Memorial Park, Holiday String Lights, Rutherford Area Construction, Flood Gates, Police Update

Memorial Park Stakeholders Meeting

On Saturday, November 3, over 30 people came to the Memorial Park Stakeholders Meeting to hear more about the possibility of utilizing Memorial Park as a detention basin in case of flooding.  Participants heard a brief presentation on the Town’s flooding history, the flood mitigation planning process to date, detention basins and their purpose and why Memorial Park was chosen as one of the five possible sites for detention.

The main purpose of the meeting, however, was to hear comments and concerns and note the questions of participants.  The entire community was invited, with special emphasis on the park stakeholders, which include the San Francisco Blvd. residents, Parkside Apartments, ICC Homes, Log Cabin, playground users, and sports groups, including tennis, baseball, soccer and softball. 

The questions and concerns expressed at the meeting were thoughtful and insightful.  A summary of the issues raised is provided below.  More detailed information on the detention basin topic will be located at http://www.townofsananselmo.org/index.aspx?nid=669 as it becomes available. 

• What is the plan for making sure that current drainage is maintained or improved to ensure that neighboring properties aren’t flooded?
• Why can’t you solve the flooding problem with stream modifications, such as enlarging the creek, rebuilding bridges, i.e. can we fix flooding without detention basins?
• What are the construction impacts to neighbors, how long would the construction take, what would the park look like, and where would programs/games be held?
• Who would assume liability for neighbors if they do experience adverse impacts from the basin?
• How much water would be detained at Memorial Park? 
• If used for detention, who returns the park to its original state and how long would it take?  Concerns were expressed about sewage and debris in the flood water.
• Would there be improvements to Memorial Park done in this process? Would artificial turf be used?
• Who would be in charge of activating the use of the detention basin during imminent flooding?
• Would the detention basin be designed for an earthquake and flood happening simultaneously?
• Would this create a new flood plain and would it affect neighborhood property values and home insurance coverage?
• Has thought been given to the potential effects of climate change?
• Would native plants be utilized in the park, especially around the creek? 

Answers to many of these questions will be uncovered as we move forward with the process.  Because this is the very beginning of the project, we don’t have complete answers to many of the questions.  Rather, the questions will guide us as we work closely with the County and other professionals to install monitoring wells and submit for available State grant funding.  Work done between now and the grant application deadline of January is only the first step and doesn’t set a design in stone.

Holiday String Lights 

Do you have holiday string lights? California Youth Energy Services (CYES), a program of the nonprofit organization Rising Sun Energy Center, will be hosting three holiday light swap events this season:

• Saturday November 10th, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at Albert J. Boro Community Center (formally known as Pickleweed), 50 Canal St, San Rafael
• Saturday December 1st, 12 - 5 p.m. at the Northgate Mall
• Saturday December 8th, 8am – 12 p.m. "Breakfast with Santa" San Rafael Community Center, 618 B St, San Rafael 

Bring in your old incandescent holiday lights, and they will swap them for brand new, energy-efficient LED holiday lights (color and white strings), all at no charge! You must be a resident of Marin and bring a copy of your Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) bill to participate. Both PG&E and Marin Clean Energy customers are eligible.

For more information, contact Travers McNeice at mcneice@risingsunenergy.org or (510) 665 1501 Ext 23. CYES is a program of the Marin Energy Watch Partnership (www.marinenergywatch.org).

Neighborhood Update – Rutherford Area

PG&E, along with their contractor, ARB, Inc., is replacing about 1,720 feet of gas lines under Rutherford Avenue, Camino De Herrera and Bennitt Avenue near the intersections of those streets.  They began digging some exploratory holes this week and plan to install the pipes beginning next week.   It is expected the roads will remain open and access to homes will not be affected but some delays may occur.  This work should be completed by the end of the year.  For more information, contact Keith Angerman at 258-4604.

Flood Gates

We have already had a few rain storms and now is the time to get prepared for heavy rains or worst case, flooding.  It is strongly suggested that all businesses get out their flood gates and practice putting them in place while it is dry and sunny.  You should take the time to train employees on where the gates are and how to install them.   Most of the time when they are required to be installed it is during a heavy rain with little or no lights.  Make sure they fit and are in good repair.

Town staff held a flood gate drill for employees on Wednesday, November 7, to ensure that we are prepared in the event of imminent flooding.

Police Consolidation Update

Join the Town Council at the meeting of Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at 7 p.m. to hear more about the financial benefits of police consolidation.  The meeting will be held in the Town Council Chambers.

San Anselmo News, published weekly on Fridays, is available at the San Anselmo Town Hall, Library, on the Public Notice Bulletin Board. It is also available on the Town’s website, www.townofsananselmo.org, and by email subscription.