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MGSA Activities
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Marin Climate and Energy Partnership (MCEP)
In November 2007 the City of Novato submitted a grant application to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for $75,000 on behalf of the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership (MCEP), a newly formed group of representatives from all Marin municipalities, Marin County, the Marin Municipal Water District and the Transportation Authority of Marin in collaboration with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Marin Energy Management Team, and Joint Venture Marin. The purpose of the grant is to fund a “Climate Action Director,” to assist municipalities assess, prioritize and implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction activities in their greenhouse gas reduction programs. The air district approved the grant in January 2008. The City of Novato assigned the grant to MGSA in November 2008, which has since engaged Richard Schorske to serve as the Climate Action Director. In April 2009, the MCEP received an $80,000 grant from the Marin Community Foundation to fund a green building strategy planning process, including green building policy principles for local jurisdictions and to assist in development of a county-wide green building retrofit program. The following links are to BAAQMD work program progress reports one and two. |
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Marin County Taxicab Regulation Program
Upon direction from the County of Marin and all Marin municipalities, the MGSA has undertaken a program of regulation of taxicab companies and drivers. Pursuant to State law, the County and the towns and cities have adopted ordinances creating the regulatory program and assigning responsibility for its implementation to the MGSA. The cab companies, drivers and vehicles are all required to be permitted under the program. Currently, MGSA has issued permits to sixteen cab companies in the county, operating approximately 80 vehicles, with 136 drivers. Taxicab drivers have been given initial drug and alcohol tests and are required to undergo periodic, random testing.
Posted below is a roster of companies, their reported rates, and the names of drivers working under each company. Some companies, using unique names, are under common ownership. The roster will be updated periodically. |
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Marin JPA Oversight Committee
The Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers, which consists of the all the towns/cities in Marin County and the County itself, has created an Oversight Committee to review the operations of all joint powers authorities operating among the agencies (Marin General Services Authority, Marin Emergency Radio Authority and Marin Telecommunications Authority). At least once a year, the MCCMC JPA Oversight Committee reviews the work of each of these jpa's and reports on the progress of each, usually making policy recommendations regarding their operations. The linked report is the Oversight Committee's 2008 review of the MGSA. |
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Wireless Broadband Service in Marin County
In late 2006 and early 2007, the MGSA and its consultant, CBG Communications, Inc., conducted a wide-ranging Wireless Broadband Needs Assessment Study. The results indicated tremendous interest among Marin County residents and businesses in the development of a comprehensive wireless broadband network that would serve the various communities of interest (residential, commercial, nonprofit, educational, public agencies, and community groups) in the county. For example, the study found that a majority of residents believe individual access to a wireless network is important and that they would pay between $10 and $20 a month for this access. Additionally, both residents and governmental entities strongly agree that it is important for public safety to have access to a wireless network. In 2008. on behalf of the MGSA, CBG, in conjunction with the Golden Gate Bridge and Transit District conducted a pilot study to determine if Internet access aboard its buses may increase ridership, specifically on longer routes and potentially all of its routes (and Marin Transit routes as well). The buses utilized for the routes 72X and 75 are outfitted with cellular-based equipment, which utilizes Sprint’s cellular network and a WiFi gateway providing network accessibility to riders on the bus. Results show riders’ overall satisfaction with the network. Riders report utilizing the network to perform tasks such as banking, research, purchasing or selling merchandise, e-mailing, file sharing and obtaining news and information. The demographics of the broadband users indicate that they are more often middle aged males who are traveling to or from work. Upon completion of the pilot project the MGSA Board has endorsed the suggestion in the report that telecommunications policy makers, such as the MTA, take the lead in broadband development in the county as part of a “network” of wireless and wire line networks. The Board also agreed that MGSA’s sponsorship of the Wireless Broadband System Project end with the completion of the pilot project, given the nature of broadband technology and the ever-changing economic and business environment in which broadband exists. |
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