Fairfax Newsletter | October 1, 2024

TOWN NEWS

Town of Fairfax Officially Acquires the 100-Acre Open Space Property!

We are thrilled to announce that the Town of Fairfax has successfully closed escrow and is now the proud owner of the 100-acre property known as the Wall Property. This marks a major victory in our ongoing efforts to preserve open space and protect the natural beauty of our community.


To celebrate this achievement, we invite you to join us for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the newly acquired Open Space! After months of collaboration and community support, we’re excited to officially open this land for everyone to enjoy.


Event Details:

  • Date: Monday, October 14th
  • Time: 5:00 PM
  • Location: Top of Marinda Drive

Important Reminders:

  • Parking: Limited; please carpool or walk!
  • Terrain: Expect a slight incline along a rocky dirt road—wear sturdy shoes!
  • Refreshments: Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

We look forward to celebrating this milestone with the community and thanking everyone who made this acquisition possible. See you there!

Campaign Sign Etiquette: A Reminder to Our Community

As campaign season gets underway, we want to remind everyone to be respectful of campaign signs. Recently, we’ve received reports of campaign signs being stolen or defaced. Tampering with or removing signs without the owner’s permission is considered theft and is a crime under state law.


We encourage everyone to respect each other’s right to express their opinions through campaign signs, regardless of personal viewpoints. A diverse range of opinions is what makes our community vibrant and strong.


If you witness any signs being stolen, defaced, or tampered with, please report it to the Police Department's non-emergency line at (415) 453-5330.


Thank you for helping to keep our community respectful and safe.

Evacuation Drill Draws Huge Turnout

We are pleased to report that our recent Evacuation Drill was a huge success! The event saw strong community participation, with a total of 88 cars, 192 people, and even 5 dogs and 2 cats joining in to practice safe evacuation procedures. The drill was requested by Mayor Coler and provided an opportunity for residents to become more familiar with emergency protocols, ensuring we are all better prepared in case of a real emergency.


Following the drill, attendees visited our Information Fair, where they had the chance to learn more about disaster preparedness, connect with local safety agencies, and ask questions about how to keep their homes and families safe.


We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and made this event such a success. Your involvement and preparedness help keep our community resilient and safe!

Welcome to Our New Climate Action Coordinator

We are excited to welcome Bridget Wipfler as the Town’s new Climate Action Coordinator! Bridget brings a strong background in environmental planning and sustainability, with experience supporting greenhouse gas reduction efforts, advancing electric vehicle programs, and engaging communities in sustainability initiatives.


Bridget is looking forward to joining the team and collaborating on projects focused on resilience, adaptation, and reducing the Town’s environmental footprint. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome to the Fairfax community!

Marin Releases 2024 Homelessness Report

Marin County’s latest Point-in-Time (PIT) Count shows a 3% overall decrease in homelessness since 2022, with significant progress among veterans and chronically homeless individuals. Key findings include a 24% decrease in chronic homelessness, a 32% drop in veterans experiencing homelessness, and a 12% decrease in homeless families.


The report highlights both successes and ongoing challenges, with economic issues cited as the top cause of homelessness. For more details, visit the Marin County 2024 Homelessness Report.


Read the full Press Release.

Traffic Update: Bolinas Road Resiliency Projects

Ongoing repairs along Bolinas Road will include intermittent lane closures and traffic delays at various mileposts over the next two months. Expect short delays with flagger-controlled traffic and, in some areas, single-lane access controlled by a traffic signal. The road is fully closed to bikes on weekdays from Azalea Hill to Ridgecrest, but open on weekends with single-lane access at the construction zone. Please follow all traffic control measures for safety.


Learn more about these projects online!

Community Candy Drive for the Annual Halloween Celebration

Halloween is just around the corner, and that means Dominga and Napa Avenue will soon be buzzing with excited trick-or-treaters! To support the fun Halloween activity on Dominga and Napa, where the bulk of the town’s trick-or-treaters go each year, we’re collecting candy at Town Hall.


How You Can Help:


Donate bags of candy from October 14th to 28th at Town Hall (142 Bolinas Rd). Your donations will go to the households on Dominga and Napa Avenues. 

PLANNING & BUILDING

Short-Term Rentals Update

Since the Town began requiring that STRs register earlier this year, staff has learned that many STRs operating in Town are not eligible to register. Among other regulations, the municipal code requires that: the property is located in a low density residential zoning district; the unit is occupied, the majority of the time, by a permanent resident; and the property has available parking. 


The Planning Commission is considering changes to STR rules. On September 19, the Commission conducted a public hearing and discussed possible changes to potentially allow more STRs to register. The Commission continued the item to October 17 to allow for additional public testimony and may consider a recommendation to the Town Council. The Commission meeting starts at 7:00 P.M. at the Fairfax Women’s Club - 46 Park Road, Fairfax and can also be attended virtually via Zoom. Sign up for meeting updates online.


Visit Fairfax STR Program for more information.

FIRE SAFETY

Wildfire Risk Home Assessments

Starting as early as September 16th, local fire departments will start inspecting properties throughout Marin that have been identified to receive follow up wildfire risk evaluations.  If you had a Wildfire Risk evaluation this year, you MAY receive an additional evaluation.  If you are not at home, inspectors will only inspect what they can see from the street to your front door.


Learn more and view your home report online.

Sign up for Chipper Days this Fall

Chipper Day Program offers free curbside pickup and disposal of excess vegetation from residential properties. The purpose of the program is to help residents with the process of removal and disposal of flammable vegetation.


Last Chipper Days in Fairfax: Week of November 4th (Wed-Fri PICKUP


This program is funded by Measure C and managed by the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority. Don't miss it - sign up!

RECREATION

90+ Celebration - October 19!

Led by community members from Age Friendly Fairfax, the Town of Fairfax annually honors our nonagenarian Fairfax community members with gift bag home delivered to our residents.  


Confirmation letters will be sent out to 90+ residents to confirm who would like a gift bag. Contact Jackie Engstrom for more information.

Fairfax Art Walk 2024 - A Night of Creativity and Community

The 5th Annual Fairfax ArtWalk was a fantastic success! Last Friday, the streets of Fairfax came alive with art, music, and community spirit. The event brought together residents and visitors alike to enjoy an evening of visual art, live music, dance performances, and spoken word—all created by our talented local artists.


Participants strolled through town, admired diverse art displays, met the creators behind the work, and engaged in a fun scavenger hunt. The energy and excitement in the air truly reflected the vibrant creativity that thrives in Fairfax.


A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made this year’s ArtWalk such a memorable celebration of art and culture!

Town Picnic - A Huge Success!

The Townwide Picnic at Contratti Ball Field was a fantastic success! On September 21, families and friends gathered for a fun-filled day of music, food, and entertainment. Highlights included live music by the Tom Finch Band, an exciting reptile show, a puppet performance, and plenty of activities for kids, from bubbles and jousting to face painting and a bounce house.


A big thank you to our volunteers and sponsors, including, the Chamber of Commerce, Three Home Village, The Coffee Roastery, First Federal Savings & Loan of San Rafael, Revolution 9 and Fairfax Brewing Company. Your support and enthusiasm made this year’s picnic a memorable community celebration!

Fairfax Recreation Fall/Winter Guide

New! Functional Exercise with Tom – learn more online.

 

Some more highlights include: 

  • October 16th with Pulitzer Award Winner Hernan Diaz at the Pavilion
  • Toddler Music – starting October 15
  • Ballfax Youth Rec Club
  • Age Friendly Fairfax classes and events


UPCOMING MEETINGS

Parks and Recreation Commission

Monday, October 14 | 7:00 p.m.


Climate Action Committee 

Tuesday, October 15 | 7:00 p.m.


Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 16 | 7:00 p.m.


Planning Commission

Thursday, October 17 | 7:00 p.m.


See more public meetings.

EVENTS

International Bike to School Day - tomorrow!

Wednesday, October 2 | 8:00 a.m.

Fairfax Fire Station

 

Manor School PTA members will be guiding a bike parade in celebration of National Bike to School Day. The bike parade will leave from the Fairfax Fire Station at 8am that morning, arriving at Manor school around 8:20am.

 

Grab your helmet and your wheels and join students, parents, and Fairfax Police and Fire on Wednesday October 2!

Shop local at the Farmers' Market

Every Wednesday May – October | 4:00 – 8:00 PM

Bolinas Park


Grab dinner or pick up fresh veggies and baked goods to bring home. Enjoy live music, fresh handmade foods, artisans, and more!


*Mayor Coler, Town Manager Abrams, and other staff will be at the Farmers’ Market on September 18 and October 9.

Free Friday Night Film: Purple Mountains - Hosted by the Fairfax Climate Action Committee

Join us for a free screening of Purple Mountains, a compelling film featuring professional snowboarder and mountaineer Jeremy Jones as he embarks on a journey to find common ground with fellow outdoor enthusiasts across diverse political backgrounds. With stunning visuals and a focus on shared values, the film explores how we can bridge divides and unite around climate action. Learn more online.

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Keep Your Dog's Paws on the Right Side of the Law

Rabies vaccinations and dog licenses are mandatory in Marin County. Dog licenses not only help keep pets safe but also support animal services. Marin Humane now offers an easy online platform for buying or renewing licenses. Each tag has a unique code linking to a secure profile, making it easier to reunite lost pets with their owners. Visit Marin Humane’s Dog Licensing page to learn more.

Zero Waste Marin Week October 12-19

Zero Waste Week was started by Zero Waste Sonoma three years ago as a way to bring more zero waste-focused events to their communities, and this year they invited Zero Waste Marin to participate and bring events to Marin County. From clothing swaps, to compost giveaways, to film screenings – check out Zero Wate Marin’s website!

Age Friendly Fairfax

Age Friendly Newsletter


Read the October Age Friendly newsletter here.


If you're looking to get connected with or have questions about the Age Friendly community, contact the chair of Age Friendly Fairfax, Josa Buennagel, at jtuchel@gmail.com.


Ross Valley Senior Luncheon


The Ross Valley Seniors meet the first Thursday of the month for a social gathering and Bocce Ball at 11, lunch at noon and a variety of interesting programs from 1-2 pm. Be sure to join us for this lovely monthly gathering at the Fairfax Women’s Club – 46 Park Road.


Age Friendly Yoga


Are you 55 years and/or older in Fairfax? Don’t miss out on our free high quality Age Friendly Yoga classes with Kelly Lynch offered several times a week! We ask for suggested donations to help offset these incredible classes.

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