NEWS & EVENTS, PROGRAMS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS

Marinwood Village Update

Swine Flu

Swine Flu is anticipated to be widespread this flu season. A virus that typically transmits between pigs, the influenza A H1N1 mutated and found its way into human hosts who have not yet developed antibodies against this virus.

This virus has spread throughout the world, pointing out the importance of a global approach to health care. The rapid movement from a level 3 status to a level 5 over the past couple of months (with level 6 being full pandemic) is sobering and while most cases in the United States have proven to be mild, it has been the cause of death in normally healthy people, as well as those with compromised immune systems.

The Marin County web site, www.marinflu.org is a rich lode of up to date information on current flu conditions close to home. There is no need for panic, but the real message here is: prevention (good hygiene) is the best medicine. Wash your hands frequently, cough into your shirt sleeve or use tissues and wash hands immediately after throwing them away. Avoid contact with those who are coughing or who have fevers. If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others until you are fully recovered. If you have a sore throat, cough and a fever over 100 degrees, contact your health care provider. Antiviral medications have been effective in minimizing symptoms and shortening the course of the illness.

The fact that 47 million Americans lack insurance and access to health care could be a factor in determining how well we weather these storms. Many working Americans do not have insurance or sick day benefits. This current public health threat sheds light on the importance of the need for immediate attention to creating a national universal comprehensive system of health care. Hopefully the Obama administration and Congress are effectively moving us in that direction.

Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Committee

Department heads and division leaders of the Criminal Justice and Health and Human Services agencies meet quarterly with community based organizations with the common commitment to serve those involved in the Criminal Justice system who also have mental health or substance abuse issues. This committee offers a unique way for these departments, who have historically worked in silos due to their funding sources and reporting requirements; to work together creatively on solutions that cross barriers that often exist between departments. The Committee works to incorporate models of restorative justice practices into the criminal justice system. These conversations and brainstorming sessions at such a high level are especially important as funding resources tighten. These programs have demonstrated great success over the years. Minutes of these meetings, which are open to the public, will be posted here each quarter.

Meeting Minutes - July 15, 2009

Integrated Pest Management Ordinance and Policy

On July 22, 3009, the Board of Supervisors approved a new Ordinance and Policy, providing transparency and accountability to the public with respect to the use of pesticides on County government properties. A dedicated website provides the public with information about the integrated pest management program and education that will hopefully encourage individuals to discover safer effective ways to manage pests in their own homes. Go to the website to read the Ordinance, Policy and get information on IPM: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/AG/Main/IPM/ipmprogramhome.cfm

Access to Healthcare

The Marin County Health and Wellness Campus was officially opened the end of 2008. This Gold LEED certified complex was built using Tobacco Class Action settlement funds and lease savings. Non-profit partners including Marin Community Clinics, Buckalew, Community Action Marin and others are providing comprehensive health services to the people of Marin who are low income or who do not have health insurance. For a tour of Marin’s Health and Wellness Campus, a LEED certified green building offering one-stop shopping for healthcare and mental health related services, go to: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/G-Channel/Default.aspx. Enter Health and Wellness Campus in the search box.

Marin Clean Energy Update

Under AB 32 legislative mandates, local governments are called upon to meet the challenge of climate change and significantly reduce our current greenhouse gas emissions. With its promise of accomplishing these goals, Marin Clean Energy was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2008 and a Joint Powers Authority was created in the form of Marin Energy Authority, to collectively study, promote, develop and manage energy programs with the potential of meeting the mandates of AB32 and decreasing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. The MEA Board will work to secure energy supply and price stability, energy efficiencies and local economic benefits. MEA includes the following jurisdictions.

• City of Belvedere
• Town of Fairfax
• County of Marin
• City of Mill Valley
• Town of Ross
• Town of San Anselmo
• City of San Rafael
• City of Sausalito
• Town of Tiburon

A request for proposal for energy provider contract bids was issued in order to develop a clear understanding of how much renewable power is truly available in the market and at what cost. For the latest information on Marin Clean Energy, go to the website: www.marincleanenergy.com

Emergency Preparedness

Being prepared in the event of a natural disaster, earthquake or situation that might require “shelter in place” can be done on a community level, neighborhood level or in one’s own home. For those who have the time and interest in helping one’s community through such an event, excellent training is available through Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT, formerly DART). The goal is for individuals to be self sustaining for the first 72 hours of a disaster. Individuals, families, and local communities must take personal responsibility for their own safety and welfare and be prepared to be isolated, without outside resources, in a variety of different disaster scenarios.

The First District’s San Rafael Fire Department and Marinwood Fire Department conduct trainings in disaster preparedness. Classes are offered through the department. Those interested should contact the San Rafael Fire Department CERT program at 485-3488 or Marinwood’s “Get Ready!” program at 479-0122. You can also go to the following site for more detailed information about the program: www.sanrafaelvolunteers.org/EVC/what_DART.htm.

Get Ready Marin!

THE GOAL:

The Get Ready program’s goal is to prepare 100% of households in Marin County with the necessary skills and information to survive and cope with a disaster for five to seven days.

THE BENEFITS:

• Prepared citizens means reduced injuries and illnesses due to a disaster
• A reduction to the over-burdened emergency first responders
• A reduction to the over-burdened hospitals and urgent care centers
• A reduction in the financial burden the county will bear due to disaster
• A stronger community: people helping each other
• Gain the necessary information to protect your family during a disaster

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Get trained!
• Spread the word! Let your neighbors know about the program
• Recommend someone you think would make an excellent trainer
• Host a training by providing a venue in your home or business

To find out about training dates and locations visit website www.getreadymarin.org, or call (415) 485-3131.

Marin Medical Reserve Corp, recipient of the 2009 Surgeon General’s Resiliency Award

Those who have medical training and are interested in being available as responders can be trained as part of our Marin Medical Reserve Corp (MMRC). This is a “community based” volunteer program which allows Medical and Mental Health professionals to volunteer their time and skills during a disaster. The training is “all hazards” for health clinics, field hospitals set up in neighborhoods or augmenting hospital staff. MMRC is recognized nationally and at the state level as one of the “best practices” Medical Reserve Corps units in existence. Members participate in hospital drills, regional exercises and mutual aid situations that may arise. For further information, contact MMRC Program Direction Brian Waterbury at 927-7118 or by email at bwaterbury@co.marin.ca.us.

For more information on the County’s preparedness efforts, you will find the following website very helpful.

Emergency Preparedness

Get Ready Marin

The Countywide Plan

The Countywide Plan was updated in 2007. The Countywide Plan reflects Marin’s environmental sensibility including the benefits of providing more affordable housing near public transportation and jobs. The plan also recognizes that Marin cannot just build its way out of fossil-fuel addiction and must also retrofit existing buildings and increase the use of fuel-efficient transportation to realize a significant energy reduction. The plan calls for environmentally friendly building techniques and energy-efficiency standards in excess of state requirements. Other innovations include the goal of reducing our ecological footprint to Western European levels, and using benchmarks to track our progress in implementing the plan. You may visit www.future-marin.org to see the Plan as approved by the Board.

Marin’s Sustainability Team

Take a look at the array of programs the County of Marin has developed to help us move as a community towards sustainability. These programs are designed to serve the residents and businesses of Marin now and in the future. To speak with a member of the Sustainability Team, call Dawn Weisz at 415-507-2706 or email her at dweisz@co.marin.ca.us. The following website is a wealth of information. www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/comdev/advance/Sustainability.cfm

Ending Homelessness in Marin

There were 1,007 homeless persons in Marin County according to the One-Day Count conducted in January, 2007. In January, 2009 that population grew to 1,770. In addition, the 2009 count attempted to capture those people “precariously housed”. These are people who are on the edge of becoming homeless, at risk of falling into the unsheltered category tracked by HUD. These people may be doubled up with friends or family, living day to day at the invitation of another, which at any point could be taken away. It is hard to imagine how difficult it would be for children to do their homework and get a good night’s sleep and be ready for school when living in a car.

What can we do to help solve the problem of homelessness in our community? To help alleviate the difficult conditions with which this vulnerable population must contend, the multi-agency, coordinated, community-wide effort adopted in the Project Homeless Connect model has been found to have the most opportunity of effectively reducing or dissolving barriers to accessing and using services. Marin’s Project Homeless Connect has been developed under the auspices of the Marin County Board of Supervisors through the good work of MarinLink. Participating agencies include Marin County’s Department of Health and Human Services, St. Vincent De Paul Society of Marin County, Homeward Bound of Marin, Community Action Marin, Legal Aid of Marin, Ritter Center, Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership, Marin Jobs, Warm Wishes, the Police Departments of the local jurisdiction in which the event is held and United Way of the Bay Area. Project Homeless Connect also allows for city and two elected officials, representatives from the business community and concerned neighbors to participate and meet their homeless constituents and neighbors face to face.

Services provided include health and vision screening, dental treatment, legal aid, qualification for county assistance programs, access to shelter beds and detox treatment, employment services, mental health counseling, and DMV IDs, as well as meals, clothing, haircuts and eye glasses.

The County continues to work with community partners to identify resources to add a winter shelter, which is currently a gap in our services to those living without a roof over their heads. The County also continues to work to access bond money and state and federal grant monies to support services and programs. Budget challenges continue to threaten the partnerships and collaborations that have developed in our communities.

Contact Susannah Clark at 499-7342 or sclark@co.marin.ca.us. for more information.

Marin County Civic Center Master Planning Process

For those interested in reading about the Civic Center Master Planning Process, including reports and studies that provide the context for the selection of the current site for the Emergency Operations and Public Safety Facility, please find some helpful links below.

Master site to describe project, determine status and link to all relevant reports:
www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/AD/main/EOC/eochome.cfm

Master design guidelines:
www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/AD/Main/MasterPG.cfm

The Gensler Facilities Master Plan completed in 2002 also reviewed potential development sites in the Recommendations section part 1, page D10 - D13. The link is:
www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/AD/main/FacilitiesMasterPlan.cfm

Marin Center Master Plan Final Report from April, 2005, posted on the web site at:
www.marincenterproject.org

The Facilities Master Plan led to the Heller Manus more detailed study of the sites and subsequent Board workshop in 2003, recommending the feasibility study by Beverly Prior Architects in 2005, which was the workshop in January 2006.

The letter submitted to the Board of Supervisors for its December 12, 2006 meeting can be found at the following site:
www.co.marin.ca.us/EFiles/BS/AgMn/agdocs/061212/061212-9-AD-LTR-LTR.pdf

Link to the presentation made to the Board of Supervisors by Beverly Prior Architects:
www.co.marin.ca.us/EFiles/BS/AgMn/agdocs/061212/061212-9-AD-ATTACH-AGR.pdf

Watershed Preservation and Flood Control

If you are a resident of Lucas Valley/Marinwood and are interested in discovering ways to protect and enhance the Miller Creek Watershed-stretching from Big Rock to the Bay, want to improve the quality of life in your neighborhood, protect endangered species and help to reduce the expense of watershed maintenance, please consider becoming a Steward of the Miller Creek Watershed. .

The creek width dictates the amount bank erosion that may be caused by swifter moving water in a narrow channel. The control of further bank erosion, especially the control of erosion presently occurring behind the properties of several residents on Miller Creek, is of prime concern and is one of the major goals for the Miller Creek Watershed Stewards and the other support groups.

The historical background and mapping of Miller Creek was conducted by the San Francisco Estuary Institute. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

For additional information about the Watershed Project and how you can become a Miller Creek Watershed Steward, call Mike Elgie at 472-5947.

The Gallinas Creek watershed is of great interest to the Santa Venetia community. A combination of pump stations, levees and culverts protect the community from flooding. The marshlands and tidal waters provide rich habitat for a variety of plant and animal wildlife. The County has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers on a study of the levee system to determine the condition and costs for repair and/or enhancement, at the same time we have been lobbying state and federal elected officials to fund infrastructure and watershed improvements for the area.

Go to http://marinwatersheds.org/ for more information on Marin’s watersheds.

Neighborhood Shuttles

Are you a resident of Marinwood or Terra Linda? Hop aboard the Marin Transit 259 Shuttle. It’s up to you to show it is a valuable and worthwhile asset in your neighborhood. If we don’t use it, we lose it!

The Route 233 Shuttle services Santa Venetia, San Rafael Transit Center and Civic Center. Please consider taking a ride and see what it can do for you. Go to the Marin Transit website for more information: http://www.marintransit.org/

Boards & Commissions

Be part of the public process by serving on one of a variety of boards and commissions that are advisory to the Board of Supervisors. You can review the duties and purpose of the various commissions and committees, see the meeting schedules and submit an application for consideration by the Board of Supervisors without leaving the confines of your home computer area. Go to: http://www.co.marin.ca.us. click on Board of Supervisors and then Boards and Commissions.

You may also call the Board of Supervisors Clerk, Patrice Stancato, @ 499-7332 and ask for an application through the mail. Patrice can also inform you of the duties, meeting times, etc. of the commission/committee of your choice.

Civic Center Volunteers

Are you recently retired and desire a diversion from all that free time? Are you interested in meeting new and exciting people while learning new skills? Have you ever thought about becoming a Civic Center Volunteer? Volunteers provide services that translates to millions of dollars of savings each year to the county taxpayers.

The Civic Center Volunteers (CCV) was founded in 1979, and is an internationally recognized innovative volunteer program. Last year the Civic Center Volunteers delivered more than eight million dollars in services to the citizens of Marin!

To join the ranks, call Joan Brown, volunteer coordinator at 499-7167. For more detailed information regarding the volunteer program and the current opportunities available, you may go to www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/HR/ccvol/index.cfm. Do yourself and Marin County a favor; volunteer. You will be glad you did.

San Rafael Rock Quarry Environmental Impact Review

The Initial Study on the Amended Surface Mining and Quarry Permit was issued in June, 2007, recommending a full Environmental Impact Review. The public scoping sessions on the Permit were held in September and October, 2007 and the reports on the Reclamation and Permit EIRs were released to the public in 2008. The final draft of the EIR has come to the Board of Supervisors for review and certification in August and October, 2009. Subscribe to the cyberagenda to see dates for future hearings: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/efiles/BS/AgMn/cybagnda.htm

For more information on the process, contact Rachael Warner by email at rwarner@co.marin.ca.us or by telephone at 499-6863. See website: www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/pw/main/quarry.cfm. If you have questions about the project itself including Quarry operations, contact Berenice Davidson at 499-3770 or bdavidson@co.marin.ca.us