Revised Public Review Draft of the Marin Countywide Plan now Available

Be the first on Your Block to Have One

The Marin County Community Development Agency is pleased to announce the release of the Revised Public Review Draft of the Marin Countywide Plan on August 24, 2005. This revision reflects direction obtained from the Planning Commission after 23 public hearings, and the review and consideration of over 343 letters received from the public.

The Revised Public Review Draft of the Marin Countywide Plan is now available for free by download from the Marin Countywide Plan Update website at www.future-marin.org and on compact disc. One complimentary paper copy will also be provided to local organizations and community groups. Thereafter each additional paper copy will cost $35.00. To receive a paper or CD copy of the Plan or if you have any questions, please contact Sharon Silver at ssilver@co.marin.ca.us or 415-499-7874. Paper copies will also be made available at all local libraries

Santa Margarita Valley and Lucas Valley Community Briefed on the 2005/2006 Barbed Goatgrass Removal Project

Residents Encouraged to Assist in Goatgrass Removal

Approximately forty interested residents from the Santa Margarita Valley/Lucas Valley community recently attended a Community IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Goatgrass Workshop. The workshop begins the 05-06 public/county planning process to devise safe and effective methods for the removal the invasive barbed goatgrass from the open lands above and near the Santa Margarita/Lucas Valley community.

Representatives from the Marin County Open Space District and the Marin County’s Agricultural Commissioner gave a power point presentation on the controlled burn that took place a few months ago in the Santa Margarita / Lucas Valley area. The burn was mostly effective, but some patches remain and must be eradicated. The County’s Open Space ecologist, Mischon Martin, illustrated the exact locations of large and small currently established patches of barbed goatgrass in the Santa Margarita /Lucas Valley open spaces.

Stacy Carlsen, the County’s Agriculture Commissioner provided several examples of non-native invasive plants that are now found in Marin County, including the barbed goatgrass. Commissioner Carlsen also described the urgent need to remove this invasive plant. Stacy was especially concerned that if we ignore the slow proliferation of barbed goatgrass we risk the chance that the grass seeds will find their way into the pasture lands of West Marin. Grazing animals can be highly susceptible to the nasty results of ingesting the barbed goatgrass. The barbs get caught in the animal’s throat which results in severe swelling and can lead to the demise of the animal.

Residents of the Santa Margarita/ Lucas Valley area are now being urged to become a volunteer goatgrass removal expert. By mid-year ’06, the open space district and those who volunteer will become part of a drive to find ways to effectively eradicate goatgrass from the hills of Terra Linda especially the Santa Margarita Valley and Lucas Valley area.

If you would like additional information regarding goatgrass, or other invasive species in Marin, please contact Mischon Martin at: 507-2056, or go to Mischon’s email address: mmartin@co.marin.ca.us

To sign up to be a volunteer goatgrass eradicator please call Marin County Open Space @ 499-6979. Ask to speak to Greg Reza, Marin County Open Space volunteer coordinator. Email Greg at greza@co.marin.ca.us

The eradication of goatgrass will now include dedicated neighborhood volunteers. Do not allow this evasive grass to take over your open space and spread seeds throughout our county. If we work together, we can get the job done.

Board of Supervisors Meetings Online

Audio& Streaming Video

Did you know you don’t have to leave your home to view and hear the Board of Supervisors meetings? Just sign on to the Marin County Website and you can view the online Board of Supervisors meetings or utilize the online archives to review previous meetings. You can also review complete agenda items at this site. Take a moment on a Tuesday board meeting day and follow this link to the Marin County BOS website:

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/BS/main/index.cfm

Then click on “Live Video Broadcast”. You can view live broadcast or previous Board of Supervisors meetings.

Take a Walk with a Naturalist

Fall 2005 Nature Walks Are Now Available

Marin’s open spaces offer an incredible variety of flora and fauna for the residents of our fair county. The Marin County Open Space District now offers several non-stressful hiking opportunities that come with a naturalist. This is the classic two-for-one opportunity. You can get some exercise for the body and the mind.

David Herlocker, Interpretive Naturalist for the Marin County Open Space District, has developed his Fall-2005 Naturalist Walk Program. Those who have participated in one or more of David’s are usually delighted by the experience. Participants always increase their knowledge of the natural world around them.

Whether you are interested in the spiders of Pt. Reyes, or the birds at the Las Gallinas Ponds, David’s programs feature something for every curious person out there.

If you want to see the nature walks that are now scheduled for the Fall, simply log go to the web site featured below:

http://www.marinopenspace.org/pdf/MCOSD-Naturalist-Walks-Fall-2005.pdf

New Orleans Provides Hard Lessons

The Big One is Coming. Are You Prepared?

Recent events in the Big Easy, and much of the Gulf Coast, should give every Marin County resident time to pause and think about our own preparedness for a major catastrophic event. It is a certainty that sooner or later one or more of our known fault lines will shift. The fault line shift, commonly know as an earthquake, could be dramatic and cause enormous damage to our communities and the county’s infrastructure.

Are you and your family ready to survive for at least 72 hours without any outside assistance? Do you have enough water, food and other necessary material stashed away and ready to use in an emergency? To create your own emergency survival kit please log on to www.oes.ca.gov

The State of California Office of Emergency Service’s web site is loaded with enough information to get you prepared for an emergency situation. However, there is also Marin County Office of Emergency Services at http://www.co.marin.ca.us/disaster geared to prepare existing neighborhoods for an eventual catastrophic emergency.

And to get involved locally. Contact the San Rafael Fire Department and register for one of their Disaster Area Response Team classes. DART teams are established in most of our 1st District neighborhoods. Go to this website and check out the programs available. http://www.srfd.org/

District One Green Tip

Put this on the Frig

Having fun increasing the giant oil corporation’s yearly profit? Keep waiting for gas prices to hit five bucks a gallon.

There is something that you can do to increase the gasoline mileage on your favorite vehicle. All you need to do is make sure your tires are properly inflated. You can increase your fuel savings by 5% per fill-up. Less air=more drag=lower gas mileage. American drivers could save up to $ 2 billion per year if they would simply keep those tires properly inflated….and at the same time, reducing the fossil fuel emissions that lead to greenhouse gasses and global warming.

Increasing your fuel economy takes a couple of minutes, four deep knee bends, hot air, and an accurate pressure gage. Take that, OPEC!

Supervisor Adams Goes to Washington

Meeting With Legislators and U. S. Army Corp of Engineers

Supervisor Adams was in Washington on September 20th through September 25th

for the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. While attending this conference she met with Senator Diane Feinstein’s office, Senator Barbara Boxer’s office, and Representative Lynn Woolsey’s office. She also met with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to discuss how we could modify language to allow our District 1 levees to be included in appropriations bills that have been exempted due to specific flow issues. In light of the disasters from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we may be in a position to attain funding for levee repairs and other wetlands projects. Stay tuned.

Roger Ahlenius Trail Dedication

Circumvents Santa Margarita Island

Friends and relatives of neighborhood activist Roger Ahlenius who passed away in 2004 gathered on Santa Margarita Island on Friday September 30th to dedicate a trail in his memory. Roger was one of the firebrands who doggedly pushed to save Santa Margarita Island from development. Today the island stands as part of Marin County Open Space District.