Bolinas Community Coastal Alliance

Signs are going up! On April 15, BCCA received an email update from Carey Lando, Senior Planner at the County of Marin DPW, regarding the implementation of Measure X overnight parking restrictions. She asked us to help get the word out to the community. Jennifer Blackman, General Manager, BCPUD also received this email. We expect that BCPUD will let people know as will Supervisor Rodoni. Rhonda Kutter (from Rodoni’s office) also contacted us with this info and asked Carey to inform us of details.

Signs are to go up on Brighton and the downtown section of Olema-Bolinas Rd. in the first phase. It is not clear though if Wharf Rd. will be getting any signage now; we are trying to find that out. Previously, it was stated that signs would go up on Wharf Rd. at the discretion of Sheriff, even though shown as a first phase activity, but we are not sure if this caveat still applies. In a follow up email, Ms. Lando was unable to answer this question. We will report on that matter once we can confirm this element for Phase 1 roll out and other questions we have.

DETAILS REGARDING THE ROLLOUT OF MEASURE X
In her email, Lando said that that they are making progress towards implementation of Phase 1. Data collection is a condition of the Coastal Commission permit issued for the implementation of Measure X signage. DPW collected existing conditions data on March 21, 2020. Lando noted that March 21 was also the same day Bolinas was inundated with visitors: “There were just over 80 vehicles (8 of which were vehicles that may not be autos/motorcycles/pickups) parked in the downtown area when we surveyed just after 5:00am. We surveyed at this time because that is when the overnight parking restriction period would end (11pm-5am).”

Lando also reported that the County sign shop will be fabricating the signs over the next week. Crews will be out in the field at varying times over the next several weeks to locate utilities and mark sign post locations. Installation of the signs are expected at the end of April, which is consistent with the timeframe previously targeted. However, DPW noted that the timeframe may change if there are other critical issues that delay or impact installation as a result of health and safety orders.

In a follow-up email, Lando said that she hoped that community members will help with constructive input during the Phase 1 implementation. BCCA would like to know how we can provide this input, and how success will be measured. We will ask for the details of the metrics for this roll out, if it happens. The current crisis will most likely affect the data. We support the planned project, but also want to call attention to the current critical health needs of Bolinas which now require more than the very limited, incremental restriction on overnight parking planned prior to this pandemic.

Bottom line: Carey Lando and Supervisor Rodoni want to get word out to the community on the status of the project and to let us know that we will be seeing crews in the field as soon as early as this week for post locating. We were asked to request that folks maintain safe distancing practices when they see crews in the field. Folks are asked to contact Carey Lando or Supervisor Rodoni’s office if they have questions or concerns, rather than the field crews. Contact info is shown below. A map regarding signage is attached.

WE ARE IN A HEALTH CRISIS - WHY IS STREET CAMPING OK?

Our big question is why the County is not taking direct action regarding camping in the downtown area, yet are prohibiting parking in the Agate Beach area. While we are glad that the County is moving forward with Measure X implementation and some future parking restrictions, during this pandemic overnight parking should be restricted to residents. Campers who have no shelter except their vehicles should be offered a safe and sanitary area to park during this Covid-19 area, in proximity to local services and support. The community generally knows the limited number of people in this situation - efforts to assist them are widely supported. But, leaving them to camp on downtown streets during this health crisis only gives license to a larger number of casual, non-local recreational campers to do the same.

Residents are wearing masks (shout-out to all our community mask makers!), practicing social distancing, and complaining about tourists coming into town, but people are filtering in to camp on downtown streets. They will not stop unless signage and enforcement are put in place for everyone. Signage at Agate Beach prohibits parking by anyone except residents. While we may not be able to prohibit parking downtown because people need to access essential services, we definitely can prohibit camping during this health emergency. Please see our pictures below.

BCCA recently wrote a letter to Supervisor Rodoni, Deputy Public Health Director Dr. Lisa Santora, Sheriff Hickey and our local BFD Fire Chief George Krakauer about the camping situation downtown. We have not had a reply, as yet, from anyone. If you have contact with any of these individuals please make your thoughts known. You can also call the Covid-19 hotline at 415-473-7191 Monday - Friday, 9:30am-12pm and 1-5pm. We have had no response from their COVID-19 site email except that our concerns were “referred to the appropriate person.”

Contact Info:
Carey Lando
Senior Project Planner, County of Marin DPW
CLando@marincounty.org
415-473-5078

Supervisor Dennis Rodoni
Contact Supervisor Rodoni