1. Who owns the roads in PRE?
The roads in PRE are owned by the property owners of Paradise Ranch Estates. The roads are on rights-of-way at the edges of lots in PRE. All PRE property owners, tenants and their guests have the right to use these rights-of-way for access to properties in PRE.
2. Who is responsible for maintaining the roads?
The roads are maintained by the Paradise Ranch Estates Permanent Road Division (PREPRD), a Marin County administrative agency that is responsible for road maintenance in our specific area. PREPRD was formed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in 1974 who acted in response to a petition filed by residents of PRE. In 2006, the Supervisors delegated responsibility for road maintenance and repair to the County Administrator and the County Department of Public Works.
3. What is PRERAB?
Paradise Ranch Estates Road Advisory Board (PRERAB) is a group of PRE residents who advise the Supervisors on road maintenance matters in PRE. PRERAB members are volunteers who donate their time to monitor road maintenance needs, supervise contractors working on the roads and plan for the long-term road system maintenance in PRE.
4. How did PRERAB get established?
PRERAB was established in 1982 by the Supervisors after unusually heavy rains caused extensive damage to the roads in PRE. Its purpose was to provide recommendations for the maintenance and repair of the roads in PRE. Since PRERAB's establishment, the County has generally followed its recommendations for road maintenance in PRE.
5. How does PRERAB work with the County?
In late 2006, the Supervisors delegated responsibility for road maintenance and repair in PRE to the County Administrator who works with the County Department of Public Works (DPW) on these matters. Since the delegation, PRERAB has worked with the Administrator and DPW on road matters.
6. Who are the members of PRERAB?
As of September, 2009, the members of PRERAB are Tamia Marg Anderson, Tim Edwards, Harvey Freed (President), John Levy and Michael Ongerth. Ken Drexler, a PRE property owner and former PRERAB member, acts as Secretary.
7. Whom should I call if I have a road-related question?
In an emergency, call any member of PRERAB. If it is not an emergency, we recommend you call the individual who regularly deals with the subject matter of your question:
Vegetation management – Tamia Marg Anderson 510 708-3238
Website appearance & content -- Tim Edwards 415 462-1871
Road maintenance work scheduling & notes –
Michael Ongerth 415 663-8163
PRERAB governance & legal status issues –
Harvey Freed 415 663-1559 or Ken Drexler 415 482-8284
Planning & construction-related issues – Harvey Freed 415 663-1559
Road signs, reflective markers, mirrors – John Levy 415 663-0611
PRERAB budget & finance – Ken Drexler 415 482-8284
8. What is the relationship between PRERAB and the Inverness Ridge Association (IRA)?
Inverness Ridge Association (IRA) and the PRE Road Advisory Board are separate organizations which coordinate closely with each other on road and road-related issues. IRA is a community organization dedicated to the interests of PRE residents and owners. Typical issues dealt with by IRA are emergency preparedness, fire prevention, zoning and community planning. IRA also coordinates with the National Park Service on trail maintenance and other wildland urban interface questions. Further information is available at http://invernessridge.net/
9. Is PRERAB looking for volunteers?
If you are interested in becoming a member of PRERAB, please call any one of the members listed above to learn about how PRERAB works and how to help.
10. Who does the maintenance work on the roads in PRE?
Roads in PRE are maintained by private contractors. In recent years, asphalt roadwork has been done by Lunny Paving and Grading and by Inverness Gardening Service.
Work on the unpaved roads has been done by Bob Lewis, a Novato grading contractor doing business as Environmental Management. Bob Lewis has maintained the Marin County Open Space District's 70+ miles of dirt roads for many years.
11. Where do funds for regular road maintenance come from?
Money for road maintenance comes from property taxes collected from lot owners in PRE. In fiscal year 2005-2006, the Permanent Road Division received approximately $28,000 for maintenance from this source. In addition, in November 2006, voters in PRE approved a parcel assessment to raise funds for vegetation management along the roads in PRE and to rebuild PRERAB's emergency reserve.
12. How was the repaving of Drakes View Drive paid for last time?
The 1993 Drakes View repaving was paid for by a ten-year parcel tax which was approved by the voters in PRE in 1992. A parcel tax was used because the property tax funds received each year by PREPRD have never been sufficient to pay for much more than the annual maintenance of the 8.9 miles of roads in PRE. Major projects, such as paving of Drake’s View Drive, require a separate source of funding. In 1993, the paving and related work cost about $182,000.
13. How much was the last repaving parcel assessment?
The parcel tax assessment for re-paving was $174 per parcel for the first year and $110 per parcel each subsequent year until 2002, when it expired. These assessments were listed separately on property tax bills.
14. How is a parcel tax assessment established?
A parcel tax assessment can only be adopted by a two-thirds “yes” vote of voters registered at a PRE address.
15. I’m a renter. Am I affected by a parcel assessment?
That depends upon your lease and whether it requires you to pay any part of the property tax assessed on the rented property.
16. Who arranged for the vegetation management work along the roads in 2005 - 2007?
This work was arranged by IRA and included the construction of more than 30 pullouts along the roads which improved access for emergency vehicles. The 1995 Inverness/Mt. Vision fire alerted the National Park Service to the need for such measures. For more information see http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/reports/documents/2007/NFP2007_budget_justification.pdf
Revision history
11/15/09 with info from KD & TMA
11/14/09 by Ken Drexler
11/12/09 by John Levy and Ken Drexler
9/2/09 by John Levy based on info from Tamia and David Wilson
8/28/09 and 8/22/09 by John Levy based on input from Tamia and Ken
7/19, 7/11 and 6/24/09 by Ken Drexler, Tamia Marg Anderson and Harvey Freed
6/23/09 by John Levy
1/13/06 by John Levy
4/21/03 by John Levy, Ken Drexler, and Anthony Prud’homme