Paul Helliker made a presentation at the November FSRN meeting: Balancing Water Supply & Demand. He highlighted the challenges MMWD and their customers will have if faced with another drought similar to the one experienced in the late 70’s. Power Point slides of his presentation will be available soon on the MMWD website.
http://www.marinwater.org/
~Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods~
Wed November 19th, 2008
@ 6:30 pm—SHARP!!
-----------> SAN Rafael CORPORATE Center <------------
~750 Lindaro St—Boyd Rm
Agenda
· Chair Welcome & Updates
· Steering committee member’s Updates/Information
· Treasurer’s Report
· Minutes
· Agenda Review
· Discussion Items—
· MMWD—General Manager, PAUL HELLIKER
~Water conservation
~Single Family owners, Renters, Business Users— plans/programs
~New Sources of water—DeSal?/Pipeline?/New Reservoirs?
~New Development—Water Neutral / Minimize the WATER impact?
· UPDATES—Cemetery—Open Space Update—Dec CC meeting / January meeting on San Rafael’s Critical Facilities / December Holiday Party
· NEW steering committee members for 2009—ideas, neighborhoods, people…?
· Other neighborhood issues and updates by steering committee members and other members of the public-----30 minutes
New Business:
1. Discussion of possible future “Guest Speakers” or ISSUES to address
· Neighborhood Updates · “Open mic”
Tell us what is happening in your neighborhood, your neighborhood group, announcements, raise issues of concern, share and hear from others
Everyone….10 min
· Thursday update—Coalition/Federation/Ken Nordhoff ·
Suggestions for December meeting topics ..10 min Action Items:
Next monthly meeting—DEC 18th HOLIDAY PARTY—details to follow
“New” Steering Committee members—Interested? Contact us!!
· ~Make a difference in your neighborhood, your city, your life!
Do YOU wish to receive regular e-mail updates? Receive agenda electronically?
~be linked in with a growing list of neighborhood people~
Please call Steve Patterson—453-6541 or stephenpatterson.1@comcast.net
Previous Minutes:
STEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Wednesday, August 20,2008 The meeting was called to order by Steve Patterson , Chair, at 6:30 pm at the San Rafael Corporate Center. The first item on the agenda was the Colonial Motel development on Lincoln Avenue. It was agreed that this development would set the tone for future construction The Salute property on 3rd & Tamalpias Avenue (Salute restaurant burned down six years ago) is being planned for a mixed use development. Thirty condominiums with ground floor retail stores and a mechanical parking system.
Elk Club Property. The construction of fifty-two units near the historical landmarks
Falkirk & Boyd. Plans presented are out of character with the surrounding area. In the General plan all new development must fit into the architectural surroundings. If a project is cleared by the Planning Department it does not have to go to the City Council. If a project is appealed it will be brought before the City Council .
Mount Tamalpias Cemetery is in the County of Marin. The City of San Rafael is planning to annex the property. There was access to open space thru the cemetery all the way to
the ocean, for hikers and bikers. Two years ago the owners of the cemetery closed the access. There was discussion on ways to allow access to the open space.
Meter maids on Lincoln Ave. have been selective in ticketing trucks that block the view of traffic at intersections at Lincoln Ave. The police are not doing their job. Fire trucks have difficulty in traversing the side streets in the Lincoln/ San Rafael Hill area.
Sound barrier walls eight inches thick , with special sound proofing material is being
constructed from the Puerto Suello Hill to Mission Ave. This project and the Highway project is expected to be completed by January 2009.
The Green Ribbon Committee was involved in the planning of landscaping the Meridian on Point San Pedro Road. Newly planted trees did not survive because of excessive watering. The committee is encouraging home owners to plant gardens to have there own fruits & vegetables.
The Cities Tree Advisory Committee has three new members from the Federation, Sandra Sellinger, Nadzne Watts & Steve Patterson.
City Manager's Meeting Report. with Ken Nordoff first Thursday at 10:00 am each month. The San Rafael Corporate Center is a very contaminated area and a discussion was held on what can be done to protect the workers and the public. Trees are being damaged and destroyed by cars that jump the curb on Point San Pedro Road. The entrance and exits to San Rafael will be landscaped by Cal Trans. AT&T has installed big boxes on private property and has been a magnet for graffiti The City has employed a full time person to paint out the graffiti.
There is nothng in the city's Web Site about the Neighborhoods. Steve Patterson suggested installing a section on the Neighborhoods that would include a paragraph and photo of each neighborhood. Jim Draper is the Web Master for the Federation. Jim will need a photo and a paragraph from each Neighborhood Association.
There will be a debate on the "SMART TRAIN ' September 23,2008 at 7:OOpm held at the Lincoln Hill Community Church on Prospect Drive. Meeting ended at 8: 15 pm
Recording Secretary
Minutes of June 18, 2008
The meeting came to order at 6:30 pm at San Rafael Corporate Center.
A presentation was given with a slide show by Moira Brennan and Jonathan Frieman on publicly financed campaigns at the local level. The website is www.MarinCleanElections.org.
New people with good ideas are shut out of our democracy because they cannot afford to run for office. In California, the candidate spending the most money wins 95% of the time.
Public funding is a voluntary system in which candidates agree to place limits on spending and take no private contributions.
The candidates qualify for a set amount from public funds and each candidate would receive the same amount. It encourages minorities and women to run for office resulting in more diversity. It would also encourage truly competitive campaigns, more voter involvement and strict accountability.
The criticism of this system is:
1. It’s easy to get public money for fringe candidates;
2. Why should the public support candidates they don’t believe in;
3. Can clean elections stop flood of independent expenditures;
4. What do candidates have to say;
5. What does the public have to say.
The population of San Rafael is 57,349 of which 26,634 are registered voters and voter turnout in November 2007 was 41%.
In the existing local campaign reforms, there are no filing fees for measures or initiatives and San Rafael pays $2-2.50 per registered voter to the county each election to cover election costs when the city has an initiative or candidate on the ballot.
For the candidates running for office in San Rafael, there are no contribution limits and the candidate ballot statement qualification fee is $696, $348 for English and $348 for Spanish. The fees are set by the county and are subject to change.
There will be a Marin Clean Elections Speakers’ Training on June 23 from 7-9 pm at Villa Restaurant at 1700 Lincoln. A Marin Clean Elections Townhall and launch party will take place at City Hall on June 30 from 7-9 pm.
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The second speaker was PG&E and Craig Communication Representatives to discuss a planned two year toxic cleanup of the PG&E former manufactured gas plant site on the parcel between Second and Third Streets on Lindaro.
This site operated from about 1880 to 1930 and was used to provide gas to local homes and businesses for lighting and heating. The process generated byproducts such as tars and oils that contain harmful chemicals that contaminate the soil.
In July and August they will sample the soil and test the ground water.
The cleanup will depend on the depth of waste products in the soil. The investigation will be completed next year, remedy selection and design by 2010 and cleanup work will start in 2011. PG&E has no plans to redevelop the site. Once the investigation is complete, and the contamination has been identified and how it can be cleaned up, PG&E will work with the City to identify development.
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A letter was circulated from the Federation to The SF Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) regarding the lack of proper signs for the public to be aware of the access to the Bay at San Pedro Cove neighborhood.
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It was also open for a brief discussion that Davidson Middle School is now also the site of a new location for a separate school for troubled students who were expelled from other schools for unacceptable behavior.
Minutes from May 21st meeting:
FEDERATION OF SAN RAFAEL NEIGHBORHOODS
STEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The meeting was called to order by Steve Patterson, Chair, at 6:35 pm at the San Rafael Corporate Center.
The first item on the agenda : Update of the Tree Advisory Committee at the City Council meeting on May 19th. The Council passed the Tree advisory. The Department of Park & Recreation will select three members from organized business/Park Rec/DRB and four members at large to be on the committee. Thanks to Federation members & guests that attended the Tree Advisory Council meeting. FSRN & Marin ReLeaf each gave a $1500 check towards trees.
Roger Robert gave an overview on bills Number--NO 98 & YES 99 on the June ballot. Bill 99 was put on the ballot by those who were against 98. Ed Vorous gave an overview of the education campaign for “California Clean money” Their group will give a presentation to the City Council on May 26th . Non-Partisan, the purpose is to publicly finance candidates with equal funding. The program is being modeled after the Arizona & Portland, Oregon’s program. PG&E is cleaning up their property at 2nd/3rd & Lindaro Sts. A two year project. A consultant will outreach the FSRN at a future meeting. City Manager’s Meeting report, first Thursday at 10:00am each month.
Elks Club condominium project proposal.
Salute’ property at 3rd & Tamalpais: Planning 32-33 condominium units, five story high, the ground floor, street level for Merchants. The City views this as a Gateway Sight for future development.
Farmer’s market: Some merchants not happy.
Point San Pedro road flooding: By pass roads thru the hill were pointed out.
Woodland Ave. near Davidson being trashed, old cars & trucks. Needs to be policed.
Guest speaker, Councilman Greg Brockbank Greg has 18 years of elective experience. Three important things for him are, One: “Marin Clean Energy” the Greening of San Rafael . Two: Traffic, Three: Empowering of the Neighborhoods. Beautify the neighborhoods with plants & parks. Have safe streets & environment. City traffic\c concerns: Install cameras at intersections to record violators. Fines to pay for cameras & equipment.
Q & A… Long range plans are needed for neighborhoods..
Neighborhoods care about good design.
Meeting ended at 8:35 pm
Recording Secretary, Jon Wells
MAY 17: Bees, Butterflies and Blooms Converge at Eco-Friendly Garden Tour!
Colorful blooms – and even bee hives - will be part of Marin’s Eco-Friendly Garden Tour on Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to colorful foliage, this self-guided Tour emphasizes eco-friendly features such as the use of native plants, pesticide-free gardens, mulching, methods of addressing hillside erosion, creek-friendly bank stabilization methods, water-wise plants, fire-resistant plants and use of rain chains - a more artistic alternative to down spouts.
Ten Marin homes with eco-friendly features will be on display and each home’s landscaper/designer will be available to respond to questions from the public. Other experts will be available to answer questions about native plants, erosion control, drainage, healthy creeks and more. Garden locations will be made available through a Tour Guide Booklet mailed to each participant following registration.
Participants will have a chance to expand their knowledge on various issues by collecting free materials, available at each garden, for future reference. Materials range from bird guides and plant lists that attract butterflies and other beneficial insects to creek care guides and simple erosion control manuals.
In addition to the Saturday self-guided Tour, the Marin Art and Garden Center will hold an exclusive plant sale on Sunday, in the Butterfly Garden, for all Eco-Friendly Tour participants. An array of California natives and drought tolerant plants and shrubs will be available. Many of the plants being sold are grown on site at the MAGC Nursery. Experts, including Nancy Bauer, author of The Habitat Garden Book, will be on hand to help with your selections.
Registration can be made online through the College of Marin at www.marincommunityed.org (course #8224) or by calling Gina Purin of MCSTOPPP at 499-3202. Price is $15 per adult.
If you have any questions or would like to request an agenda, please email Steve Patterson