Saturday, September 5, 2020 
David P. Donery, Town Manager

Town Hall closed on Monday

 
The Town’s offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. 
 
We hope you enjoy a safe and responsible Labor Day Weekend—keep gatherings small, maintain your distance, wear your mask. 

Tips for Not Spreading COVID-19 During Labor Day Weekend

Health officials discourage social gatherings with people who don’t live in your home because these get-togethers, even small ones, increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. Health officials offer the following tips for a safer celebration:

• Hang out with members of your household: Explore a new trail, picnic at a beautiful park, enjoy the beach early in the day.
• Outdoors is much safer than indoors: The risk of transmitting COVID-19 is higher indoors, especially in confined spaces where people may not be wearing face coverings or keeping their distance from others. At social gatherings, avoid being inside as much as possible, which includes being in the kitchen with others to prepare or get food or drinks. The host should be the only one in the kitchen; having guests in the kitchen increases the risk spreading the virus. So if you’re going to socialize, do it outdoors. Nonetheless, even if you are outside, you should still stay six feet apart and wear face coverings if you are around people you don’t live with. If heat or wildfire smoke make outdoor conditions unhealthy this weekend, it’s safest to cancel or postpone any planned outdoor gathering.
• Wear a cloth face covering when outside of your home, in public, and around others.
• Stay home if you’re feeling sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19: You may think that cough or sniffle is just allergies, but it’s not worth the risk of infecting friends and loved ones.
• Communicate beforehand: If you choose to gather with people outside of your household (e.g., members of your social bubble), discuss and agree on what protective measures they will have in place, such as plans for maintaining physical distancing, wearing masks as much as possible, and agreeing to hold each other accountable for the sake of group safety. Most of all, agree that invitees should not come if they feel ill in any way.
• Avoid crowds: Be flexible with your plans and move to a different location if you cannot easily keep at least six feet (or more than three steps) away from others.
• Leave the party or gathering if someone seems sick: Don’t assume that someone coughing or sniffling has allergies and not COVID-19. Politely explain to the host that you are worried about getting infected and need to go. However, remember that people without symptoms can still have COVID-19 and infect others, which is why it’s best to wear a face covering, maintain physical distance, and stay outside as much as possible.
• Be extra cautious in the days before gathering with others: If you know you’re going to meet with people from outside your household, stay home as much as possible and limit public activities in the days before in order to reduce the chance of getting sick and infecting others at the gathering.

The Labor Day weekend forecast predicts unseasonably warm temperatures. Smoke and ash from regional wildfires have created unhealthy air quality for many communities. Health officials warn to factor-in your local forecast when planning Labor Day activities. In many areas, the safest place to celebrate will be indoors, at home, among your household unit only.

Update on One Way San Anselmo Avenue Pilot Project

The Town has held two public meetings to receive comments on a proposed pilot project to temporarily convert part of San Anselmo Avenue into a one-way street between Tunstead and San Anselmo Avenues, with traffic flowing in the northwest direction.  

The project would be funded by a $20,000 grant from the Transportation Authority of Marin. A one-way street would allow for additional space to widen sidewalks and develop parklets for outdoor activities. The presentation made to the Town Council on August 24 may be viewed here (item 7). A recording of the August 26 public meeting can be viewed here.

For more information contact the Department of Public Works staff. The next opportunity to comment will be at the September 8 Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. when the Town Council will receive an update regarding the project. Join the Zoom meeting here Webinar ID: 881 1541 5261.

Reporting Shelter-in-Place Violations

To expedite the process for resolving business violations of the Shelter-in-Place Order, each jurisdiction has set-up a way to report these violations, instead of being triaged by the County. This will allow cities and towns to respond faster to the complaints. 

To report a business violation in San Anselmo, please email SIPviolations@townofsananselmo.org and include the following information: 

• Business name 
• Address 
• As much detail as possible regarding the perceived health order violation 

New Additions to the Historical Museum's 3-D Display 

Volunteer extraordinaire Mary Miner, with help from husband Dick Miner, places miniature vehicles, livestock and people onto the model of old San Anselmo found in the Historical Museum. Historical Commission Chair Judy Coy looks on, providing support and helping with placement of the new additions.

After hearing children visiting the museum complain about the absence of people, animals and train cars, Mary dreamed of adding more life to the 3-D display. When the museum is able to reopen, stop by and look for the tiny fire engine, the dog that was at the station and the two trained fire horses, Colonel & Major.  Z scale is one of the smallest model railway scales; the little people measure less than 1/4 inch. Talented Brian Sousa, of Marin Hobby & Gift, saved the day by building the more complicated vehicles. He told Mary that the fire engine was the most difficult model that he ever built. The model enhancements took scores of hours to finish. The project was truly a labor of love.

Thank you to Brian for his contributions and to Mary for her dedication, creativity and hard work. 

Election 2020

Recent legislation passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic requires ballots be mailed to all active registered voters, in addition to in-person voting options. 

Voters are receiving a postcard with information about the November election and the opportunity to update their signature. All voters have a signature on file from when they registered to vote – this update is optional. To seal the postcard, fold the top half to cover the signature and seal with a piece of tape.  This is a legitimate mailing from the Marin County Elections Department. We have reproduced the postcards here. Vote-By-Mail postcard[PDF]. Postcard for voters who vote at the polls[PDF]. If you have questions or concerns, you may call the Marin County Elections Department at (415) 473-6456.

• Ballots will be mailed starting October 5 – expect 5-7 days for delivery 
• The Voter Information Guide will be mailed by the end of September 
• Early in-person voting options will be available – information to be posted closer to the election 
• Ballot drop boxes will be available throughout the county (one will be located in front of San Anselmo Town Hall.)

Polling places will be open on October 31 through November 3. Locations and hours of operation are still being finalized and will be posted on the County's website soon. If you do decide to visit an in-person polling place, don’t forget your face mask! 

If you are not registered to vote, you can do so here: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/voter-registration/register

Town Hall Office Hours

Town Hall will be reopening for in-person services. Permits, Planning and Business Licenses will be available from 8:30 am - 12 pm Monday through Thursdays. 
Social distancing and masks will be required while in the building. 

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