Ross Council Adds $69,900 Fire Station Study to Civic Center Plan

The Ross Town Council voted 5-0 to pay Gensler $69,900 for an independent look at how a fire station fits inside a shared Civic Center. The decision adds about four weeks to the design schedule, and it comes as the project shapes the Nov. 3 council election. Residents also pressed for flood action before a forecast Super El Niño winter.

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• Gensler Amendment No. 2 approved 5-0: $69,900 buys independent fire station programming and about four weeks of added work.
• Who gets a seat at the table: Council split over seating a Citizens Advisory Committee member alongside staff.
• Creek flood risk: The county says the Corte Madera Creek fish ladder is in poor condition and faces emergency evaluation.
• Election friction spills into public comment: Residents sparred over candidate tactics, sign removals and the mayor's reported remarks about Novato.
• $1.8M surplus, partly one-time: A private artwork sale drove a sales tax spike that will not recur.

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Fire Station Gets Its Own Study

Why it matters: The study will feed the Civic Center design, the cost estimates and possibly a general obligation bond. That makes the added spending and the delay part of the larger price tag residents may eventually vote on.

Where things stand: Project Manager David Kelly said the amendment answers the council's August and September requests for a more independent evaluation of fire station space within a combined public safety and Civic Center building.

"Amendment Number 2 is intended to serve or respond directly to the council's direction during its August and September discussions," said Kelly.

The scope includes:

• Comparisons with Ross Valley Fire stations 20 and 21 and Tiburon Station 10.
• A review of space that could be shared with paramedics.
• "Blocking-and-stacking" test fits, which are early layouts showing how functions fit on each floor.

Kelly said the work adds about four weeks to a 13-week schedule.

The money: The staff recommendation appropriates $69,900 from the undesignated operating fund balance and brings Gensler's total contract to $374,179.

The overall project budget rises from $325,000. The figures for the new total did not match. The mayor read $413,300 from the agenda, while Kelly cited a revised budget of $412,300. Readers tracking the numbers should check the staff report.

The other side: Councilmember Mathew Salter objected to Gensler's scope language describing a "Program A" and "Program B."

"I think it's a waste of time and money," said Salter.

Town Manager Christa Johnson and Kelly said the two programs are methods, not competing designs. Non-fire space needs come from the prior master plan, and the fire program is developed independently.

"It's not an alternative like you're going to get what's in the current master plan with alternative A, B, and C. This is an approach," said Johnson.

"Council has been absolutely clear. Believe me, staff has heard you," Kelly added.

Mayor Julie McMillan looked ahead to financing. "So does that include the cost estimates that we can use to do the general obligation bond?" she asked. Kelly said the completed amended plan should include them.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) member Dan Winey said the committee reviewed Gensler's overlap and efficiency analysis and liked it. "I think the whole committee was really pleased with the outcome," said Winey, who confirmed the program includes a fire station.

Salter moved approval of all four staff recommendations, and Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Robbins seconded. The vote was For: 5 (McMillan, Robbins, Dowling, Salter, Kuhn), Against: 0, Absent: 0.

Ross Valley Fire gets a station program built from its own needs rather than inherited assumptions. Taxpayers absorb a small schedule slip in exchange for cost numbers the town may need for a bond.

What's next: Gensler is set to present preliminary results at a special meeting next week.

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Advisers at the Dais? Not Yet

Why it matters: The dispute tests how much formal voice volunteer advisers should have on the town's biggest capital project. It also tests who controls how the public participates.

Where things stand: Salter asked that a CAC member, such as Winey, sit with the council and answer questions rather than speak for three minutes like any other member of the public. Several members expressed support.

"I think it'd be really helpful to have a CAC member just not be a member of the public and actually sit and be able to answer questions and participate," said Salter.

The other side: Johnson pushed back. "The CAC are not staff. They are not paid professional staff," she said.

She noted that CAC members:

• Do not file conflict-of-interest forms.
• Have not been vetted for minimum qualifications.
• Already have other avenues to participate, including stakeholder meetings funded by the council.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The town attorney, identified only as Ben, offered a middle path. "The mayor does have the authority to grant more time," he said. He added that council members may question speakers after they finish their public comment. A binding change, however, would need to go on a future agenda.

McMillan promised flexibility at the special meeting, within limits. "I'm not going to allow 2 hours of comments," she said.

What's next: If the informal approach fails at the special meeting, the mayor said she will put the idea on the agenda in November.

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Creek Worries Rise Before a Wet Winter

Why it matters: Climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain warned of rainfall like 1992 and 1997, years that brought 90 and 91 inches against a 52-inch norm. Residents say the creek is not ready.

Where things stand: Public commenter Craig McCarty, a 41-year Poplar Avenue resident, said the creek north and south of the bridge holds more vegetation than he has ever seen. He said the town and county have been absent on flood control after 20 years of study.

The warning first reached the council in McMillan's report on a Marin County Council of Mayors panel. "Dr. Swain cautioned that if we wait until the rain starts, it will be too late," said McMillan.

Johnson then read an email from Marin County Public Works Director Chris Blunk. It said "the existing fish ladder is in poor condition and its long-term condition is a concern." The email also warned that removing the ladder could raise downstream flood elevations. District staff will include it in an emergency evaluation and, if warranted, emergency repairs.

Johnson also described:

• Joint planning with Marin County Office of Emergency Services, San Anselmo and Fairfax.
• A weekly e-blast to residents.
• A creek cleanup.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Robbins asked that the council be copied on correspondence from the town's flood zone liaison. Johnson replied, "I can forward that on to the council."

Councilmember Teri Dowling asked staff to look at vegetation and logs at the bridge. Salter went further. "I think it's wise for the town to actually go and inspect what may need to be removed," he said, urging staff to notify property owners proactively.

Creekside property owners have the most at stake. Responsibility is split between the town and the county flood district, so follow-through will depend on both.

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Signs, Civility and a Novato Apology Request

Why it matters: Sign enforcement and the Civic Center decision are shaping the Nov. 3 election and testing Ross' relationships with its neighbors.

Where things stand:

• Public commenter Michael Rosenbaum said two candidates running on a joint platform are focused on overturning a prior council decision. He accused them of misusing the council's banner and sending bulk emails, and urged the council to uphold civil engagement.
• Public commenter Emily Larson, a Novato resident who serves on a Novato commission, cited a Chronicle report that the mayor said Ross does not want to be like Novato. She asked for a public apology and argued that staff removal of signs from private property limits free speech.

McMillan restated the rule: "Signs are not allowed on the town's public right-of-way per the town sign ordinance but are allowed on private property." She said a council subcommittee met with the town attorney Oct. 6 about clarifying the ordinance.

The other side: Members split on whether to read a courteous-dialogue statement at the start of meetings. "I feel like it's scolding people," said Robbins. Dowling cited a lack of civility but deferred to the mayor's judgment.

Salter pointed to the council's many unanimous votes. "There's many things that we actually agree on and do function well," he said.

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Surplus Comes With an Asterisk

Where things stand: "So the first thing is just highlighting a $1.8 million surplus for the fiscal year," said Salter, who pulls the financial statements each year.

Johnson said the sales tax jump reflects a pattern: such spikes usually come from a very expensive private artwork sale. The town's tax consultant, HDL, confirmed it was an anomaly that will not recur. The town cannot name specific businesses under its agreement.

Recreation revenue rose more than $245,000, driven largely by the Happy Hive extended care program and the Kids Club after-school program. Pickleball revenue was largely offset by contractor costs.

Why it matters: The one-time sales tax money should not become a baseline for future budgets, especially with a Civic Center bond under discussion.

Decisions: Dowling moved approval and Robbins seconded. The vote was For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0. Salter urged keeping financial statements on the regular agenda.

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• Consent items: Items B and D and the amended minutes passed 5-0. The minutes change deleted the words "intend to" on page 9.
• Treasurer search: Council informally backed a recruitment run by the Finance Subcommittee, with background checks. The post opened when Treasurer Jeffrey Kuhn joined the council Sept. 23.
• Kircher's seats: Alternates cover former Councilmember Bill Kircher's seats until reorganization. That means Salter on the MCE and MCCMC Legislative Committee, Dowling on the Ross Valley Fire board, and Kuhn invited to observe.
• Regional reports: Dowling relayed Transportation Authority of Marin data showing 10- to 15-year-olds had a five times higher crash rate. The authority also approved $412,000 for a three-year Redwood Bikeshare expansion.
• Police on bikes: Johnson announced activation of the Ross Police Department's new bicycle patrol unit.

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Looking ahead: McMillan wants a future agenda item appropriating about $14,000 for a Shady Lane traffic study, prompted by a resident petition after a serious summer accident. She also wants to review the tree ordinance's replacement requirement once a public works director is in place. Kuhn will staff the communication table at the Nov. 12 meeting.