THE COUNTY

Parks office cleared to buy terrain vehicle

The Board of Supervisors has approved the purchase of an electric outdoor mobility vehicle for residents who are older or disabled.

The board agreed to allocate about $30,000 in voter-approved Measure A funds to buy a TerrainHopper for use by the county parks department. The program is intended for adults who might otherwise not be able to access the outdoors.

The department has made a 50% deposit with the manufacturer to begin building the vehicle, Kevin Wright, a county parks official, said Monday.

Wright said he plans to meet with department staff and Marin agencies in the next few weeks to discuss details such as the vehicle location and the schedule for its use. He estimated the program could begin by mid-March.

Supervisors approved the allocation Jan. 28.

NOVATO

Student honored by Indigenous center

The Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute has selected a Novato resident for its 2025 Brave Heart Fellowship program.

Lotte Whistling Bird Kizer plans to work on habitat restoration for native wildlife, the center said. Kizer is one of eight fellowship recipients this year.

“Brave Heart Fellows receive micro-grant funding and technical assistance to develop and implement their environmentally focused community action projects,” said Jamie Levitt, communications manager for the program.

The program is for 18- to 24-year-old residents of Indigenous descent in Northern California, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington state.

Kizer, a communications student at San Francisco State University, told the program she is a descendant of the Washoe Tribe of Lake Tahoe and the Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma.

SAN RAFAEL

City panel to discuss wildfire preparation

City officials are planning to hold two panel discussions about wildfire safety.

The panelists — including Mayor Kate Colin, fire Chief Abe Roman and emergency staff — will talk about how the city reduces wildfire risks and how residents can prepare for disasters.

The first session scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall at 1400 Fifth Ave. It will also be livestreamed on Zoom. The Zoom meeting identification number is 828 2962 5774.

The second session will be online only from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 11. The Zoom meeting identification number is 824 6432 9652.

Residents can submit questions ahead of the sessions. More details and instructions on how to participate online are at cityofsanrafael.org/events.

SAN ANSELMO

Two-level ADU gets approval of board

The Planning Commission has approved a proposal for a two-story detached accessory dwelling unit with a carport at 176 Oak Ave.

The plan for the downslope apartment includes 818 square feet of living space, two bedrooms and an elevator, according to a town staff report. The carport would be on top of the apartment, reaching a height of nearly 15 feet above street level.

The commission conditionally cleared the project Monday in a 5-1 vote with one commissioner absent, said Jackson Dobronyi, a town planner. He said the condition for the building permit is that the carport height must be reduced “to the maximum extent feasible” while maintaining a clearance of at least 7 feet, as required by town code, or any greater clearance mandated by state code.