Farm stand and farmers market plan for the downtown lot sent back for reworking

At the downtown municipal parking lot, staff proposed a pilot program that would hand over roughly 18 parking spaces for produce sales: a for-profit farm stand run by Marin Community Farm Stands (operator Jim Bomb) on Tuesdays, and/or a nonprofit certified farmers market run by the Marin Community Farmers Market Association (director Lynn Bagley) on Thursdays. The package came with a temporary use permit, an encroachment permit, a license agreement and use-of-right-of-way fees of roughly $170 per occurrence, and staff asked Council to set the fees and consider delegating some fee-adjustment authority to the city manager.

“I haven't heard anything from merchants... you're taking away our only parking lot. I just don't understand that.”— Margaret Vontes, merchant at 476 Magnolia Avenue

The item drew 26 written public comments and a long line of speakers, with the loss of Lucky Market on one side of the ledger and downtown parking on the other. Merchant Margaret Vontes of 476 Magnolia said she had heard nothing from the city beforehand: "I haven't heard anything from merchants... you're taking away our only parking lot. I just don't understand that." David Monson told Council, "Parking has always been the number one issue in downtown Larkspur. You're not taking half, you're taking far more." Terry Burkemire asked, "How do we justify robbing the current merchants without understanding how many extra vehicles this is going to bring just to allow the vendors to operate the way they plan to?" In written comment, James Holmes wrote that "closing the entire lot because no one wants to pay for the partial closure seems like insult to injury."

Bookshop owner Steph Tisignnot said the proposed hours land in prime retail time and suggested opening at 8 or 9 as a compromise. Bagley argued the fees were steep for a nonprofit market, saying 90% of markets pay no rent at all and asking to pay only the initial $500 plus the $100 encroachment fee. Bomb said his operation deals strictly in agricultural products and no other merchandise.

Council Member Wei said 18 spaces for an eight-hour block is a lot for downtown and that alternative locations had not been fleshed out. Mayor Andre said the pilot is something residents have asked for and she would like to give it a chance to work. In the end, Council tabled the item to the June 18 meeting, directing staff to work with the vendors on a smaller footprint, a single-day pilot, adjusted hours, and other possible sites including the library parking lot.

Magnolia Avenue businesses say stalled construction and scaffolding are driving customers away

During non-agenda public comment, residents and business owners described the long-standing scaffolding and stalled construction at 483 and 485 Magnolia Avenue as a drag on nearby businesses. Sarah Harrison told Council the conditions have made her workplace hard to face: "It is heartbreaking to me to go to a job... based on the condition of my current work environment. I need your help."

“We've been here for 105 years... Magnolia Avenue is the characteristic of our town and half of it stuck under a dark, ugly tunnel now.”— Melissa Shirley, Magnolia Avenue business owner

Melissa Shirley, whose business she said has been on the street for generations, put it in terms of the street itself: "We've been here for 105 years... Magnolia Avenue is the characteristic of our town and half of it stuck under a dark, ugly tunnel now."

No formal action was taken. Mayor Andre said, "I did reach out to the property owner... we are trying to move forward and make progress on that project," and said she would follow up with the owner this week.

Council adopts FY2026-27 budget and capital plan; EV charger funding held back, Library Phase 2 stays on the list

Council unanimously adopted the five-year Capital Improvement Program (Resolution 37/26), which includes softball dugout shade structures, tennis court resurfacing at Piper Park, Centennial court resurfacing, paving on Larkspur Landing Circle and Redwood Highway, storm drain work, and a South Magnolia Avenue corridor study. Staff proposed separating EV charging infrastructure funding from the Rec Center project and returning once grant and PG&E details are settled.

Council Member Margolis questioned that timing, noting the federal funding climate for renewables makes waiting on federal money a risky planning strategy. City Manager Schwarz said of the utility discussions, "We were shocked to find out that was even a conversation we could have... it's probably why it's taking a little longer than we would have liked to bring that to fruition." Council also declined to strike "Library Phase 2" from the unfunded project list, with Council Member Kandell saying it is too early to narrow the city's options.

The FY2026-27 budget and the accompanying financial policy resolutions (38/26 through 44/26) — covering on-call vendor lists, investment policy, purchasing policy, general fund reserves, appropriation limits, and authorized positions and salary ranges — were approved unanimously. Council Member Scott noted a savings of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars from the reorganization at RVPA and Central Marin Fire. Margolis asked whether the city should refinance its road repaving bonds, and Schwarz said staff would "return later this year after we've had a chance to speak with the municipal advisor and prepare an analysis." Five written comments were filed on the budget and transient occupancy tax, including from the Larkspur Community Foundation.