MERA Next Generation System

MERA Next Generation System

The Marin Emergency Radio Authority's (MERA) proposed project is the Next Generation Radio Communication System, an upgrade to Marin County's existing emergency radio communications system that will improve the County's emergency communication capabilities during daily public service and critical emergencies. The proposed project would replace equipment at currently operating communications sites as well as install telecommunications facilities (towers, microwave dishes, antennae, radio shelter and emergency power generation) at new sites where public and private infrastructure already exists. In total, 10 existing sites would be upgraded, eight new sites would be introduced, and five existing sites would be decommissioned. The existing MERA system currently includes 16 active communication sites. The existing sites to be retained are: Marin Civic Center, Big Rock Ridge, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Barnabe, Point Reyes Hill, Dollar Hill, San Pedro Ridge, Mt. Tiburon, Sonoma Mountain and Stewart Point. The five sites to be decommissioned are Forbes Hill in San Rafael, Mt. Burdell in Novato, Mill Valley City Hall, Mill Valley Public Safety Building and Bay Hill Road in Sonoma County. The eight new sites to be added are the Emergency Operations Facility (Prime Site), Tamales (Parks Ranch), Coyote Peak (Walker Creek Ranch) Skyview Terrace (San Rafael), Muir Beach Water Tank, Wolfback Ridge, Mt. Burdell OTA, and Mill Valley Water Tank. The Next Gen System will have a total of 18 communication sites, two more sites than the existing system. Seventeen of the sites are located in Marin County and one site is in Sonoma County

Marin, Sonoma

California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region 2 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Office of Historic Preservation, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality

Other (Radio Communication Tower, Antennae and Small Building)

Coastal Permit, Construction Application

Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Coastal Zone, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Geology/Soils, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Public Services, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire, Wildlife, Radio Frequency