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More Information on Transporation Issues
Transportation
Transportation - I'm involved in Transportation issues at all levels - from West Marin's need for
alternative transit solutions to serving as Marin's representative on the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC) (link to webpage). MTC is the agency that makes most of the major decisions about
transportation throughout the Bay Area's nine counties. While it is a demanding job, serving as the
Commission's Vice Chair ensures that I know all the possible opportunities and funding sources for Marin's
transportation needs. Please see the Newsletter (link coming) for a recent report on MTC activities.
I also serve as the Chair of the Marin County Congestion Management Agency (CMA). The Congestion Management
Agency (CMA) represents all of Marin's cities and the County and is the agency that makes most of the
decisions about Marin's transportation issues. The CMA has recently completed several studies with the
goal of creating a comprehensive picture of Marin's transportation needs. Key to solving our transportation
problems is seeking a diversity of more community and environment friendly modes of transportation -
bicycles, ferries, expanded transit, and even ultimately rail. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, the
Transit Plan and the Sonoma/Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Plan are providing guidance for political
representatives and community members. Based on technical needs and community input, the plans are key
tools as we consider putting a sales tax measure on the ballot to raise funds for our most urgent needs.
Marin must be prepared to help itself by raising funds to improve traffic congestion. Locally raised
dollars will help us to take advantage of the significant federal funding sources for communities that can
provide matching funds.
The West Marin "Stage" Coming soon!
The lack of local transportation in West Marin has led to my work with the Transit District Director and
local transportation advocates to develop "the Stage", a pilot project to create a van service connecting
Stinson, Bolinas, Inverness, Point Reyes Station and the San Geronimo Valley. Over $200,000 has been
obtained to fund the project which will provide two vans carrying passengers between Mill Valley and
Bolinas, and Point Reyes Station and San Anselmo. Launching in Summer of 2002, the program will also
include the coordination of an "on call" service for door-to-door service for those who can't make it to
bus stops. It is anticipated that this pilot program could be expanded to include northern West Marin in
future years. (electronic brochure coming).
Lucky Drive Area Flooding at Highway 101
The floods of the early 1980's brought about a community based, two part project planning pump stations and
a levee system to end the floods. After several years' effort, phase 1, the installation of pumps was
successfully completed. In 1987 a lawsuit against phase 2, the levee project, determined that an
Environmental Impact Report would be required. Between this significant hurdle and the drought of the
late 80's, the project stalled until February of 1998, when serious flooding devastated homes and
businesses and paralyzed Highway 101. Strong calls for assistance came from community members affected.
In March of that year I began working with the Town of Corte Madera and the City of Larkspur to come up
with a temporary sandbag levee system, while at the same time planning for a permanent solution - the
construction of permanent levees. A financing plan for the estimated $1.5 million project was created,
and Caltrans offered up to 70% of the project cost.
An
EIR was initiated but not completed when strong community opposition put a stop to the project in Fall of 2001.
Community relationships
with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore
There is no question that we are blessed to have these glorious parks in our backyard. But when the
Federal Government is your next door neighbor, and over 3 million people visit your neighbor's property
each year, there are bound to be significant problems. In my first year in office it became clear that
the "gateway communities" to the GGNRA and the Point Reyes National Seashore were frustrated by a number
of impacts. Key issues are the impact of so many tourists, as well as some of the Parks' activities, such
as closure of equestrian facilities, and the resulting "squeezing" of the small communities of Muir Beach
and Stinson Beach which lack land for community uses.
(See the related article from the Marin Voice.)
Central to the problem has been inadequate representation of Marin's voice on the GGNRA's
Citizen's Advisory Commission, a group which has significant
influence on the Federal Government's decisions regarding the GGNRA. In 2000, with the participation of
Supervisor Annette Rose and a hardworking advisory committee, Marin's representation on the commission
was increased from two members to five. While issues remain, this commission has been working actively
to better represent Marin's needs.
I am also continuing to address local issues, for example in Muir Beach I continue to advocate for the
restoration of Big Lagoon, essential to protecting the health of Redwood Creek and solving the significant
flooding problems of that community. I have initiated County efforts to provide flood prevention on County
roads in Muir Beach until the Big Lagoon restoration happens, and am supporting the community's efforts to
resolve Muir Beach's water supply issue. In Stinson Beach, I have worked with the National Seashore to
address frustration with the Park's installation of a gas tank in a residential neighborhood, and am
continuing to work with the Marin County Department of Public Works and Caltrans regarding congestion.
In a related effort I am participating in the Parklands Taskforce which is studying the transportation
impacts that the presence of our Parks brings. With $1.25 million in funding for this comprehensive study,
the Taskforce will be making recommendations for significant improvements from Sausalito to West Marin.
Housing Discrimination Task Force
My service as the chair of Marin Housing Discrimination Task Force is a wonderful opportunity to support a
dedicated group working to reduce the incidence of housing discrimination in Marin County. This Task Force
was formed by concerned citizens and housing professionals as a result of documented increases in housing
discrimination. The Task Force is currently working with the real estate community, The Marin Office of
Fair Housing, the Independent Journal, and the District Attorney's office to both educate landlords and
tenants as to their rights and to reduce discrimination.
Children and Families First Commission
It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I serve as the Board of Supervisors representative on this
community based commission formed as a result of the passage of Proposition 10. Proposition 10, or the
Initiative for Families and Children, was created at the grassroots level to levy a tobacco tax to be spent
on the health, education, and welfare of children ages 0 to 5 and their families. This commission is one
of many throughout the State designed to determine how best to customize the expenditure of funds for
unmet needs in Marin. Marin is projected to receive $2.6 million annually, although this will diminish
over time as it is a tax levied on cigarette sales and sales diminish.
Please
review our strategic plan for more information about our efforts and how the funds will be spent.
Bolinas Lagoon
The restoration of Bolinas Lagoon has been a top priority in my first term. Working with the Army Corps of
Engineers, the first goal was completion of Phase II, the feasibility/environmental study at a cost of
$2.1 million. Now we are completing Phase III, the project planning phase, which has cost an additional
$1.5 million. An EIR is currently in progress, and it is anticipated that a draft EIR will be available
for public comment in Summer of 2002. Public hearings regarding the EIR will be held soon after that.
We are fortunate that the Lagoon has had many strong supporters, from our Congresswoman, Lynn Woolsey,
Assemblymember Joe Nation, Senator John Burton and past Assemblymember Kerry Mazzoni, to passionate
environmental advocates on the Bolinas Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee and the Save Bolinas Lagoon
community effort. In the County, I have worked with key Department of Parks and Open Space staff to come
up with $160,000 in funding for the County share of the costs, as well as a similar amount in in-kind
contributions. Preliminary estimates put the cost of the entire implementation phase around $100 million.
As project costs are much higher than originally anticipated by the Army Corps of Engineers, I am focusing
my efforts on identifying a phased program of work that will provide meaningful improvements to the lagoon
and its watershed.
Tomales Bay
Approximately 1/2 of Marin's land area drains into this beautiful and complex watershed, and its problems
are many-layered. The issues affecting water quality include the impact of recreational users, the local
mariculture and agricultural industries, and the impact of septic systems ranging from Woodacre to Marshall
and beyond. While the ultimate authority rests with the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the State
Department of Health Services, I am committed to supporting County and community efforts that will improve
the water quality of Tomales Bay.
My office was successful in working with Community Development Agency staff to obtain two important grants.
The first, a $250,000 grant obtained with the assistance of former Assemblymember Kerry Mazzoni is
currently providing water quality studies and support to homeowners interested in improving their septic
systems (link to workplan). The Marin County Community Development Agency to implement a grant for
$350,000 received from the California Coastal Conservancy to address water quality impacts from sewage
effluent
A number of groups are making excellent efforts to the problems of the
Tomales Bay Watershed. One exciting
new effort is the Tomales Bay Watershed Council. The goals of this group will be to work over a period of
two years to create a watershed plan, providing a central place for coordination of all of the existing
efforts. $50,000 in County funding has been committed to facilitate the efforts of this vitally important
project.
Personal Watercraft Ban
West Marin environmental advocates were the first to call for a complete ban in Marin County. In response
to this strong voice I initiated research which led to the Supervisors direction to staff to investigate
issues regarding a ban. A ban has proved to be a complicated issue for Marin, where many jurisdictions
have control over our shorelines, from national parks to bay side cities. I'm proud to say that in 1999
the Board took action to impose a complete ban in all of Marin's waters. The ban was challenged by a
lawsuit by the Personal Watercraft Industry, but recently the federal government enacted a ban for the
waters of the Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary, which puts PWC off limits on the entire Marin
Coast.
CalFed
The problems of the San Francisco Bay/Delta Estuary are vast, and the ongoing "water wars" affect us, as
well as the rest of the State.
Since 1994 a partnership of agencies and interest groups known as CalFed has been attempting to come up
with a plan to provide enough water to meet the needs of agriculture, cities, industry and the environment.
I have watched with growing concern as this effort proceeded without adequate consideration of the San
Francisco Bay/Delta Estuary. In September, 1999, at my urging, the Marin County Board of Supervisors
passed a resolution demanding that CalFed 1) ensure adequate flows of freshwater into the Bay to protect
its water quality and fragile marshes, 2) require and enforce water conservation by all users, and 3) make
sure that an appropriate amount of restoration funding come to the San Francisco Bay. I also urged
Supervisors and Council members in Bay Area Counties and Cities to pass similar resolutions - over 20 of
them did so, along with the Association of Bay Area Governments, and the Bay Conservation and
Development Commission. A strong, unified voice has been established to advocate for the Bay's interests,
and we will continue to work together on these issues as CalFed finalizes its Preferred Program Alternative.
As a result of the growing interest around the Bay the Association of Bay Area Governments has formed a
CalFed taskforce, which is now taking leadership on a range of issues of interest to our region.
Waste Issues in West Marin
One of the knottiest issues I faced coming into office was the closure of the West Marin Landfill. The
dump was full and there were significant concerns about the dump's impact on the surrounding environment.
Pivotal issues were the costs of dump closure and related environmental protection, estimated to cost
around $2 million, and the question of who would pay for it. I organized a team of County staff to work
toward closure in partnership with the Regional Water Quality Control Board. At the same time I led
negotiations to facilitate closure without passing the cost on to the rate-payers, an idea proposed by the
dump's owners. The West Marin Landfill stopped accepting trash in September of 1997, but its owners have
not yet submitted the required closure plan. The RWQCB is pursuing an enforcement action. At this time,
the County and the owners are involved in a settlement negotiation to finalize who will cover the costs of
the closure.
The wonderful environmental spirit of the residents of West Marin, in combination with the loss of a local
dump, provided me with the motivation to "draft" members of the West Marin Waste Brigade. This committed
cadre of green-minded individuals worked for over a year to look at our waste stream, its costs, and
opportunities to reduce our waste and to provide greater recycling. A recent development has lead to a
wonderful opportunity to bring some of their recommendations to fruition. After a lengthy rate review
process, the County negotiated with Shoreline Disposal, resulting in enhanced services and a settlement of
$244,000 which has been allocated to a Waste Stream fund to provide more services to West Marin. In late
2000 a community-based committee was selected to oversee use of these funds and to implement the
recommendations of the Waste Brigade in West Marin.
Agriculture
Protecting the wellbeing of Agriculture, and ensuring that it remains part of Marin's future, is one of my
primary goals. I believe that the protection of our agricultural lands and industries is key to
maintaining Marin's character and beauty. I am committed to protecting our agricultural zoning - the
lynchpin of our land use decisions.
Huge pressures face our precious agricultural industries - especially rising land values and rising
operating costs. As a Supervisor I have worked to support diversification of agriculture and to include
"value-added" production. I the past I have also supported several bills to create a voluntary agricultural
easement program that would provide significant funding to ranchers who promise to keep their land in
agriculture. At my urging, the Board of Supervisors initiated the "Super" Williamson program, providing a
tax benefit to owners of agricultural lands who promise to keep their lands in agriculture for 20 years.
I have also supported funding for an expansion of non-lethal predator control.
In 2001 I worked with a group of local ranchers to come up with a plan that would identify actions that
can be taken in the short term to ensure that Marin's agricultural industry will remain strong in the long
term. The "Near-Term Ag Support Plan" identifies seventeen actions that focused on:
- Increasing County effectiveness in supporting Marin agriculture
- Strengthening ongoing efforts to educate Marin residents, public officials and visitors of the
value and needs of Marin County agriculture
- Strengthening National Park Service commitment and support for ranches on Federal lands
- Preserving the agricultural usefulness of agriculturally zoned land
I am pleased to say that a number of these goals were addressed by the Board of Supervisors on October 30.
More work is needed to ensure that the actions are meaningful, and I remain committed to the ongoing
implementation of the Ag Support Plan. For more information please see the documents below.
The Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT)
As a board member of MALT I have another opportunity to support preservation of agricultural lands, and am
actively involved in MALT's capital campaign. It was with great pleasure that I led my fellow supervisors
in deciding to provide $250,000 to MALT in our 99-00 County Budget.
Emergency Services/Disaster Preparedness
Two related efforts are the reorganization and relocation of Marin's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and
MERA, the Marin Emergency Radio Authority. When Marin has a crisis, the EOC is activated, serving as the
heart of all disaster response efforts, providing central coordination and communications. Currently this
facility is housed in a temporary basement facility in the Civic Center, and one of the County's key goals
is to provide a state-of-the-art facility to coordinated responses to any emergency.
MERA
During the storms of 97-98 the EOC was activated, and it soon became apparent that historically poor radio
communications had now reached crisis point. All of Marin's emergency services have operated with
individual communications systems on different radio bands. In a big crisis when many radio calls are
being made, individual fire and police services are unable to communicate with each other, severely
impacting the ability to coordinate services. I chair the Marin Emergency Radio Authority, a group with
representatives from services all over Marin, to research, fund and implement
a radio system that will connect all emergency services.
MERA is in its construction phase, and
is expected to be on line in 2003.
West Marin Volunteer Fire Departments
The West Marin Volunteer Fire Departments represent communities at their best, and are natural partners
with our County Fire Department. I am proud to provide County support for volunteer fire departments,
several of which are facing the need to repair or upgrade decrepit or outmoded firehouses. It is with
pleasure that I am working with Nicasio, Stinson Beach, Muir Beach, Inverness and Bolinas fire departments
which are each at different phases of improving their facilities and equipment.
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