San Anselmo Racial Equity Ad Hoc Committee Interviews

The Town of San Anselmo will be interviewing applicants for the Racial Equity Ad Hoc Committee at a special Town Council meeting on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 6 pm - 8 pm.

Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86189396028
Dial In: +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 861 8939 6028

On November 10th, the Town Council formed the Racial Equity Ad Hoc Committee and charged it with the tasks of examining issues of racial equity, social justice, systemic racial bias, and diversity in Town and to making recommendations to the Town Council on how to best advance equity in all Town departments and operationalize equitable polices, programs and procedures within Town government.

The purpose of the committee is to ensure that Town policies, programs, procedures and laws are not racist, are free of implicit biases, and that laws are fair and equitably enforced. The committee will also explore additional opportunities to build awareness, solutions and leadership for racial equity, social justice, systemic racial bias, and diversity for Town staff and the wider community.

To view the Town Council Resolution establishing the committee, CLICK HERE
With the goal of building an inclusive, vibrant and equitable community the committee will:

-Conduct an audit of the Town’s policies, programs, procedures and laws to be sure that they are fair, equitable and free of biases of any kind.

-Explore options and implement anti-bias, racial equity and other appropriate training for staff.

-Explore additional opportunities to improve Town government policies, practices and programs to address racial equity, social justice, systemic racial bias, and diversity issues.

The committee will be comprised of up to seven (7) volunteer community members. Membership qualifications include being at least 16 years of age, and residing or working in, or owning a business or property in San Anselmo. Committee members will serve a term of one year. The Town received 18 applications, which was reviewed by a subcommittee and 11 applicants were chosen to move forward for interviews from the entire Town Council. For more information about the subcommittee or the Racial Equity Committee, contact Linda Kenton at lkenton@townofsananselmo.org

Marin Graduates to Tier 2 (RED)
COVID-19 Status

The State of California officially moved Marin County from “purple” to “red” status in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy on Wednesday, February 24.  

The move from Tier 1 or “widespread risk” status to the less restrictive Tier 2 or “substantial risk” level is based on consecutive weeks of progress in Marin’s COVID-19 case statistics. Marin joins San Mateo and San Francisco as the only Bay Area counties not in tier 1, the most restrictive tier.

The California Department of Public Health assigns each county to a tier on a weekly basis based on two county-level factors: the total number of new cases, and the percent of new cases among those tested. For Marin, the move to Tier 2 is because of a low percentage of positive tests among residents of low-income communities. Among residents in census tracts in the lowest quartile on the California Healthy Places Index only one in 25 tested were found to be infected. This is down from nearly one in five at the height of the pandemic in August. This measure ensures virus transmission reduction in all communities, especially among less advantaged households. Areas once stricken with outbreaks – including San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood and portions of Novato – are seeing decreases in COVID-19 cases.

“We’ve focused on our hardest-hit communities, and it seems to be paying off,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County Public Health Officer. “It’s especially encouraging to see this progress as we move toward vaccinating essential workers. Adding the protection of the vaccine will help seal this progress for the whole community.”    

The primary changes allowed under the state order as Marin moves into Tier 2:

• Retail establishments can expand indoor capacity to 50%
• Indoor malls can expand indoor capacity to 50% (food courts must remain closed)
• Gyms and fitness studios  (including yoga and dance studios) are allowed to open indoors at 10% capacity
• Restaurants are allowed to open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Museums are allowed to open indoors at 25% capacity
• Movie theaters are allowed to open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
• Cultural Ceremonies, including weddings and funerals, are allowed indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer (churches and houses of worship maintain 25% indoor capacity)

The transition to Tier 2 means any Marin school that has not yet reopened to some form of in-person instruction will be eligible to make that transition beginning Monday, March 1. Once eligible, the reopening pace and scope of a school is at the discretion of school officials. To date, nearly 90% of Marin schools have already reopened to some form of site-based classroom learning.

Changes to business sector guidelines are available on the Marin Recovers website or the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy website.

In August 2020, the state introduced its Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a four-tier framework by which counties are measured for loosening and tightening restrictions on social activities and business operations. Sectors of business can progressively open more operations with moves up the list toward the final stage, Tier 4. A county must spend at least 21 days in any tier before advancing to a less restrictive one. As Marin experienced, counties have to tighten back up if conditions worsen.

“Further progress within the tiers requires the collective action of all of us,” said Benita McLarin, Director of Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Mask wearing, maintaining physical distance from people you don’t live with, good hand hygiene and regular COVID-19 testing are easy steps everyone can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Free, same day COVID-19 testing is available across the county, and anyone who comes into frequent contact with members of the public should consider getting tested at least once a month. See Public Health’s testing webpage for a list of testing locations.

Meanwhile, vaccinations continue throughout the county. Nearly 20% of Marin residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. See Public Health’s vaccination webpage for the latest information.

Follow the latest COVID-19 surveillance figures in Marin on the Marin HHS website. Register online to receive a daily COVID-19 update from Marin HHS.

What Happened Tuesday Night's Council Meeting?

At their meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd, the Town Council took the following actions:

• Appointed applicants to the Sustainability Commission.
• Received Presentation regarding Winship Bridge and Flood Zone 9.
• Reviewed Local Renter Protection Strategies and Programs and directed staff to come back with two ordinances to consider for renter moratoriums and rent freezes.
• Received an update from the Chamber of Commerce regarding the Recovery Fund.
• Introduced by title only and waived further reading of An Ordinance of The Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo Deleting Title 3 (Public Safety) Chapter 1 (Bicycles) And Amending Title 10 (Planning And Zoning), Chapter 3 (Zoning), Article 3 (Land Use Regulations), Table 3a to Allow Bicycle Sales And Repair as a Permitted Use in All Commercial Zoning Districts and Amend Article 5 (Parking And Loading Regulations) Regarding Parking Requirements for Electric Vehicles And Required Disabled Parking Spaces.

Know of a business or school with extra food? ExtraFood is going places!

ExtraFood, a county-wide nonprofit food rescue program, picks up excess fresh food, 7/365 and free of charge, and immediately gets it to vulnerable children, older adults, and families who need it the most. In 7 years, ExtraFood has rescued and delivered 4,500,000 pounds of food to more than 8,000 people throughout Marin. Plus, every 100 pounds of food rescued prevents the equivalent emissions of 234 driving miles! Want to learn more or ask for a pickup? Click here for details.

Come join the Ross Valley Seniors on Zoom on 3/4/21 for an interesting talk from Dick Miner about the Alcatraz Gardens: A Testament to the Human Spirit.
E-mail Kevin MacLeod at kmacleod@townofsananselmo.org for the Zoom information!

The Ross Valley Seniors would also like to thank our steering committee for delivering Valentine’s Day goodies to all of our seniors! Thank you to Molly Gamble for the generous flower donations and Manor School students for making Valentine’s Day cards to help brighten their days!

Marin ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Expo

Join Aging Action Initiative (AAI), Housing Crisis Action (HCA), and Town of San Anselmo staff for an exposition on everything you need to know to add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your home! An ADU is a small studio apartment created out of an existing home, providing steady income for the homeowner and adding a source of affordable housing to our community. Join us to talk in small groups to contractors, planners, and financial advisors to learn about the simple conversion process. 
Mar 1, 2021 02:00 PM in Pacific Time (US and Canada)
REGISTER HERE: tinyurl.com/aduexpo-mar1


Don’t forget about our FREE Chair Yoga class on Zoom every Thursday at 11:00am!
E-mail Kevin MacLeod at kmacleod@townofsananselmo.org for the Zoom link!

Art on the Avenue

The San Anselmo Arts Commission is excited to announce its February Art on the Avenue Artist, local artists, Shanna Bruschi.  Shanna's abstract pieces of work will be on display at 538 San Anselmo Avenue throughout the month of February. For more information please visit our website at http://sananselmoarts.org/. 

TOWN BOOKS OPENS AGAIN! 

HOURS: Wednesday and Saturday 10 – 4
DONATION ONLY: Mondays, 1 - 3 and Fridays, 11 - 1

Once again, the store has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Our volunteers have shelved lots of “new” books that are just waiting to be read again. As usual, you must wear a mask at all times. There are hand-sanitizing facilities, a limited number of shoppers at any given time, and we have a plexiglass divider at our counter. We will still accept cash and checks, but no credit cards at this time. DONATIONS: Please bring donations only on the days and hours listed above. Because health guidelines require donations be quarantined for 72 hours, we will limit individual donations up to 3 boxes/bags per household with a daily limit of 20 because of space restrictions. Volunteers will accept donations in the parking lot. For more information, call 415-526-3791 or go to townbooks.org. Proceeds benefit the San Anselmo Public Library. 

Applications Sought for Economic Development Committee

The Committee’s charge is to work with local businesses and the community at large toward a vibrant and successful local economy that meets the needs of the residents and visitors of San Anselmo.  The Committee has seven members and meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:45 a.m. in the Town Council Chambers.  There are three seats available.

Help Keep the Flower Baskets In Downtown San Anselmo

Donations are being accepted to help fund this annual community effort

The San Anselmo Beautification Committee has launched its 2021 fundraising campaign to raise funds for the annual hanging flower basket program in the downtown.

There are two ways you can contribute:

1. Donate by visiting the program's GO FUND ME PAGE, or

2.  Mail a check to:

San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 2844, San Anselmo, CA 94979
(please mark check for “baskets”)

For more information about the project, contact Nancy Altman at nnaltman@me.com