Fairfax Town Council Adopts Building and Fire Code Changes
The Town Council at its regular meeting on January 12, 2011 adopted the 2010 Building and Fire Codes. The changes from previous codes have to do with exception to sprinkler requirements on some second units. The Town was required to adopt its own building and fire codes by January 2011 or else the state codes would take full force and effect.
Other actions taken at the Regular Meeting on January 12, 2011:
• Heard a presentation from Polla Pratt and David Bernard regarding FairBuck - a local currency project being sponsored by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Fairfax and the Town of Fairfax. The basic idea is that special coins are minted for use only in a specified area (such as businesses in Fairfax). The coins have a face value of three dollars, and can be used at all participating businesses. Coins kept as souvenirs and not recirculated net slightly less than two dollars in profit which can be used by the sponsors for the local benefit. It is legal and can be a source of much needed funds for the Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Fairfax and the Town.
• Heard a presentation from Patty Garbarino of Marin Sanitary Service regarding the pilot food waste composting program in Fairfax. Patty also reviewed other programs and the amount of waste generated over the last few years which has dropped due to the slow economy.
• The Town Council re-appointed Brannon Ketcham, Shelley Hamilton, Shelby LaMotte and Morgan Hall to the Planning Commission. There is one vacant position on the Planning Commission due to the resignation of long time Commissioner Pam Meigs who is now serving on the Ross Valley Sanitary Board.
• Authorized Mayor Bragman to send a letter to the Department of Justice commenting on the need to strengthen ADA protections for electromagnetically sensitive individuals.
• Authorized the Town Manager to sign an updated agreement with the American Red Cross for use of the Pavilion as an emergency shelter.
• Discussed possible guidelines for medical marijuana dispensaries and asked staff to return to the Council with possible areas of Town that meet the requirements of AB 2650 and are in the appropriate zone for such use.
• Short Term Staff Reorganization: The Town Council directed the Town Manager to return on February 2, 2011 with a job specification and salary schedule for a newly created position of Chief Building Inspector/Public Works Manager and a newly created position of Building Inspector/Senior Maintenance Worker. These newly created positions will be filled by existing staff persons to balance the budget. The position of Public Works Director will not be filled. The Town Manager will act as the Public Works Director. The Council also authorized the Town Manager to sign a consultant services agreement with Wayne Bush for a not to exceed amount of $20,000 to assist the Town with capital projects and grants that have hard deadlines in the coming months. A Fiscal Sustainability Workshop is scheduled for February 16, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Women’s Club to discuss the mid-year budget and longer term reorganization of staff to balance the deficit.
Other notes and announcements:
• Regular meetings of the Town Council now begin at 7:00 p.m. and started January 12, 2011
• One vacancy on the Planning Commission
• Fairfax Library will be closed February 7-21 for the installation of new carpeting
• The next Town Council meeting will be February 2, 2011 at 7:00 PM
