Public Meeting for Downtown One-Way Street Pilot Project on San Anselmo Avenue

A new concept has been discussed regarding temporarily turning part of San Anselmo Avenue into a one-way street between Tunstead and Tamalpais Avenues. 

Staff has applied for and received  the Transportation Authority of Marin’s (TAM) Quick Build Grant and was awarded $20,000 for the pilot project. A one-way street would allow for additional space to widen sidewalks, parking will remain but will move away from the buildings creating greater opportunities for businesses to develop parklets to utilize their parking for outdoor activities. The street could also be meandered and narrowed to slow down traffic and add more bike improvements where feasible.The draft proposal in the grant is to make San Anselmo Avenue one way from Tunstead to Tamalpais in the northwest direction toward Fairfax with southeast local traffic toward Ross going one-way on Kientz to Library Place. 

The Town is in the process of conducting two community forums in August. At the August 12, 2020 community meeting, staff received feedback regarding the proposed project. To invite additional feedback we would like to invite you to another meeting taking place on August 26^th, at 6 pm via Zoom.

Downtown One-Way Street Pilot Project Meeting
August 26th, at 6 pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81961912247
Or Telephone:+1 669 900 6833  
Webinar ID: 819 6191 2247

Further information can be found here:  https://www.townofsananselmo.org/1425/17329/Downtown-One-Way-Street-Pilot-Project

For more information or questions, please contact Dmitriy Laptev at dlaptev@townofsananselmo.org
  

The Sustainability Commission is seeking your input on potential regulations to limit or restrict the use of gas-powered landscaping equipment.

According to California Air Resources Board, operating a best-selling commercial leaf blower for one hour emits smog-forming pollution comparable to driving a 2016 Toyota Camry about 1100 miles, or approximately the distance from Los Angeles to Denver. The Town of San Anselmo is considering a plan to phase out gas-powered, 2-cycle landscape maintenance equipment that includes leaf blowers, in addition to vacuums, trimmers, edgers, and cutters) as well as chain saws, chippers, rotary tillers, stump grinders, shredders, tractors, turf equipment, and other similar equipment with electric alternatives.  The goal is to reduce the pollution and health impacts on equipment users and neighbors, and is part of the implementation of the Town’s Climate Action Plan. Many cities and towns have taken similar steps, including several towns in Marin.

The Town of San Anselmo and the Sustainability Commission are seeking community input on this topic to assess how to design a program to avoid economic impacts on contractors and residents via a phase-in period and a buy-back or rebate program, and to ensure that operations for wildfire preparedness and emergency response are not hindered.

The Town already has a Leaf Blower Ordinance that restricts the use of ALL motorized leaf blowers (gas and electric) to specific times of the week (Monday, Thursday, Saturday, from 1 pm to 4 pm) – to restrict noise impacts. The phasing out of gas-powered landscape equipment would not replace this ordinance.

The Town Council considers all community input before making decisions such as the proposed action of phasing out  gas-powered, 2-cycle landscape maintenance equipment.

Please fill out the survey here: https://www.townofsananselmo.org/1424/Current-Surveys

Marin Revises Restrictions on Childcare and Youth Programs

New guidelines provide more flexibility while balancing health concerns

In preparation for the start of the school year, Marin Public Health has issued new public health guidelines for childcare and youth programs conducted in Marin. The new guidelines were modeled after State of California guidance and designed to accommodate more flexibility for fall programming.

The Marin -specific guidance goes into effect August 17, 2020.
The youth program guidelines apply to youth sports, such as basketball, football, gymnastics, dance studios, among other popular youth athletic activities.  
Some of the revised guidelines include:

• cohort group size is increased from 12 to 15 people
• youth can participate in up to two programs simultaneously
• programs are not limited to a minimum number of days per week, but programs still must be a minimum of 3 weeks.
• athletic programs must occur outdoors only and participants must stay 6 ft apart

Even with these new restrictions, sports that cannot be played with enough distancing and cohorting are still not permitted.

Outdoor and indoor sporting events, assemblies, and other activities that require close contact or that promote congregating are also not permitted at this time. This includes tournaments, events, and competitions, regardless of whether teams are from the same school or from different schools, counties, or states. For sports that cannot be conducted with sufficient physical distancing or cohorting, individual skill building will be permitted outdoors, including body weight resistance training, running drills, conditioning and training.

Use of face coverings is strongly encouraged for young children between two years old and second grade, if they can be worn properly. Face coverings are required for children in 3rd grade through high school and may be removed for meals, snacks, naptime, or outdoor recreation.

Indoor youth athletic programs are not allowed at this time. The State of California issued guidance indicating that indoor youth sports are only permitted in Counties where indoor gyms are open. Counties on the watchlist, such as Marin County, cannot open indoor gyms.  Therefore, indoor youth sports must remain closed at this time. When Marin County is off the watchlist and makes the decision to open indoor gyms, then youth sports will be permitted to operate under the Childcare and Youth Guidelines and any applicable state guidance.

The full childcare and youth program guidelines and an accompanying “Frequently Asked Questions” document can be found on Childcare section of MarinRecovers.com

Session on Drake Boulevard History Rescheduled for August 17

Online video-conference to address widespread interest in renaming Marin road

A public online learning session about Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, one of Marin’s primary thoroughfares, has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, August 17. The planned August 5 session was postponed because of scheduling conflicts with several other video-conferences pertaining to similar civil rights topics.

The educational video-conference was prompted by a grassroots effort to have Sir Francis Drake Boulevard renamed because of its namesake’s documented history as a 16th century slave trader. The Marin County Free Library, which is hosting the session, has just created a history resource webpage on the subject.

The session will be moderated by Chantel Walker, the library’s assistant director. The session will start at 6 p.m. and will be closed captioned, offer Spanish interpretation and ASL/CDI interpretation (available via Zoom webinar ID: 924 8372 9278; Password: 798119). Viewers may watch the webcast live on the County’s main Facebook page and the Community Media Center of Marin’s Education Channel. Comcast TV subscribers may watch on Channel 30 or AT&T 99. Video of the session will later be placed on the library’s website.

The August 17 learning session will feature current and historic perspectives from:
• Tribal Vice Chair Lorelle Ross, Cultural Resources Specialist Matthew Johnson, and Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer Buffy McQuillen, all of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo);
• Dr. Jordan Lieser, Dominican University of California history professor, and;
• Author and Historian Dewey Livingston, who has spent 35 years researching and telling stories of Marin’s past.

After the presentations, the panelists will answer questions. Email questions by 5 p.m. August 16 or use the Q&A feature during the Zoom session August 17.

Organic Waste Program for 2020

For additional information, click here.

Recreation Competition for San Anselmo Mask Poster!!

Age-Friendly San Anselmo invites all residents under age 18 to participate in an art competition creating a poster that encourages residents and town visitors to wear masks.


Submissions need to be: 

• on paper sized 8 1/2 by 11
• can use painting, drawing, coloring, or any other media
• can use photographs, words, or both
• have first initial, last name, and age on the front of poster
• have full name, school, if applicable, and grade and contact phone number on the back (will be covered in display)
• deliver or mail to the San Anselmo Recreation Department (1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Suite 14) and placed into one of the boxes designated for submissions

Competition runs from Saturday July 25 thru Monday September 7.
Winning posters will be creative and relay compelling information through the design. 
4 Winners will be chosen (Categories: preschool, elementary, middle and high school)
All winners will be displayed on the “mask trees” in downtown San Anselmo
Questions?  Email: saraagefriendlysa@gmail.com