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Health & Fitness

Town Council Meeting Notes, Book Donations Needed, Great California Shakeout, Winter Storms

Town Council Meeting Notes

 

At the meeting of Tuesday, October 22, the Town Council took the following actions:

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  • Interviewed applicants to the Arts Commission and Flood Committee.

 

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  • Presented the Quality of Life Green Award to Alex Godbe for founding the Hungry Owl Project that has rescued, fostered and cared for up to 800 owls.

 

  • Approved the Special Event Application for the Holiday Lighting ceremony, to be held in Imagination Park from 5-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, closing Magnolia Avenue from San Anselmo Avenue to Library Place from 4-8 p.m. and blocking off four parking spaces on San Anselmo Avenue in front of the park.

 

  • Approved the grant agreement between the County of Marin and the Town for disbursement of the Town’s share of the Marin Parks, Open Space, and Farmland Preservation Transactions and Use Tax approved by Marin County voters on November 6, 2012.  Discussed the utilization of the 2013 funds of $35,897 and directed staff to come back with a list of possible projects.

 

  • Reviewed the report from staff regarding the Citizens for Sustainable Pension Plans “Pension Roulette – A Comparative Analysis of the Pension and Retiree Benefits of Marin County and its Municipalities.”  The staff report outlined steps that have been taken to reduce San Anselmo’s pension and retiree costs.

 

1.               Introduction of a second tier for the Miscellaneous group in 2007, in which only 13 of the 30 current employees remain in the more expensive Tier 1.

2.               Introduction of a second tier for the Safety group in 2007, which has resulted in all current Central Marin employees being in the lower tier.

3.               The introduction of the two second tiers in 2007 has saved the Town approximately $1 million in reduced pension costs in 6 years.

4.               Retiree medical costs are capped at $225 per month, resulting in a retiree health liability far below most cities/towns.

5.               Employees have been paying 3% of the employee share of PERS since 2011, with no commensurate increase in salary, saving approximately $200,000.

6.               The Town’s pension side fund was refinanced last year, resulting in a savings of $600,000 over 10 years.

7.               Staffing reductions of 14% concluding in 2006 (63 total employees in 2005 to 54 total employees in 2012) reduced employee, benefit and pension costs, saving the Town approximately $4-5 million in salary, benefit and pension costs over the six year period.

 

The staff report can be found at http://www.townofsananselmo.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3808.

 

 

Book Donations Needed

 

The Friends of the Library can surely use your book donations right now. If you have hardcover or gently used paperback books of all kinds, please consider dropping them off at the Friends donation box in the Library elevator lobby.  All funds generated by book sales go directly to library programs. The next book sale will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013.  The Friends really appreciate your support.

 

 

Great California Shakeout

 

San Anselmo employees in Town Hall, Recreation, Public Works and the Library participated in the Great California Shakeout on Thursday, October 17, at 10:17 a.m.  At the prescribed time, employees and our customers and patrons who happened to be in our facilities, followed the instruction to Drop, Cover and Hold for sixty seconds.  While under tables and desks, participants were instructed to look around them and imagine what it would be like in a real earthquake.  Many thanks to our Safety Committee Chair Linda Kenton for leading this effort.

 

 

Winter Storms

 

With winter storms upcoming soon, it is important to be prepared.  The Town has storm resource information available on the website at:  http://www.townofsananselmo.org/index.aspx?nid=297.  Information includes links to the flood gauge that measures creek depth, flood gate design information, flood protection tips, weather information, winter preparedness tips and sand bag information.

 

The Town has access to a number of different communication methods to deliver storm and weather related information to the community.  It is important, in addition, for each of us to stay tuned to local radio and TV stations to stay abreast of the weather forecast and be prepared with sand bags, flood gates or other prevention measures that are required in your specific situation.

 

As is always the case during heavy winter storms, sand and sand bags will be available for San Anselmo residents and merchants on Sunny Hills Drive in the parking lot adjacent to the tennis courts, across the street from Swirl, the yogurt shop in the Red Hill Shopping Center.

 

Important Information:  When you hear the flood horn sound with 5 blasts, a pause, 5 blasts, a pause and 5 more blasts, it means that flooding may be imminent.  You should immediately move your family and vehicles to higher ground.  Please don’t use the flood horn as an opportunity to go see the creek firsthand.  Rushing flood waters are fast moving and very dangerous.

 

 

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. 

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