Library Events, Safe Routes to Schools Grant, Flood Committee News

Art Talk Tuesday Lectures

These free lectures are held in the Town Hall Council Chambers at 12 p.m. Three more Art Talk Tuesdays are upcoming:

November 8
History in a Tea Cup: Traveling with Porcelains from China to California.

December 13
Soccer, Sweets and Salsa: The New World’s Gift to the Old

January 10
Masters of Venice: Renaissance Paintings of Passion and Power

Fabulous Fridays at the Library

Join the every 1st Friday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers for free, fantastic programs led by local performers and educators.

On Friday, November 4th, Sandra Rae Davies of 142 Throckmorton Theatre and Steve & Kate's Camp will lead a Creative Drama and Improv Playshop. Kids in Kindergarten and older (parents welcome too!) will explore the world of improvisation and drama as they dive into their imaginations. Come play fun improv games, act, dance, sing, and tell stories together.

No registration is required for this special event.

Safe Routes to Schools Grant 

The Town was recently awarded a Safe Routes to Schools federal grant in the amount of $619,000. 

The project includes the following: 

• A pedestrian safety barrier on eastbound Sir Francis Drake Blvd. between Butterfield Road and Calumet Avenue. 
• Sidewalks, crosswalk, and curb ramp improvements on Arroyo, Alameda, Berkeley and Broadmoor.
• Improvements at the Sir Francis Drake/Tamal/San Francisco Blvd. intersection.
• Sidewalks, crosswalks and curb ramps in the San Francisco Blvd. neighborhood.
• Sidewalks, curb ramps and intersection improvements on Barber and Prospect Avenues. 

The Safe Routes to Schools program is intended to improve roads and paths around schools making the trip to school safer for kids walking and riding bikes. 

Public Works Director Sean Condry, working with the , parents and our local Safe Routes to Schools committee, submitted the successful grant proposal.   Planning for the project will begin this winter, with construction tentatively planned for the summer of 2013.

Flood Committee News 

The Flood Committee met on Monday, October 24, to discuss a number of issues related to flooding and winter preparedness.

• Received an update from Jack Curley of County Flood Zone 9 on efforts underway to reduce the risk of flooding in the Ross Valley.  The County is focusing their initial efforts on detention basins, with the intent of storing rainwater during storms and releasing it in a controlled way when the storm has passed.  The initial project will be at Phoenix Lake, with other detention basins being contemplated for Lefty Gomez field and Loma Alta near White Hill School and Memorial Park.  The Flood Committee will be working very closely with the County on San Anselmo projects to ensure community input and education.

• Received an update from Sean Condry, Public Works Director, regarding the grants he has submitted for the replacement of bridges at Nokomis, Madrone and Sycamore.  These grants would cover between 88.5% and 100% of the cost of the replacements.  We also are submitting for grants for fixing erosion at the base of bridges, and those grants would provide 100% funding.

• Discussed a possible stormwater ordinance and the current rules in place regarding construction projects as they relate to drainage.  Currently, it is required that construction projects have a net zero effect on drainage, meaning that they discharge no additional water into the drainage system after the improvement. 

• Discussed the number of flood gates that are installed in the downtown, which is about 60% of the businesses.  The committee would like to encourage those downtown merchants who do not yet have flood gates to consider installing them.  Committee members would very much like to help merchants without gates get them installed and to learn what the roadblocks are that may be delaying the process.  Committee members will be surveying merchants to learn how they can help.

• Received an update on winter preparedness measures that are underway.  The Town has completed three drainage upgrades that will help keep water moving through the system.  Many Town drains have been professionally “vactored” to ensure they are ready for winter.  The street sweeper has been working five days a week clearing leaves from roadways.

The next meeting of the Flood Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. in the .