San Rafael, CA – Eager to proceed with storm-related repairs, the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) has secured $1.7 million in emergency funding to pay for road, mudslide and levee damage sustained during a downpour that struck Marin on December 10-11, 2014. The Marin County Supervisors unanimously approved the expenditure Tuesday from one-time capital fund for extraordinary events to pay for repairs for a storm that caused more than $13.3 million in damage countywide.
With approval Tuesday, DPW can solicit competitive bids to fix problems with levees near downtown Novato, Muir Woods Road near Muir Beach (also called Frank’s Valley road by locals), and Lucas Valley Road at Miller Creek Bridge.
DPW Director Raul Rojas told the Supervisors that temporary repairs have been made to the levee but that repairs must be made in such a way that they can withstand a similar or stronger storm. “This work needs to happen before further damage takes place,” he said.
Emergency stabilization measures were completed on the Novato levees for $59,313 and an additional $50,000 is set aside for intermediate stabilization. Final repairs are estimated at $1 million. About $700,000 is needed for slide repairs to Muir Beach Road and Lucas Valley Road.
The Supervisors established emergency contracting procedures in 2006 so that County facilities could be repaired quickly to protect life, property and public safety.
Rojas said reimbursement for the levee repairs is unlikely but that DPW staff is investigating federal assistance for the road/slide repairs. The County’s one-time reserve for extraordinary events will be reduced from $6.95 million to $5.25 million with the allocation approved Tuesday. Any reimbursements would be used to resupply the County’s one-time reserves.
According to official figures, Marin sustained about $9.3 million in damage to public property and nearly $4 million to private property during the December storm.