Blog # 25 CAMP EARTH

CAMP EARTH - Marin's First Totally Sustainable Summer Camp

August 17-21, 2009

The Towns of Fairfax and San Anselmo through their joint recreational programs is offering the first totally sustainable summer camp in Farifax at Peri Park. See attachment for all the details. There is still space available.

Blog #24 - Community Emergency Response Training Classes Offered

CENTRAL MARIN COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING (CERT)

PRESENTED BY

CORTE MADERA FIRE DEPARTMENT, KENTFIELD FIRE DISTRICT,
LARKSPUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, ROSS FIRE DEPARTMENT,
ROSS VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND COLLEGE OF MARIN

In the event of a major disaster, professional emergency services may be overwhelmed and unavailable for long periods of time. The widespread needs of the community will depend upon voluntary assistance. With this in mind, the fire departments in Marin County have adopted a citizen training program called Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). CERT is designed to provide hands-on training to become self-sufficient for at least 72 hours following a disaster such as an earthquake, flood, or a wildland fire. The program is presented in a three-day format, which includes one three-hour session and two six-hour sessions with a one-hour break for lunch.

Class 1: Thursday, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Class 2: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Class 3: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Information covered includes:
Introduction/Emergency Preparedness, Light Search and Rescue, Disaster First Aid, Fire Prevention/Suppression, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and a Disaster Simulation.

Thursday classes will be taught at the Corte Madera Fire Department
342 Tamalpais Drive at Pixley, Corte Madera
Saturday classes will be taught at The College of Marin, in TB1.

Class sessions for 2009 are scheduled for:

February 19, 21, 28.
July 16, 18, 25
November 5,7,14

The cost of the training is $30 per person.
For further information, call the
Corte Madera Fire Department at 927-5077

Blog #23 Council Adopts Town Budget, Approves Ballot Language for extending Measure F

At the July 1, 2009 regular Town Council Meeting the following actions were taken:

The Town Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2009/10 budget. The following appropriations were approved: Operating budget: $6,939,900; Capital Budget $2,132,008; Retirement, Unrestricted Reserve, and other special non-general fund programs $3,091,661. The Council approved a budget with no cost-of-living adjustments for staff and a 4% reduction in operating costs in general fund budget units and borrowing $306,591 from the Town’s unrestricted reserves also known as the “Dry Period Fund”. The Town received 2% less in property tax revenues in 2008/09 than the previous year and is anticipating no additional revenues for 2009/10 due to reassessments of many homes in Fairfax and fewer homes turning over. The Town received about 20% less revenues in building and planning permit fees in 2008/09 from the previous year and we are expecting 2009/10 to be another down year in planning and building permit revenues. Another reason for the reduction in expenditures is the Town is anticipating the State will take about $268,000 from Fairfax to balance the State budget.

The Council adopted the ballot language for placing the extension of Measure F on the November 3, 2009 ballot for voter approval. The current Measure F expires on June 30, 2010. Measure F represents $465,000 per year to the Town’s $6.9 million general fund budget. The ballot language will be asking for an extension at the same rate of $125 per dwelling unit and business occupancy per year for another five years. This is an extension of an existing property tax. The Town is not asking for any new or additional tax. The ballot language is:


Renewal of a Special Municipal Services Tax:

Shall an ordinance be adopted approving the renewal of a special Fairfax municipal services tax of $125 per year for each business occupancy and dwelling unit, for a period of five years, to be used exclusively to:
· Maintain 24-hour, 7 days per week staffing of Police and Fire Services
· Perform Public Works safety improvements
· Meet Matching Funds requirements needed to receive state and federal public works grants
· Revitalize Youth Programs
and continue the citizens’ oversight committee that monitors the use of the revenues from this tax?
Yes_______ No______


Adopted a Resolution authorizing the Town Attorney to cooperate with the League of California Cities as well as cities and counties in litigation challenging the constitutionality of any seizure by State government of HUTA funds (Gas Tax Funds)

Denied appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of a request for a setback variance, a height variance, encroachment permit and a second unit use permit in order to construct a second unit underneath an existing three story, single-family residence and to construct parking for the second unit at 177 Frustuck Avenue

Adopted Ordinance 743 repealing and replacing Town Code Chapter 8.36 regulating the removal of trees

Approved Redemption of Tax Delinquent Properties with Open Space Fund

Approved a licensing agreement with the Ritter Center for placing Art Houses in Fairfax

Blog #22- Council to meet on Budget, Measure F Extension

The Town Council will hold its regular Town Council meeting on July 1, 2009 beginning at 7:30 PM at the Women’s Club on Park Road to consider adoption of the proposed 2009/2010 Town Budget and to discuss extending Measure F another five years.

This is a very important meeting and the Council encourages all residents to attend. The budget portion of the meeting will entail an overview of the current economic climate and the possible actions of the State regarding the possible theft of seven percent of the Town’s revenue through the theft of gas tax revenues. This equates to about $212,000 each year. This money will not be repaid by the State. Public comment will then be invited on the proposed budget.

The Council will also consider and adopt placing on the ballot for voter approval the extension of Measure F which expires on June 30, 2010. Measure F represents $465,000 per year to the Town’s $6.7 million general fund budget. The ballot language will be asking for an extension at the same rate of $125 per dwelling unit and business occupancy per year for another five years. This is an extension of an existing property tax. The Town is not asking for any new or additional tax.

The Council encourages the public to comment on the decision to extend Measure F.

Other items for the July 1st Agenda:

• Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Town Attorney to cooperate with the League of California Cities as well as cities and counties in litigation challenging the constitutionality of any seizure by State government of HUTA funds (Gas Tax Funds)
  
• Consider Appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of a request for a setback variance, a height variance, encroachment permit and a second unit use permit in order to construct a second unit underneath an existing three story, single-family residence and to construct parking for the second unit at 177 Frustuck Avenue
  
• Adopt a Resolution setting new fees for services as a result of the Master Fee Study including business license fees
  
• Second Reading and adoption of Ordinance 743 repealing and replacing Town Code Chapter 8.36 regulating the removal of trees
  
• Consider endorsing a pilot low income elderly and disabled cable discount
  
• Discussion and Approval of Redemption of Tax Delinquent Properties with Open Space Fund

Blog #21 – Council to Meet on Town Budget, Extension of Measure F

The Town Council will hold a Special Town Council meeting on June 20, 2009 from 9:00 AM-12 NOON at the Women’s Club on Park Road to discuss the proposed 2009/2010 Town Budget and to discuss the renewal of Measure F. This is a very important meeting and the Council encourages all residents to attend. The budget portion of the meeting will entail an overview of the current economic climate and the possible actions of the State regarding the possible theft of eight percent of the Town’s property tax revenues. This equates to about $268,000. Then each department head from the Town staff will present their budget. Public comment will then be invited on the proposed budget.

The second part of the meeting will be a discussion on the renewal of Measure F which expires on June 30, 2010. Measure F represents $465,000 per year to the Town’s $6.7 million general fund budget. There will be a presentation regarding the Town Budget and Measure F and then a discussion on the proposed ballot language for the extension of Measure F. The ballot language will be asking for an extension at the same rate of $125 per dwelling unit and business occupancy per year for another five years. This is an extension of an existing property tax. The Town is not asking for any new or additional tax.

I encourage the public to comment on the decision to renew Measure F.

Blog #20 Town Council Discusses "Art Houses of Marin” Emergency Siren for Cascades, Update of Tree Ordinance

The Town Council took the following actions at the June 3, 2009 meeting:

1. Heard a presentation from Executive Director Diane Linn of Ritter House on the installation of “Art Houses of Marin” at various locations in Fairfax for a period of two months to raise awareness of the homeless in Marin County. The Town Council will discuss the “Art Houses of Marin” again at the Regular Council meeting on July 1, 2009 and consider approving a licensing agreement with Ritter House

2. Heard a presentation from Jason Dow, General Manager for the Central Marin Sanitary Service regarding a proposed Food to Energy project.

3. Adopted a resolution finding that a severe fiscal hardship will exist if additional property tax funds are seized and additional unfunded mandates are adopted by the State.

4. Held introduction and first reading of an ordinance to repeal and replace Town Code 8.36 regulating the removal of trees

5. Heard a presentation from Sergeant Stuart Baker regarding the placement of an emergency siren in the Cascades at the Marin Municipal Water District water tower off of Bolinas Road and then authorized the purchase and installation of the siren

6. Approved a contract for Engineering Consultant Services with Coastland Engineering for preliminary and construction engineering on Federal Aid projects

7. Renewed Agreement with the Town Attorney for contractual legal services with the Town.

There will be a Special Town Council Meeting on Saturday, June 20th from 9-12 NOON at the Women's Club to discuss the draft Town Budget for fiscal year 2009/10 and a discussion to consider ballot language to renew Measure F –a Special Municipal Services Tax which expires on June 30, 2010. There will be a detailed power point presentation on the history of Measure F including what the Town has accomplished since the passage of Measure F and what the Town has done to keep its promise to the community to control spending and seek new revenues.

Blog #19 Town Council Meeting June 3rd

There is a Regular Town Council Meeting on June 3, 2009. Some items for discussion include:

• Interview and appointment of candidate to serve as the Fairfax representative to the Marin Commission on Aging for a three-year term to June 30, 2012

• Presentation by Ritter Center regarding their “Art Houses of Marin” project

• A presentation by Jason Dow, General Manager of the Central Marin Sanitation District regarding a proposal to create a food waste to energy project at the Central Marin Sanitation facility in San Rafael. Commercial food waste would be delivered by garbage haulers to the site and converted into energy.

• A First Reading of an Ordinance to repeal and replace Town Code Chapter 8.36 regulating the removal of trees

• Discussion and consideration of approving the purchase and installation of a siren for the Cascade neighborhood. The siren will alert residents of a fire, flood or other emergency.

• Discussion and consideration of amendments to the Tobacco Ordinance

• Report of the status of the General Plan Update and Specific Plan process
  

• Discussion and consideration of adopting Mission, Vision, and Core Values for the Town
  

For a complete agenda of the June 3, 2009 Town Council Meeting please click: http://www.townoffairfax.org/TownCouncil/TownCouncilPacket/

Blog # 18 Fairfax Festival Parade Seeks Entries

The Fairfax Festival is seeking entries for its 32nd annual Fairfax Parade, scheduled for 10 a.m. June 13.

Neighborhoods, families, classes, schools and groups of friends are invited to participate.

Applications, accepted until June 5, are available at www.fairfax festival.com.