Town Council Meeting Notes: Town Safety Warnings, Golden Gate Bridge Tolls, and Quality of Life Speaker Series

Town Council Meeting Notes

At the meeting of Tuesday, February 12, the Town Council took the following actions:

• Presented the Quality of Life Silver Award to Ted Freeman for checking the Library’s entire collection of 49,000 books to ensure each volume was correctly placed.  Ted was also honored for his many years of public service, which included a term as a Town Councilmember.  Ted also is a much valued volunteer at Library story times, because he moves the chairs out of the way for the story time and back into place afterwards, a never-ending chore for which staff is extremely grateful to be relieved.
• Presented a proclamation to Judy Coy, congratulating her on the newly-released book, San Anselmo, which chronicles San Anselmo’s history in pictures.  The book is available for sale in the Library and in the Historical Museum, located on the first floor of the Library, as well as in a variety of local shops.
• Approved the downtown event application for the San Anselmo Baseball Association (SABA) opening day parade on Sunday, March 17, 2013, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Chapel of the Hills on Red Hill Avenue, proceeding on to Memorial Park.
• Appointed Michael Aycock to the Board of Review and reappointed William Holland to the San Anselmo seat of the Marin Sonoma Mosquito Abatement District.
• Appointed Nancy Altman to the Economic Development Committee.
• Approved a community donation of $500 to the Marin County Gun Buy Back program held on January 15, 2013.
• Approved the resolution authorizing staff to record a lien on 437 Scenic Avenue to recover $153,940.85 associated with the repair of a slide that occurred on the property on March 21, 2011.
• Received the report from Community Services Director David Donery regarding a recommended process for a community facilities master plan, as outlined in the community survey completed in the spring of 2012.
• The meeting was adjourned in memory of Cap Lavin, beloved long-time Drake High School faculty member.

Town Safety Warnings

Numerous complaints have been made to Town staff recently regarding speeding cars, particularly in neighborhoods around our schools.  The problem is particularly pronounced around school start and stop times.  These are the exact times when speeding is especially problematic as it is when our children are making their way to and from school on bikes and on foot.  Please drive especially cautiously in neighborhoods, observe the posted speed limit and keep an eye out for children and pets.  An extra minute or two is worth avoiding an accident.

Golden Gate Bridge Tolls

All electronic tolling, a cashless payment system, is now in the testing phase, leading up to the full conversion in late March 2013, although this date is subject to change.

During testing, the toll collectors remain in the toll lanes and you can still pay cash at the Toll Plaza. If you aren’t using FasTrak, you can try one of the new Pay-By-Plate toll payment options: 

• License Plate Account
• One-Time Payment
• Toll Invoice

Drivers using FasTrak pay discounted toll rates and with the Pay-By-Plate options, the non-discounted toll rates apply.
  
The Pay-By-Plate options (License Plate Account, One-Time Payment, or Toll Invoice) are the “pay as you go” alternative to FasTrak.  With the Pay-By-Plate options your credit card is charged ONLY when you cross the Golden Gate Bridge.  Making a One-Time Payment is ideal for those who want to use cash at one of many Cash Payment Locations around the Bay Area.

If you take no action to use FasTrak, License Plate Account, or One-Time Payment, the registered owner of the vehicle is mailed a Toll Invoice (with no added penalties).

Learn more at our website.

Quality of Life Speaker Series

The Quality of Life Commission is sponsoring a speaker series entitled “Connecting the Green Dots.”  The first speaker event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers and its free.

Speakers for the event include:
• Peter Joseph, MD, Group Leader, Marin Chapter, Citizens Climate Lobby.  Dr. Joseph will be talking on Climate Change Update: “Worse than Predicted” and he will also talk about solutions.
• Christine O’Rourke, Sustainability Coordinator, Marin Climate & Energy Partnership.  Ms. O’Rourke will give information on San Anselmo’s Climate Action Plan and residents’ roles in taking action now.
• Tamra Peters, Director, Resilient Neighbohoods.  Ms. Peters will speak on how to join an Ecoteam and get started reducing carbon.

Download the event flyer.

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, and by email subscription.