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Southern Marin Scoop - November 2024 |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors in Southern Marin,
In these challenging times, as your County Supervisor, I want to affirm that I remain steadfast in my commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all people across our communities. We are all in this together, and together we will move forward and make progress. Despite potential challenges at the national level, we will not go back. I and the Marin County Board of Supervisors will continue to work toward a more inclusive and equitable Marin for everyone.
Locally, as we move into the final months of the year, I want to share the latest updates, resources, and important news from across our county. This issue includes timely information on high tides, king tides, and emergency preparedness to keep you safe and informed as we navigate the changing seasons. I encourage you to sign up for our alert systems (at AlertMarin.org) so you can stay in the know on weather-related updates and other essential notifications.
You’ll also find photos and highlights from recent community gatherings, from celebrating Marin City’s community-led flood resilience efforts, to our ongoing work protecting Richardson Bay’s vibrant eelgrass ecosystem. These events showcase the collaborative spirit of our county and the many people working together to keep Marin safe, resilient, and environmentally conscious.
Finally, don’t miss the section on Marin County boards and commissions for District 3 – these are great ways to get involved in shaping our community's future. Please consider applying to represent Southern Marin on one of our County boards.
Thank you for staying engaged, and as always, please reach out with your thoughts, questions, or concerns.
All my best,
Stephanie
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 In This Edition
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Seasonal High Tides Expected Over Next Few Months
 Seasonal high tides, sometimes referred to as king tides, tend to cause flooding along shoreline communities and some low-lying roads in Marin County, potentially impacting commute times and travel plans. Tide-related flooding can happen whether it is raining or not, but the flooding can increase significantly if elevated tides occur during a storm.
Based on tide predictions from 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 13-18, December 11-17 and 30-31, as well as January 1 and 28-30. If a storm happens during those times, it tends to cause tidal surges which can push water levels significantly higher than predicted. MORE INFO
Predicted High Tides
The following list shows predicted high tides at or above 6.4 feet from November 2024 through January 2025 at the San Francisco tide gauge.
2024:
November 13, 8:51 AM, 6.4 feet
November 14, 9:26 AM, 6.7 feet
November 15, 10:04 AM, 7.0 feet
November 16, 10:43 AM, 7.0 feet
November 17, 11:26 AM, 6.9 feet
November 18, 12:11 PM, 6.6 feet
December 11, 7:32 AM, 6.4 feet
December 12, 8:12 AM, 6.7 feet
December 13, 8:54 AM, 7.0 feet
December 14, 9:37 AM, 7.1 feet
December 15, 10:22 AM, 7.0 feet
December 16, 11:08 AM, 6.8 feet
December 17, 11:54 AM, 6.5 feet
December 30, 10:11 AM, 6.4 feet
December 31, 10:53 AM, 6.4 feet
2025:
January 1, 11:35 AM, 6.4 feet
January 28, 9:58 AM, 6.5 feet
January 29, 10:42 AM, 6.5 feet
January 30, 11:28 AM, 6.4 feet
Things You Can Do Now to be Prepared
Flooding and Winter Storm Resources
Being prepared in the event of an emergency is important for your safety, as well as the safety of your community and first responders. Please review these flooding and winter storm resources from the County of Marin Emergency Portal as well as from the Southern Marin Fire District.
Sign up for Emergency PSPS Notifications
It is a good idea to be signed up for PG&E, AlertMarin and Nixle alerts if your power goes out due to a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
California King Tides Project
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 The Marin City Flood Resilience Project Kickoff Celebration and Press Conference took place on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Drake and Donohue intersection in Marin City hosted by the Marin City Community Services District, the US Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District and Marin City Climate Resilience and Health Justice with special guest Congressman Jared Huffman. In August, Marin City was among 12 communities selected for a national pilot program funded by $120 million for flood infrastructure projects. The program aims to improve flood safety and health in historically and economically underserved communities. READ MARIN IJ ARTICLE
 The Richardson Bay Regional Agency launched the Richardson Bay Eelgrass Protection Zone at a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 30, a milestone in a long effort to restore the ecological resource. The press conference featured several local and national electeds including Tiburon Mayor Alice Fredericks (upper right) and Congressman Jared Huffman (lower right). READ MARIN IJ ARTICLE
 Marin County Parks and Open Space, the Trust for Public Land and Tiburon Peninsula leaders hosted a ribbon cutting on Old St. Hilary’s celebrating the preservation of the "Martha Property," a 110-acre ridgetop tract with panoramic views of Marin and the Bay Area. I was joined at the event by District 1 Marin County Supervisor Mary Sackett (above right). READ MARIN IJ ARTICLE
 The City of Sausalito hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a long-awaited improvement project at the Sausalito Ferry Landing on Monday, Oct. 7. The ceremony at nearby Gabrielson Park featured remarks from Sausalito Mayor Ian Sobieski, Vice Mayor Joan Cox, Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Assemblymember Damon Connolly, and Denis Mulligan of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. READ MORE
 My Aides Doreen Gounard, Jen Imbimbo and I took a tour of the Roy's Redwoods Restoration project which re-aligned trails outside the forest floodplain, decompacted soils, and decommissioned undesignated trails. In the heart of San Geronimo Valley, Roy's Redwoods Preserve has a vital old-growth redwood forest habitat and offers visitors a unique immersive experience of these incredible trees. Thank you to Chris Chamberlain, Mischon Martin and Jon Campo from Marin County Parks and Open Space for the tour. READ MORE ABOUT ROY'S REDWOODS PRESERVE
 Earlier this fall, Supervisor Moulton-Peters and several County departments including the Community Development Agency, Department of Public Works, Health and Human Services, Marin County Fire Department, Marin County Free Library and the Marin Housing Authority hosted an Open House in Marin City at the Marin City Library. More than 60 residents and community leaders attended the event to connect with County departments and discuss directly with staff members issues and projects taking place in Marin City as well as resources for community members. The event was the first in a series of Marin City Open House events.
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Board Recommends Additional Review of
Countywide Plan Changes
More coordination is sought before amending language about multifamily housing and community plans.
The County of Marin will look to extend a court deadline before it finalizes amendments to the Marin Countywide Plan (CWP), based on an October 29 recommendation from the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
During its afternoon session, the Board considered options presented by its Community Development Agency (CDA) and heard public comment about clarifications to the main planning document for the county’s unincorporated areas. The changes involved additional language to emphasize the roles and needs of multifamily housing development, meet state housing requirements, and strengthen the significance of longstanding community plans that serve as guiding documents for 22 unincorporated neighborhoods.
The Supervisors and CDA seek to eliminate provisions in the CWP that subordinate community plans for unincorporated neighborhoods such as Strawberry, Tam Valley, Santa Venetia, Kentfield-Greenbrae, and the villages of coastal West Marin. Recommended amendments were prompted by a legal challenge earlier this spring that followed the Board’s January 2023 adoption of the CWP’s Housing Element for the years 2023-2031. READ MORE
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Scouts Help Build Intergenerational Garden in Marin City
When the Marin City Community Services District first conceived the idea to create an intergenerational community garden at its headquarters on Drake Avenue in Marin City, officials there reached out to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon to see if the church had anyone willing to help construct a ramp for the space.
One of the church’s members, Jim Arce, was inspired. Arce is the leader of Scouts BSA Troop 48 in Tiburon, and he thought the garden could be a meaningful project for members of the troop working to earn their Eagle Scout rankings, the highest rank in the organization achieved through completion of a service-oriented leadership project.
Over the past three or so years, members of Troop 48, which currently has about 25 kids, have joined others in the community to help transform the garden from a mostly empty hillside to a mostly filled out garden, complete with planter boxes, a shade structure and cooking area, a fire pit, benches and more. In that time, seven of the troop’s scouts have earned their Eagle Scout ranking by completing a project in the garden, and one is currently working toward the ranking with a project that includes installing five new planters and a kumquat tree. READ MORE FROM THE ARK
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Redwood Bikeshare - Now Rolling in Marin
You may have noticed bikes popping up around the SMART corridor. Redwood Bikeshare is the fun new way to get around Marin!
The Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) and Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) have partnered with Drop Mobility for a pilot bikeshare program along the SMART corridor. Whether you’re running errands, visiting town, or riding recreationally, you can now cruise Marin County with Redwood Bikeshare!
The bikeshare system is being installed as permits are finalized and equipment is delivered. The overall system includes a fleet of 300 e-bikes across approximately 60 hubs in Marin and Sonoma counties.
Check out the Redwood Bikeshare webpage to learn details and download the app! The app shows the bike hubs that are ready to ride.
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Domestic Violence Awareness
On October 15, the Board of Supervisors recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month to acknowledge the impact of domestic violence and the ongoing efforts to prevent it. With 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experiencing violence by an intimate partner, domestic violence undermines the safety and well-being of families across all socioeconomic groups. Marin County has made meaningful progress, seeing a 55% decrease in domestic violence-related law enforcement calls since 2013. The Marin County Coordinated Community Response, in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, and community organizations such as Center for Domestic Peace, continue to lead a collaborative approach to prevention and intervention.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we encouraged our community to stand with support survivors and work to prevent further violence. If you or someone you know needs help, Center for Domestic Peace's (C4DP)’s 24-hour bilingual hotline is available at 415-924-6616.
Marin County Fair Announces 2025 Theme: BUG-TASTIC!
From July 2-6, 2025, the Marin County Fair — BUG-TASTIC! will celebrate all things creepy, crawly, sticky, prickly, wiggly, flittery, fluttery, buzzy, and everything in between.
This ultimate bugfest will be filled with activities that highlight insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and more, from competitive exhibits, hands-on art projects, entertainment, education, and fairground décor, all while providing a great opportunity for families to have a good time and develop a love of nature.
The 2025 fair will also include favorites such as the juried fine arts and photography exhibit, headline concerts, carnival rides, sheepdog trials, a petting zoo, pig races, and more. The Competitive Exhibits contests will be expanded with special categories including bug themed arts and crafts, decorated cakes and cookies, beer and wine making, jams, jellies, honey, hobby arts, and much more. MORE INFO
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Apply to Serve on a Board or Commission
Thank you for considering a role on one of Marin County’s boards and commissions! Your time, talents, and commitment to public service are invaluable to our community. By volunteering, you contribute to a more inclusive, responsive, and effective county government.
Serving on a board or commission offers a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful civic work, make a difference, and gain insight into the complexities of local government. Your input and perspective are key to fostering a healthy democracy and ensuring that Marin County remains vibrant, equitable, and forward-thinking. We hope you’ll consider joining us in this rewarding endeavor! Together, we can build a stronger community.
In District 3, we are currently seeking applicants for the Library Commission, Commission on Aging, the Strawberry Design Review Board, among others.
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Commission on Aging
The Commission on Aging is an advisory council that advocates for, educates, and celebrates older adults throughout Marin County. The Commission strives to promote understanding and positive change in the community through the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, respect, and collaboration. The Marin County Commission on Aging is federally mandated by the Older Americans Act to advise the Area Agency on Aging and the Marin County Board of Supervisors. The Commission is supported in its work by the AAA. APPLY
Library Commission
The Library Commission serves as an advisory and resource body and liaison to the Board of Supervisors, the Director of County Library Services, and the Community. The Library Commission strives to find ways and means of enlisting public interest in supporting and improving library services to the citizens of the County of Marin in alignment with the Marin County Free Library's Mission. The Commission shall serve as the Oversight Committee for any time-limited revenue generating tax measures if needed. APPLY
Strawberry Design Review Board
The Strawberry Design Review Board serves as an advisory and resource body and liaison to the Board of Supervisors, the Community Development Agency, the Planning Commission, and the community. Members review and comment on discretionary land use/zoning applications and community plan amendments within the Strawberry Planning Area that are referred to the SDRB by the Community Development Agency. APPLY
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Tip of the Month – Slow Down, Turn Safely
 When you drive up to an intersection, do you actively look for the most vulnerable on our streets? Watch out for people walking and rolling.
When turning left, go slowly and make a 90-degree angle with your car to better spot people in the road. The most severe injuries can happen when cars turn left into vulnerable road users.
Remember: Eyes Up!
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.
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