Below is our latest newsletter which was sent to all those on our email list. If you are not on our list and wish to receive Coalition emails (infrequent but always pertinent), please sign up using the Email & Mail Signup page on this website.
We have some changes to report relating to the Coalition’s leadership, and a brief update from our Committees, always busy with various projects.
Dave Crutcher has stepped down as Board Member and Treasurer, but remains Quarry Committee Chair.  We are grateful to Dave for his 16 years serving both the Coalition and our community. Current Board member Kevin Hagerty has taken over as Treasurer, but has stepped down as Roadway Committee Chair after serving in that role for a decade. He remains as a member of the Board.
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We are most delighted to welcome Robert Sandoval as the Coalition’s new Roadway Committee Chair.  Robert’s photo and bio are posted on the Our Board and Committee Chairs page of the Coalition website along with those of the other Board members and chairs. The Coalition and the Community are fortunate to have the benefit of Robert’s experience and depth.
 Loch Lomond Marina Committee (See Marina Committee Home page) After some delay due to economic concerns, Trumark is about to embark on the construction of the remaining residences within The Strand and hopes to have all construction completed by late Spring 2024. The completion of the east jetty/playground continues to be delayed despite pressure by the City agencies and this Committee. That pressure is continuing and increasing with the hope of resolving this issue and making the playground available to the public as soon as possible. The long-vacant parcel containing the empty commercial building was purchased by Andy Bachich (Andy’s Local Market). He plans to construct a 10-unit residential building instead of the mixed commercial/residential building originally planned. A more detailed status can be found in Marina Committee posts on the Coalition website. The latest post is dated July 27, 2023. |
 Wetlands Committee (See Wetlands Committee Home page) On Friday, July 28, members of the Wetlands Committee joined other local community organizations in an outreach event organized by the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority at Tiscornia Marsh, which is undergoing an extensive wetlands restoration. It is one of the community-centered restoration initiatives that has been awarded a grant by the Authority. The event started off with a tour led by Barbara Salzman (the President of Marin Audubon) and Marco Berger (Civic Engagement Manager of the Multicultural Center of Marin). They are overseeing and coordinating on the restoration as it progresses, with a strong emphasis on engaging the local community with educational events and updates about the ways in which the restoration will impact their neighborhood and to get input in response.  After the tour, there was an outreach session by the Authority’s representatives to help them better understand the varying needs of different communities that might qualify for wetlands restoration grants from them. They were also interested in how to facilitate their grant process and to find ways to expand their access to communities that might be eligible. Around a picnic table, representatives from community organizations discussed their experiences relative to the topic. Everyone found it productive and valuable. The Wetlands Committee will explore local restoration projects that align with the Authority’s criteria.  We are trying to organize a fall or early winter local birding field trip. The spring outing led by Rust Scalf was very successful because it offered a way for community residents to visit the wetlands in person and appreciate the birdlife up close. Stay posted for future updates. See the San Rafael Quarry Committee report for activities done jointly between that committee and the Wetlands Committee related to the S.R. Rock Quarry wetlands. |
 Disaster Preparedness Committee (See Disaster Prep Committee Home page) Earlier this year, the Coalition purchased and outfitted a shiny red Disaster Preparedness trailer that will allow the deployment of emergency supplies where needed following a fire or other disaster. The unit has been displayed at the invitation of several Neighborhood associations at their annual meetings. The Disaster Preparedness Committee continues to host various training and information meetings. We encourage you to sign up for the upcoming Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. You will learn First Aid, Fire Safety and Search & Rescue skills. The next 20-hour free CERT training will take place over three dates in August:Saturday August 19th – 9-5pm Saturday August 26th – 9-5pm Sunday August 27 – 9-1pmTraining will be held at Marin Academy. 1600 Mission Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901. Register here for a class. |
 Pt. San Pedro Roadway Committee (See Roadway Committee Home page) Regarding speeding along Pt. San Pedro Road, the Coalition recently wrote to our County Supervisor to suggest the following:The City and County should coordinate when and where radar trailers should be placed on Point San Pedro Road to allow maximum exposure to speed warning systems. We requested a joint meeting with City and County traffic engineers to discuss a holistic approach to radar trailer placement.  The City and County should coordinate police speed enforcement efforts while radar trailers are in place. Our experience is that if drivers do not see any enforcement, they will continue the same speeding behavior.The Coalition expressed interest in working with County and City traffic agencies to develop an educational campaign that encourages roadway safety along Point San Pedro Road.The Coalition posted the latest information on the Pt. San Pedro Road lane closure at Fire Station 55 on our website. The City has promised to provide the Coalition with updates on when the closed lane can be reopened. San Rafael City Council conducted a public hearing on the San Pedro Road Median Landscape District assessment on July 17, and approved a fee increase from $108.12 to $114.30 for the current fiscal year which is in line with the permitted increase defined in the assessment district regulations.  Did you know that you can go online to report issues such as downed trees and alert the City of San Rafael and County of Marin? Here are the links for San Rafael and Marin County: (https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/issues/trees-landscaping/) (https://publicworks.marincounty.org/report-an-issue/)! |
 San Rafael Quarry Committee (See Quarry Committee Home page) Both the Wetlands Committee and Quarry Committee have been engaged with following the progress of the SRRQ Marsh Restoration Plan (MRP).  On Tuesday, June 27, the Dutra San Rafael Rock Quarry hosted a Zoom meeting to give an update on the Quarry MRP. WRA Environmental Consultants and Stuart Siegel, PhD, PWS,  gave informative presentations to both the members of the Coalition Quarry and Wetlands Committees and, of course, Quarry representatives. WRA consultants, who designed and oversee the MRP, provided background information and an overview of the current results of the plan’s implementation. Stuart Siegel followed with a presentation of a preliminary version of his assessment of both the condition of the Marsh and the outcomes of the MRP. Dr. Siegel, a wetland expert selected by mutual agreement between the Quarry and Coalition, was engaged by the Quarry in 2021 to provide an alternative opinion regarding both of these matters.Dr. Siegel outlined three approaches he thinks could improve the overall health and integrity of the Marsh as a habitat for wildlife, particularly shorebirds. They ranged from the most to the least complex in terms of permitting requirements, government agency involvement, and funding. The most complex would align with broader, foreseeable, sea-level rise mitigation work by the County and City (and perhaps the State). When Dr. Siegel’s report is finalized, the Coalition’s Quarry and Wetlands Committee leadership expects to meet with Quarry representatives to explore how his reports recommendations might be implemented. Most recent activity by the Quarry Committee relates to the Quarry Marsh Restoration Plan and is covered in the Wetlands Committee’s update. Separately, annual reclamation grading that commenced in the site’s Northeast Quadrant in mid-May is scheduled wrap up by early August. Residents living close to the Quarry may notice grading activity up to 5 p.m. each weekday evening while reclamation grading is going on. Some residents have noted other enhanced activity at the Quarry over the past several months, particularly in the evening. The Quarry advised the Coalition that it is working on two large barging projects in the Sacramento River delta to repair levees and other infrastructure. The projects will at times require barge loading to 9 pm and some work on Saturdays. The Quarry expects to be loading barges regularly for these projects through the month of October. Although these are not emergency projects, the Quarry permit allows them to load barges until 9 pm, M-F, and in some circumstances up to 10 p.m. Please refer to their website for possible updates on these projects. |