Ross Council Unites Behind $22.7M Plan to Rebuild Historic Civic Center

The Ross Town Council signaled a pivotal shift in its long-running facilities debate, with all five members endorsing a citizens committee's adaptive reuse concept for the town's nearly 100-year-old civic buildings — a plan that costs $2 million less than the prior proposal and could head to voters in a 2027 special election. The meeting also marked a generational transition in public safety leadership, as the council honored retiring Police Chief Rafaelo Pata's 42-year career and swore in his successor.

• All five council members back $22.7M adaptive reuse plan for the 1927 civic center, setting up a general obligation bond vote

• Friends of Ross Firehouse offer to pull November ballot initiative if the council adopts the plan by Aug. 8 — but council members split on whether to accept the deal

• Police Chief Pata honored for 42-year career; Chief Raul Aguilar sworn in as successor

• Town posts another ~$1M budget surplus and earns a clean FY 2025 audit with no deficiencies

• $60,000 MCE CEO salary "misappropriation" flagged by council member, adding to "pattern of financial problems" at the clean energy JPA

• New home with ADU and garage variance approved at 230 Wellington Avenue, sparking talk of Hillside Lot ordinance reform

A Century-Old Building Gets a Second Life — and a Second Story

An eight-member citizens advisory committee unveiled a conceptual plan to preserve and expand Ross's 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival civic buildings into a consolidated two-story town center housing police, paramedic, fire and town offices — at an estimated cost of $22.7 million.

Why it matters: The plan represents the first time the full council has aligned behind a single facilities concept, a critical prerequisite for the two-thirds voter supermajority required to pass a general obligation bond. The adaptive reuse approach costs roughly $2 million less than the prior KPA Concept B ($24.7 million) while delivering approximately 2,000 additional square feet and retaining fire station capability.

Where things stand: The plan, designed by Dan Wynie of Gensler Associates and priced by Build Group, proposes retaining the original fire truck bays as a new entry and lobby, maintaining rear EMS and fire bays, and adding second-floor offices with rooftop courtyards inspired by original architect John White's design. The committee said the project could potentially achieve LEED Platinum or net-zero energy status.

Council Member Mathew Salter pressed the architect on a prior letter stating the building could not be adaptively reused. "I was told that you got to trust the experts. You're not listening. You got to trust the experts. And you were one of those experts who said that this building was not a candidate for adaptive reuse," said Council Member Salter. The architect confirmed the building can in fact be renovated to meet seismic codes.

Council Member Salter ultimately praised the committee's work as historic. "In a year that was so improbable, the impossible has happened. So first, I want to thank this committee for coming together and making the impossible possible," he said.

Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Robbins praised the plan and urged keeping the citizens committee central to the process going forward. "I think it's really important to keep them front and center with all decisions," she said.

Mayor Julie McMillan expressed full support but urged caution on the timeline. "I don't want to have missteps. I don't want to have to ask the voters later for more money. I don't want to have this blown in an election. I think we want to do this once and we want to do it really well," she said.

The Ballot Initiative Question

The Friends of the Ross Firehouse offered to withdraw their November ballot initiative if the council adopts the plan by Aug. 8, but council members were divided on the offer. Council Member C. William Kircher, Jr. opposed keeping the initiative on the ballot. "I really hope that that's not on the ballot because that is going to be completely at cross purposes to what we're trying to do. We're trying to get everybody to come together," he said.

Council Member Salter took the opposite view, arguing the initiative should remain as a democratic tool.

Public commenter Michael Rosenbaum was sharply critical, demanding a formal apology and financial restitution from the Friends of the Ross Firehouse for what he called misinformation that fractured the community.

Timeline and Next Steps

Town Manager Christa Johnson made clear that a November 2026 bond ballot is not feasible. "That is not going to happen in time for you to make the November ballot," she said, adding that staff is evaluating 10 architectural firm submissions from a request for qualifications and plans to hire an owner's representative. A 2027 special election is the target.

Johnson also reminded the council that the project must be managed by staff under the council-manager form of government. "You cannot hand this off to a community group and have me and my team just serve as resources. That's not allowed under your council manager form of government," she said.

Council Member Kircher questioned whether the timeline was realistic. "I wonder how realistic that is. Just based on my experience, both in private real estate development area, but also as a homeowner in Ross, we were once told for a survey we were looking at six months to a year just because there were so few surveyors," he said.

Council Member Dowling raised an important fiscal transparency point about fire station operations. "Could we have to be honest that if you build this facility which is going to be beautiful, there is room for staff and trucks. But that's a completely separate financial issue," she said, noting that ongoing fire operations costs are distinct from construction.

Significant debate also centered on whether fire station bays should be raised above the floodplain. Staff noted Ross has a unique advantage — Sir Francis Drake Boulevard sits above the floodplain, unlike other Ross Valley stations.

What's next: Staff will evaluate the 10 architectural firm RFQ submissions, hire an owner's representative, and develop a detailed project scope aimed at a 2027 special election bond measure.

A 42-Year Career Closes, a New Chapter Opens

Mayor McMillan read a proclamation honoring Police Chief Rafaelo Pata's 42-year career in public safety, spanning roles at the San Rafael Police Department — including forensic artist, hostage negotiation commander, and FBI National Academy graduate — and involvement in landmark Marin County cases including the county's first DNA prosecution and the Polly Klass investigation. Chief Pata joined Ross in 2021, where he oversaw the hiring of four officers.

New Police Chief Raul Aguilar, who began his law enforcement career in 1999, was then sworn in. He thanked mentors and introduced his family, including his son, a U.S. Army captain with two Middle East deployments.

Why it matters: The leadership transition comes as the town considers a civic center redesign that will reshape the police station facilities Chief Aguilar will oversee. During the civic center discussion later in the meeting, Chief Pata contributed substantively, warning that police department requirements from IACP and POST standards would likely increase project costs and emphasizing the need for secure access, DOJ-regulated areas, and victim privacy.

Clean Audit and Consistent Surpluses Bolster Bond Prospects

The council unanimously approved the town's annual financial report for FY 2025 after Nathan Edelman of I.D. Bailey presented the independent audit. The town received an unmodified (clean) opinion with no significant deficiencies, no material weaknesses in internal controls, and no exceptions in the GANN appropriations limit (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

Separately, Council Member Salter pulled the quarterly financial report from the consent agenda to spotlight another strong performance. "We have, yet again, almost a million dollar positive variance. So I believe last year we ended the year with 1.4 million surplus," he said. He urged that financial reports be given dedicated discussion time and more frequent finance committee meetings rather than being buried on consent. That item also passed unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

Why it matters: A spotless audit record and consistent surpluses strengthen the town's potential for a top-tier bond rating, which would reduce borrowing costs for the proposed $22.7 million civic center project.

Wellington Avenue Home With ADU Approved; Hillside Lot Reform Eyed

The council unanimously adopted Resolution 2622 (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0) approving a new two-story home with an accessory dwelling unit, a detached two-car garage, a swimming pool, and landscaping at 230 Wellington Avenue, replacing an existing residence. The project required a variance for 520 additional square feet of floor area ratio to accommodate the larger garage.

Why it matters: Staff and the Advisory Design Review Group supported the variance because the two-car garage would remove vehicles from the constrained private road, improving emergency access. Neighbor Carla Buchanan of 210 Wellington spoke in support, saying other neighbors also favored the project for improving parking and emergency vehicle access on the cul-de-sac. Charles Goodman requested a condition requiring the garage remain in use as a garage.

Council Member Salter suggested the approval points to a broader fix. "If this continues to come up, I hope — I know you've been keeping a list of reforms — but it might be one we think about in terms of trying to add something to the Hillside Lot" ordinance, he said, calling for a standard parking exception rather than case-by-case variances.

Council Member Kircher echoed the sentiment, endorsing the parking rationale for the variance.

What's next: The council signaled interest in reforming the Hillside Lot ordinance to streamline future parking exceptions on constrained hillside roads.

Council Members Allege 'Misappropriation' and report Paramedic JPA Overhaul

Council Member Salter, serving as alternate to the Marin Clean Energy board, flagged potentially serious financial problems at the clean energy JPA. "The latest is a 'misappropriation' of $60,000 of MCE's funds into the CEO's personal salary from 2024 that was discovered," he said, noting the issue adds to a pattern of problems reported by the Marin Independent Journal. Council Member Kircher confirmed the issue but said he could not divulge certain confidential information, noting that responsibility for the "miscalculation" remained to be determined.

Separately, Mayor Pro Tem Robbins reported that the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority board is developing new guidelines with legal counsel to replace its current 40-year-old, two-page JPA agreement. Key unresolved questions include voting thresholds for amendments and termination procedures among the eight member agencies. Robbins noted that a letter from the RVPA president expressing concern about the citizens committee's civic center plan was added to the meeting packet just an hour before — but "this was not, has not been discussed at the paramedic authority. And this letter is from a single board member who may or may not have discussed it with his agency Sleepy Hollow," she said.

Minor Items

• Consent agenda (Items A, B, D, E, F) approved 5-0. Item C, the Marin IT services contract, was removed and deferred to June 11 for rework.

• Resolution 2621 approved an after-the-fact demolition permit at 12 Garden Row (For: 4, Against: 0; Council Member Salter recused due to proximity to the project). No changes from the 2024 approval.

• Mayor's wildfire preparedness report: San Rafael hit 92°F on March 20, shattering the 1960 record of 82°F. More than 40% of Ross households are not enrolled in Alert Marin emergency notifications. Free Chipper Day curbside vegetation pickup is available through November. A CWPP wildfire preparedness forum is scheduled for May 2 at Embassy Suites in San Rafael.

• Staff report: Town Manager Johnson reported rising oil prices from the war are increasing costs for paving projects and patrol fuel. A new building inspector starts May 18 after a year-long search.

• St. Anselm's Parish at 97 Shady Lane has begun a bell tower restoration project running through November, per public commenter Randy Devoto.

• Respectful dialogue disclaimer: Mayor Pro Tem Robbins and Council Member Dowling were directed to draft a shorter version for future agendas.

• Council Member Kircher proposed changing the meeting adjournment rule from midnight to 10 p.m., to be discussed at a future meeting.