Memorial Park - New Fields
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

Opening Day of SA Baseball & Softball
Saturday, March 18, 2023 - TODAY
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

Recap of this Week's
 Town Council Meeting

The Town Council discussed the following items at their Council meeting on March 14, 2023:

Council Items included:

• Received presentation and provided direction to staff on next steps regarding the Transportation Assessment of the Hub Study Report. 
• Considered and approved the San Anselmo 2023 Live on the Avenue Music Series 
  Event Application, Street Closures and Budget appropriation.
• Received presentation and provided 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

Hub Study Report Presentation at Town Council Meeting on March 14

Study Presentations:
The Hub Transportation Study was presented to the San Anselmo Planning Commission on March 6, 2023 and Town Council on March 14, 2023. At that meeting, Council gave direction to staff to pursue several alternatives.

Next Steps:
Staff will return to Council for approval of next steps for each potential alternative. Parisi will also present their findings to the TAM Board (who funded the study) and seek further funding for the next phases.

Project Background:
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.

Study Grant Awarded:
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. 

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.

 Elders' Garden Event:
 Marin Master Gardeners Basic Pruning Workshop

Saturday, April 8, starting at 9:30 AM

Come and learn about the basics of pruning ornamental small trees and shrubs including: why we prune, the must-have tools, and the 3 basic cuts which are used.

The workshop will start with a talk, followed by a demonstration.  Participants will then have the opportunity to try out the 3 basic cuts themselves.  Bring hand pruners if you have them.

The workshop is a joint venture by members of the UC Marin Master Gardeners’ Pruning Guild and the Elders’ Garden, a mostly California native plant garden, which is owned by the Town of San Anselmo and was created 20 years ago by volunteers.

Parking:  Park in the lot behind Memorial Park, by the Log Cabin.

Note: Rain will cancel the event

"Stroll Through San Anselmo’s History"
Walking Tours Return!

The Historical Commission is excited to again sponsor its popular free walking tour through downtown. Travel back in time with Dick Miner and other members of the commission to learn about San Anselmo’s historic Hub, the role the railroad played in the development of the Town, and the changing character of the businesses and architecture on San Anselmo Avenue.

Tour dates for 2023: April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, and October 14.  
Meet Dick at Creek Park at 9:00 a.m.
The tour ends at the Historical Museum for refreshments.
No reservations are required.

Questions? Please contact info@sananselmohistory.org.

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

Pam Jenoff, 
author of Code Name Sapphire

Tuesday, 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

 Town Books: Spring 1/2 Price Sale!

March 22 - April 1     Wednesday-Saturday
10:00am - 4:00pm

CELEBRATE SPRING! Shop our store-wide sale!
You’ll have eight days to relax and browse our 4,000 gently-used books in a wide range of categories, CDs, DVDs, Audio books, and some rare and special books, too. Give yourself a spring treat, tell a teacher, or get a gift certificate for a friend or loved one. While you’re in the store, immerse yourself in the beauty of Marin through paintings by Connie Cook, now on display and for sale, prices as marked.

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.

Free Hot Water Heater Assessment & Other Ways to Reduce Household Emissions 

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 additional ways to reduce your household emissions, check out the Town’s new Green Building webpage. 

Get Prepared

March Wildfire Prevention Suggestions: Spring Cleaning

It may be raining but regardless of the winter storms, California always has dry summers and wildfire burns in dry periods.

It’s time to prepare for wildfire season. Here are 3 ways to ready your yard:

1. Clean up any combustible materials within 5 ft of your home to help protect from burning embers.
2. Cut annual grasses and weeds and do it again when they grow back.
3. Trim shrubs, plants, and trees to create spacing and prevent the spread of fire

Adapting to wildfire requires ongoing maintenance.

Learn more at: firesafemarin.org
Visite: www.firesafemarin.org para obtener más información

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:

1. Donate by visiting the program’s:  GO FUND ME PAGE   or
2. 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