February 28, 2025

Spring is Popping Up all Around Us

Thank you to all who joined us for our Tam Valley Tuesdays Speaker Series - it was so lovely to learn more about how we can make our gardens more friendly for Monarchs. We shared milkweed seeds with everyone who attended. We will have milkweed seeds and starts at our Earth Day celebration - April 26th - mark your calendars and stay tuned for more info soon! And take a look below to find out about our next speaker - Fabrice Florin!

Tonight is Movie Night! We will be featuring Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It's a free event and will be fun for the whole family! Thank you to all who have RSVP'd - we have more room so please come on down - movie starts at 6pm!

Our next Spaghetti Bingo is March 21st - see below for more info including how to get your tickets! They sell out quick so hop on it soon. We can't wait to see you there.

Lots happening as we move towards spring. Join us this Wednesday at 7pm in the Community Center to support keeping our live musical events and debris days going. The Tamalpais Design Review Board will be considering our use permit applications. See below for more info.

Wishing you a safe and joy filled weekend!



We Need Your Support to Continue TCSD Events

Thank you to those of you who signed the letter in support of TCSD’s use permit. Over 800 people have signed the letter of support. We have submitted the letter of support to County staff and the Tamalpais Design Review Board (DRB).

If you have the time, next Wednesday, March 5^th, the Tamalpais Design Review Board (DRB) is scheduled to consider the TCSD use permit applications at 7:00pm in the Tam Valley Community Center. The DRB makes recommendations to the Marin County Deputy Zoning Administrator (DZA), who makes the decision regarding the applications at a public hearing (date/time tbd). It would be greatly appreciated if you could attend the DRB meeting in support of the TCSD applications.

Specifically, the use permit application for 203 Marin Ave. will allow TCSD to continue to have bands (amplified outdoor music) at Creekside Fridays, Oktoberfest, and Earth Day events at the Tam Valley Community Center. The use permit application for 305 Bell Lane will allow TCSD to continue to offer Debris Day twice a year as well as clarify what constitutes solid waste vehicle operations.

The applications are in response to threatened litigation against TCSD by a neighboring resident and a code enforcement action triggered by a resident’s anonymous complaint. 

It is very important that we demonstrate to TDRB community support for continuing TCSD events and operations at our current location.

We encourage you to e-sign a letter of support for the TCSD applications. Click here to sign or send a letter.

Thank you in advance for your support.

THE STRAIGHT FLUSH REPORT

From the desk Garrett Toy, General Manager

Welcome to the first edition of “The Straight Flush Report.” Similar to “Trash Talk,” this article will focus on TCSD’s wastewater system (i.e., sewer collection). Trash Talk and The Straight Flush Report are intended to replace the quarterly “Notes from the General Manager” in the newsletter.

Every other month or so, we will provide tidbits of information on the wastewater system.

This month’s edition takes a look at TCSD’s past and future efforts to replace the sewer main pipes in the District. This was one of the topics discussed at the Board’s February 26^th work session. 

Every year TCSD targets a section of pipeline to be replaced with the goal of replacing all the pipes over the next 25-30 years. The industry standard is to replace old pipe with new plastic pipe. Since 2008, TCSD has replaced over 49,500 linear feet or approximately 9 miles of sewer main pipelines. TCSD maintains approximately 30 miles of sewer main pipes.

 The pipe being replaced is often 50-70 years old and consists of different materials such as clay and/or asbestos cement pipe (ACP). These older pipes allow more I&I into the system. I&I, or Inflow and Infiltration, occurs when stormwater or groundwater enter sewer pipes through cracks, leaky seals, or faulty or illegal connections. Collection systems can be damaged when they are forced to transport more flow than they are designed to handle.  Excess water from I&I can trigger sewer spills. Infiltration can also cause pipe structure failures due to erosion of soil support, and ground subsidence due to erosion of underground soil. In addition, increased effluent also raises costs for wastewater treatment facilities, because harmless stormwater and groundwater mix with sewage. In many cases, inflow and infiltration (I&I) can account for up to 45% of the annual flow to treatment plants. Your annual sewer fees pay for maintenance costs, sewer treatment costs, and current and future capital projects.

The Table below shows the average replacement footage per year. Over the next ten years, we anticipate replacing an average of 2,000-3,000 linear feet of pipe per year. This is based on an annual budget of $900,000-$1,200,000 allocated toward pipeline replacement. 

Click here for a map of the tentative locations for capital projects over the next five years.

Next time, we’ll discuss TCSD’s private sewer lateral inspection program.

BTW, the title of this article is a work in progress. If you have any ideas, email us at info@tamcsd.org. If we use your suggestion, your name and picture will be in the newsletter along with the next article.

Next Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

March 5th at 3pm

Tam Valley Community Center 

At its March 5^th meeting, PARC plans to:

• Discuss PARC work/activity plan including upcoming events and alternative schedule for events, TCSD communications (e.g., newsletter), preliminary budget resources for FY25-26, and goals and priorities for 2025.
• Discuss the community center masterplan workshop held on February 12^th.
• Discuss TCSD Board comments on the proposed shade structure in Kay Park.
• Discuss improvements to the Rock Garden at Flamingo.
• Consider request to reserve tennis courts for Tam Elementary fundraising event. 

Please note this meeting is being held on Wednesday this month.

Read the agenda here.



UPCOMING EVENTS

Movie Night - TONIGHT!

February 28th

Doors at 5:30

Movie at 6pm

Tam Valley Community Center

FREE

Join us for a fun and cozy evening in the Community Center! Bring pillows and blankets to get cozy.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Claymation sensation about the bumbling inventor and his silent canine companion trying to trap a beast that's been ravaging neighborhood vegetable patches.

This is a free event - come on down to the Community Center tonight!

Tam Tuesdays Speaker Series

March 25th at 7pm

Tam Valley Community Center

FREE

Creating Your Green Home: Actionable Steps with Fabrice Florin

Join us to hear all about the steps Fabrice and Phyllis Florin have taken to transform their lifestyle and join a community of like minds to address climate change. With photos and videos, Fabrice will share his family’s journey to a carbon-neutral lifestyle, describing the process of creating their green home and the climate actions they took to reduce their carbon emissions by half. Fabrice will also talk about Green Change, and its successes. Come hear practical strategies for making your own changes.

There is no charge for this event however an RSVP is greatly appreciated so we can plan for the evening.

Click here to learn more and to RSVP.

Spaghetti Bingo

March 21st

6pm

Mark your calendars for this super fun, family friendly event! Tickets go on sale today!

Click here for tickets.

Senior Bingo

Every Wednesday at 11am

Tam Valley Community Center

Free and lunch provided

Join us for bingo, 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 Bingo Bunch!



RESOURCES

Mill Valley Library

Empowered Caregiver Series

March 7th at 10:30am

Managing Money: A Caregiver's Guide to Finances

This Alzheimer's Association series teaches caregivers how to navigate caring for someone with dementia. Participants receive activities to apply person- centered care approaches to your own caregiving situation.

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