What’s happening: Measure T asks voters to renew the Municipal Services Tax for 10 years at $303 a year for a single-family home, with a 2% annual adjustment, raising an average of $1.9 million a year, according to the ballot text. Rates rise 2% a year starting in 2028-29, to $362 by year ten, per the study committee’s report. The money goes to road repair and vegetation management. It needs two-thirds of voters to pass. We covered the council’s vote to send it to the ballot in May.
A “Your MST at Work” sign marks a road maintenance crew on Miller Ave. The city’s 2026 plan included work on 39 streets, all of it light maintenance, including Miller Avenue, Underhill Road, La Goma Street, Elm Avenue and Locust Avenue. Full reconstruction of the worst segments starts in 2027. (MVB, July 2026)
The roads: Mill Valley’s pavement score rose from 58 in 2014 to 79 today, and 83% of roads rate good to excellent, according to the council’s May resolution. The study committee’s report puts roughly one in six roads at fair, poor or failed.
The resolution says fixing them would cost about $21.8 million, against $5.3 million to maintain the rest. Councilmember Urban Carmel told the Planning Commission on Sep. 22 that rebuilding a road costs about 20 times as much as maintaining one.
The Briefing built a street-by-street lookup from the city’s five-year paving plan, adopted May 4, so you can see when your street is scheduled and what treatment is planned.
The plan to finish: The city says the next 10 years could be the last. The staff report projects the streets will be in good enough shape by then to move to lower-cost maintenance, and the study committee expects the tax may not return. It can’t be levied past fiscal year 2036-37 unless voters approve another, per the formation resolution.
Carmel, a study committee liaison who co-wrote a letter backing Measure T, said annual street costs would then fall from about $3.6 million to about $2.5 million. “We probably would not need the MST after 10 years,” he said, because the General Fund could cover it.
PG&E helps. The staff report says the utility will underground 13 miles of city roadway starting in mid-2027, and the two can share repaving costs. Carmel said the work lands where roads are in the worst shape.
For older homeowners: Single-family homes owned and occupied by low-income residents over 65 are exempt, according to the City Attorney’s impartial analysis. Proof is due June 1 for the following fiscal year.
If it fails: A no vote lets the current tax expire June 30, 2027, with no replacement, according to the City Attorney. Carmel said the cost of road work does not go away and only grows with delay, and that Measure L money is already committed to bridges, culverts and storm drains. He said the city will find out this winter where roads need shoring up, and pointed to landslide risk.
Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency Sep. 21 ahead of a forecast El Niño, with federal forecasters putting the chance of a very strong event above 90%, according to the governor’s office. El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter, the state says.
No argument against Measure T was filed. The argument in favor is signed by John McCauley, vice chair of the city’s study committee, Stacey Lamirand, Joan Murray, Kendra Pollack and Paula Reynolds.
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MILL VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETYThis week in Mill Valley history: How the library got to Old Mill Park
This week, the Mill Valley Public Library held a 60th anniversary trivia night. The question on the invitation: “What iconic library building opened on Throckmorton Avenue in 1966?” The answer took years to arrive at.
The original library opened in July 1911 on Lovell Avenue — a Carnegie-funded building that served the town for more than fifty years. By 1962, discussions about a replacement had narrowed to three sites. The top choice was vacant land on Sunnyside Avenue owned by the daughters of M.M. O’Shaughnessy — the engineer who had laid out Mill Valley’s streets and lots for the Tamalpais Land and Water Company. The site was central and accessible. There was one problem: the O’Shaughnessy sisters were not kindly disposed toward selling, and the library fund held only $21,000.
Groundbreaking ceremony at Old Mill Park, June 29, 1965. (Photo: Philip J. Planert / Lucretia Little History Room, Mill Valley Public Library)
The third choice was the Mill Valley Lumber Yard on Miller Avenue, owned by Roy Ibach. When the city moved to condemn his property, Ibach pushed back — not because it was his land, he said, but because the site was wrong. He recommended the O’Shaughnessy property instead, and noted in passing that he had been instrumental years earlier in saving the upper portion of Old Mill Park from subdivision.
In December 1962, a resident named Thomas Collison wrote to the library board with a different proposal. Both Boyle Park and Old Mill Park were already city-owned. Using either would save taxpayers $40,000 to $70,000 in condemnation costs. “Old Mill Park’s exquisite redwood setting is the very essence of the best Mill Valley tradition,” he wrote.
Not everyone agreed. Parks Commissioner Pat Allen issued a report opposing any use of parkland. Old Mill Park had a reversionary clause in its 1937 deed that the city attorney said made it legally unavailable for a library.
By August 1963, the Ibach condemnation had been called off as too expensive. The board was deadlocked: two votes for Old Mill Park, two for a private site on East Blithedale, one undecided. A letter notifying the council of the impasse went missing. Mayor Joseph Sheeks called it “skullduggery.” The deputy city clerk, Lucretia Little, denied ever receiving it.
On September 16, 1963, the City Council voted unanimously for Old Mill Park. Trustee Paul Forman addressed the concerns about losing park space: “You’ve got to remember that we’re not packing 8,000 square feet of Old Mill Park and shipping it to Los Angeles. We’re going to use it for a most worthy purpose.”
A $325,000 bond measure passed in June 1964. A federal grant of $123,112 followed. Ground was broken on June 29, 1965. Architect Donn Emmons canted the building six feet to avoid cutting trees. In August 1966, movers carried 52,965 books from the old Lovell Avenue building to Old Mill Park. The formal dedication was September 25, 1966.
The land the library sits on was saved from subdivision by Roy Ibach — the man the city tried to condemn in 1962. The History Room inside the library is named for Lucretia Little, the deputy city clerk who never received the missing letter.
Sources: Mill Valley Record, Feb 14, 1962; Feb 21, 1962; Jun 20, 1962; Dec 19, 1962; Jun 19, 1963; Aug 21, 1963; Aug 28, 1963; Sep 18, 1963; Jul 27, 1966; Mill Valley Historical Society, Carnegie Library vignette; MVHS Review 1984
This story was sponsored by the Mill Valley Historical Society. Visit their new website at mvhistory.org.
Sponsors pay for placement, not coverage. Our reporting is always produced independently, without sponsor review or editorial input.
What we covered this week
🎾 Chris Reiff is leaving the Boyle Park tennis courts after nearly 40 years, and a commission voted 2-1 on who replaces him. We reported on what the winning bid pays the city compared with what the city kept before, and the one cost league players still don’t know. Council decides Nov. 2.
🏫 A judge ordered a Tam Union trustee to stay away from a parent. He resigned the next day, and his name is still on the Nov. 3 ballot. We reported on what the board did Tuesday night, what happens to the seat if he wins and why a four-member board can deadlock.
🚧 A new TAM report warns that funding may not be available to finish design on all three Highway 101 interchange projects, including East Blithedale, or to build any of them. We reported on the federal grant TAM didn’t win, what staff say they’re pursuing instead and the one cost estimate in the report.
🏗️ September building permits cooled after a big summer. We reported on the total, the one project that dwarfed the rest and the restaurant that cleared a step toward opening on Miller Avenue.
🔥 A juvenile has been charged with arson after Tuesday night’s fire on upper Hillside Avenue. We reported on what police found at the scene, whether investigators link it to the July fire and what the fire district says about this time of year.
🛹 The Harrison Skate Park is open again. We reported on what changed and when the original entrance returns.
If you want to read about any of these stories as they develop and have access to the full archive, the weekday Briefing lands in your inbox Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 6am. A paid subscription makes this reader-funded, local news operation possible. It’s $12 per month, which you can cancel anytime, and the annual subscription comes out to less than $2.50 a week. Upgrading is only two clicks if you use Apple Pay.
A note from the editor: Why the Briefing didn’t cover Strawberry
The Briefing didn’t report on the Oct. 11 shooting in Strawberry, and that was a choice. The Marin IJ and San Francisco outlets have covered it extensively, and I don’t want to report on a private family’s worst moment before anyone close to them has spoken. I will cover what follows an event like this, such as how officials inform the public and what resources exist, and I’ll report on larger public safety trends instead of individual cases. The Briefing is new and still taking shape, so I’d like your view on whether it should cover crime and tragedy in 94941. Read the full note here.
📅 Next week in Mill Valley
Sunday, October 18
🎼 Mill Valley Philharmonic: Where Flowers Sing (Sunday Concert), Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 3pm. Full orchestral performance featuring works by Huang Ruo, Jean Françaix, and Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 at 410 Sycamore Ave. $25 admission.
🎸 David Bettner, Very Stable Genius, The Depot Cafe and Bookstore, 4–6pm. Live music on the downtown plaza at 87 Throckmorton Ave. Free entry; all ages (weather permitting).
🏆 2026 Milley Awards Gala, Mill Valley Community Center, 5–8pm. Annual civic awards ceremony honoring Genna Panzarella, Brian Narelle, Valerie Andrews, Sharon Valentino, and George Daly.
🎸 Josh Zee & Friends Sunday Residency (Free Show), Sweetwater Music Hall, 6pm. Guitarist Josh Zee hosts his monthly community jam residency at 19 Corte Madera Ave. Free entry; doors open at 5pm.
Monday, October 19
🎸 Bandworks – Live. Learn. Rock., Sweetwater Music Hall, 6pm. Showcase performance featuring youth and adult workshop bands at 19 Corte Madera Ave. All ages; doors open at 5pm.
Tuesday, October 20
🎭 Tuesday Night Comedy, Throckmorton Theatre, 8–10pm. Headliner Irene Tu takes the stage alongside Liz Grant, Jake Sullivan, Bob Johnston, and host Michael Meehan at 142 Throckmorton Ave. Doors open at 7:30pm.
Wednesday, October 21
📝 Writing and Drawing Our Memories with Sophie Yanow, Mill Valley Public Library, 6–7:30pm. Graphic novelist Sophie Yanow leads an evening of freewriting prompts and memory illustration in the Creekside Room at 375 Throckmorton Ave. Free; supplies provided; registration required.
⚡ Steely Dead: A Fusion of Grateful Dead & Steely Dan, The Junction Beer Garden, 7pm. National touring hybrid act blending classic Dead and Steely Dan grooves outdoors at 226 Shoreline Hwy ($35 ADV / $41 DOS; all ages).
Thursday, October 22
🧠 Trivia Night, The Depot Cafe and Bookstore, 5:30pm. Weekly team trivia outdoors on the downtown plaza at 87 Throckmorton Ave. Free entry; all ages (weather permitting).
📷 Daring to Look: An Evening with Dorothea Lange's California, Mill Valley Public Library, 6:30–8pm. Historical retrospective on Dorothea Lange's travels across California's back roads with camera and notebook in the Creekside Room at 375 Throckmorton Ave. Free; registration required.
🌟 5th Annual Sweetwater Music Hall Fall Gala: An Evening with St. Vincent, Sweetwater Music Hall, 8pm. Benefit gala and intimate performance supporting the music hall at 19 Corte Madera Ave. All ages; doors open at 7:00pm.
Friday, October 23
🎸 Musical Feast, The Depot Cafe and Bookstore, 5:30pm. Classic roots, folk, and rock favorites live on the plaza at 87 Throckmorton Ave. Free entry; all ages (weather permitting).
🎸 The Coffis Brothers presents ‘Coffis Does Petty’ with AC Sapphire, Sweetwater Music Hall, 8pm. Tom Petty celebration and roots-rock performance at 19 Corte Madera Ave. All ages; doors open at 7pm.
Saturday, October 24
🚴 5th Annual Kelly Brush Ride: Bay Area, Downtown Plaza (87 Throckmorton Ave), 7am–4pm. Annual cycling fundraiser supporting individuals with spinal cord injuries. Marin County road and mountain courses, followed by an outdoor festival on the plaza with food, drinks, music, and prizes.
🧚 The Story Stump: The Singing Garden, 77 Throckmorton Ave, 8am–5pm (performance times vary). Interactive family puppet adventure where children step inside a living fairy tale with Robin the Gardener, Lexi the Storybook Fairy, and puppet friends Gus the Gigglepillar and Lulu the Bird.
📚 Friends of the Library Book Sale, Mill Valley Public Library, 10am–4:30pm. Huge outdoor book sale with deals on bestsellers and classics in the Smart Garden at 375 Throckmorton Ave.
🍺 Tam Tavern 1-Year Anniversary Oktoberfest Celebration, Tam Tavern (with East Brother Beer Co.), 4–8pm. First-anniversary party with craft beer, tavern food, live music, and lawn games at 152 Shoreline Hwy. All ages.
🎸 Keystone Canyon, The Depot Cafe and Bookstore, 5:30pm. Live music outdoors on the downtown plaza at 87 Throckmorton Ave. Free entry; all ages (weather permitting).
🎶 Stephen Kent in Concert – An Evening of Didgeridoo & World Music, O'Hanlon Center For the Arts, 7:30–9pm. Master didgeridoo soloist performs live at 616 Throckmorton Ave ($30).
Sunday, October 25
🧚 The Story Stump: The Singing Garden, 77 Throckmorton Ave, 8am–5pm (performance times vary). Immersive interactive puppet show for families and young children.
🐶 4th Annual MV Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest, Mill Valley Lumber Yard, 10:30–11:30am. Costumed canines parade the grounds at 129 Miller Ave with prizes awarded for the most creative outfits. Free to watch and attend.
🪕 Marin Bluegrass Sessions October, Sweetwater Music Hall, 12pm. Midday acoustic bluegrass jam and showcase at 19 Corte Madera Ave. Doors open at 11:30am.
🎸 Dan Patrick, The Depot Cafe and Bookstore, 4–6pm. Live acoustic set on the downtown plaza at 87 Throckmorton Ave. Free entry; all ages (weather permitting).
🇮🇪 Eamonn Flynn and Dublinesque Album Release Show w/ Suil na Seabhac, Sweetwater Music Hall, 8pm. Irish songwriter and pianist performs music from his new release at 19 Corte Madera Ave. All ages; doors open at 7pm.
🔍 Businesses and venues mentioned in this section are covered on editorial merit only. No business has paid for coverage. Promotional content is always labeled.
ℹ️ See the full event calendar and bookmark it as we’ll update that same link each week.
