July 10, 2025

Deep Summer

We hope everyone had a lovely 4th of July celebration. It's pretty quiet in the valley with lots of folks still on adventures in lands near and far. But we hope those who are here, pop over the Cabin for some live music and good times with friends, neighbors and family! You know what I love about Creekside at the Cabin? We barely have to remind anyone to walk or bike. As the bikes line the fences, my smile grows and I take far too many photos. Because while this seems "natural" to us, it's not always the case and I just love that so many families ride over. What a great way to wrap up the week!

The band tomorrow night is the Fog City Swampers and it is sure to be a very fun, danceable show so head on down! Then join Michael Bogart on Saturday morning at 10am for Garden Talk - see more below - he'll have helpful summer gardening tips to share and plenty of time for Q&A as well as anything you would like to share or discuss.

Exciting news! Our climate intern, Abbie Sanger, has led the charge to get compost pails ready for every household in Tam Valley and they will be delivered soon! See below for more info.

Keep enjoying this special time of year, when the world moves a little slower and the sun peeks through the fog here and there. Better yet, chase the sun and soak it up every chance you can get!



Wishing you a safe and joy filled weekend!



TCSD Board Meeting Summary

The Board conducted a special Closed Session with legal counsel, prior to the regular meeting, to discuss existing litigation (Michael Gervais v. Tamalpais Community Services District). The Board announced after the closed session that there was no reportable action.

At the regular Board meeting, the Board took the following key actions:

• Approved an agreement with CMG Landscape Architecture for services to develop a Cabin Masterplan. The first meeting to discuss CMG’s site analysis and constraints is scheduled for the August 13^th Board meeting which will be held at the Cabin. 

• Discussed revisions to the draft 2025 update of the Sewer System Management Plan. A Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) in California is a comprehensive document that outlines how a public agency manages, operates, and maintains its sanitary sewer system. Its primary purpose is to minimize the occurrence of sewer spills and protect public health and the environment. The State Water Resource Control Board requires an update to SSMP every six (6 ) years. The TCSD SSMP update is an amended and restated version of the June 2019 SSMP.

• Received a  status update on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District (SMCSD) and the City of Sausalito regarding the transfer of Sausalito’s sewer collection system to SMCSD.

• Adopted a resolution approving notice of completion for the Phase E Sewer Improvement Project and the release of the project retention. Phase E included the replacement of sewer main pipeline of approximately 3,900 linear feet in and around Ash Street, Spruce Street, Pine Street, Poplar Street, Marin Avenue, Green Glen Way, Hilldale Way, Jean Street, and Northern Avenue. We also added 300 linear feet of new pipeline to Lattie Lane. The total cost was $916,823.93 which was funded by Certificates of Participation (COPs) for wastewater projects.

Click here to read the agenda.

PARC Meeting Update

The July 10^th PARC meeting was rescheduled to next Friday, July 18^th at 3:00pm in the TCSD main office on 305 Bell Lane.

Click here to view the agenda when it is posted next week.

Status of Use Permits for 305 Bell Lane and 203 Marin Avenue

We have some Good News and some Bad News.

As we previously reported, on June 16, the County of Marin Deputy Zoning Administrator (DZA) approved, with conditions, both use permit applications. The approvals were subject to appeal to the County Planning Commission. An appeal had to be submitted within eight (8) business days of approval, which in this case was June 27^th.

The GOOD NEWS is that the use permit approval for 203 Marin Ave was not appealed. This means TCSD is now allowed to have amplified music at Creekside Fridays, Oktoberfest, and Earth Day at the Community Center.

The BAD NEWS is that the use permit for 305 Bell Lane was appealed. This means TCSD cannot schedule a Debris Day or Household Hazardous Waste Day (HHWD) until the appeal is considered by the County Planning Commission. We anticipate a meeting date sometime in August. 

We will provide weekly updates in the newsletter as more information regarding the appeal becomes available on the County website.

Click here to read the appeal.

Click here for more background information on the use permit applications.

TRASH TALK

Compost Pails Coming Soon!

Great news! TCSD will be delivering compost pails to all residents during the week of July 21st, keep an eye out for a green pail on your doorstep. If you have a private driveway your pail may be left near your trash bins or mailbox. If you live in a multi-family unit and your pail can not be delivered to your doorstep it will be left in a communal area. 

Find a convenient spot in your kitchen to keep the pail. Use it to collect your household food/meal prep scraps and food soiled paper (e.g., napkins and paper towels). Then empty it outside in your green waste bin.   

Inside the pail, there will be a brochure with educational materials on what can and cannot go in your compost pail. If you have any additional questions or wish to return your pail because you already have a system that works well, please contact TCSD or stop by our office.  

We hope this distribution helps even more residents use the green bin consistenly and effectively. Thank you for your cooperation!

Thank You to Our Community Sponsors

We want to extend a huge thank you to our community sponsors who do so much to support our events. Good Earth, Fernwood and the Marin Community Grant all allow us to provide free, family friendly events year round and especially our summer concert series - Creekside Unplugged. Please remember to support all our local businesses as we celebrate summer and have a great time in Tam Valley. 

Tam Valley Tuesdays Speaker Series Survey - LAST CHANCE!

Thank you to all who filled out the survey so far! We have kept it up a bit longer than planned so we can hear from more of our community. Please take a moment to fill it out and help our Parks and Recreation Commission decide how this series will evolve and grow.

Click here to take the survey.

The survey will be open for a few more days so let us know what you think about the Tam Valley Tuesdays Speaker Series!



UPCOMING EVENTS

Creekside Unplugged

July 11th

The Cabin

60 Tennessee Valley Road

Join us tomorrow for the Fog City Swampers at the Cabin. We'll have face painting, picnic tables, room to spread out your blanket for a picnic and a great group of friends and neighbors. Come on down!

Pack a picnic or head into Tam Junction for some delicious food to go! Click here for a list of the wonderful options nearby, complete with QR codes for easy ordering. We will also have an easy drop off location for food if you decide to do delivery - the address at the Cabin is 60 Tennessee Valley Road. We will make it easy for drivers to drop off food.

Get more info here!

Garden Talk

July 12th -- 10am

The Cabin

Join our PARC Commissioner, Michael Bogart, for our quarterly series of Garden Talks. This casual garden series will start with a topic and information shared by our expert and then flow from there. It’s a chance to share your experience with your friends and neighbors and to learn from each other.

We’ll have tea and coffee to share, great conversation and a healthy dose of inspiration for your garden.

Click here for more information.

Senior Bingo

Every Wednesday at 11am

Tam Valley Community Center

Free and lunch provided

Our Bingo Bunch just keeps growing! Join us, every Wednesday at 11am, in the Community Center. Jack Schwartz calls the numbers and keeps everyone entertained. Lunch is included and usually served around 12noon. Come on down and join the fun!



RESOURCES

Southern Marin Fire Update

The Southern Marin Fire District, in cooperation with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), will soon begin a forest restoration and wildfire mitigation project targeting flammable vegetation near homes in high-risk areas.

Work is scheduled to begin in late July along the following streets:

Tam Valley – Tennessee Valley Road, Tennessee Glen Way, Villa Garden Drive, Eucalyptus Way and Eastwood Way

Click here for more information and updates about the work to be done.

Chipper Days

The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) is providing FREE chipping service for most areas in Marin County six times in 2025. 

Marin Wildfire is providing this service to residents within the Southern Marin Fire District's service area, which includes Tam Valley, as well as to those residents within the jurisdiction of other MWPA member agencies.



Click here to learn more.

It is an honor to bring you the news of Tam Valley each week. If you have any questions about our newsletter, want to see something included or would like more information about our events, please reach out to me at events@tamcsd.org.



Camille

Communications & Events Coordinator