Measure O provides funds to be administered by the Inverness Public Utility District for the development of a wildfire mitigation plan and essential community-wide fire safety programs like home hardening and fuel reduction. Measure O is supported by Congressman Jared Huffman and State Assemblyman Mark Levine. Although the Inverness Association has no position on Measure O, present and former Inverness Association board members Bridger Mitchell, Bob Johnston, Mike Durrie and Jerry Meral support it. 

Twenty-seven years ago, the Mount Vision fire burned over 12,000 acres and 45 homes along Drakes View Drive. Two years ago, the Woodward fire, sparked by lightning, burned 5,000 acres in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Can you imagine the damage if that lightning strike had landed in our immediate neighborhood? Can we as a community honestly say we have done everything possible to protect ourselves from the devastating impact of another wildfire?

Cal Fire has designated Inverness as a high fire-risk area, yet even as the wildfire danger increases each year, the only tangible response by our community has been some individual home hardening and the recent creation of a small shaded fuel break paid for privately by concerned neighbors in Seahaven.

Inverness history includes earlier examples of looking away from difficult problems. From 1948 to 1950, a dangerously inadequate water system led locals to place a $50,000 bond measure initiative on the ballot to buy and improve the water company. Three times it failed to get support, once by a single vote. Thirty years went by before Inverness voters took responsibility for the water system, passing a bond measure that provided up to $750,000 for the same purpose. 

Looking away didn’t solve the problem, and it certainly increased the cost. Let’s learn from our own history and take action to address our wildfire risk now. 

There appear to be three principal objections and misconceptions when it comes to Measure O. The first is the idea that the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority will take care of the problem for us. After all, we are already paying a fire tax, so let’s just wait for M.W.P.A. to come to our rescue. But this is completely unrealistic. The need in Inverness for wildfire mitigation measures greatly exceeds the amount of funding and support we will receive from the M.W.P.A. 

The second misconception is that IPUD is opposed to Measure O. Understandably, IPUD’s board and staff have expressed concern about taking on responsibility for wildfire mitigation, but IPUD is the logical organization to oversee a community-wide effort and coordinate with county, state and federal wildfire resources. And, although the IPUD board chose not to actively endorse Measure O, instead leaving it to voters to decide, they have strongly stated their intent to implement Measure O funds as efficiently and effectively as possible if the measure passes. 

The third misconception is that voters shouldn’t vote for Measure O until IPUD develops a detailed plan for how the money will be used. Once again, this is unrealistic. IPUD does not have the staff or budget to develop a wildfire mitigation plan unless we provide the funds for them to do so. And Measure O specifies that 95 percent of the funds raised will go to fire mitigation programs and water supply improvement, not to overhead.

Measure O programs include the removal of dead trees; matching grants to homeowners to create defensible space and harden homes; the replacement of IPUD’s remaining flammable wooden water tanks; matching grants to homeowners to install water-efficient appliances and tanks to conserve rainwater, lessening water demand during fire season; and the creation of shaded fuel breaks in Inverness and along our borders in partnership with the seashore and Tomales Bay State Park.

Rep. Huffman has stated that the passage of Measure O will help him press the National Park Service for more fuel reduction measures within the seashore. Assemblyman Levine, a recent candidate for state insurance commissioner, has urged its passage as a sign of community responsibility that will be recognized by home insurance companies as they set rates and decide whether to provide coverage.  

Many homeowner policies in Inverness have already been cancelled due to fire risk. The state insurance commissioner has said that in order to maintain access to fire insurance, communities must meet certain criteria, including a “risk assessment in consultation with the local fire district or state agency” and “clear funding sources to implement community mitigation activities and meet clear risk reduction goals.” 

Doing nothing in the face of a huge increase in fire danger is clearly not a good risk reduction strategy. IPUD is a well-run and competent organization. Let’s give them the funding they need to expand their role and take on the challenge of wildfire mitigation. Please act now to make your property and your loved ones safer. Vote yes on Measure O.  

Dennis Rodoni, an Olema resident, is a Marin County supervisor. William Barrett is an Inverness resident and the vice president of the Inverness Association.