Marin County announced shelter-in-place restrictions that orders residents to stay in their homes for anything but essential reasons. The order is in effect through April 7. Essential reasons include accessing health care, shopping for groceries and supplies, caring for family members and exercising outdoors. Certain essential businesses and services continue to serve the public. To be included here, email localnews@marinij.com.
RESTAURANTS: Although restaurant dining rooms are off limits, many are open for take-out and delivery. See the list and tweet with #MarinFood to add to the updated roster.
SAN RAFAEL: The city is publishing a list of essential businesses open during the order.
GOLDEN GATE TRANSIT: Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has initiated new bus and ferry schedules reducing runs on bus Routes 4, 18, 24X, 27, 54, 56X, 58, 72X and 74. All eastbound and westbound Route 25 service is canceled effective Wednesday until at least April 3. Golden Gate Ferry weekend trips are canceled effective March 21 and weekday trips have been slightly reduced. Schedule information
MARIN TRANSIT: Operating regular service with the planned change of suspending supplemental school routes (routes numbered in the 100 series) during school closures. Check website for updates
SMART: Temporarily suspending weekend service through April 5. The agency will temporarily cancel the following weekday train trips: southbound 7:10 a.m. and 4:29 p.m. out of the Sonoma County Airport and northbound 8:46 a.m. and 6:05 p.m. out of Larkspur. The agency will continue to monitor potential changes on a day-to-day basis.
AIRPORT: The Gnoss Field Marin County Airport remains open.
UPDATES FROM COUNTY OF MARIN
Board of Supervisors: The Supervisors plan to continue holding their meetings in the Marin County Civic Center’s Board chamber in San Rafael to conduct essential business during the COVID-19 outbreak. Nonessential business will be postponed, and all postponed agenda items will be rescheduled for dates to be determined later. The Board staff is working to accommodate residents who would like to participate in Board meetings but are concerned about restrictions on public gatherings. Information: 415-473-7331.
Agriculture/Weights & Measures: The Novato-based department is closed to walk-in service until further notice but is responding to phone calls and emails. Information: 415-473-6700.
Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk: All three divisions are discouraging personal visits to the Civic Center but remain open for urgent needs. Some Recorder requests can be handled online. Information: 415-473-7215 (Assessor); 415-473-6093 (Recorder); 415-473-6152 (County Clerk).
Child Support Services: The office in Novato is closed until further notice. Cases involving families through Child Support Services are being postponed by Marin County Superior Court. Parents with face-to-face appointments with staff are being contacted to make attempts to resolve issues over the phone and email, and the department is focusing on essential services. Information: 866-901-3212.
Community Development: The CDA Building & Safety Division suspended its over-the-counter plan review program, and the Development Services Center and Environmental Health Services permit centers are closed. Permit customers may still drop off their completed building permit applications at the dropoff box in the Permit Center lobby. Applicants will be notified via email of additional requirements to facilitate permit issuance. Applicants may request an appointment to meet with a counter technician. Self-serve online building permits are limited to reroofing, re-siding, electrical maintenance, plumbing maintenance, mechanical maintenance, and window replacement permits. Enforcement priorities will be to protect public safety, including responding to unsafe construction, food-borne illnesses, and sewage spills. Planned public meetings have been canceled. Information: 415-473-6269 (Planning); 415-473-6907 (Environmental Health); 415-473-6550 (Building & Safety).
County Administrator: Many CAO staff members are part of the response team in the Emergency Operations Center, which was activated in early March because of COVID-19, or working to facilitate continued essential services for residents and County employees. The March budget hearings scheduled for March 23-25 will be rescheduled for a later date. Information: 415-473-6358.
County Counsel: The County’s team of attorneys mostly handles internal matters and does not provide legal advice to the public, but it does assist special districts. Business continues to be conducted remotely. Information: 415-473-6117.
Cultural Services: Events at Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, Showcase Theater, and Exhibition Hall have been cancelled through May 11 and the Bartolini Gallery and Redwood Foyer Gallery are closed to visitors. Docent tours of the Civic Center are canceled. Information: 415-473-6400.
District Attorney: The public lobby is closed, but the DA is required to staff a courtroom with a misdemeanor and felony team attorney. Staff is reviewing custody cases to determine whether criminal charges will be filed and notifying witnesses that they will not be needed because of the postponement of most court sessions. Staff is sending new subpoenas for cases approximately 8 weeks out. The juvenile unit is still functioning and able to make court appearances remotely. The DA is discouraging face-to-face meetings and appointments but answering phone calls. Information: 415-473-6450; 415-473-5080 (victim witness services).
Elections: The Registrar of Voters reports steady progress on the recording of final votes from the March 3 Presidential Primary and will continue updates on www.marinvotes.org until the tally is complete. Information: 415-473-6456.
Finance: Property tax collection is not being affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. April 10 remains the last day to pay the second installment without a penalty. For public health reasons, Finance is discouraging personal visits to the Civic Center to pay taxes and urging residents to pay online, by phone, or by mail (Marin County Tax Collector, P.O. Box 4220, San Rafael CA 94913). Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) payments and business license fees will only be accepted online or by mail (Marin County Central Collections, P.O. Box 4220, San Rafael CA 94913). Information: 415-473-6154 (main); 4151-473-6177 (Tax Collector and Central Collections); 415-473-6142 (Public Administrator).
Fire: Routine public safety operations are being performed. Fire prevention services are only available via phone and electronic submission because no field inspections services are available. Fire stations are closed to the public with the exception of emergencies. Previously planned community meetings at fire stations are cancelled. Information: 415-473-6717.
Health and Human Services: HHS employees are on the front lines of the local COVID-19 response, committed to the mission of promoting and protecting the health, well-being, safety and self-sufficiency of all Marin residents. Employees are either directly supporting the emergency response in areas such as public health or are committed to continuing to provide critical social, health and behavioral health services, following state, federal, and international guidelines. Many electronic and telephonic services are available for the public, and residents should consider conducting conversations over the phone or contacting HHS by email when possible. Public Health created a phone hotline, 415-473-7191, for residents to call with questions or concerns about the virus. The call center is open from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays. A three-way phone line is used to assist non-English speakers. Information: 415-473-7191 (COVID hotline); 415-457-INFO (information resources for older adults, persons with disabilities, or family caregivers).
Human Resources: Civic Center volunteers and interns have been notified not to show up for planned assignments. The HR recruitment team is working with employment candidates to conduct interviews via conference calls or Skype if a candidate prefers not to meet in person due to social distancing concerns. Information: 415-473-6104.
Information Services and Technology: Many IST employees are assisting with website updates, teleworking and emergency operations services related to the COVID-19 virus. Information: 415-473-6309.
Library: The Marin County Free Library branches were closed as of March 16 until further notice, and all programs and events have been cancelled, including visits by the Bookmobile and Learning Bus. Information: 415-473-3222.
Parks: County park facilities were closed March 16, but open space preserves remain open. All ranger programs, interpretive programs and volunteer programs are canceled through April 5. Some staff members have been recruited to assist in the cleaning of park facilities. Since the County’s shelter order allows residents to get fresh air, Parks encourages residents to experience open space trails to get some exercise. Information: 415-473-6387.
Probation: Adult and juvenile offices are closed to the public, but routine public safety operations are being performed. Staff is contacting people who have been scheduled for orientations, parole hearings, and interviews to reschedule. Information: 473-6599.
Public Defender: With Marin County Superior Court closed except for in-custody or essential matters, the Public Defender’s Office has closed its lobby at the Civic Center and advised clients to call its office for updates. Information: 415-473-6321.
Public Works: Because of reduced staffing in some divisions, it may take Public Works workers a bit longer to respond to certain situations. Information: 415-473-6528.
Retirement: The Marin County Employees’ Retirement Association office is closed but the staff is continuing to provide one-on-one phone consultations. Applications for pending retirements are being processed normally and pension payments are on schedule. Many resources are available online at www.mcera.org. Information: 415-473-6147.
Sheriff: Normal public safety operations are still in place. See the Sheriff’s webpage for more details. Information: 415-473-7284.
UC Cooperative Extension / Farm Advisor: The Novato office is closed to the public through March, but employees are responding to phone and email inquiries. Educational programs and events have been cancelled through the end of March as well. Information: 415-473-4204.
TYPES OF BUSINESSES: Here is a list of types of essential services that are permitted to operate:
• Healthcare operations and essential infrastructure
• Grocery stores, certified farmers markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supply, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning and personal care products). This includes stores that sell groceries and also sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences.
• Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing.
• Businesses that provide food, shelter and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.
• Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services.
• Gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, and related facilities.
• Banks and related financial institutions.
• Hardware stores.
• Plumbers, electricians, exterminators and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences, essential activities, and essential businesses.
• Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes.
• Educational institutions — including public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities — for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of 6 feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible.
• Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers.
• Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery or carry out. Schools and other entities that typically provide free food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so under this order on the condition that the food is provided to students or members of the public on a pick-up and take-away basis only. Schools and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided, or at any other gathering site.
• Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home.
• Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate.
• Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences.
• Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for essential activities and other purposes expressly authorized in the shelter-in-place order.
• Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children.
• Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, and children.
• Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities.
• Child care facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in the order to work as permitted.
