📸 Snapshot: City Council meeting agenda, e-bike laws, City Hall summer hours, and more!

The San Rafael City Council will be meeting this Monday at San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue.

Meeting Details:

Special Meeting: Begins at 4 p.m. to interview applicants for the Planning Commission

Closed Session: Begins at 4:45 p.m. for a conference with legal counsel and real property negotiations

Regular Meeting: Begins at 6:00 PM, in the Council Chambers.

City Manager and Councilmember Reports:

• Reports from the City Manager and Councilmembers, including updates on meetings and conferences attended.

Consent Calendar Highlights:

• Proclamation supporting Parks and Recreation Month

• Resolutions authorizing the City Manager to amend or enter into contracts with:

  • Burke, Williams, & Sorensen, LLP for Legal Services

  • Foege Shuman Global Disaster Solutions LLC for sanctioned camping operations and encampment debris removal

  • Defense Block Security for security services at the Sanctioned Camping Area

  • Coastland Civil Engineering for on-call building plan review and inspection consulting services

  • Homeward Bound, to terminate the agreement due to relocation of program residents

• Resolution in support of exploring the formation of a Community Land Trust with the County of Marin

• Resolutions to set the special tax rates for two Loch Lomond Community Facilities Districts

Special Presentation:

• Proclamation in Recognition of Louise Yost, who is retiring from the Pickleweed Advisory Committee

Other Agenda Items:

• Resolution to enter into an agreement with Local Edition Marketing, LLC to implement a public art program

• Resolutions in support the acquisition of 620 Canal Street, using County of Marin Measure A grant funds, and a contribution of up to $500,000 of City funds

Public Hearings:

• Resolutions to levy the 2024-2025 assessments for the Baypoint Lagoons and Point San Pedro Road Median Assessment Districts

• Resolution to approve a roadside memorial policy

• Resolution to allocate $503,000 in support of three affordable housing projects

Get Involved:

View the full agenda and watch the meeting online via Zoom or YouTube. Participate in person or submit public comments ahead of the meeting by emailing city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org.

Last month, the City Council approved the City of San Rafael’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, outlining priorities for the next three years. To track progress on these goals, the City maintains a Performance Metrics Dashboard, which compiles data on City services, strategic initiatives, and long-term outcomes.

San Rafael has made measurable progress across a variety of initiatives, from new housing and safer streets to cleaner neighborhoods and faster emergency response. Highlights from the most recent performance data include:

Housing & Homelessness

• 1,742 new housing units entitled as of May 2025

• $6 million of funding secured to support individuals experiencing homelessness at the Sanctioned Camping Area

Mobility & Infrastructure

• Over $14.8 million in transportation grants received in fiscal year 2024–25

• 3,999 service requests completed by the Public Works Department in 2024, with an average of 333 requests per month

Public Safety & Wellbeing

• 44,473 total calls for service received by the police department in 2024

• Vehicle thefts decreased by 47% and use-of-force incidents declined by 32% between 2023 and 2024

• The SAFE Team diverted more than 200 calls from emergency departments, jails, and ambulances

Climate Resilience & Sustainability

• 98% of commercial properties and 95% of multifamily units now meet composting compliance goals under state law

• Over $1.5 million funding secured for a community-led sea level rise study in the Canal neighborhood

• 24.1% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels, and the City is on track to reach our 2030 goal of a 40% reduction

Economic Development:

• $709,890 grant funding secured to promote economic vitality and the arts

• $30,000 funding provided to the Marin Small Business Development Center to provide multi-lingual support to 211 San Rafael small businesses

• 50+ businesses received technical support through San Rafael GO

• The City’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in 2024

Explore the full dashboard: See updated metrics, trendlines, and targets across all priority areas. The dashboard is updated annually and used to guide budget planning, service improvements, and accountability.

All fireworks are illegal in San Rafael, including sparklers and handheld devices. The only legal fireworks show is at the Marin County Fair, July 2–6.

Why it matters: Fireworks pose serious risks to public safety, especially in areas like San Rafael that are vulnerable to wildfires. Each year, fireworks are responsible for injuries to adults and children, structure and vegetation fires, and threats to wildlife, open space, and natural resources. Even small fireworks can spark major fires in dry conditions.

Enforcement and penalties: The San Rafael Police Department strictly enforces fireworks laws to reduce fire danger and protect the community.

• Individuals can be cited, arrested, and prosecuted

• Adults may be held responsible for fireworks used by children

• Violators may be liable for property damage, injury, or firefighting costs

Safe celebrations: Community members are encouraged to attend permitted fireworks shows when available or explore safe alternatives such as glow sticks, music events, and light shows.

The City’s goat grazing program for fire prevention is nearing its conclusion.

• The goats are currently working on their final site, McNear Open Space, having successfully grazed over 170 acres of city land across 10 parcels.

• This initiative has been a tremendous success, thanks to the enthusiastic support from our community and the dedicated efforts of our furry friends and their herders.

As we wrap up this year’s program, we remind everyone that fire safety is a collective effort. Simple actions like mowing your lawn early in the morning, avoiding outdoor activities on red flag days, signing up for defensible space inspections, and subscribing to Alert Marin can make a significant difference.

Let’s continue to work together to keep our city safe from wildfires!

San Rafael City Hall will be closed to the general public on Fridays from June 6 through August 29, 2025. Community members who need in-person services at City Hall on a Friday may contact the relevant department in advance to schedule an appointment. San Rafael Community Centers, Libraries, Al Boro Parking Services, and all Public Safety services will remain open and maintain normal Friday hours.

City Hall Summer Hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Fridays: Open by appointment only

As a reminder, the San Rafael City Council will also be adjusting its regular meeting schedule during the summer months. Instead of meeting on the first and third Mondays of each month, Council will meet on the following dates:

Summer 2025 City Council Meeting Dates:

• Monday, June 23 (Special Meeting)

• Monday, July 21

• Monday, August 18

There will be no City Council meetings on:

• July 7

• August 4

Agendas and meeting links will be posted in advance at www.cityofsanrafael.org/city-council-meetings.

The City of San Rafael is looking for talented people to join our team! Please click the links below for more information about our open positions.

• Deputy City Clerk I/II

• Associate Civil Engineer

• Senior Project Manager – Capital Projects

• Deputy City Attorney I/II

• Recreation Supervisor

Have questions about working for the City? Please reach out to human.resources@cityofsanrafael.org.

Join us for these upcoming events in San Rafael:

• June 1-20: Downtown San Rafael Pride Art Walk. Location: Downtown San Rafael businesses.

• July 11, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.: San Rafael Summer Market. Location: 4th Street in Downtown San Rafael.

• June 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Read with Pride Festival. Location: Sunday Marin Farmer’s Market, 3501 Civic Center Dr.

• July 2-6: Marin County Fair. Location: Marin County Fairgrounds, 10 Ave of the Flags.

• Every Second Friday, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Downtown San Rafael Art Walk. Location: Art galleries throughout Downtown San Rafael.

• Every Sunday and Thursday, 8 p.m. – 1 p.m.: Agricultural Institute of Marin Farmers’ Market. Locations: Sundays at 2501 Civic Center Drive, Thursdays at 10 Avenue of the Flags.

• Plus, there’s always something happening at the library! Check out the San Rafael Library event calendar!