Apr-May 2012 - Bel Marin Keys

April-May 2012– pg 1
April / May 2012
Published 6 times a year
Issue no. 2
Neighbor to Neighbor
Mayday Call From Bel Marin Keys
Bel Marin Keys Community Services District
4 Montego Key, Novato, CA 94949-5301
Ph: 883-4222 Fax: 883-3683
www.bmkcsd.us
Board of Directors
Darrick Chase, President
Vince Lattanzio, Vice-President
Ernie Ganas, Director
Ruth Simpson, Director
Mark Montobbio, Director
The U. S. Coast Guard received a mayday call from someone in BMK, who was believed to be a boater. After the
call was received Novato Fire sent three units and the
Coast Guard base in San Francisco responded with a helicopter; as well as, the boat Liberty from Southern Marin
Fire Department, a rescue diver and a swimmer were also
called in. Rescuers searched the waters of Bel Marin Keys
for more than an hour, however, found nothing. This was
deemed a false alarm by the responding agencies.
The caller was thought to be of a young age. And we would like to remind resident
of the importance of these sort of “prank calls,” for responding agencies put themselves at risk, as well as, members in our community due to the speed in which they
respond. If you have small children please make sure they are aware of the importance of a mayday call, and that it is to be used to signal an life-threatening emergency. Making a false distress call is a crime and is punished with imprisonment
and a large fine.
Update on South Lock Stabilization Project
Flushing Schedule
June 4th-7th
June 19th-22nd
Corrected date:
July 9th-11th
July 17th-20th
Don’t Forget: Community Garage Sale
BMK’s annual community garage sale is
the first weekend in June (June 2 & 3rd).
Found: Blue and white Pelican Paddle Boat
in the South Lagoon. Call office (883-4222)
to indentify.
Kayak event: Saturday, June 9th, meet at
74 Del Oro Lagoon at 9am. Questions call
Cindy at 506-4186.
The time is fast approaching when the South Lock will be closed for 6-8 weeks,
to accommodate the installation of new piles that will be driven through the floor
of the existing lock, to arrest settlement that the lock has been plagued with since
it was built in 1986. The project is on track with permit applications underway
and pre-solicitation/pre-qualification packages soon available for prospective
contractors. Work is scheduled to begin the first week of September 2012 and
should be completed by October 31st, 2012. During construction the lock will be
inoperable and inaccessible to all without exception.
More information on the south lock closure will be provided in future Neighbor
to Neighbor issues and on the BMKCSD website (www.bmkcsd.us).
Speed limit in the
Creek and Lagoons
Boats and Boat Trailers
Parked on the Street
Summer is here and we want
to remind residents to please
respect the No Wake Zone
(that means idle speed) in
the Lagoons and on the
Creek. As a reminder to all
boater you are responsible
for your own wake, so please
watch for it. If you need a
copy of the waterways regulations please stop by the
District office or call (8834222) and we can mail you a
copy.
The District office has received a number of calls
with regard to boat trailers parked on the street.
We will be working with the Marin County Sherriff on this matter. We will begin logging trailers
that are parked on the street and will remind resident to make sure trailers are on their own driveways. If we continue to get calls for a particular
trailer we will contact he Sherriff Department
and have the trailer tagged. Please note that once
the trailer is tagged it will be towed at the owners
expense. We ask for residents cooperation on this
matter, and we understand this is a boating community, however, we all need to be courteous to
our neighbors.
April-May 2012– pg 2
The Compass Rose
Waterways Manager update
Summer is rapidly approaching and water sports are on your mind.
Please be cautious of others and respect the Slow NO Wake areas,
please! You will notice additional temporary signs along the south
lagoon levee; the permanent signs will be replaced over the next
few weeks. You will need to contact the BMKCSD for obtaining a
resident key card for access to the boat ramps.
Flushing Schedule
June 4th-7th&19th-22nd
July 9th-11th&17th-20th
August 1st-3rd&27th-30th
VHF Channel 16 is monitored during flushing events
Flushing events now take place twice a month and fall on weekdays to minimize low water levels on the weekends. Please avoid
the locks and culvert during flushing events and if you have plans
to leave the Keys during the flushing dates feel free to call the
office (883-4222) to get exact times.
If you encounter any debris that may be deemed a navigation hazard please do not hesitate to call the District office with an approximate location so we can keep our waterways clean.
District Managers Report
The District has received the tax money from the County and
wired transferred $85,639.44 to the Bank of New York for
Bond Measure E and transferred $177,211.05 for Bond Measure F, this money is to pay the bond holders. Money for the
Parcel Tax Measure D was transferred as follow: $100,000 to
Measure “D” Reserves and $70, 709 to Waterways Savings,
which left $144, 999 in operating Savings.
-Marin Clean Energy sent the District a letter stating we were
our electric service provider; the District Manger called them
and notified them of the Districts option to opt out. We have
received 15 letters one for each account held by the District
stating we have successfully opted out of the Marin Clean
Energy program. If residents wish to opt out of the Marin
Clean Energy please contact them at 1888-632-3674.
-Ms. Wendy Rocha, CLE, emailed the CEQA, Notice of
Availability of Draft Negative Declaration of Environmental
Impact for the South Lock Repairs & Storm Water Improvement Project. The notice has been placed on the District website and in the Marin IJ to be published on April 16th and 23rd.
The notice will also be sent to 49 governmental agencies via
certified mail.
-Received a Wetlands Restoration Update form the State
Coastal Conservancy with regard to various elements of the
Novato Baylands restoration work.
-Madeline Thomas
April-May 2012– pg 3
April-May 2012– pg 4
Help Keep Our Water Clean
Mairead Addicks, 6th Grade Resident of Bel Marin Keys
We all love the lagoons. How amazing it is to be able to swim, paddle, ski, and bird watch here in your
own backyard. But what happens if our waterways turn into dumping grounds full of toxins, pollution and invasive plants. Most of us don’t think about the fact that everything that washes down our
street’s storm drain ends up in the lagoons. This includes, pesticides, herbicides, car
oil, paint, cigarette butts, BB gun bullets, plant debris, and ballast water
from elsewhere. Honestly, who wants to hang out in a liquid dump? Even
if it is not a matter of swimming, think about our wildlife. Start with the
fish that live in the polluted water, they are food for the geese, egrets and
ducks that we love to see here. And all this junk ends up in our rivers and
oceans. What can we do to help make sure this water is clean?
Many of the gardeners in the area use pesticide sprays
(sometimes without our knowledge). Talk to your gardeners about using
something non-toxic or nothing at all. Keep clipped leaves or mowed grass
(that can be covered in pesticides) out of street gutters.
With regard to insect pests, consider using non-toxic solutions
instead of calling the exterminator to spray toxic pesticides. Ants are really
not a problem outside the house. I’ve personally had amazing results with
diatomaceous earth around the outside of our house and baby powder inside. Make sure you don’t have oil stains
in your driveway or garage. If you do, have car leaks fixed. Never rinse paint brushes outside. Do it in an inside
sink.
Never flick cigarette butts onto the street and don’t leave BB gun or air soft gun pellets around. They
look like fish food.
Don’t dump any water from other waterways into our lagoon. That is how invasive species get around.
The only way to keep our lagoons healthy is if everyone makes an effort. Thank you for helping to keep our lagoons clean and healthy.
Sincerely,
Mairead Addicks
April-May 2012– pg 5
Full service and repair on all
makes and models. Also offering mobile services for your
convenience. For estimates or
to make an appointment call:
(707) 529-8057
April-May 2012– pg 6
Public Advocate
Shirley Graves
The Public Advocate TV discussion produced and hosted by BMK resident Shirley Graves is on Novato Public Access TV Channel 26 every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. It can also be seen on the internet at www.cmcm.tv on the fourth Monday at 9 p.m. and
the next day at 3 p.m. because Marin Channel 26 is simulcast. June’s shows feature Republican Deke Welch and Democrat Greg
Brockbank reporting and commenting on the Election results. The July guest will be Mike Pechner who is now Northwestern Pacific Railroad’s Operation-Lifesaver Coordinator. He speaks to schools and other sites about safety. In August Marine Lt. Gregory
Allen will talk about his work with Marin’s young women and men who are interested in enlisting in the Marin Corps. Please call
Graves with any questions at 883-4934.
April-May 2012– pg 7
Community Calendar
 June 2012
Jun.. 61Yacht Club Dinner
Jun. 8Women’s Club
Jun. 11 and 25 Men’s Club
Jun. 21 CSD Mtg 7:30pm
Dance class every Wednesday 6-9pm
low impact exercise class every Tuesday & Friday 9am
Game Day every Monday 1-4pm
 July 2012
Jul. 13 Women’s Club
Jul. 19 CSD Mtg 7:30pm
low impact exercise class every Tuesday & Friday 9am
Game Day every Monday 1-4pm
 Aug. 2012
Aug. 3 Yacht Club Dinner
Aug. 16 CSD Mtg 7:30pm
Dance class every Wednesday 6-9pm
low impact exercise class every Tuesday
& Friday 9am
Game Day every Monday 1-4pm
Save the Date:
Community Annual Garage Sale June
2nd & 3rd
4th of July Sail-a-bration
Poker Run August 18th
Concert in the Keys September 15th