Remarks by Julie McMillan
146 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 6
OK, I think we have agreement on that. So do you have what you need, Krista?
Great. Thank you, everyone. We're moving on to item number six town council to discuss Ross.
To discuss Ross municipal code section 1841 one five and removal of temporary signs in the public right of way.
Krista, we received an email from Bob Herbst identifying four properties where he's claiming that the signs were posted on private property instead of in the right-of-way. Did you or the public works, the temporary public works director get a chance to look into those addresses?
So there will be a response later to those specific addresses. Okay. Thank you. Other questions?
Would you like me to answer this question? Yes, please.
Okay so maybe Ben is a better question for you is maybe it wasn't so clear okay we're doing questions now so are there any other questions public comment on this on this item anybody in the chamber yeah just a second wayne
Thank you. Anyone else in the chamber for public comment? Anyone online, Zach?
on the phone. Your time is up. Thank you. Anybody else online, Zach?
All right. So we'll bring it back for, I don't know, are we having a discussion about what needs to happen?
City Council Chambers, I just want to respond that I did not order the removal of any sign Elizabeth I think you know that, and when we ordered all those signs in 2024 for major he. City Council Chambers, I recall us being very careful to ask residents, if we could post those signs on their property, I do not recall us running around posting signs in the towns right of way.
Well, and I think Krista made it pretty clear that signs, regardless of the content, election signs, advertising signs, whatever kind of signs, if they're in the right of way, they are removed by the public work staff because we value our rural look. We don't want a bunch of junky signs we don't want to be like nevado so I am I am more than happy to make the ordinance more clear like Ben suggested I thought it was a little unclear about the notification about signs that are in the right-of-way and City Council Chambers, You know the right of ways owned by the town, so how do we notify…
Did you want to say anything, Councilmember Kuhn? No? I think we need another person if we're even going to consider removing the right-of-way language from the ordinance that we City Councilmember Cecilia Taylor- drafted only five years ago with careful consideration with Council member culture and Patrick streeter and then go ahead, Ben.
Well, I don't want to be like Novato. I think those signs are hideous. And we are not precluding anyone from expressing their election preference. We are not shutting down anyone's First Amendment right. Anyone can post a sign on their private property. We are not being un-American or undemocratic. So we need to be careful with the words that we're using. People can post a sign on their private property. And we are not disallowing that. I am opposed to changing the right of way concept. I don't want a bunch of junkie signs in our town at any time. City Council Chambers, Regardless of the…
So, Krista, are you saying you want to do a staff report on this issue before the committee gets together? Is that what you're saying?
OK, so I think it sounds like we have direction that you two are going to meet with Ben, and then we'll see how that goes. And with that I think we are moving to closed session so we need everybody to leave the Chambers and we will come back in open session and announce any reportable action that we take so let's make sure there's no public comment before we go into closed session is there any public comment on the closed session item before we move to closed session anybody online yes a Dennis Miller has their hand raised For the closed session item? Public comment for the closed session…
OK, let's just clarify that it needs to be on the closed session item, because we've already closed public comment for the item number six.
Yeah, so we'll take a five minute break. Thank you. Before we take a break, yes? Elizabeth is recused from this item. Do you want to say why?
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…
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.
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.…
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?
Thank you. Staff and community reports Ross property owners association. Is there anyone here from our POA. Anyone online sack.