Tiburon seeks volunteers for several boards, including planning, parks, arts, disaster

Tiburon residents have until 5 p.m. Feb. 13 to apply for 15 volunteer positions on nine town and county boards and commissions, with terms for most seats expiring at the end of February.

The openings span the Planning Commission; the Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission; the Heritage and Arts Commission; the Diversity Inclusion Task Force; the Belvedere-Tiburon Library Agency; the Belvedere-Tiburon Joint Disaster Advisory Council; the Building Code Appeals Board; the Marin-Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board; and the Marin Commission on Aging.

All seats are unpaid, volunteer positions, and applicants must be Tiburon residents, except for the Diversity Inclusion Task Force, which is open to Belvedere residents; the Disaster Advisory Council, which is open only to residents of unincorporated Tiburon; and the Building Code Appeals Board, which includes those who work in town, though candidates must have a working knowledge of the town’s building code.

Planning Commission, two four-year seats: The terms of Eric Woodward and Kathleen Defever expire Feb. 28. Woodward, a member since 2019, and Defever, who was first appointed in 2018, both said they plan to reapply. The five-member board is the town’s planning agency and meets on second and fourth Wednesdays to review items such as the general plan, conditional use permits, zoning and zoning text amendments.

Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission, two four-year seats: The terms of Michael Moon and Liz Judge expire Feb. 28.

Judge, who was appointed in 2022, said she was not reapplying because of increased professional commitments that have made it “really challenging to give (the commission) all the time I feel it deserves.” Moon, who was appointed in 2023 and is currently commission chair, did not respond by press deadline to an inquiry about whether he planned to reapply. The five-member commission meets on third Tuesdays every other month and makes recommendations to the Planning Commission and Town Council on policy matters pertaining to parks and open space under the town’s jurisdiction. It also serves as the town’s Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Heritage and Arts Commission, two four-year seats: The terms of Jaleh Etemad, who’s served since 2018, and Azita de Mujica, a commissioner since 2010, expire Feb. 28, and both said they will reapply. The seven-person commission meets on fourth Tuesdays with a mission to promote arts programs on the Tiburon Peninsula and to preserve and advance the peninsula’s historic and cultural heritage.

Diversity Inclusion Task Force, one interim seat: The open citizen seat on the task force has been vacant since last year after Karen Carrera did not seek reappointment. Whoever is appointed would serve until February 2027, when they would be eligible for reappointment to a full two-year term. The 10-member board includes five residents and all five members of the Town Council and aims to address diversity and inclusion issues. It’s scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. on second Wednesdays at Town Hall.

Belvedere-Tiburon Joint Disaster Advisory Council, one two-year seat: Paradise Cay resident James Sherman’s term expires Feb. 28, and he said he plans to reapply. Sherman has served since 2006 but has represented the unincorporated Tiburon Peninsula on the advisory board since May 2024. The 16-person group meets on third Tuesdays at Town Hall and helps Tiburon and Belvedere prepare for and respond to disasters. In addition to the resident representing unincorporated areas, the board includes two Tiburon residents, a Tiburon council liaison, two Belvedere residents, a Belvedere council liaison, the two municipal managers, the two police chiefs, the peninsula’s emergency-service coordinator, the Tiburon Fire Protection District chief, liaisons from the Reed Union School District and the Belvedere-Tiburon Library and a member from the Marin Operational Disaster and Citizen Corps Council.

Belvedere-Tiburon Library Agency board, one four-year seat: Jeff Slavitz’s second four-year term expires at the end of June, making him ineligible for reappointment due to term limits. The seven-member board, which meets on third Mondays, includes three appointed members each from Tiburon and Belvedere, as well as a Reed Union School District recommendation approved by the Tiburon and Belvedere councils.

Building Code Appeals Board, four five-year seats: The board currently has two vacancies, and the terms of Kelly Turbin and Stewart Summers expire Feb. 28. Summers said he’ll reapply while Turbin said he won’t. The five-person board, which also has two alternate members, meets when necessary and serves as the appeals board for nonadministrative provisions of Tiburon’s adopted building codes, making decisions on appeals and other matters.

Marin-Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board, one four-year seat: Cathy Benediktsson said she’ll reapply when her four-year term expires on Dec. 31. She has served since 2002. The 24-member regional board oversees a district that protects the health and welfare of the community from mosquitoes and vector-borne disease. The district also offers free delivery of mosquito fish for permanent ponds or water features, treatment of in-ground yellow-jacket nests and rodent advice inspections. While members serve without compensation, they can receive an allowance of up to $100 per month to defray expenses incurred while on official business.

Marin Commission on Aging, one three-year seat: The term of Jane Gould, who has served since 2021, ends June 30, and she said she’s not yet sure if she will reapply. The 23-member commission advocates for the health and safety of seniors.

Interested applicants can download applications from the town’s website via arkn.ws/tibapply and submit it to Town Clerk Lea Dilena at ldilena@townoftiburon.org. For more information, email Dilena or call her at 415-435-7377.

Reach Francisco Martinez at 415-944-4634.