Tiburon council directs staff to prioritize low‑controversy Parks & Recreation master plan projects, adds kayak launch and playground studies

Tiburon Town Council on March 19 voted to direct staff to prioritize the noncontroversial (so‑called “green”) site‑specific recommendations in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan and to begin initial work on several higher‑priority items, including a kayak/stand‑up‑paddleboard (SUP) launch and playground renovations.

The vote follows public comment from multiple residents pressing the council to move more quickly from planning into implementation. “I support the beach volleyball and basketball and multipurpose recreation, and shaded seating concept there,” resident Beth said during public comment, referring to ideas for the former sanitation ponds. Chuck Hornbrook, chair of the Parks, Open Space and Trails (POST) Commission, asked the council to recognize the commission’s outreach and motions passed to the council.

The council’s motion directs staff to begin opportunistic work on items the staff labeled as suitable for immediate action in exhibit 3 of their report — maintenance and low‑controversy projects — while elevating as priorities the SUP/kayak launch and several park play and maintenance projects. Mayor Thayer described the launch direction as: “to direct staff to work to find locations and cost out a budget and bring that back to us.” The motion also specifically calls for a renovation of the Cypress Hollow Park playground and lawn, a feasibility study for an inclusive playground at Zielinski Park, improved trail signage and permanent speed signage along the Old Rail Trail (ORT), and making future play‑structure replacements inclusive.

Residents who addressed council emphasized the length and cost of the master plan process. “The master plan process lasted 2 years, cost over $350,000,” resident Jenna said, urging short‑term wins such as ADA entrances, picnic tables and playground repairs. Emily, another resident, told the council she supported the staff list but urged quicker follow‑through: “I really hope and urge you to make efforts in the 1 to 3 year time frame to make some of this, to get it into place.”

Councilmembers debated sequencing and priorities, with some asking staff to distinguish between quick maintenance items and proposals likely to require further design, outreach or policy changes (for example, any new rules about dogs). Councilmember Ryan urged a concise set of immediate priorities while keeping the full green list active; councilmember Isaac recommended POST subcommittee presentations be scheduled for council review, especially for larger sites such as the sanitation ponds area.

The council asked staff to facilitate a POST‑subcommittee presentation on the sanitation ponds at a future meeting and to return with cost estimates and site options for the kayak/SUP launch. Councilmembers emphasized that POST will continue outreach and that the council’s action is not the end of the process but intended to advance items that staff judged could move forward without contentious policy debate.

Votes at a glance: the motion to prioritize and begin work on the green items and the prioritized projects passed on roll call with all members present voting yes (Council member Fredericks was absent). The council declined to convert the full POST process into immediate wholesale changes and instead directed staged implementation.

Background: The council formally adopted the Tiburon Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan in December after a two‑year planning process. Staff said exhibit 2 of tonight’s report contains the full table of site recommendations; exhibit 3 extracts the items staff identified as immediate, low‑controversy actions.

The council did not adopt final designs or budget appropriations for the larger items tonight; for projects such as the sanitation ponds conversion the council asked for POST subcommittee presentations and feasibility/ cost estimates before taking funding action.