Column preview

Here is the column I've submitted for next week's Ross Valley Reporter.

October 4^th Council Meeting: As I write this, we are preparing the next Council agenda for the regular Town Council meeting of October 4^th at 7:30 p.m. in the Women’s Club. Among the agenda items are the following:

• Presentation by the County Engineer and the consultant MIG on the Ross Valley Flood Protection and Watershed Program’s progress to date and the need for Fairfax to join Flood Zone 9
• Request for authorization to hire a contractor to install a three siren emergency warning system in town
• The formation of a Town Economic Development Committee, a recommendation from the Town Council’s last Strategic Planning session
• The formation of a Town Youth Commission, as recommended by the Fairfax Youth and Alcohol Task Force, headed by Council Members Mary Ann Maggiore and Lew Tremaine
• An update on the police consolidation study with the Town of San Anselmo, being conducted by the Peace Officer Standards and Training organization
• Presentation by Marin Mediation Services on mediation services available to community members, at the request of Council Member Weinsoff who is bringing forth a resolution to encourage the use of mediation in neighbor-to-neighbor disputes

Strategic Planning Sessions: The Town Council has calendared its Strategic Planning Meetings for the remainder of the year on the following Saturdays in the Fairfax Women’s Club as follows:

• October 21^st – 2-5 p.m.
• November 18^th – 9-Noon
• December 9^th – 9-Noon

At these meetings, the Council will be delving more deeply into prioritization of goals and objectives and formulating different facets of a strategic financial plan.

Pandemic Flu Threat Community Meeting: The Fairfax Citizens’ Disaster Council is sponsoring a presentation by County Public Health Officer, Dr. Fred Schwartz, who will explain the pandemic influenza threat, the risks, and how you and your family can best prepare and respond to this potential disaster. The presentation will be held on Monday, October 16^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fairfax Women’s Club and is open to everyone.

Be Prepared in 2007 Calendar Project: A recent Civil Grand Jury report found that the single most significant barrier to residents becoming more prepared for disasters is the lack of awareness and consequently the need for constant reminders about the importance of being prepared. As a means to raise awareness, the Fairfax Citizens’ Disaster Council is working to prepare a 2007 wall calendar with a disaster preparedness message for each month, specifically geared to Fairfax residents and businesses. Ideally, if we can raise enough money, we would like to mail a calendar to each household and business in Fairfax later this year. If you or your business would like to contribute to the printing and mailing of the calendar, please contact me. We are trying to accomplish this project solely through donations.

Ross Valley Flood Protection and Watershed Program Community Meeting: The next public community meeting which will provide an update on the Ross Valley Watershed program’s efforts is scheduled for Saturday, October 21^st9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Drake High gymnasium. from Attend to find out about the creek walks and clean up in preparation for this winter, the latest on the hydrolic modeling and creek studies, and the proposed funding mechanisms to finance the many changes needed in the Ross Valley to reduce the flooding risk as well as enhance and restore our natural watershed environment.