Blog #23 Town Council Items for September 3rd Meeting

The Town Council Meeting for September 3rd features Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget and the following other items of interest:

• Proclaiming the month of September 2008 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the Town of Fairfax
• Adopting a Resolution in support of State Proposition 2, the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act
• Award of a construction bid for the Fairfax Creek Channel Reconstruction Project (300 Olema)
• Award of construction bid for Measure K Phase II and Proposition 1B Street Resurfacing Projects (including Upper Scenic)
• Authorizing a temporary street closure on Glenn Drive on September 27, 2008 for a Bike Race Fund Raiser

There will be a Special Town Council Meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 9 AM in the Women's Club to discuss and consider the Mixed Use Overlay. The Town Council is interested in your thoughts on the Mixed Use Overlay so please attend on September 27th.

Blog #22 Draft Town Budget

The Draft Town Budget for Fiscal Year 2008/09 was reviewed by the Town Council on August 20, 2008 and public comment was received. The Town Council will consider adopting the FY 2008/09 on September 3, 2008 and will take more public input at that time. The highlights of the draft budget are:

1. It is balanced and maintains current staffing levels for all current services;


2. Requests a 2-year limited term management analyst position for the purpose of working 75% of the time on finance and budget matters and 25% of the time on continuing to acquire the FEMA monies needed to complete 5 outstanding projects related to the December 31, 2005 floods. The position also will work on grant writing and implementation. Any grants received will be used to offset the general fund cost of this position. Total salary and benefits is $110,000 per year;


3. Adds the Town Treasurer Fund to compensate our Town Treasurer at $5,135 per year. Prior Town Treasurers worked for no pay and had no defined responsibilities in the Town Code. On August 6, 2008, the Town Council adopted a resolution detailing specific duties and setting compensation for the Town Treasurer;

4. Requests $5,000 for a one time stipend for a student intern to work on the economic sustainability plan;


5. Requests $5,000 per year for a minutes clerk for the Town Council meetings;


6. Continues to move forward with Capital Projects that were deferred last year;


7. Funds the Energy Efficiency Project for retrofitting town facilities;


8. Proposed Total General Fund expenditures for FY 08/09 are $6,890,936 with estimated revenues of $6,895,484. In contrast the adopted FY 07/08 total general fund operating expenditures were $6,908,989 or about the same expenditure level as requested for FY 2008/09


9. Eliminates need for borrowing monies from outside sources for cash flow purposes (saves Town $43,000 per year) due to adequate Dry Period Fund.

10. Eliminates the need for the use of general fund money for flood related projects from the December 31, 2005 floods. The Town staff (management analyst) recovered $202,000 in FY 2007/08 from FEMA and continues to work hard to recover the remaining funds needed to finish the five FEMA projects.


The next Town Council Meeting will be September 3, 2008 at 7:30 PM in the Women's Club. The Council will consider adopting the Town FY 2008/09 Budget at this meeting.

Blog #21 Town Budget Hearing Set for August 20th

The Town's Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget Hearing will be on August 20th at 7:30 PM in the Women's Club. The Town Council will hear presentations from each of the Town's Departments (Finance, Town Manager, Town Clerk, Planing and Building, Police and Public Works) and an overall summary from the Town Manager. The public is invited to comment as well. A draft Town Budget will be available at Town Hall or on-line no later than August 15th.

The Town Council will hear a second reading and have a chance to adopt the Marin Clean Energy Ordinance on August 20th as well. The first reading of the ordinance will be read at the August 6th Town Council Meeting. Other items for the August 6th meeting include:

• Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax commending Kay Ryan on her appointment as Poet Laureate of the United States
• Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax Calling for an Election and Ordering the Submission of an Initiative Petition to Ban Plastic Bags In Fairfax and a Question Regarding Whether or Not the Town Clerk Should be an Appointed Position to the Qualified Voters of the Town at an Election to Be Held on November 4, 2008, Requesting Election Services of the County Clerk, and Setting the Ballot Language for Both Issues
• Discussion and acceptance of the Economic Sustainability Plan