Marin Emergency Radio Authority MERA A partnership of

Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems. www. meraonline. org

Agenda 6: 45 pm 7: 00 7: 05 7: 20 7: 25 7: 30 8: 15 8: 45 8: 55 9: 00 Pre-meeting conversation. Welcome – Don Hunter, Chair of the Southern Marin Site Committee and Mill Valley City Manager. Project background. Ground rules. Agenda review. Concerns and feedback from participants – organized into categories. Provide answers and clarification to as many issues as possible. Review timeline and process. Meeting evaluation. Adjourn.

MERA 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Southern Marin Fire Prot. Dist. 14. Bolinas Fire Protection District 15. Town of Fairfax 16. Kentfield Fire Protection District 17. County of Marin Community College District 19. Marin Community Services District City of Mill Valley Novato Fire Protection District Ross Valley Fire Service 23. Town of San Anselmo 24. City of Sausalito 25. Tiburon Fire Protection Dist. City of Belvedere Town of Corte Madera Inverness Public Utility Dist. City of Larkspur 18. Marin County Transit District Marin Municipal Water District 20. Twin Cities Police Department 21. City of Novato 22. Town of Ross Town of Tiburon City of San Rafael Stinson Beach Fire Prot. Dist.

MERA Network

Site Status • • • • San Pedro – San Rafael Area Big Rock – Novato Area Forbes Hill – San Rafael Area Pt. Reyes – Inverness/West Marin Area Mt. Burdell – San Geronimo Valley Area Mt. Barnabe – Novato Area Dollar Hill – San Rafael Area Mill Valley City Hall - Mill Valley Area Mill Valley PSB – Mill Valley Area Civic Center Prime Site – San Rafael Area Mt. Tam – South Central Marin Sonoma Mt. – Petaluma, Sonoma County Bay Hill Road – Western Sonoma County Bolinas – Bolinas Area Mt. Tiburon Tank – Tiburon Area Complete Complete Complete 12/01/2003 02/01/2004 05/15/2004 Unknown- In litigation

Mt. Tiburon MERA Site • • • Mt. Tiburon site selected in final MERA EIR – December 1999 Tiburon denies permit for Mt. Tiburon site – July 2001 MERA denied site on Angel Island – January 2002 Tiburon approves site at Sugarloaf – July 2002 Court sets aside Tiburon’s approval of Sugarloaf – September 2002 MERA sued by neighbors over Mt. Tiburon – October 2002 Court decides against MERA on use of Mt. Tiburon – January 2003 Superior Court decision is appealed by MERA – April 2003 Appeals Court decision - Spring 2004

MERA Board Policy • MERA Board policy is to construct the Mt. Tiburon site if authorized to do so by the Court of Appeals. • As a back-up plan, MERA Board of Directors is considering alternative sites.

Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems. www. meraonline. org

MERA • Some of the difficulties with our current system include: – Emergency radio coverage is spotty at best. – Current systems are quickly overwhelmed in an emergency.

MERA • Repairs are becoming more difficult. • Daily coverage issues.

MERA • Because of these problems we need a new system for medical, police and fire personnel. • The one factor that has remained unchanged over the years is our obsolete radio system.

Southern Marin Coverage Area

MERA Communication problems during emergencies: – Sausalito Police Officer shot. – Southern Marin House Collapse. – Sausalito Fire- Sausalito Blvd. – Tiburon Fire- Leeward Rd.

“Polly Klaas’ Legacy Looms Large Her Kidnapping Led to New Laws, Changed Lives” “Hours after the family alerted Petaluma police at 11: 03 p. m. Oct. 1, Davis's white Ford Pinto became stuck in a ditch on rural Pythian Road. He was spotted by a homeowner, who called the sheriff's office. But Sonoma County deputies who arrived at the scene simply helped Davis dislodge his car and pushed him on his way. Their antiquated communications technology did not alert them to his parole violation. ” September 28, 2003 - San Francisco Chronicle

Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems. www. meraonline. org

Alternate to Mt. Tiburon Site Selection Process • 36 sites considered as alternates to Mt. Tiburon • Criteria for review: – Coverage feasibility – Environmental impacts and land use issues – Leasing and improvement costs – Owner interest in leasing the site • Three feasible remaining sites (2 of 3 needed) • Public information meetings • Site committee recommendation to MERA Board of Directors • Supplemental EIR prepared (6 months) • MERA Board of Directors decision • Town of Tiburon and/or County of Marin authorization

Typical Radio Site • 1 - Receive Antenna – No Transmit • 2 - Transmit Antennas – approximately 1/2 of the system on each antenna • Microwave Dishes – Highly Directional – Narrow Beam • Generator and Propane Tank • Equipment Shelter

Richardson Bay Sewerage Agency

Richardson Bay Sewerage Agency

Richardson Bay Photo Simulation

MMWD Tank Site

MMWD Tank Photo Simulation

Wolfback Ridge Site

Agenda 6: 45 pm 7: 00 7: 05 7: 20 7: 25 7: 30 8: 15 8: 45 8: 55 9: 00 Pre-meeting conversation. Welcome – Don Hunter, “Chair of the Southern Marin Site Committee. " Project background. Ground rules. Agenda review. Concerns and feedback from participants – organized into categories. Provide answers and clarification to as many issues as possible. Review timeline and process. Meeting evaluation. Adjourn.

Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems. www. meraonline. org