August 2005 Newsletter
Great News on Federal Transportation Bill
Marin County’s designation as one of four pilot communities in the Nation for non-motorized transit programs was approved in the federal transportation authorization bill this month. The national game plan for the next five years of federal transit investments now awaits the President’s signature. It earmarks $25 Million for bicycle and pedestrian projects in Marin County, with analysis of how successful these efforts can be in reducing traffic and improving sustainability.
Safe Routes to School (safe walking and bicycle routes to/from schools) was also a winner in the bill, along with funding for improving Highway 101 through the Novato Narrows and the needed bike path there, clean-air buses, and funding for the rail proposal (interim operations and analysis for SMART (Sonoma and Marin County passenger rail service).
I’ve been in periodic communications with our congressional delegation and with our bicycle advocates to track progress and send missives of support for the environmental benefits available from the Pilot Community designation. Huge kudos to Deb Hubsmith and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, and Patrick Seidler of Transportation Alternatives of Marin, who spent countless hours with our delegation and Congressman Oberstar, the most ardent bicycle supporter in Washington DC. Barbara Boxer and Lynn Woolsey were also great champs for our County in preserving the critical earmarks for Marin. The local District prize for good civic participation on this effort goes to Almonte Improvement Club President, Sharon Rushton, who wrote an excellent letter of support to Senator Feinstein. The Senator wrote a thoughtful and supportive response. Way to go Sharon, Deb and Patrick for great advocacy for our County and moving to more sustainable transit options!
Muir Woods Shuttle has all the Right Problems
A professor of mine once said that the best we should wish for is to “trade old problems for new ones.” Over the course of nine weeks since the launch of the Muir Woods Shuttle, it has become so popular that we’ve had “standing room only” on several Saturday buses, and had to scramble with Golden Gate Transit for more. During the weekend of July 23rd we had 500+ riders each day. Here’s some data collected so far:
- 42% of the riders are coming from San Francisco (so fewer cars traveling through Tam Junction!), 16% from Marin County (way to go locals!) and 15% from the East Bay.
- 76% are first time visitors to Muir Woods, 46% from a hotel, and 33% from their own home.
- 39% got on the bus at Marin City, 28% at Manzanita and 33% at Pohono Street.
- And best of all, despite our operating troubles, over 80% would use the Shuttle again!
We will, of course, analyze the data we collect through Labor Day and begin making plans for a slightly different approach for next Summer. Stay tuned...
We still have more work to do on local trails, fencing off the most vulnerable areas near Muir Woods on Franks Valley Road, and getting information about parking and traffic to tourists intending to visit the parks. The former CTMP will continue to be a key focus for my work on reducing traffic and increasing use of shuttles, bikes and feet in our District.
Community Choice Aggregation Continues to Look Promising
Our analysis of the pros and cons of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) for our electricity continues to appear positive. While a challenging project, independent analyses of bonding, financial risks and feasibility conducted this summer confirm the basic analyses the Board of Supervisors received in March. Using appropriate funding, investments in generation systems, and typical energy procurement approaches, it appears that Marin can increase its share of renewable energy resources and save money. At the same time, our target continues to be achieving over 50% renewable sources within seven years, over double the State target.
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, this move could also allow us to locate generation equipment (solar panels, small wind generators, even dam power generators) in Marin and "wheel" the power wherever we need within our area, or onto the grid for credits. All would be good ways to stimulate local business and reduce security risks from centralized utility power generation. The hard part is contemplating the complexity of running this whole new business. I will be working closely with the city councils in our District and throughout the County to continue analysis of this big idea.
The Board of Supervisors will be discussing whether to fund the development of an implementation plan this Fall.
Mill Valley Off Ramp Plan Developed
As hoped, we reached a compromise with CalTrans on the best approach for the Mill Valley off-ramp, and ground-breaking has been promised right after the rains cease next Spring. As we all know too well, the Mill Valley off ramp (at 101/Blithedale Avenue - from the north) has been a safety nightmare for years. It was also clear that the community close to the freeway needed some relief from constant noise. We worked out a plan with CalTrans, the City of Mill Valley, and the local Alto/Sutton Community to try to meet both objectives. CalTrans plans to add a new exit lane to handle the load of traffic and will re-landscape the area behind the homes with a new gentler slope and native trees and plants. CalTrans will also fill in a retaining wall and concrete access barrier behind the homes so they get substantial improvement in noise reduction from the freeway. The good news is the increased safety, noise abatement with no reflected noise across the freeway, and good aesthetics. The bad news is the loss of the existing (albeit non-native) trees next April. I suppose the situation will look pretty good again once the plantings mature in a couple years. Thanks to the community who came forward with ideas at the several public meetings held this past winter and spring.
Game Plans for Marin City
I’m pursuing a four-track approach to health, wellness and career development in Marin City:
1) More community policing and neighborhood involvement. Working with the Golden Gate Apartment Residents’ Council and the Community Services District (CSD) Board, we are building procedures and a “walking beat” with the County Sheriff’s Department. Better relations will go a long way in improving relations in our community and in crime prevention and interdiction. The Sheriff also opened up “Camp Chance” this Summer for several young people in Marin City to work in nature with deputies. Thanks to the Sausalito Marin School District for working with the young candidates, and to Sheriff Doyle for offering this program to our District!
2) New Town Center. Thanks to the hard work of both the Marin City CSD Board and the School District, we are now developing a master plan and funding strategy for the entire 11 acres in the center of town. The replacement of the aging Manzanita Community Center with new buildings, including a pool, theatre, gym and other amenities would be a state-of-the-art venue for classes, physical fitness opportunities and will serve as a community gathering place. With great work from my Aide, Cindy Roby, and Mike Groza of the Marin Community Foundation, we continue to work closely with the two boards to coordinate planning. Congresswoman Woolsey continues her strong moral and financial support for the project and will be helping all of us to achieve this dream.
3) Health & Wellness Center. Frustrated by long routes on transit to the Community Clinic in San Rafael, lower income citizens in Marin City suffer a chronic lack of access to good mental health and internal medicine resources. Thanks to support from our Department of Health & Human Services, from the initiative of local doctors, such as Drs. Lipshitz and Robinson, and several days of labor and materials from the Circle of Men, we are close to opening a small health clinic right at the Manzanita Center. Real results came from the stick-to-it-ive-ness of the CSD Board and Vice Chair Terrie Green. Staffed by local volunteers, and supported by County staff in mental health, career and financial services and in nursing, we will soon be able to offer some immediate care to people near their homes. Thanks also to my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors who are supporting this effort financially. We will work closely with leaders in the community to allocate expenditures and staff in the most effective ways possible.
4) After School Activities. Perhaps the hardest to quantify, the benefits in community wellbeing and better career development correlate strongly with good sports and enrichment activities long after school hours. I continue to work with the CSD Board and numerous non profits already engaged in Marin City to see how the County can support these efforts without wasting funds or duplicating efforts.
All this said, I also have big expectations for the Gateway Shopping Center, will be working to expand the presence of the Muir Woods Shuttle there, and work periodically with the owners to see how we can support the economic efforts underway to build jobs and opportunity for commerce. I’m personally pining for a Trader Joe’s to locate there.
Firebreak from One End to the Other
My colleagues and I authorized significant funding in this year’s budget for a 40 mile long firebreak from Sausalito to Novato. Along with vegetation management and clearing we hope to reduce the severity of the inevitable fire destined for Marin County, and we hope to complete this firebreak in the next 5 years. My colleagues and I are keenly aware of the unique challenge that Marin presents, given our rare urban-wildland interface from one end of the County to the other.
Not a question of “whether” but “when”, we need to do all we can to reduce damage and loss of life from a fire. I am also working to clear steps and paths throughout the District and will be working soon with leaders in Almonte to improve paths there. I hope to work closely with Southern Marin Fire and our County Fire Chief on various ways to support funding and programs to reduce fire risks. As our fire professionals mention frequently, please clear defensible space around your homes!!
Southern Marin Leaders Dinner
Once each quarter, the leaders of our four towns and cities (Mayors), the Chairs of our three elected local boards (Marin City, Tam Valley and Strawberry), and the President of Southern Marin Fire convene for dinner. I heard from someone that this was done under Supervisor Denis Rice and was called SMELL (Southern Marin Elected Local Leaders). We don’t call it that (although I was keenly interested in this fine acronym). So far it has been a productive place to discuss general plans, energy policy, and to spawn new ideas. I’m happy to say that our first dinner sparked an idea between Mayor Scremin of Sausalito and Mayor Burger of Tiburon to work on a water taxi between the two successful Friday night events (Sausalito’s “Jazz by The Bay” and Tiburon’s “Friday Nights on Main”). Now Mayor Dennis Fisco and I are lobbying to find a good dock near Mill Valley! This idea has a ways to go, but is an exciting idea. Stay tuned...
Summer Interns Launch Key Projects
Two key projects on my list were launched this summer by our District 3 Summer Interns. The first, executed by Redwood High School Senior, Julie Goldrosen, was to identify ways to reduce the use of plastics in our Civic Center Cafeteria and other County events. Thanks to her solid work, this project has the enthusiastic support of Marin County Cultural Services Director, Jim Farley, and we hope to see changes in our Cafeteria practices, fair and other event operations within the year. Switching plastics to biodegradable flatware, plates, containers and cups will help us walk our green talk even more. Other greening strategies were identified in her project as well.
Meanwhile, Alex Boodrookas, a Senior at Marin Academy, launched our effort to build a water-wise and native plant demonstration garden in our District. As I learned when serving on the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) Board, we double our consumption of water in summer to irrigate our gardens. We hope to create a demonstration garden to which Planning Commissions all over the County can point remodelers and new home builders. Proving that water wise plants look great and help to create native habitat for birds and bugs, will help us all to live more sustainably.
Iraq Resolution Adopted Unanimously
Despite criticism leveled at local government leaders who opine on matters managed at the state or federal level, I remain convinced that my colleagues and I did the right thing in speaking to our federal leaders about our occupation of Iraq. Working on our Community Development Block Grant program this Spring, I was extremely sensitive to the federal cuts proposed in domestic programs, such as education, environmental protection, fire safety and affordable housing, and sympathized with many citizens who wanted our local leaders to speak out on this situation.
For this reason the Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a unanimous resolution in May, recommending a withdrawal of U.S. troops from occupation of Iraq. We made this recommendation not only to reallocate federal spending to domestic programs and homeland security (taxpayers of Marin have spent over $200 million on the Iraq Occupation), but to reduce the risk of increased acts of terror that will be directed against people occupying Muslim soil. A frequently voiced concern is that our exit would result in catastrophic chaos and increasing numbers of terrorists due to the vacuum created by our departure. Our Resolution addresses this concern by proposing that our troops be replaced by a multinational force: the United Nations, Arab League, Iraq’s new government and local nations. Not only is it likely that this configuration of international organizations would be far better received by the Iraqis than the current make up of the “coalition forces” (predominantly U.S. and British troops), but all of these organizations have repeatedly signaled their willingness to engage in this replacement effort.
A Recent column by Jim Wood on our situation in Iraq (“Protesters Asking Wrong Questions, Marin Magazine, August/September 2005, p. 32) posed our dilemma well: America, well intentioned (although misled) and intent on winning a war to establish democracy in Iraq, may have doomed the effort with its very presence in a nation ill-suited to adopt our form of government. Whether via a naive effort by the Administration or the guile of Project for a New American Century, numerous citizens now believe we are doomed to spend billions fighting a fruitless war that will result in long-term hatred for Americans and increased terror. We continue to hope that, as Mr. Wood advises, we can admit an error and change our strategy, and soon. “Strategic agility” is admired in the private sector and is necessary in wartime. This would help our local leaders with numerous funding priorities at the local level.
Boards and Commissions Going Well
I serve as a representative for Marin County on the Bay Conservation & Development Commission (BCDC), SMART (the rail authority for Marin and Sonoma), LAFCo (the body that decides matters of local city boundaries and annexations), Fair Housing Task Force, the Community Development Block Grant housing committee (CDBG), the Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA), the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), and Transit District Board. The complete list of my assignments can be found via my County website at www.Co.Marin/ under my assignments. I find all these assignments fascinating and important opportunities for the County and my work in the District. All seem to be going very well so far. If you ever have a question about these other government bodies, please send us a note.
I anticipate the EIR for the rail proposal to be released for public scrutiny in September, with plans to go to the ballot in November ’06. TAM is working right now to identify bus route improvements and some cuts caused by Golden Gate Transit’s continuing financial troubles. School routes were recently the focus of our work on the Board, and I was gratified to see the broad support for maintaining and/or increasing shuttle service with our schools (a critical source of local gridlock!).
The other boards proceed without huge controversial projects, at this moment. I have volunteered to take the Board of Supervisors’ seat on the Marin Retirement Board this September, and that will add considerable work to my daily routine. I felt it critical, however, for the Board of Supervisors to keep a seat on this critical body, for both civic representation of our citizens and for monitoring implications for our County Budget.
Nuts & Bolts
As many can attest, the daily work of government is not very newsworthy. It is nonetheless extremely satisfying to improve our lives in our District. Working with professionals from a large number of departments in the County Government, our office has been busy working to repair roads, identify paths and stairs that can aid in emergencies or for safer routes to/from school, fund pump stations, clean up non-native plants in open space and County property, clean up operations in Paradise Cay, answer a myriad of land use questions, fix potholes and repair signs, and in trying to complete some long overdue projects. Thanks to great advocacy from our District and concerned thoughtful citizens, we continue to work daily on projects that should help Marin County continue its legacy as one of the best places to live in the world. I love the work and feel privileged to work with, and for, all of you.
--Charles
