📸 Snapshot: City Council updates — Development news — Wildfire prevention — and much more!

The San Rafael City Council will be meeting this Monday, May 19, at San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue.

Meeting Details:

Closed Session: Begins at 4:45 PM, to discuss anticipated litigation 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:

• Final adoption of ordinance to update the San Rafael’s fire severity zones maps

• Amendments to Public Works Department purchasing and contract policies

• Proclamation supporting National Public Works Week

Special Presentation: Proclamation honoring Reverend Jan Heglund for her retirement after 27 years of service

Other Agenda Items:

• Presentation of the preliminary Citywide proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26

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.

At this week’s Planning Commission meeting, staff presented an overview of major development proposals currently under City review. These projects signify substantial development in San Rafael, and the City is dedicated to keeping the public informed and involved throughout the process.

How the planning process works: Major development proposals must go through several phases, which includes the submission of a formal application, the City’s review of the application for completeness, environmental review, and public hearings. Projects can move forward, pause, or return for revisions depending on the outcome of each stage.

Recent updates on development projects:

• The resubmitted application for the 555 Northgate Drive project was reviewed and determined to be incomplete. The developer will need to submit additional information before the review can continue.

Stay informed: Major development projects are tracked publicly on the City’s website. Each project has a dedicated page with project descriptions, status updates, site plans, and architectural renderings.

Last week, CAL FIRE visited San Rafael as part of a statewide tour marking National Wildfire Prevention Week. Local and regional partners—including the Marin County Fire Department, Chief Burlew of CAL FIRE, and State Assemblymember Damon Connolly—gathered to highlight the wildfire prevention efforts underway in our community.

Why it matters: CAL FIRE selected San Rafael to emphasize the importance of personal actions to reduce wildfire risk and to showcase local wildfire mitigation efforts. The visit included a tour of the San Rafael–San Anselmo Fuel Reduction Project and two homes where residents have made significant progress improving defensible space.

A community-powered effort: Together, we are a strong, resilient community. For the past five years, funding from Measure C has allowed us to reduce risk in San Rafael open spaces, maintain fire roads, keep seasonal grasses low, and more.

This work has happened alongside community members taking actions to personally prepare – reducing risk at their homes, planning for evacuations, and developing neighborhood support initiatives.

We are grateful for residents’ commitment to reducing wildfire risk throughout San Rafael. To learn more about the City’s initiatives, and ways you can take action, visit the City website.

This month, the San Rafael Library launched “Read with Me — ¡Lee Conmigo!”, a new early literacy initiative in partnership with the Parent Services Project. The program supports early learning and builds skills in both Spanish and English.

About the program: Using a bilingual, research-supported method called dialogic reading, the program helps children build vocabulary, letter recognition, and phonemic awareness. At the same time, parents learn how to support dual-language development at home.

The program also shares kindergarten readiness information with families, supporting smoother transitions into school and long-term success for young learners.

Get involved: The Library hosts a variety of language-learning classes for community members. To learn more, check out the library calendar.

Pool season is just around the corner, and there are plenty of ways to make a splash this summer at the Terra Linda Community Pool!

Pool Season Passes Now on Sale
Get ready for summer early — 2025 pool season passes are now available for purchase.

• Passes are valid from May 22 through September 7, and can be purchased online at cityofsanrafael.org/admission-fees-season-passes

Recreational Swim Has Started!
The pool is now open for recreational swim on Saturdays and Sundays, and the Tot Pool is open too!

• Check the full pool schedule at cityofsanrafael.org/pools

Volunteer Opportunity for 6th–9th Graders
Know a middle schooler looking to build experience and give back?
Volunteer as a swim lesson aide this summer at Terra Linda Pool. Tasks include setup, assisting with lessons, and making certificates.

• Choose one week between June 16 – August 7

• Monday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

• Learn more and apply: cityofsanrafael.org/pools

Junior Lifeguard Camp
Kids ages 10+ can spend the week learning lifesaving skills, teamwork, and pool safety in a fun, structured setting. Learn more and register here!

Camp TL at Terra Linda Park
This popular camp includes supervised pool time, games, crafts, playground fun, and weekly themes. Low student-to-counselor ratio and small group size make this a great summer option. Space is limited – register today!

Join us on May 21st to celebrate National Public Works Week! San Rafael’s Public Works Department will open its doors and show you around. Bring your family for a fun and educational experience!

Learn about the role Public Works plays in maintaining and enhancing our community. Each team—Parks, Streets, Engineering, Garage, and Facilities—will showcase their work.

Event highlights:

• See and sit in the big equipment our team uses

• Tour the Department of Public Works facility

• Learn about current and upcoming projects

• …and much more!

Join us:
📅 Date: May 21, 2025
🕛 Time: 12pm – 2pm
📍 Location: 111 Morphew St, San Rafael, CA 94901

May is Mental Health Month, and Marin County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) invites you to join the movement for mental wellness and connection.

Take action: There are many free events are happening countywide, including:

• Youth Wellness Festival and Art/Film Showcase

• Live improvisational theater

• Virtual suicide prevention training in Spanish

Join us to support mental health awareness and connect with resources in your community. Check out the full calendar and get involved today!

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.

• Librarian I/II

• Senior Librarian

• Street Maintenance Worker I/II

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

Join us for these upcoming events in San Rafael:

• May 18, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: C Street Celebration: Festival of Creativity. Location: C Street between 3rd and 4th St in Downtown San Rafael.

• Tuesday, May 20, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Marin County Commission on Aging: Power of Connection Forum. Location: College of Marin, 1800 Ignacio Blvd., Building 19, Novato.

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

• Saturday, June 7, 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: San Rafael Local Vendor Market. Location: Canal Alliance, 711 Grand Avenue.

• Every Sunday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM: 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!