What a year we had in 2010! The economy remained sluggish. The unemployment rate in Marin was the highest in recent memory exceeding the 8% mark. Homeowners in Marin were facing foreclosures and the ranks of homeless including families with children broadened.

At the same time, the County achieved an AAA bond rating and continued to have a healthy capital reserve to complete road projects, to work on identifying the final location for the emergency operations facility, to complete the highway 101 HOV lane expansion with a Class 1 bike/pedestrian pathway from the top of Lincoln Hill to Central San Rafael, to open the much anticipated Cal Park Tunnel and to build new children’s parks.

A new community Farmer’s Market was opened in Marinwood. Money for a new Housing First Program was allocated and 35 new Section 8 vouchers specifically for homeless vets were accessed.

After 8 years in office working on issues relating to the San Rafael Rock Quarry, they now have a new operating permit and reclamation plan and the Peacock Gap Peninsula will have a newly paved Point San Pedro Road by 2012. The Marin Clean Energy Program was successfully started.

Marin General Hospital made the transition back to the public with a loan from the county (which was paid back with interest).

A 25 million dollar structural deficit was eliminated through employee attrition, department restructuring and working more efficiently with 180 positions being eliminated. Employees worked with management to extend the age before retirement from 55 to 61+, COLAs were put on hold and health benefits including retiree health benefits were adjusted to provide more cost savings. Our County remains in the best condition of most of the other 57 counties in the State.

I am honored to have been re-elected for a 3rd term to the Board of Supervisors and will be serving in 2011 as the president of the board and the vice president of the Association of Bay Area Governments.

It appears the economy is recovering, albeit slowly. The county will continue to meet the challenges ahead.Health and Human Services is about to join the Partnership Health managed Medicaid program which will improve access and save dollars in Marin. We are coordinating our efforts with the Partnership to provide health care to our children with funding partners

The passage of the $10 Vehicle License Fee will improve transportation options for our seniors. Watershed projects are in various stages of development and implementation.

The Marin Energy Authority will pay back the loan from the county in the first half of the year and the county will be off the hook for the co-signed initial loan. The revenues will allow a continued investment into clean, renewable energy projects.

State legislation SB375 mandates regional government agencies work with their local government members to create a “Sustainable Communities Strategy” that considers land use, housing, transportation and decreasing green house gasses. 

I believe the best planning comes from the ground up and that there are changes that need to occur through state regulation and legislation in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) to allow local governments the tools they need to meet the requirements within the context of the needs of the community…for example, senior assisted living residences should be allowed to be  counted and conversions of market rate units to affordable low income units should be allowed to be fully counted . . .

As you can see, we have our work cut out for us…but I know that the people of Marin are engaged in our community issues and we can achieve whatever goals we set for ourselves. I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working side by side with you in 2011.

Happy New Year from all of us here in District 1!

County of Marin District 1 Newsletter, January 2011

Excerpted from the Marin Independent Journal
Nels Johnson
January 5, 2011

Marin officials trumpeted the new year with high expectations this week as they painted a rosy portrait of the county’s fiscal health, embraced the change in administration of state government in Sacramento, highlighted accomplishments and outlined a variety of challenges . . .

The session was marked by the passing of the baton, as Susan Adams replaced Judy Arnold as board president and presented her with a “Viking warrior goddess crown,” a plastic helmet topped by horns. Arnold was noted for running a tight ship as president, strictly limiting time for public speakers when crowds turned out.

Adams launched into a lengthy reflection, taking particular pride in a 2010 permit regulating activity at the San Rafael Rock Quarry after years of controversy, and saying the county, while facing budget obstacles, is in better fiscal shape than others in the state.

On November 12, the Quarry made an initial deposit
of $100,000 with the County to fund the
County’s staff permit oversight efforts and initial consulting
services. Also in November, the County issued
two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to 44 mining, reclamation
and air quality consultant experts to peer review
technical, Quarry-submitted information.

Adams, a maternity nurse, also announced a “healthy employees” initiative at Civic Center in which departments will compete in various fitness categories.

As for the year ahead, “we’ll be able to achieve whatever it is we set out to do,” she said. Adams later acknowledged her own political future may include a run for the seat now held by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who is expected to retire in two years. “I don’t know yet,” Adams said when asked if she will be a congressional candidate. “I’m thinking about it.”

At the same time, Supervisor Charles McGlashan ruled out a run for Congress, but did not rule out a run for state Assembly, where incumbent Jared Huffman is retiring and expected to run for Congress. In the meantime, McGlashan is applying for a seat on the state Public Utilities Commission . . .

As for serving as a county supervisor, an animated McGlashan told a packed audience, “We take this job seriously. We run it as a professional business.”

Supervisor Steve Kinsey talked about the new documentary, “Inside Job,” which he said details the financial meltdown of 2008 as a “collusion of the rich” at the expense of “we, the people,” and urged all to go see it. Kinsey expressed hope that the county would make inroads on the problem of homelessness . . . ” .

Supervisor Arnold lauded the staff but asked officials to make sure future agendas note whether outsiders hired to work on county business are “consultants” or “contractors.” Nonprofit groups perform a variety of health service tasks, for example, for less money than the county would otherwise spend, she said. “This is a contract, not a consultant,” she asserted, apparently irked by a newspaper report of consultant expenses.

Arnold called her time at the helm a joy. “The unique thing about our board is that we have a great respect for each other,” she said . . . .”

Stop by Marinwood Plaza to visit with neighbors, pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, or a bouquet of flowers while enjoying local musicians and viewing crafts from Marin’s artisans. Snack on site with delicious peanut butter pancakes and fresh espresso.

“The community has really embraced this,” said Rick Kellner, the “Dough Dude” of Feel Good Bakery of Alameda who sold various breads. “We are getting a good flow. We have great variety of businesses here and we have a great weather day.”

Marinwood Plaza at Marinwood Avenue and Miller Creek Road, San Rafael. Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This community project includes a mural by the Conservation Corp North Bay earlier this year.

This market started at the beginning of 2010 and is a partnership of veteran vendors of the Civic Center Farmers’ Market. The organizers, Kelly Smith and Ron Gradinger envision this as a grassroots community venture that will give back 5% of the proceeds to the local Dixie School District. It will also feature a six morning a week coffee cart where residents can walk or drive through to get lovingly made cup of coffee. As soon as the word went around about the possibility of a Farmers’ Market in an old shopping center, you could feel the excitement in the neighborhood.

Ben Mattman, a hotel executive chef said “Last week in the Marinwood market, I saw red walnuts. I had never seen them before. Next week, I will cook a special dinner for a wine society and I will use them in a dish,” he explains. The dish will be butternut squash tortalloni with brown butter-sage sauce, garnished with pieces of the red walnuts.