Monday November 11 is Veteran’s Day. As such, this Week’s “Review” is dedicated to all of those who have served this great nation. It is your service that gives us our Freedom --- and Freedom is what makes America special. Thank you!
Who bears the cost of a rainy day?
We’ve all seen the words on our event tickets: “Rain or Shine.” Why? Because the venue’s been rented and the promoters have to pay for it no matter what. Is that always the case? Should it always be the case? What about when the City is the landlord?
Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In many ways, the answer to this question was for me the very essence of Council’s decision last week on a very serious topic that’s been percolating for a year: the cost of renting one of our world class, best-in-Marin, City fields. Without going into a lot of amazing history, suffice it to say that for all the right reasons (and due to all the right people), we have been blessed for years with a Community Center that is the envy of every Marin City, and fields that are too. An element of this partnership between private “Friends of Fields,” the City, the Leagues, and neighbors has been the use of our fields by the Leagues at very favorable rates. Today, as private debt gets properly retired, and field use is in ever increasing demand, and maintenance and capital costs surge past $500,000 per year, what’s a Community to do?
Well in Mill Valley’s case it means doing what we always do: come together around a solution that keeps our eye on the ball (no pun intended) – our kids. And this is just what Council did. Rejecting any notion that our fields should be a break even proposition, and treating them like other basic services, we came up with a structured result that gives everyone skin in the game. We agreed to pay half the costs, and the leagues and commercial users, through some creative rate structures (more than I care to go into here), pay their fair share.
Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But what if it rains? Fair question by the Leagues. Who bears that cost (us or YOU – because we know that fee is passed on). Well I think we did the right thing here too: we said “the City” does. After all, isn’t that the cost of being in the business of providing services?
What else?
· Tennessee Valley Intersection: We have received many reports that the new signal at the Tennessee Valley intersection is causing considerable back-ups and delays for motorists. Actually, let’s really say what’s going on: it’s a mess! What’s even more frustrating is that the signal is outside our City's limits, so City staff has to deal with the County of Marin and Caltrans to try an ameliorate the situation. We’re told both agencies are working on synchronizing the light timing with the traffic demands. Are you impacted? If so, it always helps to contact County of Marin Supervisor Kate Sears to share your comments: Kate's Contact Info.
· New Construction Management Requirements: I’m well aware that our local topography, limited access and parking, narrow streets, historic development patterns, and on-going new home and remodeling projects make construction a challenge in Mill Valley. This is why the City requires major construction projects to submit a Construction Management Plan (CMP) prior to beginning work to help lessen the impacts of construction activities on the surrounding neighborhood, while allowing the project to proceed in a timely and efficient manner. We’ve recently updated and expanded the scope of and requirements for CMPs to address many of YOUR concerns about construction-related impacts. Click here for more info: New Construction Rules.
· Dealing with the grit – downtown sidewalk cleaning: We’re finally doing something about the grittiness downtown through the implementation of a pilot project to provide professional steam cleaning services to downtown sidewalks. Please understand that this work involves machinery, very hot water, and lots of hose line. Cleanings will take place during the next three Sundays from 6 am to noon. We’ll attempt to incorporate other sites in the next round of cleaning, depending on the success of this pilot. Questions or comments may be directed to: Denise Andrews, Operations Superintendent at (415) 388-4033 or by email at dandrews@cityofmillvalley.org.
· The Winter 2013/2014 Activity Guide: In our citywide effort to "Go Green" the Activity Guide will be available online or in recycled paper hard copy at the Mill Valley Community Center, City Hall, Library and the Chamber of Commerce. The guides will no longer be automatically mailed to all 94941 residents, but if you are unable to access the guide via online or pick one up we will be happy to mail you one. Please contact the City at 415-383-1370 or send us an email recreate@cityofmillvalley.org.
· International Fraud Awareness Week: International Fraud Awareness Week runs from November 11-17, 2013 and remotes anti-fraud awareness and education. Chief Bernal tells me businesses and government agencies lose about 5% of their annual revenues to fraud. The Chief shared this “Fraud Awareness Checklist” to help us spot scams on the front end: Spot Fraud.
About town:
Monday: Veteran's Day – City services are closed out of respect to those who served.
Tuesday:
· Live Storytelling Workshops (6 pm at the Library): Are you one of those people who can tell a riveting story and keep listeners hanging on every word? If so, here is your chance to share that gift. Register here: Live Story Telling
· Art Commission Meeting (7 pm at City Hall).
Wednesday:
· GET READY Class (1030 am): GET READY is a free 1 1/2 hour class sponsored by the Mill Valley and Southern Marin Fire Departments that teaches you how to prepare your home and family for all types of emergencies. Sign up: Get Ready!
· Digital Drop-in (noon at the Library): Learn how to download/stream free content (eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, films, databases) from the Library's website.
· The Marin IJ and the Future of Community News (7 pm at the Library): IJ Editor Robert Sterling will discuss some of the changes affecting the newspaper industry and highlight the ways in which the IJ is working to adapt to new ways in which readers are getting their news. IJ editors and reporters will be on hand to meet informally with community members, discuss ways in which their jobs are changing, and hear suggestions for ways they can better cover community news.
Thursday:
· Library Board of Trustees Meeting (7 pm at the Library)
· Emergency Preparedness Commission Meeting (7 pm at City Hall)
· Reading Between the Lines – 10 Minute Play Festival (7 pm at the Library): The Playwrights' Lab and the Mill Valley Library present an evening of ten-minute comedies and dramas, all turning on the idea of “Reading Between the Lines.”
Saturday: Councilmember on the Plaza – come on down and talk to my colleague!
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Thanks, as always, for reading.
Andy
