Belvedere City Manager's Blog

Budget.

grodericks — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:24:56 +0000

“Budget. For most of us, that single word can strike fear into our hearts – especially when it’s paired with the word ‘government.’”

We in California think we are alone with a State in budget crisis and local governments on the brink of that very crisis, but we’re not. The preceding quote came from a blog of a Mayor in the midwest.

Whether you are working on your household budget, the budget for a small or large business, or the budget for a governmental entity, the process is likely complicated, challenging, and full of decision-making priorities. Priorities mean that some things get funded and others, do not. Worse, at the end of the day, some budgets are well-funded and others face a deficit.

But no panicking here, the City of Belvedere is not facing a deficit. In fact, we can’t. The City is not legally permitted to run on a deficit – unlike the State. The State Constitution prohibits local governments from operating in terms of operational deficit financing. We can issue bonds for large capital projects, but we cannot operate in debt for general operating expenses. We can maintain a reserve. In an agency that is primarily dependent on local revenue sources, a reserve is extremely important.

Each year, the City collects funds through various mechanisms to cover operational expenses as well as capital expenses. Typically, our total revenue amounts to approximately $5.0 to $6.0 million, depending on specific grants or special revenues. Our local revenue sources include:

Property Taxes
Sales Taxes
Franchise Fees (PG&E, Comcast, Mill Valley Refuse)
Business Licenses
Permit Fees (Planning, Building, Public Works)
Fines (Vehicle, Planning/Building Penalties)
Service Charges
Fire Tax
Rental Income
Project Grants

The City tries not to be dependent upon any outside agency (i.e. State or Federal) as a regular funding source. But we do have a few:

Supplemental Law Enforcement Fund ($100,000 per year)
Gas Tax Fund ($45,000-$50,000 per year)
Marin County Transportation Sales Tax ($26,000 per year)

The only debt the City holds is for a brief period of time as Underground Utility Districts are formed and operated. Once established, bonds are sold and that debt is transferred to the Assessment District and the member property owners. We have a balanced budget that is adopted every year – with little fanfare. That budget covers the City’s operational expenses and capital expenses. It’s not a complicated document and not that long – in fact, it’s available for download on the City website. Check it out – it includes a Budget Guidelines section discussing the City’s various funds and fund types.

On Monday, March 8 at 6 pm staff will present the Council with a mid-year budget presentation. That’s sort of a “what’s over and what’s under” presentation as well as a “what did we do” slide show. Once complete, the City’s 2010/2011 Budget Cycle begins.

The City operates a pretty bare-boned operation. We have a base team of expertise that know the details and run the different departmental areas, but we tend to use a lot of consultants that bring further expertise and result in a more scaleable operational structure. A small agency, such as Belvedere, cannot afford to hire permanent extra staff – particularly when operational demands go up and down each year. We do more with less on a regular basis. Staff wear many hats both in and outside of their primary areas of responsibility. The ability to multi-task, prioritize, facilitate, and educate while still meeting jurisdictional, legal, and governmental timelines across a plethora of projects is a must.

From a future budget perspective, the expectation is that property taxes will decline slightly over the next couple of years and then level off. That’s the City’s primary revenue source. When such a significant and primary revenue source declines, even slightly, the City faces tougher choices when programming out maintenance and capital projects in order to maintain a healthy reserve.

Through the budget process, we assess needs and set priorities. You have opportunities to give input as the adoption of the budget is a public process for the City Council. As you look at the budget, note that projected out over the next 5-7 years, the balance of the general fund at year-end (i.e. the amount in reserve) declines and other funds, such as the Capital Improvement Fund, increase. This is due to the slow, but steady increase in general operating expenses, scheduled capital project priorities, single-year special project expenditures, and the addition of major unanticipated capital projects without alternative funding sources. To meet future needs, funds are transferred from the general fund to these special purpose funds. As budget years come into focus, projects without funding sources are either eliminated or funds are allocated from particular sources (General Fund, Grants, etc.).

The good news is that basic revenues generally outpace budget projections at year-end. From current year to current year, the amount in the general fund at the end of the year is typically higher than projected. This is due to the City’s conservative budget process. For expenses, we nail down costs as concrete as possible for the budget. For revenues, we nail down those as well, but project them conservatively.

The City Council reviews and prioritizes the City’s Annual Operating Budget. Like a household budget, the City budget is always tight. Our goal is to spend money wisely to meet the needs of the community, whether those needs are roads, sidewalks, tree trimming, public education and information, safety inspections, design review, long-term planning, park maintenance, pathway improvement, code enforcement, engineering, land-use, infrastructure projects, building permits, building inspection, public safety, deer, flood zones, noise, street sweeping, traffic, storm preparation, committee support, or more.

Challenging choices with challenging priorities in a changing environment. But in Belvedere, we know we can make things happen to meet the needs of this community – it’s all a matter of finding the right solution.

Imagination Stirs Innovation to Realization.

Power On Series: Marin Clean Energy

grodericks — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:07:41 +0000

Marin Clean Energy
What Was – What Is – What is Coming

Marin Clean Energy – Renewable By Choice

Marin Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program that is designed to serve Marin’s priorities. It allows electric consumers to choose non-polluting renewable energy, lower Marin’s greenhouse gas emissions, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, foster development of local green power generation and clean technologies, and protect Marin homes and businesses from uncertain fuel prices.

Community Choice Aggregation was established by California legislature in 2002 (AB 117) to give cities and counties the authority to procure electricity on behalf of customers within their jurisdictions. Under a CCA program, the investor-owned utility delivers the electricity to customers and continues to read the electric meters and issue monthly bills to customers. Unlike traditional utility service, the source of the electric supply (generation) and the price paid by customers for the generation service procured by the CCA program are determined locally.

Marin Clean Energy (MCE) is a renewable energy alternative to PG&E’s electric supply that will soon be available to Marin customers. MCE is responsible for sourcing the power and purchases the energy supply while PG&E continues to deliver the energy, maintain and repair transmission lines, and provide customer service and billing.

MCE will provide two unique energy supply options which its customers may choose from. The Light Green product is 25% renewable energy and is expected to increase to 50% renewable energy within five years. MCE’s Light Green rates parallel PG&E’s rates, which only provide 13% renewable energy. The Deep Green product is 100% renewable energy and rates will come at a premium of approximately 7% above PG&E’s rates.

The Marin Energy Authority (MEA) is the not-for-profit public agency that administers and provides the renewable energy alternative through the Marin Clean Energy program. MEA was created in December 2008 to address climate change by reducing energy related greenhouse gas emissions and securing energy supply, price stability, energy efficiencies and local economic and workforce benefits. It is the intent of MEA to promote the development of a wide range of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency programs including, but not limited to, solar and wind energy production at competitive rates for customers.

MEA is governed by an eight-member Board of Directors representing each of the participating Marin jurisdictions which include the City of Belvedere, Town of Fairfax, County of Marin, City of Mill Valley, Town of San Anselmo, City of San Rafael, City of Sausalito, and Town of Tiburon. In accordance with CCA law, customers who reside in any of these member cities or towns or unincorporated Marin will automatically be enrolled into Marin Clean Energy and will receive the Light Green product unless they choose to purchase Deep Green or remain with PG&E.

On February 4, 2010 MEA signed a five year power purchase agreement with Shell Energy North America to supply the Marin Clean Energy program. MEA will phase-in customers of Marin Clean Energy over the course of two phases. This approach provides MEA with the ability to start slowly and address any problems or unforeseen challenges on a small manageable program before gradually building to full program integration for an expected customer base of approximately 71,000 accounts.

Following Board approval of the power purchase agreement and approximately sixty days prior to the date of automatic enrollment, 9,200 notices were mailed to Phase I customers informing them of their right to continue receiving electricity from PG&E. A second notice will be mailed thirty days later. Following automatic enrollment, a third notice will be included with the final bill containing PG&E generation charges, and a fourth and final notice will be included with the first bill containing MCE generation charges. Phase II customers will also receive four notices. Service to Phase II customers is expected to be available in approximately eighteen months.

After seven years of study, three independent peer reviews and participation and reviews by over eighty stakeholders, forty task force members, seven Marin city and town councils, the County of Marin, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the conclusion is that MCE has no fatal flaws, presents no risk to cities’ general funds, and will result in a significant local greenhouse gas reduction. Marin Clean Energy will supply nearly twice the renewable energy content to Marin customers than what they currently receive, and at the same rates that they currently pay. Customers will also be able to purchase 100% renewable energy at a slightly higher price.

Marin Clean Energy (MCE) offers several additional key benefits including customer choice, cost competitiveness, cost stability, increased renewable energy, focus on customer needs, competition in business, increased local jobs and local revenue, local renewable development, increased energy efficiency and distributed generation, and direct customer participation in greenhouse gas reduction.

For more information about Marin Clean Energy or to sign up for the 100% renewable Deep Green option, visit www.marincleanenergy.info or call 888-632-3674.

(reproduced from the “Marin Clean Energy – Renewable By Choice” Abstract)

Working on the Bay

grodericks — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:58:49 +0000

Docks and Decks

Spring and summer are ideal times to plan for construction, especially if it involves work along the shoreline or over the water.

Constructing on the Water

New structures such as docks, boatlifts, floating docks, decking and gangways create shadows over the water. These shadows can decrease habitat for plants, fish and other organisms in the waters of the Bay. In addition, noise from construction such as pile driving or dredging can disrupt the migration of birds and fish.

Federal and State work windows for construction in the water are the summer and fall months between June 15 and November 30. Restrictions on work along West Shore Road generally align with the closure of the Audubon Bird Sanctuary in Richardson Bay, the winter and spring months between October 1 to March 31. Time considerations also include the City staff work involved in processing applications for new or expanded structures. Scientific review of biological impacts can only occur in mid-May to mid-August, and applications must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission before construction can begin.

The draft General Plan recommends that the City work with Federal and State agencies to streamline the process. A programmatic approach to reviewing work along the shoreline and in the water will be presented to residents for comments in 2011.

For more information, give me a call at 415-435-3838 or send me an email at pmacdonald@cityofbelvedere.org.

Pierce Macdonald

Pierce Macdonald
Planning Manager
City of Belvedere

Annual Town Hall Meeting

grodericks — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:07:11 +0000

On Monday night, the City held its Annual Town Hall Meeting. At the Meeting, the Mayor presented the State of the City Report. The Report included an update of the City’s activities over the past year – budget, capital projects, special events, planning, building, and more. Video of the Mayor’s presentation and the entire Town Hall Meeting can be found via the following link.

Handouts for the meeting included the City Stats 2010 Publication. You can download this publication from the City’s website home page or via the following link. Also handed out was the 2010 City Staff and Committee Roster – here’s the link. Following the Mayor’s Presentation on the State of the City were presentations to the Citizen of the Year Bill Smith and Citizen Emeritus Merv Field.

William J. Smith – 2009 Belvedere Citizen of the Year

Bill Smith moved to Belvedere in 1969. Bill’s service to Belvedere and the Tiburon Peninsula stretches back to his earliest years among us and has continued to the present. He was elected to the Belvedere City Council in 1980 and served as the City’s mayor in 1983-84. He was a member of the Belvedere-Tiburon Joint Recreation Committee and chair of the Belvedere Parks and Recreation Committee. He has served on the board of many Tiburon Peninsula nonprofits, including the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society, and the Belvedere-Tiburon Library Foundation. He was a founding member, and now serves as chair, of the Belvedere Community Foundation. He was a member of the Tiburon Senior Housing Advisory Committee and Commodore of the San Francisco Yacht Club in 2007.

Bill has also served the wider Marin community as a founding director of the Ecumenical Services of Marin and on the boards of the Southern Marin Pop Warner Football Club and the Catholic Charities of Marin. He was made an honorary board member for his service as a director and chairman of the Marin Education Fund. Bill’s name was put forward for this award by numerous residents, and one of his nominators accurately described him as: “An ever-present booster and worker for Belvedere and its functions. His energy, charm, and sense of humor are never-failing. No one deserves the title of Citizen of the Year more than Bill.”

Mervin Field – 2009 Belvedere Citizen Emeritus

Belvedere resident Mervin Field founded Field Research Corporation in 1946, The Field (California) Poll in 1947, and the not-for-profit, public policy research organization, The Field Institute, in 1976. The Field Poll is a unique, continuing public opinion news service, widely recognized as an authoritative source of public opinion utilizing sophisticated survey methodology. The Field Poll has published more than 2,300 reports on a wide variety of political, social and public policy issues, and this continually growing body of survey data has become an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and public policy makers.

Mr. Field’s principles, values and beliefs provide the foundation for Field Research Corporation’s basic philosophy: conduct good research, enjoy doing it, and don’t compromise on quality. Mr. Field has received numerous professional citations and awards, and he is one of the founding directors of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations, a former director of the Advertising Research Foundation, and helped to establish the National Council of Public Polls. Since 1994 Mr. Field has been a regular contributor to the Tiburon Peninsula’s own weekly newspaper, The Ark, and he continues to edify and amuse local readers with his column “Merv Field’s File.”

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GPUSC Meeting – FEMA and Land Use Changes

grodericks — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:35:16 +0000

GPUSC Meeting Held
FEMA Flood Map
& Land Use Changes

On Wednesday night the General Plan Update Steering Committee hosted a community meeting on the FEMA Flood Map and its implications for land-use and design along the Lagoon. (Audio) (Video )

As many of you are aware, several years ago FEMA began the update process to its Regional Flood Plan Map. These maps had not been updated in over 20 years. Contact by FEMA regarding flood elevation changes in Belvedere prompted the City’s recent evaluation of the San Rafael Avenue Seawall Project. Some of you may recall the “string lines” along the seawall depicting various elevations to which the wall might be raised. These string line elevations were based on the preliminary information from FEMA. The City had received significant feedback on the question of raising
the San Rafael Avenue seawall – most of it in opposition due to
aesthetics, view impairment, design, cost (an estimated $2 million) etc.

A community meeting was held in February 2009 with representatives from FEMA to discuss the implications of the new Map, to include the requirement for flood insurance. The 1979 Flood Map showed only two properties along the Lagoon in the flood zone. The 2009 Map indicated that 275 properties were now in the Flood Zone. The 2009 Flood Map is a “Bay Wide” document and did not solely identify changes particular to Belvedere, but rather incorporated and detailed flood map changes for all of Marin County, San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, and more. During the initial stages of the process, the City questioned the validity and accuracy of the Map and conducted its own survey to determine the accuracy of FEMA’s LIDAR survey data. The City’s independent surveyor confirmed the accuracy of FEMA’s Mapping information. The City also had several properties removed from the FEMA due to obvious errors in the drawing of the map (properties up on Laurel Avenue). Further, depending on proximity to the flood zone, some individual property owners could initiate a “map revision” process if they felt that their homes were “outside” the flood zone designation. Once a survey was conducted validating the home’s elevation or location, the property owner could then be exempted from the requirements.

After several community informational meetings, the FEMA Flood Map became effective in May 2009. With the new data, the City learned that minor changes in the elevation of the San Rafael Avenue seawall would no longer protect the Lagoon per the FEMA Map and its corresponding datum. In order to fully protect the Lagoon and eliminate the flood hazards identified in the FEMA Map, the San Rafael Avenue seawall would have to be raised to “levy height” and be certified in its design by FEMA. IN ADDITION, a new protection system would have to be built along the Beach Road interface that also met “levy height” requirements and be certified in design by FEMA. Both would have to be built to eliminate the flood hazard identified by the 2009 FEMA Map. The San Rafael Avenue seawall does not presently meet FEMA’s levy height or design certification requirements.

A long-standing requirement per the California Building Code pursuant to the Federal Code of Regulations (this affects all of the U.S.) is that when rebuilding (or remodeling a specified percentage), homes must be elevated above a flood plain if the home is within one. Local ordinances must be adopted to conform to these requirements. Without the adoption of local ordinances, properties within the flood map area are not eligible for flood insurance. Based on the 1979 Map (prior to the May 2009 map), this only impacted a couple of homes in Belvedere. With the effective date of the new 2009 Map, this requirement now impacts approximately 275 homes. Since May 2009, any development on one of these structures exceeding 50% of the appraised value of the structure triggered the FEMA Flood Map requirements.

Whether or not a property is within a flood zone is a matter for disclosure when a property is sold. The City requires a “Residential Building Report” prior to the sale of any property in Belvedere. This Report provides a prospective property owner with information on the flood zone for the property. The City has provided this information for several properties since the effective date of the Map. In addition, since the effective date of the Map, four to five properties have moved through the City’s Design Review/Building process and are now at various stages of design or construction having met or designed for the requriements of the Map.

With the 2009 FEMA Map and the requirement to build finished floors above the flood plain, properties within the Lagoon are challenged by the present land use regulations for height. In effect, the height of structures is compressed between the new finished floor elevation and the maximum height limit for single or two-story structures. This challenge presented itself upon FEMA’s with the adoption of the 2009 Map. However, not all properties face the same challenge. The amount a property needs to be raised is dependent upon its grade elevation. A few properties along Cove Road are facing a requirement to raise the finished floor by 5.78 feet. Properties along Peninsula Road must be raised an average of 3.73 feet. Properties along San Rafael Avenue south of West Shore Road are all already above the required elevation and do not have to be raised, despite the fact that they all remain in the flood zone. The properties along Mallard and Leeward are looking at an average of 4.34 feet. The implications are not identical, but are certainly neighborhood consistent. In other words, if your home’s finished floor needs to be raised by 2 feet it is likely that your neighbor has a similar requirement and not one that represents a 6 feet increase.

From a design perspective, the changes can be impactful. In some cases, decking might need to be raised to accommodate level access versus a step or more. Without a corresponding adjustment to the City’s height limits, roof lines could change from pitched to flat. Sideyard fencing might need to be stepped as it transitions toward the rear of the lot. Insead of “at grade” homes, many will require steps to enter – some one or two others five or more. Garages are not affected and would not need to be raised, but transitions from garages into homes will change. At Wednesday’s meting, suggestions were made to address some of these issues. Some of these suggestions included: adjustment to lot coverage coverage requirements to allow for decking; adjustments to floor area to allow expanded first floor elevations; modifications to the City’s height measurement methodology to accommodate the increased finished floor requirements (measurement from street level, using an “average” height measurement, etc.); adjustments to fence height requirements, and more.

However, a large part of the time on ended up focused on challenging the validity of the FEMA Map and/or working toward constructing physical barriers to prevent flooding. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times (article) discussing many communities facing the same issue. The article goes on further to discuss how the City of Moorpark spent $100,000 to fund a study to determine whether 900 homes were improperly added to the FEMA Map. As a result, FEMA has agreed to redraw some aspects of the map in Moorpark. This prompted much of the discusison on Wednesday night.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee decided to remove the discussion of height changes on the Lagoon from the General Plan and instead, ask the Council to form a Committee to evaluate the issue(s) further with three objectives:

Investigate the possibility of challenging the Belvedere portion of the 2009 FEMA Flood Map;
If a legal challenge is unsuccessful or unlikely, investigate the cost/feasibility of constructing barrier systems to address the issue; and
If a legal challenge is unsuccessful or unlikely and if the construction of barrier systems proves to be non-viable, discuss the need for and type of land-use design changes that may be necessary.

The City Council will hear from the Council representative to the General Plan Committee at their February meeting regarding establishing the Committee on the issue. It is important to realize that the FEMA Flood Map has been effective since May 2009. The requirement to raise the finished floor of a structure exists today. Absent land-use and design changes, structures must meet the requirements of the current Belvedere Design Code. Legal challenges are not likely to be accomplished in the short-term. Design, approval, bid, financing, and construction of barrier systems also represent longer term projects. Solutions could well be several years away, if not more. In the interim, construction projects must meet present day standards and requriements. It may be advantages to move ahead with discussion of land-use design changes and implement some interim measures that allow flexibility for the current property owners. Further, at Wednesday’s meeting, the FEMA representative indicated that their current measurement for flood waters was based on “still water” measurement. To determine the height for barrier systems, the heights would have to take into account wave surge and other factors yet to be determined by FEMA. Essentially, the San Rafael Avenue seawall would likely have to be much higher than even the string lines indicated in order to comply with levy certification.

Stay tuned.

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Economic Development in Belvedere

grodericks — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:04:25 +0000

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2010. Things are shaping up well for the new year, but it’s 2010 and I still do not see any flying cars or other promised technological enhancements. Although I do love the iPhone. With all of the new technologies promised on the horizon it may well prove to be a new era for economic development.

The Belvedere-Tiburon Chamber of Commerce engages in regular meetings to discuss “economic development” opportunities on the peninsula. Keeping a sharp eye economic development helps maintain the future economic vitality of the community. In communities characterized by ample and diversified goods and services it is important to continue to encourage economic development partnerships to contribute to a strong tax base and continued high quality of life.

While Belvedere does not have a significant amount of businesses operating within its borders and we receive very little in the way of sales tax revenue, the City does actively participate with the Chamber of Commerce in discussions around economic development of the downtown area of TIburon. Why?

Because It takes goods and services for a community to thrive. On your way home in the evening, do you get to drive straight home, or are you like many of us that routinely have a multitude of errands to complete before you can step through the threshold of your home? Gas? Cleaners? Dinner? Bank? Hardware Store? Grocery Store?

People choose Belvedere to live but they still need the economic amenities found in local businesses and services. A community that does not support a thriving economic development is likely one that is drying up. Economic development is not synonymous with business recruitment. In other words, the Chamber, City, and Town are not out there banging the drums to get new businesses into the City or Town and “develop” all the empty spaces. Instead, we follow the trend of most economic development agencies and focus most of the effort on businesses already located locally. A smart use of resources often means helping to grow local small and medium sized businesses that have already chosen the peninsula and you as their home. This is done through assisting with a business’ interaction with local government, helping promote shopping locally, and partnering for community events such as the Art Festival, Wine Festival, Friday Nights on Main, and more. All of these efforts are designed to bring you to the downtown area in support of keeping the locale thriving.

The rest of economic development does focus on recruiting goods and services that fill a local need. Here, the Chamber works with landowners to help identify what the communty needs and see what will fit the spot. Bottom line – economic development is important not just for the sales taxes it may bring but also because it helps keep the community vital and moving forward.

You can help! You can get involved with the Chamber of Commerce, help work with community events, provide input on what you would like to see locally, and most of all – Eat, Shop, and Play Local!

For more information on the Peninsula’s Economic Development, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 415-435-5633.

http://tiburonchamber.org

Have a great new year!

Regards,

George
City Manager

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MEA Workshops – Watch, Listen, or Tivo!

grodericks — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:51:54 +0000

Marin Energy Authority

MEA Public Workshops

Watch or listen to the Marin Energy Authority Public Workshops held
in San Rafael (11/23) and Mill Valley (12/1). Programs will air on
Comcast Channel 27, AT&T Channel 99 and can be seen online at
cmcm.tv.

MEA Public Workshop San Rafael TRT: 3.5 hrs
(video: watch online | listen MP3 audio Part 1 Part 2)

Air Dates: MEA Public Workshop San Rafael
Mon	12/28/09	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Fri	1/1/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sat	1/2/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sun	1/3/10	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Mon	1/4/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Wed	1/6/10	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Fri	1/8/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sat	1/9/10	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sun	1/10/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99

MEA Public Workshop Mill Valley TRT: 3.2 hrs

(video: watch online | listen MP3 audio Part 1 Part 2)

Air Dates: MEA Public Workshop Mill Valley
Mon	12/28/09	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Wed	12/30/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Fri	1/1/10	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sat	1/2/10	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sun	1/3/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Mon	1/4/10	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Fri	1/8/10	11:00am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sat	1/9/10	7:00 pm	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99
Sun	1/10/10	11:00 am	Comcast 27 \| AT&T 99

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Customer Satisfacton Survey

grodericks — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:02:43 +0000

The City’s Planning and Building Departments are always looking for your feedback. To help solicit that feedback, there is an online version of a “Customer Satisfaction Survey.”

You can access the survey from the City’s homepage simply by clicking on it. You can also get a hardcopy of the survey and complete it by hand by visiting City Hall!

Happy Feedback!

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Marin Energy Authority – In or Out?

grodericks — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:26:00 +0000

City Council Meeting Topic
January 11, 2010

At the December 14 City Council meeting the City Council heard the final loop out presentation by the Marin Energy Authority on the option for Community Choice Aggregation (check out the audio).

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) was established by the California legislature in 2002 (AB 117) to give cities and counties the authority to procure electricity on behalf of customers within their jurisdictions. Under a CCA program, PG&E would continue to deliver the electricity to the end use customers and PG&E would continue to read the electric meters and issue monthly bills to customers, as well as maintain the infrastructure. However, the “source” of the electric supply (the generation portion) and the price paid by the customers for that generation would be procured by the CCA program and determined locally. Customers within the territory of the CCA have the choice of being automatically enrolled in the program (here called Marin Clean Energy) or remaining with PG&E.

Presently, the members of the Marin Energy Authority are: the City of Belvedere, Town of Fairfax, County of Marin, City of Mill Valley, Town of Ross, Town of San Anselmo, City of San Rafael, City of Sausalito, and Town of Tiburon. If you live in one of these cities or towns, or in the unincorporated areas of the County of Marin, you are in the CCA/MCE territory. The purpose of the MEA is to address climate change by reducing energy related greenhouse gas emissions and securing energy supply, price stability, energy efficiencies and local economic and workforce benefits. It is the intent of the MEA to promote the development and use of a wide range of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency programs, including but not limited to solar and wind energy production at competitive rates for customers.

On January 11, the City has the option to withdraw from the MEA prior to the adoption of the MEA’s first energy service provider power purchase agreement. If the City withdraws from the MEA, residents of Belvedere will NOT have the opportunity to participate in the program and will remain with PG&E. If the City remains in the MEA, residents of Belvedere will RETAIN THE OPTION to participate in the MEA or opt out and return to PG&E.

The individual property owner decision to stay in the MEA or opt out and return to PG&E is unique to each property owner and one that needs to be weighed individually. For details on the MEA program – the basics, how it would be implemented, renewables, risk, and liability – visit the MEA website. Also on the website is an article/video from ABC7 News on the issue.

http://marinenergyauthority.org.

To give the City Council input as they make the broader community decision for the entire community on whether to remain in the MEA or withdraw, send us a note or plan to attend the January 11 City Council meeting to give some input.

Tour of Blackie’s Garden

grodericks — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:47:29 +0000

Blackie's Garden Plaque

In the morning on November 17 I had the good fortune to be a part of a tour of Blackie’s Garden hosted by Blackie’s Brigade Captain Harvey Rogers. Harvey, a Belvedere Master Gardener, has been coordinating over 30 volunteers since 1995 to keep this garden beautiful.

From humble beginnings – three large mounds of construction land fill and hearty native plants – the garden now has over 100 cubic yards of topsoil and a drip irrigation system, and is producing incredible results. The pesticide-free, full-sun, public garden features approximately 3,000 drought-resistant native plants, not only from California, but Mediterranean areas of South Africa, Mexico, and Australia, which gives a greater result for color, longer lasting bloom periods, and size of plants. Over 150 plant markers have been created in Latin and English for easy identification, and are updated regularly to help educate visitors to this easy-access garden.

Annually, the Belvedere and Tiburon Foundations, the City of Belvedere, and Town of Tiburon support the planting and maintenance of the garden at the entrance to Blackie’s Pasture. Harvey and his volunteers do all the work.

Each year, Harvey conducts a walking tour identifying the many varieties of plants, planting techniques, and gardening skills involved in keeping the garden successful. The tours are wonderful, enlightening, and very educational.

Visit the Garden today to learn more about it. There is an educational display at the entrance to the Garden to help you as you look around and contact information is available – perhaps you can get a personal tour from Harvey as well!