HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Digest 2010-08-06TOWN COUNCIL WEEKLY DIGEST
Week of August 2 - 6, 2010
Tibvirnin
1. Letter - Anonymous - Re: Library Expansion
2. Monthly Report - Office of Design Review - July 2010
3. Yearly Recap - Design Review Submittals - July 2010
Agendas & Minutes
4. Agenda - Planning Commission - August 11, 2010
5. Meeting Cancellation -Town Council -August 18, 2010 &
Add Special Meeting - Town Council - August 25, 2010
Regional
a) Public Notice - Marin Community Development - Title 22 Amendments -
Protect Native Riparian Vegetation and Native Trees - San Geronimo Valley
b) Report on CD - Coastal Conservancy - DREIR - SF Bay Area Water Trail Plan
- CD at front desk)
c) Report - Bay Area Council Economic Institute - Americas Cup Economic
Impacts of a Match on SF Bay (report at front desk)
d) Letter - MTC & ABAG - S13 375 - Sustainable Communities Strategy
e) Letter - PG&E - Installation of Smart Meters
f) Letter - Marin Assoc. of Realtors - Point of Sale Retrofit Ordinances
g) Estuary - Newsletter - Bay/Delta News - August 2010
h) Comcast California - Newsletter - July 2010
i) Western City - August 2010
Agendas & Minutes
j) None
* Council Only
DIGEST `
-----Original Message-----
From: S. S. [mailto:symphony313Chotmail.com]
Sent: Wed 8/4/2010 6:37 AM
To: Chad Monterichard
Subject: RE: Tiburon Talk - The e-Newsletter of the Town of Tiburon
Town Manager
I just heard on the news this morning that Barnes and Noble will be closing. The
closing of bookstores is an important trend that cannot be ignored. That, coupled
with new electronic media including the Kindle, makes it important to rethink
the expansion of the beautiful Belvedere Tiburon Library.
From a Twice-weekly Library Patron
TOWN OF TIBURON
OFFICE OF DESIGN REVIEW
MONTHLY REPORT
JULY 2010
C2
;kJli
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPLICATIONS: NUMBER SUBMITTED
■ NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES 1
■ MAJOR ADDITIONS/ALTERATIONS 0
■ MINOR ADDITIONS/ALTERATIONS 1
■ (not eligible for Staff Review)
■ SIGN PERMITS
■ TREE PERMITS
■ VARIANCE REQUESTS
■ FAR EXCEPTIONS REQUESTS
■ EXTENSION OF TIME
STAFF REVIEW APPLICATIONS:
Review of minor exterior alterations and additions of less than 500
square feet.
4
4
2
0
0
16
APPEALS OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD DECISIONS TO TOWN COUNCIL
0
2009
1
1
0
1
2
3
2
0
13
0
REPORT PREPARED BY: Connie Cashman, Planning Secretary
DATE OF REPORT: August 2, 2010
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A16
TOWN OF TIBURON
Tiburon Town Hall
1505 Tiburon Boulevard
Tiburon, CA 94920
AGENDA
Regular Meeting
Tiburon Planning Commission
August 11, 2010 - 7:30 PM
Y.
TIBURON PLANNING COMMISSION
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chairman Kunzweiler, Vice Chair Frymier, Commissioner Corcoran, Commissioner Doyle,
Commissioner Tollini
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Persons wishing to address the Planning Commission on any subject not on the agenda may do
so under this portion of the agenda. Please note that the Planning Commission is not able to
undertake extended discussion, or take action on, items that do not appear on this agenda.
Matters requiring action will be referred to Town Staff for consideration and/or placed on a
future Planning Commission agenda. Please limit your comments to no more than three (3)
minutes. Testimony regarding matters not on the agenda will not be considered part of the
administrative record.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
COMMISSION AND STAFF BRIEFING
Commission and Committee Reports
Director's Report
PUBLIC HEARING
1. SOUTH SIDE OF TRESTLE GLEN BOULEVARD BETWEEN TIBURON
BOULEVARD AND UPPER JUNO ROAD: TRESTLE GLEN CIRCLE
CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN REVIEW OF A PROPOSAL FOR THE
CREATION OF FOUR BUILDING SITES ON A 14.46 ACRE PARCEL; PD #18A;
FILE #40901; Trestle Glen Terrace, LLC, Owner; IPA, Inc., Applicant; Assessor's
Parcel No. 039-061-91 [DW]
MINT TTF.,
2. PLANNNG COMMISSION MINUTES -Regular Meeting of July 14, 2010
ADJOURNMENT
Agenda - Tiburon Planning Commission August 11, 2010
a081110
Page 1
Soo,*,
. Y
NOTICE OF MEETING
CANCELLATION
The regular Town Council Meeting scheduled for
August 18, 2010 has been cancelled.
0
There will be a
SPECIAL MEETING
on
WEDNESDAY, August 25, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.
in the Town Council Chambers located at
1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon CA 94920.
The next regular meeting of the
Town
Council
will be
on Wednesday, September 1,
2010,
at 7:30
p.m.
DIANE CRANE IACeOPI, TOM CLERK
Posted at Town Hall
cc: The Ark and Marin Independent Journal
Y04MARIN COUNTY ~ A.
COMMUNITY Dc-VC-LOPMC-NTAGE-NCY ~
00- BrziaN C. Crzr+W:Orzo. DirzQcroa
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
MARIN COUNTY TITLE 22 (DEVELOPMENT CODE) AMENDMENTS
(PROTECTION OF NATIVE RIPARIAN VEGETATION AND NATIVE TREES IN SAN GERONIMO VALLEY)
NOTICE IS HEARBY GIVEN that the Marin County Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing to
consider proposed amendments to the Marin County Code Title 22 (Development Code) to expand the Native
Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance to include protections for native riparian vegetation and native
trees in the San Geronimo Valley. The proposed amendments protect native riparian vegetation in Riparian
Protection Areas (land within 35 feet from the top of bank of streams). The proposed amendments also require
Tree Removal Permits for the removal of any native tree with a Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) as specified in
the list "Trees Native to Marin County" within 100 feet of top of bank of streams or 50 feet from the outer edge
of woody riparian vegetation, whichever is greater, on properties that contain Riparian Protection Areas. Copies
of the proposed Development Code amendments may be obtained from the Marin County Community
Development Agency (CDA)- Planning Division, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 308, San Rafael, between the
hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
The proposed amendments are exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) because the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Countywide Plan (CWP) adequately
evaluated the Development Code, which functions as an implementing program to the CWP, and a subsequent
or supplemental EIR is not required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 because the proposed
project does not include substantial changes involving new or more severe significant environmental effects or
new information that was not known at the time the EIR for the CWP was certified. The amendments are also
otherwise exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to Sections 15307 and 15308 of the CEQA
Guidelines because the proposed amendments are intended to strengthen standards for the protection of the
environment.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that said public hearing will. be held at the regular meeting of the
Marin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, in the Board of Supervisors Chambers
(Room #330 - Administration Building), Civic Center, San Rafael, California, at the hour of 1:30 p.m. Any
interested party may appear and be heard at this time. Please call the CDA- Planning Division, at (415) 499-
6269 on the Friday before the scheduled meeting to obtain a copy of the staff report, or visit our website at
http://www.co.marin.ca.us/efiles/BS/AqMn/cybaqnda.htm. Written material for the Board of Supervisors should
be submitted to the CDA at least 10 days prior to the meeting date so that it can be distributed and considered
by the Board of Supervisors with the staff report. Any written material submitted after this date will be
distributed to the Board of Supervisors prior to or at the meeting.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that if you challenge the action on this project in court, you may be
limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or
in written correspondence delivered to the CDA - Planning Division at, or prior to, the public hearing.
(Government Code Section 65009(b)(2).)
r j
Brian C. Crawford Katherine Mindel Jones
Agency Director Assistant Planner
3501 Civic Center rive, Room 308 - San Rafael, CA Q4QO3-4157 - 415-4qq-626q - F-ax 415-4Qq-7880
h*://w".co.ma?in.ca.UWJeptWCD/main/inJex.cfm
4~6)vo
Coastal
Conservancy
July 30, 2010
To All Interested Parties:
TOVTl
Tom
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WNW C)t4
aim
L30
Please find enclosed for your review a CD copy of the Draft Revised Programmatic Environmental Impact Report
(DREIR) developed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the San Francisco Bay Area Water
Trail Plan (WT Plan or Plan). This DREIR incorporates extensive revisions made to the DEIR that was released for
this same project in June 2008.
The DREIR evaluates the potential impacts of implementing the WT Plan in the nine-county Bay Area. The Water
Trail strives to create a network of access sites, or "trailheads," that allow people in small, non-motorized boats or
beachable sail craft, such as kayaks, canoes, dragon boats, and sailboards, to safely enjoy the historic, scenic, and
environmental richness of San Francisco Bay through single and multiple-day trips on the Bay. The WT Plan final
draft may be downloaded or reviewed either from the Conservancy's website (www.scc.ca.gov ) or the website of
the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (www.bcdc.ca.g_o_v), which developed the Plan
through a broad-based public process.
I welcome and encourage your comments and your participation in making the implementation of the Water Trail
Plan the best it can be. Please see the Executive Summary within the DREIR for a quick overview of the contents of
the document if you are unsure of its relevance to your jurisdiction or interests. I would appreciate your passing the
document on to a more appropriate staff member if you are not the right person to have received it. The DREIR
includes helpful maps and appendices, including the Water Trail Act legislation, the Initial Study, and other relevant
documents that provide background to the present evaluation. This document will also be available for review or
download from the Conservancy's website at http://www.scc.ca.gov at the beginning of the public review period.
The public review period for the enclosed document will begin August 3 and end on September 21, 2010. The public
hearing will take place at the Port Commission Hearing Room from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of the
Ferry Building in San Francisco on August 24. Written comments may be submitted at the hearing or any time
between August 3 and September 21 (by 4:00 p.m.), addressed to Ann Buell at the Coastal Conservancy office at
1330 Broadway, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612. Please seethe enclosed copy of the Notice of Availability for
more details about the hearing, submitting comments, and the project itself.
Thank you for your interest. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Ann C. Buell
Project Manager
(510) 286-0752
abuell@scc.ca.gov
1330 Broadway, 13th Floor
Oakland, California 94612-2512
@gp~
510.286.1015 Fax:510.286.0470
C a l i f o r n 1 a S t a t e C 0 a s t a l C o n s e r v a n c y
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
DRAFT REVISED PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
(Draft Revised EIR)
FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WATER TRAIL PLAN
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) has
revised the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the San
Francisco Bay Area Water Trail Plan (SCH # 2007112080). The Draft Revised EIR
document is available for review and/or purchase for the cost of reproduction at the
Conservancy's office (see below). In addition, the Draft Revised EIR can be reviewed
and downloaded from the internet at: http://www.scc.ca.jzov. The libraries listed below
will have one printed copy available for review, and all major libraries around the San
Francisco Bay Area offer internet access.
Countv Library Address
Alameda
Oakland Main Library, 125-14 St. Oakland, CA 94612, (510)
238-3138, Government Documents Department.
Contra Costa
El Cerrito Main Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito, CA
94530, (510) 526-7512, Reference Desk.
Marin
San Rafael Main Library, 1100 "E" St., San Rafael, CA 94901,
(415) 485-3323, Reference Desk.
Napa
Napa City & County Library, 580 Coombs St., Napa, CA 94559,
(707) 253-4241, Local Government Docs Reference Desk.
San Francisco
S.F. Public Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA
94102 (415) 557-4400, Government Information Department.
San Mateo
Redwood City Main Library, 1044 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City,
CA 94063, (650) 780-7018, Reference Desk.
Santa Clara
Palo Alto Main Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303,
(650) 329-2436, Reference Desk.
Solano
Benicia Public Library, 150 E. "L" St., Benicia, CA 94510, (707)
746-4343, Reference Desk.
Sonoma
Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma, CA
94952, (707) 763-9801, Reference Desk.
The public review and comment period for the Draft Revised EIR is from August 3
through September 21, 2010. A public meeting will be held on August 24, 2010 from
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Port Commission Hearing Room, Ferry Building, 2nd Floor,
San Francisco, CA 94111 to provide information and accept written comments on the
document. Directions may be found at http://www.ferrybuiIdingmarketplace.com.
Elevators are accessible from the security office on the north side of the entry stairway.
Notice of Availability Page 1
San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail Draft Revised EIR
State Coastal Conservancy
Written comments on the Draft Revised EIR may also be provided to: Ann Buell, Project
Manager, State Coastal Conservancy, 1330 Broadway, 13th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 286-1015; Fax: (510) 286-0470. ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS MUST
BE RECEIVED BY THE CONSERVANCY NO LATER THAN September 21,
2010, AT 4:00 P.M. Any person challenging the Conservancy's action on the EIR in
any future court proceeding may be limited to raising only those issues which have
been presented to the Conservancy in writing.
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail (Water Trail or WT) project, as described in the
San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail Plan, would create a network of landing and
launching sites, or "trailheads," to allow people in human-powered boats and beachable
sail craft (non-motorized, small boats) to enjoy the historic, scenic, and environmental
richness of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area through single and multiple-day trips
on the Bay. The WT is intended to promote safe and responsible use of the Bay, while
protecting and increasing appreciation of its environmental resources through education
and coordinated, strategic access to the Bay.
Trailhead owners and managers would join the Water Trail network on a voluntary basis,
as the Water Trail project has no regulatory powers. The vast majority of WT access sites
would be designated from a starting pool of existing and planned access points around the
Bay. A subgroup of these access points has been identified in the Water Trail Plan as WT
"Backbone Sites," meaning that they are thought to be potentially suitable for inclusion in
the Water Trail. The environmental analysis provided in this document focuses on these
112 Backbone Sites, while establishing the framework for the consideration of inclusion
of other, currently unidentified sites. This Draft Revised Programmatic EIR is intended to
provide full CEQA coverage for these sites. Subsequent CEQA review and documents
may be tiered off of this Program EIR, as needed, for specific sites.
This Draft Revised EIR also addresses the CEQA-mandated No-Project Alternative, a
High Opportunity Sites Only Alternative, and an Enhanced Water Trail Plan Alternative.
The Draft Revised EIR analyzes possible significant effects in the areas of recreation;
navigational safety; public services; aesthetics; biological resources - vegetation;
biological resources - birds; biological resources - other species; cultural resources;
hazards and hazardous materials; hydrology and water quality; land use planning;
transportation, circulation , and parking; and greenhouse gas emissions and climate
change. The Draft Revised EIR also identifies mitigation measures that will avoid,
reduce, or minimize each possible effect to a less than significant level.
Notice of Availability Page 2
San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail Draft Revised EIR -
State Coastal Conservancy
DIGEST
C.
July 29, 2010
TO: Bay Area Council Economic Institute Friends and Partners
FROM: Sean Randolph, President & CEO
I am pleased to enclose the latest report from the Economic Institute, The
Americas Cup: Economic Impacts of a Match on San Francisco Bay.
Commissioned by the City of San Francisco, it assesses the potential economic
benefits of a successful bid by San Francisco to host the Americas Cup race in
2013/2014. Interviews were conducted for the study with a broad range of
stakeholders; the impact numbers were developed in partnership with Beacon
Economics.
The gains from a successful bid would be substantial, with increased economic
activity conservatively totaling $1.4 billion, and the generation of nearly 9000
jobs. While concentrated in San Francisco, they would extend to the region,
primarily through spending by as many as 2.6 million spectators.
At this writing San Francisco remains the only U.S. city under consideration by
the BMW Oracle syndicate, which under the Cup's rules has the authority to
decide where to hold the race. Other locations outside the United States are still in
contention. The final decision should be announced later this year.
ye t
90" IG EST
METROPOLITAN Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter
M 1 Eighth Street
'r' TRANSPORTATION 10
L)
Oakland, CA 94607-4700
o
COMMISSION TEL 510.817.5700
TTY/TDD 510.817.5769
FAX 510.817.5848
E-MAIL info@mtc.ca.gov
WEB www.mtc.ca.gov
Scott Haggerty, Chair
July 30, 2010
Alameda County
RECEIVED
Adrienne. Tissier, Vice Chair
San Mateo County
T
A
b
d
AUG - 2010
om
zum
ra
o
U.S. Department of Housing
Ms. Margaret "Peggy" Curran
and Urban Development
Town of Tiburon TOWN MANAGERS OFFICE
Tom Bates
1505 Tiburon Boulevard TOWN OF TIBURON
Cities of Alameda County
Tiburon, CA 94920
Dean J. Chu
Cities of Santa Clara County
Dear Ms. Curran,
Dave Cortese
Association of Bay Area Governments
Over the next two years, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and
Citv and Countv ofs nFaDa`o
Association of Bay Area Governments will be preparing the Bay Area's
Sustainable Communities Strategy pursuant to Senate Bill 375. The region's
Bill Dodd
Napa County and Cities
success in this endeavor depends on the active engagement of local jurisdictions,
including the Town of Tiburon.
Dorene M. Giacopini
U.S. Department of -ransportation
We are mindful that a successful engagement process needs to be tailored to the
Federal D. Glover
Contra Costa County
unique relationships among the cities in each County and along major
transportation corridors. To this end, we have requested the assistance of each
Anne W. Halsted
Conservation
San D
p
n
on
county's Congestion Management Agency to help coordinate this engagement
evelop
me
and Development
nt
process.
Steve Kinsey
Marin County and Cities
We will be working with the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) to
SneLempert
Cities of San Mateo County
determine the logistics for beginning the process this fall. In the meantime, if you
have any questions about the next steps for the SCS, please contact Ann Flemer,
Jake Mackenzie
Sonoma Cotmty:md Cures
MTC's Deputy Executive Director, Policy at aflemer c mtc.ca.g ov or (510) 817-
v
5820.
Jon Rubin
San Francisco Mayor's Appointee
Ban Sartipi
Sincerely,
State Business, Transportation
and Housing Agency
James P. Spering
Solano County and Cities
Amy Rein Worth
,
Cities of Contra Costa County
Steve Heminger
Ken Yeager
Santa Clara C
County
Executive Director
cc: Steve Kinsey, MTC Commissioner
Steve Heminger
F'xmltive Director
Henry Gardner, ABAG Executive Director
Ann Flemer
DepurvExecutive Director, Policy
J:\SECTI0N\EXEC\AnnFlemer\Sl3375 Implementation\TAM SCS Letters\TAM SCS Letter Tiburon.doc
Andrew B. Fremier
Depnri Executive Director, Operations
Pacific Gas and
Electric Company'
DIGEST C
C
July 20, 2010
TOWN OF TIBURON
1505 TIBURON BLVD
TIBURON, CA 94920
Re: Account ID 8960102884
Dear TOWN OF TIBURON-
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is excited to inform you that we'll soon be installing SmartMeterT""
technology on gas meters in your area. PG&E's SmartMeterTM program will empower you to take greater control of
your energy consumption, use less energy, and save money.
In the next several weeks, PG&E or our authorized representative (Wellington Energy) will upgrade meter(s) listed
on page two for the account shown above. Here's what you can expect when we stop by:
• Your meter upgrade will only take place during regular business hours (Monday - Saturday).
• We'll attempt to make contact with someone on site before starting the work.
• It is not necessary that someone be present as long as we have access to the meter(s).
• If no one is present, we'll leave a note following our visit.
• Installation is simple and quick. We will add a small module to the gas meter. The upgrade doesn't require an
interruption to your gas service.
With SmartMeterTM automated meter-reading technology, you will no longer have to wait for a monthly bill to know
how much energy you use. Once your meter can be read remotely by the SmartMeterTM system, you will be able to
log on to www.pge.com/myaccount to see and track your hourly electric and daily gas energy use up to the
previous day. Until then a PG&E meter reader will continue to read your meter on a monthly basis just as they do
now.
Utilities throughout the nation and around the world are using SmartMeterTM technology with great success. At the
end of 2009, over 76 million advanced metering devices will be deployed world-wide, and that number is expected
to double by 2013. In the long run, the SmartMeterT"" program is expected to benefit our environment by
decreasing demand on the power grid, better utilizing renewable energy sources and reducing the need for
additional fossil-fuel power plants.
If you have questions about the SmartMeterT"^ program, or would like to learn more, visit
www.pge.com/smartmeter, or call us at 1-866-743-0263.
Sincerely,
J iF' .M er.~.ln. ~
William F. Devereaux
SmartMeterTM Program, Senior Director
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
MIACOMAG
Para mAs informacion o para solicitar estas materias en espa6ol, porfavor llamar a 1-800-660-6789, o it a pge.com/espanol.
4191-800-893-95557plJt91M 1A, pge.rom/chinew.
5martMeter- is a trademark of 5mart5ynch, Inc. and is used by permission. -F U&t" reters to F'aatic Uas and tlectnc company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. 02010 Pacific
Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.
a ~ r
:XMA
JUL 2 6 2010_-_
~O',AIN OFTIBUROIr
® Recycled Paper
30%Post-consamerWaste 62-1571 (12/09)
Mario Association of HEAUHS®
113 ► Political Advocacy
► Member Education
REALTOR' ► Professional Standards
40 Mitchell Boulevard, San Bafael, CA 94903
415-507-1000 • 415-507-1031 fax
www.MarinCountyREALTORS.com
August 3, 2010
Honorable Richard Collins, Mayor
Town of Tiburon
1155 Tiburon Blvd.
Tiburon, CA 94920
Dear Mayor Collins:
According to a front page story in the Marin Independent Journal last week:
Several of the county's sewer agencies are reworking their policies for lateral inspection
and upgrades, which typically run from $2, 000 to ,$10, 000 per household. In December,
several districts collaborated on a report outlining ways to reduce leakage into their
systems. The report included options ranging from grants and loans for homeowners to
increased sewer capacity to mandatory lateral inspections tied to a home's sale.
I am writing to remind you that point-of-sale retrofit ordinances are harmful to the
environment, home sellers, home buyers and the escrow process. Fortunately, there is a
better way to implement sewer lateral inspection, repair and replacement programs, as
discussed in the enclosed Marin Voice column by Bill McKeon, president of the Marin
Association of REALTORS.
Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting to
discuss this important matter further.
Best regards,
Edward Segal
Chief Executive Officer/Government Affairs Director
Enclosure: Marin IJ Article
u~teeu~e
` l€~ %E-g l l6 t ~ MMedialims
?HL'R~1) Y. JUNE 1;, 2C 10
30urnal
Group NE-f S':AJ-E <
Wl r
Abetter way to fix sewer pIVes
AS local governments grap-
ple with ways to ensure
compliance with public
policy mandates, it is important
to remember that carrots can be
better than sticks.
Sewer lateral inspection, repair
and replacement programs are a
case in point.
According to Brett Richards,
general manager of the Ross Val-
ley Sanitary District, root dam-
age and cracked pipes on private
and public property are primary
causes of sanitary sewer over-
flows that threaten public health
and the environment.
In an effort to help home and
business owners prevent danger-
ous and costly sewer spills, the
district pays half the cost or up
to $4,000 (whichever is less) to
repair private sewer pipes.
It is not alone in taking a pro-
gressive approach to the problem.
The Tamalpais Community
Services District offers grants
that have helped rehabilitate 120
laterals in the past six years. The
Sausalito-Marin Sanitary Dis-
trict offers grants of up to $1,000.
The Las Gallinas Valley Sani-
tary District is developing a loan
program for property owners.
These agencies and their for-
warding-thinking policies should
serve as role models for those who
administer or are considering
programs to address sewer lateral
challenges.
The issue becomes clouded
when decision-makers think that
linking repairs to the sale of a
property is the way to fix the
problem. The unfortunate reality
is that, these point-of-sale retrofit
ordinances are destined to take
decades to implement.. For exam-
ple, according to our recently up-
dated Housing Turnover Index, it
takes 45 years for all residential
housing to sell in San Rafael, 76
years in Larkspur and 102 years
in Kentfield.
Given the importance of sewer
laterals and the impact of faulty
laterals on our environment, any
proposal with a point-of-sale
trigger should be considered dead
on arrival. The trigger should
be replaced with more equitable
and effective alternatives such
as low-interest loan programs,
rebates, incentives and education
programs.
Frankly, despite their good
intentions, point-of-sale retrofit
ordinances are a bad way for any
government entity to achieve
policy goals. In addition to being
inefficient:
► The laws are unfair. To place
the burden of the whole commu-
nity on home buyers and sellers
is inequitable. Why should only
a segment of the population be
required to shoulder the burden
for something that impacts the
entire community?
The laws add complications
to real estate sales transactions.
Escrow is a time-sensitive pro-
cess. Another step only delays the
process and adds more stress to
the home buyer and home seller,
especially during these challeng-
ing economic times.
► The laws create another ex-
pensive cost. The cost of retro-
fitting or inspections can cause
the home sale price to increase
drastically, leaving the poten-
tial home buyer with an added
expense, and possibly, unable to
purchase a home.
The Marin Association of
Realtors has worked across the
county to help prevent or end
point-of-sale retrofit proposals
and ordinances. For example,
we teamed up with the Marin
Municipal Water District to help
terminate their toilet retrofit law
and waged a successful campaign
to defeat a proposed point-of-sale
sewer lateral retrofit ordinance in
North San Rafael.
We continue to advocate a Can-
do attitude, a proactive agenda
and ongoing education for both
local governments and our mem-
bers. That's why we stand ready,
willing and able to work with all
local officials to help identify,
implement and promote better
ways to help inspect and repair
sewer laterals.
As the Ross Valley Sanitary
District notes, their grant pro-
gram "is designed to help custom-
ers do what is good for them and
the community as a whole."
Everyone wants to do what, is
right for the environment and
the communities where they live.
Using more carrots and fewer
sticks will help ensure the results
we all want.
Bill McKeon is president of the Marin
Association of Realtors.