Town Manager's Newsletter

Saturday, May 20, 2023

David P. Donery, Town Manager

Small Business Month
in San Anselmo!

Spotlight: Redhill Shopping Center

Located 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 2023!

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.

Spotlight: Greenfield/Miracle Mile

This stretch of Town has two distinct commercial districts, Greenfield Avenue begins at the Hub intersection and travels east towards San Rafael, paralleling one of the main roads in/out of San Anselmo. It’s home to an eclectic mix of shops, galleries, bar, coffee shop, medical and workout destinations with easy parking.

A little further east, on the northside of Redhill Avenue you can find groceries and a diverse array of service and hobby-oriented businesses too. The recently re-landscaped median is a welcoming and beautiful entrance to this area of San Anselmo.

Small Business reusable bamboo utensil kits

Town Council Meeting Agenda
May 23, 2023 at 7:00pm

The Town Council will be discussing the following items at their next Council meeting on May 23, at 7:00 pm.

Special Mayor's Proclamation recognizing the community service of Stephen Pringle

Consent Items include:

Award construction contracts for 2023 Street Rehabilitation and Slurry Seal Projects
Approve Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Gas Tax Funding Project list
Approve amendments to the Hazardous & Solid Waste Joint Powers Agreement
Adopt resolution declaring June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
Approve FY 2023-25 Work Plan and Measure J Allocation Plan
Approve proclamation declaring Friday, June 2nd Gun Violence Awareness Day

Council Business Items Include:

Consider approval of a resolution establishing an inclusionary housing program
Consider implementation of a prescribed grazing program for fire fuel reduction
Receive feasibility study for a Resilience Hub at Town Hall
Consider appointment of three applicants to the Economic Development 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

San Anselmo’s Live on The Avenue 2023 Season Announcement:

Dine. Shop. Stroll. Dance this Summer With San Anselmo’s Live on The Avenue

The Town of San Anselmo and the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce that San Anselmo Live On The Avenue is back for its third summer of music where live entertainment coincides with a pedestrian thoroughfare straight through the heart of town. Concerts will be at the Creek Park Amphitheater and the Town Hall Plaza between 5:30-8:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. San Anselmo Avenue will be closed to cars from 4:30-10:00 pm.

Fridays & Saturdays
June 9^th – September 30^th
5:30-8:30pm

Visit www.SanAnselmoLive.com to view the official 2023 schedule.

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: 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

RECREATION DEPARTMENT NEWS

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.

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

LIBRARY NEWS

San Anselmo Summer Reading program graphic

All Together Now:

Summer Reading for All Ages
Monday, June 5 -- Friday, August 4

The San Anselmo Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program begins on Monday, June 5! Kids, Teens, and Adults can sign up for a summer of fun and reading.

Town Seeking Community Applicants

for
Boards, Committees and Commissions

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 and 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 Town's Single Use Foodware Regulations page: HERE

PLANNING, BUILDING AND PUBLIC WORKS NEWS

Housing Element Update:
Response to Draft Housing Element received on April 26, 2023

Over 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

Chipper Days 2023 - coming soon

Marin Wildlife Prevention Authority (MWPA) Chipper Days are returning for 2023 and the program’s season opening is fast approaching. In preparation, we are reaching out to share some important program updates.

For the 2023 season, crews will be in one of the five MWPA zones each week and will rotate around the county week by week. Residents will now have five chipping events during the season as opposed to two, and events will be spaced roughly five weeks apart. Note: reservations are required and text alerts will be sent out at the beginning of each even week to remind homeowners who have a reservation.

New this year to Chipper Days is the addition of the “Large Pile” removal service through our partnership with MCFD’s Fire Foundry program. For residents who believe their property will generate a large pile (50’+ in length), please go to the: Large Pile Request Form. These large pile removal events will occur alongside the normal schedule so that our crews do not over commit to a single property during the workday. Please keep in mind that these events will have limited availability and are intended to help render aid to property owners whose vegetation management needs far outstrip our normal pile size regulations as well as their ability to remove the vegetation on their own.

This year’s dates for the San Anselmo/Central Marin zone are as follows:

The week of: June 5, July 10, August 28, October 2, and November 6.

Here is the link to reserve a day in San Anselmo/Central Marin, which must be done no later than the Friday before the scheduled week:

Link for reservation: https://reserve.chipperday.com/marin

Large Pile request form: https://2ziieai6lfy.typeform.com/to/L6hGrpWt

Chipper Days Schedule for 2023

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.

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

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!

Free Climate Action Workshops this Summer

Ready to do something about climate change, but not sure where to start? The Resilient Neighborhoods Climate Action Workshop offers step-by-step guidance on how to make your home and lifestyle climate-friendly. And it’s fun! You’ll form a Climate Action Team with other Marin residents who want to do their part for the planet. After completing the program, you will have an online action plan tailored to your home to follow over the next year and through 2030! Plus you’ll enjoy ongoing access to money-saving tools and resources.

Join over 2,000 Marin residents who have already reduced 11.5 million pounds of polluting CO2 emissions, and improved the overall health and well-being of their families. The team meets 5 times over 10 weeks via teleconference. Choose from sessions starting on June 14 or June 15. Free for Marin Residents. Be a part of the solution and sign up today! >>Learn More and Sign Up Here.

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

Please Support the
Hanging Flower Baskets in Downtown San Anselmo

The 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

"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: 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.