HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Min 2019-10-16 TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING —7:00 Y.M.
On October 16, 2019, the Council's special meeting was cancelled.
REGULAR MEETING — 7:30 P.M.
Mayor Kulik called the regular meeting of the Tiburon Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, October 16, 2019, in Town Council Chambers, 1505 Tiburon Boulevard. Tiburon,
California.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Fredericks, Kulik, Thier, Welner
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Fraser
PRESENT: EX OFFICIO: Town Manager Chanis, Town Attorney Stock.
Director of Administrative Services Sweitzer, Town
Clerk Stefani
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION IF ANY
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Shala DaVOndi, Avenida Miraflores, asked the Council to consider banning wrought iron fences
with sharp spikes due to several incidences of deer jumping the fences and becoming impaled in
her neighborhood.
Richard Wodehouse, Spanish Trail, noted that simply removing the spikes from such fences
would not be very costly and would not likely impose a financial hardship on the fence owners.
The Council asked about the legality of the existing fence. Town Attorney Stock noted that the
tence in question was built legally on private property. He explained that the Council could enact
an ordinance to ban future fences, but would not apply retroactively to this existing fence.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CGI. Town Council Minutes—Adopt minutes of September 4, 2019 special and regular
meetings (Department of Administrative Services)
CC-2. Town Council Minutes—Adopt minutes of September 18, 2019 regular meeting
(Department of Administrative Services)
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Tmi?n Council A!Iimiles 918-2019 October 16.2019
CC-3. Resolution—Adopt Resolution in recognition of Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the
Year (Department of Administrative Services)
CC-4. Investment Summary—Adopt investment summary for month ending August 31. 2019
(Department of Administrative Services)
CC-5. Town Investment Policy—Conduct annual review and reaffirm Towns Investment
Policy (Department of Administrative Services)
CC-6. Local Emergency—Adopt Resolution continuing the declaration of a local emergency
related to damage caused by February 2019 storms (Office of the Town Manager)
Town Manager Chanis made a correction to the date(s) listed in Consent Calendar Iter No. CC-
<4 (Investment Summary) and requested the Council adopt the summary as amended.
COuncllinerber Thier removed Consent Calendar Item No. 6 for discussion.
MOTION: To adopt Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-5, as amended.
Moved: Thier. seconded by Fredericks
VOTE: AYES: Fredericks, Kulik, Thier, Weiner
ABSENT: Fraser
CC-6. Local Emergency—Adopt Resolution continuing the declaration of a local emergency
related to damage caused by February 2019 storms (Office of the Town Manager)
COunCllmerbet-Th ier asked for confirmation that the local emergency was being extended
primarily because the work is not yet completed. Town Attorney Stock confirmed this point.
Mayor Kulik opened the floor for public comment. There was none.
MOTION: To adopt Consent Calendar Item No. 6, as written.
Moved: Thier. seconded by Fredericks
VOTE: AYES: Fredericks, Kulik, Thier, Wehner
ABSENT: Fraser
COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS
D-I. Amazon Re-Use Box Petition —Over the past few months, Town COUncilnlembers, as
well as COUnCIhl7embers in other Marin jurisdictions, have received correspondence
Ur"ing the Councils to support the `Amazon to Reuse Box Initiative' proposed by local
residents. We have placed this on the agenda as a discussion item to give Council the
Opportunity to provide input and direction to staff as to how they would like to proceed
with this matter.
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7'oir)7 Council Afhnae.� 418-2019 October 16, 2019
Town Manager Chanis said this item was placed on the agenda to give the Council an
Opportunity to discuss the Amazon to Reuse Box Initiative petition circulating around Marin
County by local residents.
Mayor Kulik opened the floor for public comment. There was none.
COuncilmember Thier made a motion to continue the iter to the next agenda because the main
proponent was not present. The motion failed.
Councilmember Thier spoke in support of requesting the Town Manager to write a letter of
support.
Vice Mayor Fredericks said this request does not comply with the Town's regular practice of
passing resolutions of support for matters within the Town's control or that impact the Town's
ability to deliver services. She also expressed concern about a lack of information about the
broader impacts of the petition. She appreciated the proponents' intent and urged them to
continue their good work in sustainability efforts, but felt it was inappropriate for the Town to
write a letter.
Councilmember Weiner disagreed with the Vice Mayor's opinion on the general policy of the
Town to not consider resolutions or letters in support of broad issues, but still felt he lacked
enough information on the impacts of the proposal to support it just yet. He said he would
support the proposal if lie had more information on the greater impacts.
Mayor Kullk said the Town has taken significant steps to improve its sustainability efforts and
has shown it is environmentally conscious through several other initiatives and projects.
However, he agreed it would be outside the Council's scope of duty to support the proposal
Without a more detailed analysis of the impacts.
No action taken.
ACTION ITEMS
AI-I. Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center—Consider request from
Chamber of Commerce to make financial contributions toward a Welcome Center at
1704 Tiburon Boulevard, and consider authorization of a Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget
amendment to fund request (Office of the Town Manager)
Town Manager Chanis introduced the item and said the Council is considering a request to make
a one-time monetary contribution and three additional annual contributions to a Welcome Center
based downtown.
Patrick Sherwood spoke to the beauty of Tiburon's community and schools but said the
downtown businesses are struggling. He reviewed the location of the proposed welcome center,
and said their team hoped to use the welcome center to encourage visitors to spend more time
downtown.
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Towii Council Minutes #18-2019 October 16. 2019
DeAnn Biss showed the branding of the center and several ideas for interactive technology,
inspired by other successful welcome centers. She said the Chamber of Commerce and
Destination Tiburon Boards have unanimously supported the project, and many of the downtown
businesses have already committed a financial contribution. She requested the Town make a one-
time donation of$126,000, and an additional $20,000 annually for the next three years.
David Holscher and Connor Flaherty presented additional details of the project. Mr. Holscher
reviewed the preliminary site and floor plans of the center, and the key elements of the design.
Mr. Flaherty; as a downtown business owner, spoke to the struggle of downtown businesses.
particularly in the winter, and the recent surge in investment downtown. He said the team does
feel a sense of urgency to improve the downtown.
Mayor Klllk opened the floor for public comment.
Sig-Britt Ivey spoke about the difficulty of opening a business downtown and said it was great
that the Town is considering investing in more energy and innovation downtown.
Annette Gibbs, Rotary Club President, said the welcome center would be a welcome addition to
the community.
George Landau said the welcome center represents a positive influence that would entice visitors
to return. He urged the Council to allocate the requested funds.
Another downtown business owner spoke in support of the Chamber's efforts to improve the
downtown and offered her interior design expertise to the project.
Phil Casson, president of the Landmarks Society, spoke in support of the welcome center and
noted Tiburon has a responsibility to assist the worldwide visitors to Tiburon see and learn about
the local sights. He thought including information on ferry schedules was a good idea.
Edward Hall spoke in support of the welcome center and echoed Mr. Casson's comments about
encouraging visitors coming to Tiburon frorn across the world.
The Mayor called for a 5-minute recess, and then resumed the public comment period.
Sara Klein thought the welcome center solved a big problem in the downtown area and said
having an enjoyable experience is now a critical part of brick and mortar shopping areas. She
thought it was money well spent.
Jeff Hadley said it was rare to have a project that has such widespread support from the
community and leadership. He said it was worth investing in.
Mayor Kulik closed the floor.
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COUncilmember Wehner supported the project and was pleased with the amount of outside
finding the team had already done. He thought it was an impressive proposal but wondered why
the City of Belvedere was not contributing more.
Vice Mayor Fredericks also supported the project and funding request and was pleased the
Council had an opportunity to support and partner with the downtown businesses. She was also
impressed by the innovative technology planned for the welcome center and asked the team to
report back on progress.
COnncll►nember Thier spoke about the positive impacts of having a place for the community to
gather and enjoy what Tiburon has to offer, and it was exciting to see all the parties coming
together to work on one facility. She supported the funding requested.
Mayor Kulik spoke to a high Council priority of revitalizing the downtown, and the huge surge
of investments in the downtown area happening right now. He said this space has been vacant for
years and believed the Council should facilitate the revitalization of downtown as much as
possible. He was in favor of the funding request.
MOTION: To approve a budget amendment in the amount of$126,000 for a one-time
contribution to the Welcome Center project, authorize a $20,000 annual
contribution for the next three years, and to request a report back to the Council
on progress after Year 2.
Moved: Thier, seconded by Fredericks
VOTE: AYES: Fredericks, Kulik, Thier, Weiner
ABSENT: Fraser
AI-2. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Joint Powers Authority (JPA)—Receive
presentation on proposed JPA and consider authorization of letter in support of JPA to
Tiburon Fire Protection District (Office of the Town Manager)
Town Manager Chanis said the County of Marin and several fire agencies have developed a
proposed strategy to coordinate and oversee improved wildfire awareness and preparation by the
creation of a new Joint Powers Authority (JPA). He explained the Town is not one of the
agencies that would be included in the JPA, but the Tiburon's two fire districts would be. He said
all 19 applicable agencies that would be part of the JPA have been requested to decide if they
will join the .IPA. He said JPA representatives were present tonight to make presentation on the
proposed JPA.
The JPA representatives from several local fire districts made their presentation. They spoke to
the collaborative effort between agencies and the use of scientific modeling to become more
prepared for Future fire seasons. The Fire Chiefs worked together to create the main initiatives of
the JPA. including the creation of the JPA itself as a mechanism of a countywide response to
wildfire preparedness. The explained funding for the JPA would come from a quarter cent tax
measure on the 2020 ballot.
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The representatives discussed the ballot measure funding and public outreach on the JPA in
Z, detail. They noted the Tiburon Fire Protection District voted against the measure, but the
Southern Marin Fire District voted for the measure, and explained that if the ballot measure
passes, the half of Tiburon represented by Southern Marin Fire District would be taxed and
receive the services of the .IPA. but the other half would not.
The Council asked several clarifying questions of the JPA representatives regarding funding and
the additional services the JPA would provide.
Mayor Kulik opened the floor for public comment.
George Landau believed the public agencies should coordinate and communicate better for
wildfire response. He said he was surprised the Tiburon Fire Protection District voted against it
and recommended the Council ask the District to reconsider their position.
Another resident expressed concern about the latest problems of unstable fire insurance for
homes, and insurance being cancelled or denied. He thought the voters should be able to vote on
this measure.
Mayor Kulik closed the floor.
The Council discussed the presentation. The Vice Mayor noted that the Fire District is an entirely
separate elected board serving the same constituents the Council serves, and thought the most
effective course of action would be for constituents to request the Board to reconsider their
position on the JPA by writing letters and ernails to the Board directly.
No action taken.
AI-3. Town Council Committee Appointments—Consider making an appointment to the
Marin County Council of Mayors and COUncilmembers ad hoc subcommittee on Climate
Change and Sea Level Rise (Department of Administrative Services)
Town Clerk Stefani said the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC)
had reinstated its ad hoc subcommittee on climate change and sea level rise and has requested the
Council appoint a delegate and alternate appointment to the subcommittee.
Mayor KUllk opened the floor for public comment.
Councihmember Welner offered to serve as delegate and Vice Mayor Fredericks offered to serve
as alternate. The rest of the Council agreed.
MOTION: To appoint Councilmember.lon Welner as delegate to the MCCMC Climate
Change and Sea Level Rise ad hoc subcommittee, and to appoint Vice Mayor
Alice Fredericks as alternate to the subcommittee.
Moved: Fredericks. seconded by Thier
VOTE: AYES: Fredericks. Kulik, Thier, Weiner
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Town Council Minuses 418-2019 October 16, 2019
ABSENT: Fraser
TOWN COUNCIL REPORTS
None.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Chanis announced COUncilmember Fraser had submitted his resignation from the
Town Council, effective October 17, 2019. He said staff is recommending the Council schedule
a special meeting to discuss the various options for tilling the now-vacant seat.
WEEKLY DIGESTS
Received.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Town Council of the Town of Tiburon, Mayor Kulik
adjourned the meeting at 10:10 p.m.
DAVID KULIK, MAY R
ATTEST:
LEA STEFANI, TOWN CLERK
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Town Council Minwes 418-2019 October 16, 2019