The County of Marin is finalizing its plan to address housing needs across the next eight years, also known as the Housing Element. At the same time, the County is working to update the Safety Element. Join the Southern Marin virtual community meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 6-7 p.m. to learn from the County's Community Development Agency more about what this means and what to expect in the coming years. The meeting will cover comments received from the State on the Draft Housing Element, updates expected to the Countywide Plan and Development Code related to housing development and updates to the Safety Element. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.  Be sure to REGISTER prior to Nov. 10. This is one of four County meetings and you are not limited to attending the meeting for your geographic region, you can attend any meeting. Complete meeting information can be found on the Housing and Safety Elements page. 

What: Southern Marin Housing and Safety Elements Meeting
When: Thursday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m.
Register for the meeting: HERE

Join the Marin County Overdose Prevention Summit, hosted by Marin County Public Health and RxSafe Marin, to shape the County/community’s plan to reverse the trend in fentanyl and other substance related harms in our community. New federal, state and local resources are being mobilized to address this complex crisis, and our participation/input is critical as we define our local response for 2023. In this program, we’ll provide an overview of the overdose epidemic in Marin and attendees will break into teams to prioritize countywide action.  See details below.  It is time for us to work together to end overdoses in Marin. Thank you in advance for your participation!


Marin County Overdose Prevention Summit
When: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 4 - 6 pm
Where: Embassy Suites by 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael, CA 94903
Pre-register here:  bit.ly/3yZmR60

The County is kicking off the process of updating its Short Term Rental (STR) regulations for the unincorporated areas of Marin. Please join the Community Development Agency (CDA) for a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m., as we begin this initiative to discuss all things STRs. Topics will include an overview of the draft guiding principles for this STR Update, STR data and trends, and tentative project timeline. This is also an opportunity to share your thoughts about STRs, provide feedback on information presented, and ask any questions of County staff. Meetings will be regional, roughly based on current Supervisorial Districts. However, if you cannot make the meeting for your District, or prefer to attend a different region, you are more than welcome to attend any meeting. Complete meeting information on the Short Terms Rentals page. 

What: Short Term Rentals Ordinance Update 
When: Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Zoom meeting link:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86156301063?pwd=a2lMRHk1S0F6ODFjOUxTNWROdGp6Zz09
Meeting ID: 861 5630 1063
Passcode: 616504

Sea level rise is a reality in Tam Valley, Tam Junction and surrounding areas. As a community, we must adapt. Join us to learn, engage, and set the course.

When: Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
Where: Tam Valley Community Center (302 Marin Ave.)
Why: To define priorities for adaptation
Hosted by: Tam Valley NRG - Sea Level Rise Task Force

Speaker lineup:  
Keynote, Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters 
Marin County Senior Planner, Leslie Lacko
NHA Advisors Principal, Mark Northcross
Marin County Planning Manager, Chris Choo
SFEI Senior Environmental Scientist, Jeremy Lowe
More information: https://nrgmillvalley.org/tam-valley-sea-level-rise/

Cultivating trust, enhancing transparency, and improving accountability. Those are the primary goals as the County of Marin and its Board of Supervisors create an independent community oversight committee to work in partnership with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.

In November, the County will conduct a survey to collect input on lived experiences with law enforcement, priorities for oversight, and strategies to enhance law enforcement accountability. The feedback will help inform the development of the new independent civilian body, to be known as the Assembly Bill (AB) 1185 Sheriff’s Oversight Committee. The Board of Supervisors allocated funds in the budget to conduct community outreach and develop recommendations in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission and the County Administrator’s Office. AB 1185, effective as of January 2021, authorizes counties to create a sheriff’s oversight board and an office of inspector general, and grants the bodies subpoena power enforceable by court action.  At this stage, the outreach goals are to identify community priorities on the preferred structure of oversight and strategies to enhance law enforcement accountability. More information on how to access the survey is available on the County website. 

Over the next month, kids and families in several Marin County locations might spot full-color text panels of a book that they can read together along popular walking routes. The Marin County Free Library (MCFL) collaborated with municipalities, businesses, and other organizations to launch the program called StoryWalk®, a fun, family-friendly, outdoor activity, where pages of a book are placed along a walking route. Each stop along the way displays one page of the book.

The Marin City Library route starts at the Tennessee Valley Trailhead and features the book The Hike by Alison Farrell, about three young friends who set out to explore their local forest. This Storywalk® is in partnership with Chronicle Books, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, National Park Service, Sausalito Public Library, and Mill Valley Public Library. Guides to the StoryWalk® routes are available at marinlibrary.org/storywalk, by scanning the QR codes along the StoryWalk route, and at MCFL library locations.

Seasonal high tides can cause flooding along shoreline communities and low-lying roads in Marin County. Tide-related flooding can happen whether it is raining or not, but flooding can increase significantly if the elevated tides occur during a storm, potentially obstructing roads and impacting commute times and travel plans.

Based on tide predictions published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tide levels that could be high enough to cause roadway flooding in coastal and bayside areas of Marin are expected November 22-27, December 20-26, and January 18-23. If a storm happens at the same time, it can cause a tidal surges and push water levels significantly higher than predicted.

Coastal communities and areas historically susceptible to flooding have a higher chance of being impacted. That tends to be most prevalent in areas of Marin where signs of sea level rise are already causing year-round tidal flooding issues. Some of those locations are North San Pedro Road through China Camp in unincorporated San Rafael, Greenwood Cove Drive in Tiburon, Lucky Drive in Greenbrae, Redwood Highway at Greenbrae Boardwalk, Marin City, and the Manzanita Park & Ride lot near Tam Junction.

The Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Marin County Flood Control District are urging residents and visitors to be aware of the predicted seasonal high tides. Drivers should allow extra time for trips and should be prepared to use alternative routes to avoid localized flooding on roadways. Travelers should always avoid driving through standing water, as even six inches of depth can stall a vehicle.

Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and take action on their own property to help reduce flood risk. In advance of storms, property owners should clear dead leaves from driveway pipes, rooftop gutters, and storm drains. Dead foliage needs to be placed in compost bins, not put in streets where it will clog neighborhood drainage systems. Those living in flood-prone areas should test their sump pumps and stock up on sandbags (available at most hardware stores), as well as learn how to properly use them prior to storms. Additionally, ReadyMarin.org provides detailed resources, including emergency grab-and-go packing checklists, that can be helpful for residents to prepare for the unexpected. Complete information on Marin County Public Works High Tides page. 

The Southern Marin Fire District strongly encourages residents to prepare for upcoming winter storms, power outages, and all high tide events. It is recommended that residents prepare themselves and their property from the possibility of wind and water damage. Be sure to stock up on sandbags, prepare for power outages and check your smoke alarms. 

Did you know that home fires occur more in winter than in any other season?!

As you stay cozy and warm this winter, be fire smart! Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters.

Through the end of November, you’ll see bright and colorful banners and lawn signs popping up all over Marin asking people to keep their “Eyes Up” and be alert.  These signs will be asking drivers to slow down, watch when turning and look for pedestrians in the crosswalk; bicyclists to yield to pedestrians and to follow the rules of the road; And those walking to pay attention when crossing the street.

These messages will also show up in your social media feeds, and you can find them at www.streetsmartsmarin.org. Please share with your friends, family and co-workers!

The Eyes Up, Marin Campaign is part of the Street Smarts Program and Safe Routes to Schools, locally funded programs of the Transportation Authority of Marin.