October 17, 2022
The City of Mill Valley commits to act and encourage community action towards eliminating racial disparities, both inside government and in the community. The City Council has identified Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives as their top priority, and staff provides regular updates to the City Council and community on activities in Mill Valley and around Marin County on a regular basis.
City Manager’s Office
County of Marin Race Equity Action Plan (REAP) Implementation Team - The County of Marin has launched the implementation process for the Race Equity Action Plan (REAP). The Plan identifies three focus areas—economic opportunity, housing, and mental health—as key opportunities to advance racial equity in Marin. The REAP Implementation Team, which includes residents, government staff, and local organizations, will take the lead on accomplishing the plan’s priority actions.
Jurisdictional partners on the REAP include representatives from the City of San Rafael, Town of Corte Madera, City of Novato, and the City of Mill Valley. We look forward to working in collaboration with the County of Marin, local residents, community based organizations, and jurisdictional partners to achieve the Plan’s many important goals.
Recreation & Arts
JEDI Committee Update - At their October 5, 2022 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission received an update on the work of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee. Recreation and Arts Director Sean McGrew shared that the committee was planning an upcoming meeting, where they would discuss topics such as the internship program, and refine and create a mission or vision statement for the Recreation Department that meets the needs of the community. They also will discuss the upcoming training for Mill Valley sports coaches through the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Planning & Building
1 Hamilton Open House - The City Planning Division and EAH Housing hosted a well-attended Open House at the Mill Valley Community Center on October 13, 2022. Staff and consultants reported on refinements to building concepts presented at the May 3 Open House and shared additional community input to discuss building concepts including massing and design features.They also discussed other site planning work such as residential parking. Learn more about 1 Hamilton.
Richardson Terrace Update – 575 East Blithedale Avenue - The City has an update on the proposed "Richardson Terrace" mixed-use housing development project at 575 East Blithedale Avenue. On September 29, 2022, the property owner/applicant provided the City Planning Division revised design review plans for the proposed project. Please click here to read more about the proposed project, and please join us at a Planning Commission Public Hearing on November 8, 2022 at 6:30 pm at the Mill Valley Community Center (180 Camino Alto).
Library
Día de los Muertos Arts and Crafts In-Person - Learn about Día de los Muertos traditions and make Day of the Dead-inspired art at this event in both English and Spanish. Together we’ll decorate a large ofrenda altar to honor loved ones, then you’ll get to eat traditional snacks and make beautiful art projects to take home. For ages 5 and up. Families welcome. Click here to register.
An Evening of Translation In-Person - Featuring Olivia Sears and Terry Ehret & Nancy J. Morales - With special guests Francesca Bell, Susan Cohen, and Meryl Natchez. Join us as we celebrate the work of poetry translation by hearing from some exciting Bay Area translators. The evening will feature Olivia Sears, who will read from her new translation of Ardengo Soffici's strange and phenomenal 1915 book of Italian poetry, Simultaneities and Lyric Chemisms, and Nancy J. Morales and Terry Ehret, who will share work from Ulalume González de León's Plagios/Plagiarisms. The reading will also include translations from German, Yiddish, and Russian from Francesca Bell, Susan Cohen, and Meryl Natchez. Come hear about these exciting new projects! Registration required.
Police
Community engagement - The Police Department continues to meet with community members further develop a Bias by Proxy policy, and discuss current RIPA data, which was presented to Council on October 3, 2022.
Fire
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Update - At their September 28, 2022 meeting, Southern Marin Fire Protection District Board members received a written update on DEI initiatives (p. 50).
An important initiative to highlight includes the development of mentorship opportunities with sports teams from local schools and agencies. Recently, Fire staff met with the Tam High Football Team and put them through a “six-station workout,” involving hose runs, hose pack carries, roof pulls, sledgehammers, dummy and sled pulls, and other conditioning workouts. By all accounts the workout was very successful, and provided a fun and positive experience to expose local youth to career opportunities in the Fire service.
Other Community Partners
‘We Are One Marin’ Campaign & Podcast Roll On, Spotlight More Mill Valley and Marin City BIPOC-Owned Businesses & Nonprofits
For more than a year now, a group of people and organizations have rallied to celebrate innovative, creative business owners who have persevered through the pandemic and a long overdue racial reckoning in recent years. The origin of that effort was the “We Are One Marin” campaign, a collaboration including the Marin Council of Chambers’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, the Marin Independent Journal and with support from the Marin Community Foundation. Read more.
Marin City, a Foundational Marin Community, Is Set to Celebrate Its 80th Anniversary With a Series of Blockbuster Events – Aug. 20-Nov. 1
Marin City is set to have an extended, much-deserved opportunity to celebrate its rich history and deep cultural impact with a series of events that kick off Aug. 20 and run through early November. The overarching series – dubbed Marin City 80 – celebrates eight generations of Black people from Marin City. Learn more about Marin City 80.
Learn more: