Town Council Meeting Notes, Ross Valley Sanitary District and Elders' Garden

Town Council Meeting Notes

 At the meeting of Tuesday, April 10, the Town Council took the following actions:

• Introduced on-duty Police officers Enrique Lopez and Chuck Lovenguth of Twin Cities Police Authority and Sergeant Julie Gorwood of the San Anselmo Police Department.
• Presented the , long time member of the Historical Commission, for her work in documenting town history and creating many programs and exhibits that highlight the Town’s past.  Thank you, Judy, for your invaluable contributions to San Anselmo.
• Proclaimed April 9-14, 2012 National Library Week, celebrating the vital role our Library plays in town.
• Proclaimed April 15-21, 2012 National Volunteer Week, recognizing the invaluable work of volunteers.
• Adopted the ordinance approving rezoning for a private parking lot at Spaulding Street and Luna Lane.
• Approved the project and authorized solicitation of bids for the Lansdale Fish Passage Improvement Project, to be paid for with grant funding, thanks to Sandra Guldman of the Friends of Corte Madera Creek.
• Awarded a three year audit contract to Moss Levy in the amount of $24,435 per year.
• Appointed Andrea Pearce to the Historical Commission.
• Gave preliminary approval for the expansion of the Ross Valley Fire Department JPA to include the Town of Ross, with a goal of completing the consolidation by July 1, 2012.  The Towns of Fairfax and Ross also gave their preliminary approval for the consolidation in the last week.
• Received a report on the Sustainable Communities Strategies and Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers recently released, based on projected job growth, population growth and housing needs.
• Considered possible changes to the San Anselmo Municipal Code with regard to second story design review rules in the flatland.  After discussion, the consensus of the Council was to make no changes to the current ordinance, which requires that second story additions of 400 square feet or more be subject to design review.
• Denied the request to extend further the expiration date of the planning permit approved in 2008 for 1315 San Anselmo Avenue.
• Approved the resolution forming the Bolinas Avenue Advisory Committee to provide oversight to the planning underway to address issues of localized flooding, parking, traffic and pedestrian safety and appointed Councilmember Kroot to represent San Anselmo on the committee.
• Considered the request of the Ross Valley Sanitary District (RVSD) to appoint one member to serve on the Ross Valley Sanitary District Consolidation Feasibility Study Steering Committee.  Councilmembers expressed continuing concerns with the RVSD process and agreed that San Anselmo would not participate.
• Approved the resolution opposing the proposed Ross Valley Sanitary District rate increase and Prop 218 election, encouraging the RVSD to take the issue to the voters and let a majority vote of the ratepayers decide the rate increase.

Ross Valley Sanitary District

The Ross Valley Sanitary District (RVSD) is proposing to raise its sewer service rates to address the sewer system’s deteriorating infrastructure.  They also plan to change the methodology by which its residential rates are calculated.  

As you may recall, a RVSD rate increase was approved in July 2011 to maintain existing service levels and to cover increasing costs. 

At this time, the District proposes another sewer rate change effective July 1, 2012, paid twice a year through your annual property tax bill that will allow the District to address its capital needs.  The rate structure is proposed to be based on a flow-based structure to determine residential rates, rather than the current flat rate structure.  In the flow-based structure, a household with a high usage of the sewer system would pay more than a low usage user.  Average residential rates in San Anselmo are proposed to increase from $638 per year to $1,232 after five years. 

For more information on this rate increase, contact Brett Richards, General Manager at 259-2949, email to info@rvsd.org, or write Brett Richards, General Manager, Ross Valley Sanitary District, 2960 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, CA  94901.  The full notice to property owners can be found at: http://rvsd.org/Portals/0/Documents/pdfs/Special%20218%20Documents/RVSD-Prop%20218%20Online.pdf.  This notice was mailed to all property owners as well. 

As outlined in State Proposition 218, the rate increase will go into effect July 1, 2012 unless a majority of ratepayers protest the increase.  Protests must be submitted in writing by the close of the Thursday, May 10, 2012 Public Hearing, which begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Twin Cities Police Department, 250 Doherty Drive, Larkspur.  The written protest must: 

1)      State opposition to the proposed rate change;

2)      Identify the affected owner(s) of the property or properties for which the protest is entered;

3)      Include the address or assessor’s parcel number of the affected property; and

4)      Be signed by the affected property owner (Email protests will not be accepted).

If written protests against the proposed sewer service rate change are presented by a majority of owners of parcels affected, the District will not approve the rate change.

Elders’ Garden Work Party

Spring has sprung and it is time to mulch in our home gardens and in the Elders’ Garden.  The biggest work party of the year is going to be held on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to noon.  Volunteers are needed to put six yards of mulch on the garden, which is located next to the playground at Memorial Park.