As summer comes to an end, there have been some big changes in the Lucan household with our daughter Selah starting preschool and our son Noah entering TK! 

With the school year underway for all kids, it’s a good time to work together to make our streets safer for everyone! 

From early-October through the end of November, you will 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 for pedestrians to pay attention when crossing the street. 

The Eyes Up Marin Campaign is part of the Street Smarts Program and Safe Routes to Schools locally funded program. To learn more about the program, access social media downloads, or to get a free lawn sign, visit the Streets Smart Marin website.  

In my last Binford Bulletin I shared that the Board of Supervisors would receive an update from County staff regarding the Binford Road Encampment at our August 22 Board Meeting. The staff report and video recording (item 7) of the meeting are posted on the County website.  

The County of Marin recently secured $1.6 million in state grant funding over three years to resolve the Binford Road encampment through enhanced outreach, housing-based case management, and other direct support to homeless individuals.   

With support from the new state funding, three main strategies have been identified as next steps to address the encampment. 

• Supportive Services: The goal is to house half of the approximately 90 individuals along Binford Road within two years, and all within three years. Some of these individuals will need permanent supportive housing, while others may need assistance to stabilize into affordable housing units, including security deposits, first and last month’s rent, or other housing-related costs.  
• Enforcement and Regulation: The goal is to improve public and environmental safety by reducing the number of abandoned vehicles and belongings in the public right-of-way. Abandoned or excess vehicles will be removed after providing registered owners with a 30-day pre-notice period, followed by a 15-day action notice. Personal property stored in the public right-of-way will be removed after the notice period. The Sheriff’s office is distributing notices this week to begin this enforcement effort. 
• Environmental Protection: The goal is to protect and preserve the sensitive environmental habitat on and along the Rush Creek Preserve and slough. The County will increase efforts to support appropriate and healthy disposal of trash and waste prior to the wet weather season, when control of such discharges is more difficult. 

In addition, the reconstruction of Binford Road has been on Public Works’ capital improvement project list for several years. These needed improvements are planned to commence in 2025, including requirements along the east side of Binford Road to install sediment control to filter road runoff for protection of the sensitive habitat of the Rush Creek Preserve and slough. This will have the effect of eliminating much, if not all, parking along the east side of Binford Road along the water. We will monitor progress of these efforts and plan for any needed contingencies.     

I have asked our County staff to come back to the Board of Supervisors by the end of the calendar year to provide a status update on these efforts. Monthly progress will be tracked on the County’s Data Dashboard.  

I know that no plan is perfect, but I support the strategy in place. We have a lot of work to do, and I’m pleased we have a detailed, thoughtful, collaborative effort in place to execute. Our end goal is to move people into housing.  

I will continue to visit Binford Road on a weekly basis and communicate with you when we have updates to share. I appreciate the interest and concern from the community. 

After a multi-year hiatus, the Marin Senior Fair is back this year! The Fair is open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Thursday, September 7 at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of The Flags. As always, admission and parking are free. 

The Fair provides informative resources for seniors, family members, and caregivers. Exhibitors will share information about many services such as housing, finance, medical, legal, travel, education, hobbies, and technology. 

The Fair will have live entertainment, food, a wellness center, raffle prizes, and more! Mark your calendars for this event and enjoy hands-on activities and lifestyle information for older adults. 

As a member of the State Route (SR) 37 Policy Committee, I am pleased to share a few updates on the ongoing efforts to improve the SR 37 Corridor. The SR 37 Policy Committee is comprised of policy makers from Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano counties working to address issues in the corridor including sea level rise, traffic congestion, transit options, and recreational activities. 

Last week, the California Transportation Commission formally allocated $155 million in federal funding to elevate a key section of SR 37 to guard against future flooding on this vital regional corridor as well as to enhance habitat connectivity for San Pablo Bay. The proposed project will raise the roadway by 30 feet over Novato Creek by 2029, well above the projected year 2130 sea-level rise. 

The project will reduce risks of route closures due to flooding. Many of you may recall significant closures of SR 37 in 2017, 2019, and 2023 due to flooding - diverting traffic onto local roadways in Novato. While several interim improvements have been made since 2017 to reduce flood risk, a more permanent solution is needed to address sea-level rise and storm-related flooding. The project also presents an opportunity to enhance bicycle and pedestrian access. 

The Draft Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment (Draft EIR/EA) for the proposed SR 37 Flood Reduction Project (Project) has been released for public review and comment.  

The proposed Project would be constructed in two phases.  

• Phase 1: Caltrans would replace the Novato Creek bridge with a longer structure at the elevation of 35 feet, install two temporary transition bridge structures tied into existing grades, improve two existing local access roads, replace culverts, and regrade an existing drainage channel. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2027. 
• Phase 2: Caltrans would construct the rest of the causeway from the 101/37 intersection to Atherton Avenue Undercrossing to an elevation of 35 feet. Caltrans proposes to remove the existing Simmons Slough Bridge, reconstruct the on and offramps at Hanna Ranch Road, Marsh Drive, and Atherton Avenue, install Type 85 barriers, and replace two culverts. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2041, subject to funding availability.  

The Draft EIR/EA for the Project is available on the Caltrans website, along with detailed information on how to submit comments during the 45-day public review period (August 25, 2023 through October 8, 2023).  

Caltrans is hosting a hybrid public meeting on September 21 to provide an overview of the Project and its purpose and need; the current build alternative; and the potential environmental impacts of the project. Additionally, the meeting will include a question-and-answer session.  

Public Meeting
September 21, 2023
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Virtually via Webex: http://bit.ly/3YZzIRP 
In Person: Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Road, Novato 

Marin County Public Health Officer Matt Willis has advised the Marin community to bolster their protection with new vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV - becoming available in October. COVID-19 cases have been rising in Marin since June.  

This fall is the first time there will be vaccines for all three of these diseases which are major causes of respiratory disease in Marin. COVID-19, flu, and RSV all spiked last fall and winter, sending many people to the hospital in what some called the ‘tripledemic’.  

To stay healthy this fall and winter, talk to your healthcare provider about what vaccines are recommended for you. For additional information from Dr. Willis, Marin’s Public Health Officer, watch his August 2023 Status Update video.