[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6567479,"mediaKeyId","3300770-dbf39ffc5fc2ccb3e0f00788d6b3ac6c","parentId",3300770,"title","Votes at a glance: Ross council adopts zoning cleanup reintroduction, fire-hazard map, planning approvals and safety-element edits","audioSeconds",5603,"startMs",2521000,"endMs",8124000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3300770-dbf39ffc5fc2ccb3e0f00788d6b3ac6c&start=2521&end=8124","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3300770-dbf39ffc5fc2ccb3e0f00788d6b3ac6c/thumbnail_2521000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6567479/Ross/Marin-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Ross-council-adopts-zoning-cleanup-reintroduction-fire-hazard-map-planning-approvals-and-safety-element-edits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567479-41a0d0a13c4fcbf404db7990147122b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775664755&Signature=X8wLIqtNqr~9fCuOPxJAB-4FCVYdzV6PMhX3dZYIfH2CwSto5BB5l-LOkGfJQw8d5rWOzkNwpzVNB9QDtcHiRiknOycMHF1PbecgQOcOl2x8FBBFCqANcWLxZD2QD9nU72K4TJnO0emcgAKbedYWMNl1jeL5yYPovhm91d~2lOkqfWwqmngkBnChNMsRop~F0NT230wAHILJnTA0IYClzl-NQGO21XZTjh0HNQFqg2bGyEBPJnSUMVD7k9Au3~OFgEwwvz9BC0t3DHGfMHxM4I96pF6nbjwSlMSBX04Uha0kqSa4rvGjVGri6wj81mEayxc2eGKxmq7GUQoG5B9KTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Ross","date","2025-05-09T21:47:47Z","article","The Ross Town Council took a series of formal actions on May 8, approving code and planning items, authorizing a cybersecurity contract and adopting a town goal on communication. Below is a concise summary of motions and vote outcomes recorded during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar (items a, b, c, f, g, h): Approved by roll call, 5–0. (No public comment on these items after several items were pulled for separate discussion.)

- Ordinance No. 728 (municipal code cleanup; reintroduced without proposed edits to Chapter 12.24 about \"zone 0\"): Council reintroduced and waived first reading; motion carried 5–0. Staff said the ordinance will return for final adoption on June 12 after removing proposed changes to the fire-hazard “zone 0” language so the town can await state rulemaking.

- Ordinance No. 729 (designating fire hazard severity zones in the Ross local responsibility area): Adopted by roll call vote, 5–0. Ross Valley Fire Department staff clarified that adoption of the map does not, by itself, mandate specific landscaping or building restrictions; those subject-specific regulations would be considered separately.

- Committee and liaison appointments (agenda item 10.i): Council ratified mayoral appointments by a 3–2 vote (Mayor McMillan, Council Member Dowling and Council Member Kircher — yes; Council Member Salter and Mayor Pro Tem Robbins — no). The council later approved an immediate effective date after a procedural motion to reconsider timing carried.

- Town goal number 8 (provide effective and timely communication with residents): Amended wording to read “with residents” and approved, 5–0.

- Contract with Marin IT for cybersecurity implementation and information-technology services (item 10.k): Authorized at $131,000 (the staff report said the increase was largely for workstation replacement, a password manager, infrastructure refresh and additional hourly support); motion carried 5–0.

Planning and land-use items (public hearings)

- 51 Loma Linda (design review and demolition permit — Resolution No. 25-17): Adopted (vote recorded as 3–0 with two council members recused because of proximity). The council approved design review for a detached garage/guest-house exterior remodel.

- 313 Upper Toyon Road (hillside lot permit and variance — Resolution No. 25-18): Approved by council, motion carried 3–2 after extended discussion focused on hillside bulk/massing, visibility and emergency access. Staff and the applicant cited driveway geometry and existing site topography as factors supporting the variance; several members expressed concern about precedent for parking decks on hillsides.

- 117 Laurel Grove (design review — Resolution No. 25-19): Adopted, 5–0. The applicant revised gate/fence design following ADR recommendations to ensure 50% transparency on the upper portion.

- 78 Shady Lane (design review and variance — Resolution No. 25-21): Adopted, 4–1. The applicant’s proposal included a pool, spa and outdoor kitchen in the rear-yard setback; opponents argued the lot is overbuilt and that additional variances undermine setback rules. The applicant noted therapeutic reasons for the pool and said neighbors had been consulted.

Policy and other items

- Safety-element policy edits (identified as Resolution No. 25-03 in staff materials): Council adopted the updated language with two edits proposed by council (changing two instances of “shall” to “should” to preserve flexibility and adding the words “and other natural disasters” to post-disaster recovery language). Motion carried 5–0. Staff said code changes implementing specific requirements will follow later in the zoning-code update process.

- Appointment process for an appointed town treasurer: The finance subcommittee recommended recruiting an appointed treasurer (resident required) and discussed a longstanding $250/month stipend. Council directed staff to begin a recruitment run by the town clerk without specifying a stipend; the finance subcommittee will vet candidates and bring recommendations to council for appointment.

Motion and vote records (selected)

- Consent items a, b, c, f, g, h: motion to approve (mover/second recorded in minutes); roll call: Mayor McMillan — yes; Council Member Dowling — yes; Council Member Kircher — yes; Council Member Salter — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Robbins — yes. Tally: 5–0.

- Ordinance 728 (reintroduction without zone 0 edits): motion to reintroduce and waive first reading; roll call: 5–0.

- Ordinance 729 (fire hazard zones): motion to adopt ordinance; roll call: 5–0. Ross Valley Fire Department confirmed adoption of the map does not automatically impose immediate landscaping restrictions beyond future code actions.

- Committee appointments (10.i): motion to ratify; roll call: Mayor McMillan — yes; Council Member Dowling — yes; Council Member Kircher — yes; Council Member Salter — no; Mayor Pro Tem Robbins — no. Tally: 3–2. Motion carried. A subsequent motion to reconsider timing passed and council ratified the appointments effective immediately.

- 51 Loma Linda (Res. 25-17): motion to adopt; recorded vote 3–0 with two recusals; motion carried.

- 313 Upper Toyon (Res. 25-18): motion to adopt; motion carried 3–2.

- 117 Laurel Grove (Res. 25-19): motion to adopt; roll call 5–0.

- 78 Shady Lane (Res. 25-21): motion to adopt; roll call 4–1.

- Safety-element edits (Res. 25-03): motion to adopt with edits (two “shall”→“should”; add “and other natural disasters”); roll call 5–0.

What the council asked staff to do next

- Return Ordinance 728 for final adoption on June 12 after state rulemaking on “zone 0” is clearer.
- Prepare clarified procedures and recommended public process for liaison appointments per the council’s request following the 10.i debate.
- Continue work on objective guidelines for pools and variances in small lots and bring zoning/code changes related to the safety element later this year.

Documents and references: The meeting included staff reports and revised ordinances posted to the town website; several planning resolutions were cited by number in the record (Res. 25-17, 25-18, 25-19, 25-21, 25-03).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting-05/08/2025 - 6:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","At its May 8 meeting the Ross Town Council approved multiple planning resolutions and ordinances, adopted updates to the town’s safety guidance, authorized an IT/cybersecurity contract and approved other consent items; several items were pulled for discussion.","taxTitle","Ross, Marin County, California","taxId",79356,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567484,"Ross council ratifies liaison assignments after heated debate over mayor’s unilateral changes",884,3092000,3976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3300770-dbf39ffc5fc2ccb3e0f00788d6b3ac6c&start=3092&end=3976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3300770-dbf39ffc5fc2ccb3e0f00788d6b3ac6c/thumbnail_3092000.jpg","/articles/6567484/Ross/Marin-County/California/Ross-council-ratifies-liaison-assignments-after-heated-debate-over-mayors-unilateral-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567484-6387a91ab52642e1fbb69312fd85e543/orig.mp4?Expires=1775664755&Signature=TI~Lt4WGZ2n-af1Z2DUutvNPjRpJoIXoS8gXRV2BEatLBKxDgtv-1iUxCdpCeDBM6dFx54ikvoNFvz2qos0aglnsHcXhxavKc-YzCj5Js2DtI9pXdYCd1IcnlEVLJMhPr65BDq~z43RuPTFzA8iyVFLFJp7TwpRy~u8dNMSoCa7vxf2kNKf4qCgtBHLiLnH49NvKuUzwK-ldB9a2s33ZdBw3NojdwmhL7BrU7UPhM7uWjbWDOzgPdwKPhzTXG~fRF6eJzIxRgzPXGDEGN3VLRL9wXs94EqgUc1~0kh-ahfOEkWqe6PqKg6dDqbHpW8pZ6Zo9clcEvJlKqdYq2-ut2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A majority of the Ross Town Council voted 3–2 on May 8 to ratify committee, subcommittee and liaison appointments the mayor made for the coming year after a protracted and at times rancorous debate over process and precedent.

Council Member Matt Salter and Council Member Elizabeth Dowling objected publicly to the way Mayor McMillan assigned representatives to joint powers authorities and regional boards, saying the mayor did not seek council members’ preferences before changing longstanding assignments. Salter said he was removed from the MCE (Marin Clean Energy) board without prior discussion and assigned to ABAG, which he opposed; Dowling said similar unilateral changes had disrupted board relationships and the MCE board itself.

Mayor McMillan defended her choices, saying the mayor’s authority under the procedures manual includes appointment power and that she received multiple complaints about a council representative’s conduct on MCE. She said her goal was to preserve the town’s ability to influence decisions by placing representatives who can maintain productive relationships on regional boards.

Council discussion included repeated calls from Salter and Dowling for the complaints to be aired publicly at the relevant boards rather than handled in private. Salter and others said they had received letters in support of keeping certain representatives on those boards; the mayor said she had received four complaints to her attention between December and April and had followed up with board members.

After a motion to ratify the mayor’s appointments, roll-call voting was: Mayor McMillan — aye; Council Member Dowling — aye; Council Member Kircher — aye; Council Member Salter — no; Mayor Pro Tem Robbins — no. The motion carried 3–2. A separate procedural motion to reconsider timing of the appointments earlier in the meeting was also made and carried; the council then ratified the appointments effective immediately.

Council members and members of the public urged clearer, more public processes going forward; several speakers recommended that liaison changes be discussed in public sessions or at the affected JPA boards rather than behind closed doors. The town manager and town attorney were asked to clarify procedures and the relationship between mayoral authority under the procedures manual and council expectations for collaborative appointment-setting.","The council voted 3–2 to ratify new committee and liaison assignments after objections from two council members who said the mayor had unilaterally reassigned them without following the procedures manual.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567489,"Cedars launches ‘Choose Kindness’ campaign; Ross council to proclaim support",868,559000,1427000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3300770-dbf39ffc5fc2ccb3e0f00788d6b3ac6c&start=559&end=1427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3300770-dbf39ffc5fc2ccb3e0f00788d6b3ac6c/thumbnail_559000.jpg","/articles/6567489/Ross/Marin-County/California/Cedars-launches-Choose-Kindness-campaign-Ross-council-to-proclaim-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567489-67622e14ddb6f52e08d0d0ca51985e10/orig.mp4?Expires=1775664755&Signature=SWLZLLgEU2RqYxx-kVdA8ozrlAUjSem~bLicjgr9VSc8GYWHxKteu45C9hVrDJzKgRHr159Er448V-sbkcAdslHL2eHDYcLi1oGGtUDVf4vcM1nabLiX3baZxSnAFzKQvgjMU3jd6ohk1q94JrUEYdJFnkzp-ae4ICeGpbWxuBDkQDrbhAPzeEf6Km0NhXGYKI8PC4rAUIGkS4QIsWiD3fYzLMKW6Eqwf5tD8-5WAdR5F9ckrI5o6IMfq1HTdgwXTTX9Eaxj-A0hiud66C4bvdxYxCGhKuwSv1nkb7wXNC-HaW~W5vSZDjBktW9YiPPB-eWD8~5OGLtpGNnU6k5PFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Casey Coco, director of strategic planning for Cedars, told the Ross Town Council on May 8 that Cedars’ client advisory council had created a countywide “Choose Kindness” campaign and asked the town to be the campaign’s first official launch site.

The presentation explained that Cedars operates day programs, a textile art collaborative and supportive homes for adults with developmental disabilities, serving roughly 200 people. Coco said the campaign grew from client complaints about everyday unkindness and small incidents of exclusion and was developed by Cedars participants themselves as a form of self-advocacy.

Two Cedars residents who serve on the client advisory council, Rose Gordon and Teresa Pardella, described specific incidents that inspired the campaign — from incorrect change given to a person who could not count to refusal to share water on a hot day — and urged Ross to adopt simple actions such as greeting people, accommodating differences and promoting inclusion in businesses and schools.

Coco asked the council to recognize the campaign by adopting a town proclamation, assist with promotion through the town newsletter and encourage schools, businesses and residents to “choose kindness” daily. Mayor McMillan and several council members praised Cedars’ work; the mayor noted a proclamation supporting the campaign was included on the consent calendar and would be signed and sent to Cedars.

Cedars said it will begin local outreach in Ross, work with businesses and schools, and aims to expand the campaign countywide. The presenters requested the council’s help publicizing the effort and asked for the town’s formal recognition to lend momentum to the initiative.

Cedars’ staff and self-advocates answered brief questions about next steps, materials and how residents could participate; the council did not take additional substantive action beyond confirming the proclamation was on the consent calendar.","Cedars presented a countywide ‘Choose Kindness’ campaign, led by program participants, and asked the Ross Town Council to adopt a proclamation recognizing the initiative. Council said a proclamation is on the consent calendar and will be signed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Ross council adopts zoning cleanup reintroduction, fire-hazard map, planning approvals and safety-element edits

Ross council ratifies liaison assignments after heated debate over mayor’s unilateral changes

Cedars launches ‘Choose Kindness’ campaign; Ross council to proclaim support