Board of Supervisors Recap

Upcoming Items

There is no Marin County Board of Supervisors meeting this week. The next meeting is Feb. 28.

Wrap Up

What happened at the last Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 14

1.       Designation of San Quentin as a “Priority Development Area" Voted Down 

2.       Fee Increases for Medical Marijuana ID Card  Put on Hold

3.       County Dissolves  Redevelopment Agency and Approves a Successor Agency

4.       Allocation of One-Time Funds for Roads, Reserves and Replacement Vehicles Approved

5.       Two  Parks & Open Space Commission Vacancies Filled

6.       Reduced Planning Fees – Board Approves Proposal 

Check out the Cyberagenda for copies of these reports and others.

1. Designation of San Quentin as a “Priority Development Area" Voted Down

Should the board consider adopting a resolution to nominate the San Quentin Peninsula as a Priority Development Area (PDA) in the Bay Area’s Sustainable Communities Strategy? No, was the unanimous answer by the board, citing reasons such as a lack of stakeholders’ input on the issue and the fact that the County’s Vision Plan for the San Quentin area, finalized in 2003, needs revisiting.

Such a nomination would have made the area eligible for future incentive-based planning grants and local transportation funding. Although the redevelopment of San Quentin Prison is unlikely within the near future, the board has continued interest in the property in the context of the regional planning process. The possibility of reapplying for PDA status once a more thorough community consensus has been conducted will be brought back to the board for discussion, and a decision can then be introduced to the Associated Bay Area Governments (ABAG).

Need more info?

Contact: Stacey Laumann, Planner, Community Development Agency at slaumann@marincounty.org. 

2. Fee Increases for Medical Marijuana ID Card Put on Hold

For individuals in Marin County with Medical Marijuana Identification Cards, staff had proposed increasing the fees to ensure program costs are covered, as required by state law. The fees have not been adjusted since 2005. The board considered a request to increase fees from $23.50 to $32.50 for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and from $47 to $65 for all others. Deciding that the increase for Medi-Cal beneficiaries may be too burdensome, the board asked for additional options from staff to be taken up again at a later date. The state portion of the fee ($33 and $66, respectively) would remain unchanged.

The Medical Marijuana ID Card program, established by the state in 2004, is voluntary and intended to help law enforcement and qualified patients by creating a uniform form of identification throughout the state. 

Need more info? See the full report.

Contact: Rochelle Ereman, Epidemiology Program Services Manager, Health and Human Services at rereman@marincounty.org

3. County Dissolves Redevelopment Agency and Approves Successor Agency

Recently, the California State Supreme Court ruling upheld state legislation dissolving redevelopment agencies throughout California. The board unanimously agreed to the dissolution of the Marin County Redevelopment Agency, and staff provided an overview of the responsibilities and next steps as the county takes over as the successor agency to the Marin County Redevelopment Agency. This decision does not impact the County's General Fund as it is an administrative reorganization.

Need more info? See the full report.

Contact: Leelee Thomas, Principal Planner, Community Development Agency at lthomas@marincounty.org

4. Allocation of One-Time Funds for Roads, Reserves and Replacement Vehicles Approved

$14.8 million one-time funds were left over from the county’s last fiscal year, largely due to reimbursements from other agencies. Of this amount, staff recommended $2 million be allocated for road and storm damage repairs; $5 million to further address the county’s unfunded liability toward retiree health care; and $611,000 to the county’s vehicle replacement reserve. An additional $7.2 million would be reserved for future uncertainties and high priority one-time projects. Staff also recommended that the previously adopted five-year road and bridge repair plan be accelerated to a three-year year time line, which would increase the county’s annual contribution from $5 million per year to approximately $8.5 million per year.

The board adopted the recommendation, and agreed that the five-year road and bridge repair plan be accelerated to a three-year plan. Other needs, such as assistance to local child care centers which have been cut by the state, homelessness, and housing, will be addressed during the Board of Supervisors’ budget hearings in April. The board felt creating a trust fund for retiree health care monies was responsible and sound, and asked that any additional proposals for one-time funding use be reviewed at the budget hearings.

Need more info? See the full report.

Contact: Dan Eilerman, Deputy County Administrator, County Administrator's Office at deilerman@marincounty.org.

5. Two Parks & Open Space Commission Vacancies Filled

Last week, the Board of Supervisors conducted interviews for one at-large vacancy on the County Parks and Open Space Commission. This week, the board conducted a final interview with one applicant. Charles Higgins, Executive Director of Slide Ranch in Muir Beach, and Larry Kennings of Mill Valley are the new commissioners and bring planning and development, strategy and conflict resolution, and community outreach skills to their posts.

Preserving natural resources and allowing for the enjoyment of recreation are the county’s goals. The Parks and Open Space Commission’s primary duties are to make recommendations on the formulation of plans, strategies, policies, rules and regulations related to the county parks, open space, and trail systems.

Need more info? See an overview of the Parks and Open Space Commission.

6. Reduced Planning Fees – Board Approves Proposal

Property owners will soon receive a reprieve from fees affecting tree removal permits, floating home adjustments, use permit renewals and major variances.  The board conducted a second reading (the first reading for this ordinance took place Jan. 24) and approved the adoption of an ordinance to streamline the permitting process and substantially reduce permitting fees to achieve outcomes more efficiently.

Need more info? See the full report and ordinance.

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