Dick Spotswood: Flood-control fee funded district destined to fail

On the morning of Dec. 31, 2005, downtown San Anselmo was under 4 feet of flood water. That inundation caused millions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses across Ross Valley. According to the Hub City’s Historical Society, San Anselmo Creek overflowed its banks eight times during the last 100 years. The 2005 disaster wasn’t so much a shock as it was a wake-up call. The cry was “do something.”

The late Supervisor Hal Brown represented the area. Brown, well regarded for his consistent response to community concerns...