Friday, September 13, 2019
David P. Donery, Town Manager

Town Seeking Applicants to Newly Formed Financial Advisory Committee

At the September 10th Town Council meeting, the Council voted to create a permanent standing Financial Advisory Committee.

The charge of the Financial Advisory Committee is to:

1. Review and become familiar with the Town’s finances, budget, resource allocations and expenditures, and to make recommendations to the Town Council regarding matters affecting the Town’s financial position.

2. Identify the Town’s primary unmet needs, which may include infrastructure repair, community facilities, community programs and events, transportation and traffic issues, median upgrades or code enforcement, as identified in the Strategic Planning survey, as well as other needs.

3. Make recommendations to the Town Council regarding how best to accomplish and fund the Town’s priority needs.

The Town is looking for five interested individuals representing a wide variety of the community, including families, professionals, seniors, etc.

The Committee would meet at least quarterly and it is intended that the Committee would have a couple of joint meetings yearly with the Capital Programs Monitoring Committee.

To apply, please go here: http://www.townofsananselmo.org/175/Boards-Commissions

PAVING ON BUTTERFIELD ROAD

The Ross Valley Sanitary District's (RVSD) sewer improvement project on Butterfield Road is nearing completion. This Saturday, Sept 14th, the contractor will remove and replace sections of curb, gutter and sidewalk on Butterfleid Drive between Meadowcroft Drive and Arroyo Avenue, which will require traffic control throughout the day.

Incoming traffic will be allowed in (toward Sleepy Hollow) with minimal or no delay. Outgoing traffic will be routed on the detour, which runs on Arroyo to The Alameda to Berkeley Ave. to Broadmoor Ave. to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

Pavement restoration along the project area will take place on the next two Saturdays (Sept 21 and 28) using similar traffic control.

RVSD has notified neighbors in the affected area, and San Domenico School in case they have sporting events planned.

EYES UP ROSS VALLEY Survey

Eyes Up is a grassroots campaign created by Butterfield Road residents with assistance from Supervisor Rice’s office at the County of Marin, the Town of San Anselmo, Central Marin Police Authority, Safe Routes to Schools, along with other community partners. It is designed to address traffic safety and is specifically directed at residents of San Anselmo and Fairfax including parents at schools on the Butterfield corridor. Please take 2 minutes to complete this brief survey. Your participation will help with the planning of this important initiative.

Town offering Harassment Training Workshop for Businesses on 9/26

2019 Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training
Sept 26th 6:00 – 8:30 pm

The San Anselmo Economic Development Committee and Marin Small Business Development Center are offering a $10 workshop September 26 6-8:30 p.m. to take care of mandatory 2019 harassment training for supervisors and non-supervisors. Sign up here or email planning@townofsananselmo.org
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-mandatory-sexual-harassment-training-tickets-70783955717

If you are a business with 5 or more staff (includes part time and full time employees or independent contractors), then you are required by the State to have everyone on your team take a sexual harassment training. Supervisors must take a 2-hour training and non-supervisors must take a 1-hour training and this workshop will give you the needed certificate for either one. If you are a non-supervisor, you may leave after the first hour. This may not sound like a sexy topic, but it is mandatory to do by the end of this year (2019). Take advantage of our special Small Business Week gift and check this off your list now for the cheapest price you will ever pay for it. This session will be interactive, educational and engaging.

Instructor Ginny Kuhel of KuhelBreez Human Resources Consultant, has over two decades of experience in human resources. Ginny specializes in working with small business owners who have 1 - 50 employees, helping them maneuver through the California landmine of labor laws and regulations, staying compliant and avoiding costly labor lawsuits. She manages all Human Resource needs and concerns that most business owners do not have ample time in their busy days to handle. Teaching is one of her passions, providing executive and employees with informational and fun seminars.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Miriam Karell at 415-524-3560 or at miriam@marinsbdc.org.

Sign up soon, space is limited!

Memorial Ridge Trail Ribbon Cutting

A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14 at 10:00 am. We’ll be meeting at the Memorial trailhead.

The trail is 1.2 miles long and climbs 300 ft to Memorial Ridge, then descends through Mount Tamalpais Cemetery and Marin County Open Space to connect to Sorich Ranch Park. The trail was planned and funded by San Anselmo Open Space Committee with support from the San Anselmo Public Works Department. Thanks are also due to Side by Side and the Mount Tamalpais Cemetery for their kindness in granting trail easements.

Please join us in celebrating this new community asset and show your appreciation for the incredible hard work of the Open Space Committee in making this project become a reality.

San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce Sponsors Candidate’s Debate

The San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce is hosting a debate for the four candidates running for two seats on the San Anselmo Town Council. The debate will be held on Tuesday, October 1st from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Drake High School "Little Theatre".

The event will be moderated by Marin Independent Journal Columnist Dick Spotswood.

There will be an opportunity for questions from the audience. The event is free and open to all. The debate will be posted to Youtube and also shown on Marin Community TV (schedules to be determined).

Election News

An election will be held in San Anselmo for two Town Council terms, one Town Treasurer term, and one Town Clerk term, all for three years on November 5, 2019. The candidates are as follows:

Kim Pipkin for Councilmember

Tom King for Councilmember

Ford Greene for Councilmember

Steve Burdo for Councilmember

Elizabeth Dahlgren for Town Treasurer

Carla Kacmar for Town Clerk

Sustainability Commission News

The Town of San Anselmo will soon be considering green building and energy efficiency standards for residential and non-residential building projects. The proposed standards include requirements 1.) new residential and nonresidential construction to meet CalGreen (the mandatory green building standards code) Tier 1; 2.) new structures that use natural gas to meet higher energy efficiency standards; 3.) new residential structures to be wired for future electric vehicle chargers; and 4.) new commercial structures to be wired for future electric vehicle chargers or provide a certain number of charging stations. The first presentation will be at the Planning Commission Meeting on 9/23/2019 at 7PM.

Creek Cleanup - Volunteers Needed

The Town of San Anselmo and Creekside Pizza are hosting a downtown creek cleanup at 9 am on Saturday September 14. We will be removing trash and overgrown vegetation from the creek. Please wear long pants, long sleeves, bring your work gloves and sturdy shoes or boots that can get wet. Free lunch at Creekside Pizza for volunteers. See you at 9 am at 638 San Anselmo Avenue.

Wildfire Preparedness Seminar

Join us for a FREE 2-hour seminar on wildfire preparedness for San
Anselmo and Ross Valley residents.

As Marin residents, we all share responsibility to be prepared for wildfires. Wildfires are a
natural part of our environment, and it’s imperative that we build our homes, maintain our
landscapes, and prepare our families for the next major fire.

Learn about Marin’s wildfire history and current hazard and risk, and what you can do about it, from the wildfire experts at Marin County and Ross Valley Fire Departments, and
FIRESafe MARIN.

• Are you and your family prepared to safely evacuate when a wildfire strikes?Learn about local evacuation routes and notification systems.
• Is your home vulnerable to igniting from wildfire embers?
• Learn how to make your home resistant to igniting during a wildfire.
• Does your home have adequate Defensible Space?
• Learn about fire-resistant plants and landscaping.
• Are you interested in working with neighbors and land managers to reduce fire risk
in your community?
• Learn about local fire codes, ordinances, and defensible space requirements.
• Learn about countywide and local initiatives to reduce risk and improve wildfire
safety for all Marin residents.

This workshop is intended primarily for residents, homeowners, and regular visitors to San
Anselmo and the Ross valley, CA. Registration online at www.firesafemarin.org/events is
encouraged, but not required.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, FIRESafe MARIN, Subud
Marin, and Firewise San Francisco Blvd will host this seminar, consisting of a 90-minute
presentation on wildfire preparedness, with an opportunity to meet your fire department and for 30 minutes of questions and answers.

Additional "Living WIth Fire" seminars will be held across Marin in 2019 (see
www.firesafemarin.org/events for details). Each “Living With Fire” session will focus on
issues facing the community hosting the event.

This seminar will include information specific to residents of San Anselmo and the Ross
Valley.

TOWN BOOKS NEWS

TOWN BOOKS is honored to host an exhibit of artwork by local artist, Christine Wichman during September and October. Using acrylics, Christine captures and recreates the relationship between the textures,
shapes, colors and light that bring beauty into our daily lives.

ARTIST RECEPTION: Friday, September 13, from
5 to 7pm. Light refreshments will be served.

TOWN BOOKS
411 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo
HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00
INFO: 415.526.3791 or townbooks.org

Join Town Books for their Fifth Anniversary Celebration

Town Books opened its doors five years ago on Wednesday, September 18, 2014. To mark that special day, we are celebrating for five days -- one for each year: Tuesday through Saturday, September 17-21. Originally, we were open three days a week, but within the first year added two more. Store and Amazon sales have steadily increased. Word has spread and an astounding number of books have been donated, expanding our inventory. All those efforts during the years have funded some $100,000 for our San Anselmo Public Library. Please join us for our anniversary celebration: there will be nibbles to nosh, pop-up events, and plenty of other surprises in store -- at 411 San Anselmo Avenue.

Come pick up a copy of the book club selection at the library reference desk!

Middle School Book Club--Grades 6-8
Wednesday, September 18, 3pm
Council Chambers
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Bookworms--Grades 3-5
Wednesday, September 25, 3pm
Council Chambers
Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott

The Emotionally Healthy Child

Monday, September 16
6:30pm, 110 Tunstead Avenue
While parenting has never been easy, today's world undeniably presents parents and their kids with unprecedented challenges. Award-winning author Maureen Healy will share highlights from her book, The Emotionally Healthy Child, and answer questions from anyone wanting to raise emotionally healthy children. Join the San Anselmo Library for an inspiring evening and learn some new strategies to help your children make smarter choices even when emotionally charged.

Musical Painting

Tuesday, September 17, 3:30pm
Town Lawn, For children of all ages
Come join us for musical painting and discover your artistic style with Wild Art Outdoor Studios! Please sign up at the library reference desk.

Country Fair Day

Written by the San Anselmo Historical Commission

San Anselmo’s Country Fair Day has been held almost continuously since 1970 and has always been an event put on by the community for the community. A large team of staff and volunteers work each year to make the event a success. It is a family event that has often featured a pancake breakfast, a walk/run race, music, and a truly down-home parade.

The first fair was held June 5-6, 1970, and was sponsored by the merchants of San Anselmo Avenue. Sales and discounts were offered and there was music and a kiddie parade. The avenue was closed to traffic from Tunstead to Tamalpais on Saturday, the 6th.

Under sponsorship of the Chamber of Commerce, Country Fair Day became a more elaborate event through the 1970s. By 1975, 140 bands, floats and marching units from Marin and Northern California participated. Marji, the elephant from Marine World, marched in the parade, and the parade route extended from Bolinas Avenue to Bridge.

In 1978, Star Wars characters marched in the parade for the first time. Darth Vader was accompanied by Boba Fett who made his first public appearance well before The Empire Strikes Back was in the theaters. It was an extremely hot day, and the actor wearing Darth Vader’s black suit required medical attention. A 4.4 mile foot race through town attracted 500 participants.

Fair sponsorship was changed from the Chamber of Commerce to a town-wide planning committee in 1981. This was also the only year that the fair was held in the spring (May 16-17). It included the Pickle Family Circus at Memorial Park as well as the downtown parade, off-road bike race, town-wide sidewalk sale and an American Legion barbeque and dance with country music at the Log Cabin.

Festivities, a picnic and entertainment, were relocated to Bouick Field on San Francisco Theological Seminary grounds in 1983 due to a storm-damaged bridge in Creek Park. The parade theme was “Making Music.”

Starting in the late 1980s, the Downtown Business Association sponsored Country Fair Day. The fair by that time had settled into a pattern of a set theme, a pancake breakfast at the fire station, music in Creek Park, food and crafts booths, and a parade with 40-50 local groups participating. The Town celebrated America, the 50s, the Roaring Twenties, Mardi Gras, San Anselmo’s history in movie-making, its railroad history and its entry into the digital age.

In 2000, coordination of the Fair was assumed by Town staff, and its name was changed to Community Fair Day. The Town was forced to cancel the fair in 2006 due the New Year’s Eve 2005 flood and a severe financial crisis, but the Chamber of Commerce, merchants and volunteers stepped in and brought back Country Fair Day with a real country theme, “Down on the Farm.”

Country Fair Day was on hiatus in 2007 and 2008. The Town celebrated its centennial in 2007 with a number of events, including a town picnic at Memorial Park, but Country Fair Day and the parade were not held. It returned in 2009 and continues to showcase our Town with a parade, pancake breakfast at the fire station, children’s activities and street booths populated with community groups, artisans and shopkeepers.

Country Fair Day is set for Sunday, September 29th
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

You are cordially invited to the 49th Annual Country Fair Day, a true community celebration in downtown San Anselmo. This popular community festival showcases our Town with a parade, children’s activities, community booths, live music, and delicious food.

Community Booths and Kids Entertainment ~ From 10:00 am - 3:00 pm the Avenue will be lined with community booths, as well as kids activities!
Parade down San Anselmo Avenue ~ 11:00 am
Food ~ all day
Music ~ There will be live music
Cedarsville ~ An exciting new addition to Country Fair Day is “Cedarsville”, situated in Imagination Park and sponsored by Cedars as a kickoff to their 100th anniversary of supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Cedarsville” will feature a free Ferris wheel, a free giant slide, and a mini-town with a variety of activities including collaborative art projects, a farm stand, and so much more.

Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss out! To submit a parade application, please contact the Recreation Department at (415) 258- 4640 or email mogrady@townofsananselmo.org

MOVIES IN CREEK PARK: NEW START TIME
6:30 Seating, 7:15 Trivia & Raffle
7:30 Movies Start Time (September 2019)

The San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce is bringing back the popular Movies in Creek Park event series. The movies will run in Creek Park on Saturday Nights. Movies begin when it becomes dark enough and will generally run two hours. The films are generally acceptable for all audiences, but parental guidance and child supervision is always recommended. To view the list of films, CLICK HERE.

Film genres will include Action, Animation, SciFi, Classics, Comedies and Feel-good Favorites. The 2019 season movies were selected from an exhaustive list of requests from members of the community, merchants and business owners, then cross-referenced and licensed by the Motion Picture Association for public viewing. Many "favorites" are not available due to licensing restrictions and "black-out" periods by motion picture studios.

For complete information, visit https://www.moviesincreekpark.com

Take a Stroll Through San Anselmo's History

Travel back in time with the Historical Commission on docent-led strolls through two areas of San Anselmo.

Tour 1: Downtown San Anselmo. The tour will highlight San Anselmo’s historic Hub, the role of the railroad in the development of town and the changing character of the businesses and architecture on San Anselmo Avenue. Meet at Creek Park and stroll along San Anselmo Avenue. The tour will end at the Historical Museum for light refreshments.
The remaining date is October 26. Meet at Creek Park at 9:00 a.m.

Tour 2: The Seminary Area. Visit one of San Anselmo's oldest neighborhoods. The tour will highlight the quiet beauty of San Francisco Theological Seminary, its history and architecture. Meet at Montgomery Chapel, Richmond Road & Bolinas Avenue. This tour does involve stairs and uphill walking and is not suitable for strollers or very young children. Refreshments will be served along the way.

The remaining date is September 28. Meet at Montgomery Chapel, Richmond Road and Bolinas Avenue at 9:00 a.m.

RSVP at strollsananselmo.eventbrite.com or email stroll@sananselmohistory.org
Both tours are free.

Boards and Commission Seats Available

Arts Commission – The Commission provides a structure to facilitate the creation of art in all disciplines in the community, promoting and exhibiting art and cultural works produced by Ross Valley artists, and promoting art education in the community and schools. The Commission consists of nine members and meets on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Historical Museum. There are two seats available. Persons from the Ross Valley are encouraged to apply.

Capital Program Monitoring Committee – The purpose of the committee is to monitor the implementation of the Town’s capital improvement program, funded by the voter-approved Measure D one-half cent sales tax funds, as well as grant funding, Road Maintenance Fund monies, and General Fund monies. The committee’s charge is to issue an annual public report summarizing the progress of capital improvement projects funded by Measure D, as well as capital improvement projects funded by other sources of Town funding. The committee consists of seven members, representing a wide variety of the community, with a range of skills, knowledge and experience in the following areas:

•          Finance (preferably public finance)
•          Engineering and/or construction
•          Public relations and communication
•          Familiarity with various aspects of the San Anselmo Community

Two Councilmembers and two designated Town staff liaisons will serve in an advisory capacity only. The Committee will meet as needed to review projects. There is one seat available.

Economic Development Committee - The Committee’s charge is to work with local businesses and the community at large toward a vibrant and successful local economy that meets the needs of the residents and visitors of San Anselmo. The Committee has seven members and meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:45 a.m. in the Town Council Chambers. There is one seat available.

Historical Commission – The Commission was created to preserve the history of San Anselmo by means of research and the collection and organization of information, photographs and artifacts concerning the Town’s development. The Commission consists of eleven members, including one youth member and meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesdays of the month in the Historical Museum, located on the first floor of the Library. There are four seats available.

Library Parcel Tax Oversight Committee - The purpose of the oversight committee is to ensure transparency and accountability to the voters by reviewing the collection and expenditure of Library tax revenues. The group meets twice a year to review the library budget. There are two seats available.

Planning Commission – The Commission hears and determines applications for individual zoning changes, planned use developments, design reviews and such. In addition, it evaluates the General Plan and advises the Council, recommending implementing ordinances and broad changes in zoning. The Commission consists of seven members with a range in skills and experience in the following areas:

Construction
Law
Architecture
Public relations
Familiarity with various aspects of the San Anselmo community

The Commission meets on the first and third Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Chambers. There is one seat available.

Parks & Recreation Commission – The Commission advises the Council and the Parks & Recreation staff on the planning of the recreation activities, the development of Town parks and management of public lands. The Commission consists of seven members, including one youth member and meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. There are two seats available.

Tax Equity Board – The Board is charged with hearing applications for tax rebate from San Anselmo property owners claiming inability to pay the Town’s Municipal Services Tax and Pension Override Tax. The Board consists of three members and meets once a year in the spring. There is one seat available.

To apply, please go here: http://www.townofsananselmo.org/175/Boards-Commissions

Upcoming Public Meetings

Tuesday, September 17 - Parks and Recreation, 7 pm, Council Chambers
Wednesday, September 18 - Open Space Committee 7:30 pm, Council Chambers
Wednesday, September 18 - Historical Commission 7:30 pm, Historical Museum
Thursday, September 19 - Ross Valley School Bus JEPA, 7 pm, Council Chambers

Friday, September 13, 2019David P. Donery, Town Manager