Town secures $975,000 in grants for flood protection

Ahead of what's expected to be a wet winter, Public Works gave the Town Council a rundown of flood defenses Tuesday night, from sandbag logistics to a pair of fresh state and federal grants for Marina Village's flood berm. The department has stockpiled 70 tons of sand and 700 pre-filled sandbags at the Paradise Pump Station, built new storage bays there, and opened fill stations at Town Hall and San Clemente Park.

The last two check valves in Mariner Cove are on order and, once installed, will leave both Mariner Cove and Marina Village fully protected by the valves — though staff cautioned they don't help if tidal water tops the road or arrives during a high-tide storm.

On the bigger-ticket side, the Town landed $125,000 from the Marin Community Foundation for preliminary design work on the Marina Village flood berm and was notified of an $850,000 FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant. Staff and the town attorney still need to work through federal Department of Homeland Security grant requirements before returning to Council with details. A drone survey of the Marina Village perimeter, done with consultants Dudek and Vara 3d, is feeding into the berm design.

Corte Madera also joined Larkspur, Novato, San Rafael, Belvedere and Marin County in a September application for state SB 1 funding to prepare a Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan under SB 272 — a 2-3 year regional planning effort that, if funded, would open up additional state grant opportunities.

Residents flag drainage, plantings before Menke Park closes out

The Town's Menke Park Improvement Project was due for a routine close-out vote on Tuesday's consent calendar — until two residents asked that it be pulled for public comment first. Peter Chase of Van Acker Construction told the Council the perimeter planting needs upgrades to re-screen the park from Corte Madera Avenue and 1st Avenue, that overgrown salvia and undergrowth need attention, and that the decomposed-granite path needs stabilization before winter rains because irrigation has already caused erosion.

Chase also asked Public Works to inspect a drain installed sitting above the surrounding surface and to confirm the department will take over park maintenance under the contractor's care recommendations.

Suzi Beatie, a board member of the Corte Madera Community Foundation, said she was happy to see the project close out but flagged the same wet, slippery pathway — now blocked off and reportedly repaired — along with plantings that did not meet expectations. She asked the Town to put together an official maintenance manual spelling out who's responsible for what, so upkeep doesn't quietly lapse.

Neither resident opposed closing out the contract outright; both want the fixes nailed down first. The request came the same evening the agenda separately included a formal Notice of Completion for the project's construction contract.

Council backs $30 million bond for affordable housing renovation

The Council held a TEFRA hearing and voted on bond financing to renovate San Clemente Place Apartments, a 79-unit affordable complex built in 2008 and tied to EAH Housing's renovation plans. The resolution authorizes up to $30 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by the California Municipal Finance Authority for accessibility upgrades, electrical and mechanical work, and common-area improvements, with residents temporarily relocated during construction.

To make the financing possible, the Town is joining CMFA through a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement — a step staff emphasized carries no financial or legal liability for the Town itself. Staff's recommendation was to adopt the resolution as presented, though the agenda also listed options to adopt it with modifications or ask for more analysis first.