Mintz is pleased to announce that Member Jon Welner has been elected Mayor of the Town of Tiburon, located just north of San Francisco, in Marin County, California. Tiburon is a beautiful coastal town with a population of just over 9,000 residents. It is known for its stunning views of the Bay and its charming, small town feel.

“We have big plans for the coming year,” said Welner. “We are taking unprecedented steps that will put Tiburon at the forefront of some key issues in California. As an example, the Town is currently in the midst of revising its General Plan, the ‘blueprint’ that will govern our Town’s development over the next 20 years. There are seven state-mandated elements of a General Plan. We will be adding two new, optional elements: Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability.

“Very few cities have adopted these elements. We may well be the only city to adopt both. This reflects Tiburon’s commitment to making real progress in both of these areas: making our Town a place when people of all races and backgrounds can thrive, and ensuring the Town does its part to combat the climate emergency faced by our planet.”

Welner is a leading environmental and land use lawyer at Mintz with over 25 years of experience and is Co-lead of the firm’s California Land Use Group. He handles regulatory matters for clients in virtually every area of environmental law, including air, water, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, consumer products, traditional and renewable energy, and natural resources. In his land use practice, Welner assists clients in the review process to obtain and defend entitlements for development. He has significant experience with coastal development and the permitting of industrial and energy facilities. In addition, he has experience in development-related labor issues, including prevailing wage law and project labor agreements.

Paul Churchill, the Managing Member of Mintz’ San Francisco office and Co-chair of the firm’s real estate practice, noted that, “Jon’s new role as Mayor of Tiburon reflects Mintz’ deep commitment to public service. In addition, it reflects the firm’s significant involvement and understanding of the workings of local government in California. This knowledge benefits our clients in numerous ways.”

Welner serves on the advisory board of the Environmental Law Section of the California Lawyers Association and is a member and former chair of the Environmental Law Section of the San Francisco Bar Association (BASF). He previously served as a senior official at the California Natural Resources Agency.

Welner has a long track record of public service. He has served on the Tiburon Council since February 2018, and prior to that, served on the Tiburon Planning Commission for six years, including one year as chair. He is a board member and president of the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center and a former board member of Congregation Rodef Sholom. He serves on the board of the John Gardner Fellowship Association and the advisory board of Stanford-in-Government.