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Happy New Year!
At our first Board of Supervisors meeting of the year, I was selected by my colleagues to serve as President of the Board for 2026. As Board President, I look forward to continuing to work with my Board colleagues, community partners, and the employees at the County of Marin to serve our community with respect, accountability, and a commitment to improve the quality of life for all residents.
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Sharing the comments I made at our Board of Supervisors meeting last week as we look to the year ahead:
As we enter the 3rd week of 2026, national headlines continue to grab at our hearts and minds.
Within the concentric circles of government, I have heard it said that the federal government and the state have all the power and all the money, but local government has all the responsibility.
If that is the case, then what happens when the power at the federal level is being misused and the state is facing a deficit? It means that the responsibility here locally increases - and while we can’t solve the issues dividing our country or backfill every federal or state program being cut, we can and we will support our residents with everything we have.
2026 marks our nation’s semi-cinquentennial (a fancy word for the 250th year celebrating our independence!). Thank you again to the veterans of foreign wars for leading the pledge that ends with those famous words “with liberty and justice for all”.
In these challenging times, local government continues to bear a significant responsibility, not one that we take lightly, and an opportunity to truly ensure liberty and justice for ALL. We remain committed to democracy and to ALL members of our community - regardless of race, gender identity, age, ability, religion, sexual orientation, or immigration status. Our board reaffirmed that commitment via resolution at the start of 2025 and that commitment remains.
Our mission and our priorities haven’t changed either. I am not rotating into this role with any agenda other than the one we have collectively set together, to provide excellent services that support healthy, safe, sustainable, and equitable communities and we will do that through the community priorities of: Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Race Equity, Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, Disaster Preparedness, County Infrastructure, and Community and Economic Vitality.
- It starts with our community. We are fortunate to have both a highly engaged and highly educated community, made up of individuals and organizations that are doing the work every day to support one another. Continue to advocate, continue to engage, and at the same time, continue to lend that helping hand to friends or neighbors. Be that good samaritan to one another.
- Next, to our County Staff, 2500+ strong, thank you for serving our community with professionalism and care. Here at the county, we are in the people services business. We don’t make products, we don’t sell widgets, this is public service. Continue to go above and beyond in every interaction you have with every resident, no matter how big or how small the issue happens to be. Chances are, whoever you are helping enroll in a service, make a payment, process a permit, or check out a library book is dealing with a lot, and we have an opportunity to show that on a local level, government cares.
- Lastly, to my colleagues, I can't think of four better public servants that I would want to work with on behalf of our community and alongside our county staff. What we have here and what we have been able to maintain as an elected body is quite rare across the state.
To wrap up - from our community, to our county staff, to my colleagues, we all share in the responsibility together to serve ALL residents in this year ahead. Let’s go to work.
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Looking back, I am proud of what we accomplished together this past year. Let’s recap a few of the highlights in a top ten countdown.
10: Thanks to voter-approved Measure B funding for library services, our Board approved refresh projects for all TEN branches of the Marin County Free Library, bringing things like updated furniture, fresh paint, and improved accessible technology to libraries across the county.
9: Launched the NINE-member Civilian Oversight Commission strengthening trust and accountability with members of the public and the Marin County Sheriff's Office through transparent, respectful oversight.
8: Approved $5.2 million from the Marin County Housing Trust Fund to support the EIGHT-y unit Habitat for Humanity housing project in Novato. This development represents the largest affordable homeownership project in Marin County, opening doors to equity, stability, and long-term opportunity for families.
7: The Marin County Pavement Condition Index (PCI) reached a milestone of SEVEN-ty, up two points from its December 2023 score and up four points from its index from two years earlier. This represents a significant milestone, reflecting the County’s ongoing commitment to reducing deferred maintenance and investing in our transportation infrastructure.
6: Rolled out a new Paid Parental Leave Benefit, providing eligible county employees up to SIX weeks of leave - a clear reflection of our commitment to supporting our workforce and our employees through life’s biggest moments.
5: Through a partnership with First FIVE Marin, over 1,000 free summer learning backpacks were distributed to young children at various libraries and community locations ensuring all children have access to books and school supplies.
4: Extended SMART passenger train service to Windsor, opening the FOUR-teenth stop on the line just steps from the Windsor Town Green - making for a fun outing to explore shops and restaurants with ease.
3: Completed the THREE-lane configuration of the Marin Sonoma Narrows, delivering 52 miles of continuous carpool lanes after years of collaboration and construction. Bonus win: Caltrans has agreed to shorten the HOV lane hours!
2: Celebrated the grand opening of the North Bay Children’s Center, Bright Futures Campus in Novato, which will serve 176 children onsite, increasing capacity TWO-fold.
1: Marin County’s love of reading hit a major milestone: ONE million digital checkouts through the digital resource app called Libby! Thanks to the Marin County Free Library and our local public and academic library partners, reading is more accessible than ever.
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AlertMarin is Marin’s primary system for delivering urgent emergency notifications, including evacuation orders and other life-safety messages. Last year, the system was successfully upgraded without any disruption to service. The Office of Emergency Management transferred all subscriber information to the new platform, which now offers an easier way for users to manage their contact details, register multiple addresses, and opt in to additional notifications such as prescribed burns and significant weather alerts.
There is one action subscribers need to take: the AlertMarin phone number has changed, and subscribers are encouraged to update their AlertMarin contact on their phone. The new number is: 877-627-1411.
Many of us put our phones on “do not disturb” at night. Unless you take the necessary steps to allow AlertMarin notifications to bypass the do not disturb settings on your phone, your phone will not ring, ding, or make the necessary noise to wake you during the night – to alert you of emergency situations. Visit the AlertMarin Website for instructions on how to set up these important settings and sign up if you aren’t already.
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Every January, Novato takes time to celebrate the people and businesses who make our community shine. At the Annual Birthday Party, Paint the Town Red, two standout community members are honored with the Novato Citizen of the Year and Spirit of Novato Awards. The Novato Chamber of Commerce recognizes excellence at its annual Honors Dinner. Employees of the Year are also acknowledged by the Novato Unified School District, Novato Fire Protection District, and Novato Police Department. Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Citizen of the Year: Jennifer Goldfinger
Jennifer has been a dedicated force in the Novato community for nearly five decades, sharing her time, leadership, and know-how across countless civic, cultural, educational, and nonprofit efforts. She’s provided long-standing leadership for the Novato 4th of July Parade and Novato’s Birthday Celebration, and she actively supports organizations like the Novato Chamber of Commerce, Novato Historical Guild, Rotary Club of Ignacio, and North Marin Community Services - bringing reliability, collaboration, and heart to everything she does. And somehow, she still finds time to volunteer at major community events like the Art & Wine Festival, bring thoughtful leadership to the Novato Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, and advocate for equitable access to essential services and opportunities through her work on the North Marin Community Services Board.
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Spirit of Novato Awardee: Rob Sundberg
Rob is a lifelong Novato resident and dedicated educator. He has spent decades giving back as a teacher in the Novato Unified School District, a tireless volunteer, and a beloved community leader. From schools and nonprofit organizations to signature community events (he was founder of the super-fun Rock the Block!), his generosity of time, talent, and heart has brought people together and strengthened the fabric of Novato.
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Large Business of the Year: Mayan Climber Tree Service
Mayan Climber Tree Service is a proud, family-run business based in Novato, known for ethical practices, strong safety standards, and high-quality work. They actively support the local economy by sourcing locally, partnering with local contractors, and serving homeowners’ associations and businesses throughout the community. With environmental leadership front and center, Mayan Climber Tree Service recycles nearly 80% of its wood chips through local partnerships, uses electric-powered tools whenever possible, and works closely with certified arborists and native plant specialists to promote healthy trees and responsible, eco-friendly tree care across Novato.
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Small Business of the Year: Moonstone Skincare
Moonstone Skincare has been a trusted and much-loved Novato business for nearly 17 years and is a six-time Marin Independent Journal Readers’ Choice winner for Best Skincare. Since taking the reins in March 2025, owner Susannah Nation has fueled Moonstone’s growth by doubling the staff, raising wages, expanding services and treatment space, and creating sustainable career paths right here in Novato. Moonstone proudly reinvests in the local economy by working almost exclusively with local vendors and contractors, while setting the bar as a model workplace that offers health insurance, a living wage, and a strong commitment to environmentally conscious practices.
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Micro Business of the Year: South Novato Living
South Novato Living is a locally owned micro business founded by publisher Patty Yu, whose background in marketing, digital media, and storytelling has helped create a trusted platform connecting Novato residents with local businesses and community stories. The publication champions small, independent businesses while also partnering with larger organizations, offering a relationship-driven alternative to transactional advertising that builds real trust in the community. Beyond publishing, Patty amplifies South Novato Living’s impact by mentoring fellow microbusiness owners and sharing practical branding and marketing guidance.
Outstanding Employees of the Year
Congratulations to the following outstanding Employees of the Year who provide selfless and dedicated service to our community day in and day out.
Novato Unified School District
Lisa Casey
Stephanie Searle
Novato Fire Protection District
Jennifer Crayne
Ricky Godoy
Novato Police Department
Kerryn Eways
Sgt. Young
Photo Above: With Jason Searle, Stephanie Searle,
and Former Supervisor Judy Arnold.
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The Marin Cultural Association opened its 2026 Arts Grants cycle, offering $100,000 in funding to support artists and arts organizations across Marin County. Grants up to $5,000 are available for individual and collective artists, and up to $10,000 for nonprofit arts organizations with an arts-based mission. This is the second year of the program, which last year supported 30 artists and arts organizations throughout Marin County.
Apply by February 27, 2026. For application materials, eligibility criteria, and more information, visit the MCA Arts Grants webpage.
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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 will not be received by my office. |
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