Today, the majority of the City's services are still provided from this building. The offices for the City Manager, Community Development, Public Works, Recreation and Library Departments are located in City Hall. Although the City Council chambers is still located in the building, this room with a capacity of only 67 people also doubles as the only public meeting place on the premises.

The building is conveniently located in downtown Larkspur at 400 Magnolia Avenue. The architectural integrity of the building is intact and the historical aspects of the building are valuable to the community. It remains one of the most beautiful buildings in Larkspur.

However, City Hall is in dire need of rehabilitation.

Seismic retrofitting is needed to ensure the safety of the employees and the public. The building is not safe and it poses a potential liability to the community. Accessibility issues must also be address to bring the City into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other accessibility-related laws.

Plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are insufficient to provide comfortable working conditions for the employees. For example, only half of the building can be heated at one time. On a cold morning, City Manager Jean Bonander has been known to come to work bundled in layers of clothing, anticipating that the heating system will work in her office for several hours. By noon, her hands and fingers are usually numb. In addition, the electrical system is inadequate to meet the power requirements for the technology that is necessary to run an efficient operation.

It becomes more and more difficult serve employees let alone the customers. The size of the current staff is 51 has remained constant for several years and headcount is not expected to change. At this level, there is no room for file storage and employees are forced to do the best they can in crowded conditions. The mentality of "making do" does not align itself with supporting effective service levels. Bonander feels fortunate that the employees like the building and work together so well.

With space permitting, relocation of employees to another facility could be an alternative, but the simplified communications among staff members in close proximity to one another would be lost. Moving all city services to another location is also an alternative, but City Hall in its existing location is an integral part of the community. It could mean destroying a landmark building since it is unlikely the facility will have any well use in its current form and design. If City Hall remains at the current location, at least a historical ordinance would require that the appearance and integrity of the building be closely maintained for its original use.

Prior to the formation of the Larkspur 2050 Committee, many of these areas of concern had been reviewed and the cost of these various renovation projects was estimated to be nearly $3.3 million. Although the study was completed two years ago, there is a solid foundation and the basic premise is well grounded in its factual basis.

Bonander feels the consequence of ignoring these problems would result in diminishing service levels and a higher cost of maintenance, cleaning, and repair. Although the changes would not be noticeable over a short period of time, the incremental cost to support the facility would continue to rise with the passage of time.

The Larkspur 2050 Committee will be evaluating these and other potential alternatives for City Hall. To provide your comments and feedback on this topic, call Jean Bonander at 927-5110 , or send an e-mail with your suggestions.

In two weeks, the Twin Cities Times will review the key issues for the Larkspur Public Library.

The Larkspur 2050 Committee is a City Council appointed group responsible for analyzing the state of all public facilities, both above and below ground. This would include evaluating City Hall, the library, fire stations, the police station, the corporation yard, public parks, roadways, flood control and storm drains, and other facilities.

The Committee recently met on December 7^th to review the effectiveness of the November 20th workshop, and to evaluate the quality of the public's reaction to the information presented in each area. The general sentiment was mixed. Although attendees felt the information was very educational, the date of the workshop (the Saturday before Thanksgiving) was not the most conducive for getting the widespread participation of the community. In addition, Greenbrae area residents located within the Larkspur City limits were not informed of the workshop due to an oversight in the distribution of the Larkspur 2050 newsletter.

Another workshop in now being considered for some time in January. This will give residents a second opportunity to learn about the City's infrastructure needs directly from the senior members of the staff. Similar to the first workshop, attendees will be given the opportunity to provide feedback on the specific issues.

The Committee will now take a closer look into the specific requirements of each potential project. Committee member and City Councilman Ron Arlas recommended that preparation for the next workshop should also include an analysis and evaluation of the potential financing alternatives.

In 1906, the Larkspur Fire Department was an all-volunteer, one-hose cart operation. The fire house was originally located in the building currently occupied by the Silver Peso. Seven years later, the fire department moved into a room on the first floor of City Hall. The present Downtown Fire Station was built by the volunteers in 1939 with proceeds from the Rose Bowl dances.

Since 1957, the City of Larkspur has assumed ownership and responsibility for the fire department. The eighteen full-time fire service employees and one code enforcement officer carryout the majority of the department's programs and respond to fires. A force of about 25 volunteers continues to provide a wide variety of support functions.

The department responds to approximately 1,200 calls per year. Although fire suppression remains a focus of the department's activities, which includes a high volume of vehicle fires on Highway 101, 75% to 80% of the calls are medically related. In addition, major community service programs are available to local residents who want to receive training in disaster preparedness, fire prevention, first-aid and CPR.

On any given shift, there are two firefighters based at the Downtown Fire Station. As much as there is a historical significance of being a part of Larkspur's downtown heritage, Fire Chief Robert Sinnott points out that maintaining a facility in or close to "target hazard" areas is the most important criteria for determining the location. Madrone Canyon is one such area. Downtown Larkspur itself is another, as many of the old historical wooden buildings have no property line setbacks or sprinkler systems to help reduce the likelihood of a fire spreading from building to building.

Ironically, the fire station is one of the buildings without a sprinkler system. Seismic retrofitting and the replacement of antiquated electrical systems are other renovations that are necessary to maintain public safety. In addition, the building does not provide access and accommodation in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act. Legally, the space cannot be utilized by anyone other than emergency personnel.

Optimizing the use of the existing space in the fire station would be beneficial to both the city and the community. Overcrowded conditions could be alleviated if enough city employees were relocated from City Hall. In addition, the public would have use of a large room on the second floor for meetings or gatherings.

Functionality must also be taken into consideration for any renovation plan. Garage doors would have to accommodate today's larger fire vehicles, gender specific shower/restroom facilities and private sleeping quarters would need to be installed, and there should be adequate parking available when larger emergencies call for additional personnel. In addition, if the fire station is to serve as additional office space and a public meeting place, access should not infringe on the living quarters of the fire fighting staff.

A preliminary study from 1998 estimated that a seismic upgrade of the Downtown Fire Station would cost $988,000. Connecting City Hall with the fire house, thereby adding 38% more square footage, could be another $800,000. The number of fire agencies and stations in the Ross Valley considered to be excessive, the consolidation fire services for all the Ross Valley municipalities may present alternatives that are more cost-effective and efficient.

As the Larkspur 2050 Committee continues to evaluate infrastructure needs, financing options and priorities, residents are strongly encouraged to share their ideas and provide feedback on how the fire department can maintain service levels for adequate fire protection and medical support. Comments can be made to City Manager Jean Bonander by calling 927-5110, or sending an e-mail with your feedback or suggestions.

In two weeks, the Twin Cities Times will review the key issues for public streets and roadways.

The Larkspur Women's Improvement Club founded the Larkspur Library in 1913. The Library was originally funded through private donations and staffed with volunteers. Although the City assumed responsibility in 1923, volunteer efforts and private and grand funding are still vital to the operation.

The Library was once a small room on the first floor of City Hall. Over the years, if has been renovated to become one of the most beautiful and inviting libraries in the Bay Area. The award winning architectural design and décor creates a unique and comfortable environment for the 500 patrons who make use of this facility each day.

Larkspur residents have access to a broad and balanced collection of 55,000 books for adults as well as children. The Library has an average circulation of 7,800 books per month. In addition, there are magazines, newspapers and one of the largest collections of audio books in Marin County.

By comparison, the public library in neighboring Corte Madera has a collection of 77,000 books. The larger selection is clearly reflected in a monthly circulation of nearly 25,200 books. This level, which is over three times that of the Larkspur Library, is achieved with a collection that is only 40% larger.

Much like other departments that occupy City Hall, Library Director Frances Gordon and her staff are burdened by the challenges of insufficient space in a building that is in desperate need of renovation (see December 14th segment on City Hall).

The lack of shelf space seriously limits the size of the collection and impedes any effort for expansion. The addition of new books may mean the removal of existing books from the shelves. Consequently, library usage can end up being limited to certain segments of the community. For example, the limited physical space precludes establishing a section for young adults.

Space constraints affect service levels in other ways. Although patrons may receive very personal attention, there is insufficient office and working space to maintain adequate staffing levels. Current capacity only allows for processing about 150 books per week. This is only about 30% of the desired level of output.

Although remodeling City Hall may make the structure more seismically safe and compliant with laws governing accessibility for people with disabilities, it doesn't seem likely that a renovation will meet the space requirements of all the City departments currently occupying the building.

The Library is readily accessible to residents in its downtown location, but a new library facility is a possible consideration. With the development of outreach programs to surrounding schools, proximity to these facilities would be a factor in selecting a new location. The potential availability of another city facility, such as the police station or downtown fire station, could be made possible if those functions were to relocate to a site deemed to be more suitable for providing a higher level of service. For example, a Doherty Drive location for the police station is not in a central location for the two Twin Cities communities.

One of the objectives of the Larkspur 2050 Committee is to evaluate Larkspur's infrastructure needs for the next fifty years. For the Library, the accessibility of information and the ability to gather, compile, and analyze reference material will continue to improve with advances in technology. The capability to be wired into MarinNET, a network connecting all the libraries in the County, is one project that will increase the service level to meet the needs of library patrons in the 21^st Century.

The Committee would like residents to share their ideas on what infrastructure issues are important if the Library is to be a key economic resource for our community. Comments can be made to City Manager Jean Bonander by calling 927-5110, or sending an e-mail with your feedback or suggestions.

In two weeks, the Twin Cities Times will review the key issues for the Downtown Fire Station.

There are approximately 45 miles of streets and roads in Larkspur. The Department of Public Works and Engineering maintains about 90% of the 41 miles owned by the City.

Larkspur residents have grown to appreciate the high quality of life in this community. There is an expectation of a good and healthy infrastructure with streets that are properly maintained.

Many of Larkspur's streets were paved early in the 20^th Century. By modern engineering standards, many of these older streets are more prone to deterioration since they lack a properly compacted base or an adequate rock underlayment. The result is a faster rate of deterioration than more contemporary roadways.

Hamid Shamsapour, the Director of Public Works, would like to see all sub-standard streets replaced. Depending on the weight and volume of traffic, a properly build street does not need repaving for ten to twenty years and the addition of a sealer every five years can further prolong the life of the roadway.

However, budget constraints have not allowed for the proper reconstruction of older streets. Since it cost ten times more to rebuild a street ($111/square foot) than to repave it ($11/square foot), the City has simply applied another coat of asphalt to patch the surface. The basic components are still inadequate and the street is in need of repair again a few short years.

Streets become excessively high in the center and steeply sloping towards the curbs as a result of applying another layer of asphalt over the existing surface. This crown causes roads to wear at even faster rate to the point that City-owned streets are deteriorating faster than they can be repaired.

Over one-third of the publicly maintained streets will require maintenance in the next five years. The estimated cost of repaving these streets is over $4.2 million. Just over half this cost would go towards reconstructing portions of Doherty Drive, Cane Street and Magnolia, Alexander and William Avenues.

Although federal and state grants may be available for special projects, annual state gas tax money ($200,000) and budget surpluses placed in the Capital Improvement Fund ($200,000-$400,000) are inadequate to meet the five-year repairs needs. Delaying any decision to rehabilitate an aging infrastructure in need of immediate attention further compounds the existing problems. The annual cost of repairs will steadily increase and further deterioration of streets can also have a negative impact on public safety.

The Larkspur 2050 Committee recently began looking at the possible financing options for road repair and other infrastructure projects. The investment banking firm of Mark Pressman Associates recently presented an analysis of seven types of bonds as alternatives. Each type of financing has variations on the how the proceeds can be used, the extent of voter approval needed, and the source of funds for repayment of the debt (to be discussed in a future article specifically on financing options).

Residents are strongly encouraged to share their ideas and provide feedback on the importance of maintaining streets and roadways in Larkspur. Comments can be made to City Manager Jean Bonander by calling 927-5110, or sending an e-mail with your feedback or suggestions.

In two weeks, the Twin Cities Times will review the key issues related to downtown parking.

In 1980, the Larkspur and Corte Madera Police Departments consolidated their operations into the Twin Cities Police Authority (TCPA). This is the first and remains the only such consolidation of police agencies in California.

TCPA headquarters (Station One) is at 250 Doherty Drive. The building is a temporary wood frame structure that was constructed in 1972. This facility, which houses 39 of the department's 44 staff members, serves as the administration, patrol and communications offices for the TCPA and as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for Larkspur and Corte Madera. A TCPA substation (Station Two) is located in the Corte Madera Public Safety building at 345 Tamalpais Drive. This facility is the base of operations for the other five employees who provide administrative services.

The combined space in two locations is 5,520 square feet. It is apparent from the cramp work areas, overcrowding and the lack of storage that the amount of space is inadequate to provide the desired service levels for the two communities. In addition, communication is difficult and operational efficiencies are diminished when the workforce is separated into two locations. In addition, Station One does not have basic earthquake safety or fire protection features. The outside walls are the only load-bearing walls, the structure is built on a landfill and the building does not have a sprinkler system. Critical police functions and the EOC could be severely hampered in the event of a strong earthquake. Injury or death to the building's occupants would also compound the ability to response to an emergency.

Several factors would have to be evaluated to determine the optimal size for a new facility. Community service level expectations are a key factor. The crime rate in the Twin Cities area is low compared to other Bay Area communities. However, the vast majority of the workload is responding to citizen service calls. In 1999, TCPA responded to more calls for service than the combined total of all Southern Marin police agencies. Demographics may change the need for services. With both communities nearly build-out, the current staffing levels should be adequate to accommodate the small amount of growth. However, it is unclear if crime rate will increase as a result of an aging population and the possible rise in the number of children and teens.

Considerations should be made for functionality. The existing facility does not have gender specific locker rooms and rest rooms. With only one holding cell, the lack of secure space for confining and separating detainees poses a serious safety risk to staff and detainees alike. The increase of computers and other technology in specific to law enforcement has its own space and infrastructure requirements.

Many communities are turning to community policing, a concept that recognizes that a safe community is the shared responsibility and a collaborative partnership between the police and the community. Since its inception, the TCPA has always recognized the need for joint use of public facilities for activities and meetings.

Police Chief Phil Green has completed a comprehensive study for a prototype facility to service existing and future needs. This 13,000 square foot facility is estimated to cost $4.5 million. This figure does not include the cost of 1.5 acres of land (at $1.0 - $1.5 million per acre) if the new headquarters were to be built on a new location.

The current location on Doherty Drive is close in proximity to schools and parks, and is viewed as a deterrent to criminal activity in those locations. The Niven and Nazari properties in downtown Larkspur are possible sites for a new facility as is the current location of the Corte Madera Post Office. In addition, commercial properties may come under consideration since the loss of tax revenue on 1.5 acres would be fairly inconsequential. The location is not critical in terms of delivering efficient services. However, there are benefits to having a visible and easily accessible facility.

Although Larkspur is about 60% of the combined Twin Cities population, they are equal in the number of calls generated. Both City Councils have agreed that a new facility is a priority issue and have allocated funding to for a more detailed study. If the consensus is to recommend a new facility, each community will have to determine how it will fund their half of the expense. Residents are strongly encouraged to share their ideas and provide feedback on the importance of a new police facility. Comments can be made to City Manager Jean Bonander by calling 927-5110, or visiting the City's web site at http://www.ci.larkspur.ca.us and sending an e-mail with your feedback or suggestions.

In two weeks, the Twin Cities Times will review the key issues related to the corporation yard. This week's originally scheduled discussion on downtown parking will appear in four weeks.

The Larkspur 2050 Committee is a City Council appointed group responsible for analyzing the state of all public facilities, both above and below ground. This would include evaluating City Hall, the library, fire stations, the police station, the corporation yard, public parks, roadways, flood control and storm drains, and other facilities. The next 2050 Committee meeting is scheduled for March 2nd and will review City Hall, the library, and fire stations.