[0:00] where you are.

[0:03] » I am taking care of my children. Um

[0:07] they my wife was away and I needed to to

[0:09] take care of them and watch them.

[0:12] >> Okay, great. So, you're participating

[0:13] remotely. Um does he need to say if

[0:16] there's anyone in the room that's 18 or

[0:18] older?

[0:19] Matt,

[0:21] is there anyone in the room with you?

[0:22] >> There there's no one else in the room

[0:23] right now. Just me.

[0:25] >> Perfect. Thank you. Um has the agenda

[0:27] been posted?

[0:29] >> Yes, Mayor.

[0:30] >> Any changes to the agenda?

[0:32] >> No, Mayor.

[0:33] >> So, number three, because this is a

[0:35] special meeting, all public comment for

[0:38] the other um

[0:41] three items um will be taken right now.

[0:45] So, um for people who have public

[0:47] comment on I items four, five, or six,

[0:52] not general public comment, but just

[0:54] pertaining to those three items, um

[0:56] please come to the podium and

[0:58] make your public comment.

[1:13] » I can mute myself.

[1:17] Good evening, um Mayor McMillan and Ross

[1:19] Town Council members. I am here today to

[1:21] formally request that the Town Council

[1:24] agendize this evening a motion to take

[1:27] up during its September Council meeting.

[1:30] This agenda item should instruct the

[1:31] Town Manager, in conjunction with the

[1:33] Town Treasurer, to produce a detailed

[1:36] accounting of all costs incurred by our

[1:38] town on the fourth issue {slash}

[1:41] initiative.

[1:42] The report should itemize the following:

[1:44] legal expenses, staff's time, the

[1:47] special meeting at Marin Art and Garden

[1:49] Center, and the election code report.

[1:51] Once the final expenditures of our

[1:53] town's resources is known, the Town

[1:55] Council must instruct the Town Attorney

[1:57] to make a formal demand on the Friends

[1:59] of Ross Fire forth for full

[2:01] reimbursement and slash restitution of

[2:04] any and all municipal expenditures

[2:06] incurred by the town of Ross related to

[2:08] forth's flawed and untenable ballot

[2:10] initiative.

[2:12] As I've noted in prior communications,

[2:13] the town of Ross has been forced to

[2:15] expend significant taxpayer resources

[2:17] including an estimate of $85,000 in

[2:20] unanticipated consultant fees to address

[2:23] a ballot measure that was fundamentally

[2:24] flawed from its inception.

[2:26] Recent reports including the Citizens

[2:28] Advisory Committee findings have served

[2:30] as formal acknowledgement that forth's

[2:32] own admission, the goal of staffing and

[2:34] maintaining a fully functional fire

[2:35] department at the Ross Civic Complex is

[2:38] no longer realistically objective.

[2:41] For over a year this community has

[2:42] endured misinformation that has

[2:43] fractured our town and compromised our

[2:45] standing with Marine County agencies.

[2:47] Throughout the process the town has

[2:48] acted in good faith adopting resolutions

[2:50] to evaluate alternative designs and

[2:52] expending significant resources.

[2:55] It is only equitable that the

[2:56] organization responsible for these

[2:58] extraordinary unnecessary costs be held

[3:00] financially accountable. Forth has

[3:02] publicly claimed that they have raised

[3:03] hundreds of thousands of dollars in

[3:05] donations. As a 501c4 entity, these

[3:08] funds should now be utilized to

[3:09] reimburse the taxpayers of Ross for the

[3:12] administrative or legal costs squandered

[3:14] on the initiative that forth eventually

[3:16] admitted was untenable. Just as a

[3:18] resident pays for services of the town

[3:19] arborist when requesting tree removal,

[3:22] forth must be held to the same standard

[3:24] of financial responsibility for their

[3:27] municipal work that they have mandated.

[3:29] I'm asking the council take the

[3:31] following actions. Agendize a

[3:33] discussion, schedule a formal agenda

[3:34] item to discuss the financial impact of

[3:36] the forth initiative on the town's

[3:38] reserve.

[3:39] Instruct the town attorney, direct the

[3:41] town attorney to issue a formal demand

[3:42] to forth for reimbursement of all

[3:44] consultant fees, staff time, and legal

[3:46] expenses related to the June 2026 ballot

[3:49] initiative within 30 days of notice.

[3:52] And I require that Forfe make uh their

[3:54] finances uh

[3:56] public to ensure the donations are not

[3:58] being hoarded while the town's general

[3:59] fund it bears the burden of their

[4:01] campaign. We as residents deserve a

[4:03] swift resolution, the return of taxpayer

[4:05] dollars. Accountability must come with

[4:08] public demand for restitution. In my

[4:10] opinion, Bob Hurst, president Forfe,

[4:12] should write this reimbursement check

[4:14] before his name appears on the of

[4:16] November ballot. Respectfully, Michael

[4:18] Roosevelt.

[4:19] Perfect.

[4:22] >> Anyone else in the chamber with public

[4:24] comment on the three agenda items?

[4:27] Anybody online with public comment?

[4:29] >> No one online, Mayor.

[4:30] >> So, we're moving to item number four,

[4:33] which is Town Council to decide to

[4:35] decide if it wants to adopt resolution

[4:38] number 2648

[4:40] approving a professional services

[4:42] contract with Gensler Inc. for

[4:43] facilities master plan amendment

[4:45] services in an amount not to exceed

[4:47] $286,879,

[4:51] establishing a facilities master plan

[4:53] amendment project with a total project

[4:55] budget of $320,000,

[4:58] appropriating $320,000

[5:00] from the undesignated operating fund

[5:02] balance in the fiscal year 2026-2027

[5:06] budget for implementation of the

[5:07] project, and authorizing the town

[5:09] manager to execute the professional

[5:11] services agreement with Gensler Inc.

[5:14] Town Manager Johnson.

[5:16] >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh there is a a

[5:19] lengthier uh staff report in your agenda

[5:21] packet. I'll just uh summarize. Um if

[5:24] you recall on May 6th of of this year,

[5:26] the Town Council adopted resolution 2623

[5:30] directing me to initiate an amendment to

[5:32] the facilities master plan utilizing the

[5:35] CAC concept as the preferred alternative

[5:38] to concept B subject to further

[5:41] technical, operational, and financial

[5:43] analysis by the town. This resolution

[5:45] further directed that the amendment

[5:47] process include pre comprehensive

[5:50] preparation of a comprehensive project

[5:52] scope and a fully burdened cost estimate

[5:55] including updated space programming,

[5:57] infrastructure analysis, parking

[5:59] analysis, public works operational

[6:02] requirements, public safety operational

[6:04] requirements, and preparation of a fully

[6:06] burdened project cost estimate. The

[6:09] resolution also directs that any

[6:11] amendment continues to support the

[6:13] town's affordable housing objectives and

[6:15] include stakeholder engagement

[6:17] throughout the process.

[6:19] So, consistent with town council

[6:21] direction, staff issued a competitive

[6:24] request for proposals,

[6:26] um,

[6:27] also called a RFP, seeking professional

[6:30] planning, architectural, and technical

[6:32] consulting services to prepare a

[6:34] facility master plan amendment. Five

[6:37] proposals were received.

[6:39] Town staff completed a technical

[6:41] evaluation of all the proposals

[6:44] utilizing the evaluation criteria

[6:46] established in the RFP document.

[6:49] Following staff evaluation, the town

[6:51] council subcommittee of Mayor uh

[6:54] McMillan and Mayor Pro Tem Robbins and

[6:57] staff reviewed the proposals and

[6:59] selected the three highest ranked firms

[7:01] for interviews.

[7:03] Following the interviews, town staff

[7:05] deliberated further and entered into

[7:08] negotiations with Gensler to refine the

[7:11] scope of work and budget, clarify

[7:13] project deliverables, reduce overall

[7:16] costs, and address the accelerated

[7:19] project schedule.

[7:21] The final negotiated proposal with

[7:23] Gensler includes a comprehensive work

[7:25] plan attached as exhibit A to the

[7:28] professional services agreement, and

[7:30] that is attached to the staff report in

[7:32] your agenda packet.

[7:34] Gensler's proposal provides a 12-week

[7:38] work program with completion anticipated

[7:41] at the end of October, that's this year.

[7:44] The plan amendment schedule is intended

[7:46] to support subsequent town council

[7:49] consideration of financing alternatives

[7:52] and and if directed by the town council,

[7:55] preparation for placement of a potential

[7:57] general block obligation bond measure on

[8:00] a 2027 ballot.

[8:02] Through the negotiation process, town

[8:04] staff worked with Gensler to refine the

[8:06] project scope, clarify deliverables, and

[8:09] eliminate work not essential to

[8:12] completion of the facilities master plan

[8:14] amendment.

[8:15] As a result of our staff work,

[8:18] the proposed professional services

[8:20] agreement was a reduced by approximately

[8:24] $169,000,

[8:27] which is approximately a 38%

[8:29] reduction from Gensler's original

[8:32] proposal.

[8:34] While preserving the core planning,

[8:36] engineering evaluation, cost estimating,

[8:39] and facilities master plan amendment

[8:42] services necessary to meet the town

[8:44] council's objectives.

[8:46] Gensler's scope of work balances

[8:48] technical analysis, cost, and schedule

[8:52] while while intentionally limiting the

[8:54] assignment to planning level validation

[8:58] rather than advancing into schematic

[9:00] architectural design.

[9:02] Exhibit A to the professional services

[9:05] agreement contains a detailed project

[9:07] work plan identifying project

[9:09] milestones, meetings, deliverables,

[9:12] consultant coordination, engineering

[9:15] evaluations, cost estimating,

[9:18] preparation of the actual amended

[9:20] facilities master plan document, and the

[9:23] project schedule schedule necessary to

[9:25] complete the amendment um before the end

[9:28] of October 2026.

[9:31] um

[9:33] A Gensler scope of work also identifies

[9:35] information that is required to be

[9:37] provided by the town

[9:39] including a site engineering or called a

[9:42] topographical survey and existing

[9:44] building a laser scan documentation.

[9:48] >> [cough]

[9:50] >> Excuse me.

[9:52] Town staff have already begun the

[9:54] contracting process to get this work

[9:56] completed ASAP.

[9:58] The total project budget is 325,000

[10:01] dollars which includes 286,879

[10:07] for the professional services agreement

[10:09] with Gensler.

[10:11] Then the rest of the project budget

[10:13] includes um 32,450

[10:16] for completion of the additional owner

[10:18] directed work.

[10:20] And it also includes a minor amount

[10:23] 5,600 or so for minor expenses that

[10:26] might arise.

[10:27] So as mentioned, the 12-week timeline

[10:30] for this project is very aggressive.

[10:32] Assuming council approval tonight,

[10:35] town staff has a kickoff meeting

[10:37] scheduled on Monday with the

[10:39] consultants.

[10:40] We anticipate needing to hold several

[10:43] special meetings with the council during

[10:45] this 12-week period to keep the project

[10:47] moving forward and I will gratefully

[10:50] accept the council's previously stated

[10:53] offer to meet as often as needed and ask

[10:57] that the council set aside the fourth

[10:59] Thursday of the coming months, more

[11:01] specifically August 27th,

[11:05] September 24th,

[11:07] October 22nd, and November 19th, which

[11:11] is actually the third Thursday in

[11:12] November because I don't think you want

[11:14] to meet on Thanksgiving

[11:15] for potential meetings. And so I will

[11:18] ask our town clerk to send um

[11:20] Outlook notifications to the council so

[11:22] that you have that.

[11:24] Um if and the good news is it'll be on

[11:27] your calendar. For some reason we don't

[11:29] need them, we can cancel them, but um

[11:31] that's what we need to do in order to to

[11:33] move this project forward and meet that 12-week timeline.

[11:37] Uh, in summary, approval of the proposed

[11:40] agreement via resolution number 2648,

[11:44] which is in your packet,

[11:46] this will authorize preparation of a

[11:47] comprehensive amendment to the 2023

[11:51] facilities master plan that will

[11:52] validate and refine the town council's

[11:56] preferred civic center concept, update

[11:59] project costs, and implementation

[12:01] strategies, and provide the technical

[12:03] foundation

[12:05] for future environmental review,

[12:07] financing, and consideration of a

[12:10] potential 2027 bond measure. The

[12:12] proposed agreement that is in your

[12:14] packet represents the culmination of a

[12:17] competitive procurement process and

[12:19] successful negotiations that have

[12:21] resulted in a technically comprehensive

[12:24] schedule-driven scope of work

[12:27] appropriate for the amendment of the

[12:29] facility master plan. Approval of the

[12:32] agreement will allow the town to

[12:33] complete the technical evaluation

[12:36] directed by the town council and

[12:38] position the town to consider future

[12:40] financing and implementation decisions.

[12:44] So, specifically, it is recommended that

[12:47] the town council hold this public

[12:49] hearing this evening and decide if it

[12:51] wants to adopt resolution number 2648,

[12:55] which will approve a professional

[12:57] services agreement with Gensler

[13:00] for facility master plan amendment

[13:02] services in an amount not to exceed

[13:04] $286,879.

[13:08] It will establish a facilities master

[13:10] plan amendment project in the budget

[13:13] with a total project budget of 320,000.

[13:17] It will appropriate 320,000

[13:21] from the undesignated operating fund

[13:23] balance in the current fiscal year

[13:26] 2026-2027

[13:27] for implementation of the project during

[13:29] this current fiscal year,

[13:31] and it will authorize me, the town

[13:33] manager, to execute the professional

[13:35] services agreement with Gensler. The

[13:38] Gensler has already signed the

[13:39] agreement, and a copy of it is in your

[13:41] packet.

[13:43] Thank you for the opportunity to

[13:45] >> Thank you, Krista. What

[13:48] Sorry?

[13:49] Okay. Questions, council members?

[13:53] Matt, any questions?

[13:56] >> [clears throat]

[13:56] >> Then we will move it to discussion.

[14:03] » Well,

[14:04] I'll mention one thing. Oh, thank you,

[14:05] Krista. Um

[14:06] it's a great contract, and um

[14:10] I mean, I think everyone's so delighted

[14:12] that we can move forward with the

[14:13] Gensler plan, which

[14:14] uh has such widespread support. That it

[14:17] one thing to focus on now now that we've

[14:19] launched our project, that, you know,

[14:22] the most important thing is to get

[14:23] community support behind the project,

[14:26] you know, and and as you mentioned in

[14:28] the resolution to include um

[14:31] engage with stakeholders to provide

[14:33] input during the process. I mean, people

[14:35] having community members at the table

[14:38] who then take this project out to the

[14:40] community is is probably the best way

[14:42] for us to make sure that we get the bond

[14:43] measure passed. And um and and on that topic, um I know that

[14:50] some of the CAC people, uh especially

[14:53] Dan Weinick, has said has offered to be

[14:56] part of of some of the uh meetings going

[14:59] forward, which I think we should

[15:01] certainly consider. Where, you know,

[15:03] he's a big player behind this and has

[15:07] helped us get to this point with this

[15:08] beautiful project. And uh you know, so I think that um we

[15:14] should at least consider and not, you

[15:16] know, they're not the contract we're

[15:17] going to approve, but but just how we

[15:19] run some of the meetings, and can we

[15:21] have community members there also,

[15:23] especially Dan who's who we're lucky

[15:25] said he would be willing to come to our

[15:27] to meetings so that we can have this as

[15:30] a community you know, with led by Krista

[15:32] and and David but also community members

[15:35] to help us get it out to the community

[15:37] to get it approved for a bond measure.

[15:40] So, that's my comment.

[15:43] » Any other comments?

[15:46] I I think the beauty of what Krista is

[15:49] proposing is that there will probably be

[15:51] two meetings a month where the public

[15:54] and community members and we can

[15:56] participate and give feedback.

[15:59] So, um I think that's built into what

[16:02] you've said.

[16:04] Um

[16:05] any other comments?

[16:06] >> I was just going to say I I really like

[16:09] the idea of having stakeholders

[16:10] participate cuz the

[16:12] it in hearing what's going on and I

[16:14] think of stakeholders as age-friendly

[16:16] Ross and other groups, school.

[16:19] So,

[16:21] parts of the community that will be

[16:22] involved in voting for the geo bond. So,

[16:24] >> I I I think that's key that everyone

[16:26] feels that I mean even if everything

[16:28] goes beautifully, everybody wants to be

[16:30] a part of it going forward and and that

[16:32] will get engagement and votes so that's

[16:34] where

[16:35] I you know, I I think we'll have to

[16:37] decide you know, how many people come to

[16:40] I mean everyone come to council

[16:41] meetings. Should people also be um and

[16:44] especially like our our design people

[16:45] from the CAC, should any of them come to

[16:48] some of the you know, the other meetings

[16:50] with Gensler cuz they do have building

[16:53] skills so that's something to think

[16:54] about going forward.

[16:58] » Uh Um thank you. I don't I don't want

[17:00] our mayor pro tem to leave this meeting

[17:02] under the impression that

[17:04] anybody except town staff and our team

[17:07] and and of course Gensler, our project

[17:10] team which actually doesn't include Don

[17:11] Dan Winey. He's not on their project

[17:13] team as they

[17:15] presented. I had nothing to do with who they

[17:18] identified as their project members.

[17:21] So, um you know, we will uh absolutely

[17:24] this is going to be coming forward to

[17:25] the council

[17:27] very often in this 12-week period of

[17:29] time. And um

[17:31] that will be the opportunity. And uh we

[17:33] can certainly do uh working with the

[17:36] town clerk and his enhanced um

[17:39] community engagement skills do our most

[17:41] to like get the word out about the

[17:43] special meetings and and hopefully

[17:45] what's going to happen at that meeting.

[17:46] What decision points are being brought

[17:48] to the council to really to engage the

[17:51] community to come to the meetings. Um

[17:54] but that that So, that happens in a

[17:56] public setting

[17:58] with all five council members here. Um

[18:01] it's very transparent. Everybody hears

[18:03] the same thing. And in the meantime,

[18:07] staff is busy working with the Gensler

[18:11] project team to to get the stuff done

[18:14] because it is

[18:15] um you know, Gensler is the one that

[18:17] proposed the 12-week turnaround time.

[18:21] The council subcommittee was very

[18:23] supportive of that

[18:25] 12-week turnaround time. And it is um

[18:29] it's going to be super challenging to

[18:30] get it done. We won't be able to have um

[18:34] lots of other extra meetings um

[18:37] to it just won't you know, you you could

[18:39] do that if you were willing to extend

[18:44] the time that you're conducting. If you

[18:46] recall, the first facilities master plan

[18:49] project took well over a year. Several

[18:51] meetings with the council, several

[18:53] meetings with the public. And so, you

[18:55] know, you're it's difficult for us to

[18:58] get it all. And so, in order to get this

[19:01] done in 12 weeks, in order to get it

[19:04] done in what I consider to be a

[19:06] reasonable cost, which is still by the

[19:08] way twice as expensive as the first

[19:10] facilities master plan,

[19:12] this is what we you know, this is what

[19:13] we need to do.

[19:15] Take advantage of the council's very

[19:17] generous

[19:18] um offer to meet as much as needed.

[19:21] And um everybody will be hearing the

[19:24] same thing and

[19:26] lots of opportunities.

[19:30] » Any other comments?

[19:31] >> Can I just say um that I remember when

[19:35] the original master plan was being

[19:37] vetted in the community. There was a lot

[19:39] of community meetings.

[19:41] Um and so I realized that time is so

[19:43] short, so it's going to have to be

[19:44] abbreviated

[19:46] if we have any. But having people from

[19:48] the community come to our town council

[19:49] meeting, so it's public, makes perfect

[19:52] sense to me. Um I just want to thank you

[19:55] cuz I know that there wasn't much time

[19:57] since the last time the council met and

[19:59] today

[20:01] to put together to do the interviews, to

[20:04] negotiate the contract, to get

[20:06] everything set up for the special

[20:07] meeting. So I really want to thank you

[20:10] and the staff for going sort of above

[20:12] and beyond to make it possible to have

[20:15] this meeting tonight. So thank you.

[20:18] >> And I also want to just reflect on where

[20:21] we are versus where we were. Um in

[20:24] January, we were having a very

[20:26] contentious

[20:27] discussion about options and trying to

[20:30] go forward. Um thanks to the citizens

[20:34] advisory committee and Jeff and Dan and

[20:37] all the members um

[20:40] who came up with I think a brilliant

[20:41] compromise um and with Gensler's input,

[20:45] with Dan Whiney's input, um

[20:48] I think this is a really huge milestone

[20:50] um building consensus and turning a

[20:52] corner for our community. So I am really

[20:55] optimistic that

[20:58] we will get this done in 12 weeks. We

[21:01] will be able to have good

[21:03] financing information to put something

[21:05] on a

[21:06] general obligation bond ballot hopefully

[21:09] in March of 2027

[21:12] and get the this project started and

[21:15] delivered in order to keep the

[21:18] paramedics here and deliver a new

[21:20] facility to them by January of 2029.

[21:24] So

[21:25] and and you know, this would not have

[21:26] happened I don't think without Forths

[21:29] effort. So I want to also thank Forth

[21:32] for pushing hard and going forward and

[21:35] there was a lot of controversy and

[21:39] heated discussions, um, but I think you

[21:43] have helped us reach a beautiful place

[21:46] with a

[21:48] gorgeous facility and turn the corner

[21:50] and we can

[21:52] preserve the option

[21:54] of dealing with the fire station and

[21:56] operations down the road but we can

[22:00] deal with the building now and that's

[22:02] what everybody needs and wants.

[22:04] So I think we need a motion.

[22:07] >> I'll make a I'll move that we adopt a

[22:09] resolution number 2648.

[22:12] >> Second.

[22:17] » Motion by Councilmember Dowling second

[22:18] by Mayor Pro Tem Robbins.

[22:20] Mayor McMillan.

[22:21] >> Yes.

[22:22] >> Mayor Pro Tem Robbins.

[22:24] >> Yes.

[22:24] >> Councilmember Kutscher.

[22:26] >> Yes.

[22:26] >> Councilmember Dowling.

[22:27] >> Yes.

[22:28] >> Councilmember Salter.

[22:30] >> Yes.

[22:30] >> Motion passes unanimously 5-0.

[22:33] >> So now we are going to take a brief

[22:36] recess and we will resume in 5 minutes.

[22:47] Our

[22:49] We are moving on to item number five.

[22:53] Town Council to consider adopting

[22:55] resolution number 2647

[22:58] one acknowledging the proponents timely

[23:00] withdrawal of the Friends of Firehouse

[23:02] Initiative under election codes

[23:05] elections code section 9215.5

[23:09] and rescinding resolution number 2609

[23:12] which ordered the initiative submitted

[23:13] to the voters and requested

[23:15] consolidation with the November 3rd,

[23:18] 2026 election and requesting the Marin

[23:21] County Board of Supervisors and County

[23:22] Elections Official to remove the measure

[23:25] from the November 3rd, 2026 consolidated

[23:29] ballot.

[23:30] Krista.

[23:32] >> Thank you. Um

[23:35] Our Our town attorney, Miriam, has

[23:37] kindly offered to give a brief staff

[23:39] report. Thank you.

[23:39] >> give a very brief staff report. So, this

[23:42] item will ask the council to adopt

[23:44] resolution 2647 which does two things.

[23:47] It acknowledges the proponent's timely

[23:49] withdrawal of the fourth initiative and

[23:51] it rescinds resolution 2609

[23:55] and asks the Marin County to remove the

[23:56] measure from the ballot. So, this is

[23:58] largely requested from the county. They

[24:00] asked us to adopt some kind of

[24:02] resolution that acknowledges the

[24:04] withdrawal and because we set in motion

[24:07] a series of events with resolution 2609,

[24:11] this resolution will unwind all of that

[24:13] and ask that the county to remove from

[24:16] the

[24:17] remove the initiative from the ballot.

[24:18] So, uh we have the withdrawal, a full

[24:22] withdrawal from the Friends of Ross

[24:24] Firehouse. It is uh

[24:27] full withdrawal that says this is uh

[24:30] withdrawn that it will not appear on the

[24:32] ballot and is now part of the record and

[24:34] will be part of the resolution you adopt

[24:35] tonight. So, the

[24:38] uh withdrawal is timely. You can uh

[24:41] Proponents can withdraw anytime before

[24:43] the 88th day before the election, which

[24:45] is coming up actually very It's this

[24:48] week. So, it is a timely withdrawal and

[24:51] uh that's That's it. The action is

[24:54] acknowledge the timely withdrawal

[24:57] and rescind the past resolution.

[25:00] And that's it.

[25:01] Thank you, Miriam. Thank you.

[25:03] >> Any questions from council members?

[25:08] Stephanie, would you like to make a

[25:09] public comment?

[25:12] » I just wanted to make um

[25:14] a brief statement. So, when Friends of

[25:17] the Ross Fire House created the ballot

[25:19] initiative a year and a half ago, we

[25:21] really had three goals. One was to

[25:23] preserve the architectural legacy of the

[25:25] historic John White building, preserve

[25:27] the option of restoring local fire

[25:30] operations and emergency response in the

[25:32] future, and accomplish this in a

[25:35] fiscally responsible fashion. And so,

[25:38] with the CAC plan and Gensler as the

[25:40] architect, we really feel that the town

[25:42] is on the right path and we're it's a

[25:44] great outcome for the citizens. It I

[25:47] know it's been painful at times, but I

[25:49] think we've really landed in a great

[25:50] place and we hereby withdraw the

[25:52] initiative. Thank you.

[25:55] >> Thank you, Stephanie.

[25:57] And thank you for accomplishing those

[25:59] goals.

[26:01] Um all right, any discussion?

[26:05] >> I have an

[26:06] >> [clears throat]

[26:06] >> I don't know if you can hear me.

[26:09] >> We can hear you.

[26:12] » So, um I I think that this is a a

[26:15] wonderful moment for our town. I really

[26:17] appreciate the friends stepping forward

[26:20] and withdrawing this measure and saving

[26:23] the town from a very divisive campaign

[26:26] in November.

[26:28] But I think that the goals should be

[26:30] very clear that that the citizens have

[26:33] spoken and I have no doubt in my mind

[26:36] that over 50% would have voted to

[26:38] restore fire services in town and

[26:41] medical.

[26:42] And so, it's now upon us to follow

[26:44] through with this plan by building a

[26:46] facility that can support an operational

[26:49] fire station. There are fires raging all

[26:51] over Europe in Canada

[26:54] in California in Sonoma County. They're

[26:56] everywhere. And it's unconscionable as

[26:59] people that are here to

[27:01] elected to secure these people who've

[27:04] left voted for us that we would close

[27:07] the fire station and not try to preserve

[27:10] the option to restore it when our people

[27:14] and the society around us demands it.

[27:17] So, I hope that

[27:18] >> [clears throat]

[27:19] >> the council has heard the people whether

[27:20] they have voted for this initiative or

[27:22] not

[27:23] and that we move forward to restore

[27:25] local fire services and medical in Ross

[27:27] because that's what we're here to do.

[27:29] Thank you.

[27:32] » Any other comments in the discussion?

[27:37] » I move we approve resolution 2647.

[27:41] >> I'll second.

[27:44] » Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Robbins, second

[27:47] by Council Member Dowling.

[27:49] Mayor McMillan?

[27:50] >> Aye.

[27:51] >> Mayor Pro Tem Robbins?

[27:52] >> Aye.

[27:53] >> Council Member Currier?

[27:54] >> Aye.

[27:55] >> Council Member Dowling?

[27:56] >> Aye.

[27:57] >> Council Member Salter?

[27:58] >> Aye.

[27:59] >> Motion passes unanimously 5-0.

[28:07] » All right. Number six, Town Council to

[28:09] consider approval of the argument

[28:11] language in support of the Ross Valley

[28:13] Paramedic Authority parcel tax renewal

[28:15] measure to be submitted to the County of

[28:17] Marin Elections Office for the November

[28:19] 3rd, 2026 general municipal election and

[28:22] decide who should sign the argument on

[28:24] behalf of Council Members.

[28:27] For example, Mayor, all five Council

[28:29] Members, or a portion thereof.

[28:32] Zach, is this your item?

[28:36] >> It is, Mayor.

[28:37] Thank you, Mayor McMillan and Town

[28:38] Council Members. This item asks the

[28:40] council to approve the argument in

[28:42] support of the Ross Valley Paramedic

[28:44] Authority parcel tax renewal measure for

[28:46] the November 3rd election.

[28:48] For decades, paramedic services in the

[28:50] Ross Valley have been funded by a

[28:51] voter-approved parcel tax that supports

[28:54] trained paramedics on our fire engines

[28:56] and ambulances.

[28:57] That tax is set to expire, and on July

[28:59] 9th, the council voted to place a

[29:01] renewal measure on the November ballot.

[29:03] Under the elections code, the council

[29:05] may submit a written argument in favor

[29:07] of the voter in favor for the voter information

[29:09] guide, which the council has opted to

[29:11] do.

[29:12] The proposed argument, included as

[29:14] attachment one, describes the purpose of

[29:16] the renewal and the fiscal

[29:18] accountability protections that apply,

[29:20] including that the funds may be used

[29:21] only for local paramedic services and

[29:23] are subject to annual audits and public

[29:25] disclosure. I'll note that state law

[29:27] limits the argument to 300 words with

[29:28] proper nouns, acronyms, numbers, and

[29:31] dictionary-recognized hyphenated words

[29:33] each counted as a single word. Since the

[29:35] agenda was published, I identified that

[29:37] the current draft runs slightly over at

[29:39] 305 words, and will need minor trimming

[29:41] before submission.

[29:43] Amending and approving the argument has

[29:45] no direct fiscal impact on the town.

[29:47] If approved, it will be finalized and

[29:49] submitted to me as the town's election

[29:51] official no later than August 14th, with

[29:53] the deadline to be submitted to the

[29:55] Marin County Elections Office no later

[29:57] than end of business on Monday, August

[29:59] 17th.

[30:00] The council's action tonight is twofold:

[30:01] amend and approve the argument language.

[30:04] I'm happy to answer any questions.

[30:07] >> Any questions? Um did you say that it's

[30:09] over 300 over 300 words?

[30:12] >> Yes, Mayor Brechtal. It's 305 words.

[30:16] >> So, we need to cut out five words.

[30:19] >> Correct.

[30:20] >> And I want to add two three words.

[30:24] Um

[30:26] Well, we can word smith this pretty

[30:27] quickly by the on and the dash is

[30:29] probably counting as two words.

[30:31] >> Can we first see if we have it anybody

[30:32] has any questions?

[30:36] Okay. Now, we will move to

[30:38] collective word smithing.

[30:39] >> All right. Well, can I say something?

[30:42] >> Yes, Bill.

[30:42] >> You know, I I went with I think we've

[30:44] all been through this because we

[30:46] submitted statements and the county has

[30:47] a certain way of counting words. Is that

[30:50] the county saying this or is it local?

[30:54] >> It is a mixture of myself and the

[30:56] county.

[30:57] >> I'm sorry, say again?

[30:59] >> It's a combination of myself and the

[31:00] county.

[31:01] >> So, you have talked to the county. Okay,

[31:02] because sometimes, you know, you can

[31:05] what you think may be separate words,

[31:07] you can count all as one word.

[31:10] Okay, you've taken that into account?

[31:11] >> I'm aware of that, Councilmember

[31:13] Kirtcher.

[31:14] >> Thank you, sir.

[31:16] >> I can offer a suggestion.

[31:18] >> Sure.

[31:19] >> Um

[31:20] I can take out one word, local paramedic

[31:22] funding is set. Take out the now is now

[31:26] set. That's one word. And then go up to

[31:29] 1 2 3 4

[31:31] >> one thing

[31:32] >> 5

[31:33] >> If you just get rid of the on and the

[31:35] dash and you just have voting yes will,

[31:38] then we get rid of two words three times

[31:41] without even editing. You see?

[31:42] >> a good idea.

[31:43] >> Yeah, cuz it says voting yes on and then

[31:45] there's a dash. So, I'm thinking

[31:46] assuming that on and the dash counts as

[31:48] two words. All we need is voting yes.

[31:53] >> Does that work for you, Zach?

[32:02] » [clears throat]

[32:02] >> It is my understanding that that dash is

[32:04] a placeholder for the measured letter.

[32:08] >> So, you're saying instead of saying

[32:10] voting yes on

[32:11] H, just vote yes.

[32:14] >> If you take out all of those, then yes,

[32:15] it would be under 300 words.

[32:16] >> And and if somehow that doesn't work,

[32:18] you can always if the that the

[32:21] fourth bullet points is funds for

[32:22] measure may for measure X may only be

[32:25] used, it could just be funds may only be

[32:27] used for local paramedic services.

[32:29] That's if you need like something more

[32:31] cuz that's the same thing. It's just it

[32:32] kind of repeats the measure over and

[32:34] over, but I think on and the dash gets

[32:37] rid of it. Are you okay?

[32:38] >> places where there's on and dash that we

[32:40] could take those out.

[32:41] >> Yep.

[32:42] >> Right? So, take those out and

[32:43] >> that should be eight.

[32:44] >> Then I can get it get in my three words.

[32:48] >> [laughter]

[32:49] >> Oh, that's Yeah, right. You

[32:50] What What's your What are your three

[32:51] words?

[32:52] >> me. I I wanted to and I think Council

[32:54] Member Dowling started this off. Can you

[32:57] tell us where

[32:59] what your suggestion was?

[33:02] >> What my five words were?

[33:04] Is that what you're asking?

[33:05] >> Yeah, I just I

[33:07] >> Okay. Yes. My five My other four words

[33:10] cuz I took out one word.

[33:11] >> What was the Sorry, what was the first

[33:13] one?

[33:14] >> It was local paramedic funding is and

[33:17] that's the last paragraph. Is set.

[33:20] I take out now. It's not of any use.

[33:23] >> Last paragraph?

[33:24] >> No, the third paragraph.

[33:26] >> Yeah.

[33:26] >> I'm I'm sorry. I'm not clear on where it

[33:29] is. Can you tell me?

[33:30] >> Third paragraph down.

[33:32] >> Okay.

[33:33] >> Local paramedic funding is set.

[33:36] >> So, you're saying get rid of the word

[33:38] now?

[33:38] >> Why don't we just say will expire

[33:40] instead of is set to?

[33:41] >> Okay.

[33:42] >> How about will?

[33:43] >> Will.

[33:44] >> Now I'm getting more words.

[33:45] >> Yeah.

[33:46] >> [laughter]

[33:46] >> Will

[33:48] expire. So, that gets rid of now, set

[33:52] to. So, we've got a We We got rid of two

[33:55] words there. Good job.

[33:57] >> Okay.

[33:57] And then a list Mayor Pro Tem

[34:00] Robbins, I think had the next

[34:01] suggestions and yours were

[34:03] >> I think it takes care of eight. I We get

[34:05] rid of on and then the underline, which

[34:08] I think is counting as a word all four

[34:10] times.

[34:11] >> Yeah.

[34:11] >> Okay. So, the first one is in the second

[34:13] paragraph.

[34:14] >> Yes.

[34:14] >> Where it says voting yes on dash, you're just say voting yes

[34:20] >> Exactly.

[34:21] >> will ensure.

[34:22] >> Yes.

[34:22] >> Right? So, that gets rid of two. So, now

[34:25] we're at negative four.

[34:27] And then we go down to right before for

[34:30] first set of bullet points.

[34:31] >> Yes.

[34:32] >> Voting yes on blank will you just want

[34:35] to say voting yes will.

[34:37] >> Correct.

[34:38] >> [snorts]

[34:39] >> So

[34:40] that gets rid of two. So now we're at

[34:42] -6.

[34:44] And do you want to do the same in the

[34:46] next

[34:47] >> Well, let's just get rid of them all. I

[34:47] mean

[34:48] >> Okay, voting yes on

[34:51] blank voting yes continues strict fiscal

[34:54] accountability. So now we're that's -2.

[34:57] So now we're at -8.

[35:01] » Keep going. There's two more yet.

[35:03] >> On dash. Yeah.

[35:05] >> Maybe we keep the last one if they get

[35:07] that far so that the measure so the

[35:09] measure letter sticks in case there are

[35:10] lots of measures on the ballot.

[35:12] >> Okay.

[35:13] >> I don't know. I mean we don't need we've

[35:14] got extra words.

[35:17] Then we get rid of eight and then keep

[35:19] it keep it the letter at the very end.

[35:21] >> If I if I may mayor, we are now at -11

[35:25] which brings us to six below the 300.

[35:29] >> Okay, so

[35:30] >> That's getting rid of this one.

[35:33] >> Yes, I'll I'll further discuss.

[35:34] >> I I just have three

[35:36] words that I want to add.

[35:38] And it's in the second to the last line

[35:40] of the first paragraph.

[35:43] So I would add I'll just read the

[35:45] sentence. As our community has grown in

[35:47] emergency medical services evolve

[35:49] dedicated local paramedic funding

[35:51] now helps support. So I would add helps

[35:55] and make support singular.

[35:58] Two ambulances as well as

[36:00] state-of-the-art fire department units

[36:02] with trained paramedics and equipment. I

[36:05] would add and equipment.

[36:07] A board fire engines so that and then

[36:10] nothing else changes.

[36:12] >> Or are you sure that

[36:15] I mean it covers equipment. I guess it

[36:17] does.

[36:17] >> I talked to Chief Mahoney this morning.

[36:19] >> Okay.

[36:20] >> Yes.

[36:21] >> I mean I think that's fine.

[36:22] You know, my real the edit I made was

[36:25] what what we all agreed to on the ballot

[36:28] wording, which was I took out the line

[36:30] about response time so that we didn't go

[36:33] into down the rabbit hole talking about

[36:35] response times and paramedic ambulances

[36:38] and fire engines. And there was a line

[36:40] here that had the same, you know,

[36:43] same comment about response times. And

[36:45] that was really basically the only edit.

[36:47] I mean, there were one or two words, but

[36:49] otherwise

[36:50] this was that was the same. And and Dan

[36:52] had looked Dan Monihan looked at this

[36:54] also and said it looked fine.

[36:56] >> Well, I got a better understanding of

[36:57] the financing for the paramedics. And part of it is

[37:00] based

[37:03] on the parcel tax, but part of it's

[37:05] based on the billing.

[37:06] >> Well, it's about 50/50.

[37:07] >> It helps

[37:08] >> So

[37:09] >> helps support, I think, is more

[37:11] accurate. And then

[37:13] >> Oh, I see because the other

[37:14] >> The parcel tax also pays for significant equipment that are put on

[37:20] fire engines with paramedics.

[37:23] >> Okay. I think helps is better. I mean,

[37:25] because it doesn't support it fully.

[37:27] >> Okay. Um

[37:28] we [clears throat] have a brief Is there

[37:29] Are there any other changes?

[37:32] Can we have a brief discussion about who

[37:35] should sign this argument? I would

[37:37] suggest that each one of us agrees to

[37:41] sign this argument.

[37:43] >> That was my suggestion. I I I don't see

[37:45] why we wouldn't.

[37:46] >> I think it's a good idea.

[37:47] >> I mean, the only reason we wouldn't is

[37:48] sometimes we go out to community members

[37:50] and try to have like the school board

[37:52] president and our POA and uh you know,

[37:55] age friendly. But I I don't know that it

[37:57] really matters who signs it. I I think

[37:59] it probably looks better if all five of

[38:01] us sign it because then we're all united

[38:03] in moving the paramedic parcel tax

[38:05] forward and that if there

[38:07] you know, as we've had differences of

[38:09] opinions about other things, I think

[38:10] it's great that that all it's clear that

[38:12] the whole council wants you to vote for

[38:14] this. There's not any split here.

[38:16] >> What What's the deadline in getting this

[38:18] to the county?

[38:19] >> I think it's the 14th, which is why we

[38:21] did it today, so that August 14th,

[38:24] because our meeting on August 13th, I

[38:25] thought was going to be too close.

[38:27] >> Zack.

[38:28] >> So, the deadline to get it into the town

[38:29] clerk is August 14th. The deadline to

[38:31] get it into the county is August 17th.

[38:34] >> August 17th?

[38:35] >> Yes, Mayor.

[38:36] >> Okay, Matt, what are could you be

[38:38] available to swing by and sign this

[38:41] argument

[38:42] um before that date?

[38:46] » Sorry, what was the date?

[38:50] » August 17th.

[38:52] >> Yes.

[38:53] >> Uh

[38:54] August 14th, he needs to be at the town

[38:56] clerk's office and signing it, cuz

[38:58] that's what the resolution placing it on

[39:00] the um ballot. So, you'll be back in

[39:03] town.

[39:04] Council member Salter will

[39:05] >> Yeah, I'll be back. Sorry, I I I didn't

[39:07] hear the date.

[39:08] >> Yeah. Okay. Okay.

[39:09] >> Hold on. I won't be back necessarily.

[39:11] >> You can sign it right now. Yes.

[39:13] >> I'll be happy to sign it now. In fact,

[39:15] I'll sign anything other than a check.

[39:18] >> You're not allowed to leave this room

[39:19] until you sign.

[39:22] >> printed final.

[39:23] >> Okay, let's make a let's have a motion.

[39:26] >> I move we approve this the wording as

[39:28] edited,

[39:29] and that all five of us sign it.

[39:33] » Is there a second?

[39:36] Can someone second the motion?

[39:38] >> I will second it.

[39:39] >> Awesome.

[39:40] >> Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Robbins, second

[39:42] by Council member Dowling. Mayor

[39:43] McMillan?

[39:44] >> Yes.

[39:45] >> Mayor Pro Tem Robbins?

[39:46] >> Yes.

[39:47] >> Council member Kircher?

[39:48] >> Yes.

[39:49] >> Council member Dowling?

[39:49] >> Yes.

[39:50] >> Council member Salter?

[39:51] >> Yes.

[39:52] >> Motion passes unanimously, 5-0.

[40:07] » Thank you. We're adjourned. Thank you

[40:09] for being here.

[40:10] >> committees to go on.

[40:21] » Oh, so this should be wrapped up by

[40:23] tomorrow.

[40:26] What? Oh.

[40:28] >> [laughter]

[40:29] >> Long time coming.

[40:32] Oh, that's good enough?

[40:37] Okay.

[40:39] What if

[44:43] » Mhm.

Special Town Council Meeting - August 4, 2026

Agenda

Transcript