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What a fun month it is has been. There have been many wonderful events and happenings in Novato which have provided great opportunities to gather as a community. My family enjoyed attending the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Festival and the Grand Menorah Lighting in Downtown Novato (photos below).
Whether you're celebrating with family, friends, or simply enjoying some well-deserved rest, may the holiday spirit bring you much joy and peace.
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Rain did not dampen the spirits of all who attended the Marin Foster Care Association’s ribbon cutting of a newly purchased, 10-unit studio apartment complex in Novato to serve youth who are aging out of the foster care system.
The Marin Foster Care Association (MFCA) works with the County of Marin’s Children and Family Services Division as well as with other non-profits, to provide support to foster care youth and families.
Earlier this year I learned about the challenges faced when a transition-age foster youth is aging out of foster care. Transition-age foster youth are sometimes eligible for housing vouchers, but many landlords are reluctant to take on a young person, in these circumstances, as a tenant. Providing stable housing for these young adults is critical to their success, and it is important that they stay in the community where they have lived to be close to established support systems and friends as they pursue work and higher education.
This summer I reached out to the MFCA and inquired if they’d ever considered purchasing an apartment complex to serve aging-out foster youth. MFCA’s Executive Director, always up for a challenge, gave that some thought, and we quickly identified the Novato apartment complex as the ideal building to pursue. It’s close to public transportation, a grocery store, and College of Marin!
The MFCA worked tirelessly to make this dream of owning an apartment building come true! Led by the MFCA, this was a collaborative effort that included many partners. The Board of Supervisors was unanimous in our support to allocate $500,000 from the County's Affordable Housing Trust Fund towards the purchase; the Marin Community Foundation contributed $500,000; the City of Novato allocated $150,000 from its Affordable Housing Trust; and Make It Home, a local non-profit furniture bank, pledged to fully furnish each unit as they become available for the youth. These units have been deed restricted, ensuring that they will permanently remain affordable.
Providing increased opportunities for transition-age foster youth for safe and secure housing as they enter adulthood is critical, and it is gratifying to know that when we work together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
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On Tuesday, December 12 our Board was presented with an update (item 6) regarding the Binford Road encampment. It had been just over three months since we received the initial presentation regarding the plans to address the encampment using the $1.6 million awarded in state grant funding.
The update included overall strategies which were summarized in three categories: supportive services, with the goal of identifying safe, permanent housing destinations for those residing on Binford; increased enforcement; and environmental protection for the sensitive bayfront habitat.
I am encouraged by all the progress that has been made since I took office and am particularly pleased with the efforts since our August meeting. I continue to visit Binford Road on a regular basis and want to highlight some of the updates from the past three months with you:
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Ten individuals have been moved into housing, with 19 more on a strong pathway to housing.
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All 101 individuals along Binford have been reached by outreach teams, and more than two-thirds of the Binford population has been connected to the County’s Coordinated Entry system for more stable housing.
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Eighteen vehicles have been removed, and vacated roadside parking spaces are being fenced off to prevent new arrivals.
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Environmental and health upgrades are being implemented, including biweekly pump out services, more portable restrooms, and handwashing stations.
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Public safety measures have also been added, including protective fencing along the waterfront, weekly debris removal, and a slower speed limit (35 mph) that goes into effect December 28.
In addition to the update about progress at the encampment, our Board adopted a new pilot vehicle buyback incentives program. Individuals with an identified permanent housing destination will receive priority to participate in the program. We also adopted a measure prohibiting overnight parking for any new vehicles along the west side (business side) of Binford Road to ensure parking for employees is available. As more spaces are vacated, additional measures will be considered.
While there is much work remaining, great progress has been made on Binford Road. We are housing individuals, cleaning up the area, and making Binford Road safer for all. I will continue to advocate for acceleration of transitioning residents to safe housing, supporting measures to protect the sensitive environment along the water, and addressing valid concerns raised by the community and businesses.
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The County is currently working on a Short-Term Rental (STR)
Ordinance Update that is scheduled to come before the Board of Supervisors in a special evening meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2024. This will be the first opportunity for the Board of Supervisors to weigh in on the draft ordinance.
On November 13 the Planning Commission voted to recommend the updated ordinance to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. The draft ordinance and other background information about this process can be found on the County website.
Many good neighbor measures have been in place for STRs since the Board of Supervisors first adopted regulations in 2018, but the updated draft ordinance introduces further regulations around water use, wastewater disposal, emergency preparedness and evacuation, and parking capacity. In addition, the draft ordinance would create a cap for the number of STRs allowed countywide and in some individual communities in West Marin.
I have been engaging with many individuals and groups to better understand the issues to develop good policy. I am interested to hear from you, and I hope you will participate in our meeting on January 11 and/or share your feedback with me in advance of the meeting. Subscribe to the STR webpage to receive updates and meeting materials as they become available.
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At our Board of Supervisors meeting last week, we had the opportunity to celebrate the retirement of a truly exceptional county employee, Dr. Benita McLarin, who has served Marin County as Director of Health and Human Services since 2019.
Dr. McLarin began her government career in 1980 as a Private in the United States Army Reserve and completed over twenty-five years in her military medical career, which included several overseas assignments. Upon retirement from the United States Army, Dr. McLarin decided to continue her career in government service as the Health Services Administrator for the Health and Social Services Department in Solano County, which launched her into the next phase of her public service career where she eventually made her way to the County of Marin as our Director of Health and Human Services.
After joining the County of Marin, Dr. McLarin was immediately faced with a series of extraordinary events and challenges (power shut offs, fire events, neighboring county evacuations, and a historic coronavirus pandemic) that truly highlighted her exceptional leadership skills.
I would be remiss if I did not highlight her role in what became a nationally recognized public health response to the pandemic that included equity focused testing access and vaccine distribution -- resulting in the County of Marin having the highest number of residents vaccinated and one of the lowest numbers of coronavirus disease cases in the State of California.
It was evident in the accolades Dr. McLarin received at our Board of Supervisor’s meeting that she truly enriched and inspired those who were fortunate to work with her. She raised the bar on what it means to be a good leader, and my only regret is that I didn’t have the opportunity to work with her longer!
It is with much gratitude that we send her off with thanks and appreciation for her service to not only the County of Marin, but to our entire Country.
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As your Supervisor, I welcome and encourage you to connect, share your concerns, and your ideas. We want to hear from you! Please use the contact information below to reach out to the District 5 Team. A reply to this email doesn’t come directly to my office, and I’d like to respond to you in a timely manner.
**Please note, our email addresses have changed**
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