Back

Meeting Minutes

Draft Minutes Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Council
Regular Meeting April 25, 2025
Stinson Beach Community Center


Members Present: 
Sarah Allen (At-Large) 
Ralph Camiccia (Bolinas)
Rudi Ferris (Bolinas Rod and Boat Club)
Joe Mueller (College of Marin)
Maria Brown for Karen Reyna (Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary) – arrived 10:10 am
Mischon Martin (Marin County Parks/Open Space District) 
Lynne Stenzel (Point Blue Conservation Science)
Dave Press (Point Reyes National Seashore) – arrived 10:12 am
Jean Gould (Seadrift Association)
Jeff Loomans (Stinson Beach)

Members Absent: 
Nils Warnock (Audubon Canyon Ranch)
Mia Monroe (Golden Gate National Recreation Area)

Staff Present: 
Samantha Haimovitch, Superintendent (MCP)


Call to Order at 10:05 am
 

Public Comment
Open time for public expression, up to three minutes per speaker, on items not on the Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Council Agenda. (While members of the public are welcome to address the Council, under the Brown Act advisory council members may not discuss, deliberate, or take action on items not on the agenda, and generally may only listen.) 

  • A member of the public that volunteers with Marine Mammal Center commented upon the harbor seals that were pupping in the Lagoon, 2 new babies had recently arrived.
  • A member of the public commented that the Bolinas Parking Commission’s new parking limits program will soon be rolled out.


Approve Meeting Minutes from November 15, 2024 (Action Item) 
Motion: Council to accept the Meeting Minutes from November 15, 2024 as submitted.
M/S Camiccia/Allen
AYES 10
NAYS 0
ABSTAIN 0
ABSENT 2


Caltrans and Central Coast Wetlands Group Presentation: Overview of Caltrans Climate Resiliency Projects on Hwy 1 Along Bolinas Lagoon
(Information Item)

Notes: Representatives from Caltrans and their collaborative partners at SJSU/Moss Landing Marine Labs, the Central Coast Wetlands Group, provided an overview of upcoming Climate Resiliency Projects along the stretch of State Hwy 1 along the east side of Bolinas Lagoon. 
Two PDFs were attached to the Agenda.

Attachment #1: Map 
Caltrans District 4 prepared a map of its upcoming projects on Highway 1 in the Bolinas area and a stretch of the Marin coast for the Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Council public meeting on April 25, 2025.

Attachment #2: Presentation
The Central Coast Wetlands Group prepared a 22-page presentation on the Bolinas Lagoon Sea Level Adaptation Planning Study for the Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Council public meeting on April 25, 2025. The purpose is to inform the public of upcoming Caltrans projects and maintenance in the Bolinas area and the current Highway 1 Bolinas Lagoon Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Study, which aims to identify climate change adaptation strategies to maintain accessibility and improve resilience. 
 
Agency Reports (Information Item)
Agency members may report on agency activities that have taken place since the previous BLAC meeting that do not appear on the agenda. Council cannot discuss or take action on these items. 

Notes: 
NPS: None

GFNMS: Maria Brown and Karen Reyna both to leave Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary/NOAA as of April 30, 2025.Dr. Wendy Kordesch will represent GFNMS on the Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Council going forward.

MCP: Project updates provided for the Bolinas Wye project. Year 1 of the project complete and year 2 soon to start, with completion by October 15, 2025.

PRNS: No work upcoming at Wilkins Ranch. Salmonid update: Pine Gulch Creek is having the strongest Coho Salmon run since recordkeeping began in 1995, with confirmed 10 redds, just 3 carcasses. The summer juvenile counts will be upcoming.
 


Council Member Comments (Information Item)
Council members may speak about items of interest that do not appear on the agenda.  Council members cannot discuss or take action on these items.


Notes:
Seadrift: The Association is excited about the South End Shoreline Project moving forward.

Rod and Boat Club: Councilmember Ferris reported a recent southwest storm blew into the Lagoon and funneled in a large quantity of jellyfish, suggesting that there might be a connection between the jellyfish and sand crabs.

Point Blue: None

College of Marin Lab: The new Marine Lab will have its ribbon cutting on April 29, 2025. There are wet tables and tanks in the Lab, and both High School and College students have been visiting and receiving educational programs. Early use is even better than the staff had imagined it would be. They have received help from Bodega Lag in establishing specimens and exhibits. 

Town of Bolinas: The Bolinas Post Office is at last re-opening.

At-Large: Chicken Ranch Beach restoration in Tomales Bay is starting in August.

Town of Stinson Beach: South End Project is continuing to move along. The project is a collaborative effort between County, Seadrift Association, and Audubon Canyon Ranch.

Audubon Canyon Ranch: None



Next Regular Meeting Date (Action Item)
Approve Friday August 1, 2025 for the next Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Council meeting. The meeting will be a field trip to the College of Marin Marine Lab in Bolinas.

Notes: The Council proposed July 25, 2025 at 10:00 am for the next meeting instead of August 1.

Motion: Vote on July 25, 2025 for the next meeting date.
M/S Ferris/Press
AYES 10
NAYS 0
ABSTAIN 0
ABSENT 2