August 27, 2020, Update from Supervisor Connolly

In This Issue Woodward Fire: Information and Resources  COVID Update: Positive Trends  Protecting Coastline from Offshore Drilling Voter Changes: Mail-in Ballots Great Plates Returns Virtual 5K Race: Canal Alliance

Dear Friends,

All of my thanks and appreciation to the firefighters, front line workers, and those supporting them on the front lines. Thank you to the families who await the safe return of the firefighters. I have the utmost admiration for those that are risking their lives to protect our community and our state. Thank you.

The Woodward fire was ignited by a lightning strike on August 18 and has burned over 2,800 acres in West Marin. As of today, it is 8% contained. The fire is being managed by a type 1 National Incident Management Team. You can learn about the status of the Woodward fire on the incident management page. Prepare a Go Bag, plan for your pets, and take your car. Stay informed with Alertmarin.org, Nixle, and Social Media. For more emergency preparedness resources visit the Marin County Emergency Preparedness webpage. You can track the Woodward fire on the current fire map below.

FireSafe Marin is dedicated to reducing wildland fire hazards and preparing people and homes for fires. Learn how to protect yourself, your home, and your community through evacuation and personal preparedness, home hardening, defensible space, and community preparedness. Check out FireSafe Marin's Evacuation and Warnings: How to Survive a Wildfire video answering common questions about evacuation routes, preparation, situational awareness, and more. 

For ongoing updates on the Woodward fire, please see the links below:

Marin County Fire Department Facebook Twitter Instagram Information Hotline: 415-473-7191	Point Reyes National Seashore Facebook Twitter Instagram Website
Daily Live and Recorded Press Conference at 9:30 AM Facebook Radio Tune-in to: 90.5 Point Reyes Station; 89.9 Bolinas; 92.3 San Geronimo Valley	Air Quality Air Now (also has a good app for mobile devices) Fog Today (satellite view of smoke, fog, and clouds) Air Quality in California (Real-time air quality index) Weather

Marin health officials are advising you to stay indoors to protect yourself and loved ones from poor air quality and COVID. If you need to go outside wear a face covering and check the air quality. There is a national shortage of N95 masks, keep our essential workers, and first responders in mind when choosing how many you need at home.

Taking steps now to be prepared will help our first responders and frontline essential workers. This year has brought unprecedented challenges and I am incredibly proud of our community response, working together. Thank you for doing your part. 

COVID Update

We continue to trend in the right direction. A new dashboard is set up in alignment with the state’s monitoring metrics, and serve as indicators for getting off the Watch List. To be removed from the State Watch List, Marin has to have: less than 100 cases per 100,000 over 14 days; a testing rate greater than 150 per 100,000 over 7 days; percent positivity less than 8%; less than 30% of daily hospitalizations due to COVID; and more than 20% of ICU beds available. We are trending positively in all areas and are nearing compliance with the state on new case rates. Take a look at this week's COVID update from Dr. Willis. We are not out of the woods, keep up the good work, wash your hands, cover your face, and practice social distancing.

You can see a map of the statewide watch list with metrics from counties in the State. Read this Marin IJ article on Marin's Coronavirus Second Wave Flattens, Offering Hope for Reopening. 

Board Takes Steps to Protect Coastline From Oil and Gas Drilling

I am pleased to report that on August 25 the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance creating a voter-approved mechanism for any future development of onshore facilities supporting offshore oil and gas exploration. The ordinance seeks to protect Marin's coastline, inlets, and bays – and therefore also its agricultural lands, tourism, air quality, recreation, biodiversity, and quality of life. The action is in response to what the County believes is an increased threat to locate these types of facilities in Marin and would bring it into alignment with counties up and down California’s coastline. You can read more about this ordinance in this article.

 Marin County Mail-In Voting

This November's election will be different. Due to COVID-19, all registered voters will receive a ballot by mail. AB 860 was approved allowing ballots to be processed if postmarked on or before Election Day and received within 17 days after the election. The Marin Registrar of Voter's has started its outreach to inform voters about the November election and allowing them to update their signature. 

Ballots will be mailed starting October 5 and will take 5-7 days for delivery. The voter information guide will be mailed by the end of September. Early in-person voting options and ballot drop boxes will be available to voters. If you have questions, you can call the Registrar of Voter’s office at 415-473-6456 and learn more about important information on the presidential election’s page. Check out the local measures on the ballot. To learn more about the local changes, check out this Marin IJ article.

Great Plates Returns

Great Plates brings state and federal funds to support local restaurants and bring quality food to older adults during the COVID pandemic. From May to June, the Great Plates Delivered program served 717 older adults and supported 28 restaurants in Marin. After hearing strong support for the program, the Board of Supervisors approved a $976,016 budget appropriation with the expectation of federal and state reimbursement. The program is renewed for the same 717 recipients and the same 28 vendors. This new round of Great Plates Delivered is scheduled for September 10 thru October 9 and is subject to renewal by the state. For residents who were not able to participate in this program and are in need of resources, please call the Health and Human Services Information and Assitance Line at 415-473-INFO. I'm thankful for Health and Human Services for continuing this program. You can read more in this press release. 

Virtual Race for University Prep (UP!) Program and COVID relief

Please join District 1 in support of the Canal Alliance’s University Prep (UP!) program. This fundraiser will directly support 151 students who are enrolled in the UP! program for the 2020-21 school year. The UP! team has pivoted to support students through virtual learning. Walk, run, bike, or swim a solo race of any distance between September 12 and September 27.  Join District 1 in the virtual run here, and support the UP! Program.   

Let's keep talking.  

Sincerely,

 

Marin County Board of Supervisors, District 1
3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 329, San Rafael, CA 94903
Direct Tel: (415) 473-7331

District Aide: Mary Sackett
Direct Tel: (415) 473-7354 
Email: msackett@marincounty.org

District Aide: Gustavo Goncalves
Direct Tel: (415) 473-7342 
Email: ggoncalves@marincounty.org

Newsletter: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/bs/district-1/newsletters
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SupConnolly
Twitter: https://twitter.com/damon_connolly