Town Council action from July 11th

Town Council Action from July 11^th Council Meeting:

• Council reviewed and approved the traffic study methodology as proposed for a new development in the DeLano’s IGA Market parking lot. The project is for a mixed use development of apartments and retail spaces. The actual project will be coming before the Planning Commission and Council for further input; the traffic study is the first step in the approval process.
• Council adopted the Second Dwelling Unit Amnesty Ordinance, which provides incentives for property owners to legalize second units. The intent of the legislation is to get illegal units on the books, and eliminate health, fire, and safety code violations, to make progress in upgrading our housing stock and increase affordable housing units.
• Council held a revised first reading of the Plastic Bag Ordinance. The ordinance was amended to provide for an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The ordinance would take effect in March 2008 and would require all retail and food establishments in Town to discontinue the use of non-recyclable plastic bags, and provide recycled paper bags instead. Ideally, shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags in order to save our precious natural resources and eliminate one more source of toxic plastic from contaminating our environment.
• Bids for Measure K street overlay projects were awarded to repair the following streets: Tamalpais to Scenic; Azalea, Broadway to Merwin; and Broadway, Bank to Claus.
• Received a storm damage recovery update showing that our disaster fund is currently in the black thanks to recent FEMA reimbursements.
• Authorized the annual charity fundraising Car Show to take place on September 9^th. The show organizers are taking steps to prevent parking encroachment in local merchants’ lots.
• Received a report on the idea of using a portion of Mono Avenue from Bolinas to Bank for a public use seating area. Council decided to further consider the issue of creating public open community gathering space in the downtown, and take no action to implement a specific proposal at this time.
• Received a report from Council Member Brandborg on the Fairfax Shared Services Subcommittee, and appointed an alternate to the committee, Mayor Bragman. The next meeting of the Subcommittee is on Thursday, July 19^th at 6 p.m. in the San Anselmo Town Hall Conference Room. The Subcommittee will hear from the Police Chiefs on cost savings ideas and from the Town Managers on potential financial consultants.
• Received a report from Mayor Bragman and Council Member Weinsoff on the very positive outcome of their facilitation of the Canyon Road Sewer District problems. The District has agreed to refund a $500 fee that had been inconsistently charged to the residents in the District. Further, the Ross Valley Sanitary Board agreed that it would pay the cost of reasonable repair to the properties that did not end up with a gravity flow sewer system as a result of the problems with the new sewer installation. This was a win-win outcome for both the residents and the District, as each were spared costly litigation and delay.
• Adopted a resolution expressing opposition to the use of depleted uranium weaponry and expressing support for medical treatment and monitoring of veterans affected by this toxin.