The debate over the Marin County Sheriff’s Office substation at the College of Marin’s Kentfield campus is getting pretty intense. People are arguing about who should pay for moving it, and there’s a lot of back-and-forth about whether the substation fits with campus priorities or not.
Faculty and council members keep weighing student needs against community safety. The conversation has reignited old concerns about law enforcement’s presence on campus.
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There’s this portable building near the student parking lot. It’s supposed to boost security for places like Kentfield, Greenbrae, and Ross, but some students just aren’t comfortable with it being there.
The College of Marin’s Campus Policing and Public Safety Advisory Council plans to revisit the issue in October. Folks on both sides have started speaking up—some pretty strongly, too.
College of Marin Advisory Council Draws a Line on Funding
At a recent council meeting, eight members said the college shouldn’t use its own money to relocate the substation. Only one person disagreed, and that was mostly about how the issue got onto the agenda.
Faculty member Colleen Mihal brought up the proposal. She argued that the college should keep its resources focused on student learning, safety, and success—not on paying for outside law enforcement.
Dissent and Procedural Concerns
Mark Dale was the only one who voted no. He felt the recommendation was rushed and not properly noticed for discussion.
He’s worried that the council needs more time to talk things through, especially since the decision could impact partnerships across towns like San Rafael and Larkspur.
A History of Debate Over the Kentfield Substation
The substation near the student parking lot has sparked arguments for years. Some students in Kentfield and Corte Madera have said they don’t like having a Sheriff’s Office facility on campus.
On the other hand, plenty of local residents, including folks in Greenbrae and the Kentfield School District, think the substation makes their neighborhoods safer.
Previous Lease Termination Talks
Last year, the council almost ended the substation’s lease. Community members pushed back, saying deputies help patrol towns like Ross and Mill Valley.
Those patrols focus on the surrounding areas, but sometimes they’ve helped campus police when something happens on campus.
Relocation Tied to the Center for Student Success
College President Jonathan Eldridge has tied the substation’s possible move to the new Center for Student Success opening in January. This project will replace about 25 portable buildings.
The relocation lines up with bigger plans and lease talks with the county. The college wants to modernize its facilities and make the campus feel more connected, from Kentfield to Indian Valley.
County Partnerships Remain Strong
Marin County Sheriff Jamie Scardina pointed out how much the substation matters to local residents. He says the Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with the College of Marin.
Campus Police Chief Raul Aguilar agrees. He thinks any changes or moves could actually improve services for students and make the campus feel better overall.
Balancing Community Safety with Campus Priorities
This whole debate shows how tough it is to split limited resources between higher education and local law enforcement. Towns like Fairfax and Sausalito aren’t directly served by the substation, but they’re probably watching to see how these decisions affect safety across Marin County.
Some of the big questions coming up include:
- Who’s actually going to pay for the substation’s move—the College of Marin or Marin County?
- How do you balance what students need in Kentfield and Indian Valley with what towns like Ross and Mill Valley want?
- What’s the best way to keep campus police and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office working together?
- Can the new Center for Student Success meet student needs without making the campus less secure?
Looking Ahead to October’s Decision
All eyes are on the October meeting of the Campus Policing and Public Safety Advisory Council. Lease negotiations are still in progress.
This decision might set a new standard for how Marin County’s public institutions share facilities between schools and law enforcement. It’s not just a bureaucratic move—it’s a real question about what kind of spaces we want in our communities.
Whether you live in Novato or right in Kentfield, the issue feels tangled. Community safety, budgets, and the changing role of law enforcement all collide here.
People will be watching closely as the College of Marin figures this out. The outcome could shift how the campus connects with the towns around it, for better or worse.
Here is the source article for this story: College of Marin panel debates cost of sheriff’s substation move
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