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Town Manager's Newsletter
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Saturday, May 13, 2023
David P. Donery, Town Manager
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Small Business Month
in San Anselmo!Spotlight: Downtown San AnselmoWhether you are traveling down Sir Francis Drake Blvd or turning one block off onto San Anselmo Avenue or any of the many side streets - you will find yourself surrounded by arguably the County’s best restaurants and food purveyors as well as a fun, vibrant commercial district with a wide variety of shops and experiences. You can join in on the fun of the “Sip and Stroll” fundraising event happening TODAY to support the gorgeous flower baskets that adorn the Avenue from May until October each year. To purchase tickets, please click HERE. And don’t forget Mother’s Day is tomorrow, - May 14th. You can find unique gifts and gift cards, and make reservations for a festive meal too. This summer from June 9 – September 30, San Anselmo Avenue will play host once again to Live on the Avenue – the lively free music festival held every Friday and Saturday evening. San Anselmo Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic in the center of Town with lots of fun activities in store for the community. Local restaurants are planning some amazing take-away food options too. Spotlight: Redhill Shopping CenterLocated conveniently on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, and adjacent to Memorial Park and the San Anselmo Parks and Recreation Center, the Red Hill Shopping Center is a fabulous place to shop, dine and unwind. Plus, there is plenty of parking and EV charging stations will be available starting Summer of 2024! Red Hill Shopping Center features a large variety of businesses to satisfying your needs for socializing over coffee, casual indoor and outdoor dining, boutique shopping and gifts, health & wellness, pet care, banking, dry cleaning, real estate, pharmacy, and groceries.
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To commemorate Small Business Month, the small businesses and restaurants around Town are handing out our specially designed reusable tote bags and reusable bamboo utensil kits to customers who request them when they are patronizing those establishments. |
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San Anselmo Parent Meeting - underage substance use and e-bikes with teenagers
Monday, May 15th from 5:30-7:00 pm
Vista Room in the Isabel Cook Community Center, 1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
An increase in e-bike use over the past year has also resulted in problems including unsafe bike riding, and collections of kids on e-bikes being disruptive and disrespectful to others in our community. Additionally, underage substance use in Marin County is among the highest in all of California. Our youth are using drugs and alcohol at young ages and stealing liquor from local stores such as Safeway and CVS. There was a Town-hosted Community Forum in April where many of our community members talked about their concerns regarding e-bike rider behavior and substance use with our youth. This upcoming parent meeting was an outcome from that forum; for parents to gather to discuss some of the issues that were raised in April. Middle school and high school parents are encouraged to attend and be part of the conversation and collaboration with Town officials to find solutions to these problems in our community. For more information, please contact: thereseconnolly3@gmail.com
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Recap of this Week's
Town Council Meeting
The Town Council discussed the following items at their Council meeting on May 9, at 7:00 pm. Consent Items included: - Update on continuing emergency related to the Redwood Road landslide and emergency repair of roadway.
- Adopted a Resolution Establish a Quorum Rule for Town Council-Created Boards, Commissions and Committees.
- Adoption of an Amendment to the San Anselmo Municipal Code adding Chapter 9 “Gate Safeguards” to Title 9 “Building Regulations”
Council Business Items Included: - Considered amendments to the rules governing the use of Town parks to address the use of e-bikes
- Approved the Town of San Anselmo Stairs, Lanes, and Trails Program and authorize one-time funding for trail Improvements and allocate annual maintenance funding.
- Approval of Town Hall roof and HVAC replacement project.
- Considered options related to the interview and appointment processes for Town Boards, Committees and Commissions and provided direction to staff.
- Considered the reappointment of three incumbents to the Flood Committee.
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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Sandbag DisposalNow 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: next to Memorial Park, on Sunny Hills Drive, in the parking lot in front of 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 |
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Explore Your Creativity at San Anselmo Recreation’s Visual Arts Summer Camps!
Kindergarten - 5th Grade Unleash your creativity this summer! Join our fashion design summer camps and immerse yourself in a world of color, imagination, and self-expression. Our instructor Halleh will guide your child on an inspiring artistic journey. Limited spots available, so secure your spot now at www.SanAnselmoRecreation.org Fashion Design – Fiber Arts Camp June 12 – June 16 During this amazingly creative week, campers will feel like a couture fashion designer themselves! They will explore the world of fashion, textile, and fiber art while gaining basic sewing skills. They will create patterns and design dresses, accessories, and embellishments for their 9 inch mannequin. Register at this link. Fashion Design – Project Runway Camp June 19 – June 23 Young designers will channel their creativity to learn new skills and take chances as they learn to develop their own unique styles. They will choose from a variety of patterns and quality fabrics to cut, design, and embellish garments. Register at this link. Sew, Sketch, Design Camp June 26 – June 30 Young designers will create and design a variety of accessories for their own dream room during camp. Using their own sense of style and interior design skills, they will make a new bedspread, pillows, plush mats, and cute wall art. Register at this link. Mixed Media + Photography Camp July 10 – July 14 Campers this week will have fun and build a lifetime of memories together while they learn to create mixed media art through photography and storytelling. Students will learn how to make collages, cartoons, and characters. Register at this link.
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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. 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
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Discover Your Legacy with Personal Historian Diane Campbell
Tuesday, May 16 - 1:00pm
Historical MuseumExplore the value of passing down your personal history with Personal Historian Diane Campbell. In this program, Diane will discuss:- The difference between documenting your personal history vs. building your genealogical family tree,
- The benefits that sharing personal histories has on children and our aging population, and
- Tips and tricks for recording your personal histories, including questions to set the narrator at ease.
Diane Campbell is the owner and founder of Homegrown Histories, where she works with individuals, families, and businesses to preserve their personal histories. She is also a volunteer with the Marin History Museum. Can’t join us in-person? Click here to register and join us on Zoom.
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Town Books will be Open Late....
for SIP & STROLL
May 13, 2023 - TODAY!
4:00 to 7:00 pmBOGO SALE! Buy One Book and Get One BookStroll down to Town Books and support your town in so many ways. You will enjoy a beverage of your choice, a 2-for-the price-of-1 Book Sale, and an incredible art show by local artists and their teacher, Elizabeth Flanagan, from San Anselmo Rec. Last, but NOT least, proceeds from book sales go to your San Anselmo Public Library. And, you will make all the incredible volunteers at Town Books feel so appreciated. See you there! TOWN BOOKS 411 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo
REGULAR 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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Town Seeking Community Applicantsfor
Boards, Committees and Commissions
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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. |
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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 and Mowers For more details about the rebate program and to fill out the rebate application, please visit the Landscape Equipment webpage.
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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 Town's Single Use Foodware Regulations page: HERE
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Housing Element Update:
Response to Draft Housing Element received on April 26, 2023Over the past year, the Town has been working on updating its Housing Element to plan for over 800 new housing units for the period of 2023–2031. The Housing Element is a part of the General Plan for the Town that assesses housing needs and lays out policies for addressing those needs; it is required by the State to be updated every eight years. After multiple public meetings to discuss the Housing Element, the Town submitted a Draft Housing Element to the CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on January 26, 2023 for a review that can take up to 90-days. On April 26, 2023, the HCD provided a response to the Draft Housing Element. Click HERE to review the HCD response letter. In the next few weeks, the Planning Department will work with the Town's consultant to prepare a response to the HCD and revise the Draft Housing Element. Prior to sending the Draft Housing Element for another review (60-days), the Planning Department will bring the revised draft to a public meeting with the Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC) and the Planning Commission for review. A special hybrid in-person and virtual public meeting of the HEAC and the Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2023 at 7:30PM. For more information on the Housing Element 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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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.
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Ember Stomp 2023May 20th
Marin Civic Center FairgroundsRoss 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
Join us at Ember Stomp to prepare yourself and your communities for wildfire.
Come to Ember Stomp on May 20! Ember Stomp is a FREE festival that connects YOU with wildfire experts! From firefighters to landscape designers, there will be professionals ready to answer your questions and give you resources to prepare 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!
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Marin Master Gardener TipsPlan Your Fire-smart Landscape
May 2023May: 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
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Please Support the
Hanging Flower Baskets in Downtown San AnselmoThe flower baskets are back!It's the 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. 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 three 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 - Donate via Venmo charities: @SAFlowerBaskets
For more information about this project contact: Nancy Altman at nnaltman@me.com
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"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.
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