sergio Rudin | home. Thank you. |
| 02:55:17.04 | Jill Hoffman | Sorry for an interview, Councilmember Cox. |
| 02:55:17.12 | Sergio Rudin | Thank you. |
| 02:55:17.24 | Councilmember Cox | John. |
| 02:55:17.58 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:55:17.59 | Councilmember Cox | Sure. |
| 02:55:19.64 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:55:19.65 | Councilmember Cox | That's all right. So I, in 30 years of practice, have run into this before. City Attorney, could we not simply mark the resolution that accompanied, sorry, the resolution and attachment that accompanied our prior staff report put a waterline on it, F superseded C blanks. |
| 02:55:38.65 | Sergio Rudin | That would be, that would be, A very, very great way of handling this issue. |
| 02:55:45.34 | Councilmember Cox | Okay, that was it. |
| 02:55:47.63 | Mayor Woodside | investment, any question? |
| 02:55:50.09 | Councilmember Cox | No. |
| 02:55:50.40 | Vice Mayor | Thank you. |
| 02:55:52.02 | Mayor Woodside | No. Um, |
| 02:55:58.38 | Mayor Woodside | So no more questions. There's one public comment. Mr. Fred Moore. |
| 02:56:09.99 | Fred Moore | And Good evening, this late evening. I appreciate obviously counsel Hoffman's very detailed or very detailed comments to make sure that everything is above board and correct. I think it's also important for the public to re-acknowledged the city attorney's comments that The correct version was provided all the signatures, all the thousand signatures that were gathered by dedicated volunteers. The correct version was given to the city clerk. The correct version was one that's been reviewed, and the correct version is the one that now is going to be forward to the county registrar's office. and at last time that you're very robust debate about the timing of the initiative how it's going to be sent to county what obligations the city has regarding pushing it forward putting it on the ballot as well as preparing a report. You had a very unique resolution how to deal with the report, so we appreciate that. But now it's really, as it was prior, it's really a non-action. It's a legal obligation to put it forward on the ballot, to have debate between now and november to see where it lands with what residents think will benefit the city so i appreciate you um correcting that prior comment i personally don't think it was going to cause confusion but now i think you've come up with a solution that will avoid any confusion so i appreciate that i look forward to you just pushing it forward to the county registrar's office, getting on the ballot. And I look forward to hearing when your report is ready so we can see how that's going to be handled. Thank you again for your time. |
| 02:57:44.73 | Mayor Woodside | Any other, no public comments in the chambers, anyone online? |
| 02:57:50.72 | Deirdre Coyne | We have Vicki Nichols. |
| 02:57:52.46 | Mayor Woodside | is Nichols. |
| 02:57:54.53 | Vicki Nichols | Hi there. Thank you for this discussion. I think this is major for the city on both sides. The clearer it can be, the better. I would like to ask that you consider, we got a great summary from the attorney. Sergio. about what the difference was. I think that's pretty telling what the difference was, um, that that was really important language. So when you do your, um, outreach through a website page or Mark up the documents. Can there be a brief summary? just saying that the, the, initial submission included XXYZ and the corrected version was such. It should be noted. You even have to note corrections to minutes. So it can just be summarized what what the change was. Thank you. |
| 02:58:51.03 | Deirdre Coyne | Thank you. |
| 02:58:51.45 | Vicki Nichols | Thank you. |
| 02:58:52.65 | Mayor Woodside | Any other comments? |
| 02:58:55.13 | Deirdre Coyne | Next we have Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 02:58:56.75 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 02:58:57.22 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. Bushmaker. |
| 02:58:59.40 | Sandra Bushmaker | Good evening again. I was informed by someone who has a lot of experience with initiatives that there's a requirement that there be a clean copy of the new ordinance attached to the document that is submitted to the voters. Uh, What I see in that that I've been able to see from the 266 pages is we have a lot of strikeouts and additions but we do not have a clean copy. Could the city attorney opine on that, please? |
| 02:59:33.25 | Mayor Woodside | I'm sorry, Ms. Bushmaker. We're not going to have directions from members of the public to the city attorney, but I'm happy to ask the question, is the copy complete and clean? And secondly, are the strikeouts necessary? Because one aspect of the initiative is to repeal, if you will, or strike out. Is that a clear enough question? |
| 03:00:05.33 | Sergio Rudin | So I think Yes, and I will try my best to answer it. The answer is there's no clear case law on that. Um, It is typical for ordinances to make revisions to existing code in redline or to mark, say, deletions and strikeout and addition. is an underlying I personally have used this in my own practice and preparing ordinances. The ballot measure is required by state law to be complete. and clear. but I'm not aware that it has to be a clean copy. Um, The city will have a difficult time codifying it without a clean copy and that we will have to make our own. |
| 03:00:47.74 | Patricio Cabezas | All right. |
| 03:00:47.77 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. |
| 03:00:48.82 | Sergio Rudin | But that is not an insurmountable task. |
| 03:00:54.39 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you. Any other comments online? |
| 03:00:57.56 | Deirdre Coyne | Seeing none. |
| 03:00:58.59 | Mayor Woodside | Okay. We have a staff recommendation before us. Is there anyone who wishes to comment further about that or make a motion? |
| 03:01:11.75 | Councilmember Cox | I'll move. We rescind Resolution 30-2026 and adopt a resolution submitting to the voters of the City of Sausalito. The Arts, Industrial, and Maritime Initiative to be voted on at the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election. and that in addition, We direct staff. to Mark. the prior version. incorrect version of the initiative and the accompanying staff report as superseded with a date and perhaps even a link to the web page once the city establishes a web page, an informational web page for the AIM initiative. |
| 03:01:47.64 | Mayor Woodside | Is that clear? There's a motion and a second. Thank you. Uh, and if, More discussion. All those in favor say aye. you |
| 03:01:55.67 | Elaine Forbes | Bye. |
| 03:01:58.02 | Mayor Woodside | That's unanimous, five zero. Thank you very much. So that concludes our business items. We now have item 6A, council member committee reports. Are there any committee reports that are needed for tonight? |
| 03:02:15.18 | Mayor Woodside | Ms. Hoffman. |
| 03:02:16.19 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. I sit on the Marine Clean Energy Board and there was a... that was Marin County grand jury report issued about the investigation about the marine clean energy Um, Anyway, about marine clean energy. operations i guess you could say um and the participating municipalities will have to respond to that report there's only two or three questions from the whole report that we'll have to respond to and I'll assist on how to respond. They're not onerous, but it's an interesting report for those of you who haven't seen it. And, um, Some of the coverage in the local paper has been extremely detailed and I have to say. All right. |
| 03:03:16.44 | Mayor Woodside | And just a quick question to you. |
| 03:03:17.50 | Jill Hoffman | Bye. |
| 03:03:19.70 | Mayor Woodside | Is it your understanding that as a participating entity, we too are required to respond to certain questions |
| 03:03:26.83 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, I'm telling you, yes, we do have to respond. And I will assist. And can you? |
| 03:03:31.14 | Mayor Woodside | And the deadline for that response? |
| 03:03:33.84 | Jill Hoffman | 30 days from when the report was issued. So that's coming up. Of course, we can get extensions, It's not the I think it's four questions. that we have to respond to. So it's not owner. |
| 03:03:47.86 | Mayor Woodside | And what usually happens is that if we're required to respond, that a report with the response comes back for approval as a |
| 03:03:55.81 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, 21st. Okay. Yeah, but it will not be, like I said, owners. Okay. And the mayor, you will sign it. |
| 03:04:01.85 | Monica Cox | Okay. |
| 03:04:04.40 | Jill Hoffman | So. |
| 03:04:04.68 | Monica Cox | I will. |
| 03:04:05.73 | Jill Hoffman | Um, the next, uh, other report is that we're going to cash guy next week, but that will be a report that we'll give when we come back. |
| 03:04:13.22 | Mayor Woodside | Yes. Okay. |
| 03:04:15.32 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. Preview. |
| 03:04:17.07 | Mayor Woodside | Any other council committee reports seeing none? Um, How about future agenda items? We do have a long list pending. We have a new city manager. I suggest that we not add to the list on her first full council day. and that we move on to the next item. I said, okay. Okay. Any, let's see, I don't think I've seen minutes from boards or commissions. Any other reports? Any public comment on what we've just discussed in terms of reports? Item 6A through D. |
| 03:04:54.58 | Vice Mayor | I just wanted to add one more thing, which is that there are going to be a number of vacancies on the Economic Development Advisory Committee, just mentioning this under appointments. Just so that folks know, we're going to put this in currents, but if you are interested in getting engaged, the EDEC is an excellent local commission that does amazing work, and we will be looking for, I think, three positions, potentially. Two or three. there are going to be a number of vacancies. And so if you are at all interested, now is an excellent time to step up and apply. We'll send that out in currents. And we'll also send a note of where there may be remaining uh, uh, vacancies on our boards and commissions. |
| 03:05:33.35 | Mayor Woodside | And I believe that Currents has already notified the public generally about the EDAC vacancies. I think there is a strong desire to fill those as quickly as possible. And my understanding is that we will schedule interviews on the 21st should we have sufficient applicants to consider at that time. Is that understood by everyone? OK. Very good. Any public comments on these items? |
| 03:06:03.99 | Deirdre Coyne | Seeing none online. |
| 03:06:05.07 | Mayor Woodside | Okay, thank you. We're not making any appointments at the moment. |
| 03:06:11.01 | Jill Hoffman | Didn't we appoint somebody? Yeah, on the consent calendar. Okay. Yeah. |
| 03:06:16.38 | Mayor Woodside | Okay. So that's already done. I don't think we have to welcome that person. Okay. |
| 03:06:19.74 | Jill Hoffman | You can welcome that person. Thank you. Michelle, we excuse Michelle Orr, and we could welcome... |
| 03:06:25.91 | Mayor Woodside | Well, her successor, I believe. Michelle's successor, yes. |
| 03:06:28.70 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. Thank you. |
| 03:06:30.13 | Mayor Woodside | Okay. |
| 03:06:30.52 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:06:30.55 | Vice Mayor | Thank you. |
| 03:06:30.57 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 03:06:30.64 | Vice Mayor | shoot with one of our. |
| 03:06:31.55 | Mayor Woodside | Nothing more. We are adjourned. |
| 03:06:33.61 | Vice Mayor | Well, I wanted to. |
| 03:06:34.55 | Mayor Woodside | Yes. |
| 03:06:35.01 | Vice Mayor | I actually wanted to adjourn our meeting this evening. Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. In honor of a very beloved resident who we sadly lost this past week. Many of you know the incredible or knew, had the opportunity to know the incredible Anne Arnott, who was a resident of Sausalito for nearly 60 years. |
| 03:06:36.76 | Mayor Woodside | Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Thank you. |
| 03:06:53.67 | Vice Mayor | She served on every possible board and commission. She was chair of the arts festival chair of the chamber of commerce. She had a business, um, a soup business soups on on Caledonia street. She was president of the Women's Club, my sponsor in the Women's Club, |
| 03:07:05.77 | Patricio Cabezas | I'm not sure. |
| 03:07:08.59 | Vice Mayor | and a frequent, probably all time, most director of Jinx, uh, at the women's club. and served on the Water District Board for many, many years, so much so that they named a bench after her and her hard work and efforts. She was a dedicated incredible resident who we were extremely lucky to have among us and she was a very dear friend and mentor of mine and someone who saw solito will absolutely be feeling the loss of um for many years to come so i'm sure that there will be i'm told that there will be a formal service at the women's club um probably in a month or so but i did want to make sure that we acknowledge the phenomenal once in a generation human being that and are not was and adjourned the meeting in her honor. |
| 03:07:58.99 | Mayor Woodside | Thank you, Melissa. Thank you. We are adjourned in honor of Ann Arnott. Thank you. |
Ginny Irwin — Against: Supported Marinship ordinance 1022, stating it protects the maritime and industrial character of the area. Opposed AIM, which would strip protections, increase density, traffic, and pollution. ▶ 📄
Vicki Ablees — Neutral: Raised concerns about the 33 San Carlos project, claiming material changes were approved administratively without public review, eroding trust in the process. Requested a public hearing. ▶ 📄
Robert McCullough — Against: Highlighted that the council's denial of the Pelican Harbor lease transfer to Mr. Razavi is being circumvented. He now appears to be operating the marina. Requested investigation and legal action to preserve the council's authority. ▶ 📄
Skip Cleggers — Against: Spoke as a Pelican Harbor tenant, reporting a 250% rent increase. Asked for city attorney advice on Mr. Rezavi's right to operate. ▶ 📄
Mary Robinson — Neutral: Reported increased traffic, biking, and dangerous conditions on Spencer Avenue without sidewalks. Mentioned July 4th traffic jam. Requested traffic calming measures. ▶ 📄
Sophia Collier — In Favor: Spoke on behalf of Save Our Sausalito supporting Pelican Harbor neighbors. Questioned why circumvention of council decision is allowed. Also alerted about the One Harbor Drive project becoming 80 feet tall, 477k sq ft, and lack of CEQA review. Suggested addressing development impact fees. ▶ 📄
Adrian Brinton — In Favor: Supported the AIM initiative, arguing it would allow creative energy and investment in the Marinship, address decay and infrastructure issues, and generate tax revenue. Emphasized no desire for tourist shops. ▶ 📄
Hugh Woodall — Against: Stated his Pelican Harbor rent increased 174%, calling it a financial shock. Questioned fairness and whether this management style was what the community wanted. ▶ 📄
Eva Crisanti — Neutral: Online commenter. Spoke about international conflicts and made accusations against the vice mayor's affiliations, unrelated to Sausalito agenda items. ▶ 📄
Sandra Bushmaker — Against: Online commenter. Supported 1022 and opposed AIM. Supported Pelican Harbor residents against large rent increases, and requested city action against the new operator. ▶ 📄
Babette McDougall — Neutral: Online commenter. Thanked for July 4th, noted traffic issues. Urged council to appreciate current waterfront and be realistic about development and capacity, and to address Pelican Harbor situation with fresh eyes. ▶ 📄