Marin County
County Takes Key Steps on 5G Policy
Ordinance and regulations approved; next-generation cell service still years away
Whenever telecommunications companies are ready to start installing small cell wireless facilities in the unincorporated areas of Marin County, they’ll have to adhere to new regulations approved July 9 by the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
As recommended by staff from the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA), the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an urgency ordinance and new policy regarding the installation of small cell wireless facilities, including the fifth-generation cellular wireless technology within public roads. The new policy goes into effect immediately.
CDA oversees the County’s telecommunications plan and created the guidelines to regulate the permitting, design, and location of the small wireless facilities within the public roads. The regulations outline the requirements for small cell wireless facilities, including 5G application, and installation procedures, establish the County’s location preferences and design standards, lay out public notification procedures, and cover the appeal process.
Antennas for 5G are much smaller than those necessary for the existing 4G system. 5G devices would be installed closer to cell phone users, often affixed to existing light poles, utility poles, and traffic light poles within the public right-of-way, including in residential districts. It’s likely the installation will not happen for several years.
The County’s existing Telecommunications Facilities Policy Plan (TFPP) was first adopted in 1990 and comprehensively updated in 1998 – more than 20 years ago. The plan did not explicitly address small cell wireless facilities. Similarly, the telecommunications facilities ordinance, Section 22.32.165, also does not include explicit standards applicable to small cell wireless facilities within public roads.
At the Board session, Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, who served on a Board subcommittee on 5G technology with Supervisor Damon Connolly, said there were many strong suggestions from residents concerned about 5G implementation and those in favor of stronger wireless connectivity. He emphasized that town, city, and county governments have permitting authority over such 5G antenna installations, not state or federal governments.
“At this point I think we’re better off erring on the side of having something on the record and not waiting one or two months. “… This is a start, and we can revise it if we need to.”
Connolly said he also appreciated the concerns of residents about the proliferation of small-cell antennas in residential neighborhoods.
“I believe this ordinance strikes a difficult balance given the current state of federal law through FCC regulation,” Connolly said. “I’m hopeful that current or future legislation will address some of the concerns raised today. … While we push for changes at the federal level, I believe this urgency ordinance is necessary and provides an objective set of standards for the deployment of small-cell technology in unincorporated Marin.”
Board President Kate Sears described the ordinance as the strongest one that the County can develop at this point given the challenges at the federal level and ongoing proposed legislation. She encouraged staff to share more information on the County website about 5G implementation and local control of antenna installations.
“I think a lot of time has been put into this and a lot of very careful thought, and it’s a step forward,” she said. “We don’t benefit from delaying.”
Art
Marin County: A Snapshot of California’s Black History Is on Display
The Marin County Office of Education, located at 1111 Las Gallinas Ave in San Rafael, will host the extraordinary exhibit, “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story (1942-1960),” from Feb. 1 to May 31, 2024. The interactive, historical, and immersive exhibit featuring memorabilia from Black shipyard workers who migrated from the South to the West Coast to work at the Marinship shipyard will provide an enriching experience for students and school staff. Community organizations will also be invited to tour the exhibit.
By Post Staff
The Marin County Office of Education, located at 1111 Las Gallinas Ave in San Rafael, will host the extraordinary exhibit, “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story (1942-1960),” from Feb. 1 to May 31, 2024.
The interactive, historical, and immersive exhibit featuring memorabilia from Black shipyard workers who migrated from the South to the West Coast to work at the Marinship shipyard will provide an enriching experience for students and school staff. Community organizations will also be invited to tour the exhibit.
All will have the opportunity to visit and be guided by its curator Felecia Gaston.
The exhibit will include photographs, articles and artifacts about the Black experience in Marin City from 1942 to 1960 from the Felecia Gaston Collection, the Anne T. Kent California Room Collection, The Ruth Marion and Pirkle Jones Collection, The Bancroft Library, and the Daniel Ruark Collection.
It also features contemporary original artwork by Chuck D of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Public Enemy, clay sculptures by San Francisco-based artist Kaytea Petro, and art pieces made by Marin City youth in collaboration with Lynn Sondag, Associate Professor of Art at Dominican University of California.
The exhibit explores how Marin City residents endured housing inequities over the years and captures the history of plans to remove Black residents from the area after World War II. Throughout, it embodies the spirit of survival and endurance that emboldened the people who made Marin City home.
Felecia Gaston is the author of the commemorative book, ‘A Brand New Start…This is Home: The Story of World War II Marinship and the Legacy of Marin City.’ Thanks to the generous contribution of benefactors, a set of Felecia’s book will be placed in every public elementary, middle, and high school library in Marin.
In addition, educators and librarians at each school will have the opportunity to engage with Felecia in a review of best practices for utilizing the valuable primary sources within the book.
“Our goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn from these significant and historical contributions to Marin County, California, and the United States,” said John Carroll, Marin County Superintendent of Schools.
“By engaging with Felecia’s book and then visiting the exhibit, students will be able to further connect their knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of this significant historical period,” Carroll continued.
Felecia Gaston adds, “The Marin County Office of Education’s decision to bring the Marin City Historical Traveling Exhibit and publication, ‘A Brand New Start…This is Home’ to young students is intentional and plays a substantial role in the educational world. It is imperative that our community knows the contributions of Marin City Black residents to Marin County. Our youth are best placed to lead this transformation.”
The Marin County Office of Education will host an Open House Reception of the exhibit’s debut on Feb. 1 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.. All school staff, educators, librarians, and community members are encouraged to attend to preview the exhibit and connect with Felecia Gaston. To contact Gaston, email MarinCityLegacy@marinschools.org
Bay Area
New Marin County HHS Director Brings Breadth of Bay Area Experience
On Feb. 20, Dr. Lisa Warhuus, a psychologist with over 25 years of social services experience, will take over as Marin County’s new Director of Health and Human Services. She replaces Dr. Benita McLaren, who retired in December 2023.
By Oakland Press Staff
On Feb. 20, Dr. Lisa Warhuus, a psychologist with over 25 years of social services experience, will take over as Marin County’s new Director of Health and Human Services.
She replaces Dr. Benita McLaren, who retired in December 2023.
“We feel very fortunate to have someone with Dr. Warhuus’ skills and ability join our executive team,” said Marin County Executive Matthew Hymel.
“Throughout her career, Dr. Warhuus has demonstrated an ability to bring stakeholders together to effectively address our most complex community challenges,” Hymel continued.
With the County of Marin, Dr. Warhuus will lead a team of over 800 full-time equivalent staff positions and manage an annual budget of $258 million.
Her annual salary will be $288,433 with benefits consistent with those received by other department heads.
Most recently, Warhuus served as the Director of Health, Housing, and Community Services for the City of Berkeley. In that role, she oversaw a budget of more than $100 million and more than 200 employees across various divisions, including Public Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, Housing and Community Services, and Aging Services.
“It is a true honor to have been selected for this important position. I cannot wait to get to know the incredible community of Marin County and to collaborate with the dedicated team within the Department of Health and Human Services,” said Warhuus.
Before working for the City of Berkeley, Warhuus served as Director of Children and Youth Initiatives at the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency. Before that, she was an Associate Director. In that role, she “managed and cultivated partnerships that helped expand mental health programs in multiple school districts. She also championed culturally responsive health and wellness services that aimed to support vulnerable populations,” according to a Marin County press release.
For Berkeley, “Warhuus was also a vital member of the Senior Executive Team providing counsel to the City Manager, Mayor, City Council, and the public on matters pertaining to health and housing,” the press release continued. “Notably, she played a key role in initiatives such as the City’s response to COVID-19, contributing to the citywide emergency efforts, and spearheading the development of a 24/7 mobile crisis response for individuals facing mental health and/or substance use crises.”
Warhuus earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley and master’s and doctoral degrees from Aarhus University in Denmark.
Community
Coming Soon: MLK Jr. Day Celebration on Jan. 15
Marin City will be hosting its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Marin City will be hosting its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The theme will be “Fan the Flames of the ‘Dream’ Into Reality!”
The celebration will have music, food, spoken word, youth presentations, songs of inspiration, speakers and fellowship.
For more information, contact Florence Williams at (415) 332-1441
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