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Supes Move Toward Ballot Measure to Fund Parks, Reply to Grand Jury's Morgue Report

The following provides a list of selected highlights from the Board agenda, and is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the entire agenda. http://www.marincounty.org/Main/Board-Actions

Previews - upcoming items - and Reviews - a wrap up - of the last Board meeting posted every Thursday

Previews

There is no Board meeting on July 17th

Reviews

What happened at the July 10th Board meeting

  1. Marin County Employee Survey Results Presented During Workshop
  2. Expenditure Plan for Potential Parks Funding Measure Discussed
  3. Stormwater Permit Status Update Provided
  4. Response to Grand Jury Report on County Morgue Authorized
  5. Bargaining Agreements with Various Labor Groups Authorized
  6. Hearing Set for Garbage Collection Rate Increases for Portions of Southern Marin
  7. Final Actions on Panoramic Highway Speed Limit Change Authorized
  8. Appointments Made for Several Boards & Commissions
  9. Supplemental Agreement for Housing Element Update Authorized
  10. Permitting Agreement with Bay Area Agencies Not Authorized
  11. Rush Creek Informational Meeting Held
  12. Employees of the Month and Team of the Quarter Honored
  13. Afternoon Workshop on Civic Center Campus Improvements Held

Reviews

1. Marin County Employee Survey Results Presented During Workshop

The Board heard the results of the County’s recently completed employee survey. The County showed progress over a 2009 survey in the majority of areas that measure employee engagement. According to the results, the County exceeds the national average related to the employee’s commitment to customer service.

Need more info?

Contact: Joanne Petereson, Director of Human Resources at jpeterson@marincounty.org

2. Expenditure Plan for Potential Parks Funding Measure Discussed

On June 26th the Board heard the results of a survey that tested voter support for a potential countywide sales tax increase, funding from which would be dedicated towards parks, open space and agricultural land preservation. Staff returned to the Board with a proposed expenditure plan outlining how such funds could be allocated. After hearing the staff presentation as well as public testimony, the Board directed staff to return with more explicit details, including how the measure would be structured and how funding allocation decisions would be made as part of the expenditure plan. Staff will return on July 24th, when the Board will decide whether to place a measure on the November ballot.

Need more info?

Contact: Katherine Jones, External Affairs Coordinator of Marin County Parks at kmjones@marincounty.org

3. Stormwater Permit Status Update Provided

The State Water Resources Control Board regulates stormwater discharge from small municipally-owned systems and is now proposing to adopt new regulations that would dramatically increase permit requirements for cities and counties statewide. Staff reviewed proposed changes and the Board authorized submission of written comments to the state.

Need more info? See the Full Report

Contact: Liz Lewis, Principal Watershed Planner at lizlewis@marincounty.org

4. Response to Grand Jury Report on County Morgue Authorized

On May 29th, the Marin County Civil Grand Jury released its report: “Marin County Morgue: Where Do We Go From Here? ”, which included findings and recommendations related to where autopsies are performed in Marin County. The Board adopted a formal response to the report.

Need more info? See the Draft Report or the Grand Jury Report

Contact: David Speer, Facilities Planning & Development Manager at dspeer@marincounty.org

5. Bargaining Agreements with Various Labor Groups Authorized

The Board authorized tentative collective bargaining agreements with several employee labor groups that reflect changes consistent with other recently approved agreements involving health benefit plan changes and one time payments. The agreements included the Service Employees International Union ("SEIU"), Marin County Fire Operations Battalion Chiefs’ Association, Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, Sheriff’s Staff Officers’ Association, and Probation Managers’ Association. Three of the above agreements also included a new retirement tier for public safety employees that was designed to substantively reduce long-term pension costs for the County.

Need more info? See the agreements found on the Cyberagenda

Contact: Angela Nicholson, Assistant Director of Human Resources at anicholson@marincounty.org

Hearing Set for Garbage Collection Rate Increases for Portions of Southern Marin

Should the Board authorize a 4.8 percent rate increase for garbage collection in portions of southern Marin? The Board authorized a hearing on July 24th to consider the merits of staff’s proposal to increase rates for unincorporated areas near Mill Valley and Tiburon known as Shoreline and Gibson, Paradise Cay, Paradise and Mar East. Disposal expenses, zero-waste fees, and employee benefit costs are the primary factors driving the requested increase. A 4.8 percent increase would bring the average cost of a 32-gallon garbage can to $39.82 per month, which is in line with the Bay Area average and equates to an average $1.83 per month in additional cost for residential customers.

Need more info? See the Full Report

Contact: Steve Devine, Public Works Program Manager, at sdevine@marincounty.org

7. Final Actions on Panoramic Highway Speed Limit Change Authorized

Based upon data provided by County engineers, the Board authorized a reduction in the speed limit from 45mph to 40mph on a section of Panoramic Highway near Sequoia Valley Road. A first reading of an ordinance making this change previously occurred on June 19th.

Need more info? See the Full Report

Contact: Bob Goralka, Senior Civil Engineer at rgoralka@marincounty.org

8. Appointments Made for Several Boards & Commissions

Need more info?

Contact: Clerk of the Board staff at BOS@marincounty.org

9. Supplemental Agreement for Housing Element Update Authorized

The Board adopted a $225,315 agreement in order to assist in the County’s efforts to complete the supplemental Environmental Impact Report associated with the Housing Element Update.

Need more info? See the Full Report

Contact: Brian Crawford, Director of Community Development Agency at bcrawford@marincounty.org

10. Permitting Agreement with Bay Area Agencies Not Authorized

After hearing staff testimony, the Board did not authorize a staff request to enter into an agreement with the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). The agreement would have funded a staff position at ABAG that would ensure better coordinated processing and review of various permit applications.

Need more info? See the Full Report

Contact: Jenny Choi, Department of Public Works at jchoi@marincounty.org

11. Rush Creek Informational Meeting Held

The Board heard an informational meeting to discuss the continuation of the Rush Creek Lighting and Landscaping District. A public hearing on the item was scheduled for July 24th.

Need more info? See the Staff Report

Contact: Ron Miska, Deputy Parks Director at rmiska@marincounty.org

12. Employees of the Month and Team of the Quarter Honored

In the afternoon, the Board honored Inna Frid of the Information Services and Technology Department with the employee of the month award. Inna is well-versed in all major technology areas from web to desktop application development. The Marin Employment Connection was also honored with the "Outstanding Employee Team of the Quarter" Award for their continued efforts in providing resources and support to job seekers and employers in Marin County.

Need more info?

Contact: Clerk of the Board staff at BOS@marincounty.org

13. Afternoon Workshop on Civic Center Campus Improvements Held

The Board held a workshop to discuss potential changes to the Civic Center campus, including: capital improvements around the Auditorium parking lot and future Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (“SMART”) station; Civic Center Drive modifications; and a memorandum of understanding with the Agricultural Institute of Marin regarding the vacant land commonly referred to as the “Christmas Tree lot”.

Need more info?

Contact: David Speer, Facilities Planning & Development Manager at dspeer@marincounty.org

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NovatoAVID May 23, 2013 at 07:27 am
Excellent---"for going the extra mile for others." Service Above Self isRead More Rotary....Excellent!
Joe May 23, 2013 at 02:45 pm
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Peter May 23, 2013 at 08:38 am
Hello,
Ventress Dugan May 22, 2013 at 02:54 pm
Tina, I have left a few comments on blogs and they been eliminated. I have also emailedRead More Jim....don't think I will get response. So sorry the trolls have taken over. I am blocking Patch from my email.
The Tubes
Shelley Klaner May 21, 2013 at 03:01 pm
Moylans has always been there for us. They rock! They also provided the brew for my biz openingRead More party and they are an important part of Novato.
NovatoAVID May 19, 2013 at 08:40 am
Thankful for Moylan's Brewing, and their commitment to the community. Support locally owned businessRead More first in Novato.
Karen Dionne May 21, 2013 at 08:56 am
Where's the daily/weekly weather report? It used to be at the top of the front page? I really likedRead More reviewing it with just a glance.
Peter May 20, 2013 at 10:16 am
This new site is great . I wonder if the Posters who wanted to run the old Patch site with allRead More the phony garbage/ postings are sneaking a peak to see a new / better patch . They all complained and said they will quit if not changed back. Guess what folks We have always told you if you want change you need to get out of your computers face and take action . We did just that and look at our reward, A new site for regular people who have common sense .. Thank You Patch
Hopkin May 19, 2013 at 06:20 pm
What is going on here
Craig Belfor May 18, 2013 at 05:51 pm
Making us start over is the plan to wear us down. Free press is paid for by advertisers, andRead More pressure is put out to stifle stories. That's what the tobacco industry did to 60 Minutes, and the Isreli government did to the Goldberg Report. The United Nations couldn't put out the story of mass genocide of the Palestinian people, and we'll be kicked off the blog soon because we don't advertise.
Tina McMillan May 18, 2013 at 04:36 pm
Craig I thought I was being overly suspicious but the new site eliminated months of research andRead More commentary and has replaced it with irrelevant banter and Ads. It won't even let you edit thoughts into smaller blocks or comment directly to another post. It is the ultimate dumbing down of Patch. If you have been following the Plan Bay Area debate here is a link to the response from the Supervisor's: http://www.marincounty.org/Main/~/media/Files/MarinGov/Board%20Actions/20130514CDAPlanBayArea-LTR.pdf There is also a presentation by the Marin Economic Forum on Plan Bay Area: Is it good for the region? Is it good for Marin? Calendar: Novato Community Alliance Title: Marin Economic Forum on Plan Bay Area Date: 30.05.2013 18:30 - 20:30 Location: Board of Supervisors' chambers at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael " A forum sponsored by the Marin Economic Forum on the Plan Bay Area will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 30th in the Board of Supervisors' chambers at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. Panelists will be Plan Bay Area proponents Marin Supervisor Steve Kinsey; Napa County Supervisor Mark Luce, president of ABAG; and critics Randal O'Toole of the Cato Institute, author of "Gridlock"; and Thomas Rubin, an Oakland-based transportation consultant and former chief financial officer of the Southern California Rapid Transit District. Moderator will be Marin Superior Court Judge Verna Adams. Admission is free."
Craig Belfor May 18, 2013 at 02:54 pm
We got sold down the river by the developers. Under the guise of a new improved format, they justRead More erased our history. Now we have to start defending our town all over again, while they are already in gear. Some of the opponants of AH can't get on anymore. Brent would not have allowed this to happen. Maybe that's why he left so suddenly, and unexpectedly.
Eleanor Sluis May 23, 2013 at 05:18 pm
Peter- Correction- the meeting about property is at the Marin Board of Supervisors on May 30, atRead More 6:30.
Eleanor Sluis May 23, 2013 at 05:12 pm
A rhetorical question by Peter in actions to save property values. Some suggestions are: 1.Read More Research the opinions and facts and vote for whomever you think will save property values. 2. Go to the Wilson Novato Square meeting about the redesign and new 24/7 hours wanted by the Shell owners at the Open Door Church at 7 pm tonight. 3. Go to the meeting about property and planning for Novato as part of the One Bay Area Design on May 30, 6:30 pm in San Rafael Corp Center. 4. Keep supporting the best schools and best governance practices by the council to maintain our rural, suburban vision. 5. Learn all you can about the complexities of politics, culture, environment, and the financial issues of local, state, and federal monies so that when values of property come up, you will be better informed. 6. Support groups, which are dealing with those issues such as political, social, religious, financial, educational, philosophical, cultural, judicial, and environmental. 7. Keep posting for opinions.
Tina McMillan May 23, 2013 at 11:59 am
Peter If you want information about various groups then go to the websites and read about them forRead More yourself. If you would stick to one name perhaps people wouldn't confuse your posts with Bud Lite and the other troll accounts. http://nca4bh.org/ncasite_j17/index.php/en/ http://www.novatohoa.com/
Novato Camper May 22, 2013 at 05:17 am
Craig, One wonders if you were hired to do the talking for the two advertisers above who youRead More say bailed ? . Have you ever used the words maybe, contract or expired ?
Craig Belfor May 21, 2013 at 08:51 pm
Can't find a Ghiringellis ad or Famous Holt ad. The advertisers are bailing faster than Julia at aRead More carport party.
Eleanor Sluis May 21, 2013 at 01:04 pm
Find comments by pressing the little red circle at the upper right of an article. You must sign inRead More to comment. Later you can delete in your email all the comments forwarded to you. Do keep emailing to Jim Welte to change the format to the previous one as easier to access and with ads to one side not Grapenuts ads covering the news. Working within the system and changing it will help those new to blogging. Thanks for cooperating.