Exciting Progress on Retrofitting the Gables
Your Inverness Association is rapidly moving forward to make the Gables (housing the Inverness Library) the first carbon emission free library in the State of California (as far as we know)! Parallel work is being done on the Jack Mason Museum annex behind the library. The IA owns both buildings.
So far, we have insulated the Gables attic, sealed 799 cracks in the outer skin of the building, installed updated and more efficient electrical panels, put in heat pumps, installed electrical hot water heating in the kitchen, as well as put in an emergency shut-off in the water line, to prevent an unexpected leak from causing a flood when no one is in the library.
Still to come are solar panels on the west side of the Gables, and two electrical storage batteries. When all these improvements are complete, the Gables will generate enough electricity to meet all its needs, and even provide some power back to the grid. The propane tank will soon be a thing of the past.
All these improvements will serve a variety of purposes.
The Inverness branch library presently has more electricity outages than any other Marin County branch library. This will come as no surprise to anyone living in Inverness. With these new systems, power outages will be a thing of the past!
With increasing global temperatures, Inverness is becoming warmer and warmer. The library must close when temperatures get too high, and even before that the library and reading room can become uncomfortably warm. The same problem occurs in the Museum Annex. The new heat pumps provide both heating and air conditioning, so overheating will no longer be a problem.
Severe heat events can cause illness and death, especially among older people. Very few houses in Inverness have air conditioning, and getting to Point Reyes is difficult for some. The library will now become a cooling center, which may be especially important to kids at Inverness School.
We also hope to put in electric car chargers at Plant Park, but that project is moving slowly. It is very expensive, but we are hoping to fully fund the project through a grant from PG&E.
All these improvements cost a lot. We are combining federal tax credits (available to nonprofits like ourselves) with a very generous grant from Marin County. This grant was made possible because our Supervisor, Dennis Rodoni, convinced his fellow supervisors to set up an infrastructure improvement fund for West Marin. Thank you, Dennis!
Even with these sources of funds, we still do not have enough to pay for the entire project. We have applied to the State of California for funding, and hope to hear in October. Even if we don’t get that grant, we have decided to proceed with completing the entire project. If the grant does not come through, we may ask the Inverness community to help us make up the shortfall.
You and your Inverness Association are doing our parts in making Inverness a better place to live, and fighting climate change.
Inverness Fair, Saturday August 10th, 2024
The Fair will be from 8 am to 2 pm in front of the Inverness Public Utility District Fire Department. Pancakes will be served until 10 am.
Chicken tostadas available at noon, made by the volunteers at West Marin Community Services, in support of Waterdogs Scholarships.
Parking will be limited to people with disabled plates or tags on Inverness way, so please plan on parking on Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
The book sale has been canceled!
Want to Help?
Want to be a vendor? Contact Elisabeth Whitney at timebandit15@gmail.com
Want to help with the production of the fair? or are you a non-profit that would like a booth? Contact Alex at alexporrata@mac.com
Short-term Rentals
IA’s Comment letter on the County of Marin’s Draft Short-Term Rental Standards here
Inverness Association position on Short-Term Rental Restrictions
Adopted May 22nd, 2023
The Inverness Association supports additional restrictions on short-term rentals in West Marin once the moratorium on short-term rentals is lifted. Further, the Inverness Association is supportive of restricting short-term rentals from operation by corporations and limiting the number of short-term rentals to one unit per homeowner.
This position is based on feedback the Inverness Association received from the Inverness community through a survey it conducted between March 3rd and April 1st 2023. The majority of the 336 respondents of the survey (80.3%) support either some restrictions (72.6%) or a total ban (7.7%) on short-term rentals. Of those in favor of restricting short-term rentals, 77.7% support banning corporations from operating short-term rentals, and 55.7% support limiting the number of rentals to one rental per homeowner.
Of the 336 survey respondents, 269 either live in Inverness and/or are homeowners in Inverness; of that subset, 186 respondents are full time residents of Inverness. Inverness residents and homeowners were even more supportive of restrictions than the overall survey population; however there wasn't always consensus on the types of restrictions that should be implemented.
The survey results are rich with detail and we recommend the County of Marin review the findings of the Inverness Association to inform its position on short-term rental restrictions in West Marin.
This position relates to short-term rentals as defined by the Country of Marin and not other types of lodging in Inverness.
Coastal Environmental Hazards Update: Invitation to Attend a Listening Session with Community Development Agency & California Coastal Commission Staff
Actualización del Programa Costero Local
Invitación para Asistir a Una Sesión Virtual para Escuchar
con el personal de la Agencia de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado y la Comisión Costera de California
Si necesita servicios de traducción al español para participar en esta reunión, envíe un correo electrónico a Kathleen Kilgariff a kkilgariff@marincounty.org antes del 28 de marzo de 2022.
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Marin County coastal communities and natural resources are at risk from the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise, storms, and other hazards. County agencies, including Community Development Agency (CDA), are currently undertaking several initiatives to ensure Marin communities are prepared for these hazards. As part of the County’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) Amendments, CDA staff continues to work with the California Coastal Commission (CCC) staff to develop draft Environmental Hazard policies and regulations for the Coastal Zone (EH Update) for public review.
Recognizing that there is an opportunity to creatively undertake environmental hazard policy development, staff has been discussing a new approach to the EH Update. As a first step in this new direction, CDA and CCC staff agreed upon shared principles and goals for developing a new environmental hazards framework for inclusion in the LCP.
While goals and principles provide a helpful roadmap for both staffs, community input and involvement with the EH Update is of the utmost importance. As such, along with CCC staff, CDA will host a listening session to provide stakeholders with information on the new approach to the EH Update, discuss the below noted shared principles, and allow time for members of the public to speak directly to both CDA and CCC staff about their vision of the County’s coastal zone.
With shared community visions and guiding principles for working together, CDA and CCC staff will negotiate in good faith to develop policies that support a phased approach to coastal planning as we grapple with the current and future impacts of climate change.
If you have not yet done so, please subscribe to the County’s Local Coastal Program webpage at www.marinlcp.org to receive news and updates related to the EH Update and future stakeholder events. Additionally, please contact marinlcp@marincounty.org should you have any questions.
As noted above, the principles below provide a foundation of understanding as we undertake the EH Update. We hope that they help inform stakeholders, and provide clarity on the commitment from both staffs to develop environmental hazard policies that reflect the vision and shared values of our coastal stakeholders.
Principles
Reflect both the Coastal Commission and Marin County’s priorities and policies around equity. Evaluate all issues first from a standpoint of equity, and consider how approaches might affect disadvantaged individuals and groups.
Assure the community and visitors fully understand growing climate challenges and available adaptation and resilience options so they can take collective action to respond to these challenges.
Amend the LCP to allow property owners and public agencies to adapt existing development to SLR and wildfire hazards consistent with the Coastal Act and the California Code of Regulations.
Place restrictions on new subdivisions and development to make future adaptation easier.
Consult the Coastal Commission’s Local Government Working Group’s 12/3/21 Framework for a phased approach to the LCP update and a general path forward on the following:
o The use of best available science,
o Continuing the County’s adaptation planning process,
o Providing for the disclosure and assumption of risks by private property owners,
o Committing to phased updates of the LCP.
Recognize the Coastal Commission’s SLR Guidance both acknowledges that it is “advisory and not a regulatory document or legal standard of review,” and represents the strong policy position of the Coastal Commission.
Work to reconcile the tradeoffs inherent in coastal hazard planning and LCP development, and acknowledge that it will not be possible to achieve all stakeholders’ preferred solutions or goals. Recognize that both the Coastal Commission and the County are managing for multiple legitimate considerations and policy priorities in a context of changing conditions and increasingly severe challenges.
Chipper Days for the 2022 Season
Inverness Collection Dates: Week of July 11th + Week of October 10th
To participate in the program you MUST book a reservation no later than the Wednesday preceding the week of your neighborhood’s scheduled service.
Piles are required to be ready at the curb by 8:00 AM Monday and will be picked up by Friday of the same week.
To see if there is an upcoming event that includes your address visit https://www.chipperday.com/marin
MEMBERS VOTED for 5 new board members.
Here are the five new board members voted in:
Jerry Meral handled the research and mailing/vote on doing an initiative for water conservation/fire safety. He’s also handling the details of Inverness becoming a FireWise community. He is the retired State of California Deputy Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, and he and his wife Barbara live at the top of Seahaven. You will be confirming the Board’s late 2020 appointment.
Angela Whitney is the co-director of the Green Bank Design Platform at The Rocky Mountain Institute, as well as a Manager of their Global Climate Finance Program. She has extensive education and work experience in environmental policy and management, including beginning her career at Point Reyes National Seashore. Angela is a native of Inverness Park. She was appointed by the Board in early 2021 to help fill out skills deficits. You will be confirming the Board’s appointment.
Dinelle Abram is first and foremost the proud mother of an 18-year-old son who’s off to UC Irvine in the Fall. They have lived in Inverness/Seahaven for 16 years, coming out from San Francisco to live in her parent's summer home when her son was 2 years old. She was introduced to West Marin during trips on the weekends when she was in high school and throughout her college years. It was one of her dad's favorite spots. She currently works as an Administrative Specialist at Coastal Health Alliance and has been there since June of 2011. Dinelle loves working out here and being part of this wonderful community. You are likely to see her in Tomales Bay enjoying morning and long-distance swims. Dinelle is a first-time Board candidate presented for your affirmation.
Andrea Gardner Apatow received her degree in Landscape Architecture from UC Berkeley. She practiced in Los Angeles for 30+ years, designing and managing construction for residential landscape architecture projects. After retiring, she served as an architectural commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and worked closely with the city, architects, and applicants to improve building signage, architecture, lighting, and planting design. She and her husband Doug built their forever and full-time house five years ago in Inverness, and feel like they are ‘home’. Like Dinelle, Andrea is a first-time Board candidate presented for your affirmation.
William Barrett has lived in West Marin since 1980, first in Point Reyes Station, and now in Inverness’ Second Valley. Active on a number of local boards and groups, he is a firm believer in giving back to the community as best he can. Serving on the Board of Directors of the Inverness Association/Foundation is a pleasure he would like to continue. He is a candidate for a second three-year term.
The Inverness Foundation has submitted an application to become a FireWise community. See “What We Do” for more information.
The Inverness Foundation has submitted an application to become a FireWise community. See What We Do for more info.
Neighborhood Disaster Liaison Map & Contact List
The Inverness Foundation is working with the Inverness Disaster Council, the Inverness Fire Department and other agencies and community members to improve Inverness' ability to respond to earthquakes, fires, and other natural disasters.
Visit the Disaster Preparedness page for more information.
— Quick Links —
Inverness Disaster Liaison Map (download PDF)
Neighborhood Contact List (download PDF)
Inverness Park Disaster Liaison Map (download PDF)
Inverness Park Neighborhood Contact List (download PDF)