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Town Manager's Newsletter
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Saturday, February 11, 2023
David P. Donery, Town Manager
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Town Council Meeting Agenda
The Town Council will be discussing the following items at their next Council meeting on February 14, 2023 at 7:00pm: Council Items:- Recap Event & Review Community Survey Results for the 2022 Live on the Avenue Event Series.
- Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Audited Basic Financial Statements.
- Approve Plans for the Memorial Park Parking Lot Renovation Project.
- 2022-2023 Mid-Year Budget Review.
- Receive a Presentation on the Marin Green Building Model Reach Code.
- Vehicle Miles Traveled CEQA Threshold of Significance Policy to
Implement SB 743. - Consider Appointing three (3) applicants to the Library Advisory Board.
The full agenda and further information can be found on the Town website: HERE Please add your email to receive notifications and agendas for the Town Council meetings or any other Town public meetings: HERE
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Imagination Park News: Lawn Restoration
The lawn in Imagination Park in the heart of downtown will be closed February 15 - March 30 for reseeding and restoration work. We appreciate your cooperation in staying off the lawn so it will have a chance to establish itself. Thank you!
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SAVE THE DATE: San Anselmo Recreation Summer Activity Guide is coming February 27TH
The moment you’ve all been waiting for is almost here! That’s right, the release date for the San Anselmo Recreation’s Summer Activity Guide is just about here! The e-mails have been pouring in asking for the date and it’s finally almost here! Interested in carpentry? Or theater? Or sports? Or maybe you’re looking for that classic summer camp experience that only Camp Kid Marin can offer! We have just what you need! Spaces will fill up fast so be sure to check out www.sananselmorecreation.org on Feb 27th to register.
If you have any questions, please e-mail: recreation@townofsananselmo.org or call 415-258-4640.
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RED HILL DOG PARK UPDATE
Members of the Red Hill Dog Park Steering Committee met with Town Public Works Department representatives to discuss the drainage issues in the Dog Park that have recently been compounded by the series of heavy rain events. For more information, please visit the Red Hill Dog Park Steering Committee webpage on the Town website, or click HERE
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The California Department of Housing & Community Development Acknowledges Receipt of the Draft Housing Element
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has acknowledged the Town's submittal of the Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element. It was sent to the HCD on January 26, 2023. For more information about the Housing Element and the next steps regarding the HCD staff review, please visit the Housing Element Update webpage on the Town website or click HERE Public comment continues to be vital to the process. Please direct any comments or questions to: Heidi Scoble, Planning Director hscoble@townofsananselmo.org
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Update on Discussions with the County of Marin Regarding Public Use of Creek Park PlazaFor more information go to the Building Bridge #2/Creek Park Update page on the Town website, or click HERE
Please note that Creek Park is still open: This includes the Redwood grove picnic tables, and the Amphitheater grass and stage area. The Town has moved some plaza picnic tables back to that area to provide more seating. You can access Creek Park via the pedestrian bridge from San Anselmo Avenue or from Center Avenue and Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
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Art Talk Tuesday: Jade: Stone of Heaven Tuesday, February 14, 12:00 pm noon Council Chambers or on Zoom
If you thought diamonds were forever, you should consider jade. For millennia this stone has been valued, revered, and imbued with meaning by most Asian societies. Discover the mystic properties of jade, and why it has been prized for thousands of years in this fascinating presentation from the Asian Art Museum. Using exquisite examples of select jade pieces, this presentation delves into some of the reasons jade has been so prized, the physical characteristics of the stone, and its importance and symbolic place in Asian cultures.
Council Chambers will be open at 11:45am to watch in-person. To enjoy virtually, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8jNuIbIKSZ6sZLRpP1bHiw
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LIBRARY NEWS: CHILDREN/FAMILY EVENTS
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New program for children:Sing & Stomp
Fridays at 10:30 am starting February 10Town Hall Plaza
Sing, dance, jump and play with musician Emily Bonn in this drop-in music and movement group. You are welcome to sit, but Emily’s tunes will have you up and on your feet in no time! For kids ages 0-5. Weather permitting.
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Chinese Calligraphy Class
Saturday, February 11, 1:00 pm - Today! Town Council Chambers Join calligraphy artist Jojo Liu in exploring this time-honored tradition. This multi-age program is for teens, adults, and children, ages 7 and older, with their caregiver. In this class you will learn to use a calligraphy brush and make five pictographic characters. This is a beginner’s introductory class, and all supplies will be provided at the program. Space is limited.
Reserve your place at library@townofsananselmo.org or call 415-258-4656.
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Crafternoons for Kids:Salt Dough Making
Wednesday, February 15, 2:30-3:30pm in the Historical Museum
Use flour, salt and water to make your own dough. It’s fun to play with or bring home your creation and bake it! For ages 5 and up. All materials are provided. Sign up at library@townofsananselmo.org or call 415-258-4656.
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Grace M. Cho, author of Tastes Like War Don’t miss this insightful chat with award-winning author Grace M. Cho. Part food memoir, part sociological investigation,Tastes Like War is a hybrid text about a daughter’s search through intimate and global history for the roots of her mother’s schizophrenia.
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Sadeqa Johnson, author of The House of Eve Attend an invigorating conversation with highly acclaimed author Sadeqa Johnson as she talks about her brand new novel, The House of Eve, a fast-paced, harrowing story that hinges on what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.
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Marin Model Reach Code Discussion Town Council Meeting February 14
At the February 14, 2023 Town Council meeting, Town staff will provide an informational presentation on the Green Building Model Reach Code developed by the County of Marin in collaboration with local jurisdiction staff. At the meeting, staff will present the details of the model reach code, how it compares to San Anselmo’s existing green building codes, and discuss proposed next steps for bringing staff recommendations to the Council for adopting the model reach code. For more information about the model reach code, please visit the County’s Green Building webpage: www.marincounty.org/GreenBuildingCodes
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Free - Hot Water Heater Assessment & Heat Pump Water Heater Info Heat pump water heaters are a climate-friendly alternative to gas water heaters. But most gas water heaters are replaced when they fail, with another gas one, locking in years of greenhouse gas emissions. Getting a free assessment is a great first step to be ready to replace your gas water heater. Sign up to get a free assessment of your hot water heater as part of a new San Anselmo and Fairfax pilot program with Ready-Set-Replace.
For more information, please: CLICK HERE.
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Landscape Equipment Ordinance and Leaf Blower Rebate Program San Anselmo passed an ordinance that will prohibit the use of gas-powered landscape equipment as of June 1, 2023 for residents, and January 1, 2024 for commercial landscapers. Further details about the ordinance and upcoming launch of the landscape equipment trade-in and rebate program will be made available on the Town website.
To apply for the rebate, you’ll first need to go to the Landscape Equipment Information page on the Town website to get instructions on dropping off your gas blower, and to download and complete the rebate application that provides further details about the program.
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Ride and Drive CleanNew Year, New Ride and Save Money With An Electric Vehicle (EV) In 2023
Now is a great time to buy or lease a new or used Electric Vehicle (EV). Current incentives can reduce costs by thousands of dollars. Join Ride and Drive Clean for a webinar to learn how you can save when you go electric. Sign up now. There may be a short window for savings until March, when the IRS releases further guidelines which will likely limit EVs that qualify for the Clean Vehicle Credit. You may also follow us on social media and simply share our posts: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok. Together we can help all residents in our communities take significant climate action when they switch to an electric vehicle.
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The Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program, provides qualified residential customers up to $4,000 when purchasing or leasing a pre-owned EV. The program aims to distribute more than $78 million to promote the adoption of EVs and make EV ownership more affordable for all customers. Current PG&E electric customers may qualify to receive a $1,000 or $4,000 rebate, based on household income, when purchasing or leasing an eligible pre-owned all-electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid EV. To take advantage of the offer, interested customers must successfully submit a rebate application within 180 days of the date of purchase or lease. Additional EV Customer Programs and Incentives PG&E offers a variety of tools, rebates and resources to help educate customers and encourage EV adoption. Customers are invited to check out PG&E’s EV Savings Calculator, an online resource to browse vehicles, discover incentives, locate charging stations and more. PG&E also offers an EV Rate Comparison tool to help customers find the best rate plan for them. PG&E is preparing to launch additional EV programs in the coming months. Here are the programs currently available: - PG&E’s EV Fleet Program helps customers with medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in their fleets to install cost-effective charging infrastructure to save money, reduce tailpipe emissions and simplify maintenance.
- Through its EV Fast Charge Program, PG&E is funding and installing infrastructure at qualifying customer sites to support the expansion of publicly available fast-charging stations for light-duty vehicles.
- PG&E’s EV Charge Schools Program is installing level 2 charging stations at school facilities and educational institutions for staff, parents and students to charge their EVs. PG&E helps fund the costs of purchasing and installing the EV charging equipment and networking fees at participating schools, as well as ongoing maintenance and operations. With at least 40% of the new chargers located in disadvantaged communities, the pilot is bringing EV charging options to customers who might not have had them before.
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Please Support the Hanging Flower Baskets in Downtown San Anselmo
This will be our 5th year of enhancing the Avenue with beautiful hanging flower baskets from May - October. The flower basket program is a volunteer effort and relies on donations from the Town, the merchants and the community. Each year these baskets draw such an overwhelmingly positive response that we are committed to keeping them going. We are especially grateful to have Ed Healy (aka "Indy") on our team to water the baskets every day. A special thank you to the Town of San Anselmo and the Chamber of Commerce for their support and donations. And also to the residents and merchants who have supported us for the past four years. We couldn't do it without you! There are two ways you can contribute: - Donate by visiting the program’s: GO FUND ME PAGE or
- Mail a check payable to:
SA Friends of the Flower Baskets P.O. Box 2844, San Anselmo, CA 94979
For more information about this project contact: Nancy Altman at nnaltman@me.com
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Town Seeking Community Applicants
Spotlight:
Parks and Recreation Commission Economic Development Committee
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There are open seats on the Town's community volunteer Boards, Committees and Commissions. You can find more details here: Boards/Committees/Commissions Information San Anselmo's Boards,Committees and Commissions provide a vital link between Town government and the community for gathering public input, reviewing projects and making recommendations on key issues. If you are interested, we encourage you to submit a completed application and you will be scheduled for an interview with Town Council. Positions will remain open until filled by Town Council.
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Economic Development Committee - 1 vacant seat + 1 alternate
The charge of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) is to work with the Town's business community to identify actions that can be taken to ensure that the business community is vibrant, successful and meets the needs of the Town residents. The Economic Development Committee (EDC) ensures that the Town’s business community and residential community have a forum for giving the Town input on steps needed to attract and retain a range and variety of businesses. Economic Development Committee Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 8:45 am, currently on zoom, and in Town Council Chambers when they are in person. {Note: the EDC will begin meeting quarterly starting June 2023} The EDC recently expanded to Nine (9) members (up to 3 non-resident members) and one (1) alternate. The membership is intended to represent the diversity of interests and points of view in our community (with a strong mix of business, marketing, technology, parking management, design, and/or finance expertise), and the local business community. The Committee will include at all times, one (1) representative from the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce and three (3) representatives who have businesses in San Anselmo, including a retail business owner, restaurant/cafe owner, and property owner. If you are interested, we encourage you to submit a completed application and you will be scheduled for an interview with Town Council. Positions will remain open until filled by Town Council. To submit an application: Apply Here You can find more information about the Economic Development Committee: HERE
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Parks & Recreation Commission - one vacant seat
The Parks & Recreation Commission acts as an advisory body to Town Council and Staff for planning recreation activities, development of Town parks, and the management of public lands. It also assists Town organizations and agencies that have as their goal the provision of activities or services for the leisure time interest of all youth and adults. Parks and Recreation Commission meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm, currently on zoom, and in Town Council Chambers when they are in person. If you are interested, we encourage you to submit a completed application and you will be scheduled for an interview with Town Council. Positions will remain open until filled by Town Council.
To submit an application:Apply Here You can find more details about the Parks and Recreation Commission: HERE
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Marin Master Gardener TipsPlan Your Fire-smart Landscape February 2023
FEBRUARY: Trees and Shrubs - Consider spacing- Plant spacing, size control and maintenance are more important than type of plant. We cannot eliminate fire but we can alter the fire’s behavior.
- Consider creating separation by increasing spacing between tree canopies while considering flat vs sloped terrain.
- Maintain vertical clearance of at least 3X the shrub’s height between the tops of shrubs and the bottom of the tree canopy. This can be done by pruning the shrub down, or pruning smaller, easily ignitable tree branches up, or both.
- Avoid massing woody shrubs at the base of trees. Consider low-growing, herbaceous plants instead.
- Create islands of plants with non-combustible paths to interrupt spread of fire.
For More Fire-Smart Landscaping Information: Visit the U.C. MARIN MASTER GARDENER website: www.ucanr.edu/ucmarinmgfiresmart
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