[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.