Ross Valley board directs representatives to oppose SRSD–CMSA management agreement

The Ross Valley Sanitary District Board voted unanimously on Jan. 21, 2026 to direct its representatives to oppose the proposed management and operations agreement between the San Rafael Sanitation District (SRSD) and the Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) if the item comes before the CMSA Commission in February. The motion, made by Director Mary Sylla and seconded by Director Thomas Gaffney, passed with the vote recorded as Ayes: Boorstein, Gaffney, Kelly, Meigs, Sylla; Noes: None; Absent: None; Abstain: None.

General Manager Steve Moore provided a brief history of the proposed contract and the various versions presented over time. The Board’s discussion catalogued several concrete concerns: uncertainty caused by ongoing revisions to the draft agreement; the structure of the governance model the agreement would create; a lack of transparency around CMSA’s finances; CMSA’s limited track record operating a sewer collection system; and uncertainty about who would bear responsibility for any unfunded liabilities. The minutes state that the Board’s concerns also included “overall trust in the leadership involved.”

Directors also recalled that RVSD representatives had previously recused themselves on a CMSA commission vote related to RVSD’s rental of space on CMSA property following a comment by an SRSD representative. The motion directs RVSD representatives to oppose the agreement as proposed at the February CMSA meeting unless changes address the Board’s concerns.

The Board moved the CMSA item up in the agenda and took the direction formally; no amendments to the motion were recorded in the minutes. The District will communicate the Board’s position to the CMSA Commission ahead of its February meeting.