Strategic Planning, Garbage Rate Increase, Elders' Garden Work Party, Police Tips

Strategic Planning Meeting

On Friday, Jan. 13, the San Anselmo Town Council, Town Manager and the town’s Department Managers gathered for an .

The meeting began with each of the Department Managers outlining their accomplishments for 2011 and identifying ideas for short-, medium- and long-range goals for consideration. The outlines for the department presentations are available on the town website. After each department presentation, councilmembers asked questions and gave comments, and members of the public in attendance gave input as well.

In the afternoon session, councilmembers talked about priorities over the next twenty years in the areas of infrastructure, technology, community facilities, shared services, budgetary priorities and public/private partnerships. 

Topics discussed for the short term (2012) include, but aren’t limited to: videotaping council meetings to increase public participation; evaluating bio-retention, sidewalk and driveway requirements; continuing to explore shared services, particularly with Police and Fire; implementing electronic submittals of permits; and considering an ordinance banning plastic bags. 

With respect to medium-term (two to five years) goals, the council discussed allocating more funds for street maintenance and median upgrades, addressing transportation and congestion issues, working with the county on flooding issues, remodeling , initiating a master planning process for , creating a budget advisory committee, utilizing more volunteers, reviewing town planning ordinances, and creating a more business-friendly atmosphere to attract new businesses to town.

Finally, looking down the road for long-range (six to 20 years) goals, the councilmembers discussed alternative fuel public transportation (such as an electric trolley), traffic improvements on Sir Francis Drake (such as roundabouts), a new fire station for Butterfield Road, rebuilding local bridges, and a community or senior center.

With respect to next steps, the council will schedule a community meeting on a Saturday morning to discuss these ideas and others and receive input from the public on priorities. We hope to schedule this meeting in February or early March and will be sure to give plenty of advance notice of the date.

Refuse and Recycling Rate Increase 

At the meeting of Tuesday, Jan. 24, beginning at 7 p.m., the San Anselmo Town Council will be considering a request from for a 4.84 percent increase in rates, to be effective Jan. 1, 2012. The rate increase request was arrived at after an independent analysis conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined in our franchise agreement. This would increase the cost of a 32-gallon residential cart from $30.41/month to $31.88/month, or $1.47/month. The staff report for the item will be on the town’s website on Friday, Jan. 20, in the afternoon. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. 

Elders’ Garden Work Party 

The next Elders’ Garden work party will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, beginning at 10 a.m.

The garden is located in near the Children’s playground.  All are invited to participate. 

News from the Police Department 

The would like to encourage residents to help keep the town safe. Here are a number of things residents can do: 

• Don’t leave homes or businesses unlocked when unattended.
• Don’t leave vehicles unlocked, keys in the ignition or valuables in plain sight.
• Report suspicious activity or suspicious persons. Try to obtain a description of the person, any vehicles involved and describe what is happening.
• If you feel a person or activity is suspicious, please report it.  Such reporting enables us to contact the person involved and determine whether or not criminal activity is taking place.   

In addition, the police department recommends using good Neighborhood Watch strategies:

• Make your rear yard as inaccessible as possible to strangers.
• Familiarize yourself with people and vehicles that belong in your neighborhood, and when school should be in session.
• Report all suspicious or loitering persons and any suspicious vehicles to the 911 emergency dispatcher.
• Talk with your trusted neighbors about the hours your family works, trips you’re taking and who should be at home.
• When an extended trip is taken, gather each other’s mail and newspapers.
• Upgrade your window and door locks and install security lighting.
• Consider a reliable home alarm system.

The police department would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the public who have assisted us in the past in keeping San Anselmo safe.

If you need to contact the police department, please call 415-258-4610 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.