[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6542588,"mediaKeyId","3413780-802e54897eec31765a8ca42b717bbe3d","parentId",3413780,"title","Marin County adopts flood control and stormwater budgets; supervisors press for clarity on Zone 9 funding and operations","audioSeconds",3739,"startMs",4846000,"endMs",8585000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413780-802e54897eec31765a8ca42b717bbe3d&start=4846&end=8585","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413780-802e54897eec31765a8ca42b717bbe3d/thumbnail_4846000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6542588/Marin-County/California/Marin-County-adopts-flood-control-and-stormwater-budgets-supervisors-press-for-clarity-on-Zone-9-funding-and-operations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542588-e1d1d3a62a2be06d6648d344019876d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770527009&Signature=WVWTR6WBKfG4pmO~FEeg2NCvWG7IPBVj~kPx84c2HXEh68z2KRJYxpBlYTFRvHr7KHWLMPTZl3T~cebvVIYkxPs3oKwcr~b50oxX5XX5tXhUSp5T0SkWfWlpOW3hT1whS6I51JOskWwDkQ-pyzbi41MuzOCHwzs6ae1lVHZ4sRrrX3nMSDI0WYBswwfoaHtym1i3uA3OH1cHJtwBUmbNzZM1q70Ac~KI0nPvYfquLZ5Oq1G5ltiuRV~DHJb6fX7r4kE~ZrHpG9oc5PJXlxUjmHbR7fb7mLNpIimKYq10oe6CnA7quXvYIM5FXJUdwlP38tBJhUNddU07PoyWUeVfDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marin County","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Marin County Board of Supervisors on May 20 conducted a public hearing and adopted baseline budgets for the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, encompassing the countywide stormwater program and eight flood zones.

Assistant Director Vanessa Davidson introduced staff and said the district was created in 1953 under Appendix 68 of the Water Code to plan, fund, construct and maintain flood control projects. Rob Carson, stormwater program administrator, presented the countywide stormwater program (MixedStop), and Tracy Clay, Water Resources Division manager, presented the flood zone budgets and capital improvement projects.

Why it matters: The district operates and maintains pump stations, levees and creeks, funds capital projects to reduce flood risk and must balance rising operation and environmental compliance costs with limited local revenues. Supervisors focused questions on transparency of inflows and outflows, the future after expiring fee measures and how the county will pay for large capital projects while sustaining operation and maintenance.

Stormwater (MixedStop)

Rob Carson said the countywide stormwater program supports permit compliance, trash‑control planning and green infrastructure design. Key points:

- Budget: MixedStop proposed about $4.1 million in expenditures and roughly $4.0 million in revenue for FY2025–26, with a modest draw on reserves.
- Grants and construction: The draft budget includes roughly $2.5 million in current EPA grant funding for trash‑capture projects; staff said larger device projects are moving through design in multiple municipalities.
- Regulatory change: Draft statewide Phase II stormwater permit language and new mandates (asset management, cost reporting, enhanced monitoring, TMDL implementation) are increasing program costs; staff said member agency contributions will rise and the budget reflects a roughly 30% increase in non‑grant expenditures and a 37% increase in member contributions compared with prior years.

\"Mixed stop also manages most aspects of the band aided pollution pollutant specific control programs known as total maximum daily loads or TMDLs,\" Carson said, describing the program\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000role coordinating countywide work.

Flood zones and capital projects

Tracy Clay said the district includes eight flood zones, collectively responsible for more than $100 million in flood control infrastructure, with 13 active CIP projects totaling about $121 million and five projects exceeding $10 million each. Clay highlighted O&M demands including 18 pump stations housing 52 pumps and roughly 37 miles of creeks and channels that receive annual vegetation and sediment management.

Notable CIP projects cited by staff:

- Deer Island tidal marsh restoration (Flood Zone 1, Novato Baylands): estimated project total $11.4 million; mostly grant funded; construction planned next year.
- Cardinal Road levee (Zone 3, Richardson Bay/Tam Valley): preliminary estimate $4.6 million; construction targeted for 2027.
- Santa Venetia flood wall (Zone 7): preliminary cost estimate around $30 million; only about $37,000 in current fund balance for the zone; project would affect 112 parcels and require about three years for right‑of‑way acquisition after funding is secured. Staff said the zone faces a significant funding shortfall and staff are exploring a potential special assessment to supplement grants and local funds.
- Lower Corte Madera Creek habitat restoration (Zone 9, Ross Valley): estimated $3.5 million; staff said the project is out to bid with construction expected this fall.

Operations and emerging issues

Clay and other staff emphasized that aging infrastructure, increasing regulatory mitigation and monitoring requirements, and rising emergency maintenance needs have driven higher ongoing costs. Clay said certain post‑construction mitigation monitoring obligations are substantial: \"Post construction management of mitigation plantings, required for the FDS is estimated to cost more than a half a million dollars.\"

Cash flow and Ross Valley fee measure

Staff presented a two‑year cash flow analysis for Flood Zone 9 (Ross Valley) that reflects near‑term capital work tied to the Ross Valley fee measure, which staff noted has a 20‑year life and will end after calendar year 2027. The zone showed a projected use of fund balance to meet CIP needs; after accounting for anticipated grant revenues and planned CIP expenditures, staff estimated a post‑project ending fund balance of about $1.4 million, leaving only modest reserves once major projects complete.

Supervisor concerns and requests for clarity

Several supervisors used the hearing to press staff for clearer, zone‑level transparency. Supervisor Colbert said the district must better explain inflows and outflows and asked for a clearer account of how fee revenues have been spent historically. Supervisor Culver asked for clearer breakdowns showing what is being spent on routine O&M versus capital projects and for zone‑by‑zone rollups in future materials. Supervisor Milton Peters, Supervisor Rodoni and others urged staff to present a strategy for easement acquisition and for delivering projects before fee expirations.

\"We will have another opportunity in mid‑July to talk about the Ross Valley fee measure,\" Davidson said; staff agreed to return with more detailed zone‑by‑zone cash flows and options.

Board action

Following the presentations, a motion to adopt the Flood Control and Water Conservation District baseline budgets was made and seconded and the board voted to approve the budgets.

What to watch

- Santa Venetia: staff said the project faces a large funding gap and a long right‑of‑way timeline; temporary measures and maintenance costs continue while a financing strategy is developed.
- Ross Valley (Zone 9): the fee measure expires in 2027; staff committed to returning with detailed scenarios for operating and maintaining newly constructed facilities after project completion.
- MixedStop and state permits: evolving statewide permit language and court decisions could affect timing and scope of new mandates and member contributions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marin County - May - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Marin County Board of Supervisors on May 20 adopted baseline budgets for the Flood Control and Water Conservation District, approving countywide stormwater (Mixtop/MixedStop) and flood zone budgets while supervisors raised detailed questions about Zone 9 (Ross Valley) cash flow, Santa Venetia funding shortfall and ongoing maintenance costs.","taxTitle","Marin County, California","taxId",4099,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542593,"Marin County Open Space District adopts FY2025–26 budget; Measure A to fund fuels reduction, parks and grants",391,4356000,4747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413780-802e54897eec31765a8ca42b717bbe3d&start=4356&end=4747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413780-802e54897eec31765a8ca42b717bbe3d/thumbnail_4356000.jpg","/articles/6542593/Marin-County/California/Marin-County-Open-Space-District-adopts-FY202526-budget-Measure-A-to-fund-fuels-reduction-parks-and-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542593-940e900f2501446c67f4c10b68808dc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770527009&Signature=d6LerIrnqdqWR-3n1qoJH2~eTAiolaNlfNYLnClBCQ1-WTgd6ImJzRV0bzDd3vr3-60R-BFRPdK6MWL0EUbJHCJgbOvYvLhXREKZAkchzgS4JOeJgZ2qjUmmrjAkUMLHlt0S6XA-KMn0BI9PUCeKNQHUZ~CUwqL6i4R~isZ~dhDMvWEhzpo-pX3WY8mGmR6ZPS8PYA6zQFeSvfQT3GnVXm57cPBZ2qhaux8blpKLLg8QBkI4CX-C-10Bqf00~1JEmPIxR0FoQkZPc09JvI5iwns2PjDB014b4YCcWT7FEwvVeBN3t5TSmks6JTHr8Ht2ukdXWlXEbadNe6znZcuR5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marin County Open Space District Board on May 20 adopted the district's proposed FY2025–26 budget after a public hearing and staff presentation.

Chris Chamberlain, general manager of the Marin County Open Space District, told directors the department's consolidated program relies on three primary revenue sources: the open space property tax (about $10.7 million projected), Measure A sales tax (about $17.7 million projected) and roughly $2.5 million from county general fund sources such as park reservation fees and rents.

Why it matters: Measure A provides the majority of the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000s flexible revenue. Chamberlain said Measure A is intentionally structured: 65% of the Measure A revenue supports parks/open space operations; 25% of that 65% is mandated for boots‑on‑the‑ground wildfire fuels reduction; and 10% of the 65% is set aside for potential land acquisition. Measure A also set aside 20% for a sustainable agriculture program and 15% as a pass‑through to cities and towns by population formula.

Key allocations and programs

- Measure A totals: staff projected about $17.7 million in Measure A revenue for the coming year; staff are programming roughly $3.3 million of Measure A fund balance for projects this year.
- Wildfire fuels and emergency preparedness: the budget continues funding a TAM fire crew and foundry crew, grazing contracts, Conservation Corps North Bay partnerships, hazard tree removal and other fuels reduction programs. Chamberlain said fuels reduction programming is central to county wildfire resilience.
- Parks and facilities: Chamberlain listed improvements at the Civic Center campus, Lagoon Park (restroom planning), Stafford Lake accessibility and a McNears Park seawall and electrical modernization program. The budget includes $1 million set aside to advance accessibility improvements and a potential inclusive playground project.
- Sustainable agriculture grant program: Measure A funds a new food, agriculture and resilient ecosystem grant program; staff said year two will distribute about $1 million in grants ranging from $5,000 to $200,000 to support local food systems, prescribed fire on working lands, and farm access projects.
- Cities & towns pass‑through: about $2.66 million is slated for the county\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000s cities and towns under the Measure A per‑capita formula.

Supervisor questions and public access

Supervisors praised the presentation and asked for specifics on projects. Supervisor Colbert asked about expanding pickleball courts at McGinnis; Chamberlain said staff found less‑expensive modifications to existing courts that will expand capacity without large new construction. Supervisor Rodoni asked about the Balinas Y wetland restoration project and whether the board could visit the site after construction; Chamberlain said the project is on track and anticipated to be suitable for a ribbon cutting after construction ends.

Board action

Supervisor Rodoni moved to adopt the Open Space District budget; Supervisor Milton Peters seconded. The board voted aye with no recorded opposition and adopted the FY2025–26 Open Space District budget.

What to watch

Staff noted grant opportunities including potential Prop 4 climate‑adaptation funding for shoreline and marsh projects (for example McGinnis Marsh and other evolving shoreline work). Chamberlain also flagged a Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy regional grant supporting forest health that could further fuel fuels‑reduction work across multiple public landowners. \"This is a great opportunity for us to partner and make our forests more resilient,\" Chamberlain said. The district will proceed with grants and partnerships and said it will return with details as projects advance.","The Marin County Open Space District on May 20 adopted its FY2025–26 budget, consolidating three funds (Open Space District, Measure A sales tax and county general fund) and programming Measure A dollars for parks, wildfire fuels reduction and sustainable agriculture grants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542598,"Marin County receives 2025–26 capital improvement program; eyes $223 million in road and facility projects",2757,155000,2912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413780-802e54897eec31765a8ca42b717bbe3d&start=155&end=2912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413780-802e54897eec31765a8ca42b717bbe3d/thumbnail_155000.jpg","/articles/6542598/Marin-County/California/Marin-County-receives-202526-capital-improvement-program-eyes-223-million-in-road-and-facility-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542598-85fb125371d5801dccdaf2c99fc7ad94/orig.mp4?Expires=1770527009&Signature=caMMGsBk6QzJeeT3Tomb4d1zUW346Ch~ClRz0jyEi~BLegXiPCLJAwh2pM4Uv5NxGk8H6okmpECOX6yQTYaZmxorvwBbC4iq-qRgzMdfHsObbe2XTrkfZx530iow5i50ltRH2udEqgn2Y0QrIlYzljoI9I9uNAVtS6QjZADXOq9sdq24bQa-lV5fX66bAu4b7Do3Hz4VoeZ5ME479QmLvrcrRLbm-YyMdWBsgdtlRNfexDT6f48Y53bYWPT5hfPNcNG9F3-pmQdogIVOFvhS~EuLXOQu8O~hkFrJV0byQveVAQpszMH4tSBRoQwVQREcpI~QPh-HEHB9m8~Jsw8~cA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marin County Board of Supervisors President Mary Sackett and county staff on May 20 received the county\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000capital improvement program (CIP) and an update on the five-year roads and facilities plan for fiscal year 2025\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u000026 2026.

The report, presented by Interim Public Works Director Chris Blenck and framed by County Executive Derek Johnson, lays out a multiyear program that staffs said will include more than 300 projects in the next five years and about $223 million in road and bridge investments when grant funding is included. For the next fiscal year, staff showed roughly $39 million of capital revenue available for county roads and bridges (noting a separate $11 million line in the budget book for road maintenance that staff treats as operations). The county is also proposing $8 million in new general-fund support for county facilities for FY2025\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u000026 2026.

Why it matters: County staff said the CIP is the primary way residents see taxpayers\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000dollars on infrastructure such as streets, bridges and public buildings. Public-works leaders told supervisors they plan to move from a revenue-driven, bottom-up approach to a top-down process that identifies needs first, prioritizes projects, and then programs funding so the board and the public can see priorities across departments.

Highlights and near-term projects

- Pavement network: Staff said the county\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000pavement condition index is 68 (0 = worst, 100 = best) and the department\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000has an objective to raise it to 72 over time. This year the county plans roughly 26 miles of chip-seal and striping work and about 4 miles of heavier pavement rehabilitation, with about $18 million programmed for the paving network in FY2025\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u000026 2026.
- Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) projects: Frank Valley Road, Muir Woods Road and Pierce Point Road work are large multi‑million-dollar paving projects; the county\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000share is roughly $2.3 million for Frank Valley and $2.4 million for Pierce Point, staff said.
- Civic Center roof: Bids for a Civic Center roof cleaning and repair project came in low bid about $1.5 million for roughly 220,000 square feet of roof. Staff said a contract award will be requested June 10 and work would start in late June or July with about a four‑month schedule.
- Veterans Memorial Auditorium: The county has allocated $15.1 million so far for lobby floor, utilities under the slabs and interior improvements; staff are advancing plans to add roof replacement and a new sound system while the building is closed. Construction is anticipated to start in late 2025 and take about 12 months, with a target reopening in spring 2027.
- Libraries: Staff said a five‑year program for library facilities totals roughly $28 million, including about $24.5 million for major renovations at four county‑owned branches.
- San Geronimo Fire Headquarters: Staff said the preliminary cost estimate is about $86 million; the project seeks to reduce footprint and cost and staff said they will return with budget and delivery recommendations.

Staffing, delivery methods and emerging issues

Johnson told the board the CIP is in a transition year and emphasized synchronizing capital planning with county goals including housing and economic vitality. Blenck said staff will build a software system to manage more than 300 projects and related funding by project and phase, with an aim to have the system ready before next year\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u000027s budget development.

On delivery, Blenck said the county will explore alternative methods such as design-build, progressive design-build and construction manager at risk. He also flagged project-labor agreements and community workforce agreements, noting the Public Contract Code requires skilled-workforce provisions for design‑build projects over $1 million and that the county has budgeted $300,000 to study those approaches. \"If you have a project labor agreement or a community workforce agreement in place that meets the criteria in the public contract code, that will take care of that requirement for the skilled and trained workforce,\" Blenck said.

Supervisors raised timing and coordination questions: Supervisor Milton Peters asked whether emergency projects such as Fairfax Bolinas Road divert staff and money from other work; Blenck said emergency retaining‑wall work has drawn resources and that staff plan a line item to anticipate about $2 million per year for such emergencies. Board members urged more regional coordination on corridors that cross cities and unincorporated county (for example Sir Francis Drake Boulevard).

Public comment and staffing note

In public comment before the CIP presentation, Roland Katz urged the board to convert proposed fixed‑term positions to regular hires where feasible, and said the county should consider that public‑defender staffing typically rises as district‑attorney staffing increases. Katz said: \"We would hope you could take that into account... the county simply should not be hiring people in the fixed term positions.\"

What the board acted on

Staff recommended that the board receive the CIP report and the five‑year plan update for FY2026–2031. With no additional formal motions recorded, staff and the board agreed to receive the report and continue developing the program for future adoption steps and project appropriations.

Looking ahead

Staff said they will return with a completed project database by the end of the calendar year, will present San Geronimo Fire Headquarters delivery recommendations on June 10, and will continue seeking grants and considering financing options, including bonds with a financial advisor to be retained this spring.","The Marin County Board of Supervisors on May 20 received a report on the county\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000capital improvement program (CIP) for FY 2025\u000026\u0000\u000026 the five-year plan, which outlines roughly $223 million in road and bridge projects over five years and new spending proposals for county facilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Marin County adopts flood control and stormwater budgets; supervisors press for clarity on Zone 9 funding and operations

Marin County Open Space District adopts FY2025–26 budget; Measure A to fund fuels reduction, parks and grants

Marin County receives 2025–26 capital improvement program; eyes $223 million in road and facility projects