Canal Community Resilience Council Update 2021
The following is a recap of the last three months of meetings.
October 2020, Tiscornia Marsh Restoration
The October meeting was organized by the Marin Audubon Society and facilitated by District 4 Supervisor Dennis Rodoni. The principal watershed planner for the County of Marin provided an overview of sea level rise issues in the Canal, noting that pumps, pipes, and levees had protected the Canal so far. However, with rising seas, further strategies would be needed, including restoring the marsh. Planners from the City of San Rafael provided a history and framework of sea level rise planning efforts undertaken by the City. They noted that the City had received a Priority Development Area (PDA) designation from the Association of Bay Area Governments for the Canal, which will provide funding for a community planning process that would help to address these issues. A hydrologist from Environmental Science Associates (ESA) discussed the proposed restoration, using animations to show how paths, levees, and marsh areas would change because of the improvements. Permitting, final design, and construction are still several years away. To find out more about the Tiscornia Marsh project, see: http://www.tiscorniamarshp.org/
November 2020, Transportation
This session explored transit resources and current issues impacting the Canal community. A Marin Transit representative discussed local public transit during COVID, noting the new procedures intended to keep riders as safe as possible, including limitations on the number of riders on each bus, and service changes to accommodate social distancing efforts. In addition, he reviewed services and fare discounts that might be useful to Canal residents. A civil engineer with the San Rafael Public Works Department discussed several pedestrian and cyclist improvements that were in process or planned for the Canal area. These include widening certain sidewalks to facilitate pedestrian passage in and out of the Canal area, an improvement of the crosswalk by the San Rafael High School, and a proposal to build a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over San Rafael Creek. A representative from the Transportation Authority of Marin presented information about the proposed Direct Connector Project to get people from northbound 101 to eastbound 580 more efficiently. Since this connector will cut through near Bellam Boulevard, this development will impact the Canal. Finally, a representative from Safe Routes to Schools discussed the challenges and some potential solutions for getting kids to school once schools open again. Of particular concern is making sure that students can safely social distance while going to school, and transportation to the middle school, which is a very long walk from the Canal neighborhood.
December 2020, Community Resources and Aid
Presenters from the SF/Marin Food Bank started out by observing that they were facing greater need due to the pandemic and are providing greater volumes of food through more channels, including three drive-through food pantry sites in the Canal. They also described the CalFresh program. While immigrants without a green card cannot get CalFresh due to public charge rules, they can apply on behalf of their children. A staff attorney from Legal Aid of Marin described the free legal services provided to low-income individuals, including help with civil fines and fees, elder law, and housing law, as well as the Tenant Relief Act of 2020 (AB 3088). The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a nonprofit dedicated to “How to set up, run, and succeed in a small business,” described its services. The organization can help small businesses get PPP loans to weather the pandemic and offers classes in small business fundamentals in English and Spanish. Finally, the Director of Economic Opportunity for the Marin Community Foundation discussed the many programs funded by the MCF, including the Marin/SF Food Bank, emergency cash and rental assistance during the pandemic, and the Canal Community Resilience Council.
Next Steps
Participants were surveyed on priority areas to cover in 2021. The top choices were: 1) preparing for emergencies, 2) rental housing, and 3) (tied) COVID-19 and immigration.
The upcoming January 2021 meeting will focus on Emergency Preparedness. After this, the group will start to focus more on the workings of local government and coaching group members in ways to engage and advocate to address community needs. The goal is to increasingly involve community members as active participants in the government decision-making processes that affect the Canal neighborhood.