March-April 2015– pg 1 March-April 2015 Issue no. 2 Neighbor to Neighbor Bel Marin Keys Community Services District 4 Montego Key, Novato, CA 94949-5301 Ph: (415) 883-4222 Fax: (415) 883-3683 www.bmkcsd.us Board of Directors Darrick Chase, President Vince Lattanzio, Vice-President Ernie Ganas, Director Ruth Simpson, Director Mark Montobbio, Director Flushing Schedule April 20th – 22nd May 4th – 6th May 18th – 20th June 1st – 3rd June 15th - 17th VHF Channel 16 is monitored during flushing events Community Meeting: The Novato Watershed Program, featuring Historical Ecology of Lower Novato Creek Thursday, May 14th 7:00-8:30 PM Marin Humane Society Auditorium 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato Please join staff from the Marin County’s Novato Watershed Program and scientists from the San Francisco Estuary Institute for an introduction to the Novato Watershed Program and an intriguing presentation on the historical ecology of lower Novato Creek and surrounding baylands. Meet staff and neighbors and learn about efforts underway to improve the level of flood protection in Novato Creek. Learn about the historical ecology of lower Novato Creek, and discover how historic conditions may affect current and future flood control and habitat restoration actions. Find out about the Novato Watershed Program’s timelines and how to become involved. For more information and to sign www.marinwatersheds.org/novato.html up for updates: http:// An Important Announcement The Bel Marin Keys Women’s Club is sponsoring a Scholarship to benefit a High School Senior living in Bel Marin Keys who plans to attend College. The winner will receive at least a $1000 Scholarship to pursue his or her higher education. The winning Student will be presented with a check at the Women’s Club Lunch meeting on Friday, June 12, 2015, held at the Community Center. The winner will be asked to read his/her Essay at the lunch meeting and is encouraged to invite his or her immediate family to attend the ceremony. A Scholarship Committee will determine the winner. All eligible students will be notified once the judging is complete. Applications are being accepted now through May 27, 2015. You can pick up an Application that includes detailed eligibility requirements at the CSD Office or E-mail Lillian McCarthy at [email protected] to receive a PDF file. Any questions? Please call Lillian McCarthy at 415 599-5921. Thank you and good luck. Lillian McCarthy, President Bel Marin Keys Women’s Club March-April 2015– pg 2 Judy Arnold’s County Connection - BMK March 2015 Exciting New Partnership An exciting new partnership between NUSD (Novato Unified School District) and MCFL (Marin County Free Library) is moving forward! In February the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement between NUSD and MCFL for a School Community Library partnership. The School Community Library will be located on C Street in Hamilton Field, Novato. The agreement was developed in active collaboration between NUSD and MCFL that started in August 2013 and it aligns directly with the Library’s strategic plan which was developed with broad community input over the same time period. The School Community Library will first and foremost double the current space of the South Novato Library from 3,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet. It is an excellent example of government agencies working collaboratively for a common community purpose. The proposed location will create a learning center with two additional buildings, also totaling 6,000 square feet, operated by NUSD that will offer educational and community programs to the Novato community. This provides 12,000 square feet of new space dedicated to formal education and lifelong learning for the community. The agreement rests on the foundation of NUSD’s desire to promote the development of 21st Century skills in students by entering into a collaborative arrangement where the Library, in partnership with the School District, operates a community library facility to provide programs and services to support public education. It is the intention that NUSD and MCFL will develop and plan a longerterm arrangement where a permanent library facility is constructed on the site and/or on the adjacent parcel. This plan makes the library an integral part of the future community education center. In addition to supporting NUSD’s educational goals, the partnership specifically supports MCFL strategic plan goals, the Board of Supervisors 4th E (Education) Initiative, as well as efforts to improve equity in Marin County. (continued on page 4) Conserve Water On April 1st, Governor Jerry Brown ordered California’s first-ever mandatory water cutback, imposing a 25 percent reduction to force residents and businesses to significantly tighten up water usage. Governor Brown directed the State Water Resource Control Board to make the water reductions mandatory by requiring water districts to force restrictions on urban water users. The North Marin Water District (NMWD) will have a hearing on April 21st to review the mandatory 25 percent reduction. Last year the NMWD passed Ordinance Number 28, declaring the “existence of a water shortage emergency conditions within Novato service area, and prohibiting the non-essential use of water.” (www.nmwd.com) We can all do our part and help conserve water. Below are the water use prohibitions from 2014 that will continue in effect. Water Waste Prohibitions * Gutter flooding (unreasonable irrigation overspray or irrigation run-off onto pavement, down a gutter, ditch or other drain). * Failure to repair a controllable leak of water within a reasonable time. * Using water for non-recycling decorative fountains or single-pass cooling systems. * Washing down exterior paved areas. * Refilling a swimming pool drained after July 1, 2014. * Washing privately-owned motor vehicles, trailers and boats, except from a bucket and hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle for a quick rinse. Landscape Irrigation Requirements * Watering of any lawn, garden, landscape area permitted only with drip irrigation or by hand with a container or hose with automatic shut off nozzle. Overhead sprinkler irrigation can be used if the customer maintains an overall 20% reduction in water use when compared to the same billing period in 2013. (continued on page 4) March-April 2015– pg 3 The Compass Rose BMKCSD Waterways Manager Update Why is the water in the South Lagoon brown? We saw tremendous improvements to the water quality last winter due to the use of “Muck Away.” Muck Away is a sustained release beneficial bacteria and enzyme used for consumption of decomposed organic matter. As the Muck Away consumes biomass the particles become lighter and are suspended in the water column, therefore, turning water brown. We will be ramping up flushing events in the South to assist with exchanging the water to improve clarity. The Lagoons are regularly tested for swimming standards and general health for marine life. If levels exceed the County of Marin standards for swimming, residents would be informed via website, marquee and a notice at the CSD office. North & South Lagoon Navigation Locks Work Update: As spring closes in on us we are making tremendous efforts to clean and improve aesthetics at both Locks. We have started at the North and completed the coating of the 800 square foot deck with high visibility paint; pressure washing and recoating of the lock doors is next! We will be performing similar projects at the South Lock in addition to replacing the fenders inside the Lock. Montego Park Easter Egg Hunt What a day for our community, filled with fun activities. Over 1000 eggs were stuffed and hidden in the grass and, if that was not enough, kids were able to decorate Easter eggs and get their face painted. A big THANK YOU to the Yacht Club for putting on another great event for our community. Also, thank you to all those volunteers who helped out prior and on the day of the event. We truly are unique. March-April 2015– pg 4 Conserve Water (Continued from page 2) Customers using 300 gallons per day or less are permitted to use overhead sprinkler irrigation without the 20% reduction. *Overhead sprinkler irrigation permitted only between the hours of 7:00 PM and 9:00 AM of the next day. Violation Procedure 1) Customers in violation will receive a written or verbal warning and order that it be corrected immediately or within a specified time determined to be reasonable. Water service may be disconnected due to non-compliance with the order. Variance Procedure All customer questions and comments regarding the water use prohibitions for 2014 should be referred to the Water Conservation Hotline (415) 761-8944 or email at [email protected]. Judy Arnold’s County Connection (Continued from page 2) This partnership is an innovative approach to reach common goals and could create a model for new ways for school districts, local government and public library systems to aggregate resources to improve educational outcomes and provide better equity to educational resources for all members of the community. The School Community Library is planned to open in late June. As always, my door is open to you. I welcome your suggestions and ideas. You can reach me at: (415) 473-7331 or [email protected]. District Manager’s Report Summer is here, not sure where the Winter and Spring went. We are all eager to get out into the water and we want to remind residents to please be respectful of your fellow neighbors and watch your wake. Also, please make sure to follow the “no wake zones.” The District office has received concerns about boaters not adhering to the this regulation and speeding beyond the buoy markers. If you have friends coming to visit it is your responsibility to inform them of the rules to ensure the waterways are safe for everyone to use. The District office has received a number of concerns with regard to drain discharge which may come from street runoff or driveways. As you are all aware, the drains in Bel Marin flow/drain directly into our lagoons untreated. Please remind gardeners to not blow any yard clipping into the drains. Also, prevent paving material from entering the stormdrains and do not sweep or wash down any excess material or wash down fresh asphalt down the stormdrains. Many residents have been asking when the new FEMA FIRM map will take effect. We have not received any updated information from the County as to a set date for the new flood map. Once we receive notice we will post it on the marquee and send out a notice to all residents. We will do our best to provide as much information as possible. Keep in mind that it will still be up to your lender to mandate/enforce flood insurance on your home. As a reminder, all motorized vehicles are prohibited on the levees. The top of the South Lagoon Levee remains cordoned off as work to repair the lagoon wall and top of levee has been deferred. The lower levee road remains open to walkers and bike riders and the top road becomes available again near the red barn about a mile or so from the entrance gate. The BMKCSD has done some minor repairs to stabilize critical areas, however, the majority of work will actually be performed in 2015 and 2016. March-April 2015– pg 5 Friends Of Novato Creek Update: April 2015 Hi Neighbors, Friends of Novato Creek (FNC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2003, for the purposes of stewardship, monitoring and public education about the 44 square mile watershed that is the Novato Creek Watershed, of which, Bel Marin Keys is an integral part. Stretching from above Stafford Lake Reservoir to the San Pablo Bay we have a number of varied ecosystems in the watershed to help monitor and protect. As part of our steward-ship goals FNC was involved in working with government agencies during the cleanup of Hamilton Air Force Base. We hold creek and bayfront cleanups, paint storm drains, monitor water and habitat quality, advocate for wildlife protection and hunting restrictions, and create and install interpretive educational signage and much more! Earth Day/ Novato Clean and Green Day Cleanup: Meet at Pacheco Pond parking area Saturday, April 25th at 9:00 AM Information: Call Sue Lattanzio at 415-710-4787 Watershed Public Meeting : May 14, 2015 7:00 PM Marin Humane Society FNC has worked with the County and Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPP) toward the goal of establishing a Novato Creek Watershed Management Plan since we were founded. We have received various grants for monitoring the environment, which has contributed to the baseline information about the Novato Creek. Over the past two years County staff has been actively gathering data and developing a draft watershed management plan. As a result of this work the County is holding its first public meeting on Thursday, May 14th, 7:00pm - 8:30 pm at the Marin Humane Society to share information on the historical ecology of the Novato Creek and surrounding baylands presented by San Francisco Estuary Institute. For more information see the link at http:// www.marinwatersheds.org/novato.html. New Signage at Pacheco Pond Have you noticed the new signage at the Pacheco Pond parking lot ? FNC created and installed the original sign over 10 years ago and it was long overdue for an update and replacement. FNC received a grant in 2014, through the Marin County Fish and Wildlife Commission and with many generous donations from local businesses and BMK neighbors like you; we’ve been able to replace this sign with a durable high pressure laminate that will last for many years to come. Thanks to everyone who donated and remember we survive on donations and grants for supplies and materials. All other support for FNC is based on volunteers. Remember your donation is tax deductible! www.novatocreek.org March-April 2015– pg 6 Public Advocate PRESS RELEASE BMK The Public Advocate TV Discussion show produced and hosted by BMK resident Shirley Graves is on Novato Public Access TV Channel 26 every Wednesday night at 8 p.m and at 10:00 a.m. every Saturday. It can also be seen on the internet at www.cmcm.tv on the fourth Monday at 9 p.m. and the next day at 3 p.m. because Marin Channel 26 is simulcast. April shows feature the Italian Street Painting Festival Organization – the group responsible for the colorful streets in downtown San Rafael every year. Sue Carlomagno and 3 of the regular artists will tell about past years events and plans for this year’s show on June 27 and 28. May shows feature a political discussion with Democrat Greg Brockbank discussing current issues and possible candidates with Republican Morgan Kelly. Call Graves with any questions or suggestions at 883-4834. WANTED Outboard motor 7hp to 15hp Contact George (415) 883-6757 Hugh Smith Carpentry Lic # 924 334 BMK resident Docks, decks, cabinetry and repairs Call: 415 328 3220 ***THE DISTRICT DOES NOT ENDORSE OR RECOMMEND ANY ADVERTISEMENT *** March-April 2015– pg 7 Community Calendar 2015: Community Garage Sale: June 6th and 7th. This is a rain or shine event. 4th of July Sail-a-bration: Look for flyers on this event.
© Copyright 2024