City Council - Regular Meeting

Oh great, whereas see i'm going to put on my glasses, because the font is really small. Whereas see William bill kershaw junior was elected to the Ross town Council in April 2020. During the start of the pandemic and has served the town with distinction for more than six years, including as mayor and mayor pro tem. of the town of Ross. And whereas Bill brought to the council a career of public service spanning the federal, state, and local levels, including as an assistant United States attorney, legislative work at the California State Senate, and more than three decades in complex civil liti

This is for you. And now, if you would come up, these are for you. These are not for Bill. These are for you.

Number four is open time for public expression. This is limited to three minutes per speaker on items not on our agenda.

Thank you, that's wonderful. We will post it proudly. Good deal. Thank you. Yeah.

I think that I want to thank you for coming. It was really so helpful. If we could maybe replace the little one that we've got up here, see that little small sign with a bigger one, so we can all remember to choose kindness. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Item five is the mayor's report. We had a special council meeting on August 26th. The council received a progress report on work to update the facility's master plan. Staff and the Gensler architects began validating the town's program and planning assumptions for police, paramedics, staff, and public works, along with determining spacing needs for the option of a fire station later. More refinement is needed, including considering recent remodels of Ross Valley Fire Department Station 20 in San Anselmo and Station 21 in Fairfax. There will be more discussion of these issues tonight. Groundbre

Mayor, just to your comment, can we have on our website, I don't know if it is like sign up for Alert Marin right at like on the homepage, can we add that?

Thank you, that's a good idea. I've also heard that a lot of schools have that as part of their registration packet. They make you sign up for Alert Moran, which is a great thing. So Council Committee and Liaison Reports, anybody? Do you want to talk about the fire board meeting last night?

The West Valley paramedic authority met at had its quarterly meeting, but there weren't any remarkable actions taken.

Thank you. Staff and community reports Ross property owners association. Is there anyone here from our POA. Anyone online sack.

Town Manager Johnson, is there an update on the Public Works Director vacancy?

No, agreed. That's why I was asking about it. Thank you.

Number eight is the consent agenda. Julie, I have a question. Oh, sorry.

Did you say that the fall live on the common was canceled? And were we going to combine that with the town dinner? So does that mean we were canceling the town dinner also? Yeah.

Item eight is the consent agenda. There are five items on the consent agenda. Does anyone...

Is someone here from RPOA? Okay. Would you like to give a report, Janine? Sure, do you mind? Yes, please. Okay.

I think candidates night might be Monday, October 12, because October 9 is a Friday night.

Thank you. Now number eight, consent agenda. There's five items. Does any member of the Council wish to pull any of the items? Matt?

Does any member of the public wish to pull any of the items on the consent agenda? Anyone online want to pull something? OK, so could we have a motion to approve the consent agenda items A, B, C, and E?

Thank you. Okay, item 8D, the appointment of Ian Spatz to the ADR match. I well shouldn't he say why he's pulling it first yeah.

I was just hoping the governance committee could tell us a little bit about their process and why they selected Ian and just want to hear about it because it's obviously an important appointment.

I'll start, you can finish. It was a very good interview. We interviewed two very capable applicants. I think that we were, both of us, both Elizabeth and I, thought they were both very capable and competent, and each of us had a City Council Chambers, A sense that we liked one or the other, so Elizabeth favorite one I favorite another we could not come to a decision, so we really worked with Roberta. City Council Chambers, Who heads up planning and asked her to think about who would work best with her committee and team and would fit in and then she shared with us her ideas.

City Council Chambers, I don't have anything to add.

So I think it's great. I'm so glad you guys did that. I hope with these appointments, maybe we can all think about maybe it's a future item is how to incorporate the ADR members in sort of the interview process or having them be a part of it just to make sure that they can work with this colleague as well. So it's just something for the future.

Public comment on this item? Anybody in the chamber? Anybody online? Great. So can we have a motion to approve item 8D? Make a motion to approve item 8D. Is there a second? Second.

Thank you. Number nine, public hearing on planning projects. There are none. So we're moving on to number 10. Town Council to consider approving the proposed Fourth Amendment to the amended and restated joint powers agreement with the Ross Valley Fire Department and authorize the mayor to execute the amendments.

Thank you, Chief Mahoney. I assume you don't have anything to add, Jeff. OK. Great.

Questions? I have two questions. So one is, You know, there has been talk about Frost paying more than what some think it's fair share based on the number of parcels and the number of incidents. This reassessment doesn't address that. Is that correct?

And then the other question is, when the station was closed, in a typical closure, I would expect that the savings would be all of the employees salaries are saved because that station is no longer open, but in this case, all of the employees in the raw station were transitioned to another station is that correct that's correct so. Is it could you say that Ross is still paying for all of these employees, even though they're no longer ross's employees.

So in the JPA agreement we're supposed to sign. It says these cost allocations should be fair and equitable. And so I just have a couple questions about that in terms of for us to deliberate how to determine that fair and equitable allocation. So the first one was that According to this agreement, these allocations should be reviewed, it looks like, at least every three years. Do you know if these allocations and studies were done on populations or other parcels and structures and fires, these reviews have ever happened?

That would be done at the correction of the board to me it's okay to say what we don't we haven't seen anything there's nothing that I haven't seen essentially it doesn't exist okay. Second question is that there has been talk about Elvide or as a relevant comp for Ross because they also give up their fire station and I think 1982 are you aware that their ally cost allocation is based on parcels the relative parcels. a Belvedere to Tiburon?

brought forward to your to your council based on the direction of the of the 2022 third amendment which is gave me direction to come back to you all oh no no I I totally get the narrow focus of what you're telling us but I have to tell my community that I'm signing an agreement that says it's fair and equitable that's what the words are and that each town that signs is attesting to that fact Mayor Mrakas, And that's what I have to do so i'm trying to get information, so that maybe I can make the best decision there. Mayor Mrakas, The next question is just on our vp a since you serve on that bo

Mayor Mrakas, On parts but. That that's how our vpa I believe that's what I brought forward to your board a couple months ago with yeah full report, I know it was so I just wanted it to be clear that it's based a parcel tax in every community so it's just the number of parcels in each community and then we're we all pay the same rate that rate is actually standardized cracked.

Okay, and then the last is for Krista. Do you think that these allocations are fair and equitable for Ross?

Any other questions by council members? Public comment on this item? Any public comment in the chamber?

Thank you, Bob. Anybody else in the chamber? Hi, Laura.

Thank you. Thank you, Laura. Anybody else? Yes, you may.

Okay, so I'll bring it back to discussion. We could get into a big conversation about how the fee agreement was negotiated in 2012 and how it's been revised. I'm prepared to deal with that and address all those issues. I don't think any of that is relevant tonight. I think what we are here to do tonight is simply to confirm the amendment. So I would like a discussion, if it's needed, about the amendment, period. Not 2012, not failed leadership, not me being mayor for 20 years, et cetera. None of that is relevant. That is campaigning. So let's focus on this amendment and have a motion and move

Well, I feel like the council members should be able to have a discussion. Terry, that's sort of sort of I'm glad you're ready to move it.

I don't know if you're, I don't want to interrupt you.

Thank you. I was going to move, but I see that a couple people want to speak, so go ahead.

So I think that the issue that I have is the JPA language says all costs shall be fairly and equitably allocated among all members the members here by acknowledge and agree that the percentage shares in this section 8.1 represent such a fair and equitable allocation as the 4th amendment effective date. So I understand what what that we are here to that they people on the council feel like our job is to sort of end this third amendment, take these savings and move on. But when we sign this agreement, we are attesting that this is a fair and equitable allocation. And to me, it is not. It just si

I just want to say that I think that it's disappointing that this reallocation effort didn't take advantage of a total reallocation. the cost sharing hasn't been evaluated at all since 2012. And while the group that negotiated that contract in 2012 agreed that that initial agreement was fair, it doesn't seem fair based on parcels, based on population, based on service calls. And I think it's disappointing that this current reallocation didn't, wasn't a broader discussion into what each town should be paying.

So I have the, can I just make a comment?

You know, I didn't want to make this comment, but I'm going to make this comment. In 2012, when the negotiation took place, this is the stuff that I said was not relevant, but given that everyone has brought it up, There were several factors that were considered to determine our cost allocation, including the number of parcels and population, the calls for service, the assessed valuation, which was 27.9%, and the fact that we were bringing 25% of the firefighters and 25% of the facilities to the JPA. In the negotiations, the two people who negotiated on behalf of the town of Ross were Scott Hu

Julie, I think I deserve a chance to comment after that. I certainly have never had any intention to malign Jason Weber. I simply pointed out that he had assured the Ross community on multiple occasions And in and in multiple PowerPoint presentations that if the raw station closed Ross would have essentially the same. Medical emergency response for 85% of the calls, because the ambulance would be present in Ross well the data, even before the station closed from a full year 2023 as written in the 2024 city gate ambulance study. showed that the ambulance response time was already 9.9 minutes, 5

Mayor Tory I would like to respond since you publicly attacked me in this little session I didn't mention your name once and I would like to say that my job is to look at things with a fresh eye I wasn't here back when all these agreements were done so I always do my homework and I do my reading and this amendment does say we need to attest to a fair and equitable share And I can appreciate that people feel like we're saving money because we don't have to have a fire station anymore to pay for. So we're not paying for their fire stations. But the other three towns all have fire stations and th

Can I just respond? I'm just trying to be pragmatic. And the agreement that the people in Belvedere negotiated with Tiburon Fire, that happened in 1982. You know, our agreement was negotiated in 2012. I think there's a risk of pushing and pushing and pushing these other three members that they're going to say, you guys are on your own. And then we're not going to have, you know, be a part of Ross Valley Fire. I'm very concerned about how, you know, Belle, I appreciate how you said that things are coming together and we're moving forward. But I'm really, really concerned. City Council Chambers,

Okay. Yes. I was just going to move, but now I think I'm going to say something. I'm really sorry that the people in the room, in this room tonight, feel they can personally attack and disparage members of the Town Council. We care about this town as much as you do. I agree with what Bill said, and I think that we are just talking about the Fourth Amendment. There is no reason on this good earth that we can't have a Fifth Amendment, which may deal with some of the things that we're trying to talk about now, but are not on the agenda. So, with that, I move that the Ross Town Council approve the

Item number 11, the Town Council to consider accepting the investment report for the 12 month period ending June 30, 2026. Krista.

Mayor Mrakas, So I can appreciate, thank you for that report Jeff I want to make a couple of things clear, we have our entire balances are $27 million, so we, we have close to $30 million and only 10 million is in this TVI portfolio. And when we set this up, it was for that reason we said, let's just take a third or a small portion to go into the longer portfolio that goes out five years because we have tons of liquidity. We have over two-thirds of the portfolios in life. And so yields have backed up tremendously right now. So right now for a three-year bond, a treasury is yielding 4.7%. which

Thank you, Krista. Any other questions about this? Any public comment on this item? Anyone online, Zach? Okay, so do we need a motion to accept it? Is that what we're doing? We need a motion to accept the investment report.

Okay, I recommend that the Town Council accept the investment report. Second.

But I think it's a great idea to bring it to the Finance Committee, Chris.

City Council Chambers, Item 12 is town council to receive an update from staff regarding the status of the implementation of the town of Ross facilities master plan, including analysis of the San Anselmo fire station 20 renovation project and fairfax fire station 21 remodel project. Christa.

So let's Mayor Mrakas, Ask questions and then we'll do public comment and then we'll bring it back for discussion questions Council members.

Mayor Mrakas, So I feel like there's a big disconnect with what is what is being asked of staff and what's being asked of gensler. And so I actually went back to the video and looked. We asked Gensler to evaluate Sleepy Hollow and the Fairfax rebuild and incorporate their learnings into a smaller footprint because they were able to remodel their stations and bring them all up to code for far less money. So why are you doing this report? Why is Gensler not just working on this? I don't understand why you created this report.

David, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you go on for a long time. This is a very long presentation. We asked Gensler to do this work because they're architects, and we want them to look at these different models. And honestly, the CAC and people who are experts, which is not you. And so what I'm saying is the direction was to Gensler to do this, and so I'm surprised this entire analysis was done by staff. I'm sorry you had to waste all your time doing this. because it's not relevant. We want people who are architects to look at how other cities and towns have tackled these issues to

Yeah, so I would say that it is not clear. I think the report was very confusing. And I thought the conclusions were very confusing. And so I would just like to tell you that I don't think it was helpful. And then the second thing is on, I don't know why you keep bringing up the Mary McGrath report that was done for the elections code. That was a standalone fire and paramedic facility, a 7,600 square foot facility that was costed out at 21.7 million just to build that standalone facility, which is totally irrelevant to the discussion here of us trying to put a lot of our functions into one bui

Mayor, I'd like to respond. Can we just, this is supposed to be questions and answers, so let's try to keep it with questions and answers.

Mayor, if I can just- We really need to move on. I have one last question. This slide showed 5,000 square feet for a fire station, 3,000 for a paramedic, 8,700 total square feet. Where on earth are you getting these numbers? This is not appropriate. This is the part that's difficult. Why would you come up with these numbers that we need a 9,000 square foot fire and paramedic station? Why are you bringing this to us?

Mayor Mrakas, CAC created a spacing program and it has little pieces already in it and we veered so far now there's was not 9000 feet for these two two functions. Mayor Mrakas, But you're coming and saying Oh, we have a lease and we've got to do this that's not what was in the CAC plan that's not what we discussed we discussed trying to come and fit these pieces together. And I actually believe the CAC letter said don't let the perfect get in the way of the good like where are we going with this project that you keep adding more and more square footage and needs after the direction was let's b

I have a question about the whole process. I mean, you're coming to us with your work and asking for council direction. I mean, I don't know that, I feel like we should be working more closely with Gensler asking the CAC for direction because I think that they're more expert and they can get better answers to some of these questions. So I wonder if there's a way to work more closely, you know, to have Gensler figure out, make their recommendations, have the CAC give their recommendations because I think those are our experts and I don't feel like I'm an expert.

I thought we had already heard from Gensler that to incorporate everything and leave room for a fire station, that that was going to be the plan. So I thought we were basically already there, that we've already discussed that there would be shared spaces, because that's how Gensler could make the fire station and the paramedic and the administration space work. So are we not there?

Terry okay I want to thank David for the work that he put into this meeting with and talking to the people at the different towns meeting with the fires people there I want to thank you it was a good report I actually found it helpful and interesting so I appreciate the time and effort that went into it so And in terms of the issue about integration, I know that we've got, I think my worry is, can we... Terry, we're supposed to be doing questions.

Oh, sorry. Yeah. Are there any other questions, Bill? Do you have a question?

Okay. Let's have a comment. Anyone in the chambers wishing to make public comment?

Thank you. Is there anybody else in the chamber who wishes to speak? Anybody online, Zach? Oh, Laura.

Anyone else in the chamber? Anybody online? Okay, so now we will bring it back for discussion and to provide guidance to the staff and Gensler about shared services between the paramedics and fire. Who wants to go first?

Well, I'll very quickly. Oh, I agree. There should be shared space. Done. Okay. For the CAC plan.

Integrated I actually I was one of the people that said yes to the concept the concept is beautiful I want to make sure that our paramedics if it's going to be in an all one building I want to make sure they get everything they asked for I want to make sure that the fire chief agrees with the space that's actually needed for a renovation of our fire station, and that there would be room for the people that somehow will be funded, maybe. Yeah. I'm okay with the integration. I think it makes good sense. But if we can't give the fire people what they need, and we can't give the paramedics what th

I'm 100% for the integration of these services. We are trying to solve a problem, okay? And we can do it. If we actually solve the problem instead of coming up with reasons why we can't and I think this is just a bit a pattern that has happened here like the last meeting fire chief won't talk to us unless we get approval from his board there have just been too many what I would say undermining roadblocks put in the way of of coming together to solve this problem and I honestly don't know why I don't know why we waste so much time and energy quite frankly and hearing the public get so upset the

There's just one clarification that each town for the fire JPA is expected to build and maintain its own fire station. So we wouldn't expect other towns to contribute to our fire station. The paramedic authority building is different. I think it's very generous and great that Ross is building a beautiful paramedic authority building for the eight entities that will be using it. No one else has offered to do that so I think I hope that that will you know that in the integration will go over well with the paramedic authority it's going to be a beautiful building and as mentioned the paramedic pa

so I agree that we need to explore combined facilities per the CAC plan that seems basic you know I I see this letter from the CAC saying that the station 20 was 5.5 Million this is a far cry from the 14 million Mary mcgrath firehouse cost estimate We have no idea what it's gonna cost to build a fire station in Ross. We have no idea what it's gonna cost to have the space for a fire station in Ross. So I think it's very disingenuous to be throwing numbers around like 5.5 million. We have no idea. And we also don't, what our goal is here is to have space. for a fire station, the optionality of h

City Council Chambers, Rich seminary went over that with us and Sir Francis Drake is not in the floodplain, and so we have a big question as to whether or not we need to raise those three bays out of the floodplain. City Council Chambers, So that the emergency vehicles can go directly out onto Sir Francis Drake and not be underwater or do we want to have our. City Council Chambers, Emergency Services people running around putting up floodgates and moving equipment, instead of helping people so that's something that is not an apples to apples comparison, in my opinion, with station 20 and this

City Council Chambers, Okay, I would like to say one thing about this until we have the plan. I think we shouldn't start negotiating a new lease with the paramedics. And I just want to make it clear, when we did the paramedic lease negotiation, we had a facilities master plan done. And that was the basis of that negotiation. Right now, it's no surprise, everybody knows we're redoing the master plan. That's what all of this work is. But we don't have the plan yet. So there's really nothing to negotiate until we know what the plan is. So I really feel like this is, again, jumping the shark. We d

I don't see that as a roadblock, actually. I mean, I think we've all agreed that we should be moving forward on this CAC plan, which integrates the fire and paramedic facilities. And I think Chris is just suggesting that we discuss in closed session what would it look like if we move ahead with that and we have some way of knowing what amendments to the lease might be needed. And I do agree that it would be nice to have that to know where we stand legally before we announce our plan because it isn't what the paramedics are expecting. Well, maybe they are because they've watched the meeting, bu

So, yeah, I agree. I think we need to have a closed session to discuss strategy about this issue. We don't want to be in bad faith with the paramedic authority right so let's have a closed session and and and and discuss it okay so can we move on thank you item 13 town council to discuss and consider either moving to appoint a qualified individual to fill council member Kirscher's remaining term or provide direction on the process for filling the town council vacancy that will become effective September 11, tomorrow, 2026.

Mayor Mrakas, I just wanted to bring up the when I was researching this, I see the Council member cultures not recusing himself, but in school boards it's it's against the school board rule for somebody to pine on. Mayor Mrakas, To be a part of this, so I was worried about a conflict. with him being a part of this discussion. So I would love to hear. Obviously, you probably looked at it and yeah, he probably talked to you, but I think it's important that we bring this to light to make sure it's I'm I'm happy to start.

I would say that there was a similar process in 2016 when Carla Small resigned and she was still on the council and the council appointed Rupert Russell on the consent calendar and she participated in that vote. Any other questions? Public comment? Does anyone like to make public comment? Yes.

Anyone else in the chamber which need to make public comment? Anyone online, Zach? OK, so we'll bring it back for a discussion of how to proceed. One more. Oh, excuse me, Laura. Go ahead. Sorry, Julie.

City Council Chambers, I agree with the comments just made from molly I think there's no person more eminently qualified than Jeff as the town treasurer and also as the architect behind the compromise that was reached by the CAC. City Council Chambers, The staff report is very clear that it says, if the Council is prepared to make the appointment at its September 10 2026 meeting. it may move by motion to make the appointment and have any such appointment effective September 11, 2026. There is urgency in getting someone on the council immediately. Otherwise, I'm very concerned that we will be s

I think this is important that we discuss it.

We can discuss it. Yeah. Go ahead, Terri.

Okay. I agree. I think we just have to move on. I think Jeff is eminently qualified. We could debate this. We could wait another two weeks, three weeks. We could have a special election. Let's just, we've got enough to do on this council. Let's just move on and appoint Jeff.

So, you know, backing up a little bit, we can either call a special election or we can appoint someone. I think I think that we all agree that calling a special election is simply not feasible because that would be March, which means our council will have four people until April or May when the next person is sworn in. So that leaves us appointing someone. I really don't understand the timing of this. I think we'd heard way back in May Councilmember Kershaw was interested in resigning and had he resigned then there would have been time to put this seat. the two years remaining on the ballot, w

Mayor Mrakas, So I just look at our town goals and the first one says provide transparency consistency and fairness and government. Mayor Mrakas, And I don't know anything that would be less transparent consistent or fair to appoint somebody who is on the ballot currently pluck them off the ballot and not let voters a pine on that candidate, I mean it just screams like a back room deal which it is. And it makes me sad for our government that we've kind of gotten to this point where we are doing backroom deals and trying to pluck somebody off the ballot. I respect Jeff Kuhn, and I was the one w

I'm surprised that you're saying that. City Council Chambers, You know that this that you're making a comment about the transparency or openness it, of course, having applications is transparent and open.

City Council Chambers, And I agree that having having applications is transparent and open, but the the staff report and the government code allow us to appoint someone tonight.

Mayor Mrakas, We have that ability it's not with you, you don't have us i'm sorry we five of us and we don't agree matt matt let me can I finish.

Mayor Mrakas, We we are, I mean I hate to say this, but I kind of feel like we are in a crisis, right now, and we've been in a crisis per probably a year, and I am not confident that if we drag this out. and have applications and interviews, I am not confident that we will have a majority of the council approving someone for an appointment. And so I think there's real urgency to do this tonight when there's five of us who can decide. I think that's paramount. And kicking the can down the road and having an application process and having Jeff bubble up to the top You two are going to say, oh, w

So I'm going to say something. You can't just say these things about us. It's very rude, and I don't appreciate you saying you two are going to do this. I would tell you both Elizabeth and I respect Jeff. And you know, Julie, from the Finance Committee, you did not want Jeff Koons, and I did, and Thank you for choosing him because we both agree that he's a great treasurer. Okay, even though you and I are the finance committee and we don't agree, we do and we can come to conclusion. And I absolutely, I actually think Jeff will rise to the top and I think Elizabeth does too. But we have a duty t

I did want to just reiterate that this same issue happened in 2016 when Carla Small resigned, the council appointed Rupert Russell without an application process. And that's what they did. And nobody ran around saying the council was not transparent.

Mayor Mrakas, Was that a five zero vote, because I mean right here you're you're putting this yeah I think it was okay so. Mayor Mrakas, So that is that's what's different now Julie there's a contentious election coming you're on the ballot there's this candidates on the ballot there's two others. It is terrible timing. That's why you're not getting 5-0 right now.

Yes, and I feel bad you're putting him in this position. It's not fair to him. Let the public have a process, Julie. You rushing this is just showing you're too rigid. It's like, why not let there be a process? It will work out. I promise it will happen. We'll fill the seat. Don't put this pressure on him. It's not fair. And it's not fair to Jeff to be thrown into this mess knowing that two council members voted against him.

I don't think you would be voting against him. I think you'd just be voting against the process. But Terry.

I was going to say, we don't need to delay this. If you know that Jeff, I mean, we know he is eminently qualified. We know it. He's worked with the staff for the last year in his capacity, looking at investments. He comes to the council meetings. More than anybody else, he's more qualified than I've seen anybody else who might be interested being here. And he's been coming for a year. I think putting this off, when we can make the decision tonight, we have the right to make that decision tonight. And we can just then move on with all the other issues we've got to deal with. without adding this

Again, we have Bob Herbst as well, who is eminently qualified, who sit in every meeting and came up with the fourth plan to stop the demolition. He stopped the plan and he helped form the fourth or the CAC with him. There are qualified people. And I'm not making this up. Molly Gamble is imminently qualified. So is Stephanie DeMarco. There are so many people that could, we haven't even had a process. You haven't even opened it up. I told you someone approached me from the ADR who's interested. You're shutting this process down. For what reason, Terry? Just for expediency, but not for the public

Delay, delay. I'd like to make a motion that we appoint Jeff Kuhn. Are we done?

So if that is what we're asking for, that's what we do. Well, I'll put the motion out and then we can vote. So I would like to make a motion that we appoint Jeff Coon to be on the town council filling the slot that Bill leaves and he would be here for two years.

OK, so what we're going to do is have an appointment process. That's what we're talking about. Krista? Can we make sure that we do it by September 23 in the special meeting?

a certain amount of time for the the applicant to make a statement something like that would that suit the council I think the timing can depend on how many applications we receive if we only receive one we wouldn't even need to have a meeting if we receive five we might need to start at 3 30. So can we set the time when we know how many applications we receive oh

Mayor Mrakas, Yes, it would we the 20th I think the times perfect 17th so people have a week. Mayor Mrakas, If we only get one application again we'll know exactly who we have, and then we select we do the interviews and selection on the 23rd because we've all already taken that meet that time for the meeting.

similar language yeah right may I ask a question about the process so the interviews occur in public and then is there is there do members of the public have the ability to comment on the applicants or is it just a council discussion about who we select it's a standard public comment that we would normally have for items so it would be an appointment item you get public comment So we'd have all the interviews and then public comment at the end of the interviews, if there is any, and then we discuss and choose?

hammer out these details. For now, since everyone's late, can we just move I would like to make a motion that we accept applications for this position. And the application deadline will be September 17, a week from now, and that the selection process will be at on the 23rd, which is our scheduled meeting special town council meeting.

Do we need any one second do we need a motion on this, it says make either move to a point or provide direction yeah you actually don't need a motion, though, but this is this is the direction is that it, you know okay if we don't need a motion, then I withdraw my most one one other thing we need to be sure to ask each applicant. The same questions so maybe Elizabeth you and I can come up with questions. Great. All right. OK. That is the end of the administrative agenda. No, number 14, no action items. Any council correspondence? Future council items. Does anyone have anything?

You know, at some point, I know, of course, you have a lot to do, but at some point, it would be nice to hear an update about the Branson traffic situation. You know, we haven't heard for well over a year how that's going. So I think it'd be nice just to hear what Branson says about how their traffic and, you know, crossing monitors are working out.

City Council Chambers, And we received an email from Michael rosenbaum today about the expenses incurred by the town to address the initiative and the total cost was 482,197 dollars, I would like to propose an agenda item to discuss whether the town has any ability to try to recover those costs.

I absolutely don't support that. And I think that you'd just be creating more of a hornet's nest, which I guess you enjoy doing.

Well, I'll second it because I think it's worth the discussion.

I I would wonder if you might withdraw your second in part because the the community is moving forward with the CAC plan which is similar to what friends had had started and it feels like this sort of is divisive it and moves us back to where we were whereas I feel like City Council Chambers with with Gensler working on the CAC plan where we have something that that works for most people in the Community, because it. It leaves room for a fire station, but doesn't require the operation. And we can come together on that, as if we're debating basically suing friends.

You want to sue your own people? You can put it on. It's going to inflame everybody. You're going to sue your own citizens for trying to save their fire station.

Matt, no, it's not. Yes, it is. It's not really recourse for fees the town stop I want to explore whether we have any ability to recover those costs those costs are about the same as half of redoing the ross common they're significant costs and I think we owe it to our citizens and our taxpayers they were your citizens yeah they're a small minority of ours I don't think they're a small minority okay well it's on it's going to be on the a future agenda okay good for you

OK, great. Thank you. OK. Councilmember participation at the communication table at the Ross Post Office on October 8. Any volunteers?

Just one? Or who else is going to be there? I can join you for an hour and a half.

Thank you both. All right. And then last, number 15, meeting evaluation.

I just have one comment. I think it would be really helpful if the project updates were more concise. For example, Chris, it was really helpful towards the end when you said, here's the direction I need. But I felt like we were in the weeds for the longest time about all these project details. And we only heard at the end, specifically, here's where we are. So I just wonder if there's a way to have the updates more concise. That's all.

Yes. I thought it was unnecessarily contentious. I think that that that I think about Sue, who came from Cedars and talked about the importance of kindness that did not exist in this meeting tonight. And I think people can disagree with each other. This is not the place to do politics and be out there trying to get votes with your running for office. We're supposed to have civil conversations here. And that did not happen. And I don't want to see it continue. And it really looks, for people who view us on the video, It doesn't make those of us who are in this room who are disparaging of others

Yeah. And I, you know, I read the start of the meeting was reading the great proclamation about Bill and all this wonderful work. And now here we are. Ending on this note so I'm I'm very sorry that we're ending this way bill I really regret it we are adjourned