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Ban on Gas Leaf Blowers Goes Into Effect on September 29
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A gasoline-powered leaf blower
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Gasoline-powered leaf blowers will be prohibited in Sausalito as of Thursday, September 29, 2022.
The ban was unanimously approved by the City Council on August 30 and is going into effect at the conclusion of a 30-day waiting period.
Also under the new ordinance, gas-powered lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, weed trimmers, and weed whackers will be banned as of January 31, 2023. A ban on gas-powered chainsaws and pole-mounted trimmers will go into effect on December 31, 2023.
The move was made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the community on the recommendation of the City's Sustainability Commission. Gas-powered leaf blowers have also been a common source of noise complaints by residents.
Limited exceptions to the ban include the use of gas-powered landscape equipment for disaster response, vegetation management by emergency services personnel, and maintenance of turf areas greater than 2,000 square feet.
If you believe someone is illegally operating gas-powered landscape equipment within city limits, please submit a Code Enforcement Complaint Form to ceofficer@sausalito.gov.
The contact information of complainants will remain confidential. However, in the event a court action is filed concerning the complaint, all information, including the complainant, may become part of the public record.
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Register to Vote or Check Your Registration Status for November 8
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The last day to register to vote in Sausalito's November 8 general municipal election is Monday, October 24.
If you are not sure if you are registered to vote, you can check your voter status with the California Secretary of State.
If you are not currently registered to vote, you can register online, through the mail, or in person:
- Online: To register over the internet, visit the California Online Voter Registration website and follow instructions.
- By mail: Postage-paid, pre-addressed registration forms may be obtained from any post office, city/town hall, public library, or fire station in Marin County.
- In person: You may register to vote in person at the Marin County Elections Department (3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 121) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Sausalito residents who have changed their name or moved must re-register to be eligible to vote.
From October 25 through Election Day, you may register online or at the Elections Department, but you must come to the Elections Department by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to get a ballot.
The City of Sausalito encourages Sausalito residents to vote in the November 8 election. Two local measures and two open seats on the City Council will be on the ballot, along with state propositions and state and national offices.
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Chili Cook-Off and Southview Park Grand Opening This Weekend
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A scene from the Chili Cook-Off in 2018
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Southview Park on Thursday, September 22
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Two big events will take place in Sausalito during the weekend of September 24: the 43rd Annual Chili Cook-Off and the Grand Opening of Southview Park. Everyone is invited to join in the fun with their fellow community members.
43rd Annual Chili Cook-Off:
- Date: Saturday, September 24
- Time: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
- Location: Dunphy Park
- Cost: $20 for a wristband for unlimited tasting; tickets available online and in-person on the day of the cook-off.
- Highlights: Fourteen competing chefs, music by Beaufunk, beer and wine for purchase.
Southview Park Grand Opening:
- Date: Sunday, September 25
- Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Location: Southview Park
- Highlights: Opening ceremonies from 11:10 to 11:45 a.m., followed by music, food, and drinks and demonstrations on the tennis and pickleball courts.
The weather forecast calls for temperatures in the 70s and clear skies on both days.
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Vehicle Collides with Historic "Castle by the Sea"
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The scene of the accident on September 18
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Residents of apartments at 221 Bridgeway received a rude awakening soon after midnight on Sunday, September 18 when an SUV crashed into the side of the building, which stands at the corner of Bridgeway and Richardson Street.
The female driver of the vehicle, who fled the scene of the accident on foot, was apprehended by police in downtown Sausalito and arrested for hit and run and driving under the influence.
Tenants at 221 Bridgeway were evacuated pending an evaluation of the structural integrity of the building. First responders from Southern Marin Fire also stopped a water leak that resulted from the collision.
The damaged building is listed on the City's inventory of historic structures as "Castle by the Sea." The twin-turreted structure was built in 1902 as a saloon with a bar and dining area on the main floor and rooms for rent above.
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Volunteers Needed for Haunted House
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Skeletons at the 2018 haunted house
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Sausalito's annual Halloween Haunted House is planned, designed, and operated by volunteers who collaborate with Parks and Recreation staff. If you are an adult or a high school student who enjoys being part of a fun and creative team, please consider joining up.
Volunteer opportunities for the 2022 haunted house include:
- Construction/design
- Set up
- Actors
- Ushers
- Take down
This year's haunted house will be open in the Game Room of City Hall from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 31. The theme is CLOWNS.
To sign up as a volunteer, or if you have any questions, please contact Recreation Coordinator Carly Bartlett at cbartlett@sausalito.gov or (415) 289-4152.
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News from the City, County, and State
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RHNA Lawsuit. The City Council has decided not to include Sausalito in a lawsuit against the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) over the 6th cycle housing element Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). According to a letter to the public from Mayor Janelle Kellman, "The basis for this decision is considerable case law concluding that Cities may not typically sue to challenge their RHNA allocations."
The litigation is supported by the California Alliance of Local Electeds (CALE), a "network of mayors, councilmembers and other elected officials who advocate in Sacramento on significant issues that contribute to the betterment of California's cities, including preservation of local control.”
The decision by the Council was made in closed session on September 20. Per the letter from Mayor Kellman, "The City will continue to monitor the legal progress of litigation, any challenges to the RHNA methodology, and any legislative changes pertaining to this important issue facing Sausalito."
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Masking Guidance. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has modified its COVID-19 guidance on the wearing of face coverings. Previously, mask wearing had been recommended statewide in all indoor public settings. Under the new guidance, masking recommendations are based on the CDC's COVID by County rating system.
As of September 23, Marin County's community level of COVID-19 was Low. According to CDPH, people in a county with a Low community level "may choose to mask at any time." People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
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Road Work on Richardson Bridge. Caltrans will soon begin a project to resurface the Richardson Bridge just north of Sausalito on Highway 101. The work involves the replacement of the existing asphalt surface with polyester concrete in both the northbound and southbound directions.
Lane closures will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25, when the two far-right northbound lanes will be closed until 8:00 a.m. The closure will start near the Rodeo Avenue off-ramp and end just before the Seminary Drive off-ramp. Northbound drivers should expect delays in the evening hours and use alternate routes if possible.
Grinding of asphalt and placement of polyester concrete on the bridge will continue between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. from Monday, September 26 through Friday, September 30. Due to the time of construction, there should be minimal delays for motorists.
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Volunteer Opportunity. Call a Ride for Sausalito Seniors (CARSS) is seeking volunteer drivers to help keep our older residents from becoming isolated when they no longer drive. Volunteer drivers pick people up and take them to destinations around Sausalito and the Gateway Shopping Center. There is no highway driving.
Prospective volunteers are encouraged to submit a volunteer application form. Any questions about volunteering may be directed to (415) 332-3325 or SausalitoVillageConcierge@gmail.com. CARSS is a City of Sausalito Age Friendly Program managed by Sausalito Village. More information can be found at www.carss4you.org.
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Playland Sausalito. Did you know the Parks and Recreation Department hosts an indoor bounce-house playground for ages 8 and under at the MLK Gym? Playland is open by reservation for family visits every Monday, Friday, and Saturday morning. The cost is $13 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. Playland is also available for birthday parties, with three time slots on Saturdays and two on Sundays.
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Sausalito and Marin City in the News. Below is a sampling of news stories about Sausalito and Marin City that appeared in local, regional, and national media over the past week. Links to articles requiring a paid subscription have been omitted, but some sites may require users to disable their ad blockers.
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Recap of City Council Meeting on September 20
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The Sausalito City Council held a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20. Pursuant to executive orders issued by Governor Gavin Newsom, the meeting was conducted remotely via Zoom. A complete video recording is available on the City website.
Below, in red italics, is a brief summary of actions taken at the meeting. For more information and supporting documents, including public comment via email, please view the meeting agenda.
Consent Calendar:
Approved response to Grand Jury.
- 3B. Response to Grand Jury Report Findings and Recommendations - "Electrifying Marin's Buildings: A Countywide Approach"
Approved response to Grand Jury.
Received and filed.
- 3D. Update Regarding Pacific Gas and Electric Company System Upgrades Within the City of Sausalito (Staff Report)
Received and filed.
- 3E. Adopt a Resolution to Continue to Conduct City Council Meetings and All Other City Board, Commission, and Committee Meetings Remotely Due to Health and Safety Concerns for the Public (Staff Report, Attachment 1- Draft Resolution)
Adopted resolution 6193.
Business Items:
Adopted resolution 6194.
- 5B. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Intertie to Install Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations at Parking Lot 2, City Hall, and Dunphy Park in an Amount of $116,624 and Authorize a Construction Contingency of $16,000 for a Total Authorized Amount of $132,624 (Staff Report, Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution, Attachment 2 - Intertie Proposal)
Adopted resolution 6195.
- 5C. Discussion and Direction on Rule 20B Electrical Undergrounding Program
Directed staff to bring this item back for further discussion.
Additional Items:
The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Tuesday, October 11, with the open session due to commence at approximately 7:00 p.m.
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Updates from Boards and Commissions
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No meetings of City of Sausalito boards and commissions are scheduled for the week of September 26.
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Programs and Events for Our Community
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Jazz and Blues by the Bay. The extended season of 2022 Jazz and Blues by the Bay concerts comes to an end on Friday, September 23 with a Zydeco show from Blackcat Zydeco. The concert in Gabrielson Park begins at 6:00 p.m. Free lawn seating is available. Please bring your own food and beverages.
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Green Thumbs. Volunteers from Sausalito Beautiful will be doing landscape maintenance at the Sausalito Post Office on the morning of Saturday, September 24, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Projects include planting, pruning, weeding, raking, and general cleanup. If you would like to join in the fun, please send email to greenthumbs@sausalitobeautiful.org. Tools, gloves, debris bags, and knee pads will be provided. The Sausalito Post Office is located at 150 Harbor Drive, adjacent to Mollie Stone's Market.
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Chili Cook-Off. The City of Sausalito will host its 43rd Chili Cook-off in Dunphy Park on Saturday, September 24. The event features all the chili you can eat for $20, plus live music from BeaufunK. The hours are 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event and may also be purchased online.
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Sale at Friends Bookstore. The Friends Bookstore on the upper level of Sausalito City Hall is overflowing with new donations. The solution? Another 1/2-off sale! Come in and check out the many new titles that have arrived recently, including fiction, mysteries, cookbooks, and art books. The sale continues on Saturday, September 24 and during regular hours (Saturdays from noon to 3:00 p.m. and Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) through October 1.
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Dancing at the MLK Gym. All are welcome to drop in for 90 minutes of dancing at the MLK Gym from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. every Sunday, including Sunday, September 25. These sessions are free to residents of Sausalito and the 94965 ZIP code, but a $10 donation is requested. For more information, please contact James Cavenaugh at jcavenaugh@mac.com. The MLK Gym is located at 610 Coloma Street, adjacent to MLK Park.
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Southview Park Grand Opening. With the completion of planting and landscaping and the installation of new benches, Southview Park in Sausalito's Hurricane Gulch neighborhood is ready for its long-awaited grand opening. Everyone in the community is invited to the park between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25 to tour the grounds, enjoy the stunning views of San Francisco and the Bay, and celebrate with a ribbon cutting, live music, and sports demonstrations on the tennis and pickleball courts.
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Voter's Choice Virtual Workshop. The Marin County Elections Department will host a virtual public workshop at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29 to educate voters about changes implemented with the Voter's Choice Act (VCA). One major change under VCA is a switch from Election Day polling places to several multi-day, regional vote centers at spots around the county. Please register in advance if you plan to attend the free webinar.
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Marin County Veterans Services. The Marin County Law Library will host a free informational webinar about Marin County Veterans Services at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 6. Marin County Veterans Services helps veterans, their spouses, and their children obtain all types of veteran benefits, including medical care, home loans, education and employment assistance, and substance-abuse treatment programs. Presenter Sean Stephens is the Director of Marin County Veterans Services and an advisor to the San Francisco Veterans Medical Center. During his service in the U.S. Army, Sean completed four tours in Afghanistan. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
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Sausalito Writers' Circle. Looking for a supportive group to share your writing with? Ready to tackle that story, novel, or poem? Interested in providing feedback to others? Whether you're an aspiring writer, a seasoned veteran, or somewhere in between, come join us on Sunday, October 9 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room. Your host at this Sausalito Library program is Sausalito resident, published author, and experienced workshop facilitator Cindy Knoebel. If interested in attending, please join the Meetup group and RSVP.
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Youth Transforming Justice. The Sausalito Woman's Club will host a special, in-person program at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12 featuring Executive Director Don Carney of Youth Transforming Justice and Teen Cannabis Prevention Trainer Talia Harter. Since Don established Youth Transforming Justice in 2004, the non-profit organization has diverted nearly 1,300 youth from the juvenile justice system. For more information, please contact Lauri Flynn at lauriflynn@msn.com. The Sausalito Woman's Club is located at 120 Central Avenue.
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Wednesday Night Live. All are invited to a free Wednesday Night Live concert at Cascais Plaza from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12. The featured performer for October will be Gary Graham's 19 Broadway Good Time Band playing 1930s and 1940s music from the American Songbook. Wednesday Night Live is produced by the City's Economic Development Advisory Committee, in partnership with the City of Sausalito and local restaurants and merchants.
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Rhapsody in Rune. The Sausalito Library will host a convocation of poets and writers in the Edgewater Room from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12. All are invited to enjoy refreshments while listening to local poets and writers read their work. If you are a poet or writer and would like to read a short piece, please RSVP. Any questions about the event may be directed to Jeffrey Jackson at jjackson@sausalito.gov. This program is co-sponsored by Sausalito Books by the Bay.
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City Council Candidates' Forum. The Sausalito Woman's Club and the League of Women Voters of Marin County will host a virtual forum with the four candidates for Sausalito City Council from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 13. Two seats are up for election in the General Municipal Election on November 8. To watch the live broadcast of the virtual forum, please tune in to the Marin County League of Women Voters YouTube channel on October 13. A video recording will be available after the event. Questions for the candidates may be submitted to SausalitoCityCouncil@marinlwv.org through October 10.
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Art Weekend Sausalito. The Sausalito Art Festival Foundation invites you to be among the first to see the newly remodeled Sausalito Center For The Arts (SCA) at Art Weekend Sausalito, a juried, benefit art sale with proceeds donated to SCA for its Phase I Buildout. This free event highlighting the work of 100 artists will be held on Friday, October 14, Saturday, October 15, and Sunday, October 16, with the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. The Sausalito Center for the Arts is located at 750 Bridgeway in the former Bank of America Building.
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Legends in Sail. Author Olaf Engvig will return to the Sausalito Library at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14 to present a maritime history program about the accomplishments of legendary Norwegian ships and their crews. Based on his book Legends in Sail, the multimedia presentation will bring to life these majestic sailing ships and their stories. Presenter Olaf Engvig is a maritime historian, photographer, author, and consultant. Today, he makes his home in Southern California.
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Artists@Issaquah. The work of 20 artists in 10 floating homes will be exhibited in a celebration of art, waterfront living, and creativity on the Issaquah Dock in Sausalito's floating home community. The Artists@Issaquah show and sale takes place on Saturday, October 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Glass, jewelry, painting, photography, and sculpture will be featured. The event is free; donations will be accepted to support art in local schools. Limited parking will be available at Gate Six Road. Founded in 2003, the Artists of Issaquah show nurtures both preprofessional and established artists, celebrates creative expression, and aims to develop the artist within.
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Intro to Coastal Rowing. The Sausalito-based Open Water Rowing Center will host a drop-in introduction to the aquatic sport of coastal rowing on Sunday, October 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Schoonmaker Beach. Attendees at this free event can try out coastal rowing boats, talk with rowers and instructors, and learn about coastal rowing for recreation or competition. At the conclusion, there will be a demonstration of coastal rowing sprint races. The Open Water Rowing Center is a non-profit membership benefit corporation with offices at 85 Liberty Ship Way.
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40th Anniversary Open House. Join the Headlands Center for the Arts for a special 40th anniversary open house from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16. Along with an opportunity to roam the various buildings of the campus, meet current artists, and experience works in progress, the day will feature film and performances by Headlands alumni. The Headlands Center for the Arts is located at 944 Simmonds Road in the Marin Headlands.
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Marin City History Exhibits. Two exhibits commemorating 80 years of Black history in Marin City will be on display at the Marin Civic Center and the nearby Bartolini Gallery through Tuesday, November 1. The exhibit at the Bartolini Gallery features memorabilia from Black shipyard workers, along with contemporary art, artifacts in various mediums, a virtual reality experience, and never-seen-before photos. The exhibit on the first and third floors of the Marin Civic Center tells a narrative of housing discrimination, land grabs, predatory developers, and the continual fight for housing rights and equality in Marin City.
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Connect with the City of Sausalito
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About Sausalito Currents
Sausalito Currents is written, compiled, and edited by Abbot Chambers, Director of Communications and City Librarian for the City of Sausalito. Any questions, comments, or suggestions may be directed to currents@sausalito.gov.
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