Kathy Nikitas

The meeting commenced with a closed session covering multiple litigation matters involving Great Wall Investment America LLC, Stefani, and Andrew Sullivan, as well as anticipated litigation and real property negotiations concerning 558 Bridgeway and 300 Spencer. Discussions also addressed the employment of the City Manager. The open session included a Police Department Service Awards presentation and a City Manager's report on upcoming projects for 2026. The consent calendar authorized the purchase of security cameras, waived the second reading of an ordinance regarding Assistant City Manager spending authority, approved a professional services agreement for the Bridgeway Mid-Block Crossing Project, authorized the disposal of surplus Public Works vehicles, and approved a professional services agreement for City Manager recruitment services. The primary business item involved receiving and filing the Shoreline Adaptation Plan report, with direction provided to staff to strengthen engineering, cost basis, and stakeholder outreach while maintaining a vision/strategy level. Additionally, the Council affirmed violations cited in an Administrative Citation concerning illegal construction at 27 Central Avenue, ordering the property owners to correct violations or remove unpermitted construction. Future agenda items requested staff to revisit the City's mission/vision, explore streamlined permitting for emergency work, develop a 'fresh catch' ordinance for direct fish sales, and create an annual ethics/fiscal training briefing.

The City Council convened for a special session which included a facilitated strategic planning workshop. Key discussions centered on affirming the intent to initiate a new strategic planning process, reviewing mission, vision, and values input, and identifying infrastructure and fiscal capacity (including roads, storm drains, stairs, buildings, and climate resilience) as a top strategic priority. The Council directed staff to develop high-impact revenue options and requested further analysis on tools like Marinship Ordinance 1022, development agreements, and storm drain funding mechanisms. Additionally, directions were provided to develop downtown business support options, evaluate comprehensive financial reporting resumption, and reclassify future agenda items to align with current strategic priorities.

The meeting commenced with a Closed Session covering labor negotiations, public employee employment (City Manager), and existing litigation (Russo v. City of Sausalito). Upon reconvening, the Council authorized legal defense for the litigation case. Special presentations included a strategy presentation regarding the January 27, 2026 King Tide event and an update on the Priority Planning Session. Communications featured a speech honoring Joseph Henry James for challenging discriminatory union practices. Under the Consent Calendar, the Council adopted the Black History Month Proclamation and authorized an amendment to a Professional Services Agreement with Schaaf and Wheeler for surveying services on the Large Trash Capture Device Project. The main business item involved a discussion and reception of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Mid-Year Budget report. The Council also reviewed and provided direction on the Revised Draft Request for Proposals for the Turney Street Dock Repair and Business Partnership, directing staff toward a single, flexible RFP structure and coordinating housing concepts with site development. Council reported on various committee activities, including updates on the MLK/Corporation Yard Public Land-to-Housing Working Group, the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers, and the Economic Development Advisory Committee. Finally, the City Manager was appointed as the Sausalito Zero Waste Marin Joint Powers Authority Board member by common consent.

The meetings covered several critical topics including closed sessions for labor negotiations, public employee employment discussions, and real property negotiations. Key agenda items included a presentation on the City Manager's summary of community contributions, and an emergency response discussion regarding Gate 5 Road flooding, which led to the addition of an unscheduled item. The council handled several consent items, such as reaffirming operating protocols and receiving audit updates. Business items focused heavily on housing and infrastructure: direction was provided for the implementation of Program 8 concerning public property conversion to affordable housing, including directing staff to issue an RFP for sites like MLK/Bus Barn and Corporation Yard. Direction was also given to proceed with an RFP for the 2025/26 road resurfacing projects, emphasizing road function and safety. Furthermore, the Council reviewed and directed staff regarding the Draft Request for Proposals for Humboldt Street Dock Repair. An ordinance amendment concerning Assistant City Manager spending authority was introduced and passed. In the second meeting, key discussions involved receiving and filing the Shoreline Adaptation Plan report with directions to refine its engineering basis and stakeholder outreach, and addressing an administrative hearing appeal regarding illegal construction at 27 Central Avenue, where violations were affirmed. Future agenda items included reviewing city mission/vision and providing a Flooding After-Action Report.

The meeting commenced with a Closed Session to discuss public employee employment (City Manager) and anticipated litigation. Upon reconvening to Open Session, the amended agenda was approved. The Consent Calendar addressed several actions, including adopting the draft meeting minutes of December 2, 2025, certifying election results from November 4, 2025, approving fee reimbursements for Maritime Day, adopting a job description for interim professional staff, authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Anchor QEA Consulting for the Turney Street Dock Improvement Project, and approving a lease agreement for the 300 Spencer Fire Station with the Southern Marin Fire District. Business items included authorizing an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with BKF Engineers for the Coloma St. Safe Pathways to School Project, with specific directions given for incorporating alternative traffic calming measures into the bid alternates. The Council also received and filed an update on Landslide Task Force recommendations, directing staff on further actions regarding the monitoring plan and ordinance development. Furthermore, the Council canceled future regular meetings in 2026 and called for specific special meetings in 2026. An amended letter providing feedback to the Plan Bay Area 2050 Environmental Impact Report was approved. The session concluded with presentations honoring the outgoing Mayor, the unanimous selection of Councilmember Woodside as the new Mayor, and the unanimous selection of Councilmember Blaustein as Vice Mayor. Future agenda items regarding housing development schedules and the 27 Central hearing were also noted.