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Dear Neighbors,
We began the new year with record-breaking king tides combined with winter storms that produced water levels significantly higher than projected by the National Weather Service, resulting in widespread flooding, road closures, and substantial damage across Marin County. The timber-reinforced berm in Santa Venetia was breached, and Public Works mitigated the breach with sandbags. Flooding of an AT&T telecommunications substation in San Rafael caused cell coverage to go down and a 9-1-1 outage, resulting in the County issuing Wireless Emergency Alerts and AlertMarin notifications. If you didn't get an alert, sign up for AlertMarin. Save the Public Emergency Portal webpage for information during emergencies: https://emergency.marincounty.gov/.
I hope you enjoyed a restful holiday season, and I wish you a hopeful start to the new year as we move past these storms.
The photo shows inundation affecting Santa Margarita Island in Santa Venetia
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BOARD MEETINGS TEMPORARY RELOCATION
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It has been an honor to serve as President of the Board of Supervisors in 2025. Supervisor Lucan will become Board President on January 20. I know Supervisor Lucan will lead with a strong commitment to our shared goals, keeping Marin residents front and center.
The Board of Supervisors will temporarily hold its public meetings at the Showcase Theater (20 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael) in January and February while we modernize the audio-visual system in the Board Chambers. During the temporary relocation, hybrid/Zoom participation will continue as usual. The current equipment in the Board Chambers is at the end of its useful life. Upgrades include: new monitors and microphones, improved graphics tools, more reliable audio and video quality, and enhanced ADA-compliant digital accessibility. The upgrades also allow the County to bring broadcasting and recording in-house, saving costs.
The Showcase Theater has ample seating, convenient parking for cars and bikes, and nearby access to SMART and Marin Transit. This temporary location will also be used for meetings of the Marin Housing Authority, the Marin County Open Space District Board of Directors, the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Board of Directors, and the Marin County Planning Commission. Meeting locations may vary, so please check the agency’s website for agendas before attending.
COUNTY PAVEMENT CONDITION MILESTONE
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Marin County’s unincorporated roadway network reached a significant benchmark at the end of 2025, with the Countywide Pavement Condition Index increasing from 68 to 70, surpassing both statewide and countywide averages. This achievement is the result of focused data-driven pavement management and coordination. Last year, the County Public Works Department delivered a balanced program of roadway treatments, reconstruction, and repairs designed to extend pavement life, improve quality, and reduce long-term costs.
The County manages 424 miles of road. We know there is more to do, especially after last week's storms. It's not always easy to know who maintains a particular road, in and around San Rafael. Both the County and the City rely on community reports to address road issues. For roads maintained by the County, please report potholes here. For City of San Rafael streets, report issues through See-Click-Fix. If a report is submitted to the wrong place, the system will let you know and help route it correctly. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as our crews respond to storm-related impacts.
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VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN SURVEY
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The Board recently reviewed progress on the County’s Vision Zero Action Plan, our commitment to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on County roadways. This work is focused on making our streets safer for everyone, especially pedestrians and cyclists. In 2024, Marin County adopted a Local Road Safety Plan, formally aligning the County with the international Vision Zero movement and committing to targeted investment in safety-related infrastructure. A comprehensive Vision Zero Action Plan is the next step. The County is advancing projects that slow traffic, improve visibility at crossings, enhance bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and integrate safety into capital planning and ongoing maintenance. Learn more about the plan and share your input by completing a survey here. Vision Zero is a long-term commitment, and these actions move us closer to a safer transportation system for all.
350 MERRYDALE INTERIM SHELTER
COMMUNITY MEETING
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Join the City of San Rafael for the next community engagement for the 350 Merrydale Road Interim Shelter.
When: January 14, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Venetia Valley School – Multipurpose Room
177 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
The meeting will begin with a presentation to provide information about the interim site project, plus:
- A summary of input received from the community in December
- How community input has led to updates to program policies and the site design
- What input is still being reviewed
- Next steps for the project
- Discussion topics include site design, safety and security, the Good Neighbor Policy and Code of Conduct, and traffic and parking
Interpreters, printed materials, and visual boards will be available. Learn more here.
PG&E and MCE customers who meet income eligibility requirements may qualify for energy bill assistance, including support with past-due balances, payment extensions, and additional resources.
Thank you to everyone who responded to the volunteer opportunities prompt in my last newsletter. The organizations listed below are seeking both one-time volunteers and individuals interested in long-term commitments.
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Lights under the Hall of Justice Arch
Levee damage at McInnis Park
Visiting the Santa Venetia levee with Congressman Huffman
Celebrating outgoing Marin Transit Executive Director Nancy Whelan
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New Year's Day hike with my friend Cornelia
Sandbagging for Santa Venetia levee repair
Rainbow breaking through in Santa Venetia
The sun finally came out at the Pétanque Court and Field of Dogs Dog Park!
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