Highlights from the Jan. 24 Meeting of the Board of Supervisors

This is a wrap-up of major items at the January 24, 2012 Marin County Board of Supervisors meeting written by county staff:

• Public Communications Plan Gets a Thumbs Up
• New Sanitary Service Rates Approved
• Development Code Gets a Makeover
• County Takes First Step in Lowering Permit Fees

Check out the Cyberagenda for copies of these reports and others at http://www.co.marin.ca.us/efiles/BS/AgMn/cybagnda.htm.

Public Communication Plan Gets a Thumbs Up

Confused as to how County government works? Looking for easier ways to connect? The Board of Supervisors approved the first-for-Marin County Public Communications Plan, which outlines more meaningful and immediate ways that County can engage with residents. The plan details an internal work effort to boost the County’s efforts at connecting and communicating, using current technological and employee resources, within funding already allocated.

Learn how the County operates and connect with us through our new website www.marincounty.org;  watch informational and entertaining videos on the county's YouTube channel or the G-Channel, Public Broadcast Channels 26 and 27; follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@maringov) and subscribe to our eNewsletters and email broadcasts.

Need more info? Click here to see the new 43-page Public Communications Plan. 

Contact Mona Miyasato, Chief Assistant County Administrator @ mmiyasato@marincounty.org.

New Sanitary Service Rates Approved

The Board of Supervisors approved a 4.8% rate increase for Marin Sanitary Service and a 6.74% increase for Redwood Empire Disposal for certain franchise areas in the county. The cost to households affected by the hikes will range from $1.38 to $2.00 for 32-gallon cans.

The increased rates will allow a new weekly pick-up program for West Marin customers with Redwood Empire Disposal. Residents will be able to toss food and other food-contaminated products in with their green waste. The rate increase in this area of the county is mainly due to food waste collection, which averages approximately 40-cents per can per month.

Marin Sanitary rates will increase by 4.84% for many of its customers, due to several driving forces: an increase comes from adjustments to haulers’ fuel costs, and a significant increase in the amount of green waste customers are putting out to the curb. Marin residents toss 250 tons of green waste per month; less now than in years past, yet it costs three times more to compost and recycle waste than it does to simply haul it to the landfill.

Need more info? Please see the Marin Sanitary Service report, or the Redwood Empire Disposal report.

Contact Michael Frost, Deputy Director, Department of Public Works @ mfrost@marincounty.org.

Development Code Gets a Makeover

Clear. Affordable. Simple. Enforceable. This is the new approach to zoning codes affecting development in unincorporated Marin County. The Board approved a final package of changes to simplify, streamline and clarify parts of the development code, the culmination of over a year-long process and four public hearings. 

Major changes include streamlining design review and eliminating hearings for certain types of permits, thereby reducing permit fees. Changes were also made that advance ideas put forward in the 2007 Countywide Plan, like encouraging mixed and residential uses in commercial areas, and restricting densities on properties that are located in ridge and bayland areas, contain sensitive habitats, or are not served by public water or sewer connections. 

How non-conforming structures are treated was revamped, as well as time extensions given to replace legal, nonconforming uses and structures that are destroyed.  Affordable housing projects were exempted from Master Plan requirements except for those properties in community plans where master planning is already required. This will reduce the time and cost to obtain necessary approvals, but will still require Design Review approval. Protection of native and heritage trees was strengthened, while the County’s second unit and inclusionary housing ordinances were also clarified.

Need more info?  Click here to see the report.

Contact Tom Lai, Assistant Director, Community Development Agency @ tlai@marincounty.org.

County Takes First Step in Lowering Permit Fees

The Board of Supervisors took initial steps to reduce costs to property owners for services associated with certain zoning permits for tree removal, floating home adjustments, use permit renewals, and major variances. This is based on the County’s goal to streamline the permitting process. Simplifying procedures reduce the costs of providing the review, which are passed on to applicants through lower permit fees. A revised schedule of fees and charges will again be presented to the Board at the merit hearing on Feb. 7 when the Board will take its final action.

Need more info? Click here to see the ordinance amending the Planning Division fees. 

Contact Tom Lai, Assistant Director, Community Development Agency @ tlai@marincounty.org

The above is a recap of major decisions made by the Marin County Board of Supervisors at its most recent meeting. It is not intended to be an official record or minutes of the meeting. For official minutes, please see our website at http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/BS/archive/meetings.cfm