Corte Madera Braces for King Tides as FEMA Grant Brings Strings

Corte Madera is stockpiling sand, buying a sandbag machine and rehearsing its flood messaging after January's 8.7-foot tide swamped neighborhoods and the town's own building. In a nearly four-hour session Oct. 20, the Town Council received the flood preparedness update and learned that an $850,000 federal flood grant comes with immigration-enforcement and anti-DEI conditions. The council also voted unanimously on affordable housing bonds, year-end finances and a first-ever public art policy, while election-season tensions over Councilmember Pat Ravasio spilled into public comment.

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• 70 tons of sand, 700 prefilled bags and a roughly $55,000 sandbag machine anchor the town's king tide prep
• $850,000 FEMA flood grant carries ICE-cooperation and DEI conditions. Staff will return to the council before acceptance.
• Year-end revenue near $29M beat budget, but sales tax fell 12% year over year
• Programs for adults with developmental disabilities paused as Parks and Rec restructures after Rec Inc. declined to take them on
• Up to $30M in tax-exempt bonds cleared for the rehabilitation of 79 affordable homes at 33 San Clemente Drive, 5-0
• Open time splits over ethics allegations against and defenses of Councilmember Ravasio

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Sandbags Now, Berms Later

Why it matters: The town is preparing for a repeat of January's flooding. Staff say some neighborhoods, such as Lucky Drive, depend on residents shoring up private property themselves.

Where things stand: "Public Works has built a new storage bay and stockpiled 70 tons of sand and 700 prefilled sandbags at our Paradise Pump Station on the east side of town," said Chris Good, Director of Public Works.

The rest of the short-term package includes:

• Tiger dams for the Public Works building, at $35,000
• The town's last two check valves
• Mitigation at sewer pump stations
• A communications playbook triggered at 7-foot and 7.5-foot tide thresholds

The long-term track is a Marina Village flood berm design funded with $125,000 from the Marin Community Foundation. Staff also applied for a regional sea-level-rise adaptation grant. The goal is to "allow us to develop a compliant regional shoreline adaptation plan," said staff member Phoebe Goulden. She also announced a flood preparedness fair on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Council pressure points: Members asked about staffing, school communications, PG&E, Lucky Drive and debriefings on lessons learned after storms. "Is there a dollar amount that we can attach to it," asked Vice Mayor Fred Casissa. Director Good answered in part: "The sandbag machine was about $55,000."

Councilmember Ravasio suggested "providing a map that shows a red line for streets that are closed."

The federal catch: The town was awarded $850,000 in FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance funds tied to the Marina Village berm. The award requires cooperation with ICE and prohibits DEI programs. Director Good said the grant includes "some federal language that raised some red flags, particularly from the Department of Homeland Security." Staff and counsel are reviewing the terms and consulting the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

"My heart sunk when I heard there were attachments to this nice FEMA grant," said Susie Beatty, a public commenter affiliated with the Community Foundation.

The other side: Commenters praised staff outreach but pushed for more.

• Roy Wolford, a public commenter, warned that tides are running above predictions. He asked how high county and Caltrans sandbags are stacked and what happens to Lucky Drive owners.
• David McPherson, a public commenter, suggested selling surplus sandbags to neighbors to offset the machine's cost.
• David Bell, a Flood Board member, noted that non-residents are taking sandbags. "Replacing sandbags with something permanent is the short answer to what we need from the council," he said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. Residents in low-lying areas get sandbags and clearer alerts now, but permanent protection depends on the berm design and on grant money with politically fraught strings. Marina Village residents have the most at stake in the FEMA decision.

What's next: Staff will return with fuller cost figures and the FEMA grant for council consideration.

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Strong Year on Paper, Softer Underneath

Why it matters: The general fund beat its revised budget. Staff said one-time money and unfilled jobs inflated the surplus, while sales tax volatility and upcoming labor contracts threaten future budgets.

Where things stand: "The town brought in about $29 million in revenue," said Chris Petlock, Finance Director. Here is how the major lines landed:

• Property taxes rose about 10%, or $945,000.
• Permits came in 25% over budget.
• Bradley-Burns sales tax, the town's 1% local share of sales tax, ran about 7% below budget and 12% below last year.
• Expenses ran about 1% under budget, but utilities ran 28% over.
• The Parks and Recreation Fund ended with a deficit of about $135,000.

Petlock attributed the gap from the revised budget to one-time Cal OES and FEMA reimbursements, conservative staffing assumptions and vacancies that "really looked like vacancies that were just never filled."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmembers asked for more readable reports. McPherson welcomed that push on behalf of residents who aren't CPAs. The council accepted the report (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

What's next: Petlock outlined a calendar of upcoming steps:

• The annual audit
• A capital plan
• A sales tax forecast
• A budget workshop

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Disability Programs in Limbo

Why it matters: Dances and programs for adults with developmental disabilities, which participants value highly, are paused. The staff member who ran them is gone, and the town's booster group declined to take them on.

Where things stand: "The town took a pause on programming," said Tim Barry, Parks and Rec Director. Councilmember Ravasio asked directly: "Why did Rec Inc. pass?"

Barry said Rec Inc. is a booster group that is not set up to take payments, so it declined a professional services agreement. Friday dances will continue in November and December while a council subcommittee works on a long-term plan.

The other side: "It does seem like this was a little bit messy when the staff member and rec representative was let go," said Bob Bundy, a Lions Club member. He also offered possible support. Patty Stoliar thanked Barry for managing the transition. An Age-Friendly Task Force participant asked that programs remain free.

Brighter notes: The Intergenerational Center should finish by Thanksgiving within budget, with about $150,000 left of a $400,000 capital allocation. Programming is expected in the new year. Summer camp enrollment was strong, and the town awarded $17,000 in scholarships. No vote was required.

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$30M Bond Nod for San Clemente Homes

The basics: The California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) will issue up to $30M in tax-exempt bonds for EAH Housing's San Clemente II Housing Partners, LP. The money will rehabilitate 79 deed-restricted affordable units at 33 San Clemente Drive.

"And although the town is not borrowing the funds, federal law requires a public hearing and approval by the elected body when the project is located within the jurisdiction," said Martha Battaglia, Principal Planner. This is known as a TEFRA hearing.

Where things stand: The work covers:

• Interior upgrades
• Swapping gas appliances for electric ones and installing heat pumps
• Accessibility improvements
• Roof and exterior repairs

The work will be phased over about 16 months starting in December or January. Residents will be temporarily relocated to hotels at EAH's expense.

"Is there any reason for the timing of this now as opposed to 6 weeks down the road or 6 weeks ago?" asked Councilmember James Andrews. "This needs to be approved prior to the bonds being issued," Battaglia replied. Members also asked about liability, the bond rating and the town's capacity to inspect the work.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The town takes on no financial or legal liability. Tenants gain electrified, more accessible homes but face months of temporary relocation. No one spoke during public comment. Resolution 47-2026 passed (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

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Ethics Fight Spills Into Open Time

Why it matters: With the election approaching, residents used open time to accuse or defend Councilmember Ravasio. All of their statements are claims only. The council made no findings at the meeting.

The allegations: Matt Kaufman cited a Chamber of Commerce letter from about a year and a half ago alleging aggressive communications. He said a public records request surfaced a recording of Ravasio describing a closed-session evaluation of the town manager. "We are asking for this council to hold one another accountable," he said.

Other speakers added their own accounts:

• Jean Burns alleged a pattern of conduct and said Ravasio is under investigation for violating disclosure laws.
• McPherson said a letter from Ravasio falsely accused him of hacking and asked for an apology.
• Carla Condon said she was also accused of hacking.

The other side: "I'm here to support Pat Ravasio for town council," said Howard Squires, a neighbor of 35 years. Lucinda Smith called the criticism unfair. Matthew Hartzell urged speakers to tone down the rhetoric and praised Ravasio's transportation advocacy.

Where things stand: Later in the meeting, the town attorney said the Brown Act investigation is ongoing, with nothing specific to report.

Also at the mic:

• Shelby Tsai, Board President of the Reed Union School District, urged support for Measure O, a $115M facilities bond. It would cost $30 per $100,000 of assessed value and would be the district's first facilities bond since 2005.
• Wolford said "elected officials should provide facts, not attempt to steer residents' votes."
• Peter Hensel, a retired letter carrier, said "the post office has outgrown its site." He urged the town to bring together the Postal Service, the property owner and Rep. Huffman's office.

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Minor Items

• Litigation: The council met in closed session on Chang v. Town of Corte Madera, brought by the trustee of the Corte Madera Property Trust. Mayor Rosa Thomas said, "We are working to be as transparent as possible," after Smith objected to the secrecy.
• Parks Commission: Patricia Hanna was appointed to a term ending June 30, 2028 (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).
• Consent calendar: Items 5A–5G passed 5-0. They included a local emergency resolution, a daylighting ordinance that clears parking near crosswalks and the notice of completion for Menke Park. Staff will monitor erosion on the park's path.
• Public art policy: The council adopted the town's first public art policy, 5-0. Artists must carry insurance and maintain their work, and the council keeps final approval.
• New position: Resolution 48-2026 creates a senior management analyst classification with a salary range of $10,258 to $12,468. Four yes votes were recorded, and the Vice Mayor's vote was not captured.

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Looking Ahead

The council holds a special closed session Thursday, Oct. 22, on the property trust litigation. Proposals from consultants to help recruit the next town manager are due Nov. 6, according to Interim Town Manager Adam Politzer. The council's next regular meeting is Monday, Nov. 2.