New Town Manager's First Blog - STORMY!!

Hello from Town Hall:

As I sit here writing my first blog I am grateful we survived last night without significant flooding. The Fairfax Creek level under Town Hall crested at about 7.9 feet just mere inches from flooding over the top. We are expecting more rain today but the creek level is 2.2 feet right now (NOON) so we should be OK for now. Thanks to the Town Council and Town staff and residents and businesses who helped get us through last night.

I apologize this first blog is coming more than two weeks after I started as Town Manager but I am also the Public Works Director until we can hire a new one. So please bear with me as I try to update this blog as often as I can get to it. We hope to have the position of Public Works Director filled by April.

Residents and businesses are reminded to have on hand battery operated radios, flashlights and candles at all times.

I will be setting up office hours in the upcoming couple of weeks so residents can drop in and talk about anything they would like. These office hours will take place at various businesses throughout the Town. Stay tuned.

Michael Rock
Town Manager

Final Blog post from Linda

This will be my final post as Fairfax Town Manager. Our new Town Manager Michael Rock will continue the blog.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the blog readers out there. This has been a lot of fun for me and I have appreciated everyone's feedback on this blog.

I know the Town will enjoy the leadership and guidance of an excellent new manager and I wish everyone a great 2008!

Linda

Strategic Financial Plan approved by Council Dec. 5th 2007

The Strategic Financial Plan has now been posted on the Town's website at
http://www.town-of-fairfax.org/TownCouncil/Strategic_Plan_web.pdf

Town Council adopts Goals and Strategies

The Town Council's Goals and Strategies document is now posted on the Town's website here
http://www.town-of-fairfax.org/TownCouncil/Goals_Strategies_2007_Adopted.pdf

This was accepted by the Council at its meeting of December 5, 2007.

Appointment of new Management Analyst

Please click to read the press release regarding the appointment of Yvonne Roberts as Management Analyst.

Town Treasurer Appointment

Please click to read the press release regarding new Town Treasurer Barbara Petty.

Strategic Planning Workshop - Sat., Jan. 12th

The Council will hold a workshop this Saturday, Jan. 12th from 9 a.m. - Noon at the Women's Club with the following agenda:

9 – 10:45 a.m. - Discussion with Catlin Properties regarding ideas for former Albertson’s site and Fair-Anselm property

10:45 – 11 Break

11 – Noon – Future Planning: Non-motorized transit / green issues – How to accomplish goals

The meeting is open to the public.

Ice Skating a big hit!

All told, we accommodated about 800 ice skaters over our two day "ice skating" event at the Pavilion this past weekend. Click to watch a brief video. Thank you to Fairfax Parks and Recreation Commission for coordinating and staffing this fun event!

Agenda for Jan. 9th meeting

The agenda for the next Council meeting on Jan. 9th is posted here:
http://www.townoffairfax.org/TownCouncil/TownCouncilPacket/

Storm Update - Fri. at 4:30 p.m.

The Fairfax Creek peaked at 9:45 a.m. this morning at six feet and subsequently subsided thereafter over a period of four to five hours. No major flooding was reported. Wind and downed trees caused most of the damage, with an awning detaching from a downtown business, and trees falling on homes, on vehicles and in several roadways. Several downed power lines were reported to PG&E. Fairfax Public Works cleared a large debris jam in Fairfax Creek at Town Hall and worked all day removing trees from roadways and clearing storm drains. Here is a photo of Public Works employee Tom Bruce using a chainsaw on the debris jam.

At this time, we have no closed roads in Fairfax and no reported flooding threatening private or public property.

The flood advisory expires at 5 p.m. today and the wind advisory expired at 4 p.m. The next storm is expected tomorrow (Saturday) in the late morning, with not as much force and predicted under two inches of rain.

The National Weather Service Forecast Discussion is located here http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=mtr&sid=mtr&pil=afd

The Fairfax Creek Gauge is located here (the gauge was inoperable for two hours today and is now back working)
http://www.rossvalleyfire.org/ffx_creek.html

American Red Cross Emergency Services can be reached at (866) 272-2237 and can provide assistance if anyone is unable to stay in their home due to the storm conditions.

Call 911 in the event of a life-threatening emergency

Fairfax Police Department 453-5330

Ross Valley Fire Department 258-4686

Fairfax Town Hall 453-1584 (Mon-Fri)

Fairfax Public Works 453-0291 (Mon-Fri)

Council Announces selection of new Town Manager

Amidst the stormy day, the Town of Fairfax has a positive announcement! Please click to read the 2-page press release.

Storm Update

Power outages are ensuing due to high winds. Keep flashlights at the ready.

From the National Weather Service: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=mtr&sid=mtr&pil=afd
AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SONOMA...MARIN...AND NAPA
COUNTIES BEGINNING AT 4 AM PST FRIDAY MORNING UNTIL 4 PM PST FRIDAY
AFTERNOON. A SECOND URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY WAS
ISSUED FOR THE REMAINING COUNTIES IN OUR CWA FROM SAN FRANCISCO SOUTH
BEGINNING AT 4 AM PST FRIDAY MORNING UNTIL 10 PM FRIDAY EVENING.
RAINFALL TOTALS WILL EASILY REACH 2 TO 6 INCHES BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON
AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. HIGHER ELEVATIONS HAVE THE
POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER RAINFALL TOTALS. BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR
HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THIS SYSTEM WE HAVE ALSO ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH FOR THE NORTH BAY COUNTIES OF SONOMA...MARIN AND NAPA FROM 4 AM
FRIDAY MORNING TO 1 PM FRIDAY AFTERNOON.


Fairfax creek level gauge:
http://www.rossvalleyfire.org/ffx_creek.html

Storm Watch

Happy New Year...and we are now facing a heavy storm. The latest weather forecast is that we are due for three storms within the next five days. County Office of Emergency Services informed us of these storms on a conference call today – here is what is expected, given the latest information:

- First storm - Thursday night – high wind watch to 45 mph, 1 inch of rain

- Second storm – Friday Noon – up to 65 mph winds, 3 inches of rain, flash flood and small stream advisory. Tides could rise on Friday. The County OES may put out a telephone automated notification in the Ross Valley on Friday if there is a flood watch.

- Third storm – Sunday night – 1 inch of rain

Total possible 4-6 inches of rain, with 8-10 inches possible in high threat areas.

As far as what we are doing at the Town,

- We have sand and sandbags at the parking lot below the Pavilion, free for anyone who needs them.

- We will have temporary flood gates ready for installation at Town Hall tomorrow (the permanent ones have been custom ordered and they are not here yet). We can put up the flood gates Friday at the end of the day if needed.

- Staff will be on call at night and through the weekend. Public Works staff has been keeping the storm drains clear.

Good news - our new creek level warning gauge is active and live! The link for Fairfax is: http://www.rossvalleyfire.org/ffx_creek.html and the link for San Anselmo is: http://www.rossvalleyfire.org/sa_creek.html . The gauge will send out an automatic notice to Ross Valley Fire and designated Town staff if the creek rises to threatening levels.

We can also activate our downtown warning siren if flooding is imminent.

I am also making contact with our volunteers to enlist their assistance if needed.