November 6, 2018 - Measure X
BOLINAS COMMUNITY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
MEASURE X
MEASURE X: Shall the County of Marin enact a resolution pursuant
to Marin County Ordinance 3662 to include Brighton
Avenue, Park Avenue and Wharf Road in downtown
Bolinas as County roads on which there shall be no
overnight parking of vehicles, except for automobiles,
motorcycles and pickups, between the hours of 11:00
p.m. and 5:00 a.m.?
YES NO
COUNTY COUNSEL’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE X
BOLINAS COMMUNITY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
ADVISORY VOTE
The Bolinas Community Public Utility District is
requesting the voters’ advice as to whether to request the
County of Marin to enact parking regulations in downtown
Bolinas.
Specifically, this Measure seeks the advice of the
voters as to whether the Bolinas Community Public Utility
District should request the County of Marin to enact a
Resolution to include Brighton Avenue, Park Avenue and
Wharf Road in downtown Bolinas as County roads on
which there shall be no overnight parking of vehicles,
except for automobiles, motorcycles and pickups, between
the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
This is an advisory measure only. Voting in the
affirmative or negative on this Measure will not be
enacting or prohibiting parking regulations. The vote on
the Measure will only provide the Bolinas Community
Public Utility District with the voters’ advice on whether to
pursue the parking regulations.
s/BRIAN WASHINGTON
Marin County Counsel
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE X
Bolinas is a coastal town with extremely limited access
and egress due to geographic conditions, one-way in and
out. Close to a metropolitan area and with social-media
causing visitation to soar. Bolinas residents regularly
experience parking limitations and loss of access to
vital services due to excessive demand. Most weekends
downtown is parked full of visitors. Once parked, people
do not move for fear of losing their hard won space.
- Recently camper vans, camper trailers, cargo
trailers, pick-ups with camper back, R-V’s
and other vehicles have begun to permanently
fill parking spaces downtown, remaining for
weeks/months.
- “Over the Hill Surfer” camper vehicles
routinely camp the entire weekend.
- Downtown streets are filled 24 hours a day
with guests at the expense of residents.
- 3 Ad-hoc BCPUD “Downtown Parking and
Traffic Committees” over nearly 20 Years have
analyzed problems and proposed solutions.
A 2017 well vetted plan is awaiting voter
approval when other constricting parking
issues are resolved.
This measure has been evaluated by the Bolinas
Community Public Utility District directors, and
recommended by 4th District Supervisor Rodoni, the
Sheriff’s Department and concerned Bolinas neighbors
and represents the best available solution for returning the
downtown area to community.
Our downtown is the focal point of our community.
This is where we celebrate, play music, take our classes,
vote, get our food & mail, buy paint & nails, view art and
consult our specialists. Access should be open to all and
not hindered by visitors taking up parking for their own
benefit, habitat or recreation.
We ask that you join with us and stand up for Bolinas
and Vote Yes on Measure X.
s/JOYCE M. CLEMENTS
s/KAREN DIBBLEE
s/ANNA GADE
s/JOHN NORTON
s/EDWARD POHLMAN
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE X
We have two Bolinas mindsets diametrically opposed:
clearing the streets vs keeping them open to provide
housing (a mobile home is a home!). A “No” vote provides
for these, a “Yes” vote clears the streets. After such an
eviction where then shall they go? To conflate the mobile-homes
with the parking problem is misleading, and should
not be continually pressed as being the problem. When the
town is our own, when all the tourists leave, we have plenty
of downtown parking. If this measure passes and the signs
go up, most certainly the street community will move to
the rural roads of the mesa. This issue is the most singular
line of demarcation which will determine if we’re anything
special or not. With the rest of the country closing its
shutters, we have thus far retained the distinction of being
the haven of a rare free spirit. If this measure passes what
will we have left to smile and laugh about? Be defiantly
proud of? Our pride would then be that of the sequestered
gated community with laws governing us, superseding our
own ingenuity. Our spontaneous and infectious joy arises
from our open and inclusive attitudes, even when we must
deal with the fallout; this has long been an approach which
has brought many blessings. Our land is legend for being
an ancient healing ground; let’s breathe a bit more deeply
and heal. Accept / Tolerate / Abide.
s/MELINDA STONE
Bolinas Commons & Book Exchange Lease Holder
s/ANDREA DENSMORE
Educator
s/ROBERT DENSMORE
Educator
s/CHARLES E. WEISMILLER
Bolinas Homeowner
s/STUART CHAPMAN
ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE X
This measure’s prime motive is the elimination of
overnight camping in vehicles. It’s an understandable
complaint; however, the consequence to those who rely
on vehicles as homes would be critical. An appreciable
number of those who for various reasons must now live
in mobile homes are long-standing contributing members
of our Bolinas society. Problems are cited as: disturbance
of the peace, parking, littering and junk, and unsightly
appearance. None of this can be completely refuted;
however, these same conditions and instances may manifest
anywhere, at any address in town.
Parking problems result from masses of surfers.
AirBnB partyers regularly and frequently revel on into the
night, often ignoring complaints from neighbors. In any
case, we have the recourse of calling the Sheriff when in
need of their assistance.
Homelessness is a grave and massive problem and
is increasing every day across the country. What we as
a socially conscious community can do as an immediate
alleviation is to allow people who have mobile homes
to live in them. It’s the simplest, the one gesture that is
effortless. There has always existed in Bolinas a homeless
and transient population, many of whom are known
by name and respected. This is an intrinsic component
of our colorful ways; this exclusionary ordinance runs
counter to our town’s time-honored character. During
the drafting of the Bolinas Community Plan in 1974, a
constant consideration whenever a major change was being
discussed was whether it would “damage the existing
character?” (p.21, BCP). Our town’s character includes
all types.
Acceptance engenders peace. Crime is bred out of
dejection and alienation. As a self-governing and largely
crime-free community, we don’t need this ordinance. A
Mobile Home Is a Home. Vote NO for No Homelessness.
s/CRAIG ANANDA BRADY
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE X
The streets of our Downtown were built to provide public
access to people, residents and visitors to facilitate walking,
driving and parking as needed. The parking spaces are not
intended to provide long term housing. As of this writing
(August 27th, 2018) there are 18 permanently parked cars,
vans, trucks, campers and miscellaneous storage units
claiming spaces on Brighton Avenue. Over the past few
years the numbers and impact have continued to increase.
Almost every weekend, the number of vehicles with people
living in them expands to as many as 30. Not only are public
spaces then made unavailable to visitors and residents but
the public resources for water and sanitation in the park
are strained to the maximum. At the July meeting of the
BCPUD, the manager reported that downtown water usage
was 100% over normal. It is reasonable to surmise that
a significant strain on our town’s scarce water supply is
related to its use by transient habitants. We are called “The
Town That Fought To Save Itself” from overdevelopment
so that we would have enough water to serve the needs
of residents and for fire safety…because we know that
the precious spring water we have as our supply is very
limited. Homelessness is indeed a problem that needs to
be addressed — and we, as a community, are committed
to finding a workable solution — but the continual use of
limited downtown public parking spaces for housing is not
it.
s/JOYCE M. CLEMENTS
s/KAREN DIBBLEE
s/ANNA GADE
s/JOHN NORTON
s/EDWARD POHLMAN