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Town Manager's Newsletter
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Saturday, March 11, 2023
David P. Donery, Town Manager
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Town Council Meeting Agendafor March 14, 2023 Note: earlier meeting start time at 6:30pm
The Town Council will be discussing the following items at their next Council meeting on March 14,2023 at 6:30 pm:
Council Items include:- Receive presentation by the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District on the status of the San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction (SAFRR) project.
- Receive presentation and provide direction to staff on next steps regarding the Transportation Assessment of the Hub Study Report.
- Consider approval of ‘San Anselmo 2023 Live on the Avenue’ Music Series, Event
Application, Street Closures and Budget appropriation. - Receive presentation and provide direction to staff on list of priority
projects for the American Rescue Plan Act State & Local Fiscal Relief Funds
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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Creek Park News: County to present at Town Council Meeting on March 14
Representatives from the County's Flood Control and Water Conservation District will be presenting an update on the San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction (SAFRR) project to Town Council at the next meeting on Tuesday, May 14. To view the meeting Agenda, please click HERE: For more additional information regarding the closed Creek Park plaza, go to the Building Bridge #2/Creek Park Update page on the Town website, or click HERE For information about the Reimagine Creek Park project - please click: HERE
Please note that Creek Park is still open: This includes the Redwood grove picnic tables. You can access Creek Park via the pedestrian bridge from San Anselmo Avenue or from Center Avenue and Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Additionally, the Town has created a larger parklet with picnic tables in front of the closed plaza, along San Anselmo Avenue. Lights and umbrellas will also be installed soon.
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The Hub is a major crossroads in Ross Valley, connecting Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Miracle Mile/Center Boulevard, and is the most congested intersection in Marin County with over 65,000 cars per day traveling through the intersection.
The Hub is often overcapacity and motorists regularly experience delays of 20 minutes or more. The Hub is not pedestrian or bicycle friendly and it is functionally disconnected from the Town’s commercial and civic centers. A $350,000 grant was awarded by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) for the Town to undertake a planning study to provide an alternatives analysis of potential congestion relief and multi-modal solutions for the busy Hub intersection, which include but are not limited to, additional lanes, grade separation between specific movements, and rerouting specific movements. This funding allowed the Town to study alternatives and consider traffic, safety, and right-of-way. In November 2020 Parisi Transportation Consulting (Parisi) was approved by Town Council for the consulting contract to study these issues. The study team, led by Parisi, considered short, medium and long-term solutions and their impacts on traffic, safety, and right-of-way. The study was carried out using an iterative approach that reviewed baseline conditions, developed multi-modal improvement concepts based on project goals, and incorporated community and stakeholder input (including two community workshops, a site meeting held with active transportation advocates, and three meetings with local transit organizations) culminating in short and long-term recommendations. The final Hub Transportation Study was also presented to the San Anselmo Planning Commission on March 6, 2023.
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Memorial Park - New Fields Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!
Opening Day of SA Baseball & Softball Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:00 AM
The refurbished Memorial Park fields are open and ready for the community! Please join us for a quick celebration and to kick-off baseball and softball season - in the Meadow, behind the ball fields (near the picnic table area).
Master of Ceremonies: Rod Kerr - Parks & Recreation Commissioner Ribbon Cutting: Mayor Steve Burdo and Vice Mayor Eileen Burke
Questions? Please contact: recreation@townofsananselmo.org or 415/ 258-4640
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Downtown Block Party! Friday, March 24 5:00 - 9:00pm
For the second year in a row, the Chamber of Commerce and Longway are hosting a celebration for the community in the way of a block party. The party, which will be car-free, is happening on San Anselmo Avenue between Tamalpais and Magnolia Avenues. There will be a vinyl DJ stationed in the Longway parklet, kids activities, an art show, and an appearance by a youth band. This is their way of saying "thank you" to the community and reminding them that what makes San Anselmo special is the local restaurants and merchants who work hard to serve the community and provide an unmatched culture.
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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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Summer Camp 2023 Registration is now open!
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 go to: www.sananselmorecreation.org If you have any questions, please e-mail: recreation@townofsananselmo.org or call 415-258-4640.
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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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Spring into Reading: Adult Virtual Reading ChallengeMarch 6 -- April 30, 2023
Spring into reading with the San Anselmo Public Library! Log your reading on Beanstack and attend library programs throughout the challenge to earn a new set of colorful badges. Sign up on Beanstack and start reading today: https://townofsananselmo.beanstack.org/ Beanstack is an online and mobile app you can use to track your reading and participate in challenges and programs from your San Anselmo Public LIbrary. Earn spring-themed badges for logging your reading and completing activities. Sign up today at townofsananselmo.beanstack.org
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Art Talk Tuesday: Sargent and Spain Tuesday, March 14 12:00pm noon Council Chambers OR on Zoom
American artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) is known as the society portrait painter of the Gilded Age. A lifelong expatriate, Sargent made seven visits to Spain from 1879 to 1912, resulting in a remarkable body of work. Sargent and Spain, an exhibition on view at the Legion of Honor, will present an array of the artist’s dazzling oils, watercolors, and drawings, along with never-before-exhibited photographs showcasing Spain’s people, architecture, and magnificent rural and urban landscapes. Kathryn Zupsic will present live in the Council Chambers and will immerse you in the rich culture of Spain and Sargent’s vibrant depictions of the country’s churches, coastlines, and dancers.
Can’t join us in-person? Click here to join us virtually on Zoom!
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Climate-Smart Gardening Part 1: Impact and MitigationWednesday, March 15 6:00pm Library Reading Room OR on Zoom Join us for a two-part presentation by Marin Master Gardeners Kathy Hunting and Barbara Robertson on Climate Change and the Gardener. Part One of this informative presentation will focus on the present and future local impacts of climate change on gardens in Marin. Can’t join us in-person? Click here to join us virtually on Zoom!
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Climate-Smart Gardening Part 2: AdaptationWednesday, March 22 6:00pm Library Reading Room OR on Zoom Join us for a two-part presentation by Marin Master Gardeners Kathy Hunting and Barbara Robertson on Climate Change and the Gardener. Part Two of this presentation will focus on best practices we can employ to adapt our gardens to our changing local climate. Can’t join us in-person? Click here to join us virtually on Zoom!
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David Epstein, author of Range and The Sports GeneMonday, March 13 at 10:00 am What's the most effective path to success in any domain? It's not what you think. You’re invited to find out during a conversation with New York Times bestselling author David Epstein as he chats about his most recent book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. Register for this virtual author talk here: https://libraryc.org/sananselmolibrary/24342
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Celebrity Chef Jernard A. Wells, author of Southern InspiredTuesday, March 21 at 1pm A talk that will leave you starving for more! Join us as we chat with celebrity chef Jernard Wells about his newest cookbook Southern Inspired. Southern food defines American food at large, and Chef Jernard takes it to a new level while still honoring its roots. Chef Jernard also brings in flavors from the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, always with his signature Southern flair. This cookbook shares 100 recipes that are approachable for both beginners and more experienced cooks. Register for this virtual author talk here: https://libraryc.org/sananselmolibrary/24594
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Pam Jenoff, author of Code Name SapphireTuesday, March 28 at 4:00 pm Join us for an exciting trip through time as we chat with New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Pam Jenoff about her newest book, Code Name Sapphire! Inspired by incredible true stories of courage and sacrifice, Code Name Sapphire is a powerful novel about love, family and the unshakable resilience of women in even the hardest of times. Register for this virtual author talk here: https://libraryc.org/sananselmolibrary/24846
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CHILDREN/FAMILY LIBRARY EVENTS
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Crafternoon: Contact Paper Collage Wednesday, March 15, 2:30 - 3:30pm in the Historical MuseumUsing yarn, tissue, paper, pompoms and other items, create a unique and colorful collage. Crafernoons are opportunities for children ages 5-12 and their caregivers to create art together. All materials are provided. Please register at: library@townofsananselmo.org or call 415-258-4656.
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TOWN BOOKS - NEW ART SHOWConnie Kirk, Painter
March & April, 2023
Connie creates abstract, figurative, and plein air landscape paintings. Her early work was influenced by the French and Post Impressionists, but she also works with abstract design and color to ignite wonder and excitement for the natural world. Her work is displayed in galleries and private collections across the country.
TOWN BOOKS 411 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo HOURS: Wednesday–Saturday, 10:00am–4:00pm INFO: 415.526.3791 townbooks.org
Town Books is run by the Friends of the San Anselmo Library - all profits are donated to the San Anselmo Library.
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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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Marin Master Gardener TipsPlan Your Fire-smart Landscape March 2023 MARCH: Remove and replace invasive plants
- Remove invasive plants such as ivy, broom, and pampas grass that spread quickly, cause harm to the environment, add considerable fuel for fire and use precious water.
- Unfortunately, excessive clearing can create a vulnerable entry point for the plants we do not want.
- Pull weeds and invasive plants before they go to seed to keep them from spreading.
- Replace with California natives, pollinator or low water use plants keeping drought tolerance and biodiversity in mind.
- For persistent invasive plants, consider sheet mulching to help with weed suppression. Additional information on appropriate mulches and use can be found following the link below.
For More Fire-Smart Landscaping Information: Visit the U.C. MARIN MASTER GARDENER website: www.ucanr.edu/ucmarinmgfiresmart
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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 Applicantsfor Boards, Committees and Commissions
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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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