Snapshot is a bimonthly newsletter that comes out the Thursday before every City Council meeting, highlighting items on the agenda, general news, and events.
It’s no secret that COVID-19 is dynamic, from how long the virus lives on various surfaces to the level at which some are affected by the virus compared to others. It can feel complex and exhausting in the ways in which we must be on guard to protect ourselves and others at all times. COVID-19 safety measures, including wearing a mask, are still more important than...
Inclusionary housing is a requirement that when a new housing development is built, that it includes some units that are considered affordable. Alternatively, the housing developer can pay a fee that goes towards creating affordable housing at another location in the City to meet this requirement. To make San Rafael a more livable and inclusive...
Yesterday morning, the Marin County Board of Supervisors passed an urgency ordinance that enhances enforcement efforts of the Public Health Order. The idea of this urgency ordinance is not to issue citations without warnings to individuals and businesses; in fact, it allows for a grace period so a notice of violation can be issued before issuing a citation. Education and awareness is preferred prior to issuing citations. The penalty for individuals would be between $25 and $500. For businesses, it...
Marin County Public Health and Marin County Office of Education presented a recommendation to implement a phased-in, hybrid approach to learning for the fall K-12 semester. The gradual approach will include distance learning along with small in-person groups. Following the guidance of Marin Public Health, individual districts will determine when it is appropriate to bring small groups of children into the classroom....
Due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, Governor Gavin Newsom is requiring several industries and activities to shut down immediately unless they can be modified to operate outside or by pick-up. Indoor industry closures effective IMMEDIATELY across the entire state include: Dine-in restaurants Wineries and tasting rooms Movie theaters Family entertainment centers (such as: bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting...
The coronavirus pandemic is not a wildfire, it’s incomparable to a natural disaster confined in time and space; it has affected many aspects of our daily lives, including turning a simple task like going to the grocery store into a possibly nerve-wracking experience for some and simply unsafe for the more vulnerable members of our community (this includes anyone over the...
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) created a “watch list” for counties whose COVID-19 data has raised concerns regarding spikes in COVID-19 cases within their communities. Indicators raising concern are things like, community spread, increased hospitalization, and limited hospital capacity. Marin County was added to the State’s watch list for all three indicators on July 3rd. The State recommends the following actions to address the drivers that originally placed Marin on this watch list: ...
The San Rafael Police Department is dedicated to helping at-risk youth create better opportunities for themselves and help set them on a positive path forward. One of our most influential programs is Camp Chance, a program designed to offer under-served kids an opportunity to experience traditional summer camp, as well as interact and build rapport with police officers. At the forefront of this program was Rebecca Kuga. Earlier this month, Rebecca lost a...
We are seeing a sharp rise in cases of COVID-19 in Marin. With the 4th of July right around the corner, COVID-19 has altered many plans from travel, to family gatherings, to firework shows. Many local shows, events, and parades have been cancelled to avoid large group gatherings. Local first responders are planning for a potential influx of visitors, especially to Marin’s coastal communities. Get creative this...
The County of Marin has decided to suspend many of the reopening guidelines for the June 29th reopening because of the recent spike in COVID-19 positive cases. According to the testing data on Marin Health and Human Services data and surveillance page, Marin County has seen a spike in cases, currently with 12 hospitalizations. Industries still permitted to open June 29th : Hair Salons / Barber...
