Town Manager's Newsletter

Saturday, April 22, 2023

David P. Donery, Town Manager

Saturday, April 22 - 11:00 am TODAY!

Community Forum

Discussion Topic: Concerns about activities happening at
Memorial Park

Isabel Cook Community Center - Vista Room

At 11:00 am this morning, the Town is hosting a Community Forum to address issues that are being reported at Memorial Park, including e-bike use, and underage drinking and drug use. The purpose of this meeting is to identify the issues that are being reported and bring the stakeholders together to discuss strategies on how to most productively address the issues.

Stakeholders include the Town, the Central Marin Police Authority, our local schools, our County partners and most importantly, the community.

This meeting will take place at 11:00am in the Vista Room at the Isabel Cook Community Center at 1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd (next to Parkside Preschool).

The public is invited and encouraged to attend – please bring your questions, comments, and concerns.

E-bike Use in Memorial Park

Due to an alarming uptick in risky and aggressive behavior by e-bike riders in Memorial Park resulting in safety issues and concerns, the Town has increased enforcement at the park. E-bikes are prohibited from being operated in Town parks. The Town had previously focused on deterring e-bike riders from riding on the newly refurbished playing fields, but due to the recent safety issues related to reckless e-bike use throughout Memorial Park, additional resources will be used on enforcement.

The safety and welfare of our entire community is of utmost importance in all Town community public spaces.

For more information about increased enforcement, please visit the Electric Bicycles (E-bikes) and Electric Scooters (E-scooters) Road Rules and Laws page on the Town website: HERE

Questions – please contact the Town's Community Engagement Coordinator at kwarner@townofsananselmo.org.

Town Council Meeting Agenda
April 25, 2023 at 7:00pm

The Town Council will be discussing the following items at their next Council meeting on April 25, at 7:00 pm.

Mayor's Proclamation Recognizing Nancy Altman for her volunteer work for the San Anselmo Beautification Committee & the downtown flower basket program
Council Items include:

Consent Item: Consideration of Special Event Application – Cedars of Marin Farm- stand, Summer 2023
Consent item: Recognition of National Small Business Week and San Anselmo’s Small Businesses and Proclaiming May as Small Business Month.
Update on Preparation of Objective Design and Development Standards (ODDS)
Public Hearing: Approve resolution Amending the Town’s Master Fee Schedule
Public Hearing: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Inclusionary Housing and Commercial Nexus Studies and direct staff to bring back an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Housing Impact Fee Ordinance for Consideration.
Public Hearing: Introduction and first reading of an Amendment to the San Anselmo Municipal Code adding Chapter 9 “Gate Safeguards” to Title 9 “Building Regulations”.
Discussion re: Murals on Private Property in Town Commercial districts.
Proposed 2023-25 Work Plan Priorities.
Consider reappointing one incumbent to the Climate Action Commission.

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

San Anselmo's Annual
Tax Rebate Program

San Anselmo property owners who have a financial hardship may qualify for the tax rebate for a portion or all of San Anselmo’s Municipal Services (also called “General Purpose”), Pension Override and Library Parcel taxes.

Property owners who satisfy any of the following criteria may be eligible:

Any household that is eligible for Public Assistance and/or Food Stamps from the Health and Human Services Department of the County of Marin.
Any household whose total income (Line 9 on IRS Form 1040) is equivalent to or less than “very low income” for the number of persons in the household, as shown on the most current Federal Housing and Urban Development Income Limits for Marin County.
Any household in which the principal wage earner or wage earners have been unemployed for at least 90 days prior to the application date.

The program is a REBATE PROGRAM, so property owners must first pay their taxes, then apply for a rebate in the spring of that year.

The Town of San Anselmo’s Tax Equity Board reviews the applications, which must be filed by May 12, 2023. You can request and be mailed an application for the program in the spring of 2023 or you can print an application form: HERE.

For more information please visit the Tax Rebate Program page on the website: HERE
or contact Jeff Zuba: jzuba@townofsananselmo.org or 415-258-4678.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT NEWS

Please join us for the annual Skate Fest on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 10:00am to 1:00pm. There will be:

Competitions for youth and young adults of all ages.
Food, music & prizes.
All proceeds benefit the Memorial Skate Park.

The skate park is located next to the Tennis Courts at Memorial Park and right next to Redhill Shopping Center on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. A big THANK YOU to all our wonderful sponsors for helping to support this event:
Creekside Pizza, FTC, Live Water, The Hub, and Prooflab.

This event is hosted by the Skate Park Steering Committee and the Recreation Department.For more information call San Anselmo Recreation at (415) 258-4640.

San Anselmo Live on The Avenue
Band Interest & Submission Form

Interested in having your band play in San Anselmo this year? All shows are on Friday and Saturday evenings from June 9 - September 30, 2023 and will be part of the San Anselmo "Live on The Avenue" music series - where live entertainment coincides with a pedestrian thoroughfare straight through the heart of Town. Concerts will be held at both Creek Park and the Town Hall Plaza on Friday and Saturday evenings (set times are: 5:30-8:30pm). Please note: Creek Park Plaza is fenced off, but Creek Park Amphitheater remains open. Bands will be provided a stipend based on fundraising.

This is an interest form ONLY and if we are interested in booking you, we will follow up with a confirmation email and contract. Due to the high demand of people wanting to play in this series, we will not be able to accommodate all interested parties.

To access the form, please click HERE

For more information about Live on the Avenue, please click HERE or
Contact: mogrady@townofsananselmo.org

Parents....

SUMMER is right around the corner! Are your kids ready for some FUN in the SUN? The San Anselmo Recreation Department has got you covered with our Summer Activity Guide full of amazing camps and programs.

Go to our website at: www.SanAnselmoRecreation.org
to check out all the exciting classes we have in store for your kids this year. Whether your kids love art, coding, carpentry, dance, or sports, we've got a wide range of activities for all ages.

But don't wait too long to register! Camps are filling up quickly and you don't want them to miss out on all the fun.

HAVE YOUR KIDS JOIN US FOR A SUMMER ADVENTURE!

Fashion Design Camps

Dance Camps

Cooking Camp

Carpentry Camps

TinkerTech STEM Camps

All Sorts of Sports Camps

Memorial Park Tennis Camps

Canon Tennis & Swim Camps

National Academy of Athletics Basketball Camps

Skate Camps

Flag Football Camps

We can't wait to see your kids this summer having fun and maybe even trying something new!

P.S. Don't forget, if you haven't already, please sign up for a new Recreation account on our new registration software on our website at: www.SanAnselmoRecreation.org

Creek Park News:

Town Council received a presentation by the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District on the status of the San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction (SAFRR) project and the closed plaza at the March 28 Council meeting.

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.

Town Seeking Community Applicants

for
Boards, Committees and Commissions

Marin Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District image

SPOTLIGHT: Mosquito Abatement District Board of Trustees
San Anselmo Seat is Vacant

Marin IJ headline, April 13, 2023: "Marin’s Wet Season Could Bring More Mosquitoes"

The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District is governed by a Board of Trustees: with one board member representing each of the 20 cities located within the district's service area, and four (two for each county) selected by the county Board of Supervisors to represent the unincorporated and newly annexed portions of the district.

The Board helps retain a governmental agency that is highly responsive to the public health and comfort needs of the residents living within the district. The board of trustees is empowered to undertake and carry out a vast number of duties under specific health and safety codes regarding mosquito control and the direct relationship of mosquitoes to the health, comfort and economy of people.

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.

For more information about the Board click: HERE
To submit an Application click: HERE

There are open seats on a number of 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.

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS

Launch of Electric Landscape Equipment Rebate Program

The Electric Landscape Equipment Rebate Program has officially launched! San Anselmo residents and commercial landscapers with an active San Anselmo business license are eligible to receive significant rebates on the purchase of new electric landscape equipment. To receive the rebate, you’ll need to fill out a rebate application, trade in your gas-powered equipment, and take the approved rebate application to Jackson’s Hardware in San Rafael to receive the rebate(s).

Qualifying equipment includes:

Leaf blowers
String trimmers
Hedge trimmers
Edgers
Pole saws
Chainsaws
Mowers

For more details about the rebate program and to fill out the rebate application, please visit the Landscape Equipment webpage.

Town Council Discussion of County Foodware Ordinance

At the April 11, 2023 Town Council meeting, the Council adopted an Ordinance Amending the Town’s Single-Use Foodware Regulations. The ordinance replaces the Town’s existing foodware ordinance and allows the County to handle the enforcement of the ordinance on behalf of the Town starting on November 10, 2023. The proposed ordinance covers all entities selling prepared food to the public in the Town including restaurants, grocery stores and delis, bakeries, carry-out, quick services, farmers markets, food trucks, and any other business that requires a health permit.

For more information about the County’s foodware ordinance, please visit their: Reusable Foodware webpage.
The Town’s new foodware ordinance can also be accessed: Here.
For additional information visit the Single Use Foodware Regulations page: HERE

Eyes Up, Marin

Let’s Make our Streets Safer for Everyone!

From April 11 through the end of May, you will once again see bright and colorful banners and lawn signs popping up all over Marin asking people to keep their “Eyes Up” and be alert. These signs will be asking drivers to slow down, watch when turning and look for pedestrians in the crosswalk; bicyclists to yield to pedestrians and to follow the rules of the road; And those walking to pay attention when crossing the street.

These messages will also show up in your social media feeds, and you can find them at https://www.tam.ca.gov/streetsmarts/#about.org. Please share with your friends, family and co-workers!

To get a free lawn sign for your yard, contact your local municipality.There is a tab on the https://www.tam.ca.gov/streetsmarts/#about website that has this information.

The Eyes Up, Marin campaign is part of the Street Smarts Program and Safe Routes to Schools, locally funded programs of the Transportation Authority of Marin.This traffic safety campaign educates drivers, pedestrians and cyclists about safety issues, including distracted driving. The goal is to encourage people to adopt and practice attitudes and behaviors that will reduce the number of traffic-related accidents and make our streets safer for everyone.

The program focuses on placing outdoor messaging at “hotspots” throughout Marin County – bold reminders at the locations where traffic problems occur most frequently. The message placement was determined based on findings from the 2018 Marin County Travel Safety Plan as well as analysis of 2016-2020 countywide collision data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.

Our countywide partners including school districts, jurisdictions, emergency service providers, and community organizations will be sharing the new campaign images and safety messages widely. Please join this important effort to make our streets safer for all! www.streetsmartmarin.org.

LIBRARY NEWS

Night of the Poets Returns!

Wednesday, April 26 at 7:00pm
Library Reading Room

Summoning word wizards and masters of meter! All ages are welcome to participate as a performer or listener in the San Anselmo Public Library’s 18^th annual Night of the Poets!
Join us for a reception with light refreshments and meet your fellow poets after the poetry readings.
Email sleyland@townofsananselmo.org or call 415-258-4656 to sign-up to read a favorite poem or a poem you wrote in two minutes or less.

William Kent Krueger author book jacket image

William Kent Krueger
author of Fox Creek

Thursday, April 27 at 5:00pm

Register for this virtual author talk here: https://libraryc.org/sananselmolibrary/25350

You are invited to a riveting hour in this virtual author talk with New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger, as he discusses his numerous works, including the newest book in the Cork O’Connor series Fox Creek.

LIBRARY NEWS:
CHILDREN/FAMILY EVENTS

PLANNING, BUILDING AND PUBLIC WORKS NEWS

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

APRIL: Spring Fire Prevention in Zone "0"

It’s time to prepare for wildfire.The most important thing you can do to protect your home is to clear combustible materials from the first 5 ft around your house.Then, if a wildfire blows burning embers your way, there is nothing next to your home to ignite. This is called Zone 0 and can be part of a beautiful, fire safe yard. Adapting to wildfire means being prepared.
Learn more at: firesafemarin.org

Es tiempo de prepararte para los incendios forestales. Lo más importante que puedes hacer para proteger tu hogar es remover materiales combustibles que estén dentro de 5 pies de tu hogar. De esta manera, si un incendio forestal arroja brasas ardientes hacia tu area, no habrá nada alrededor de tu hogar para encenderlo. Esto es llamado Zona 0, y puede ser parte de un jardín hermoso y seguro. La adaptación a incendios forestales requiere estar preparados. Visita firesafemarin.org

Video: Zone Zero, Zero Combustibles Educational Video

Subscribe to the Ross Valley Fire Emergency Preparedness newsletter

Hello Ross Valley! It's so important for us to prepare for emergencies, including wind events, floods, power outages, fires, earthquakes, and more. Sign up to receive regular updates, tips, checklists, and notices of educational events in your inbox. We promise not to overdo it. Subscribe below so you can learn how to keep yourself and your family safe when disasters strike.

Our newsletters are in partnership with Ross Valley Fire, Town of Ross, Town of San Anselmo, Town of Fairfax, and the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District.

Subscribe here to receive Emergency Preparedness information direct to your inbox!

Questions? Please contact: mmiller@rossvalleyfire.org

Garden Image for April Master Gardener Tips

Marin Master Gardener Tips

Plan Your Fire-smart Landscape
April 2023

APRIL: It's spring! Assess the fire risk to your property and think lean, clean and green

Lean: Allow space between individual plants, or plant in small, irregular clusters or islands with non-combustible material pathways.
Clean: Remove dried grass, weeds, dead branches, and all other dead vegetation. Check gutters, roof, eaves, vents, chimneys, under decks or elevated porches for leaf and needle litter. Thin and reduce interior and exterior tree canopies.
Green: Properly irrigated plants with healthy soil remain healthy, green, and less prone to fire, summer through fall. Check your irrigation system regularly for leaks or malfunctions. Applying compost and mulches helps stabilize soil temperature and prevent evaporation. Areas 0-5’ from structures, use non-combustible mulches like rock, gravel, and stone. 5-30” from structures, composted wood chips or bark nuggets to a depth of two inches is best. Avoid fine, stringy mulches.

For more Fire-Smart landscaping information visit the: U.C. MARIN MASTER GARDENER website: www.ucanr.edu/ucmarinmgfiresmart

"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: May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, & 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.

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