Saturday August 21, 2021

David P. Donery, Town Manager

Public Health Plans Vaccine Clinic for Third Dose-Eligible

Mass Vaccination Day Targets Immunocompromised Marin Residents

San Rafael, CA – Marin County Public Health is ensuring all Marin residents who are severely immunocompromised have access to the recently approved third dose of COVID-19 vaccine by offering a special clinic exclusively for eligible Marin County residents. This is especially helpful to patients of healthcare providers who may not have the ability to provide COVID-19 vaccines in-house or match the increase in demand among immunocompromised patients.

The one-day mass vaccination event will take place Saturday, August 21 at the Marin Center (20 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, site of the Marin County Fairgrounds). The event is made possible by a partnership with Safeway.

Third doses are available for moderately to severely immunocompromised people who have completed a Pfizer or Moderna vaccination series more than 28 days ago and have:

Been receiving active cancer treatment,
Received an organ or stem cell transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system,
HIV infection, or
Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs

Appointments are encouraged, and vaccine seekers should bring an ID, their COVID-19 vaccination card, health insurance or medical coverage card (if they have one) and be prepared to attest that they are eligible for the third dose. Documentation from a healthcare provider is not required. The additional dose will be matched to the initial vaccination type. At this time, FDA authorization does not extend to those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

REGISTER FOR AUGUST 21 EVENT
The CDC estimates that about 2.7% of the population of the United States is immunocompromised, including organ transplant recipients, people undergoing cancer treatment, and those with other immunodeficiencies. In Marin, approximately 10,000 residents meet that criterion. This population is more likely to become infected with COVID-19, even after vaccination, compared with similarly vaccinated but otherwise healthy individuals. They are also more likely to become severely ill due to COVID-19.
“A third dose helps boost the protection for people with severely weakened immune systems,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County Public Health Officer. “It’s also important to remember that those of us who are fully vaccinated and have normal immune response are well protected, and don’t need an additional dose yet.”

People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them. Third doses for the general public is still under review by the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Depending on the FDA’s decision, third doses could be available for a wider range of people beginning in mid-September.

If a Marin County resident is eligible but cannot attend the September 21 mass vaccination event, they are encouraged to seek a vaccine from their medical provider or find a vaccine provider near them. Currently, Marin-based vaccine providers offering third doses include:

In addition, Marin County Public Health is offering third doses at its mobile vaccination clinics, as supply allows. Advance appointments are required. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines and to find a Marin County Public Health vaccine clinic near you, visit GetVaccinatedMarin.org.

Face Coverings Urged at Schools, Even Outdoors

San Rafael, CA – Schools are back in session or about to open doors throughout Marin County, and the COVID-19 variants are prompting public health and school officials to urge the use of face coverings by anyone on school properties.

The Marin County Office of Education and Marin County Public Health are calling on all families to adopt the practice of masking up at all times when on campus, even outdoors. With the Delta variant circulating in the community, universal masking is an added layer of protection for the entire school community.

“Looking across the nation as schools reopen it’s clear the Delta variant presents new challenges,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County Public Health Officer. “We’ve risen to challenges before by following the guidance and using common sense. Face covering is among the easiest and most effective tools we have.”

Last year, Marin was one of the first California counties to reopen all schools to some form of in-person learning during the 2020-21 school year. Only 19 cases of suspected in-school transmission occurred during the more than 2,800,000 student-days that were recorded last year.

“One key ingredient of our success has been the strong leadership of public health in guiding our protocols all along the way,” said Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools. “That guidance was adopted across all Marin Schools and we had great success with preventing the spread of COVID-19 on campuses because of precautionary measures and the hard of work of school staff and visitors. We’re now building on the success of last year.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends mask use because of evidence showing the effectiveness of face covering in two ways. For infected people, masks reduce the risk they will infect another person. For people who are not infected, wearing a mask reduces the risk they will be infected, even if someone around them is spreading the virus. Because the risk of transmission between two people is lowest when both are masked (“mask on mask”), universal masking is regarded as the safest policy. CDC also recommends face coverings in outdoor settings for people who are unvaccinated and in sustained close contact with other people (e.g., playground activity). The American Association of Pediatrics echoes CDC’s recommendation and supports universal masking on school campuses to protect unvaccinated students from COVID-19 and reduce transmission, recognizing a significant portion of the student population remains
unvaccinated either because of personal choice or ineligibility.

“Facial coverings are a critical tool to help make sure schools are still open two weeks from now and beyond,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, Deputy Public Health Officer for Marin County. “Masking on campus both indoors and outdoors helps protect youngsters who are not yet eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.”
Teachers occasionally use clear face shields to enable students to see their teachers’ mouth while speaking and to avoid potential barriers to phonological instruction. Face shields can be worn over a mask or with a drape to prevent airborne particles entering inside or escaping from the face shield.

Masks should be worn to cover the nose and entire chin, preferably pinched snugly around the nose and the sides of the face. A face covering can be made of cloth, fabric, or other breathable material, but it should not have holes. Marin County Office of Education encourages schools to offer accommodations to students with medical or behavioral needs.

On August 2, Marin joined other Bay Area counties in requiring the use of masks indoors in public settings for everyone – vaccinated or unvaccinated – out of an abundance of caution as Delta variant COVID-19 cases spiked. Masks are not required in outdoor public areas but are strongly recommended in crowded environments.

For more information about the use face coverings and other tips to reduce your risk of COVID-19 infection, visit Marin Public Health’s COVID-19 website. For details on school reopening protocols, visit Marin County Office of Education’s “Rethinking Schools” website.

Upcoming Town Council Meeting

August 24th, 7:00PM

To access this Town Council agenda, staff reports, and meeting, please visit this LINK.

Town Council Adopts Urgency Ordinance Requiring Businesses with 25 or Fewer Employees to Provide Paid Sick Leave to Employees for COVID 19 Related Reasons Through September 30, 2021

The costs for this leave are reimbursable through Federal tax credits

At a special Town Council meeting on Monday, August 16, 2021, the Town Council adopted an urgency ordinance that applies to businesses with 25 or fewer employees within San Anselmo.

The ordinance requires these businesses to provide paid sick leave at a maximum rate of $511/day or $5110 in aggregate for employees who cannot telework. (Ord. §5-1(e)). These rates are consistent with the tax credits available to employers under the American Rescue Plan.

APPLICABLE USES

Under the ordinance, paid sick leave is available for any of the following reasons:

The Employee has been advised by a health care provider to isolate or self-quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
The Employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order due to COVID-19;
The Employee is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
The Employee needs to care for an Individual who is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19, or has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19, or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
The Employee needs to provide care for an Individual whose senior care provider or whose school or childcare provider is closed or unavailable in response to a public health or other public official’s recommendation;
The Employee is attending an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; or
The Employee is experiencing symptoms related to a COVID-19 vaccine that prevent the Employee from being able to work or telework. (Ord. §5-1(d)).

EMPLOYER COSTS ARE REIMBURSED THROUGH FEDERAL TAX CREDITS

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was signed into law and mandated paid sick leave for certain employees unable to work or telecommute due to COVID-19. The FFCRA included a tax credit to reimburse employers for the cost of the paid sick leave.

This ordinance is set to expire on September 30, 2021.

Town Council to Consider Ban on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers on 9/14

Hours of Operation also to be discussed

At their meeting on Tuesday, September 14th, the Town Council will review a draft ordinance that would ban the use of all gas-powered leaf blowers in the town. The Council will also consider implementing a rebate program that would provide partial funds for the purchase of an electric leaf blower in exchange for a gas blower. The gas leaf blowers will be decommissioned, recycled and disposed of through a partnership with Marin Sanitary.

At this meeting, the Council will also consider the hours of allowable operation of leaf blowers.

STREET CLOSURE NOTICE – SAN ANSELMO AVENUE (FROM SCENIC AVE TO ELM AVE) FOR EMERGENCY TREE REMOVAL

8/23-8/27 FROM 8 AM TO 5 PM - OVERNIGHT PARKING WILL BE ALLOWED ON ADJACENT STREETS

As a result of a recent power outage, it was discovered that a large tree had limb failure (which caused the outage) and is unsafe and needs to be removed along with another large tree nearby. The Town, along with PG&E and tree contractors will be addressing the situation next week. For safety reasons, due to the size and location of the tree and proximity to powerlines, the entire street block of San Anselmo Ave (from Scenic Ave to Elm Ave) will need to be closed to through traffic daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for five days, starting on Monday, August 23^rd.

When the street is closed at 8:00 am daily, residents in the affected area will not be able to access driveways or get through the barricades to get out until 5:00 pm each day. No bike traffic will be allowed on the street either. Detour signage will be placed accordingly.

There will be no ticketing for overnight parking on nearby streets for the duration of the work. The Town apologizes for the inconvenience that this will cause as we deal with this situation as safely and expediently as possible. We thank everyone for their patience.

With questions or concerns, please call 415-258-4616.

COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE REIMAGINE CREEK PARK PROJECT

Community Survey ends on August 30th

San Anselmo’s Creek Park is undergoing a transformation.

When Marin County initiated the San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction Project (SAFRR) in 2010, its purpose was to mitigate barriers that cause San Anselmo creek to overflow its banks and flood our downtown. The project’s main focus is the demolition of the structures that block the flow of the creek during heavy rains.

Removing buildings on San Anselmo Avenue would also open up a Town jewel, Creek Park. SAFRR became an opportunity to piggyback on the County’s construction and Reimagine what Creek Park can be for San Anselmo. The County's Flood District will be providing an update on the SAFRR project

DESIGNING THE VISION

In 2019, the Town conducted a design competition to Reimagine Creek Park. This attracted renowned landscape architecture practices who produced stunning design concepts. The Town Council selected RHAA’s concept, deeming it a transformative vision for this gem in the heart of our downtown.

THE PANDEMIC AND THE PLAZA

While the pandemic has slowed the process, it has also given us the interim plaza. The public space has been a resounding success and has proven the need and value for just such an amenity in downtown San Anselmo.

THE REIMAGINE TIMELINE

The complexity of the flood mitigation work and Reimagining Creek Park requires a flexible schedule. Covid-19 has presented delays. State infrastructure funding issues have also postponed the replacement of the Winship Park bridge in Ross which must precede the creek modifications in San Anselmo. Current projections call for the restoration and reimagining construction to occur in 2023.

YOUR INPUT

But our progress continues and as we resolve the park’s final plans, we want to hear your wishes for the final features of the park. Community engagement has been a hallmark of
Reimagine Creek Park. Please let us know your thoughts by participating in this survey. To participate: click on the link below, or scan the QR code, or visit the project page on the Town's website. This input will be used to formulate concepts for the design and eventual use of the plaza. Look for announcements in the Town Manager's Newsletter for upcoming community engagement opportunities

TAKE THE SURVEY

You can access the survey by visiting the
Project Page on the Town of San Anselmo's website:

LINK

Thank you for your participation!

Community Help Needed with Parking Issues at Weekend ON THE AVENUE Events

As most of you know, the Town closes San Anselmo Avenue to vehicle traffic on Fridays at 6:00PM and Saturdays at 5:00PM for the ON THE AVENUE event series. In addition, in August the SAN ANSELMO LIVE! music series began with shows on the Town Hall lawn and the Creek Park stage each night. These events are very well attended.

Over the past two weekends, vehicles have remained in the event area, which is on San Anselmo Avenue between Tamalpais and Tunstead Avenues, after the events got underway. No Parking signage for the event is visible on both sides of the street. It creates a dangerous condition when cars remain in the closure area as adults and children are in the street with the expectation that it is free of moving vehicles.

In partnership with the Central Marin Police Authority, the Town will be addressing this issue by increasing signage and requiring that any vehicle that remains parked within the closure area will receive a parking ticket and will not be allowed to exit the closure area until the end of the event and those streets have been reopened at 10:30pm.

We appreciate the community's cooperation and collaboration in this matter!

Community Equity Speaker Series Continues with Focus on Transformative Change

College of Marin Umoja Equity Program Director will moderate virtual conversation August 24

San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Office of Equity is inviting residents to participate in the summer installment of its Community at the Table: Leading with Anti-Racism Speaker Series. The series is in partnership with Book Passage [External], Institute for Leadership Studies[External] and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion[External] at Dominican University of California.

Speaker: john a. powell
When: 5-6 p.m., August 24
Online registration[External]

john a. powell is the Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute[External], a University of California Berkeley research institute that brings together scholars, organizers, communicators, and policymakers to identify and eliminate barriers to an inclusive, just, and sustainable society, to create transformative change toward a more equitable nation. powell spells his name in lowercase based on the idea that we should be part of the universe, not over it, as capitals signify.

powell has written extensively on several issues including structural racism, racial justice, concentrated poverty, opportunity-based housing, voting rights, affirmative action in the United States, South Africa, and Brazil, racial and ethnic identity, spirituality and social justice, and the needs of citizens in a democratic society. He is the author of several books, including his most recent work, Racing to Justice: Transforming our Concepts of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society.

The College of Marin Umoja Equity Program[External] Director Professor Walter Turner will have a one-on-one conversation with powell on how to move beyond equity and diversity statements to authentic empowering actions for Marin communities and institutions.

Turner shares that this conversation is timely and as a community we can thoughtfully address topics such as what the legacies of systemic racism are, “othering,” redlining and how do we develop programs and shared goals that are the foundations of social justice and genuine anti-racism. Turner was born in Marin City and has been a professor of African and African American studies at the College of Marin for more than 20 years.
Equity is one of the Marin County Board of Supervisors’ top priorities. The Office of Equity has a vision of dismantling inequities and transforming systems that we have inherited through centuries of racial, social, and political injustices. Learn more online about equity measures at the County of Marin.

For disability accommodations, please phone Maureen De Nieva-Marsh at (415) 473-6166, CA Relay 711, or contact by e-mail at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in an alternative format on request.

Learn about Marin Villages

Do you know about Marin Villages yet? Rather than a place, it’s an engaged, active and vibrant group of older adults who are aging in place in their homes, and who get together for programs ranging from coffees and happy hours to educational talks, cultural outings, hiking, and games. Marin Villages also supports aging in place with a host of volunteer services such as transportation, errands, companionship, and more. There are six local villages, including the Ross Valley Village that encompasses our local area. If you would like more information or are interested in joining or volunteering, please visit www.marinvillages.org or call the office, (415) 457-4633.

DEFENSIBLE SPACE & HOME HARDENING
EVALUATION PROGRAM

Through funding provided by the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, inspectors are out in the community conducting Wildfire Defensible Space and Home Hardening Evaluations for properties in San Anselmo's Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas.

Inspectors inspect properties to evaluate whether homes meet wildland-urban interface "WUI" defensible space, vegetation management, and construction standards. Residents then receive a comprehensive, online report that includes recommendations for improving their home’s ability to survive a wildfire. This evaluation may also determine if the property meets state and local requirements for defensible space. Residents can choose to accompany the inspectors during the home evaluation, however, this is not required.

Follow up inspections may occur after 30 days. Some issues identified may be required by law and must be corrected. In some cases, failure to correct these issues may result in abatement and/or liens. Enforcement actions, if necessary, are the responsibility of your fire department's Fire Prevention Bureau, not the MWPA.

The Town seeks applicants for Instructor at Parkside Preschool

Parkside Preschool in San Anselmo is looking for a Preschool Teacher with a minimum of 6 ECE Units. The position is part-time (20-25 hours per week). The pay range is $17-$21 per/hour.

Qualifications

CPR Certification (Preferred)
A minimum of 6 Early Childhood Education (ECE) units
Experience working with children

Desired Skills and Abilities:

Energetic self-starter who is professional, friendly and loves children.
Background and knowledge of child development, classroom management, and parent interaction.

Please contact Dawn Jones at DJones@townofsananselmo.org for more information.

SAN ANSELMO LIVE!

Weekend entertainment in Downtown San Anselmo

The Town of San Anselmo in partnership with the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce is excited to present SAN ANSELMO LIVE!, a live entertainment series that coincides with the On the Avenue weekend street closure program. San Anselmo Live!, which is generously sponsored by Eric Gelman of Compass Real Estate and by Jack Kammer of Fairway Mortgage, will schedule musical acts on the Creek Park stage and on the Town Hall Plaza through October, weather permitting.

For a listing of bands, please visit: https://www.townofsananselmo.org/316/Community-Events

For more information, please contact Recreation Supervisor Mattie O'Grady at mogrady@townofsananselmo.org

When it comes to water, use these important fire-smart landscape strategies

Here’s a UC Marin Master Gardener fire-smart landscaping tip for August:

Remove dead plants and debris.
Keep a vigilant eye on plants that may be suffering from drought. If too drought damaged, a plant may not recover and will need to be removed.
Within 5 feet of the perimeter of structures on your property, move wood mulch or foundation plants to other locations on the property.
Keep your irrigation system in good condition to optimize water distribution to plants.
Hand watering before 9 am when it’s cool is an option when irrigation is not optimized and water is restricted.
Limit replacement plantings to climate appropriate plants such as California native species, and plants native to Mediterranean summer dry climates.
Do not wet down your property on Red Flag warning days. Water as normal.
Clearly mark all emergency (and other) water sources.
Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source and provide extra hoses.

For more information on fire-smart landscaping, see http://marinmg.ucanr.edu/BASICS/FIRESMARTLANDSCAPING/

Stroll through San Anselmo's History

The Historical Commission is excited to resume free docent-led tours through downtown. Learn about San Anselmo’s historic Hub, the role the railroad played in the development of town and the changing character of the businesses and architecture on San Anselmo Avenue.
Tour dates are August 14, September 11 and October 9. Meet at Creek Park at 9:00 a.m. The tour ends at the Historical Museum for refreshments. No reservations are required.

If you prefer to tour downtown or the Seminary area on your own, try the Historical Commission’s new audio walking tours. They use VoiceMap, a free mobile app for iPhones and Android devices. Just download the tour, put on your headphones and you’re ready to explore. You can walk at your own pace and stop along the way. See https://wp.me/P5Vikt-Pc for details and instructions.

Free Yoga in the Park

San Anselmo Recreation is partnering with Marin Yoga to offer free or donation-based yoga classes every Saturday and Sunday morning from 9:30am-10:30am!! Pre-registration is required. All proceeds will benefit the Canal Alliance and the San Anselmo Recreation Department.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Fall 2021 Registration is Now Open!

We have gymnastics, soccer, adult classes, live music, and much more!

You can flip through our digital Fall 2021 Activity Guide here to check out the awesome programs headed your way!
To Register for classes, please visit www.sananselmorecreation.org

Art on the Avenue

The San Anselmo Arts Commission is proud to be sponsoring the art exhibit at 538 San Anselmo Avenue. This month features the work of artist Spence Snyder and will run through the month of August.

For more information about the Arts Commission please visit. http://sananselmoarts.org

For more information about the Arts Commission please visit. http://sananselmoarts.org

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”)

ALL BASKETS ARE BEING WATERED WITH WELL WATER!

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