Special Notice: 

Tamalpais Park Street Tree Assessment District Renewal           

Our neighborhood’s street tree assessment district program - the monitoring, maintenance, and replacement of our historic, character-defining street trees, is in its 40th year. The assessment must be renewed by ballot every ten years.  2022 is such a year.  Each household will receive a ballot by mail.  Please be sure to cast your ballot to ensure the continued health and presence of our street trees.

Street Tree History

In 1905, Jessie Sollom, original settler and rancher John Reed’s granddaughter, developed the Tamalpais Park Neighborhood of Mill Valley.  Her plan included narrow, winding streets like those she had admired in Kentucky - accommodation for horses, horse-drawn buggies and small wagons; and the planting of street trees to define and identify the neighborhood’s streets.  

Seventy-five years later, in 1980, the Tamalpais Park Neighborhood Association (TPNA) was created to promote the general welfare of the neighborhood, numbering approximately 268 properties.  The TPNA continues to the present day with leadership provided by elected Board Members from the neighborhood.

One of the first actions of the TPNA was to address the deteriorating condition of the street trees throughout the neighborhood.  In February 1981, Charlotte Osborn and her Elm Avenue neighbor Lois Walker met with the Mill Valley City Council to:

• express the importance of the street trees to the ambience, culture and history of the neighborhood and greater Mill Valley;

• draw attention to the deplorable condition of a large number of trees throughout the neighborhood;

• propose a solution for a near- and long-term sustainable program to care for existing trees, plant replacement trees, and;

• inform the entire Mill Valley community of the importance of the Tamalpais Park Neighborhood street trees.

The City Council agreed and appointed Don Hunter, Director of Mill Valley Parks and Recreation Department, to take overall responsibility and immediate action to sustain the street trees.  With unanimous support from the City Council and an appropriation of $36,000, Don commissioned an arborist to survey the trees most needing care, initiated the inventory and documentation of a maintenance plan for each of the existing 253 trees, removed 11 dying trees, and established policies and procedures for maintenance.

While successful, Charlotte and the TPNA Board recognized that a longer-range plan was needed.

They petitioned the City of Mill Valley to create a plan for the future sustainability of the neighborhood’s street trees.  The plan included the formation of a unique district within the City for the purpose of supporting a long-term, sustainable tree program

Upon completion of initial maintenance, Charlotte and neighbors set out to educate everyone in the neighborhood about the value and condition of the trees, and at the same time introduce and explain the proposed Assessment District with the sole purpose to maintain and sustain the trees for generations to come.

In the Spring of 1982, residents of the Tamalpais Park Neighborhood approved the creation of the Tamalpais Park Street Tree Assessment District, with a modest annual fee assessed to each property.  During the 5-year period 2017-2021, using Assessment District funds, the City pruned 120 trees, planted 13 trees, and removed 7 trees due to death or defects and 2 after being struck by vehicles.  There remains much to be done.

The District is a remarkable story of great foresight, a supportive Neighborhood Association and fruitful collaboration with the City and the residents of the Tamalpais Park Neighborhood.

Please ensure continuation of our Assessment District and the legacy of our historic, neighborhood character-defining street trees by returning your ballot approving renewal.

President's Report

More coming soon…

DID YOU KNOW? TOP TEN LIST

• That gas leaf blowers are illegal in Mill Valley? You could be fined if you or your gardener are using one. Please switch to using an electric one.

• There is a 72 hour limit of parking your car in the same spot on the street. You could be fined.

• Never put a nail in a street tree. That will kill them. It is not allowed to post signs on our street trees. The best thing to do is park a car with a sign on it for tag sales, lost dogs, etc. If not, police typically remove signs they see on trees and electrical poles.

• Never trim the street trees. They are maintained by the city. Your tax dollars pay for their love and care. Also, if you live on a creek, it's possible that the city maintains them too. Confirm your deed with the city parks and recreation department.

• Our streets are narrow. Be sure when you are parking that there is 11 ft. wide clearance on the street to allow EMS vehicles to fit through and get by.

• Garbage cans can not be bigger than 45 gallons. 

• Each resident gets 2 free big "Curbside Cleanups" per year.

• There is street sweeping in Mill Valley. Most of our neighborhood is done on the 2nd Thursday of every month. To learn more click here.

• A reminder, only young children are allowed to bike on sidewalks, please learn and share the rules of the road.

• Sign up for an RSVP sticker. The Resident Shopper Vehicle Program permit allows residents free parking up to the maximum allowable time posted at any of the City's 400 parking meters.  Apply for up to two per household here.