Measure O

10/04/2022

Here's what Marin County fire officials say about Measure O:

Captain Jordan Reeser, Marin Fire: "Measure O funds would help make Inverness eligible for matching funds from county, state and federal grant sources."

Mark Brown, Executive Office Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA): "Measure O could attract matching funds from MWPA for defensible space and home hardening, multiplying the effectiveness of the program by two in Inverness. Measure O funds could also be used to speed up and broaden a shaded fuel break around Inverness."

We need to act together to make Inverness safer from Wildfire. Vote yes on Measure O in November! Thanks, Jerry and the Measure O team.
https://www.invernessfireprevention.org/

09/26/2022

Did you see this Op Ed in the Point Reyes Light by Supervisor Dennis Rodoni and William Barrett? It's a great explanation for why Measure O makes sense for Inverness:

PERSPECTIVE: Inverness residents should learn from history and Vote Yes on Measure O

Measure O provides funds to be administered by the Inverness Public Utility District (IPUD) for the development of a wildfire mitigation plan and essential community-wide fire safety programs like home hardening and fuel reduction. Measure O is supported by Congressman Jared Huffman, State Assemblyman Mark Levine and County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni. Although the Inverness Association has no position on Measure O, Measure O is supported by present and former Inverness Association Board Members Bridger Mitchell, William Barrett, Mike Durrie, Bob Johnston, and Jerry Meral.

27 years ago, the Vision fire burned over 12,000 acres and 45 homes along Drakes View Drive. Two years ago, the Woodard Valley fire burned 5,000 acres at the Seashore. Can you imagine the damage if that lightning strike had landed in our immediate neighborhood? Can we, as a community, honestly say we have done everything possible to protect ourselves from the devastating impact of another wildfire?

Calfire has designated Inverness as a High Fire Risk Area and yet even as the wildfire danger increases each year the only tangible response by our community has been some individual home hardening and the recent creation of a small shaded fuel break paid for privately by concerned neighbors in Seahaven.

Inverness history includes earlier examples of looking away from difficult problems. In 1948 – 1950 a dangerously inadequate water system led locals to place a $50,000 bond measure initiative on the ballot to buy and improve the water company. Three times it failed to get support, once by a single vote. Thirty years went by until Inverness voters took responsibility for the water system, passing a bond measure that provided up to $750,000 for the same purpose.

Looking away didn’t solve the problem and certainly increased the cost. Let’s learn from our own history and take action to address our wildfire risk now.

There appear to be three principal objections and misconceptions when it comes to Measure O. The first is the idea that Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority will take care of the problem for us. After all, we are already paying a fire tax, so let’s just wait for MWPA to come to our rescue. This is completely unrealistic. The need in Inverness for wildfire mitigation measures greatly exceeds the amount of funding and support we will receive from MWPA.

The second misconception is that IPUD is opposed to Measure O. Understandably the IPUD Board and staff have expressed concern about taking on responsibility for wildfire mitigation, but IPUD is the logical organization to oversee a community-wide effort and coordinate with county, state and federal wildfire resources. And, although the IPUD Board chose not to actively endorse Measure O, instead leaving it to voters to decide, they have strongly stated their intent to implement Measure O funds as efficiently and effectively as possible if it passes.

The third misconception is that voters shouldn’t vote for Measure O until IPUD develops a detailed plan for how the money will be used. Once again, this is unrealistic. IPUD does not have the staff or budget to develop a wildfire mitigation plan, unless we provide the funds for them to do so. And Measure O specifies that 95% of the funds raised will go to fire mitigation programs and water supply improvement, not overhead.

Measure O programs include:
● Removal of dead trees
● Matching grants to homeowners to create defensible space and harden homes
● Replacement of IPUD’s remaining flammable wooden water tanks
● Matching grants to homeowners to install water efficient appliances and tanks to conserve rainwater, lessening water demand during fire season
●Creation of shaded fuel breaks in Inverness and along our borders in partnership with the Seashore and Tomales Bay State Park

Congressman Huffman has stated that passage of Measure O will help him press the National Park Service for more fuel reduction measures within the Seashore. And Assembly Member Levine, a recent candidate for Insurance Commissioner, has urged passage of Measure O as a sign of community responsibility that will be recognized by home insurance companies as they set rates and decide whether to provide coverage.

Many homeowner policies in Inverness have already been cancelled due to fire risk. The State Insurance Commissioner has said that in order to maintain access to fire insurance, communities must meet certain criteria, including a “risk assessment in consultation with the local fire district or state agency” and “clear funding sources to implement community mitigation activities and meet clear risk reduction goals”.

Doing nothing in the face of a huge increase in fire danger is clearly not a good risk reduction strategy. IPUD is a well-run and competent organization. Let’s give them the funding they need to expand their role and take on the challenge of wildfire mitigation.

Please act now to make your property and your loved ones safer: Vote Yes on Measure O.

09/11/2022

Measure O recognizes that the increasing risk of wildfire presents a new threat to Inverness and that IPUD is the logical organization to coordinate our response. In a recent email, they said “The IPUD Board believes that it could put Measure O dollars to good use in supporting our existing infrastructure and water conservation activities which are important in mitigating the risk of wildfire in our community.”

Vote Yes on Measure O. And please help us spread the word by 'liking' this page and 'sharing' our posts. Thanks Jerry and the Measure O team.

09/04/2022

Hello Invernessians! Did you see this article in the Marin IJ about the wildfire mitigation work being done in San Anselmo and Fairfax for the Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel break?

“This is an important strategy to prepare for wind-driven fires,” said Central Marin fire Battalion Chief Todd Lando, who has been leading the project, which is designed to slow the spread of wildfire and give firefighters time and space to suppress the flames.

This is exactly the kind of wildfire mitigation and fuel reduction we should be doing throughout Inverness to help protect our homes and lives.

But doing it takes money and organization. And that's why we need to vote yes on Measure O to provide IPUD with the funds to undertake this work.

Do you agree? If yes, leave us a comment, like our page and please help spread the word by sharing! Thanks, Jerry and the Measure O team.

Fire officials said they’re on track to complete a 10-mile segment, from Red Hill in San Anselmo to Whites Hill in Fairfax, by the end of spring.

09/01/2022

Why does Dennis Rodoni, our District Supervisor and president of the Marin Wildfire Protection Agency Board, support Measure O? Because he knows we can't expect the MWPA to solve the threat of wildfire for us. We have to take responsibility for our community and act to protect our homes and each other.

"The reality is the MWPA contributions to Inverness are not huge," he told the Point Reyes Light, "so when it comes to IPUD addressing its wildfire issues, I just think it could use the extra support."

Vote Yes on Measure O in November! And please help us spread the word by 'liking' our page and 'sharing' our posts. Thanks Jerry and the Measure O team.
https://www.invernessfireprevention.org/

08/29/2022

Neighbors in Seahaven have created an ecologically sound shaded fuel break between their neighborhood and part of Tomales Bay State Park, done in cooperation with the park. This before and after photo shows why fuel reduction is so important: because it can slow down a fast moving fire and give firefighters time to put it out. If approved by Inverness voters in November Measure O will help pay for additional fuel reduction projects throughout our community. Please Vote Yes on Measure O! Thanks, Jerry and the team.

And please help us spread the word by 'liking' our page and 'sharing' our posts.

08/27/2022

Here's the ballot argument we submitted for the voter handbook in favor of Measure O. It has plenty of good talking points to discuss with friends and neighbors:

"Whole California communities have been destroyed by wildfire: Paradise, Grizzly Flat, Greenwood, Klamath River. The Vision Fire destroyed 45 Inverness homes. More were threatened by the Woodward Fire.

Lightening and accidents will continue to start wildfires. Fuel loads must be reduced to diminish the chance of a destructive wildfire. Homes must be made more resistant to fire.

Climate change and drought are increasing our fire risk. Our fog security blanket is diminishing. Temperatures are rising, and we can expect more dry lightning storms.

Inverness is a forest community. We are at tremendous risk of wildfire. CalFire lists us as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

Measure O will allow the Inverness Public Utility District (IPUD) to

● remove dead and hazardous trees

● replace flammable wooden water tanks

● improve IPUD’s firefighting water supply

● offer homeowners financial incentives to conserve water and store rainwater

● provide matching funds for IPUD to be eligible for county, state and federal fire grants and to create shaded fuel breaks

● help homeowners achieve defensible space and make their homes more fire resistant

Property owner permission will be required to do any work on their property.

The Inverness Public Utility District will administer this program. Their competent staff has provided a safe and reliable water supply and structural firefighting services for many decades.

Insurance companies will consider what we are doing to reduce fire risk when they set rates and provide coverage.

The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority cannot provide enough funds to achieve everything that needs to be done.

More than 100 Inverness neighbors placed this measure on the ballot. They agree we must do everything we can to reduce the risk of wildlife and improve our water supply.

Please vote YES on Measure O."

Help us spread the word. Please like the Measure O page and share our posts. Thanks Jerry and the Measure O team. And of course don't forget to Vote Yes in November.

08/24/2022

Welcome to Vote Yes on Measure O - funding essential wildfire mitigation programs for Inverness - on the ballot in November 2022.

No doubt you have heard of this tax and you may be asking yourself what is the point? How can it make any difference? Surely no one can prevent another wildfire from happening. Isn't that just the risk we take by choosing to live in Inverness?

It's true, we can't prevent another wildfire from starting, but we can take effective action to protect our lives, our homes and community and reduce the impact of a devastating wildfire.

Administered by Inverness Public Utility District money raised by Measure O will fund essential community-wide fire mitigation programs like home hardening and fuel management; enable the development of a coordinated mitigation strategy with Marin Fire and Marin Wildfire Protection Authority; and create matching funds to make us eligible for additional county, state and federal wildfire mitigation grants.

Measure O makes Inverness safer. Vote YES for Measure O this November! And help us spread the word. Please like and share this post! Thanks, Jerry and the Measure O team. https://www.invernessfireprevention.org