In Memoriam – Chris Kelley
It is with a very heavy heart that the District announces the passing of Chris Kelley. Chris passed away at home on January 1, 2026.
Chris served as the District’s Wastewater Supervisor and inspector. He started with the District in March 2000 and during his almost 26-year tenure, Chris was an integral part of both the Water and Wastewater operations for the District. Prior to joining the District, Chris worked as a treatment counselor and residential supervisor of Full Circle Programs here in Stinson, an apprentice carpenter for a contractor in Bolinas, and as a volunteer firefighter.
Although Chris was born back East, he grew up in Stinson Beach and graduated from Tam High. He held an AA degree in Behavioral Science from the College of Marin and a BS in Sociology from Sonoma State University. Chris was a huge sports fan, and would often be seen playing basketball on the Court in Village Green here in town. He also had a dry sense of humor and sharp wit that brought both levity and joy to those around him, including those of us at the District.
Chris is survived by his two children Justice and Lianne, brother Aaron, mother Susan, and father Dennis. He was a loving father, strong advocate of and for the community, and a highly respected member of the District. Chris is and will always be sorely missed.
New Payment Processor for Water Bills
The District’s current third-party billing vendor, Munibilling, has switched to a new and improved payment processor to provide you with a smoother and more secure billing experience. What you need to know:
Starting this month, customers enrolled in AutoPay will need to re-enroll in AutoPay since the new processor requires a fresh authorization. The sign-up process will look the same as it does today — simply log in and set up AutoPay as you normally would. If you do not use AutoPay, no further action is required on your part. Please continue to pay your bill as you do now.
New Development at the Stinson Beach Post Office
As you may have heard, the owner of the property where our local post office is located is proposing a mixed-use development that consists of both housing and commercial space. Their current design shows four market-priced single-family structures located where the existing commercial building is with the existing commercial driveway off of Calle del Mar being replaced by a private residential driveway.
A proposed two-story commercial building will be located immediately north of the Stinson library, with public access directly from Shoreline Highway. The ground level of this structure will contain the new US Post Office sized to match the space of the existing Post Office. Above the new Post Office will be two affordable housing units.
The existing septic system on the site will be removed/abandoned and replaced with an entirely new system that meets the District’s Title IV – Onsite Wastewater Management Code as adopted by Ordinance 2025-03 (“Code”). The system designer has submitted their design and since they have met all requirements of the Code without any variance requests, they were issued a Design Permit from the District.
As a reminder, the District only has jurisdictional authority over the proposed septic system. All other design aspects of the development are overseen and approved by the County.
Excessive Water Use Explained
The District has started conducting routine fire hydrant flushing throughout our service area. Hydrant flushing is an essential proactive maintenance practice that allows the District to verify fire hydrant operability for our local Fire Department. It also provides a means to clear out sediment and mineral build-up in the District’s water distribution pipe network to improve the clarity and taste of your water.
During these periods you may experience temporary changes in water pressure and/or water discoloration. Temporary discoloration or cloudiness is harmless and happens when accumulated pipe sediment is disturbed. If you experience any of these issues, run several of your COLD water taps for a few minutes to flush your household piping. Avoid running any hot water until the water clears in order to prevent any discoloration from entering your hot water heater. A temporary drop in water pressure is normal and should only last as long as the flushing activities in your neighborhood. As much as practical, please limit or avoid water use while the District is flushing in your neighborhood to avoid any impacts
If you have any questions or concerns about the hydrant flushing process or your water service, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain and improve our water system for the safety and well-being of the community.
If you have any questions or would like to report an issue, please call or contact: info@stinsonwater.org
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