Friday, September 30, 2011
The economy is front and center on each candidate’s mind, but how the town functions in this economic downturn is the difference between them.
As the candidates for San Anselmo Town Council head into their first of several debates this evening, Patch takes a look at where each candidate stands on the issues facing our town. Patch editor Kelly Dunleavy will be asking questions at the debates, and earlier this week invited reader questions through this separate article. One thing on which all agree is that we need to find a solution to the economic and fiscal constraints facing our local government but each has a unique vision of how to affect a solution. FORD GREENE, current Mayor and attorney For Ford Greene it’s “budget, budget, budget.” It’s mundane but it is also critical, he said in an interview with Patch. In a second term, Greene wants to look at more sharing of services …
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Fairfax extends temporary moratorium six months.
In September, the Fairfax Town Council approved an ordinance placing a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana facilities within town limits – despite the fact that one medical marijuana facility already exists on School Street. The council said at the time that with a number of applications for such facilities coming into the planning department and with the possibility of Prop. 19 – which would have legalized recreational marijuana use in California – becoming law, a temporary moratorium was necessary to get past the Nov. 2 election and to allow staff time to consider new zoning laws and regulations. "If Prop. 19 passes, we're going to have a whole new terrain," said Mayor Lew Tremaine at that Sept. 1 meeting. Prop. 19, however, failed…
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Fairfax takes another step to stop the installation of smart meters in town, but no one knows what will happen.
Despite allegations that its ordinance placing a one-year ban on PG&E's Smart Meters is neither legal nor enforceable, Fairfax is maintaining its intention of upholding the moratorium it passed in August. But, no one knows what exactly is going to happen if PG&E violates the moratorium and continues with its original installation plan. Currently, PG&E has said they are honoring a temporary moratorium in Fairfax while educating the public. "Whether it's enforceable or not is unknown, largely because it's never happened before," said Fairfax Town Manager Michael Rock. Rock said it was important to point out that though there have been rumors of digital meters being installed, for example when a resident's old meter had to be replaced, those …
Budget comes number of months late because of $205,000 deficit.
The Town Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2010/11 Operating and Capital Budgets on Oct. 6. The budget adoption was later than usual in part because the council had to balance the $205,000 deficit. The general fund operating budget is $6.901 million, down from $6.988 million the prior year. Estimated revenues for property taxes are 2 percent less than last year and have been flat or lower than previous years for the last three years. This loss, coupled with sales tax losses, amounts to a loss of about $125,000 in revenue just over last fiscal year. To balance the FY 2010/11 several vacant positions were left unfilled for extra months to save money. For the second straight year, employees throughout the town did not receive any cost of living…
Friday, September 10, 2010
San Anselmo looks backwards and forwards.
Upcoming town council meetings: Tuesday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m. – The town council will hear a presentation on PG&E Smart Meters and discuss their installation in San Anselmo. Also on the agenda is a public hearing regarding abandoning property at 123 Sturdivant, appointment of Library Advisory Board members, appointment of emergency town council designees, approval of the green building resolution, and approval of the purchase of accounting software. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. – The town council will hear a presentation from the Ross Valley School District on their upcoming facilities bond measure. Also on the agenda is a discussion of the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard traffic situation. Upcoming events: Sunday, Sept. 26 – The annual Country Fair …
Friday, September 3, 2010
Ordinance would ban smoking in multi-unit apartment complexes; limit secondhand smoke to other occupants.
The Fairfax Town Council, Wednesday night, briefly considered and then temporarily shelved an ordinance that would ban smoking in multi-unit apartment complexes. The ordinance, brought by council member Larry Bragman, is designed to limit the amount of secondhand smoke that apartment dwellers are exposed to. Because many apartment complexes have shared common spaces, ventilation systems, patios, and closely-packed windows and doors, secondhand smoke from one apartment can enter another without those residents even necessarily knowing. "Lots of people say, 'we're protected at work, what makes secondhand smoke any better at home?'" said Pam Granger of Smoke Free Marin. Two forums were held over the past six months in which residents were …
Doug Kelly
4:33 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The One TV Debate we had is now posted on my website www.votedougkelly.com more ›