Saturday, May 2, 2020 David P. Donery, Town Manager
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Regional Shelter-in-Place Orders Extended as Some Rules Ease The seven Bay Area Public Health Officers who ordered a Shelter-In-Place in mid-March will extend the orders through May 31 while some restrictions are eased and tools to strengthen containment of COVID-19 are put into place.
Under the new Shelter-In-Place order, construction activities, certain businesses that operate primarily outdoors, and some outdoor activities will be allowed to resume with specific conditionsThis updated Order continues to restrict most activity to essential functions and needs. But because of progress we have collectively achieved in slowing the spread of the disease and limiting hospitalizations, the Order allows certain additional essential businesses and activities to resume, allows certain low-risk outdoor businesses to being operating again, and authorizes certain additional outdoor activities to take place even though they are not essential. The new Order also introduces a framework to guide the Health Officer’s decisions about further easing of restrictions, focusing on progress achieved addressing COVID-19 and ensuring that there are adequate health care resources available.
This new Order replaces the shelter order issued on March 31, 2020. We refer to the March 31 order as the “Prior Order” and the April 29 Order as the “new Order” or “Order.”
What changes does this new Order make?
This new Order will go into effect on 11:59 pm on Sunday May 3, 2020, and will remain in effect until 11:59 pm on Sunday May 31, 2020, unless the Health Officer amends or extends it.
Most of the Prior Order’s restrictions remain in place. However, the new Order makes a number of significant changes, which are highlighted below:
Essential Businesses:
- Under the new Order, all construction projects can resume, provided they comply with the Construction Project Safety Protocols issued as part of the Order. (These protocols replace the COVID-19 Construction Field Safety Guidelines applicable to the Prior Order).
- Commercial as well as residential real estate transactions are allowed to fully resume, but with continued restrictions on in-person viewings and appointments.
- Under the new Order, childcare establishments, summer camps, schools, and other educational and recreational programs can operate to provide care and supervision for children to allow all persons who are working in essential businesses or outdoor businesses or performing minimum basic operations to access childcare. All of these operations must comply with restrictions specified in the Order, including that they be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer children. This category is also subject to the State’s Shelter in Place Order, but the Health Officer will assess whether to ease childcare restrictions further in coordination with the State and as the spread of COVID-19 is further contained.
Outdoor Businesses: - Outdoor Businesses (as defined in the Order and described below) are now allowed to operate, and people are allowed to visit them to perform work or to obtain goods, services, or supplies.
- Outdoor Businesses are those that normally operated primarily outdoors prior to the Shelter in Place Orders, and where social distancing of at least six feet can be maintained between all people. These include outdoor retail businesses like nurseries, outdoor service providers like landscapers, and agricultural operations.
Social Distancing Protocols for Businesses:
- All business facilities operating in the County, including businesses carrying out minimum basic operations, must comply with the requirement to create a Social Distancing Protocol. (Note: construction activities must instead comply with the Construction Project Safety Protocols.)
- In their Social Distancing Protocols, businesses must now ensure that personnel and customers wear face coverings when entering their facilities (except those customers for whom face coverings are not recommended, like very young children).
- All existing Social Distancing Protocols must be updated to reflect the new requirements.
- We encourage businesses that are not yet allowed to operate to focus on planning to effectively implement social distancing and related measures in their facilities so they are ready to safely reopen when allowed.
Essential Activities and Travel:
- All residential moves are now allowed to proceed.
Recreation:
- The new Order allows use of shared outdoor recreational facilities that do not encourage gathering or contain high-touch equipment. However, everyone must follow any restrictions that either state or local authorities impose.
More information can be found here.
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Town Council MeetingsLive Streamed with Virtual ParticipationThe San Anselmo Town Council will continue to hold its meetings every second and fourth Tuesday at 7 PM, in order to continue to conduct essential Town business. These meetings offer remote viewing and participation so that the public can stay involved and engaged. As always, all of our meetings are streamed live and are also played back on the government channel of your cable provider. We will also be using the Zoom platform for viewing and for public participation.How to watch the upcoming Town Council meeting on May 12: How to provide comment: - Before the meeting: email your comments to towncouncil@townofsananselmo.org no later than 3 pm on the day of the Town Council meeting.
- During the meeting: The zoom link and instructions for participation will be placed on each agenda. Agenda packets are uploaded on Friday afternoons prior to the meetings before 5 PM. It will be available here.
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PG&E, CFILC Announce Program to Support Vulnerable Customers in Preparation for Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Events Program Enables Eligible Customers with Disabilities and Older Customers to get Backup Power, Lodging and More for Use During PSPS Events and EmergenciesPacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has joined with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFLIC) as in supporting customers with disabilities and older customers who are most vulnerable when the power goes out. Known as the Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program, the joint effort will aid the disability, aging and Access and Functional Needs (AFN) population ahead of a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), when power is turned off during times of heightened wildfire risk. The pilot disaster readiness program is being implemented by local Independent Living Centers associated with CFILC. The program will enable the local centers to provide qualifying customers who use electrical medical devices with access to backup portable batteries through a grant, lease-to-own or the FreedomTech low-interest financial loan program. Transportation resources, lodging and food, emergency planning, education and outreach about PG&E programs such as Medical Baseline also will be part of the program. Applications for portable backup batteries will be available online and at Independent Living Centers across the state. Individuals who use life-sustaining electrical support will be the highest priority. Through the application process, the CFILC’s Disaster Resource Advisory Committee will make the ultimate determination about the distribution of resources. CFILC will administer all aspects of the program. Marin Center for Independent Living (Marin CIL), a forty-one-year-old community-based organization that provides services and advocacy to individuals with all types of disabilities including older adults, is one such program participating. In coordination with other countywide efforts, Marin CIL will work with individuals who utilize assistive technology and medical devices to determine the most appropriate assistance based on power needs. “Recent events, including the California Wildfires and the COVID-19 Pandemic, has drawn attention to the importance of safely sheltering in place. For people with access and functional needs, this includes having disaster toolkits as well as access to portable batteries to power medical devices. This new partnership will allow Marin CIL to expand our efforts and support the community during an unprecedented time of need,” said Eli Gelardin, Marin CIL’s Executive Director. DEVELOP A PLAN EARLY
Coordination of resources takes time, so individuals are encouraged to engage with their local centers and formulate a plan long before a safety shutoff is imminent. Customers can find the location of Independent Living Centers www.cfilc.org/find-ilc. Hours of operation may be impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This program has the potential to shape the future of how individuals with disabilities and older adults are provided opportunities to engage in training and resources to better prepare all of us during times of emergencies and PSPS events. PG&E and CFILC believe it is critical to give people with disabilities who are at risk the tools and resources they need to be prepared in order to maintain their health and safety,” said Christina Mills, CFILC Executive Director
CFILC serves as a membership association for most of the local Independent Living Centers across PG&E’s service area. They are grassroots organizations run by, and for people with disabilities, and they provide a variety of services to people across all types of disabilities and ages. Partnering with centers already working together to support the most vulnerable individuals in PG&E’s service area is one of the best ways to reach the disabled community during PSPS events or emergencies. Turning off the power creates a hardship for all PG&E’s customers, and a PSPS can impact vulnerable customers dramatically. By working with and offering financial assistance to CFILC, PG&E can help alleviate some of the disruptive impacts and support the safety and wellness of these customers.
During events in October and November, more than 1,100 individuals got some assistance from the CFLIC with the support of PG&E. That support includes providing more than 195 batteries for backup power and 217 hotel stays. Additionally, more than 20 customers were provided with accessible transportation to hotels and 122 food vouchers were provided. Many of the local Independent Living Centers provided charging for phones and electric devices.
For requests for lodging, transportation and battery backup systems, please email Peter Mendoza, Director of Advocacy: peter@marincil.org. He can also be reached by phone (415) 234-3840.
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What Outdoor Yard Maintenance is Considered an Essential Service?Activities that reduce the “fire fuel” from flammable vegetation close to the house are considered essential services. Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber has explained the following activities qualify as essential:
Vegetation Management specific to fire fuel reduction work is identified by: - Removal of dead and down vegetation on the property within 30’ of the home
- Mowing of seasonal grasses to 4” or less (this does not include irrigated lawns)
- Cleaning of organic material in gutters and on roof
- Hazard tree removal (trees that are dead or to improve thinning of forest within 100’ of home)
- Removal of limbs on trees within 6-10’ of the ground
- Removal of limbs that overhang the home or within 10’ of the chimney
- Removal of all piles of dead vegetation
- Clear vegetation 14’ overhead and 10’ from sides of roads and driveways
- Any items identified in a specific fire agency property evaluation or correction notice
What is not included in vegetation management / fire fuel reduction:- Lawn Mowing
- Blowing
- Ornamental bush trimming
- Cosmetic weeding in irrigated home gardens
- Work on irrigation system for lawns, ornamental vegetation etc.
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Support Your Local Businesses at these two sitesPlease visit SanAnselmoShops.com and their sister site, SanAnselmoEats.com and support our local businesses as we all work to get through this challenging time.
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We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to provide your input on design standards for multifamily projects
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Providing Age-Friendly Resources and a Volunteer Program During the EmergencyAre you a Senior over 65 or unable to leave your home due to quarantine, illness or other reasons? We want to ensure that all our community members are safe and have what they need. If you need help or a call, CLICK HEREVolunteers of ALL ages are wanted now to help connect the community and assist those in need. All volunteer opportunities will be low contact, or no contact tasks including our Check-in and Chat program and online programming leadership. In the coming days, we hope to have an essential errand volunteer program for those who are unable to leave their homes. CLICK HERE if you would like to volunteer and assist our community.
The Task Force is also looking for volunteers of ALL ages to help the community and those in need. For all other inquiries, questions, or concerns please contact the Age Friendly Task Force Chair: Sara Robinson, srimpacts@gmail.com (240-838-0868)
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IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT TOWN OPERATIONS NOTIFICATION OF CLOSURES OF TOWN PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Through May 31, 2020
In an effort to limit potential exposure and community spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), the Town of San Anselmo has made the difficult decision to close all indoor public facilities and provide as many services as possible online, by email and by phone.
For specific information about our departmental operations, please visit https://www.townofsananselmo.org/1408/16772/Town-Operations---COVID-19?activeLiveTab=widgets
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