San Rafael, CA – To conduct essential County of Marin business during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marin County Board of Supervisors plans to continue holding its regular public meetings in the Marin County Civic Center’s Board chamber. New guidelines have been introduced about public participation in the meetings while factoring in the recommendations of the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The next meeting of the Marin County Board of Supervisors is Tuesday, March 17. On March 9, Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis
recommended the cancellation or postponement of nonessential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people to help prevent the spread of the virus through the end of March. The recommendation will be reevaluated as new public health information becomes available.
The March 17 meeting agenda was released Thursday. Attendees will be welcomed to the Board chamber in Suite 330 of the Civic Center, which has more than 200 seats and has a maximum capacity of 222. Residents concerned about attending public gatherings may watch Board meetings without attending. All Board meetings are streamed live on the County website and are available for archived viewing on the same webpage the next day. For Comcast TV subscribers, the meetings are shown live and in reruns on Channel 27 through partnerships with the Community Media Center of Marin and Novato Community Television.
Written comments on an agenda item may be submitted to the Clerk of the Board for distribution to the Board of Supervisors prior to a meeting. All communications sent to the Clerk of the Board, whether it is a formal letter or a one-line informal email, are forwarded to the Board members.
With public health considerations in mind, County staff suggests that members of large advocacy groups who would like to comment on an agenda item should consider commenting in writing or sending one spokesperson to speak on behalf of the group.
“Having one spokesperson will be as impactful to the Board as having a large group in attendance,” Board President Katie Rice said. “We welcome public input at all of our Board meetings, but we also need to ensure the safety and well-being of all of our residents while ensuring that essential government business can continue.”
In addition, as always, the public is welcome to comment on any items not on the Board’s regular agenda during the meeting’s open time for public expression or via email in advance.
Check the Marin HHS webpage for more information about local COVID-19 developments.