San Anselmo Racial Equity Ad Hoc Committee 

The Town of San Anselmo interviewed applicants for the Racial Equity Ad Hoc Committee at a special Town Council meeting on Thursday, March 4, 2021.


At the next Council meeting on March 9, 2021, the Council will be appointing candidates to the committee. The committee will be comprised of up to seven (7) volunteer community members. The Town received 18 applications, which were reviewed by a subcommittee and 11 applicants were chosen to move forward for interviews with the entire Town Council. Ultimately, nine applicants were interviewed by the Town Council. 

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.

Instructions for attending the March 9, 2021 Council meeting which starts at 7 pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83486395922
 Or Telephone: +1 669 900 6833 
 Webinar ID: 834 8639 5922

For more information about the subcommittee or the Racial Equity Committee, contact Linda Kenton at lkenton@townofsananselmo.org

Upcoming Items on the Town Council Agenda

• Appointments to Library Parcel Tax Committee
• Appointments to Racial Equity Committee.
• Discuss and consider the concept of renaming Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and provide formal direction to the Council representatives to the Marin County Sir Francis Drake Ad-Hoc Working Group.
• Receive report on the Red Hill bench program and provide direction to staff.
• Receive report on new campaign contribution law AB 571 and provide direction to staff.

Marin Updates Restrictions to Youth Sports

The County of Marin is aligning with State of California policy on youth sports activities under COVID-19 public health restrictions, effective March 3.
 
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provided updated guidance on organized youth sports and recreation on February 26, just a few days after Marin County moved from the most restrictive purple tier (signifying widespread risk of COVID-19) to the red tier (substantial risk) on the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The freshened CDPH guidelines included rules for youth sports, including school and community-sponsored programs, and privately-organized clubs and leagues.
 
Starting March 3, team competitions are permitted if all state restrictions are followed. Competitions of moderate- and high- contact team sports where physical distancing is impossible to maintain — such as baseball or football—may only take place between two teams (no multi-team tournaments). Sports that are individual in nature — such as track and field, mountain biking, solo sailing, or swimming — may conduct multi-team events since physical distancing between athletes is easier to maintain.
 
All team competitions are limited to teams located within Marin or counties bordering Marin that are in the same tier. Neighboring Contra Costa and San Francisco counties have achieved red tier status as of this week, and competitions may occur across those county lines. If the competitions meet the criteria, event organizers will not need to notify or seek approval from Marin County Public Health.
 
The state guidance also provides requirements for athletes, coaches, observers and how a competition may be conducted. As Marin County continues to progress through the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the sports guidelines will dictate which sports will be allowed to be conducted indoors. 
 
The state guidance does not apply to college athletics, professional sports, or community athletic events such as fundraiser 10-kilometer runs. The updated guidelines also apply to adult recreational sports.
 
Whether indoor or outdoor, the state’s updated guidelines continue to enforce use of masks and physical distancing, no sharing of drink bottles or other personal equipment, and a ban on all out-of-state competition events of any kind, including scrimmages. In Marin County, one adult per student athlete will be allowed to attend competitions, to limit crowding among spectators. 
 
Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer, said Marin is aligning with the state policy without any local added mandates or restrictions. He indicated Marin County Public Health will closely monitor for COVID-19 transmission related to sports activities and will add restrictions swiftly if needed.
 
“Physical exercise and play are vital to well-being for all of us, and especially for our young people,” Willis said. “The state’s new guidelines are strong and are well-timed as spring arrives and students return to school and sports.”
 
Youth and adult sports include varied activities that have different levels of risk for transmission of COVID-19. Outdoor activities present significantly lower risk of transmission relative to comparative indoor activities. Competition between teams also increases mixing across groups and outside of communities, which also contributes to the potential for spread of COVID-19.
 
In general, the risk of contracting COVID-19 increases the more a person interacts with others from outside their household. For athletes, coronavirus-related risks can increase through a sporting event if:

• the physical interaction is close
• the close-quarters interaction between athletes is longer than fleeting
• the physical exertion is high and breathing is hard

The risks apply to any competition or training/practice with others. It does not apply to individual conditioning or exercise.
 
Review the guidelines online at cdph.ca.gov or call the state’s COVID-19 hotline, 1-833-422-4255, for questions on the new policies. Questions may be emailed to Marin County Public Health’s COVID-19 address. 

Think Lean, Clean, and Green  

   
Here’s a fire-smart landscaping tip from UC Marin Master Gardeners.  Spring is the time to make your garden lean, clean, and green, and create a well maintained and defensible space around your property.  

• Lean: Keep plants thinned, pruned, and low growing. Have space between individual plants, or plant in small, irregular clusters or islands. Space trees so that at maturity the crowns are 10 feet apart or more.
• Clean: Remove fallen leaves and needles, dried grass, weeds, dead branches, and other dead vegetation. Check gutters, roof, eaves, vents and chimney for leaf and needle litter.  Rake fallen leaves, then compost or remove.  
• Green:  Properly irrigated plants remain healthy and green summer through fall.  Check your irrigation system regularly for leaks or malfunctions.

Before each fire season, re-evaluate your lean, clean and green landscape. For more information on fire-smart landscaping see:  http://marinmg.ucanr.edu/Fire-smart_Landscaping/

Facts About Air Pollution
in the Bay Area 

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District works year-round to educate the public about the various sources of air pollution, how to protect yourself from the harmful effects, and what you can do to help improve air quality throughout the region. The most common pollutants that impact air quality and public health in the Bay Area are ozone and particulate matter pollution:
 
Ozone pollution, also known as smog, mainly occurs in the warmer months when tailpipe exhaust combines with hot temperatures and sunlight to cause ozone buildup at ground level. When inhaled, ozone pollution can cause many negative health effects, including a scratchy throat and itchy, watery eyes, and can even trigger long-term health effects such as respiratory conditions like asthma, or more serious conditions like heart disease.
 
Particulate matter pollution consists of microscopic particles that come primarily from wood smoke and wildfire smoke. These fine particles easily bypass the body’s natural filtration system, enter the lungs and even the bloodstream. Particulate matter can cause lung irritation and inflammation, exacerbate respiratory conditions and trigger asthma attacks. Particulate matter pollution occurs mainly in the winter months when wood smoke can become trapped close to the ground by an inversion layer, typically formed when a layer of warm air acts as a lid over a layer of cooler air. Inversions prevent the air below from rising, which causes pollutants to build up.
 
An amendment to the Wood Burning Rule was adopted in 2019, allowing the Air District to ban wood burning year-round when a Spare the Air Alert for particulate pollution is called. For more information and to sign up for Spare the Air Alerts, visit www.sparetheair.org.

ART ON THE AVENUE

The San Anselmo Arts Commission is proud to be sponsoring this art exhibit at 538 San Anselmo Avenue. This month features four students from Michael Feldman Art Gallery will be featured. 

This exhibit will run through the month of March. For more information about the Arts Commission please visit. http://sananselmoarts.org/  

NOW OPEN THREE DAYS A WEEK

HOURS: Wednesday, FRIDAY, Saturday: 10 – 4

DONATIONS: Mondays, 1 - 4 and Fridays, 11 - 2

Our wonderful volunteers are once again stepping up and we are now open on FRIDAY, as well as Wednesday and Saturday. The store is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and you must wear a mask at all times. There are also hand-sanitizing facilities. We still have a limited number of shoppers at any given time, and we have a plexiglass divider at our counter. We accept cash and checks, but no credit cards.

DONATIONS are being accepted. Please bring donations only on the days and hours listed above. Because of health guidelines, our donations are quarantined for 72 hours, and we accept 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 go
to the San Anselmo Public Library.

Carpentry for Kids

Carpentry for Kids is an educational enrichment program for K-6 designed to teach practical woodworking skills with an emphasis on the safe hand tools. Students will have an opportunity to create fun, functional and beautiful projects.
 
Session 1:
Days: Mondays & Tuesdays                Dates: 3/8-3/23
Time: 3pm-5pm        Location: Isabel Cook Community Center- Maker's Den
REGISTER HERE

Letters to Leprechauns!!

We are incredibly excited to announce our first ever Letters To Leprechauns Program! Have you ever written a letter to Santa before? Well this is the same thing except you get to write to and get a response from a silly and sneaky little Leprechaun.

Visit https://www.townofsananselmo.org/305/Recreation for more information and the mailbox location! 

Questions about vaccines? Marin County Health and Human Services has set up a new vaccination phone line specifically for seniors over the age of 65 who are having trouble scheduling vaccine appointments. If you need assistance or know someone who needs assistance, please have them call: 833-641-1988

Stay tuned for a community wide project between Cedars, Age Friendly San Anselmo, and the Town of San Anselmo’s Recreation Department to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Shelter in Place announcement!! The project will roll out on March 17^th in Imagination park so be sure to check this newsletter on March 20^th or visit the park downtown to check out Cedars artwork marking the anniversary.

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. Apply here: 

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