Marinwood CSD won't disclose Architect's Fees

Three Photos that PROVE the Maintenance Shed project won't work

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The Marinwood Maintenance Facility Site Plan. The protected California Coastal Oak is seen in the center of the drawing as a reference to the three photos below.

The front of the truck is positioned at the edge of the proposed Maintenance Building. It occupies all of the space where the walking path is supposed to be.  It is also the minimum distance required for a three point turn (hammerhead turn) that will be on top of the current horseshoe pit.

The Marinwood CSD ignores sound environmental practice and allows parking on top of the roots of a protected California Coastal Oak.  Compressed soil will kill the roots and the tree.

The Marinwood CSD truck is approximately 44' long which is longer than the outside courtyard of the Maintenance Structure.  It will be very difficult to move vehicles within the facility and the daily practice of moving material and equipment will need to take place on the walking path.  This activity IS NOT IN THE CSD Site Plan but will obviously be necessary.  The Marin County Planning Commission ignored this FUNDAMENTAL activity that will damage the park unnecessarily.  An efficient "side access garage" design will drastically lessen the impact to the park, Miller Creek watershed and recreation opportunities on this small piece of land. 

Dreikosen explains build process for the White Elephant

Marinwood General Manager, Eric Dreikosen explains the build process for the largest most expensive maintenance garage ever conceived in Marinwood Park. The project, aka "White Elephant" or "Hansell's Folly" features custom features usually found in custom home including a private shower for our three workers. It represents an outrageous use of our park space that seems to have little other purpose than to buoy the career of an ex CSD politician, Bill Hansell. At the administrative hearing, Hansell and Dreikosen admitted that they will be utilizing the horseshoe pit for "hammerhead" turnarounds. A different proposal roughly 1/2 the size with a traditional side access garage like the one in McInnis park would have cost a small fraction of the bloated proposal that Marinwood CSD is now pushing. They REFUSE to discuss its cost publicly. This is a huge RED FLAG for a financial disaster. Already, we believe that Bill Hansell will bill the district $60k before a single shovel hits the dirt and much more during the project. Initial estimate for his services for the ENTIRE PROJECT was $13.5k. Obviously, Bill Hansell has a sweethart deal that will cost the district dearly. It can be stopped and we can build a "right size" building instead.

Dreikosen Cock sure about The Marinwood "White Elephant" a.k.a. "Hansell's Folly"

The Marinwood CSD is boasting their success while hiding the true cost, the sleazy deals, the environmental harm of
the "White Elephant" aka. "Hansell's Folly".  They REFUSE to disclose the projected cost.

Marinwood CSD manager., Eric Dreikosen boasts about his "victory" winning the approval of "Hansell's Folly" in Marinwood Park. It will be the most expensive building project in Marinwood's History and have custom features found only in high end homes. It is a ridiculous theft of public resources and parkland we love so dearly. An alternative design similar to the McInnis Park facility was rejected shortly after ex Marinwood CSD politician, Bill Hansell was hired secretly. So far, his billing for his drawings have exceeded initial estimates of a pre-engineered building.

What is a "Hammerhead Turn"? How the truck will back up on the horseshoe pit.

Here is an illustration of a "hammerhead turn" that the CSD claims will be done everyday in Marinwood Park. Many of us know this as a "three point" turn.  The trucks will back out of the Maintenance Facility and on to the horse shoe pit to turn around.

This of course will wreck the horseshoe pit that the Marinwood CSD claimed would not be harmed in any way and makes a mockery of the Site Plan submitted by the Marinwood CSD that shows a pedestrian path.

In addition Bill Hansell falsely represented this area as a "gravel surface" when in fact it is a soft sandy area to the planning commission and the county .

The Marinwood CSD has paid Bill Hansell an estimated $50k in architects fees before a single thing has been done to the site.  Hansell has a highly unusual fee contract that lacks performance standards and objectives.  It is a sweet deal for the architect but we taxpayers are stuck with the bill

Had we chosen a pre engineered building as specified in the initial plan, the CSD could install a an entire building for the cost of the architects fees so far.

The Marinwood CSD approved this awful fee arrangement and WILL NOT DISCUSS THE BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT.  We believe they fear public outrage if the cost is truly known.

Horseshoe pit will become a Truck Turnaround. CSD lies to public and planning commission

After years of telling the community that the beloved horseshoe pit built in 2016 by community volunteers won't be impacted. Architect Bill Hansell tells the Marin Planning Commission that the area be used for a truck turnaround AND is covered in gravel. This is false as anyone familiar with the area knows. It is a soft, sandy area that was built over turf. Hansell further deceives the board by omitting the need for a trailer turn around in the same area. Eric Dreikosen, Marinwood CSD general manager stands silently while the deceptive comments are delivered. The public did not have a chance to rebut this false and misleading statement.
The Marin County Planning commission needs to look at ALL the facts and not allow decisions to rely on falsities. The Planning commission ignored THREE MAJOR VIOLATIONS of the Marin County General Plan. The project is DOUBLE the size necessary for efficient operations and will force the destruction of valuable park space.  

Marinwood Maintenance Facility approved by Planning Commission

Here is the full presentation of the January 27, 2020 planning commission meeting that approved the Marinwood Maintenance Facility. The project is subject to appeal and possible legal challenges on the grounds that environmental law and the Marin General Plan were violated. The Marinwood CSD has spent at least 300 percent of the initial cost estimate of architects fees with former CSD director Bill Hansell. The WILL NOT DISCUSS BUDGET for this project publicly even after announcing it a year ago. . This project is likely to be the most EXPENSIVE maintenance facility in Marin County due to the custom architectural features and the unlimited budget given to the architect. Shorter clips of this meeting will be out in the future. Even with approval, the Marinwood CSD will have to figure out how to turn around a 22' long Ford F250 and a 20' dump trailer safely without destroying our park or hurting pedestrians, 500 children a day are running around during the camp season. If enough of us examine this project and request accountability, we can still turn it into a good project.

Why Marinwood CSD must build a "right sized" Maintenance Facility

A New Shed Plan is needed ASAP

A New Shed Plan is needed ASAP

Of all the reasons not to approve the current Maintenance facility Hansell design proposal, perhaps the most compelling is how it will make routine operations very difficult. Now that the story poles are erected, you can see what we mean.  Below are three views of the Marinwood maintenance yard and the Ford F250 truck and trailer taken on November 12, 2019.   Note  approximately 400 square feet of landscaping debris is stored temporarily onsite before removal every week.  It is an essential operational necessity.

If this building is constructed according to current design, regular landscaping operations will be extremely difficult and time consuming to perform due to space constraints.

 The Ford F250 and the Trailer are approximately 44 feet long as seen here next to the current maintainance garage.,  The orange fencing is marking the perimeter of the roof line. The area where the truck is now parked will become a grassy area, footpath and a swail for handling water in the Hansell proposal.  All of the landscape debris, material storage and truck parking will occur INSIDE the orange perimeter and a fenced yard (not shown) according to Hansell.

There are many obstructions inside and outside the facility that will make backing up extremely hazardous to pedestrians, workers, and equipment.  The driveway is not straight and backing up a trailer takes skill and practice. Trucks will be moving in and out of this area several times a day.

A Ford F250 truck has a minimum turning radius of 54 feet to turn 180 degrees.  All turns inside the Hansell facility will take careful manuevers to avoid obstructions.  Realistically, the safest option will be to drive through the facility and turn around in the meadow 400 feet to the East.  But this will destroy the meadow and our beautiful nature trail.

This circle shows an approximate size and location of  the truck turnaround in the meadow on the nature path.

The Marinwood nature trail is muddy during rainy season.  We can expect the meadow to have deep ruts from the abuse of vehicle turn arounds.  The trucks must exit the facility EVERY day regardless of weather conditions .

Fortunately, there is a proven solution for narrow lots... a side access garage as is found in EVERY COMMUNITY Maintenance facility in Marin county.  It costs less, provides easy access for vehicles, and vehicles can exit the facility safely without backing up. This is why this practical design is popular.

Here is an example of a 1200 sf garage at McInnis Park.  They have TWICE the number of employees and equipment, manage 450 acres compared to our 14 acres and the building works for them. It was built in 2018.  Why does Marinwood need a custom building TWICE the size?

These types of building are so common that they are available in modular construction for as little as $25k and can be installed on a prepared foundation in a matter of days.

This is the Maintenance Garage we need for Appoximately $25k

This is an example of a maintenance garage that can be built in Marinwood Park for about $25k plus foundation work.

The current Hansell design proposal will easily cost TEN TIMES this. Why is Marinwood CSD allowing Bill Hansell, a former CSD Director a BLANK CHECK for his architectural services and building a massive 4400sf facility for our three person crew?

The Sheds Unlimited crew assembed this $25k garage in18 hours of work.

The White Elephant in Marinwood Park is coming!

Marinwood CSD hired a former CSD politician, Bill Hansell to design a new park maintenance garage.  Instead of a small shed originally approved by citizen in April 2017 he has designed a 4400 square foot facility that will occupy almost the entire footpath where the current shed now occupies.

In a few weeks we will see the story poles.

We STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THE CSD BOARD is planning to spend.  When Hansell was hired last year his fee was estimated to be $13,800 for the entire project.  The CSD has now paid Hansell an estimated $50k.before the plans are approved!  It violates the Marin General plan, reduces our recreation park to an industrial site and violates the Stream Conservation Ordinance.

Frankly the ENTIRE CSD BOARD should be removed from office for collusion and violation of Fair Political Practices.  

More will come to light soon. 

Fortunately, a cost effective alternative exists that respects our park and our environmental laws. 

Watch for the story poles and the information display coming soon.