Let us use this deeply unfortunate incident to continue the community conversation in Mill Valley about racial equity and specifically the dozens of Mill Valley BIPOC business owners' interactions with local police. We want to hear about your interactions with MVPD officers - bad, good or otherwise - particularly as the City of MV introduces DEI Task Force facilitator on Sept. 8. Email us here.

Yema Khalif and Hawi Awash, owners of the Yema apparel shop on Main Street in downtown Tiburon, were working late into the night on inventory when they were confronted by Tiburon police officers about why they were in the store at that hour. The confrontation escalated and was recorded (video below), sparking outrage in that community as the country continues to grapple with horrific confrontations with the police, the latest of which occurred with the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Aug. 23.

"After it was over I was shaking," Awash told the Marin IJ. "My whole body was shaking and I could not make it stop. It was fear. It came from knowing that in one split second they could end someone's life."

In the video that begins shortly after the encounter began, police seek for Khalif to show them his identification to prove that is the owner of the store. Khalif declines, saying that a white business owner would not be asked to prove his ownership of the store in the same situation. Officers quickly grow frustrated and the exchange escalates. 

A Change.org petition calling for the firing of one of the officers involved in the incident has achieved nearly 1,000 signatures. 

"I cannot lie and say I'm OK," Khalif told the IJ. "I'm traumatized and my wife is traumatized."

In the video, Tiburon Sgt. Michael Blasi says, "Do you want us to look out for the community or do you want us to let anybody walk in here at 2 o'clock in the morning and steal all your stuff? You sure? 'Cause you don't sound like you're very grateful. You sound very defensive."

Moments later, a neighbor can be heard telling police that Khalif is indeed the store owner. Blasi and two other officers then leave.

"Whatever the intention of the responding offices, the interchange inappropriately deteriorated from helpful to confrontational," Tiburon Mayor Alice Fredericks wrote in an email sent to the community. "Tiburon police officers are trained and held to the highest standards of conduct. A key component of that training is the expectation that our officers will utilize de-escalation techniques in situations like there. It is clear that did not occur in this instance."

Police Chief Michael Cronin said the town has engaged the services of an independent attorney to conduct an investigation into the incident. "At the conclusion of the investigation the report will be provided to the Town Manager for review and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigator," Cronin told the IJ.

Tiburon Police released footage from an officer's body camera during the incident.
​VIEW IT HERE.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE OR BELOW.

Keep Marin Working (KMW), a collaborative of diverse Marin organizations whose purpose is to coordinate and strengthen the voice of business throughout the county and take positions to create a more business-friendly climate. This group includes the North Bay Leadership Council, Marin Realtors Association, Marin Economic Forum, Marin Builders Association, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Latino Council and Novato Chamber of Commerce.

The members of KMW urge the Board of Supervisors, City and Town Councils of Marin to take immediate action to spur the economic recovery of the County. The shock from the pandemic and subsequent recession is unlike anything experienced before and demands urgent attention and action to help recover, rebuild and reset the County’s economy for the good of the businesses, nonprofits, workers and local governments who rely on a strong, thriving economic ecosystem. 

In assessing the current economic situation and envisioning what is needed to take us to the next normal for economic vitality and competitiveness, KMW recommends adopting the 10 Point Economic Recovery Plan Framework below. We are committed to further develop this plan to create a public-private partnership that will implement the plan's objectives and actionable efforts, once we receive input and support from the Board and City/Town Councils.

10 Point Economic Recovery Plan Framework

1. CREATION OF A MARIN COUNTY RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: A Strategic Marin Plan should be created to reflect the new realities of 2020. The strategy will define activities to support existing businesses while planning for the expansion and attraction of new businesses to fill gaps caused by the pandemic. The workforce needs to be aligned and equipped to meet the new demands of businesses affected and created in response to COVID-19. This will require an immediate identification and collection of countywide economic data to begin the process. By identifying workforce, resources, real estate and industries that represent the region, we can determine strategic sectors that will lead to job creation and new investment in the county.” These are more traditional outcomes of strategies.  
2. DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY: Major sectors that have been a large part of the Marin County economy have been impacted by the pandemic and recession and are predicted to be unable to return to their pre-pandemic levels. Along with the creation of a long term economic development plan, an assessment should be made of those losses and a study done to determine what sectors could be targeted to help diversify the economy and what initiatives can be taken to foster that diversification to bring in new businesses, particularly higher paying job opportunities in technology, “green-tech,” and other sectors, that will provide new revenue to help fill the hole of the sectors that will be declining.
   1. Provide access and available capital to the underserved communities that often are overlooked: Many underserved business owners need financial assistance and business support for their survival. These assistance programs should be provided in Spanish and other languages where needed. 
3. PROVIDE REGULATORY RELIEF: The business community and nonprofit community are hanging by a thread to survive. Every effort should be made to provide regulatory relief in this crisis and to not add any new financial burdens as they struggle. The County, Cities and Towns should hit the pause button on all existing regulatory policies – including consideration and adoption of new policies and nonessential regulatory functions – not urgently needed to protect human health and extend the time to implement rules that have not yet taken effect. This should include:   
   1. No new fees or fee increases 
   2. No new mandates that cost business like paid sick leave, rent relief, etc. 
   3. Minimizing or suspending all county regulations that impede business recovery such as insignificant permitting or zoning requirements, environmental health department code requirements and other regulations that hinder small businesses from being nimble in these uncertain times. 
4. FOCUS ON RETENTION AND EXPANSION OF CURRENT EMPLOYERS: Support the Marin Economic Forum’s existing business retention and expansion efforts initiated through the county-funded “Marin County Business Retention & Expansion Project” (“the Project”) launched in 2019. This may require additional County/City/Town funding for additional staff and resources. MEF has identified challenges and opportunities in the “Phase 1 Report” of the Project which serves as the basis for regulatory and competitiveness needs, issues and policies that would be the driver of this effort. Business retention and expansion efforts will be integrated into the proposed economic strategy (#1 above) but the outreach and communication of the commitment to retention and expansion should start now. MEF would serve as leader in the Cities, Towns and County to help retain and expand the current business base.  
5. INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE: Now is the time to make investments in infrastructure that will improve the County’s ability to create well-paying jobs, improve the economic infrastructure, take advantage of low interest rates, and reduce climate change impacts. Transportation improvements are needed and should be implemented. It is important to build a county-wide broadband system, upgrade the network where possible, for remote learning and telework.  
   1. Renewed effort in job creation around construction by ensuring construction jobs remain operational and are safe for workers and offer upskill training.
   2. Non-punitive programs to encourage or incentivize retrofitting of buildings to help decarbonize them and adapt to changing commercial needs as businesses shrink their footprints due to more telework should be developed. 
   3. Shovel ready pavement overlay projects should be prioritized as they are the fastest way to improve our roads and get the dollars back into the economy.
6. MAKE HOUSING A TOP PRIORITY: Based on the enormous housing shortage in Marin, it is essential that the County begin to break down the barriers to create more housing stock at all level of incomes. Currently, many developers do not consider the County based on the high fees, permit requirements and public sentiment. Not only would this create much needed housing, it would also create a new revenue for the County. Zoning changes should be explored for commercial zoning to mixed use or residential where feasible.   
7. GIVE PREFERENCES TO LOCAL VENDORS: The pandemic has shown the importance of having a local supply chain including food and local services. It has also shown that we need redundancy in that supply chain. The County should look at essential products and services and ensure that They are giving preference to local companies. Purchasing should be from local vendors and providing support to those vendors should be considered. There are also opportunities to bring more manufacturing to the County as a part of a regional plan to localize more manufacturing in our state and country.   
   1. Support agriculture: As part of “Go Local” program, there should be incentives to create more local markets for County grown and/or created food products. 
   2. The cannabis sector has great growth potential that has been stymied through a variety of obstacles. Those barriers that the county controls should be removed to help the cannabis sector grow to increase County revenues and create more jobs. 
8. STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES: Place an emphasis on our county-wide, and regional workforce development organizations, and educational programs, as well as career pathways throughout the county, but especially in underserved areas in Marin such as the Canal Neighborhood, Marin City, Novato and West Marin.  Enhance and financially support information and resource (I&R) systems like 211 so that underserved communities get information in regard to training or services that are available. Creating a communication road map could benefit these communities greatly.  
   1. Improve access to multilingual, multicultural resources for underserved communities of color 
   2. Strengthen infrastructure that increases internet and technology access for all
   3. Increase collaborative business partnerships with higher education that result in paid internship and apprenticeship opportunities
   4. Provide resources to support an aging workforce (e.g. technology skill building)
   5. Create innovative toolkit to encourage telework and workforce reskilling.  There are many reasons organizations opt to offer flexible work arrangements, including: lower operating costs, less employee turnover, higher employee satisfaction and greater hiring flexibility 
   6.  Assess the workers who have been displaced by the economic shock and create training programs to reskill or upskill them so that they can fill the jobs in Marin County
9. CREATE SOLUTIONS TO CHILDCARE SHORTAGE: Workers cannot return to work if there is no one to care for their children. The pandemic has hit the childcare sector very hard and caused a great loss of available childcare slots due to new requirements for social distancing. Subsidies to help childcare providers stay open while not being able to operate a full capacity should be considered.   Support the goals of the Marin Child Care Commission’s 2020-2025 Master Plan, including addressing inadequate licensed supply for infant/toddler age care and school age care, lack of subsidized child care slots for working families with financial need and ensure that licensed and licensed-exempt child care facilities are staffed with a high-quality workforce.  
10. CHANGE LAND USE AND ZONING TO REFLECT NEW REALITY: The pandemic and recession have changed how businesses will operate going forward. There needs to be flexibility in the zoning and land use regulations to allow businesses to pivot to new models of operations or production. Zoning changes should include changing commercial zoning to mixed use or residential where feasible.

1. A case is identified
2. A MCHHS Contact Investigator contacts the case to gather information and among other things, identifies the employer of the case (if applicable)
3. If the case works at a residential facility for the elderly, an outbreak team responds to address the workplace exposure in this vulnerable population
4. If the case is employed outside the home and the CI is concerned about possible work exposure, the case information is sent to a Business Investigator
5. The Business Investigator contacts the business to inform them of their positive employee and guide them on next steps

When does this guidance apply?

1. When any staff has either a lab test confirmed case or healthcare provider diagnosed case of COVID-19 and
2. When any staff was at work 48 hours before symptoms started or if they have no symptoms, was at work 48 hours before receiving their positive test result.

What should a business do when an employee tests positive?

• Report: Immediately notify any COVID-19 case to Marin Public Health at 415-473-2957 or to Covid19results@marincounty.org
• Maintain confidentiality: Do not release the names of sick person or close contacts to anyone at the workplace, unless they give you permission.
• Identify and Quarantine close contacts: Determine close contacts of the sick person and have them quarantine at home. Close contacts:
  • Are people who been within 6 feet of the sick person for more than 15 minutes
  • Should stay at home for 14 days from the day the sick person was last at work
  • We recommend close contacts be tested 5 days or later after last day of contact with case
• Persons who have tested positive can return to work if they meet these three requirements:
  • It has been 10 days since positive test result or onset of symptoms
  • AND improvement in respiratory symptoms
  • AND no fever without the use of fever reducing medication in the past 72 hours

MCPH does not recommend repeat COVID testing. We do not recommend requiring COVID-positive employees test negative for COVID-19 before returning to work.

• Educate staff: Provide staff with a printed copy of Home Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines (available in Spanish)
• Monitor for symptoms: All other employees who were at the physical workplace 48 hours before the sick person was sent home should monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days from the last day the sick person was a work (see symptoms list below).
  • fevers
  • chills
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • fatigue
  • muscle or body aches
  • headache
  • new loss of taste or smell
  • sore throat
  • congestion or runny nose
  • nausea or vomiting
  • diarrhea
• Institute cleaning and disinfection measures: Ensure proper cleaning as recommended by the CDC HERE. 
• Ensure employees use prevention best practices to stop the spread of COVID-19:
  • Wear a face covering properly (covering mouth AND nose) at all times
  • Frequent wash hands with soap and water for a full 20 seconds (preferred or use an alcohol-based sanitizer
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Using a tissue or your elbow for coughs and sneezes – DO NOT use hand to cover
  • Keep social distancing (keep 6 feet away from others)

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act-requires small employers (<500 employees) to provide limited paid-leave benefits to employees affected by the coronavirus emergency
• California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Order- provides up to 80 hours of “COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave” to defined food sector workers in businesses with > 500 employees
• Marin County Supervisors have allocated funds to a wage support program for low-income coronavirus carriers​
• For the most up-to-date Coronavirus and COVID-19 info, visit the CDC. 
• For up-to-date Marin information visit the Marin County COVID-19 Information Portal at coronavirus.marinhhs.org

GO HERE for information about reopening businesses and economic assistance.

NOTE: County Sets Up Free Weekly Testing for Restaurant Workers
As County officials have said in recent weeks, while 16% of Marin’s population is Latino, Marin’s Latino community has accounted for 74% of the county’s coronavirus infections and 13% of the deaths caused by the virus. To directly confront that grave problem, the county has set up a free weekly COVID-19 testing site for restaurant workers. Every Thursday, 1-3pm, restaurant workers can get tested for free at First Missionary Baptist Church at 501 Drake Ave. in Marin City. MORE INFO.

As County officials have said in recent weeks, while 16% of Marin’s population is Latino, Marin’s Latino community has accounted for 74% of the county’s coronavirus infections and 13% of the deaths caused by the virus. To directly confront that grave problem, the county has set up a free weekly COVID-19 testing site for restaurant workers. Every Thursday, 1-3pm, restaurant workers can get tested for free at First Missionary Baptist Church at 501 Drake Ave. in Marin City. MORE INFO.

​Here's a comprehensive rundown of what Marin County Public Health and business owners must do in the event that an employee tests positive for coronavirus.

In partnership with Canal Alliance, the Marin Small Business Development Center is conducting a business basics 10-session webinar in Spanish. It will be offered for free this time from September 15 to October 15, every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 - 9:30 pm. 

Click the image at left for full info and registration details. You can also go directly here:

https://norcalsbdc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMlde6orzIoGdJ5uHi6sBbcJwdtd0AtNs14

​Please spread the word!

Despite a prolonged self-response period due to the COVID-19 health crisis, the response rate to the 2020 U.S. Census in Marin has lagged behind prior decades, according to Stephanie McNally, a senior policy manager for the Canal Alliance who was contracted to do countywide U.S. Census outreach.

McNally said the current response rate to the 2020 U.S. Census is 62.10 percent nationally, 63 percent throughout California and 70.9 percent in Marin, which is "just slightly above 2010 response rate," she said, noting that two of the trouble spots were in San Rafael, particularly the Canal district, as well as West Marin. Marin City was ahead of its response rate in 2010, she added.

​The Mill Valley Chamber board and staff are deeply saddened by yet another instance of  violence directed at a person of color. We mourn with the nation and stand united with the black community to express our sorrow and outrage at the senseless death of George Floyd. 
 
This horror, when combined with the frustrations related to loss of livelihood, freedom and power, has struck a chord in our country we feel can not be ignored. We all must seize this moment, and we will certainly do our part, including participating in peaceful protests and demonstrating our solidarity with the pursuit of racial justice.
 
We are committed to sustaining, supporting and growing a community in which each of us can live without fear of violence or discrimination and have the same economic opportunities that all of humanity deserves. Our mission is economic and community vitality for all, and we will work toward making Mill Valley a welcoming place for people of color to live, work and visit.
 
To paraphrase Edmund Burke, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. We hear that call and want to be a force for change. Indeed, one of our major roles and strategic goals as an organization is to convene our broader 94941 community around important issues. We commit to do this to address racial justice and economic opportunity in Mill Valley. This statement is a first step and we’re committed to doing the hard work in front of us.

Let’s go al fresco!

The Mill Valley City Council unanimously approved a resolution and an urgency ordinance Monday night allowing Acting City Manager Alan Piombo and his staff to approve applications from restaurants and other businesses for permits, variances and license agreements on a temporary basis until at least the end of November for outdoor uses. 

The move is designed to provide businesses with additional ways to use outdoor space to compensate for the loss of indoor space due to social distancing requirements related to the COVID-19 crisis. The City's staff report and related documents are available HERE. 

The decision Is effective immediately, and restaurants and other businesses seeking to use outdoor public or private spaces can file applications to do so starting Tuesday. The approval comes more than 10 weeks since the first shelter in place order effectively shut down restaurants for everything except takeout and delivery service, Mill Valley residents have outdoor dining options to enjoy a meal in a safe, measured, socially distanced way.

“Our local businesses have been taking a beating since the first shelter in place order went into effect in March,” Piombo told the Council in opening the hearing.

“I’m deeply concerned about our restaurants in town,” added Vice Mayor John McCauley said, pointing to the oft-repeated data point that it takes 2-3 takeout meals for a restaurant to generate the same revenue from a single dine-in customer. “They are really a major part of our vibrancy. I have been trying to eat out way more on a takeout basis, and as I do, it has been extremely depressing. There is nobody there. They are not going to make it unless the community steps up and supports them.”

To that end, County of Marin officials said late last week that restaurants could open for outdoor dining on June 1, a last minute announcement despite all indications that restaurants would have to wait several more weeks for the opportunity. However, City of Mill Valley and Mill Valley Chamber officials had been working for weeks to lay the groundwork for such a possibility, hoping to give restaurant owners ample time to prepare.

Led by Piombo, McCauley, Councilmember Urban Carmel, Piazza D'Angelo co-owner and Mill Valley board chair Felicia Ferguson and City and Chamber staff, the group created a framework for restaurants to choose from a range of options to utilize the outdoor space around them. The options were driven by input from dozens of restaurant owners, and fall into three categories:
​

• Private use of private space (adding seating in private parking lots like those of Bungalow 44 and Mill Valley Lumber Yard (Watershed, Flour Craft, BOL) and the small Miller Ave shopping center downtown that contains BooKoo, for instance).
• Public use of private space (adding seating and/or parklets in parking spaces, on sidewalks and surrounding areas). 
• Public use of public space (allowing people to consume their takeout in the Depot Plaza, socially distanced), as well as in other similar public spaces. Customers will be required to maintain social distancing and take their trash with them when they leave the plaza.

Those options will likely be altered or expanded upon as conditions change and in response to the needs of restaurants and their customers. The same framework will be available to other business types like retailers looking to expand onto the sidewalk and fitness gyms looking to hold outdoor classes, once those uses are permitted.

“Government tends to be breaks, but in this case, you want to be gas and let’s make it as easy as possible for our restaurants and commercial businesses,” McCauley added.

“This is a pilot program and it’s exciting," Carmel added. “The businesses are excited about doing this thing, and the community is very excited about this. There will be a lot of things that we’re going to have to figure out – we will have to be light on our feet and problem solve as we go along. But we are pretty far ahead on this thing.”

"We are extremely grateful to the City for their efforts in expediting the creation of a framework to help our restaurants choose from a variety of outdoor dining opportunities, as well as a clear process to do so," said Ferguson. "The City has shown the requisite sense of urgency for this moment and has been a fantastic partner in doing the heavy lifting around the myriad legal and logistical issues related to these new options."

Given the late arrival of the news on outdoor dining, many local restaurants will continue to focus on takeout/delivery in the coming days as they move towards adding a range of outdoor dining options. Look for news in this space soon on those new outdoor dining options from restaurants around town.

Per the County of Marin's guidelines on outdoor dining, seated tables will be limited to no more than 6 people, all whom must  must be within the same household group. As expected, there are significant requirements related to sanitization.

Indoor dining is expected to get the green light in the coming weeks along with extensive guidelines for both restaurants and their customers to follow to ensure a safe experience for all involved. Stay tuned.

“If our residents can get comfortable that the social distancing restrictions in place will allow them to eat dinner outside at restaurants safely, and if you’ve got the economic capacity, I would urge our citizens to get out and support outdoor dining – and the use of the outdoors by other businesses as they take advantage of it," McCauley said.

Here is everything you'll need to file.

Restaurants:
Outdoor Dining Guidance & Best Practices
Guide for Temporary Outdoor Use: Checklist & Application

Required Forms and Documents:

• Statement of Intended Use describing proposed area of use, outdoor use, food and beverage service, hours of operation. Please indicate if the temporary outdoor use sought is one of the following categories: (i) expanded use of adjacent private spaces (e.g., private parking lots), (ii) use of portion of adjacent public right-of-way (e.g., sidewalks, parklets), and (iii) use of portion of other public spaces (e.g., Depot Plaza).
• City of Mill Valley Business License
• Certificate of Insurance (add City of Mill Valley)
• Written Consent of Property Owner/Tenants Sharing Space (shared private property owners)
• Site Plan Diagram (8.5”x 11”)
• Photographs (proposed location)
• ABC License (if alcohol is served) and evidence of adequate liquor liability insurance for proposed operations.

Retail
Curbside & Outdoor Retail: Updated Best Practices & Guidance

Questions? Email us.

Here's a note from Marin Clean Energy:

"We know local businesses are the backbone of our communities. MCE is sharing an opportunity to promote your business, especially if you have a majority owned Women, Minority, Service Disabled Veteran, or LGBT business enterprise. Join MCE's free virtual workshop on June 3 at 3pm to learn how to be listed on California's multi-million dollar Supplier Diversity Clearinghouse database. Utility companies and state program vendors use the Supplier Diversity Clearinghouse database to search for suppliers (from restaurants to retail and services of all types) to help them meet the State’s procurement requirements. Learn from industry experts about program eligibility and how to certify. We look forward to seeing you there!" https://certifyamplify.eventbrite.com

Check out this video for more info on the workshop. 

On a related note, MCE is offering free EV charging at its MCE San Rafael location:

Free EV charging is now available at MCE’s San Rafael office, located just two blocks from downtown San Rafael's Fourth Street, at 1125 Tamalpais Avenue, and close to Hwy 101, until further notice. If you have an EV and driving through San Rafael, MCE wants to offer support during this challenging time.
 
MORE INFO ON MCE.

In a move straight out of the "give 'em the bad news first" department of communication, Marin County health officials, in collaboration with six other Bay Area jurisdictions, on April 28 extended the shelter in place (SIP) order, which took effect March 17 and was set to expire May 3, through the end of May.

​One day later, Marin County Public Health Officer Matt Willis announced the easing of restrictions on a number of businesses that operate outdoors, including all construction projects as long as the project complies with the order's safety protocols, as well real estate transactions without open houses and limitations on in-person viewings. The list of businesses that can reopen on May 4 also includes wholesale and retail nurseries, landscapers, gardeners, and other businesses that primarily provide outdoor services as set forth in the order.

Other activities that can resume under the new order include residential moves and the use of certain shared outdoor recreational facilities that were previously ordered closed, like skate parks, but not others that involve shared equipment or physical contact. The April 17th order requiring face covering remains in effect.

Willis said that Marin has, as of April 29, 224 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 12 deaths and 43 hospitalizations.

He characterized the first phase of the SIP as “the first inning of the game. “We were successful thanks to all the amazing work and sacrifices that everyone in our community made to really limit transmission,” he told the Marin County Board of Supervisors on April 28. “Phase Two is going to be a gentle, delicate process of reopening that we can eventually regain the ability to gather for education and some business reopening.”

Willis noted the coming weeks and months will be entirely driven by the key metrics. That includes adequate testing capacity, as Marin is currently testing 300 patients a day and needs to get to 5,000 per day. That increased testing capacity will likely “see more transmission of disease,” he said.

Testing efforts will be coupled by contact tracing and monitoring hospitalizations and 911 calls related to COVIF-19, he added.

​Noting that nearby jurisdictions like Sonoma County are moving toward a less restrictive SIP, Supervisor Damon Connolly asked Willis if Marin was wedded to the SIP decisions of the Bay Area jurisdictions with which it has operated so far. “The gates to move from one phase to the next will happen at a different pace for each county,” Willis said. “We don’t expect that every county will have the same experience. We’ll have the freedom to move forward more quickly but we’ll be looking to the science to guide us.”

“We need to engage in balanced conversations about the harms of the SIP,” Willis said, noting that the first part of May will involve an “intense period of monitoring but also preparation, working with the business sector on what safe business practices will look like.”

Willis said he hoped to “provide businesses with clear guidelines and on some level empowerment about how they can conduct business in a safe way and how we can open over time in a way that protects public health and yet is cognizant that people need to get back out there in their lives as well.”

County Administrator Matthew Hymel announced the launch of Marin Recovers, a website that will serve as the foundation of “a safe and phased reopening. We’re convening a group of industry advisors” on subjects that include restaurants, retail, construction, parks and outdoor activities, general office space, summer camp and youth opportunities, transportation, hotels, personal services and the arts. (The Mill Valley Chamber has submitted names of a number of local industry leaders to provide guidance on health and safety best practices for their respective industries. We're also providing industry-specific feedback to county and state leaders on what a safe, successful reopening look like for each major industry sector on Mill Valley).

“Those advisors will inform how will these industries modify their activities over time to reduce their risk to COVID-19 so that we can guide them to plan for the future months ahead.

The announcements came amidst indications from Gov. Gavin Newsom that California as a whole is "just a few weeks away, not months away, from making measurable and meaningful changes to our stay-at-home order. That is a very optimistic point to emphasize.”

In a series of tweets, Newsom said, "California is flattening the curve, but the reality is #COVID-19 is not going away soon. Our re-opening must be gradual, guided by public health and science, and will be done in the following: