Current Board Actions and Issues

Previews & Reviews:  Board Meeting Highlights

Courtesy of Supervisor Kate Sears, the following provides selected highlights from the most recent Board meeting and is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the meeting’s agenda. 

The last Board of Supervisors’ meeting was held on Tuesday, April 23rd. The next Board meeting will be Tuesday, April 30th and that agenda is posted on the website. Please go to the Cyberagenda for a complete archive of agendas, meeting videos, and staff reports, as well as other attachments.

Current Hot Topics

• 2012 Year in Review: Highlights of Board of Supervisors' Policy Actions
• Pensions Update
• FY 2012-13 Budget Hearings

Ø  I am pleased to be presenting Resolutions on April 30th to two organizations in Southern Marin. We will be recognizing Mountain Play Association on the occasion of their 100th year anniversary bringing great theater experiences in the outdoors on Mt. Tam; and to the I.D.E.S.S.T. Sausalito Portuguese Hall on their 125th anniversary, celebrated May 5-7 as Portuguese Heritage Days.

Ø  We also passed a resolution declaring April 2013 “Fair Housing” month. Fair housing policies and principles have had an impact on many areas of our County. One example is Marin City. Marin City was created during the Second World War to house the thousands of workers who built the Liberty Ships. It was a vibrant and racially diverse community. However, after the war, exclusionary restrictions prevented African-Americans from renting or buying housing elsewhere in the County and as the Caucasian residents moved out their African-American neighbors were left behind. Fair housing laws and policies expanded housing opportunities throughout the County and also had a significant effect on Marin City, which is now the most diverse community in Marin County, where approximately one-third are Caucasian, one-third are African-American and the remaining third are a wonderful mix of people and cultures from all over the world. 

Ø  In reviewing this week’s meeting, I wanted to let you know of a workshop that was held prior to the Board meeting on Marin’s progress on Zero Waste by 2025 targets. I encourage you to visit the Zero Waste website - there is a wealth of information: http://zerowastemarin.org/zero-waste-101/zero-waste-101/ 

Ø  Finally, I was honored to speak at last Sunday’s Earth Day event hosted at Redwood High School. Here is a link to my comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ4g2daekkQ 

Highlights of the April 23rd, 2013 Board Meeting policy agenda:

Fair Housing Month

At the request of Supervisor Arnold, the Board adopted a resolution proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month in conjunction with National Fair Housing Month. All Marin towns and cities in Marin that passed similar proclamations will be acknowledged. It has been 54 years since the passage of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the leading state civil rights law in the nation.

Need more info? See the Fair Housing of Marin website. 

Marin County Plan for Aging Update

At the request from the Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Aging and Adult Services, the Board approved the Marin County Area Plan for Aging update for the fiscal year 2013-2014. The update outlines the responsibilities within each community to address the care needs of older individuals and their caregivers.

Need more info? See the report on aging 

40th Anniversary of Senior Access

At the request of Supervisor Adams, the Board adopted a resolution commending Senior Access on its 40th anniversary. The San Rafael-based nonprofit focuses on providing social services to residents with memory loss, including Alzheimer's disease. It also provides support to caregivers.

Need more info? See Senior Access' website 

National Pharmaceutical Drug Take-Back Day

At the request of Supervisors Arnold and Adams, the Board adopted a resolution supporting and participating in National Pharmaceutical Drug Take-Back Day on April 27. The initiative, brought forth by the Drug Enforcement Agency, promotes proper storage and disposal of medicine in the home. Police stations from around Marin County would serve as collection spots that day.

Need more info? See the press release on the drug take back program 

Appointments for Boards & Commissions

The Board appointed Juanita Neal to the Workforce Investment Board. 

Need more info? See the Cyberagenda for details on the interviews/appointments, or the Boards and Commissions page 

Preview of the April 30th, 2013 Board Meeting policy agenda:

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom Presentation for Voter Turnout

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will present a Certificate of Honor to the Board in recognition of the County's dedication to civic engagement resulting in the highest voter turnout in the state for the Nov. 6, 2012, general election. The turnout was 87.37 percent of registered voters. The last time Marin earned such a certificate was 1952, and Registrar Elaine Ginnold plans to bring it to the Board meeting.

Need more info? See the Certificate of Honor for high voter turnout. 

Report on Marin Teen Girl Conference

At the request of Supervisor Arnold, the Board will hear a report from the Marin Women's Commission on the 3rd annual Marin Teen Girl Conference, which took place March 2 in San Rafael. The mission of the conference is to create a safe, fun, informative event for teen girls to learn, share and grow and meet the commission's objective to provide leadership and effective tools to navigate the complicated teen years.

Need more info? See the Marin Teen Girls Conference website. 

Awarding of Marin Green Business Certificates

The Community Development Agency will award certificates to Marin businesses that qualified for certification as "green businesses." The Green Business Program is a voluntary partnership among business leaders, government agencies and nonprofits that recognizes businesses that demonstrate continuous compliance with applicable environmental regulations, conserve resources and share best practices.

Need more info? See the Green Business Program website or the report.

Marin Economic Forum Agreement

At the request of Supervisor Arnold, the Board will hear a presentation from the Marin Economic Forum and consider approving a $150,000 agreement between the forum and the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership of Marin.

Need more info? See the report on the Marin Economic Forum. 

Recognition of County's New Poet Laureate

At the request of Supervisor Rice, the Board will consider adoption of a resolution recognizing Marin County's new poet laureate, Joe Zaccardi. He is the author of three books of poetry and his works have appeared in numerous reviews and magazines. He volunteers at convalescent hospitals reading poetry to the residents, and listens to them recite the poems they know by heart.

Need more info? See the resolution on the poet laureate. 

Award for Department of Public Works

The Department of Public Works is to receive the Environmental Achievement Award from the California Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of the Marin County Certified Unified Program Agency. The agency is set up to consolidate the administration, permits, inspections and enforcement activities of some of the environmental and emergency management programs in Marin.

Need more info? See the EPA award.

Appointments for Boards & Commissions

The Board will conduct interviews consider making one at-large term and one alternate appointment to the Personnel Commission. Andrew Marshall and Dan Schwager are to be interviewed and Christopher Burdick has applied as an alternate. 

Need more info? See the Cyberagenda for details on the interviews/appointments, or the Boards and Commissions page