July Update from Supervisor Sackett

JULY 2023

MEET OUR D1 INTERNS COMMUNITY FORUM ON AGING MARIN TRANSIT AWARDED $31.5 MILLION GRANT  SMART TRAIN UPDATES MEASURE A COMMUNITY FOOD AND AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM  SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILL JOIN A BOARD OR COMMISSION HAVE YOU HEARD? WHAT I'M READING

 

Dear Neighbors,

My office is excited to have four interns working with us this summer: Alex Cupples, Alex Morales, Caitlin Kawamura, and Kaleb Morris. They are working on criminal justice and behavioral health, the restrictive covenant project, biomass and greenhouse gas reduction, and the men and boys action team. We are fortunate to have them in District 1. It's hard work and a lot of fun! 

Stay connected via our District 1 Instagram and Facebook pages. If you are interested in local government, want to talk about the issues, or touch base on some of the work you or your organization are doing, please contact us.

Did you attend the Marin County Fair? Please take a moment to share your feedback by completing this short survey. We would love to hear about your experience. 

 

COMMUNITY FORUM ON AGING

 

Join Assemblymember Connolly and me on August 3rd from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at the Marin County Civic Center for a community forum to learn about the latest in Alzheimer’s research, treatment and care. There will be a panel discussion with community leaders about resources and needs for Alzheimer's and dementia care in Marin. Register here to join us.

Requests for disability accommodations may be made by phoning 415-473-7354 (Voice), CA Relay 711, or by e-mail at JReinhard@MarinCounty.org at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats upon request.

 

MARIN TRANSIT AWARDED $31.5 MILLION GRANT

 

A $31.5 million grant was awarded to Marin Transit to develop a bus transit maintenance yard for its growing zero-emission fleet. The grant, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the largest award for California, signifies a momentous milestone in the Marin Transit's commitment to sustainable and accessible public transportation.

This funding will enable:

Purchase of a site and creation of a state of the art zero-emission bus maintenance facility in Marin County.

Facilitate the transition to a fully electric fleet and reduce carbon emissions from Marin Transit service operation by 28%.

Invest in the training and workforce development of a new generation of maintenance workers.

 

 

SMART TRAIN UPDATES

 

Thinking about commuting on the SMART Train? SMART has implemented a 15% reduction in the price of its 31-Day Pass to $117 for adults and $58.50 for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities. According to a survey conducted by the Bay Area Council, more than half of Bay Area employees are working a hybrid remote schedule. The reduced 31-Day Pass pricing is based on a hybrid work schedule of a 3-day per week commute but is valid for unlimited rides during the 31 day

This year's Marin County Fair was not only Electrifying with its theme of all things electric, solar, and charged with excitement, many fairgoers chose to ride SMART. 5,785 people got on and off the train at the Civic Center station during the Fair, with over 970 riding the extra trains after the fireworks throughout the week.  

Additionally, a new SMART Pathway is in the works! On the SMART Board of Directors, we approved construction for the pathway between McInnis Parkway and Smith Ranch Road. The plan is to start construction in September and be complete by next summer. This new pathway will connect Northern San Rafael to the Civic Center SMART Station. 

 

MEASURE A COMMUNITY FOOD AND AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM

 

Supports for sustainable agriculture, such as this new grant program and protection of parks and open space, are possible thanks to voters' decision to approve Measure A in June 2022.

Marin County Parks is launching the new Measure A Community Food and Agriculture Grant Program to support sustainable agriculture and food systems in Marin. The program plans to invite applications in Fall 2023 for projects of $5,000 - $100,000. This short survey will help staff plan to support potential applicants. It is 10 questions and should take less than 2 minutes to complete. The survey is available at:  bit.ly/AgGrantSurvey2023. For questions about the program, contact Sonya Hammons: SHammons@marincounty.org. 

The Eagle Rock project, Ponti, and Buck's Landing of Marin parks and open space are featured on NBC Bay Area's latest OpenRoad feature. Watch the episode to discover your next spot for enjoying the outdoors! 

 

SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILL

 

Summer heat waves can be taxing on our physical health and energy bills. Take steps to pre-cool your home for hot days and minimize energy use during the peak hours of 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. When demand increases, energy costs rise. MCE provides helpful tips to maximize both savings and renewables.

 

 

JOIN A BOARD OR COMMISSION

 

Our boards and commissions rely on civic-minded residents to help guide and shape our policies. If you have been thinking about getting engaged, check out these openings. All current openings can be found here, including newly posted openings on the Behavioral Health Board. If you are thinking about getting involved and aren't sure, I invite you to reach out to my office. My aides would be happy to connect you with opportunities to get involved in the community. 

Marin County Assessment Appeals Board

The Marin County Assessment and Appeals Board is accepting applications. The Board hears appeals from taxpayers on property assessments. This Board is governed by the rules and regulations of the Board of Equalization and Property Tax Laws of the State of California.

APPLY HERE

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Commission oversees the implementation of the Marin County Integrated Pest Management policy and plan, and advises and makes recommendations to the IPM Coordinator and Board of Supervisors. This Commission meets on the fourth Friday of January, April, July and October.

APPLY HERE

County Service Area (CSA) 6 - Gallinas Creek

County Service Area (CSA) 6 was created to raise funds for periodic dredging of the Gallinas Creek, allow for recreational boating, and include a smaller channel around Santa Margarita Island. The creek was dredged in 1966, 1973, 1981, and 1992-1994. The CSA is currently working on a geomorphic dredge of the creek. Please note you must reside within the CSA to serve on the board. If you're interested in getting involved, please contact Roger Leventhal, Senior Engineer with the Marin County Department of Public Works Flood Control team, at RLeventhal@marincounty.org.

APPLY HERE

 

County Service Area (CSA) 18

County Service Area (CSA) 18 was created to provide local park and recreation facilities and services in Santa Venetia. The Advisory Board provides recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on issues impacting neighborhood parks like Adrian-Rosal, Castro Park, Pueblo Park, and Candy's Park. Please note you must reside within the CSA to serve on the board. If you are interested and want to learn more about CSA 18, please get in touch with Jim Chayka, Superintendent of Marin County Parks, at JChayka@marincounty.org.

APPLY HERE

 

Flood Zone #6 (Rafael Meadows)

Flood Zone 6 was created in the 1960’s to address frequent flooding in the low-lying neighborhood just west of Highway 101 across from the County Civic Center. The Zone occupies a very small part of the Gallinas Creek Watershed. It is also the County's smallest flood control zone. It covers only 0.16 square mile entirely within the City of San Rafael. The neighborhood was unincorporated when the Zone was established, but was annexed by City of San Rafael. The City now owns and maintains the Zone’s drainage easements. There are 440 parcels in the Zone. In the early 2000s, construction of a new subdivision rerouted stormwater infrastructure around the community. This eliminated a significant cause of flooding in the zone. Please note you must reside within the Flood Zone to serve on the board. 

APPLY HERE

Disaster and Citizen Corp Council

The Disaster Council reviews and evaluates disaster preparedness progress in the public and private sectors; promotes disaster preparedness through communication and education; harness the power of every resident through education and outreach, training and volunteer service to make their families, homes and communities safer from natural and/or man-made disasters or emergencies; and, report biannually to the Board of Supervisors.

APPLY HERE

 

Fair Advisory Board

The Fair Advisory Board provides a forum for community voices on fair issues to promote fair engagement and attendance throughout the County of Marin and to advise the Cultural Services Department in developing a fair that features the unique environmental, artistic, and agricultural legacy of Marin County and that represents and includes Marin County's many communities.

APPLY HERE

 

 

HAVE YOU HEARD?

 

WHAT I'M READING

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: A witty, fun summer read. The main character is a chemist. Her dog, Six Thirty, is the best character; laugh-out-loud personalities throughout.

Emeritus Students College of Marin (ESCOM) provides opportunities for lifelong learning at no cost. ESCOM offers interactive clubs, monthly talks, and cultural events with online and in-person opportunities. Members are welcome to contribute to the monthly online newsletter and journal of photography, art, and creative writing. 

As an organization of the College of Marin, ESCOM has comfortable centers at both the Kentfield and Indian Valley campuses. Programs are free to all members. There are no educational or financial requirements to participate, only a desire to learn! Are you looking to learn something new or revisit a personal passion? Visit https://Escom.Marin.edu to explore offerings.

Please stay in touch,