HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Agd Pkt 2015-02-24CITY OF
BELVEDERE
450 SAN RAFAEL AVENUE
BELVEDERE, CA 94920
TOWN OF TIBURON
Tiburon Town Hall
1505 Tiburon Boulevard
Tiburon, CA 94920
SPECIAL JOINT
COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA
February 24, 2015
Special Meeting — 6:30 p.m.
Multi -Purpose Room,
Reed Elementary School,
1199 Tiburon Boulevard,
Tiburon CA 94920
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Tiburon Town Council: Councilmember Fraser, Councilmember Fredericks, Councilmember
O'Donnell, Vice -Mayor Tollini, Mayor Doyle
Belvedere City Council Councilmember Campbell, Councilmember Donnell, Councilmember
Winter, Vice Mayor McAuliffe, Mayor McCaskill
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Persons wishing to address the Town Council on subjects not on the agenda may do so at this
time. Please note however, that the Town Council is not able to undertake extended discussion
or action on items not on the agenda. Matters requiring action vAdll be referred to the appropriate
Commission, Board, Committee or staff for consideration or placed on a future Town Council
meeting agenda. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes.
PRESENTATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Presentation by Town and City Staff, and the Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0
Committee, regarding a proposal to reduce traffic and improve public safety through a
school bus subsidy program for the Reed Union School District 2015-2016 School Year.
After the presentation, there will be a break to allow, the Belvedere City Council to travel to, and reconvene at its
Council Chambers at 450 San Rafael Avenue, Belvedere, to continue its deliberations and consider a motion to
approve the Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 as proposed or modifiedper Council direction.
The Tiburon Town Council ti dll reconvene on site to continueits deliberations.
TIBURON TOWN COUNCIL
ACTION ITEM
1. Consider proposal to proportionately fund the Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 for the
Reed Union School District 2015-2016 School Year (Town Manager Curran/Chief of
Police Cronin)
ADJOURNMENT
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GENERAL PUBLIC INFORMATION
ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special
assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Town Clerk at (415) 435-
7377. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the Town to make
reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION
Copies of all agenda reports and supporting data are available for viewing and
inspection at Town Hall and at the Belvedere -Tiburon Library located adjacent to
Town Hall. Agendas and minutes are posted on the Town's website,
www.ci.tiburon.ca.us.
Upon request, the Town will provide written agenda materials in appropriate
alternative formats, or disability -related modification or accommodation, including
auxiliary aids or services, to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in
public meetings. Please send a written request, including your name, mailing
address, phone number and brief description of the requested materials and
preferred alternative format or auxiliary aid or service at least 5 days before the
meeting. Requests should be sent to the Office of the Torun Clerk at the above
address.
Y"1:TOITij:I0 RN[eR:
Public Hearings provide the general public and interested parties an opportunity to
provide testimony on these items. If you challenge any proposed action(s) in court,
you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the
Public Hearing(s) described later in this agenda, or in written correspondence
delivered to the Town Council at, or prior to, the Public Hearing(s).
TIMING OF ITEMS ON AGENDA
While the Town Council attempts to hear all items in order as stated on the agenda,
it reserves the right to take items out of order. No set times are assigned to items
appearing on the Town Council agenda.
CITY OF BELVEDERE TOWN OF TIBURON
450 SAN RAFAEL AVE. • BELVEDERE. CA 94920-2336 1505 TIBURON BLvO. • TIBURON, CA 94920-2530
1.415.435.3636' WWW.CIWOFBELVEOERE.ORG 1.415.435.7373 • WWW.TOWNOFTIBURON.ORG
SPECIAL JOINT COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF BELVEDERE and TOWN OF TIBURON
February 24, 2015, 6:30 p.m.
PART I: Reed Elementary School Multi -Purpose Room, 1199 Tiburon Boulevard,
Tiburon, CA; then
PART II: Tiburon Town Council will remain in place to continue its meeting;
Belvedere City Council will break and reconvene in the Belvedere City
Council Chambers at 450 San Rafael Avenue, Belvedere, CA
To: Mayors and Councilmembers
From: Tiburon Town Manager, Peggy Curran
Belvedere City Manager, Mary Neilan
Tiburon Chief of Police, Michael Cronin
Subject: PART I: Presentation by Town and City Staff, and the Yellow School Bus
Challenge 2.0 Committee, Regarding a Proposal to Reduce Traffic and
Improve Public Safety Through a School Bus Subsidy Program for the Reed
Union School District 2015-2016 School Year to Joint Meeting of Tiburon
and Belvedere, Followed by Public Hearing and Related Council
Discussion; and
PART II: Recommendation to Reconvene as Separate Council Meetings to
Consider Approval of Proposed Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 for the
2015-2016 School Year
INTRODUCTION
This staff report seeks to inform a public hearing and Town and City Council
consideration of a new "Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0" for the upcoming 2015-16
Reed Union School District school year. Should both Belvedere and Tiburon approve
and fund the program as presented or amended, it is anticipated to launch in April or
May of 2015.
Joint Tiburon - Belvedere Council Meeting Feb. 24, 2015 Page 1
BACKGROUND
In the spring and summer of 2014, members of the Tiburon and Belvedere Councils
(Fraser, O'Donnell, McCaskill and Donnell), the Town and City Managers, the Tiburon
Chief of Police and representatives of the Reed Union School District convened over a
series of meetings to discuss school -related traffic reduction. The intent of the group
was to develop a program to test the theory that lower-cost school bus passes (half price)
would entice new bus riders and result in significantly reduced traffic on Tiburon
Boulevard. This program was subsequently approved and tentatively funded by both
Councils on the understanding that if it failed to meet the minimum number of new
riders deemed necessary to achieve real traffic reduction, it would not proceed. It was
also noted that, if the program were successful in achieving real traffic reduction, a
permanent source of funding would need to be identified.
The program launched fairly late in the school year cycle and, while there was an
increase in the number of bus passes sold, the response was insufficient to warrant
implementation of the program at that time. As the group reviewed the results, it
concluded that the concept had merit, but clearly there were other constraints, in
addition to price, keeping families from using the bus. It also felt the short time frame
did not permit adequate outreach to help meet the program sign-up goals. The group
determined to try again.
RECENT PROCESS
The group's first step was to expand its membership: it added five Reed School District
parents to its previous composition to form the Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0
Committee (Exhibit A.) Through its meetings over the past five months, the newly
expanded YSBC2.0 Committee determined it needed to conduct more analysis and to
rethink the entire bus experience to improve the chances of attracting significant
numbers of new riders.
Toward this end, the Committee commissioned Godbe Research to conduct an in-depth
survey of Reed Union School District parents' attitudes and issues regarding school bus
ridership for their children as well as demographic information on RUSD families. The
survey revealed a number of factors beyond price that tend to suppress bus ridership.
Of particular note was bus trip length; parents do not want their children, especially the
youngest ones, to have bus trips to or from school that exceed 35 minutes. The
convenience of bus stops (their proximity to the homes of student riders) was also a
factor. Both of these items emerged as barriers to greater ridership. Having a system
that largely clusters together children headed for the same school (i.e., a "Reed School
Bus" rather than a multi -school bus) was also appealing to parents, as it tends to
segregate children by age - seen by many parents as a good thing for younger children.
Of course, the high cost of bus passes, currently $847 per child for a round-trip pass,
remains a significant factor, and not surprisingly was identified in the survey as the
number one deterrent to bus ridership.
Joint Tiburon - Belvedere Council Meeting Feb. 24, 2015 Page 2
This survey data informed the Committee's discussions, and led it to an examination of
how it might increase the number of buses and bus stops through an expansion and
diversification of bus routes. It is hoped that these changes, along with the same deep
discount of the price of a bus pass as proposed last year, will be the incentive parents
need to give the school bus service a try. The other new element proposed is an
assertive marketing campaign to ensure both children and parents are aware of the
expanded opportunities for convenient and affordable bus ridership.
PROPOSED YELLOW SCHOOL BUS CHALLENGE 2.0 PROGRAM
1. New Routes
The Committee conferred extensively with experts in the field of bus routing and
scheduling, notably Robert Betts of the Marin County Transit District and Tim Ammon
of School Bus Consultants, LLC, to explore opportunities for more efficient routes which
addressed more of the parents' concerns. Tiburon Chief of Police Michael Cronin and
other members of the YSBC2.0 Committee worked with these experts through a lengthy
process of development and testing (every route was timed and tested using a school
bus to ensure adequate turnarounds, etc.). A route profile emerged which aims to
optimize the use of six school buses morning and afternoon on a set of routes and
schedules that address the service needs of the greatest number of people identified as
"probable" and "definite" school bus users by the survey. The new schedules reflect 11
morning routes (vs. the 3 current year routes) and 9 afternoon routes (vs. the 4 current
year routes).
As is the case now, all passes sold would be "one-way", that is, for a morning or
afternoon bus route. This is to enable parents whose children may have a different
routine or destination in the afternoon, often to accommodate sports or other after
school activities, to choose the routes that work best for them. Routes are also newly
crafted to be primarily one -school only. Currently buses pick up and drop off children
at various schools, which results in children of various ages on each bus. By having
primarily school -specific buses, both greater efficiencies and age clustering is possible.
The District assisted in this process by agreeing to consider staggered start times at the
schools, which in turn would allow some buses to be used twice. This results in more
routes, shorter times on the bus, more school -specific routing and greater cost efficiency.
The new routes are appended to this Staff Report as Exhibit B. It is important to note
that all routes are tentatively proposed at this time; it is possible they could change
somewhat based on feedback on the proposed program between now and the program's
launch.
2. Funding
School buses cost approximately $80,000 each per year for one round-trip service. Six
buses in the morning and afternoon are necessary to fulfill the routes that have been
Joint Tiburon - Belvedere Council Meeting Feb. 24, 2015 Page 3
identified; some of the buses are able to be used twice thanks to the staggered start times
for each campus offered by the School District. The total cost of these buses is
approximately $480,000. Bus pass sales, of course, are intended to offset some of this
expense.
The survey asked respondents how likely they would be to purchase a pass at different
price points. Based upon this information and the appealing simplicity of a "half-price"
offer, the YSBC2.0 Committee recommends a program retaining that deep discount. The
chart below identifies the potential cost to the Town and the City of various level of
response at this level of subsidy.
Percent of "Likely Purchasers"
(Defined as the 953 potential purchasers that the
survey projects will "definitely or "probably"
purchase a round -tri ass at $430")
Total
Round -Trip
Riders
Tiburon
Cost (80%)
Belvedere
Cost (20%)
90%
857
$89,192
$22,298
80%
762
$121,872
$30,468
70%
667
$154,552
$38,638
60%
571
$187,576
$46,894
50%
1 476
1 $220,256
$55,064
The Committee believes at least 600 total round -trips bus pass users are needed to
meaningfully affect traffic. Thus, if 65% of "Likely Purchasers", or approximately 40%
of the total school population of 1,575, purchase (and regularly use) passes for their
children, traffic should be measurably improved as a consequence.
It should be noted that moving forward with the YSBC in 2015 carries with it the risk
that the program will not produce the desired level of passes sold but would still entail a
subsidy from the Town and City. This was not the case with the initial YSBC in the
summer of 2014. At that time, the trial sign-ups from the first Yellow Bus Challenge
offering lower pass prices came very late in the bus pass distribution cycle. It was
offered in the summer, after the school had already signed up parents for its existing bus
pass program, so RUSD's previous transportation program was able to serve as a
fallback option when pass sales were somewhat disappointing.
If approved as set forth in this report, the YSBC2.0 will be a completely redesigned bus
program launched in the spring 2015, while school is still in session and before families
depart for summer vacations; this timing is deemed necessary to obtain maximum
results. Because it will constitute the only bus pass offering for the 2015-16 school year,
there will be no fallback option should the response fail to meet expectations. In other
words, a decision to proceed by Tiburon and Belvedere necessarily entails a
commitment for each entity to offer the subsidy regardless of the ultimate level of sign-
ups. Of course, the new program, built upon the information gathered in the survey and
with expert advice, has a much higher likelihood of success than its predecessor, but it
does come with a higher degree of risk related to cost should it fail to meet its ridership
targets.
joint Tiburon - Belvedere Council Meeting Feb. 24, 2015 Page 4
It is important to note that funding is proposed as a one-year commitment on the part of
both entities. If the program is successful in demonstrating that more school bus passes
translates into meaningful traffic reduction, a permanent source of funding will need to
be identified.
3. Schedule
As in the past, parents would go to the Reed Union School District website for
information and to enroll their children in the bus pass program. Pass sign-up is
tentatively scheduled to begin on April 27, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. for the 2015-16 school year.
All information about the program will be distributed to parents via the District's
Headline News newsletter, electronic notices and and its communication outreach
raue V=
4. Marketing Campaign
The YSBC 2.0 Committee has developed a robust marketing plan intended to get the
word out about the new program and insure its success. In addition to informing the
public, particularly parents and their school age children, the marketing effort is aimed
at achieving greater buy -in within our two communities to the notion that we are all
part of the traffic problem and should all do our part to ease it where possible. Just as it
is now commonplace and considered socially responsible to bring one's own bags to the
check-out counter at the grocery store, so does the marketing effort hope to increase
awareness and make bus ridership (or walking or biking to school) a more normal and
expected part of the school experience. Members of the YSBC2.0 Committee who have
developed the outreach program will make a presentation to share their thoughts on
both the importance of and the content of the planned marketing effort.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The precise level of funding required from the Town and City to support this program
will be determined by the number of students that choose to purchase bus passes for the
2015/16 school year. Based on the offer of half-price passes, the opinions voiced in the
Godbe survey and the extensive route configuration, YBSC2.0 is expected to attract a
significant number of new riders. Because the number and cost of buses is fixed, the
more passes sold, the more cost effective the program will be.
At the reduced cost of $430 round-trip, 953 survey respondents indicated they would
likely buy a round-trip bus pass. If all follow through and make the purchase, the total
subsidy required would be $75,000, $60,000 from the Town and $15,000 from the City.
This would be a "best case scenario" not only because the subsidy is relatively small
compared to other possible scenarios, but because the ultimate goal of reducing traffic
congestion during peak commute times would very likely be attained.
Joint Tiburon - Belvedere Council Meeting Feb. 24, 2015 Page 5
If only half of those that indicated an interest actually purchase passes at the reduced
rate, there would still be more riders next year than there are now, but the subsidy
required from Town and City would be roughly $275,320 ($220,256/Town, $55,064/City)
and the impact on traffic would be minimal.
The most likely outcome is somewhere in the middle. Therefore the funding request to
be considered by the respective Councils is designed to accommodate the "worst case
scenario", with every expectation that the response will be positive and the program will
generate significant funding to help offset its cost.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Town Council of Tiburon and the City Council of Belvedere
receive presentations and public comment on the Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 and
then adjourn to their respective meetings to consider approving program structure and
funding.
More specifically, staff recommends the Councils:
Part I:
1. Hear a verbal staff report;
2. Hear a presentation from Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 Committee members
regarding the marketing of the proposed new challenge;
3. Allow members of the public to comment; and
4. Discuss the proposed Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 as appropriate.
Part II:
1. Break to allow the Belvedere City Council to travel to, and reconvene at, its
Council Chambers at 450 San Rafael Avenue, Belvedere, to continue its
deliberations and consider a motion to approve the Yellow School Bus Challenge
2.0 as proposed or modified per Council direction; and
2. The Tiburon Town Council to reconvene on site to continue its deliberations and
consider a motion to approve the Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 as proposed
or modified per Council direction.
Prepared by: Peggy Curran, Tiburon Town Manager
Mary Neilan, Belvedere City Manager
Michael Cronin, Tiburon Chief of Police
Exhibits: A. Members of Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0 Committee
B. Proposed new routes
Joint Tiburon - Belvedere Council Meeting Feb. 24, 2015 Page 6
MMAT No.,.A
Yellow School Bus Challenge 2.0
Committee Members
February 18, 2015
REGULAR MEMBERS
Town of Tiburon
Jim Fraser
Emmett O'Donnell
Councilmember
Councilmember
Peggy Curran
Town Manager
Michael Cronin
Chief of Police
City of Belvedere
Bob McCaskill
Ma or
Sandy Donnell
Councilmember
Ma Neilan
Ci Mana er
Reed Union School District
Dana Linker Steele
RUSD Board of Trustees President
Steve Herzo
Su erintendent
John Frick
Loreen Farrell
Business Manager (retiring)
Business Manager (incomin )
Community Members
Stac Achuck
RUSD Parent
Ja i Allse
Heather Johnson
Sara Klein
RUSD Parent
RUSD Parent
RUSD Parent
Sall Wilkinson
RUSD Parent
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS
Robert Betts
Senior Planner, Marin Coun Transit District
Tim Ammon
School Bus Consultants, LLC
Brian Godbe
Godbe Research
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Diane Crane lacopi
To: Diane Crane lacopi
Subject: FW: Yellow Bus Challenge
Attachments: Yellow Bus Challenge.docx
From: Leslie Carpentiers - City Clerk [mailto:lcarpentiersCalcityofbelvedere.org]
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 11:13 AM
To: Mary Neilan - City Manager; Diane Crane Iacopi; Peggy Curran
Subject: FW: Yellow Bus Challenge
From: Dexter A Roberts [mailto:dexterarobertsCcicomcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 11:00 AM
To: Leslie Carpentiers - City Clerk; ISFraserl0comcast.net
Subject: Yellow Bus Challenge
To: Robert McCaskill, Mayor, Belevedere
Jim Fraser. Councilmember, Tiburon
Co-�i�es,«�rrn c�ce
Please find attached a "Letter to the Editor" containing my thoughts about the "yellow bus challenge". I had submitted
this letter by the usual Friday deadline hoping that it would be in "The Ark" just before the public meeting, but learned
that there had been an earlier deadline given the weekend holiday. Kevin Hesse], Editor of the Ark, suggested that I
share my thoughts with the two of you as you are spearheading this effort.
As for background, I have been a resident of Belvedere for almost 45 years, the parents of two children that went
through the Reed School System, and now the grandparents of two children enrolled (one in Bel Aire and the other Reed
School).
Since I had already committed my thoughts to paper, I thought I would share them with you so as to contribute to the
dialogue on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Dexter Roberts
10 Eucalyptus Road
Belvedere, CA
415-435-0180
H E C E o V E 0
FEB 1 9 2013
TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF TIBURON
0 F319 2015
TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF TIBURON
To the Editor:
I applaud our civic leaders for working together and exploring solutions to the Tiburon
Boulevard traffic congestion that is becoming a quality of life issue for us. Providing a bus
subsidy may reduce the traffic in the near term and represent a short term solution, but there is
no assurance that once the subsidy is not available, that reliance on cars returns to being the
favored mode of transport. It is important to remember that school related traffic seems to be
what "brakes the camel's back", commuters and a growing service trade also contribute,
especially in the morning
I would encourage that other alternative options be also considered (perhaps in addition to the
bus subsidy). If those options have been identified, they should be shared with the reasons
that they were found less desirable. The structural decision to separate the levels K-2; 3-5; and
6-8 may have been appropriate given the time it was made with recognized synergies and
efficiencies. However, given the trends in general population, student population, the number
of families with children in multiple schools and other factors, perhaps it is time to reevaluate.
Returning to a neighborhood school approach may represent a more intermediate term
approach. Reed and Bel Aire Schools currently have a shared principal from a administrative
point of view. Current technology would enable grade level communication between teachers
in multiple locations so that the curriculum and other activities are coordinated. And, there
currently is a sharing of specialized teachers between the schools such as in art.
This is not necessarily as a recommendation to return to neighborhood schools -only as an
alternative for consideration. There is currently insufficient information available, importantly
the financial implications, to grasp the many ramifications. Although a conversion to
neighborhood schools may seem expensive, it may not be in terms of the annual equivalent of
the bus subsidies, either paid by the parents or the municipalities, as well as contribute to our
quality of life.
We need to move forward with a long term strategy to address the underlying structural
problems in a manner which maintains the outstanding system that is responsible for educating
our children. I trust that we will achieve that goal with the talent available within our school
system as well as our community.
Dexter Roberts
Diane Crane lacopi
To:
Subject:
Diane Crane lacopi
Yellow Bus Challenge 2.0
From: Mary Neilan - City Manager
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 3:23 PM
To: Leslie Carpentiers - City Clerk
Subject: FW: Belvedere E -Newsletter - February 5, 2015
Another communication for joint meeting.
Mary Neilan, City Manager
City of Belvedere
450 San Rafael Ave.
Belvedere, CA 94920
(415)435-3838
(415) 435-8906 (direct)
From: jaylabo@comcast.net [mailto:jaylabo@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2015 3:54 PM
To: Mary Neilan - City Manager
Subject: Re: Belvedere E -Newsletter - February 5, 2015
Mary,
FEB 19 L115
TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF TIBURON
Not sure I can attend the bus meeting, although I will try as I would like to express my point. In fact,
is their a way to get my point to the council in advance? I would like for their to be an option to
purchase bus tickets, for those, like my son, who want to ride from time to time. My son rides his bike
each day, but during rain, he would like to ride the bus. Currently, he cannot. Also, their are days
when he received a ride to school in the morning, for example on Wednesdays when he has band
practice, which begins 30 minutes before school, but would like to take the bus home in the
afternoon. The current "pass" system is too rigid. For some the pass makes perfect sense, but for
others like my son, tickets or a pass which can be punched, makes more sense and would encourage
more riders. Please feel free to pass this along to those involved.
Thanks,
Jay LaBourene
From: "Mary Neilan" <listserv(a-)civicplus.com>
To: iaylabo(cD_comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2015 3:42:38 PM
Subject: Belvedere E -Newsletter - February 5, 2015
View this in your browser
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Belvedere's 2014
Citizens of the Year
New 415 -Area Code
Dialing Procedure
Rotary Club's
Annual Crab Event
Belvedere Cove
Foundation Auction
From the City Manager
Mary Neilan
Belvedere E -Newsletter
February 5, 2015
FFB 19 2015 D
TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF TIBURON
Yellow Bus Challenge 2.0
Last year the City partnered with the Town of Tiburon on a pilot project designed
to reduce school related traffic congestion on Tiburon Blvd. by subsidizing the cost
of bus passes in hopes of encouraging more Reed Unified School District families
to give bus ridership a try. The program launched fairly late in the school year and
while there was an increase in the number of bus passes sold, there was not
sufficient interest to warrant the program going forward.
As we reviewed the results, both City and Town agreed that the concept had
merit, but clearly there were concerns other than price that kept families from
The Ranch's using the bus. So we conducted an in depth survey of RUSD parents that revealed
Bunny Hop and a number of other factors that kept ridership relatively low. It was primarily time on
Egg Scramble the bus (length of the routes) and convenience of bus stops (not close enough to
home) that kept many families from riding.
That information informed our discussions over the last few months, and led to a
proposal to increase the number of buses, expand the routes and address
Tiburon Film parents' other concerns as best we can. Perhaps these changes, along with the
Society Presents same 50% reduction in the price of a bus pass proposed last year, will be the
"Lost Bohemia" incentive parents need to give the school bus service a try.
A joint meeting of the City of Belvedere and Town of Tiburon will be held on
Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6:30pm at Reed School to discuss this project in more detail.
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We invite everyone from the community to attend, particularly parents who might
have questions or comments.
Immediately following the joint meeting, the Belvedere and Tiburon Councils will
convene separately to consider funding the project (subsidizing the cost of bus
passes) for one year. If the project proves successful, we will strategize ways to
allow it to continue, absent City and Town funding.
City's Website Students that currently walk or ride their bikes to school as well as families that are
able to carpool help us all by keeping cars off the road and we applaud you for
making that choice. But for those of you for whom that is not an option, perhaps
Website Calendar you will be intrigued by the new and improved school bus system and will want to
accept the Yellow Bus Challenge 2.01
Storm Approaching!
ome much needed rain is expected this weekend throughout the Bay Area.
C Crent predictions suggest the storm will begin sometime Thursday night and get
heaVX by Friday night. The City prepares for storms such as thislby doing the
following:
M itor and compare various weather reports for:/
Win*d Rain and tidal patterns that would affect community
Clean torm drain in grates
• Addition I street sweeping to clear debrishecessary
Inspect an replenish sandbags in sandbag stations located at: Community
Rd, West S re Rd and Lagoon Rd
• Inspect and onitor "hot spot/areas for potential drainage/flooding
problems
• Prepare vehicles nd equ
• Prepare Corp Yar Genei
6t for Emergency deployment
for use during power outages
In addition, we work closel /\ctsBelvedere.
Town of Tiburon to manage the water that
flows from their hillsides a d ielvedere. Since the last storm, Tiburon has
washed and vactored a bunder the bike path at San Rafael Ave,
removing six yards of ravel ent. The City also worked with the property
owner at 6 San Raf el to cle'on out of the creek bed that runs through
his property, allow'rig water tre easily to the Bay. We are hopeful these
efforts, along wit our routineepar tion, will help avoid the kind of backup
and flooding th occurred in r.
PG&E avid MMWD Projects Ongoing
Circulatn around Belvedere is a challenge these da with PG&E replacing gas
lines o San Rafael Ave. and Marin Municipal Water D .trict replacing water lines
on amber of other city streets. Progress is slow for PG • E; MMWD seems to be
mov, ng at a faster pace. Both projects will continue thro gh February and into
3