Dear Neighbors,
The new year is well underway and shaping up to be a busy one. Short term rental regulation, mobile crisis services, and home health care – just a few of the issues before the board of supervisors so far this year.
Transitions
2024 will be a year of transitions. After 22 years as our County Administrator, Matthew Hymel will be retiring at the end of March. His fiscal prudence, policy acumen, people skills and political savvy have been key to successfully guiding the county through two recessions, wildfire, a pandemic and more. Under Matthew’s leadership, Marin County has consistently maintained balanced budgets, avoided lay-offs, expanded social and municipal services and integrated an equity analysis into all county business. We will be appointing our new County Executive, Derek Johnson, at our Board meeting on February 27th.
We also say goodbye to Dr. Benita McLarin, Director of Health and Human Services. In addition to leading the County’s pandemic response, Benita has been instrumental in advancing Marin’s efforts to highlight and address health and wellness disparities across Marin. She retires after five years with the county and a life-time of service (military and civil) to our country. On board as the new director of HHS is Dr. Lisa Vourhous. My thanks and gratitude to both Matthew and Benita, and a warm welcome to Derek and Lisa!
As you may have heard, this will be my last year serving as County Supervisor. My term doesn’t end until December 31, and I intend to make the most of every day. Working with and for the residents and communities of Marin’s District 2 and the County as a whole has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime. Together, we have made progress on our most challenging issues, but there is much more to do. Onward!
Housing and Homelessness
Housing and homelessness remain top priorities for me. I am proud of Marin’s collective accomplishments to secure housing and support for over 700 homeless individuals since launching our Housing First initiative in 2017. Additionally, millions in County Housing Trust dollars have helped to preserve and create hundreds of units of affordable housing. Continued progress on both homelessness and affordable housing will require ongoing investment, collaboration with Marin’s cities and towns, partnering with housing developers, service providers, and community support. More on Housing and Homelessness here.
Sea Level Rise and Climate Change
Marin County has more shoreline than every other county in the Bay Area. While impacts of sea level rise may feel intermittent and isolated, the destructive power of higher tides and more intense storms, is intensified by climate change and felt with increasing frequency along our shoreline. Adapting to sea level rise is going to require local focus and regional collaboration. Building on the foundational work of Baywave, a major focus this year will be on how we organize as a county across jurisdictions and special districts to strategically address and adapt to sea level rise which threatens both critical public infrastructure and private property on our coast and bay shorelines.
The Basics
Addressing lack of affordable housing, homelessness, and climate impacts are of the highest priority, but they do not eclipse new issues that rise up any given year, or the basic functions of county government – such as filling potholes and paving roads, ensuring public safety, improving traffic and transportation, and providing critical safety net services for our must vulnerable. Take a look at the County’s 2023/24 “Budget in Brief” for high level descriptions and budgets of various county department responsibilities. The Board will be holding budget workshops in March as we plan for the coming fiscal year.
The Fairfax San Anselmo Children’s Center, located at the former Deer Park School site in Fairfax has been providing childcare and educational services to families living and/or working in the Ross Valley for over 50 years. High quality early childhood education is one of the most significant and consequential investments we can make for our children and communities. The county’s support for the Center goes back decades. It is one of six programs countywide providing subsidized preschool and affordable childcare for some of our most economically vulnerable families, and is the only provider in the Ross Valley. The Center currently holds 110 of approximately 800 subsidized slots available to Marin County families, and there are currently over 900 children on the County’s waitlist for subsidized childcare.
The Ross Valley School District, owner of the Deer Park site, provided notice to the Center that they would not be extending their lease. While various efforts to negotiate a transfer or sale of the property to the Center have to date not been successful, the County has set aside $500,000 to support the Center in purchasing the property. The County remains committed to providing resources to ensure the critical programming provided by the Center is not lost.
Please, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or my team to share your ideas, ask questions, or express any concerns you may have. Let’s stay connected through my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.
Katie Rice
Marin County Board of Supervisors, District 2
Tel: (415) 473-7825
Email: katie.rice@marincounty.gov
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