Sherman R. Frederick
Ross Valley Reporter
In the annual ceremonial changing of the guard on the Fairfax Town Council, Barbara Coler last week ascended to the position of mayor and Lisel Blash became vice-mayor. This is the third go around for Coler as mayor. She takes over from Chance Cutrano.
After a speech by Cutrano, the Council applauded, which technically violated the Council’s own new rules on decorum. At the last Town Council meeting, the Council unanimously approved new conduct rules, one of which banned applause. Later in the Dec. 6 meeting, the Council scolded the audience for clapping.
New Mayor Coler took over the meeting to some light-hearted moments when a man put on a tin foil hat “to protect the Council from my thoughts.” Other speakers ranged widely on topics with a woman asking the Council to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and another complaining about breathing in dust in downtown Fairfax.
The Town Council as a whole faces revolt from a citizen group that is seeking to find candidates to run against Coler, Cutrano and Bruce Ackerman, who are up for re-election in November 2024. There is also a grassroots movement in Fairfax to recall the other two council members, Blash and Stephanie Hellman.
Ross Valley Reporter questions to the organizers about the details of the recall movement details went unreturned at press time. A meeting was held two weeks ago in which five former council members spoke to potential candidates on what is entailed to run for office.
The angst in Fairfax stems from the move by the current Council to enact rent control. After the Council approved it, citizens revolted and got the issue put on the ballot. But the Council put off the vote to November 2024. For most of 2023, Town Council meetings have featured angry citizens complaining to the Council about its decisions, ranging from rent control to affordable housing projects.
The Town Council had planned to launch a pilot program on rent control ahead of the public vote. But the item was pulled from the night’s docket at the last minute. New Mayor Coler, who had asked for the pilot program to be put on the agenda, said it will be rescheduled “later.” No explanation for pulling the item was given.
On another matter, a special meeting of the Town Council has been scheduled for tonight (Dec. 13) to consider certifying an Environmental Impact Report in connection with the approval of a General Plan Amendment adopting an update to Fairfax’s housing element for 2023 – 2031.
The Town Council is required by state law to plan for at least 490 new housing units between now and 2031, including 149 Very Low-Income units, 86 Low Income units, 71 Moderate Income units, and 184 Above Moderate Income units.
Detailed analysis of the items on the Dec. 13 agenda can be found on the town’s website.
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