Marin County Grand Jury
• 2017-2018
Consolidation of Sanitation Districts Report Date: April 13, 2018
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 10 findings
F1
Marin County has a large number of sanitary districts.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Independent sanitary districts are accountable only to district voters.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The public is not greatly involved in local sanitary district governance.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The public is not well informed about funding schemes or governance of sanitary districts.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Marin County’s current system of sanitary districts is not cost-efficient.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Marin LAFCO should complete the planned reorganization of Murray Park Sewer Maintenance District and San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance District with Ross Valley Sanitary District.
R2
Central Marin Sanitation Agency (JPA), Sanitary District #1 (Ross Valley), Sanitary District #2 (Corte Madera), and the San Rafael Sanitary District should reorganize into a single sanitary/sanitation district. Each entity should complete a reorganization application with Marin LAFCO by 9/30/2018 and announce this action on the agenda of the next board meeting for public involvement.
R3
Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin (JPA), Almonte Sanitary District, Alto Sanitary District, Richardson Bay Sanitary District, Homestead Valley Sanitary District, Public Works Department of the City of Mill Valley, and Tamalpais Community Services District should reorganize into a single sanitary/sanitation district. Each entity should initiate a reorganization application with Marin LAFCO and announce this action on the agenda of the next board meeting for public involvement.
F6
Consolidation of sanitary districts in Marin has been recommended multiple times by governmental and non-governmental agencies.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Well-executed consolidations of sanitary districts will reduce administrative and operating costs.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Marin LAFCO should complete the planned reorganization of Murray Park Sewer Maintenance District and San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance District with Ross Valley Sanitary District.
R2
Central Marin Sanitation Agency (JPA), Sanitary District #1 (Ross Valley), Sanitary District #2 (Corte Madera), and the San Rafael Sanitary District should reorganize into a single sanitary/sanitation district. Each entity should complete a reorganization application with Marin LAFCO by 9/30/2018 and announce this action on the agenda of the next board meeting for public involvement.
R3
Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin (JPA), Almonte Sanitary District, Alto Sanitary District, Richardson Bay Sanitary District, Homestead Valley Sanitary District, Public Works Department of the City of Mill Valley, and Tamalpais Community Services District should reorganize into a single sanitary/sanitation district. Each entity should initiate a reorganization application with Marin LAFCO and announce this action on the agenda of the next board meeting for public involvement.
F8
Well-executed consolidations of sanitary districts will improve service.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Marin LAFCO should complete the planned reorganization of Murray Park Sewer Maintenance District and San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance District with Ross Valley Sanitary District.
R2
Central Marin Sanitation Agency (JPA), Sanitary District #1 (Ross Valley), Sanitary District #2 (Corte Madera), and the San Rafael Sanitary District should reorganize into a single sanitary/sanitation district. Each entity should complete a reorganization application with Marin LAFCO by 9/30/2018 and announce this action on the agenda of the next board meeting for public involvement.
R3
Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin (JPA), Almonte Sanitary District, Alto Sanitary District, Richardson Bay Sanitary District, Homestead Valley Sanitary District, Public Works Department of the City of Mill Valley, and Tamalpais Community Services District should reorganize into a single sanitary/sanitation district. Each entity should initiate a reorganization application with Marin LAFCO and announce this action on the agenda of the next board meeting for public involvement.
F9
Sanitation districts need to prepare for sea level rise.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Marin LAFCO is underfunded and understaffed.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The County of Marin should allocate additional funds to Marin LAFCO.
Conclusions 4
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CL1Las Gallinas Sanitation District should consolidate with the to-be-formed central Marin sanitation district.
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CL2Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District and Tiburon Sanitary District #5 should consolidate with the to-be-formed Southern Marin Sanitation District. (Recommendation No.3)
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CL3Novato Sanitary District should consider a plan to consolidate with the to-be-formed Central Marin Sanitation district. (Recommendation No. 2)
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CL4The ultimate goal should be a countywide water and sanitation agency—Marin Municipal Utilities District (Marin MUD). 38 “Merging and Dissolving Special Districts” Yale Law School, p.494, 2014 April 13, 2018 Marin County Civil Grand Jury Page 12 of 20 Consolidation of Sanitation Districts