📸 Snapshot: Council meeting highlights, artist business incubator, $2.5 million safety grant — and more!

The San Rafael City Council will be meeting this Monday March 17th at San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue.

Meeting Details:

Special Meeting: Begins at 4:30 PM to discuss recent housing legislation.

Closed Session: Begins at 5:30 PM to discuss 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:

• Approval of minutes from the March 3, 2025 meeting.

• Resolution affirming the City’s values of equity, inclusion, belonging, diversity and democracy.

• Resolution to amend an agreement with Foege Schumann Global Disaster Solutions LLC for encampment cleanup services.

• Resolution to enter into a collaboration agreement with Marin County Transit District for community engagement related to the development of an electric bus charging facility.

• Resolution to enter into an agreement with MarinIT, Inc. for audio-visual systems upgrades to city conference rooms.

• Resolution to amend an agreement with Burke, Williams, and Sorensen, LLP for employee relations legal services.

• Resolution to approve the purchase of furniture for the Downtown Library from Ross McDonald Co.

• Resolution authorizing the temporary closure of a portion of Point San Pedro Road for a special event.

• Resolution to amend and approve the agreement with CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group, Inc. for additional construction and environmental compliance support services associated with the San Quentin Pump Station Reconstruction Project.

Public Hearings:

• General Plan 2040 and Housing Element Annual Progress Report Housing Element Annual Progress Report.

Other Agenda Items:

• Presentation and update on the draft Terra Linda Park and Community Center Enhancement Plan.

• Resolution to enter into an agreement with BKF Engineers to provide design and environmental services for the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement Project.

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.

The City of San Rafael’s Public Works Department has secured over $2.5 million in grants for infrastructure improvements.

Why it matters: These grants will enhance safety and efficiency along Lincoln Avenue, particularly between Second and Paloma Streets. Safety upgrades will include painting protected left turn lanes, changing signal phases, and making intersections safer with traffic signal upgrades, intersection lighting, and flashing beacons for pedestrians.

Project details: The upgrades will cost approximately $2,839,000, with grant funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Program providing $2,555,910. Construction planning and community updates will be shared on the City’s website as the project progresses.

San Rafael stands unwavering in its commitment to supporting our immigrant communities. There are a range of services that can provide support if you need it, including:

Canal Alliance:

• Know Your Rights Resources: Educational workshops, resource guides and planning tools for how to ensure the safety and well-being of your family.

• Alert Canal WhatsApp Group: Text ALERTCANAL (or ALERTACANAL for updates in Spanish) to 415-325-2178 to receive alerts of confirmed ICE activity in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael. Alerts are limited to the Canal Area
  from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

• Immigration Support: Affordable and comprehensive immigration legal services, including DACA applications, asylum for minors, green card renewals, and more.

Legal Aid of Marin:

• Housing Law: Support with eviction defense, habitability issues, tenant organizing, and homelessness prevention.

• Employment Law: Advocacy for wage enforcement, addressing employment discrimination, wrongful termination cases, and correcting improper payroll deductions.

• Elder Law: Empowerment and assistance for elder residents facing legal challenges

Trainings and Resource List:

• Marin Immigrant Rights and Justice maintains a database of trainings, events, and resources to support providers and community members in understanding legal rights and how to access services.

Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas:

• Created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), these cards outline constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and refuse home entry without a warrant. Available in English and Spanish, they can be ordered or printed from the ILRC’s website.

San Rafael is stronger because of our immigrant communities. We stand with you.

Are you a local artist looking to grow a sustainable business doing what you love? The Artist Business Mini-Incubator is a three-month program designed to provide you with the practical skills and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to effectively manage and grow your art business.

Launch your business: This program provides local artists with the tools to manage and expand their businesses independently.

• Participants gain insights from expert business advisors and connect with a supportive peer group.

• The program focuses on self-sufficiency and does not cover gallery representation.

No cost to you: Valued at $2,500, this program is offered for free.

What’s next: Applications are open until 5:00pm on March 31st.

• A cohort of 15-20 artists will be selected, with notifications sent by April 7th.

• The program, which includes virtual and in person meetings hosted in San Rafael, is planned to begin the week of April 14th.

“Rooted in Marin” is a countywide initiative focused on understanding displacement in Marin County. The project aims to engage with all community members, educate the public on anti-displacement programs and policies, and explore and evaluate policy options to align with community needs.

One of the project’s key deliverables is a report outlining the community engagement process, feedback received, and information on relevant policies, including feasibility analysis and case studies from other jurisdictions.

What’s next: The draft report is available for public review on the Rooted in Marin website until March 18, 2025. It is accessible in both English and Spanish.

Go deeper: Visit Rooted in Marin to learn more, review the report, and provide public comments. The final report and executive summary will be released later this spring.

The San Rafael City Council officially proclaimed March as Women’s History Month during their March 3rd meeting, honoring the achievements and strength of women in San Rafael and around the world.

The big picture: This year’s theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations,” resonates deeply with our community’s commitment to mentorship and leadership, fostering justice and equity.

San Rafael’s history: Did you know San Rafael’s first librarian was a woman? In 1907, May Cooper was hired as the City Librarian and began providing library services in a room at the high school, while the Carnegie library was under construction.

Get involved: Support local women-owned businesses and organizations, explore the stories of women leaders in our city, and take action to support gender equity in your local community and beyond.

Nothing has done more to reunite lost pets with their worried guardians than something the size of a grain of rice – a microchip! These tiny devices, safely implanted under your pet’s skin, can be scanned to reveal a unique ID number, connecting lost pets to their owners. Most veterinary hospitals, Marin Humane’s Animal Services Officers, and shelters have microchip scanners.

Get your pet microchipped: Marin Humane offers microchipping for dogs at $25, and it’s free for cats, thanks to a generous donor. Remember to update your contact information if you move or change phone numbers.

📞 To schedule a microchipping appointment at Marin Humane, call 415-883-4621.

Join us for these upcoming events in San Rafael:

• Friday, March 14, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: 2nd Friday Art Walk. Location: Downtown San Rafael.

• 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!