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Town Manager's Newsletter
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Saturday, February 18, 2023
David P. Donery, Town Manager
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Presidents' Day
Monday, February 20, 2023
Town Hall and most Town services will be closed on Monday, February 20 - in observance of Presidents' Day. Town Hall will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, February 21.
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Marin Open Space Trust Permanently Protects Bald Hill
On February 8, 2023, the Marin Open Space Trust (MOST) purchased and then conveyed the 60-acre Bald Hill property to the Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD). The land, which includes Bald Hill’s iconic, scenic summit and the hill’s eastern face, will be permanently protected and accessible to the public for recreational use. The land will become an addition to the existing 46-acre Bald Hill Open Space Preserve, and MOST is now working with the county to assess trail conditions and make improvements for public access. For decades, Bald Hill had been a top acquisition priority for local towns, the MCOSD, and land conservation organizations. The land was zoned for estate lots and its development had always been a possibility. Jonathan Braun, MOST’s board member and lifelong San Anselmo resident and co-chair of the San Anselmo Open Space Committee, led the Bald Hill project. He commented: “MOST is so grateful to the project’s generous individual donors, the Towns of Ross and San Anselmo, the Tamalpais Conservation Club, and the MCOSD for our successful fundraising campaign. This beloved place will now be preserved in perpetuity.” Highly visible, 1,132-foot Bald Hill is a spectacular backdrop to our Town and the Ross Valley. The 360-degree view from Bald Hill’s summit is phenomenal. The property borders Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) lands to the west and south, and is a gateway to more than 100,000 acres of protected land. The Town thanks Jonathan and his colleagues for their tireless work to bring this project to completion. |
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Recap of this Week'sTown Council Meeting
The Town Council discussed the following items at their Council meeting on February 14, 2023: Council Items:- Received a presentation for the 2022 Live on the Avenue Event Series - a recap of the Event & review of the Community Survey results
- Heard review of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Audited Basic Financial Statements.
- Approved Plans for the Memorial Park Parking Lot Renovation Project.
- 2022-2023 Mid-Year Budget Review.
- Received a Presentation on the Marin Green Building Model Reach Code.
- Vehicle Miles Traveled CEQA Threshold of Significance Policy to
Implement SB 743. (continued to next meeting) - Appointed three 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 area at Imagination Park, in the heart of downtown, is closed February 15 - March 30 for reseeding and restoration work.
We appreciate your cooperation in staying off the grass while the restoration is underway. The benches around the grass area are still open to enjoy.
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Historical Commission Announces:
New Online Photo/Artifact Catalog
The San Anselmo Historical Commission is dedicated to preserving and sharing our town’s history and is excited to announce the launch of a new publicly accessible Online Catalog of photographs and artifacts from the Historical Museum’s collection.
The Museum has collected and preserved a collection of over 2,000 photographs and numerous artifacts and archival documents. The new catalog enhances the Commission’s goal to foster an understanding and appreciation of the history of San Anselmo and its place in the history of Marin. The online catalog is a work in progress, and more items will be added in the coming months. Have you seen the beautiful new light pole banners on San Anselmo Avenue featuring images of our Town of yesteryear? Special thanks go to the San Anselmo Community Foundation, The Town of San Anselmo, and the San Anselmo Historical Society for their generous donations. Hopefully the banners will encourage residents and visitors alike to visit the Historical Museum in-person or online. For more information, check out the San Anselmo Historical Museum website: HERE
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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. The Town has moved some plaza picnic tables back to the Creek Park 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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New program for children:Sing & Stomp
Fridays at 10:30 am Town 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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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
at Town Council Meeting
At the February 14, 2023 Town Council meeting, Town staff provided 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 presented the details of the model reach code, how it compares to San Anselmo’s existing green building codes, and discussed 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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Ember Stomp - Marin Wildfire Prevention Festival:
Call for Artists
Fire Safe Marin and Marin Center Cultural Services invite artists to submit works of art exploring what it means to adapt to wildfire. Juried selected works will be exhibited at Ember Stomp, an annual Wildfire Prevention Festival at the Civic Center Fairgrounds, on May 20, 2023. The art will then be shown at the Marin County Civic Center Gallery from May - August 2023. Juror: Emebet B. Korn, Founder and Director of Desta Gallery Our world is changing and we must adapt to survive. This exhibition is intended to inspire thought and conversation about: - Our changing relationship with nature
- The effects of climate change
- How the threat of wildfire affects us individually and collectively
- Resilience of people and our environment
Submissions are due April 1.
SUBMIT YOUR WORK HERE
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Ross Valley School District Board News
At a duly scheduled meeting of the Ross Valley School District Board on Monday, February 13, 2023, Daniel Cassidy was named the provisional appointee to the Board. Unless a petition calling for a special election containing a sufficient number of signatures is filed in the office of the Marin County Superintendent of Schools within thirty (30) days of the provisional appointment, the appointment shall become an effective appointment. Cassidy, a San Anselmo resident, is an educational consultant and adjunct professor at the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California in San Rafael.
Board member Ms. Marie Henrio submitted her resignation notice on January 11, 2023, thus creating a vacancy as of that date.
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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 - 3 vacant seats + 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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