The Town of Corte Madera Marin County Civil Grand Jury Marin County California*

A comprehensive countywide agency is necessary to effectively address the impacts of sea level rise in Marin County. Response: Disagree While the Town of Corte Madera agrees that collaboration amongst the County of Marin, Marin cities, towns, special districts, and public agencies is essential to effectively address the impacts of sea level rise, the Town does not support the creation of a new countywide agency at this time. The Town of Corte Madera acknowledges that the County of Marin is currently in the process of completing the "Marin County Sea Level Rise Adaptation Organizational Structure and Decision-Making Process" project with consultant AECOM. This project is intended to answer the following questions: 1. How can Marin County best work with its communities, cities, towns, state, and federal agencies to advance solutions to sea level rise? 2. How can the County organize County staff and resources effectively and efficiently to prepare for sea level rise and deliver future adaptation projects? This work is expected to be completed in Fall 2025. Once this work is complete, the Town of Corte Madera will be in a better position to make an informed decision on the merits of establishing a countywide agency.

To be effective, a countywide agency created to address sea level rise in Marin County should include the County of Marin, all cities and towns, and appropriate special districts in Marin County as funding participants. Response: Disagree The Town of Corte Madera acknowledges that the County of Marin is currently in the process of developing the "Marin County Sea Level Rise Adaptation Organizational Structure and Decision-Making Process". The Town of Corte Madera hopes that funding will be addressed through the recommendations and conclusions of this study. The Town recommends awaiting the conclusion and recommendations of the "Marin County Sea Level Rise Adaptation Organizational Structure and Decision-Making Process" before further recommendations are made.

The complete failure to create and implement effective countywide sea level rise adaptation projects in Marin County will result in significant damages and losses to commercial and residential properties as well as infrastructure, both public and private. Response: Partially disagree While the Town of Corte Madera agrees that the implementation of effective, collaborative sea level rise adaptation projects is necessary to avoid damages and losses to commercial and residential properties, as well as public and private infrastructure, it is unclear whether the creation of a new countywide agency is the best approach to move this work forward. Once the "Marin County Sea Level Rise Adaptation Organizational Structure and Decision-Making Process" project is complete, the Town of Corte Madera will be in a better position to make an informed decision on the merits of establishing a countywide agency.

The 2034 deadline imposed by Sections 30985-30985.8 of the California Public Resources Code for each California county to submit its official sea level rise mitigation plan is "too little too late" for Marin county, and delaying action until then will expose coastal and Bay areas to unnecessary flooding risks, financial and other losses. Response: Partially disagree The 2017 Bay Waterfront Adaptation and Vulnerability Evaluation (BayWAVE) finds that in just fifteen years sea level rise may threaten and damage shoreline buildings, roads and utility systems, impacting all of Marin. The Town of Corte Madera is actively working to prepare the community for sea level rise impacts, including by developing a Climate Adaptation Assessment in 2021 and initiating a Shoreline Adaptation Engagement Effort in 2023 to engage with shoreline residents and stakeholders more deeply. The Town is also incorporating sea level rise predictions into infrastructure projects along the shoreline, such as the Paradise Drive Complete Street Project. Thus, while 2034 may be too late, the Town is not waiting for this deadline to take action.

Under-represented populations reside in areas that are severely vulnerable to sea level rise because they are in low-lying ground. Response: Agree The Town of Corte Madera agrees that low-income, historically marginalized communities in low-lying areas of Marin are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise.

Sea level rise plans to be developed by a countywide entity should include adaptation strategies that directly apply to under-represented communities in low-lying areas with great exposure to sea level rise, such as the Canal District, areas of Novato, and Marin City, among others. Response: Partially disagree The Town of Corte Madera agrees that adaptation strategies aimed to protect low-income, historically marginalized communities in low-lying areas with the greatest exposure to sea level rise must be included in sea level rise planning and implementation efforts. The Town understands that as part of the "Marin County Sea Level Rise Adaptation Organizational Structure and Decision-Making Process" project, AECOM is conducting an engagement process, including outreach to equity priority groups to seek their input. The Town recommends awaiting the conclusion and recommendations of the "Marin County Sea Level Rise Adaptation Organizational Structure and Decision-Making Process" before further