Meeting Minutes

Marin County Service Area 20 Advisory Board
DRAFT Minutes for Meeting on April 13, 2026
Meeting held at Margaret Todd Senior Center, Meeting Room 3, Novato, CA

Advisory Board Members Present: Ron Witzel; Jon Gasson; Marisa Walker; Larry Hoytt; John Chiaramonte

1. Call to Order
Called to Order by Ron Witzel at 10:08 a.m.

2. Public Comment
No comment at this time.

3. Approval of Minutes for Regular Meeting of September 8, 2025 

Public Comments:  No members of the public came forward.  

MOTION:  approval pending small edits

M/S:  Walker/Gasson

AYES: Walker/Gasson/Witzel

COMMENTS: None

NAYS:  N/A

ABSTAIN: Hoytt, Chiaramonte

4.  Update on CSA 20 Activities (Information Item)
Michala Roan reports 24 incidents including dogs, unauthorized property, motor vehicle, botanical violations, one interpretive event with 13 people and 4 dogs. Maintenance includes 2 fallen trees, fire fuel reduction behind Indian valley road. Encouraged using ranger line to report. Rangers have been trained to  use LIDAR speed units to track, haven't implemented yet. Rattlesnakes out and about. Tadpoles in creeks. No evidence of return campers that were removed..

Biologist Serena Hubert presented on Western pond turtles and habitat enhancements at Pacheco Pond. 

Public Comments: No members of the public came forward. 

5. Budget Update (Action Item)
Staff reviewed budget reports and discussed the potential value of maintaining a fund balance for land stabilization should there be winter flooding that results in landslides. There will be ongoing dialogue with staff, fire teams, and the public to determine whether there are any erosion issues that may lead to landslides.  

M/S to accept the recommended budget of 25K in maintenance: Hoytt/Witzel
AYES:  ALL

Commisioner comments:
Commissioners discussed trail improvements. Did a whole walk, flagged and mapped trails take Schwint up the holla and along Witzel on Ridgeline coming down into the valley. Wanted to look at long term sustainability of trails. Used to be called the pipeline trail. Noted some drainage issues. Also there is a fire road that is rutted and steep behind the college garden. 

Another idea was using some funding to hire an additional seasonal just for IV trail system. 

Public Comments: No members of the public came forward. 

6.    Election of Officers
On Sept 8, 2025, the following slate was elected to serve from Jan 1, 2026, to Dec 31, 2026, with the option to serve one additional year: Marissa Walker as chair, Craig Knowlton as vice chair, and John Gasson as secretary.  Because Craig Knwolton resigned, Ron Witzel was elected as vice-chair through 2026. 

6.    Advisory Board Member Comments
Larry Hoytt is working with DPW to improve roads. 

Motion to adjourn at 11:23 a.m