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Belvedere E-Newsletter February 16, 2018  |  Winter Edition
In this Issue		From the City Manager Craig Middleton Although numerous trees are beginning to bloom throughout the City, we are still officially in our winter season and hoping for more rain. As spring does approach, the City and Fire District will begin reminding property owners to clear brush and flammable debris from their yards in anticipation of the coming dry season. We hope the community will work together to make us all as safe as possible during this year’s fire season. Kudos to everyone who has worked so diligently to build the Block Captain program, a key piece of the multi-pronged effort to keep people safe in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. Several community members have signed up to become new block captains, and nearly half of our households have provided basic information to the City via the www.belvederecaptains.org website. Thank you! This important preventive work will no doubt pay off in improved public safety should an event occur. If you’d like to take a “Get Ready” class, please see the information contained in this newsletter. In coming months, the City will be working on a number of projects, including repairs to the seawall at Beach Road, installation of additional electric vehicle charging stations at City Hall, potential utilities undergrounding projects and improvements to lanes on Belvedere and Corinthian Islands. We will also continue to support great public programming offered by the Ranch and others. Please feel free to call City Hall with questions or concerns. Or just drop by. We’d love to hear from you. June 5, 2018, Election Information A general municipal election will be held in the City of Belvedere on Tuesday, the 5th day of June, 2018, for the following officers: Two City Councilmembers (Full term of four years) The nomination period for these offices began on February 12, 2018, and closes on March 9, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. If nomination papers for an incumbent officer of the city are not filed by March 9, 2018, the voters shall have until the 83rd day before the election, March 14, 2018, to nominate candidates other than the persons who are the incumbents. If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by § 10229, Elections Code of the State of California. The polls will be open between the hours of 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM For more information on how to become a candidate for City Council, or other general election questions, please contact the City Clerk (415-435-8913.) Tree Trimming on Lagoon Road PG&E will be performing tree trimming along Lagoon Road from February  19th – 23rd. This work is a preventative action to ensure adequate clearance is maintained between power lines and surrounding tree canopies. PG&E carries out routine tree inspections twice annually, or at the request of the City. These evaluations take place between March-April and again during the early fall season. PG&E arborists give special priority towards keeping trees well away from the primary power lines. These lines are typically found at the uppermost point of a utility pole and are uninsulated. Secondary lines are also uninsulated, however they carry far less voltage and are of minimal concern from a fire hazard perspective. If you have questions about the PG&E inspection program, or a specific concern about a tree, please contact the Public Works Department at (415) 435-4111.
June 5, 2018, Election Information Tree Trimming on Lagoon Road Annual Town Meeting Recap Tax Scam Precautions Parking in Belvedere Marin Master Gardeners Talks GetReady 94920! Winter Classes Spring Events at The Ranch Tiburon Wine Festival 2018 Music at Old St. Hilary's
Upcoming Meetings
Citizens' Flood Zone Committee February 27, 6:00 PM Parks and Open Space Committee March 8, 4:00 PM City Council March 12, 6:30 PM Planning Commission March 20, 6:30 PM *** Stay up to date on meeting times and cancellations and view agenda packets on the City's Website.
Quick Links
City's Website Website Calendar Get Ready 94920 Bel-Tib Library The Ranch (Recreation) Reed Union School District Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce County of Marin, 3rd District Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society Belvedere Community Foundation Marin Transit Rte 219 Shuttle		Annual Town Meeting Recap The City held its Annual Town Meeting on Monday, January 22, 2018. The highlight of the evening was celebrating Belvedere’s 2018 Citizens of the Year Glenn & Gaby Isaacson and 2018 Citizen Emerita Joan Bekins. The honorees’ many years of service to our community have had a tremendous impact on our residents, evidenced by the large crowd that gathered to commemorate them that evening. During the annual State of the City presentation, Mayor Winter, City Manager Middleton, and Police Chief Seyler summarized the City’s accomplishments over the past year and provided an update on the fiscal health of the City. Among the 2017 accomplishments were: Financed and paid down City’s $3.6 million unfunded pension liability. Reduced Greenhouse Gas emissions and met 2020 goal of 15% reduction 3 years early. Formed Golden Gate/Belvedere Utility Undergrounding District. Continued work on deer-related issues by forming the Deer Fencing Task Force Committee and installing deer resistant plantings in various City open spaces. Improved City’s disaster preparedness and Belvedere Block Captains programs. Looking ahead to 2018, the presentation covered efforts underway to improve traffic and flood control, continue the City Council’s goal of undergrounding all Belvedere utilities, expand our emergency preparedness programs, and focus on a City Lane Initiative to improve our network of steps and lanes. Copies of the State of the City presentation and 2017 Year in Review handout can also be viewed online.
		Tax Season Protection Tips With the tax season approaching, the Belvedere Police Department would like to remind residents to be vigilant in guarding their personal identifying information. In order for a criminal to file a fraudulent tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the criminal needs to do three things: obtain the victim's name and social security number (SSN) and file a tax return before the victim. Common scams used to obtain this information include phone calls where the call is purportedly from the IRS or other government agency. The scammers will demand a return phone call with your identifying information and will threaten “immediate action” to intimidate their victims. Other variations of this scam include emails asking for certain private information, such as a social security or bank account number, to receive an unclaimed tax refund. Lastly, mail theft in search of W-2s and other tax documents are more prevalent this time of year. If you receive a phone call or email that appears suspicious, please contact the Belvedere Police Department at (415) 435-3266 for help. Additional resources may be found at the following websites: IdentityTheft.gov (Federal Trade Commission) California Department of Justice: Identity Theft
		Parking on Belvedere Streets As citizens are aware, parking is at a premium throughout most of the City, especially on the island. Recently, the Police Department has seen a significant increase in reports of vehicles being parked outside designated lines and also reports of vehicles being parked in excess of 72 hours (in violation of Section 10.36.200 of the Belvedere Municipal Code). Hit and Run reports and the inability for larger vehicles to navigate the narrow streets are on the rise. The Belvedere Police Department prefers to see carports and garages used for their intended purpose of parking operable vehicles. The use of carports and garages for the storage of personal belongings causes operational vehicles to be parked on the street. Generally, our department encourages street parking be used primarily for guest and commercial parking. We like to see the narrow Belvedere streets to be kept as clear as possible for emergency vehicles and other large vehicles. As a good neighborly policy, we would like to request that all property owners use their carport and garage for the intended purpose of parking operational cars.
		Gardening talks at Landmarks Art & Garden Center The UC Marin Master Gardeners will host three talks at the Landmarks Society Art & Garden Center, 841 Tiburon Blvd. Each free talk is from 10 to 11 a.m. They are open to the public; no reservations necessary. For more information, contact Master Gardener Faith Brown at 415-435-5320. Invasives: More Than Just Bugs and Blooms Wednesday, March 7 Invasive plants brought in from other parts of the world represent a significant challenge to the natural environment of our country and our home landscapes. When a gardener thinks of an "exotic invasive," it is usually an insect or a plant. But there are exotic invasive diseases, aquatics and mammals that also pose threats to our native species and environments. Based on research by UC Cooperative Extension, Bob Mauceli will discuss some examples of these alien threats and what California is doing to deal with them. Before become a Marin Master Gardener in 2014, Mauceli was a Master Gardener in New York. He is also a member of the California Native Plant Society and is a birder. Caring for Your Vegetable Garden and Harvesting the Bounty Wednesday, April 4 Learn about how to care for your backyard crops during the growing season. Topics will include best watering practices, managing diseases and other problems, harvesting and storage. Speaker Anne-Marie Walker founded a UC award-winning program that teaches third- and fourth-grade students about edible gardening. She is certified by the University of California as a trainer for edible and sustainable landscapes. She now lives in Belvedere in the home where her husband grew up and chairs Belvedere’s Parks and Open Space Committee.
		Get Ready! Disaster Preparedness Classes Winter/Spring 2018 Schedule All classes will be held at the Tiburon Police Station 1155 Tiburon Boulevard Tuesday, February 13: 10am - 12pm Wednesday, February 28: 4pm - 6pm Wednesday, March 14: 4pm - 6pm Tuesday, March 27: 10am - 12pm Thursday, April 19: 5pm - 7pm Tuesday, May 8: 4pm - 6pm To sign up for a class, call Laurie Nilsen at (415)435-7386 or sign up online at www.getready94920.org
		Spring Events at The Ranch! Bunny Hop & Egg Scramble Sunday, March 25, 2018 Belvedere Community Park Come celebrate spring with carnival activities including carnival games, bounce house, face painting, life-sized Candyland, music, crafts, and more! 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM:  Carnival and Egg Scramble There will be four hunt during the event grouped by age 10:30am: 2 yrs & under on the grass; 4-5 yrs on the playground 11:15am: 2-3 yrs on the grass; 6+ years on the playground Ticket options: $1 Activity Tickets and $5 Egg Hunt Bracelet OR $20 all inclusive bracelet (includes 1 Egg Hunt, 2 rounds of Candyland and UNLIMITED carnival games, bounce house, crafts & face painting) Call The Ranch at (415) 435-4355 to purchase your tickets beginning Monday, March 5th at 9am. This event will take place rain or shine. Ticket available day-of. Angel Island Adventure Race Saturday, May 5, 2018 Angel Island State Park Our 3rd Annual Adventure Race is going to be our best race yet! If adventure and surprises get your adrenaline pumping, then it is time to test your skills and see if your team can complete our Junior Team Race, Family Team Race, or Adult Team Race on Angel Island. For more information, visit aiadventurerace.org.
		Tiburon Wine Festival 2018 Saturday, May 19, 2018 Point Tiburon Plaza One of the Bay Area’s premier wine events, the Tiburon Wine Festival showcases established and small production wineries, providing a rare opportunity to experience new wines (and savor old favorites), while meeting the winemakers behind them. At the same time, experience the harmony of fine wine and culinary talent as some of the area’s most popular restaurants and food purveyors provide delicious appetizers and gourmet food samples, such as artisan breads, cheeses and olive oils. Enjoy live music and a spectacular silent auction featuring one of kind experiences and special wines from participating wineries. Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 1 to 4 pm, at Point Tiburon Plaza, in downtown Tiburon. $80 for unlimited wine & food tasting. Advance tickets only. No refunds. Must be 21. Please bring valid government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license or passport for proof of age. No infants, strollers or animals allowed on event grounds. No exceptions. For more information, please visit tiburonwinefestival.org.
		Music at Old. St. Hilary's Sunday, March 25, 4:00 PM Duo Violão Brasil Duo Violão Brasil is the result of guitarists Rogério Souza and Edinho Gerber's reverence for Brazilian guitar, the violão, and their desire to explore and expand the musical possibilities of two violões together. With repertoire from composers like Pixinguinha, Baden Powell, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, the duo navigates effortlessly through the many styles of 20th century Brazilian popular music while showcasing original works and inventive arrangements. Presented by: Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society and Tiburon Heritage & Arts, with generous support from Bank of Marin. Tickets $20, general and $15, seniors/youths: advance purchase available at the Landmarks Office, Tiburon Town Hall and Brown Paper Tickets.