From City Manager, Cristine Alilovich - As the City Manager of San Rafael, I envision a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive city that embraces innovation and collaboration to enhance the quality of life of all our residents, while addressing pressing challenges. Together, we will cultivate a city that honors its heritage while embracing a future of growth and opportunity; one where everyone has access to the resources, support, and pathways they need to thrive.
With a human-centered design approach, we will ensure that community voices shape our policies and programs. By centering the community in decision-making, we will build a local government that prioritizes transparency and accountability, engaging key partners, stakeholders, and the community to co-create effective solutions.
We aim to revitalize all neighborhoods by supporting local businesses, strengthening community connections, and investing in placemaking that transforms San Rafael into a lively and welcoming destination. Our efforts to reinvigorate downtown will focus on creating a vibrant city center that celebrates our unique character and serves as a gathering place for all. Citywide beautification efforts, including the integration of public art which will foster civic pride, reflect the diversity of our community, and elevate the cultural identity of our public spaces. Through these initiatives, we will promote broad-based economic growth and ensure that all residents—no matter their circumstances or where they live in San Rafael, can fully participate in and benefit from the vitality of our city.
As we imagine the future of San Rafael’s infrastructure, we see a connected, modern city that meets the evolving needs of our diverse community. We will invest in resilient, climate-adaptive systems; prioritizing green infrastructure, sustainable mobility options, and smart technologies that enhance public safety and service delivery.
Our streets, bridges, utilities, and public spaces will reflect our values of equity, accessibility, and environmental stewardship. Through strategic planning and collaboration with community partners, we will transform aging infrastructure into assets that support economic vitality, reduce our carbon footprint, and ensure every neighborhood thrives, now and into the future. Guided by a Vision Zero approach, we will design our streets and roads to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries, ensuring safety for all who travel through San Rafael.
We are dedicated to addressing climate change through sustainable practices, and emergency management planning for wildfires and sea-level rise. Our focus on community safety will involve enhanced policing efforts and improved 911 response times, fostering a secure environment where all feel valued and protected.
Together, we will tackle homelessness through compassionate solutions, ensuring that all public spaces are accessible for everyone to enjoy; and that everyone has a place to call home. We will partner with the County of Marin and our non-profit services provider to deliver coordinated, person-centered care that connects individuals with housing, health services, and long-term support. And we will foster the development of all types of housing to ensure that our residents can afford and relish their homes in San Rafael for generations to come.
Additionally, we will cultivate a supportive organizational culture that promotes employee wellness and enhances quality of life through benefits such as remote work, flexible schedules, and robust professional development opportunities. This commitment to our employees will empower them to thrive, ultimately benefiting our community.
We will implement strong communications and community engagement plans, ensuring we communicate early and often with the community. By fostering trust and encouraging active participation, we will create a responsive local government that demonstrably values its community members.