Issues
Issues
HOT TOPICS
Please visit my Hot Topics Page at my official County website for more information on current issues, or to read my most recent District 5 County Newsletter.
On January 4th, I was elected President of the Board of Supervisors for this year. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that 2010 will be a challenging year, due to the budget shortfall counties and cities in California are experiencing. Marin is fortunate that we have acted prudently these past years, and are not in the dire circumstances some counties find themselves in. We have the highest bond rating of any county in California.
We have taken many actions in recent years to address the budget challenges including:
- Adopting a lower-cost retiree health plan in 2007 for new employees, and beginning to set aside funds for the unfunded liability of retiree healthcare
- Enacting pension reforms such as basing pension benefits on a three year average rather than the highest single year and capping annual cost of living adjustments at two percent
- Developing and implementing a five-year $20 million road maintenance project
- Reducing spending by $27 million over the past two years and eliminating over 100 vacant positions
In addition to the progress made due to these efforts, the County is taking action to address a $15 million shortfall for 2010-11, which is a structural budget deficit that would go to $50 million by 2014-15 if not addressed.
I am on the Board’s Long Term Budget Restructuring Committee which involves employee and community outreach, such as the first community meeting held in Novato which provided valuable input.
I also know that it is imperative that we come up with new ways of doing business as a County that will reduce services while continuing to strive toward providing excellent services where possible. My goal is to ensure that we do the most important things well.
I am confident that we will get through this difficult time together, and I ask you to please keep in touch with me with any suggestions or concerns you have. I always remind myself of Mother Teresa’s admonition: “Life is a challenge. Meet it!”
Thank you for your support and hard work as we go forward together.
Highlights from 2009
- Launched the Marin Economic Forum (MEF) a public-private partnership to focus on the link between a sustainable local economy as the key to achieving our environmental and social equity goals
The MEF will work to strengthen Marin’s target industries, will collect, analyze and disseminate data and reports on various aspects of our local economy, will work to illustrate the benefits of local economic health as an integrated element of overall civic goals, and will seek out opportunities to aggregate resources for local businesses
- After a very successful launch in 2008, we are launching the second round of distribution for the Vial of L.I.F.E. Program to help our emergency responders save lives (see the Marin County Fire Department website)
- Adopted a revised Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ordinance that establishes improved and greater accountability, infrastructure, and public transparency
- Formed a partnership with the County of Marin, City of Novato, North Marin Water District, and Novato Sanitary District to develop a Novato Watershed Program to address flooding, water quality, water conservation and habitat restoration throughout the 44-square-mile Novato watershed
- Implemented a new service called Novato Dial-A-Ride, a bus service that provides passengers curb-to-curb pick-up and drop-off service and is available to all residents in the Novato service area. For hours of operation and more information visit the Marin Transit website.
- Initiated a long-term budget restructuring process with Novato hosting the first community forum. For the latest budget information visit, visit the County Budget page on the County website
- Certified nine Green Businesses in Novato
- Added more transparency for the public by implementing online audio Podcasts of all SMART Board of Directors and Committee meetings
Highlights from 2008
- Sending a permit with greatly improved environmental and fiscal safeguards to the Integrated Waste Management Board for the Redwood Landfill
- Working with the City of Novato to host Novato's first Project Homeless Connect
- Partnering with the Novato Police Department to continue funding youth education on alcohol, including compliance checks of alcohol outlets
- Launching the Vial of L.I.F.E. Program to help our emergency responders save lives (see the Marin County Fire Department website)
- Presenting a watershed stewardship plan to the Novato City Council for flood control and water quality
- Certifying six Green Businesses in Novato
- Launching a website where the public can access information on county restaurant inspections online
- Approving start up funding for the formation of a Marin business "roundtable", which will execute a work plan to finalize the structure and hire an Executive Director, and begin addressing business education, solicitation and entrepreneurial support county-wide
- Forming a JPA with participating cities to address AB32 mandates, including looking at implementing Community Choice Aggregation or partnering with PG&E
- Supporting City of Novato and the Marin Bicycle Coalition to ensure that the promise of the SMART rail system passed by voters will be combined with clearly defined parameters for freight activity through Novato, as well as a reasonable approach to setbacks that will allow the pedestrian/bike path to run the full length of the rail line
- Preservation of the 64-acre Black Point Nature Preserve as county open space
- Stopping plans for aerial spraying in Marin for the Light Brown Apple Moth
- Opening the new County Health & Wellness Center (largely paid for with tobacco settlement money), as well as the new Novato Community Clinic
