What's Being Discussed at Next Tuesday's Town Council Meeting?

At their meeting on January 26, 2021, the San Anselmo Town Council will consider the following items:

Flood Mitigation Project Milestone and Delay

Final phase of stormwater basin moving forward despite bridge project issue 

The Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District is wrapping up plans for the final phase of the Sunnyside Stormwater Detention Basin and the project is expected to open for contractor bids this summer.

The basin, located at 3000 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near Fairfax, is a key component of the San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction (SAFRR) project, which will improve public safety for properties along Fairfax Creek / San Anselmo Creek in Ross Valley.
The first phase of the basin project was completed in mid-November 2020, about a month ahead of schedule. The work included demolition of the old nursery site’s deteriorated structures, extracting and storing gravel and topsoil to be reused for future aspects of the project, and excavation and hauling of approximately 20,000 cubic yards of earthen material.

The final phase of the work, expected to commence in July 2021, will complete the excavation of the basin as well as construct embankments around the basin. The $6 million basin project, budgeted as part of the SAFRR project, is expected to be completed by late summer 2021.

The next steps in the SAFRR project include removal of the concrete foundation at 634-636 San Anselmo Avenue and stabilization of the creek banks at that location. The concrete foundation obstructs the natural flow of San Anselmo Creek, which for decades has substantially aggravated overbank flooding of the downtown area of San Anselmo and certain residential areas of Ross.

Timing of the Flood District’s work, as well as creek restoration and subsequent creation of a public park at that location by the Town of San Anselmo, hinges on removal and reconstruction of the Winship Bridge downstream in the Town of Ross. However, the timelines of those steps are being reevaluated considering a recent federal funding shortfall for Ross’ bridge project.

The Town of Ross was planning to begin construction of the approximately $2 million Winship Bridge replacement project in summer 2022. The project, which is functionally linked to other Flood District projects such as SAFRR, was expected to be fully covered by federal funding through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Highway Bridge Program (HBP), but that has now been indefinitely delayed. In a recent announcement from MTC, the agency is reassessing all HBP allotments.

Due to the federal funding issue, the Town of Ross is pursuing alternative funding sources in order to get the bridge project underway as soon as possible. As a result, the Flood District will delay the start of the foundation removal until the Town of Ross has secured alternative funding and construction is underway.

For the Town of San Anselmo, the delayed timeline has created an opportunity to extend the public input phase for the Creekside Commons design, allowing residents to refine the vision. The Commons has been an important aspect for residents as they work together to fill the vacant downtown space with a communal environment for public enjoyment. 
Changes in the timeline are expected for the overall San Anselmo Project, which is being funded by an $8.7 million state grant from the Department of Water Resources and the remainder using Flood Control Zone 9 funds. While the extent of the potential changes is unknown at this time, Flood District staff are reviewing current grant funding requirements to identify any possible time constraints that may result from the Winship Bridge funding delay.

“The Flood District is approaching the potential delay from all angles, working together with the different agencies involved and are optimistic that we will find a beneficial solution for our community,” said Hugh Davis, Flood District Project Manager for SAFRR. “While things are uncertain right now with federal funding, any speculation on funding alternatives is premature at this time, but our goal is to be back on track with this project by 2022.”

Help Keep the Flower Baskets In Downtown San Anselmo

Donations are being accepted to help
fund this annual community effort

Safe Storage of Firearms – Gun Locks

Every year in the U.S. nearly 350 children under the age of 17 gain access to a gun and unintentionally kill or injure themselves or someone else.  Children are naturally curious and love to explore and look in hiding places.  With the pandemic disrupting school schedules and causing boredom and isolation for kids, they may be at an increased risk of finding unsecured firearms in their homes.  

California is one of several states that requires every gun owner to safely store their firearms, and the owner is criminally liable if they store a loaded gun where a child is likely to gain access to it.  

All firearms in the home should be unloaded and locked, with ammunition stored and locked up separately.  Make sure children and teens cannot access the keys or combination to lock boxes or gun safes.  And please do not keep loaded, unlocked guns in your vehicle.   

In partnership with Project ChildSafe, we offer free gun safety kits so you can securely store your firearm. Project ChildSafe, is a program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and has distributed millions of firearm safety kits throughout the country. The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, with additional funding provided by the firearms industry.

Each kit contains safety information and a cable-style gun lock.  The lock fits most types of handguns, rifles, and shotguns.  The goal is to prevent a child or other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in your home. The gun locks are available at both of our stations. 250 Doherty Drive in Larkspur or 525 San Anselmo Avenue in San Anselmo.

If you have a firearm that you want to surrender, or ammunition to dispose of, please call us at 415-927-5150 and we will arrange for an officer to pick up the weapon and/or ammunition.

San Anselmo Challenges Fairfax and Sausalito to a Competition to Increase Participation in MCE Deep Green

 
The San Anselmo Sustainability Commission, the Fairfax Climate Action Committee, and the City of Sausalito Sustainability Commission are throwing down the clean energy gauntlet. These three organizations have started a contest to see which cities in Marin can increase participation in the MCE Deep Green program to 20% – join the competition by visiting mceoptup.org and let’s all win!
 
MCE’s Deep Green energy service is from 100% renewable electricity. By opting up to Deep Green, customers benefit from low-cost and local California wind and solar energy. Deep Green customers pay only $0.01 per kilowatt-hour more compared to the cost of MCE’s Light Green service. That’s roughly $5 more per month for the average residential customer.
 
Electricity constitutes the second largest part of the green-house gas emissions in the county.  MCE Deep Green is a convenient way to invest in a clean energy future and will help the towns make further progress towards their respective greenhouse gas emissions reductions. In addition, half of the Deep Green premium is invested in MCE’s Local Renewable Energy & Program Development Fund, which has helped to fund and install electric vehicle charging ports and build renewable projects. 
 
The Town of San Anselmo is working with MCE to track and report progress toward the goal on the San Anselmo Sustainability Commission’s website:  https://www.townofsananselmo.org/1441/Deep-Green-Competition.

Applicants Sought for Library Parcel Tax Oversight Committee