Town Manager's Newsletter

Saturday, April 29, 2023

David P. Donery, Town Manager

May is:
Small Business Month
in San Anselmo!

May has been proclaimed by Town Council as Small Business Month in San Anselmo! Let’s do all we can to support our local small businesses who provide us with amazing dining and takeaway food & beverage options, unique places to shop and workout, and a wide variety of service businesses as well. It's all part of what makes our small Town special. Let’s celebrate the small businesses who support the Town.

To commemorate Small Business Month, the small businesses and restaurants around Town will be handing out our specially designed reusable tote bags and reusable bamboo utensil kits to customers who request them when they are patronizing those establishments. Each week this month we will shine a spotlight on a different business district in our Town. Visit our businesses and support the Town and it's local economy.

Recap of this Week's
Town Council Meeting

The Town Council discussed the following items at their Council meeting on April 25, 2023:

Council Items included:

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

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: Approved resolution Amending the Town’s Master Fee Schedule
Public Hearing: Adopted a Resolution Approving the Inclusionary Housing and Commercial Nexus Studies and directed 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.
Reappointed 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

Sandbag Disposal

Now that the weather is becoming warm and dry, and the risk of flooding has abated, you may have sandbags that are no longer necessary. You can dispose of those at the same location you picked up the sand and bags at Memorial Park, on Sunny Hills Drive, in the parking lot adjacent to the tennis courts. This location is directly across from Swirl, the yogurt shop in the Red Hill Shopping Center.

For more information about Sand bags - please visit the page on our website: 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 come to the annual SkateFest on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

The Skate Park is located next to the Tennis Courts at Memorial Park and right next to Red Hill Shopping Center on Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

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, 2023 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 Adoption of Ordinance Amending the Town’s Single-Use Foodware Regulations

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

LIBRARY NEWS

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

Ember Stomp 2023

May 20th

Marin Civic Center Fairgrounds

Ross Valley residents, you're invited to join Marin's second annual wildfire prevention festival, Ember Stomp, at the Marin Civic Center Fairgrounds from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

ReadyMarinWe are all in this together, Ross Valley!
Join us at Ember Stomp to prepare yourself and your communities for wildfire.

Beyond wildfire preparedness, come learn how to prepare for disasters at the ReadyMarin tent! We'll have an entire space dedicated to helping residents prepare for emergencies.

This FREE event is fun for the whole family!

That text can wait. Keep your eyes on the road!

Marin Master Gardener Tips

Plan Your Fire-smart Landscape
May 2023

May: Maintain plants along exit routes from your home

Identify the best escape routes to your vehicle and exiting your property.
Assess the health and condition of the plants along each route. Keep vegetation maintained – pruned back and hydrated.
Remove dead plant material and plant debris.
Remove vines on wooden gates, near doors or windows.
Remove or move jute doormats, wood planters, outdoor furniture, and other combustible materials from your exits.
Replace wood gates, arbors, or trellises along your exits with non-combustible materials.
Have evacuation tags easily accessible, post at highly visible locations when you evacuate. This alerts fire personnel that you have left the property. (Check with your local fire department for signs.)
Help make your hose locations obvious for fire personnel

Come Visit Us! The UC Marin Master Gardener’s Fire-Smart Landscape team will have a booth at the Ember Stomp event on May 20th at the Marin Civic Center Fairgrounds 11:00am-5:00pm. We’ll be on hand to answer questions about how to improve the fire resilience of your landscape. With proper planning and maintenance, you can create a landscape that helps protect your garden and home when wildfire threatens.

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.

Upcoming 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