Corte Madera meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Corte Madera boards weigh rezoning, flood funding, ambulance fees; no decisions yet

Corte Madera's boards and commissions met last week to consider flood protection funding, a rezoning request, and ambulance fee changes, but no final votes were taken. Several regular meetings were cancelled. All items below are from agendas; minutes have not yet been published.

Flood Control Board

The Flood Control Board on Aug. 10 discussed short- and long-term flood protection efforts, including a report from the Flood Preparedness Fair planning subcommittee and the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan. The board received updates on the Marina Village Flood Berm Project, storm drain pump station repairs, and the Shorebird Marsh Pump Station replacement. It also heard about a Marin Community Foundation grant awarded to the town for the Marina Village Flood Berm Project; the grant amount was not listed.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission held public hearings Aug. 11 on two items:

• A proposal to change the land use designation and zoning of 125 Baltimore Ave. (APN 024-096-07) from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential, and from R-1 to R-2 Low-Density Multiple-Dwelling, to allow a two-unit residential use.
• A set of amendments to modernize the commercial code, affecting Title 12 (Streets and Sidewalks) and Title 18 (Zoning).

No votes were reported. The commission also noted a tentative future item: design review for a demolition and new two-story residence at 400 Oakdale Avenue.

Town Council

The Town Council held a special meeting Aug. 11 for a closed-session performance evaluation of the Town Manager, as allowed under Government Code Section 54957(b). Public comment was accepted before the closed session. No other business was on the agenda.

Fire Council – Central Marin Fire Authority

The Fire Council on Aug. 13 considered resolutions to amend fees for Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) services and supplies, and to authorize the Executive Manager to perform administrative claim functions. The consent calendar included approval of the FY 2026-2027 pay schedule, accounts payable warrants, and a financial report for the period ending June 30, 2026. No votes were reported.

Climate Action Committee

The Climate Action Committee on Aug. 19 reviewed the 2024 community greenhouse gas inventory, which showed emissions at 71,856 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2024, down from 127,507 in 2005 — a 44% drop. Emissions were also 34% below 1990 levels. The committee also reviewed a mid-year status report on the 2026 Climate Action Work Plan, discussed possible subcommittees and outreach events, and received an update on the Student Ambassador Program.

Cancellations

Two regular meetings were cancelled:

• The Sanitary District No. 2 Board cancelled its Aug. 18 meeting. The next meeting is Sept. 1 at 6:45 p.m., or after the Town Council meeting, whichever is later.
• The Town Council cancelled its Aug. 18 meeting. The next regular meeting is Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Coming up

The Parks and Recreation Commission cancelled its Aug. 24 meeting; the next is Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

The Planning Commission will hold a continued public hearing Aug. 25 on a design review (PL23-0003) for a new 3,046-square-foot two-story residence and a parking variance (PL26-0053) at 400 Oakdale Avenue. The commission will also adopt a resolution of appreciation for former Commissioner Margaret Bandel.

Parks commission approves sunscreen dispensers, draft public art policy

The only action taken at a public meeting in Corte Madera in the past two weeks came from the Parks and Recreation Commission, which approved sunscreen dispensers and a draft public art policy. Other boards met to consider agenda items, and one meeting was cancelled.

Parks and Recreation Commission (July 27)

The commission approved the installation of free sunscreen dispensers at outdoor facilities through the SunSafe Marin program. It also approved a draft Public Art Policy to be presented to the Town Council. Minutes from the April 20, 2026 special meeting were approved by a vote of 5-0-2.

Planning Commission (July 28)

The regular Planning Commission meeting scheduled for July 28 was cancelled. No items were considered. The next regular meeting is set for August 11.

Sanitary District No. 2 Board (August 4)

The board met with an agenda that included appointing a member to the Consolidation Committee created by Resolution No. 03/2026, authorizing the District Manager to sign the Marin LAFCo Cost Sharing Agreement, and approving June 16, 2026 meeting minutes. No minutes from this meeting have been published yet.

Town Council (August 4)

The Town Council held two meetings on August 4. A special meeting was held in closed session to discuss the Town Manager's performance evaluation, legal counsel regarding the case Victor Chiang, as Trustee of the Corte Madera Property Trust v. Town of Corte Madera, and one case with significant exposure to litigation.

The regular meeting agenda included:

• A resolution allowing temporary signs for Larkspur Chamber's Wine Stroll (August 10–31)
• An ordinance to end the sale of tobacco and nicotine products in Corte Madera
• An 8% salary adjustment for Associate Civil Engineers, raising the top step from $11,228 to $12,126 per month
• A mid-year report on the 2026 Work Plan status
• Approval of the publicly available pay schedule for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 per CalPERS requirements

No minutes from this meeting have been published yet.

Finance Advisory Committee (August 6)

The committee's agenda included a review of a 10-year General Fund forecast projecting surpluses from 2025-26 through 2037-38, and a 10-year Equipment and Technology Fund forecast with proposed equipment replacements. Discussion items covered volatile revenue sources such as sales tax, Transient Occupancy Tax, and healthcare and pension costs. Staff are developing a long-range Facility & Equipment maintenance schedule to inform future funding. No minutes have been published yet.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.

Corte Madera Roundup: Parks Commission Approves Sunscreen Dispensers and Draft Public Art Policy; Several July Meetings Cancelled

The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the installation of free sunscreen dispensers at outdoor facilities and advanced a draft Public Art Policy to the Town Council at its July 27 meeting — the only body to take substantive action in a two-week stretch that saw three regular meetings cancelled.

Parks and Recreation Commission (July 27)

The Commission approved installation of SunSafe Marin free sunscreen dispensers at outdoor facilities. It also approved a draft Public Art Policy for future presentation to the Town Council. Minutes from the April 20, 2026 special meeting were approved on a 5-0-2 vote.

Cancelled Meetings

Three regular meetings scheduled in late July were cancelled, with no items considered:

• **Town Council (July 21):** The regular meeting was cancelled. The next regular meeting is set for Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM.
• **Sanitary District No. 2 Board (July 21):** The regular meeting was cancelled. The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 4, 2026.
• **Planning Commission (July 28):** The regular meeting was cancelled. The next regular meeting is set for August 11, 2026.

Coming Up

Several meetings are scheduled for August 4, with additional sessions later in the month:

• **Town Council — Special Closed Session (August 4):** The Council will hold a special session covering a performance evaluation of the Town Manager, a conference with legal counsel regarding *Victor Chiang, as Trustee of the Corte Madera Property Trust v. Town of Corte Madera*, and discussion of one case with significant exposure to litigation.
• **Town Council — Regular Meeting (August 4):** Agenda items include adopting a resolution allowing temporary signs for the Larkspur Chamber's Wine Stroll (August 10–31); considering an ordinance to end the sale of tobacco and nicotine products in Corte Madera; adjusting the Associate Civil Engineer salary range by 8% (top step from $11,228 to $12,126 per month); receiving a mid-year report on the 2026 Work Plan status; and approving a publicly available pay schedule for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 per CalPERS requirements.
• **Sanitary District No. 2 Board (August 4):** The Board will discuss appointing a member to the Consolidation Committee created by Resolution No. 03/2026, may authorize the District Manager to sign the Marin LAFCo Cost Sharing Agreement, and will consider approval of June 16, 2026 meeting minutes.
• **Planning Commission (August 11):** The next regular meeting is scheduled; no agenda details were provided in the available data.

Corte Madera Council Weighs 150-Unit Senior Care Facility; Several July Meetings Cancelled

The Corte Madera Town Council's July 7 meeting featured a public hearing on a proposed 150-unit residential care facility for the elderly at 56 Madera Boulevard, along with a potential $529,672 IT services contract. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Town Council — July 7

The Council was scheduled to hold a public hearing on a 150-unit Residential Care Facility for the Elderly at 56 Madera Boulevard (APN 024-031-15). The project would include 118 assisted living units and 32 memory care units, and required a conditional use permit and design review.

The Council was also set to authorize the Town Manager to enter a three-year information technology managed services agreement with Marin IT, not to exceed $529,672.

Consent items proposed for approval included:

• Resolution No. 29/2026, authorizing a three-year Community Development Block Grant cooperation agreement with the County of Marin.
• General Fund revenue and expense reports for periods ending April 2026 and May 2026.
• Minutes of the June 16, 2026 Town Council closed session and regular meetings.

Because minutes have not yet been published, it is not confirmed which items were approved or how any votes were cast.

Planning Commission — July 14

The Planning Commission met to review potential amendments to the Corte Madera Municipal Code regarding commercial regulations, which would change local rules governing business operations. Principal Planner Martha Battaglia and consultant Martha Miller of Miller Planning Associates presented the item.

No public hearings or consent calendar items were scheduled. The Commission also was set to approve minutes from its June 9, 2026 meeting and discuss tentative agenda items for July 28, 2026. Minutes are not yet published.

Climate Action Committee — July 15

The Climate Action Committee was scheduled to elect a new Chair and Vice Chair. The agenda also included a presentation on progress of the Electric Vehicle Work Plan, a discussion of committee focus areas and subcommittee reorganization, and a discussion of the Student Ambassador Program. Outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Cancelled Meetings

Two regular meetings were cancelled in the past two weeks:

• Sanitary District No. 2 Board — July 7, 2026 (cancelled; next meeting set for July 21, 2026).
• Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee — July 13, 2026 (cancelled; next meeting set for September 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM in Town Council Chambers).

No business was conducted at either cancelled meeting.

Coming Up

Both meetings scheduled for July 21, 2026 have been cancelled:

• Town Council — July 21 cancelled. Next regular meeting: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM.
• Sanitary District No. 2 Board — July 21 cancelled. Next regular meeting: August 4, 2026.

Residents tracking the senior care facility proposal and the IT contract should watch for the July 7 meeting minutes to confirm what was decided.