January Update from Supervisor Sackett

JANUARY 2023

2023 PRIORITIES MARIN HOUSING ELEMENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SHERIFF OVERSIGHT SURVEY LIBRARY SPACE USAGE SURVEY HAVE YOU HEARD?

 

Dear Neighbors,

Happy New Year!

Today, the Board of Supervisors held the Oath of Office ceremony for new supervisors. I am proud to have been sworn into office by the Honorable Judge Beverly Wood.

I want to start the new year by expressing my gratitude. We have weathered a major storm, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge everyone who went above and beyond. A special thanks to our teams in Public Works, Health and Human Services, Parks and Open Space, Fire, Sheriff, and our Office of Emergency Management. Every bit counts; a big part of the job is ensuring that our drains and culverts are clear, that portable pumps are in place, and that our emergency shelter is ready to support the needs of the most vulnerable. As I listened to the rain and wind last night, I had extreme gratitude for the line workers. 

Public service starts with being accessible. I want to know how you would like to keep in touch and share your thoughts. Please take a moment to fill out this 2-question survey on how to stay in touch.  

My official Marin County Supervisor Facebook page is live! I will share updates on local issues, ways to get involved and highlight the people and organizations in our community doing the work. Make sure you sign up for Nixle and Alert Marin for emergency alerts.

 

2023 PRIORITIES

 

I am excited and humbled to be able to serve as your District 1 Supervisor. As I look forward to the opportunities ahead in the new year, I will focus on our community’s health, including the needs of our older adults. This means facilitating the creation of housing for our caregivers, childcare providers, teachers, and essential workers who we rely on to show up in the middle of the night when emergencies happen.

I am committed to meeting these goals and taking a fiscally prudent approach to maintaining a sustainable County budget. We know that a number of our programs received one-time funding and, as a result, are facing a fiscal cliff in the next couple of years. We need to ensure adequate reserves for high-priority initiatives like affordable housing and emergency preparedness. We need to continue to address our unfunded retiree liabilities.

I look forward to our March budget workshops, when I will take a close look to ensure we are putting our dollars to the best use. The world has changed in the past three years, and we too, must continue to change. I will take the opportunity to take a hard look at our workforce, focusing on recruiting and retaining talented, diverse employees. 

Housing is the most significant issue in Marin today. Marin is at an inflection point. We need to step up and create adequate, affordable housing for our workforce. We need to engage our schools, partner to address public safety, meet our infrastructure needs, and protect community assets and our natural environments. The Housing and Safety elements are expected to return to the board on January 24. I plan to work with our state partners to rethink the penalties at the end of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) 8-year cycle. With creative thinking, we can strike a balance to ensure we protect our environment and community, and welcome new affordable housing into our communities.

We have seen the impacts of drought, wildfires, and flooding. What we do today matters. I’m proud of our community for passing Measure C and investing in the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority and FireWise neighborhoods. We must make every effort to mitigate climate impacts, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, promote and incentivize electrification, and reduce traffic congestion.

I look forward to serving on the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART), Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), and Marin Transit Boards. I plan to focus on closing significant gaps in our multi-modal pathways. SMART leads the Bay Area with ridership at nearly 100 percent of pre-pandemic levels, far exceeding other light rail lines. I will also serve on the Great Redwood Trail Board and join efforts to complete the 316-mile rail-to-trail project connecting San Francisco and Humboldt Bays.

This summer, I would like to have a proposal for civilian oversight of the Sheriff's Office before the Board of Supervisors. I want to see us take concrete steps on our County equity initiatives. We are here to serve the people of Marin County, which means everyone. 

 

HOUSING ELEMENT

 

On January 24, the Board of Supervisors will meet to consider certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and consider approval of the Housing and Safety Elements Update to the 2007 Countywide Plan.

Every eight years, the state undergoes a process to determine the number of housing units that need to be developed, called the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). To meet the State mandate, the County is going through the process of updating the Housing Element, a legal requirement by which governments adopt land use plans and regulations that provide opportunities for housing development. The County must submit a compliant Housing Element by January 31, 2023.

We have been tasked to identify and plan for future development. I want to recognize how challenging this process has been for our community. On the one hand, we are facing state mandates to plan for over 14,000 new units throughout the County. On the other hand, should we have a non-compliant Housing Element, developers may use the state's Housing Accountability Act of 1990, also known as the Builder's Remedy, to avoid local zoning requirements.

We can create housing and protect our environment. To meet that goal, we will need to work together. Above all else, I want to ensure that the community has every opportunity to engage and be heard. Thank you to the community members involved in this year-long process. I hear your concerns, and I am committed to partnering to address issues around public safety, infrastructure needs, community assets, school funding and capacity, environmental impacts, and the other significant issues raised. 

 

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

 

Our community needs you! Our Boards and Commissions rely on civic-minded residents to help guide and shape our policies. If you have been thinking about getting engaged, check out these openings. If you are thinking about getting involved and aren't sure, I invite you to reach out to my office. My aides would be happy to connect you with opportunities to get involved in the community. 

Marin County Service Area #18 - Las Gallinas: 

County Service Area (CSA) 18 was created to provide local park and recreation facilities and services in Santa Venetia. The Advisory Board provides recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on issues impacting neighborhood parks like Adrian-Rosal, Castro Park, Pueblo Park, and Candy's Park. If you are interested and want to learn more about CSA 18, please get in touch with Jim Chayka, Superintendent of Marin County Parks, at jchayka@marincounty.org.

APPLY HERE

 

Marin County Service Area #6 - Gallinas Creek:

County Service Area (CSA) 6 was created to raise funds for periodic dredging of the Gallinas Creek, allow for recreational boating, and include a smaller channel around Santa Margarita Island. The creek was dredged in 1966, 1973, 1981, and 1992-1994. The CSA is currently working on a geomorphic dredge of the creek and is actively looking for community members to guide the process. If you're interested in getting involved, please contact Roger Leventhal, Senior Engineer with the Marin County Department of Public Works Flood Control team, at rleventhal@marincounty.org.

APPLY HERE

 

Marin County Library Commission:

The Library Commission serves as a resource body and liaison to the Board of Supervisors, the Director of County Library Services, and the community to find ways to enlist public interest in supporting and improving Library services. They serve as the Measure A Advisory Committee to provide independent citizen oversight for Measure A, a special tax for the Marin County Free Library.

APPLY HERE

 

Transportation Authority of Marin Citizen's Oversight Committee

The Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) is an advisory body that is responsible for the review of Measure A (2004), Measure AA (2018), and Measure B (2010) revenues and expenditures of TAM. The COC is composed of members who are private citizens residing in Marin County and who collectively represent its diversity. The committee consists of representatives from and nominated by: Central Marin Planning Area (nominated by the respective TAM Commissioner), Northern Marin Planning Area (nominated by the respective TAM Commissioner), Ross Valley Planning Area (nominated by the respective TAM Commissioner), Southern Marin Planning Area (nominated by the respective TAM Commissioner), West Marin Planning Area (nominated by the respective TAM Commissioner), Bicyclist and Pedestrian Groups, Environmental Organizations, League of Women Voters, Marin County Paratransit Coordinating Council, Marin Major Employers, School Districts, Taxpayer Groups.

APPLY HERE

 

SMART Train Citizen Oversight Committee: 

The nine-member COC is an advisory committee established by the SMART Board of Directors. It is comprised of private citizens who collectively represent the diversity of Sonoma and Marin counties. If you have questions or require additional information, please email Leticia Rosas, Clerk of the Board, at COC@sonomamarintrain.org or call (707) 794-3072.  Applications are due January 20, 2023.

APPLY HERE

 

 

SHERIFF OVERSIGHT SURVEY

AB 1185 allows for creating a Sheriff Oversight Committee, an Inspector General, or both by an action of the County Board of Supervisors or a vote of county residents. Over the past year, the County has been engaged in identifying how to implement AB 1185 in Marin. We would like to hear from you. Please take a moment to complete this 7-minute survey, available in English, Spanish (Español), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt), and  Chinese (中國人). Your answers are anonymous. Please go online to learn more about civilian oversight of the Marin County Sheriff's Office. 

 

 

LIBRARY SPACE SURVEY

 

Today is the last day to complete the Marin County Free Library 7-question Library Space Usage Survey. Please take a moment to share your feedback on what changes or improvements you would like to see in the furniture and equipment of our library spaces.

 

HAVE YOU HEARD?

 

WHAT I'M READING

Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora chronicles the real-life story of a 9-year-old in El Salvador as he seeks to reunite with his parents in San Rafael.  Honorable mention: The Swimmers is an inspiring movie of two women in the Rio Olympic Games.

I want to introduce a new segment of the District 1 newsletter, 'Have You Heard?'. For every issue, my team and I will work to share a fact about our local government involving changes in state legislation, local policies, and resources, or a fact about Marin County Government. If you have any thoughts on a topic we should feature, please reach out to our team, our contact information is below. This issue, we want to share information about significant changes in the expansion of Medi-Cal eligibility. 

Medi-Cal provides healthcare to qualifying beneficiaries, including older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. Medi-Cal has changed the asset limit. Assets include personal and real property, such as cash, savings, a house, or a car. The asset limit was $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. On July 1, 2022, the asset limit increased to $130,000 for one person and $65,000 for each additional person (up to ten in a household). Starting January 1, 2024, the asset limit will be eliminated for all Medi-Cal enrollees, and eligibility will be based solely on income. This is a significant change that will help remove barriers to accessing healthcare. This change is one of many taking place under the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and its multi-year initiative known as Cal-AIM. Anyone can apply at any time by visiting https://benefitscal.com/.

I look forward to connecting with you to build community! I want to close by thanking the residents of District 1 for placing your trust in me. You can expect to see me in the community, working alongside you and listening, particularly to those who do not make it to the Board chambers. I would not be here without you, and I do not take that lightly. Thank you.

Please stay in touch,