Public Works News - San Rafael

Routine Tree Services – Request for Proposals

Posted on January 12, 2021

The City of San Rafael hereby requests proposals for on-call tree services from a qualified tree maintenance business that is duly registered and licensed with either a C61-D49 or C27-D49 license in the State of California. Services shall include routine tree services as required by the Public Works Operations and Maintenance Manager at various City...

Previous Parking Services office gets a facelift

Posted on January 8, 2021

The Facilities team was asked to return the former Parking Services office to its original open space configuration. In order to accomplish this, three walls totaling over 40 ft. needed to be removed. Electrical switches were relocated from the wall that was removed and the wall area where the previous walls stood were also repaired. New ceiling...

Tamper proof safety covers installed downtown at Fourth St and D St.

Posted on January 8, 2021

Facilities team staff Omar Garcia and Anthoney Heaven disconnected four electrical outlets at the corners in the intersection of Fourth St and D St and installed tamper proof covers. This was done to prevent both unsafe tampering and unlawful loitering in the downtown area.

New striping for bike connection on Francisco Boulevard East at Grange Ave

Posted on January 8, 2021

Francisco Boulevard East is an important connection between the Richmond-San Rafael bridge and the Sir Francis Drake Flyover to Larkspur and is used by many bicyclists. The Richmond-San Rafael bridge is expected to reach their 100,000th bike rider in January! Together, the City of San Rafael, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and the Bay Area...

Third Street crosswalk at San Rafael High School project

Posted on January 8, 2021

Construction is moving along for the new signalized crossing on Third Street at San Rafael High School. The south (shopping center) side is complete and the driveway for the delivery trucks is open. The north (school) side is nearly complete. The last phase is the median, which the contractor broke ground on Tuesday January 5....

Citywide winter leaf clean up

Posted on January 8, 2021

Streets and Parks Division crews have made a concerted effort to pick up as much of the fallen leaves as possible along City streets. Sometimes it seems like a losing battle as it takes some time for the leaves to stop falling! Different types of equipment are used to aid workers such as rakes and...

New electric vehicle added to the Parking Enforcement fleet

Posted on January 8, 2021

Garage Division staff picked up a new electric vehicle that will be used as a Parking Enforcement buggy. We anticipate these vehicles will be more reliable and cost effective than the vehicles that have previously been used. Here you see mechanic Jay Arieta securing the vehicle for transport back to DPW to be retrofitted for...

Work to keep the City clean & safe

Posted on January 8, 2021

Along with assisting the Streets Division with storm preparation, the Parks Division continues with regular maintenance throughout the City. Here we see Parks Division Mechanic Jim O'Hagan painting over graffiti on a wall along the Puerto Suello bike path. Any type of derogatory or gang related graffiti is removed immediately as graffiti in this area...

Second Street and Irwin Street retaining wall rebuild

Posted on January 8, 2021

City contractor Maggiora and Ghilotti Inc. recently rebuilt the small timber lagged retaining wall on the Northwest corner of Second Street and Irwin Street that had been damaged. This small project took place over a period of three nights and the City will be reimbursed for the repair work. ...

Bridge demo has begun on the Southern Heights Bridge replacement project

Posted on January 8, 2021

On the week of Dec 28th, demolition work began on the existing Southern Heights Bridge. Most of the bridge deck has been removed and the remaining supportive structure will be demolished in the coming weeks, weather permitting.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moves forward with sediment testing and City receives 69 applicants for Umbrella Permitting process

Posted on January 8, 2021

Last week the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) brought their sediment testing plan for the San Rafael Channel to some of the regulatory agencies last week, the first key step in the dredging permitting process. Regulatory agencies involved in the dredging permitting process (yes – USACE needs a permit too!) include the DMMO (Dredge...

Progress on the Third Street – San Rafael High School crosswalk

Posted on December 11, 2020

The concrete has been poured on the south (Montecito Shopping Center) side of Third Street and the contractor is moving on to the north side of Third Street! The south side was the most complicated, given existing utilities for all the development on that side. Construction should go quicker on the north side and in...

Continued winter storm preparation with the help of sunny weather

Posted on December 11, 2020

The sunny weather has allowed DPW crews to catch up on winter prep. They have made a concerted effort recently to address the autumn/winter leaf fall as well as clearing out some of the major storm water outlets. In the photo you will see Streets Lead Worker Kenny Gatlin clearing cat tails from an outlet...

Park playgrounds to remain open

Posted on December 11, 2020

Playgrounds may remain open to facilitate physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise. Playgrounds located on schools that remain open for in-person instruction, and not accessible by the general public, may remain open and must follow guidance for schools and school-based programs.

Pickleweed Park field restoration

Posted on December 11, 2020

Parks Division has been busy assisting the Streets Division with winter prep as well as handling many other projects. Along with trying to keep up with the autumn/winter leaf fall in the parks, they recently did some restoration work to the Pickleweed field. This included aerating, fertilizing, seeding, top dressing and dragging. In the photo...

Tree damaged roadway repair

Posted on December 11, 2020

Local City contractor Maggiora-Ghilotti repaired a section of roadway this week at the intersection of D St and 2nd St. A portion of the concrete roadway was buckled in multiple locations due to damage caused by large tree roots. This was causing multiple humps in the roadway and was a safety concern for vehicle control...

Jacoby Street Quiet Zone

Posted on December 11, 2020

The Jacoby Street rail crossing was not included in phase 1 or 2 of San Rafael’s Quiet Zone implementation because the crossing was a private crossing at the end of the line and by Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rules quiet zones cannot begin or end at a private crossing. The City asked SMART to close...

New lighting along the multi-use pathway between Andersen Drive and Rice Drive

Posted on December 11, 2020

Thanks to the combined efforts of Streamline Builders and DC Electric, lighting has been installed along the multi-use path between Andersen Drive and Rice Drive. These LED lights are mounted to the existing fence between the creek and the pathway and are set to illuminate automatically once the sun has gone down. ...

San Rafael applies for FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for Fire Station 54

Posted on December 11, 2020

Last week Public Works submitted a major grant for the reconstruction of Fire Station 54 under FEMA’s new Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) Program. If successfully awarded funds through the BRIC grant program, the City would receive $4.1m in federal funds, with a $1.4m local match, for the $5.5m Fire Station reconstruction. The project qualifies...

Safety barrier installation at Terra Linda Mall Library

Posted on November 20, 2020

In order to provide continued distancing protection for library staff and the general public, the Facilities Division installed a new safety barrier at the Terra Linda mall library.

Public Safety Center body camera charging station

Posted on November 20, 2020

The new Police Station located in the Public Safety Center was in need of a proper charging station for their body cameras. The Facilities team was able to repurpose extra unused shelving pieces that match the existing cabinet and used previously used shelving to build an upper recessed cabinet. Facilities Division crew members Omar Garcia, Michael Reiser and Anthoney Heaven worked to complete this project and...

Northbound Andersen Drive to Francisco Blvd West Re-Striping

Posted on November 20, 2020

Andersen Drive got a little facelift earlier this week. The lanes were restriped, and green was added to the conflict zones to improve the experience for bicycles and vehicles. Below is northbound Andersen Drive approaching Francisco Boulevard West.

Storm water catch basin and headwalls clean out

Posted on November 20, 2020

The Streets Division, with assistance from Parks Division staff, continues to clean out the storm water catch basins and headwalls. This work will continue into the rainy season to ensure stormwater flows through the City to the bay.

Private landslide at Meyer Road

Posted on November 20, 2020

In a stroke of bad timing, a private water line created a small landslide at Meyer Road. Meyer connects to Southern Heights Bridge and the slide will impact our ability to construct the bridge. In order to keep the bridge project on schedule, City staff jumped into action. Here you will see Streets Supervisors John...

Puerto Suello Bike Path clean up

Posted on November 20, 2020

In order to ensure a safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists and maintain vegetation overgrowth, the Parks Division gave some needed attention to the Puerto Suello Bike Path. Here you see Parks Lead worker Matt Scales finishing up some landscape work along the path. Earlier this month, Parks Mechanic Jim O'Hagan cleaned up some graffiti...

Routine DPW dump truck maintenance

Posted on November 20, 2020

In preparation for the upcoming winter season, the Parks and Streets crews have been busy cleaning out storms drains around the city. As a result, the DPW dump trucks have been getting a lot of use as well as accruing miles. Here you see Garage tech Jay Arieta performing the first Lube Oil Filter (LOF)...

Debris clean up underneath Highway 101 viaduct

Posted on November 20, 2020

DPW maintenance worker Matt Gaehwiler, along with a contracted labor crew, cleaned areas underneath the Highway 101 viaduct. This area has been littered with trash and debris the past couple months due to homeless residents that have vacated the area. SRPD received a consent letter from CalTrans to enter their property and clean up the...

North San Pedro Road and Merrydale Road striping

Posted on November 20, 2020

North San Pedro Road between Merrydale Road and the SMART Railroad crossing recently received fresh striping. The centerline and lane lines were restriped, and a striped island was added to further separate the two directions of travel. The City is working with SMART to review this area for additional improvements.

Second Street SMART Railroad Crossing

Posted on November 20, 2020

As part of an ongoing collaboration between the City, SMART, and CPUC, the city reviews upcoming projects to see how they can enhance safety at railroad crossings adjacent to these city projects. This week as part of the Francisco Blvd West one-way conversion project, the city’s contractor installed warning striping on 2nd Street between the...

Kick-off meeting with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Environmental/Design work for channel dredging

Posted on November 20, 2020

The City had two important kick-off meetings with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) staff on November 5th and 12th. The first was a virtual introduction to the project team at USACE that will be working directly on the San Rafael Channel dredging environmental/design, and the second was an in-person site visit to the...

Street Leaf Sweeping for November

Posted on November 18, 2020

Street Leaf Sweeping Will occur on November 21, 2020 starting at 7:30 AM. Public Works crews will be sweeping the following areas: Gerstle Park Additionally, Public Works will sweep up as many side streets as time permits.

Non-essential City Facilities Closed from November 23-29, 2020

Posted on November 18, 2020

Starting November 23rd through November 25th, City Hall and most non-essential City facilities, which include Public Works, will be closed in accordance with the non-public safety Furlough Schedule, which is a cost-saving measure in response to significant COVID-19 related revenue losses the City continues to experience. The 13-day closure schedule, as approved by our City...

Albert Park Tennis Court fence vandalism

Posted on November 6, 2020

Parks around the City have been experiencing an increase in vandalism. Recently, our Facilities Division discovered some vandalism to a fence at the Albert Park Tennis court. The damaged section had been impeding the pedestrian walkway. The damaged section of fencing that was causing the sidewalk to be blocked was cut and removed.

Reduce and Reuse!

Posted on November 6, 2020

Facilities department (re)installed a previously used vice in the new Police Department armory using all of its existing hardware. This device will be used to service the police departments firearms as needed.

Purple Air device installed at Terra Linda Pool

Posted on November 6, 2020

With all the recent wildfires and extreme poor air quality we all experienced around the city, the Facilities department installed a PurpleAir device at the Terra Linda pool area in order to monitor the air quality. A PurpleAir device has “sensors that measure airborne particulate matter. Particulate matter describes solid particles suspended in air; this...

New Public Safety Center cleaning system

Posted on November 6, 2020

The Facilities team installed a new commercial vacuum cleaning system in order to better assist staff at the Public Safety Center with the maintenance of City vehicles. The new system is located in the basement level of the new Public Safety Center.

Working to keep equipment moving

Posted on November 6, 2020

The San Rafael Police Department has 20 marked patrol units that our two garage techs work diligently to keep in operating order. As you can imagine, these patrol cars, along with many other City vehicles and equipment, see a lot of hard use and require constant attention. As the fleets age, they begin to require...

Gearing up for the winter weather season

Posted on November 6, 2020

The Parks and Streets Divisions have been busy cleaning catch basins in preparation for the rainy season. In the photos, you see Parks Maintenance Worker Valente Curiel cleaning out one of the catch basins that is full of leaves, debris and soil. The Parks and Streets Divisions have also been very busy cleaning up illegal...

Caltrans proposes roundabout for 101NB Freitas Parkway and Civic Center Dr. Exit

Posted on November 6, 2020

Caltrans is planning to improve the intersection of the 101 Freeway northbound exit at Freitas Parkway and Civic Center Drive/Redwood Highway to relocate the Golden Gate Transit bus stop and make pedestrian access much safer and more efficient. Caltrans has proposed two alternatives, one a signalized intersection and the other, a round-about. The City plans...

Francisco Blvd East Project completed – Vivian to Medway

Posted on November 6, 2020

The City’s contractor on Francisco Blvd East has made significant progress over the past several weeks by completing the installation of storm drainpipe between Vivian and Harbor Streets. The new sidewalk has been installed in multiple stretches, including Vivian to Medway and Hoag to Harbor. The contractor’s electrician has installed foundations and underground conduit for...

PG&E Nightwork – 11/13/2020 – 11/14/2020

Posted on November 3, 2020

Work is scheduled to start on Friday, November 13 at 9 PM and continue until Saturday, November 14 around noon. The scheduled work is located on Merrydale Rd at Las Gallinas Ave and north of El Prado Ave. The work will be large transmission pole replacement, which will require power shutoffs. The timing is limited...

Reopening of the City parks!

Posted on October 23, 2020

As of Monday, October 19th all City park bathrooms have been reopened. Bathrooms will be cleaned on a Monday and Friday schedule by Public Works and as needed. Since October 7th, all playgrounds have also been reopened with specific guidelines. A lot of effort has gone into implementing these State guidelines for parks with collaboration and assistance from the Library...

Homeless encampments clean-up

Posted on October 23, 2020

DPW staff have played a huge part in assisting the Police Rangers with clearing homeless encampments in the City. With the new full time and part time Police Rangers in place, DPW maintenance crews are assisting them on almost a weekly basis with encampment cleanups. Both the Parks and Streets Division assist in this and...

San Rafael High School crosswalk construction set to begin!

Posted on October 23, 2020

Construction for the San Rafael High School crosswalk begins Monday October 26! This crosswalk is being installed about 350 feet east of Third Street/Union Street. It will come with a pedestrian hybrid beacon that will be dark unless a pedestrian activates the button to cross. Pedestrians will cross in two phases and this beacon will...

The shift into the Winter Mode Maintenance Schedule

Posted on October 23, 2020

The Streets and Parks Division recently went into their winter zoning schedule. There are 8 maintenance zones in the City which two maintenance staff members are assigned. Using a GIS based app, they go through all the storm water catch basins (and there are many!) and headwalls cleaning out debris such as leaves, trash and...

Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony

Posted on October 23, 2020

The Parks Division been very busy the last couple weeks. They have been working hard to finish up regular maintenance before most of crew joins with the Streets Dept crew for winter zoning. They have also been busy preparing for a big Arbor Day tree planting ceremony that occurred over the weekend. Volunteers planted 100...

Helping to keep equipment in working order

Posted on October 23, 2020

PD is the Vehicle Maintenance divisions #1 customer. It is crucial that these vehicles are kept in top condition for safety. In the photo below, you will see Garage tech Angel Lopez replacing a broken ballistic panel in the door of one of the City's police cruisers. Due to the constant opening and closing of...

Notice of Construction Activities: San Rafael High School Crosswalk

Posted on October 22, 2020

Construction for the San Rafael High School crosswalk begins Monday October 26th! This crosswalk is being installed about 350 feet east of Third Street/Union Street. It will come with a pedestrian hybrid beacon that will be dark unless a pedestrian activates the button to cross. Pedestrians will cross in two phases and this beacon will...

Virtual Neighborhood Meeting: Southern Heights Bridge Replacement on 11/4 at 6-7pm

Posted on October 16, 2020

Public Works and our construction management team, Substrate Inc, will host a virtual public outreach meeting on November 4th at 6 PM for the City’s project to reconstruct the Southern Heights bridge, located at 116 Southern Heights Blvd. This is a neighborhood meeting for not only residents directly affected by the new bridge, but adjacent...

Robert Dollar Dr. / Boyd Park Improvements

Posted on October 9, 2020

The Streets Division staff has had a very busy schedule heading into the rainy season. Catching up on pothole and road repairs, applying new STOP locations, updating crosswalks as well as other special requests. Here you see Streets Maintenance Supervisor John Shindelus with Streets crew members Kenny Gatlin and Jeremy Quintal installing benches on Robert...

Outdoor dining area beautification and Tree Planting Ceremony

Posted on October 9, 2020

The Parks Division has been busy setting up planters for the outdoor dining areas downtown and the business owners have been very pleased with all their hard work. The Parks Division has also been busy preparing for a tree planting ceremony where over 60 trees will be planted along McInnis Parkway and 30 to be...

Garage keeping busy with vehicle maintenance

Posted on October 9, 2020

The Garage Division has been staying busy with regular maintenance and unscheduled repairs. Here you see Garage Tech Jay Arieta doing some preventative maintenance on the shop service truck. This vehicle is crucial to the fleet as it responds to all the repairs required in the field. It is supplied with an on-board air compressor...

Keeping busy with upgrades and repair work

Posted on October 9, 2020

Facilities staff members Omar Garcia, Michael Rieser and Anthony Heaven have been working hard at the new Public Safety Center and the lower level of City Hall. Below, this is one of the many walls they are in the process of removing.

Smith Ranch Rd / Lucas Valley Rd Repavement Project

Posted on October 9, 2020

After two years of coordinating with Caltrans, the City received permission to move forward with a project to repave Smith Ranch Road/Lucas Valley Road under Highway 101. Between September 28th and October 1st, the City’s paving contractor, Ghilotti Bros, removed the top 4” of asphalt and paved back the new asphalt providing a smooth riding...

Sidewalk Repair Program 2/3 Complete in East San Rafael

Posted on October 2, 2020

The Sidewalk Repair Program passed another significant milestone this month, having completed over 33,000 square feet of new sidewalk in San Rafael. 33,868 Sqft of sidewalk have been replaced at 196 properties and represent nearly 1.5 miles of new sidewalk. Work continues in the Peacock Gap neighborhood where 75 of 120 properties have already been...

Six months of COVID and traffic volumes

Posted on September 25, 2020

Can you believe we have been at this pandemic for six months now?! There were some really positive changes to our roads at the very beginning of this – traffic volumes plummeted as a result of adults working from home, kids distance learning, and all our extracurricular activities cancelled. It’s been six months and people...

Streets Division keeping busy with projects

Posted on September 25, 2020

Streets Division crew members replaced a damage wooden guard rail this week along Elkin Ct. Here you see Streets Division crew members Arturo Tinoco and Mathew Gaehwiler putting the finishing touches on that project. Streets staff members also assisted in moving some parking stops at the Public Safety Center this week. Here you see Mike...

Parks Division keeping busy with various projects around the City

Posted on September 25, 2020

Emergency tree work is a constant job for Parks Division personnel. Here you see Parks Division crew members Jorge Hernandez, Alfredo Tellez and Brendan Mitchell removing a downed tree branch on D St. The crews have been handling several special projects as well. In the photos, you will see Parks Division crew members Jorge Hernandez,...

Ongoing City Vehicle maintenance

Posted on September 25, 2020

Garage staff continue to stay busy with ongoing and regular maintenance of City vehicles. Here you see Garage technician Jay Arieta performing the first service on SRSD's new Vactor Truck. Garage staff will be preparing for the upcoming storm season as well by conducting inspections on the Streets Division Vactor Truck, Leaf Vacuum and Pump...

Sidewalk Repair Program passes another milestone

Posted on September 25, 2020

The Sidewalk Repair Program passed another significant milestone this month, having completed over 30,000 square feet of new sidewalk in San Rafael. 31,847 Sqft of sidewalk have been replaced at 196 properties and represent nearly 1.4 miles of new sidewalk. Work continues in the Peacock Gap neighborhood where 60 of 120 properties have already been...

Work within the Right-of-Way

Posted on September 25, 2020

The Department of Public Works issues encroachment permits for many projects. These are online at https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/departments/publicworks/ and more information on the individual permits can be viewed within the City’s permitting system https://epermits.cityofsanrafael.org/etrakit3/Search/permit.aspx We would like to highlight some notable projects, currently underway and upcoming which will have a larger impact on City streets and neighborhoods....

Notice of Construction: Smith Ranch Rd/Lucas Valley Rd

Posted on September 25, 2020

Public Works and Ghilotti Bros team are planning to grind and overlay the pavement on Smith Ranch Road/ Lucas Valley Road. There will be a full road closure during the night construction next week. This includes off-ramp closures that will require detours for motorists. What: Road Closure during resurfacing operations Where: Lucas Valley Road at...

Boyd House Lease Opportunity

Posted on September 15, 2020

Although the building is a historical landmark and originally built as a residence, the City of San Rafael believes that the Boyd House can function as a museum, retail space, art gallery, or another commercial operation. The City is seeking any appropriate and a feasible business opportunity in the Boyd House since the downtown area...

PurpleAir Sensor installed at City Hall

Posted on September 11, 2020

PurpleAir is a real-time air quality sensor that feeds into a continuously updated, crowd sourced map at www.purpleair.com. Particularly useful for geographic-specific and realtime air quality readings, PurpleAir has become a go-to site for many during this fire season to check the air quality in their backyard or in the destination they’re heading. The City...

Increased on-street parking supply

Posted on September 11, 2020

We were able to increase the on-street parking supply by approximately 24 spaces in East San Rafael. On Thursday August 29th, Bayside Striping and Seal striped on-street angled parking on the on the south side of Bellam Boulevard between Vista del Mar and Playa del Rey and on the west side of Kerner Boulevard south...

TAM Funded Outdoor Dining Areas installed on 4th Street

Posted on September 11, 2020

This past week Public Works Streets and Parks Maintenance staff installed 6 new outdoor dining areas in parking spaces in front of businesses along 4th Street. The barricades, planters, and plants were funded by TAM’s Quick Build Grant – a Measure AA funded grant program designed to aid local businesses during the pandemic by building...

Storm Drain Homeless Encampment Clean-Up

Posted on September 11, 2020

Streets Supervisor John Shindelus with his crew of Jeremy Quintal and Arturo Tinoco work with some of our contracted labor to clear out a large homeless encampment in the City's storm drain system. This was an especially difficult clean up due to the location, type of debris and conditions within the storm drain. They hauled...

Parks Division keeping busy

Posted on September 11, 2020

The Parks Division has had a very busy couple of weeks. The Parks crew devised a creative solution to beautify an empty planter bed in front of Johnny Doughnuts. The Parks Division also assisted the San Rafael Police Department with the clean up of another large homeless encampment. Parks Division crew members Valente Curiel, Jorge...

Parking Services Buggy Maintenance

Posted on September 11, 2020

Garage Division vehicle mechanic Angel Lopez made quick work of this transmission replacement. With all maintenance personnel riding alone in vehicles, it was important to get this truck back into service as soon as possible.

Francisco Blvd West Multi-Use Path

Posted on September 11, 2020

The Francisco Blvd West multi-use path and one-way conversion is under construction. Over the last two week’s Francisco Blvd West was temporarily closed at Rice Drive as the contractor drove sheet piles along the creek. The majority of the new bike path will be installed within the previous southbound vehicle travel lane, but as the...

Francisco Blvd East Sidewalk Improvements Project

Posted on September 11, 2020

At the end of July, the City kicked off the multimillion-dollar upgrade of the sidewalk on Francisco Blvd East between Vivian and Grand Ave. The City’s contractor, Ghilotti Bros, continues to make progress replacing underground storm drainpipe. Concurrent with the City’s project is a cooperative effort with the San Rafael Sanitation District (SRSD). The project...

Sidewalk Repair Program Nearly Half Way Complete in East San Rafael

Posted on August 24, 2020

The Sidewalk Repair Program continues to make good progress in East San Rafael. The City and contractor have completed nearly 50 of the 110 properties signed up in the area. Green dots in the image above represent completed projects with blue dots to be completed. An impressive 42 properties on Riviera Drive alone have signed...

Francisco Blvd West converted to one-way southbound

Posted on August 21, 2020

Francisco Boulevard West was recently converted to one-way southbound from Second Street to Rice Drive. This was done to improve safety at the SMART rail crossing at Second Street by diverting northbound traffic to Lindaro. It also allowed us to make room for a two-way protected cycle track on the west side of the street....

Annual cleanup of the Freitas Ditch

Posted on August 21, 2020

Streets crew members Ken Gatlin, Arturo Tinoco and Jeremy Quintal recently conducted the annual cleanup of the Freitas ditch ahead of the rains to come which could potentially clog the drainage ditch with debris or wash it out into the bay. The crews generally tend to haul about 20-30 tons of mostly organic material to the dump...

Weekend storm keeps City Maintenance crews busy

Posted on August 21, 2020

Maintenance crews were busy Monday after a windy weekend storm brought down numerous trees and branches around the City. Parks Division crew member Trevor Thomas is seen here helping to clear a large branch that was blocking a lane along the Miracle Mile.

Parking Services buggy maintenance

Posted on August 21, 2020

This year has been hard on Parking Services buggies. The Vehicle Maintenance Division has had to take many out of service due to parts unavailability and high repair costs. The buggy in this photo has frame damage that cannot be repaired safely and therefor had to be taken out of service. Mechanic Jay Arieta is...

Installation of disposal box for unused & expired medications at PSC

Posted on August 21, 2020

To ensure continued safe disposal of expired and unused medications, Facilities Department crew members Anthoney Heaven and Michael Reiser installed the drug drop off box, which was previously located at the old Police Department, in the lobby of the new Public Safety Center.

Public Safety Center Motorcycle Charging Station

Posted on August 21, 2020

Facilities Division crew members Omar Garcia, Michael Reiser, and Anthoney Heaven built and mounted panels to the new Public Safety Center motorcycle parking garage. This will allow Officers to mount all necessary charging devices within easy reach of their motorcycles.

Diane Dillon retiring after 35yrs of service!

Posted on August 21, 2020

Diane Dillion, Senior Associate Engineer, is retiring after 35 years of service to the City of San Rafael Public Works Department. In her role, Diane oversees citywide Encroachment Permitting (any construction work in the right of way) including approvals and inspections, as well as implementation and participation in the mandated Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention...

Fifth Avenue New Signage Placements

Posted on August 7, 2020

Throughout the City, our staff have been working hard to update and maintain the marking and signage on the roadways. Recently, our striping contractor has been updating the crosswalks and other various striping along Fifth Avenue to make them safer for pedestrians and visible for motorists. Paint isn’t the only thing that helps with visibility...

Public Safety Center – Painting white strips for the steps

Posted on August 7, 2020

Streets crew members Brendan Smith, Trevor Thomas, and Matthew Von Bima were at the new Public Safety Center adding some final touches to the area. This will not only bring a fresh look to the steps, but it will ensure and improve visibility of the steps. The staff were tasked to go around the building...

Kerner Boulevard Drainage Clearing

Posted on August 7, 2020

Arturo Tinoco and Kenny Gaitlin worked with and oversaw Ad-Lite clamming services to remove debris from the Kerner Boulevard ditch. The project happened over the course of three (3) days, and team removed more than 20 tons of vegetation and garbage from the drainage channel. During this time of the year, our crews inspect all...

Fire Station 57 landscaping

Posted on August 7, 2020

The Parks Division and AmeriCorps worked together setting up the landscaping of Fire Station 57. Parks crew member Valente Curiel prepped the area by laying down the fabric layer for the group to start putting down the mulch. With the helping hands of AmeriCorps, we were able to complete the work at Fire Station 57...

Freitas Parkway Vegetation Management

Posted on August 7, 2020

The Parks Division is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the vegetation along the drainage ditch on Freitas Parkway. When the crews are ready to get to work, they follow the necessary safety protocols by setting up necessary traffic control in the area early in the morning before they commence work. The crews trimmed...

Terra Linda Pool water maintenance

Posted on August 7, 2020

The Parks Division does not only deal with vegetation issues. Parks crew member Jim O’Hagan assists with checking the water quality of the pool. Jim regularly goes to the Terra Linda Community Center to check the pool’s sanitation balance and verify that the water is circulating properly. If there are any issues, Jim will correct...

Francisco Blvd East Sidewalk Project

Posted on August 7, 2020

Construction has started on Francisco Blvd East from Vivian to Grand Avenue. The City has coordinated with the San Rafael Sanitation District to complete a much-anticipated sidewalk widening project with a sewer replacement project. We are taking advantage of the decrease in traffic volume during the COVID pandemic to do construction during the day for...

Parks Department cuts Contracts, stretches staff to save City money

Posted on August 7, 2020

When the City was looking at furloughs and budget cuts for FY 2020-21, the Parks Division revaluated their contracted support and offered to take two major contracted services in-house for this fiscal year: maintenance of the citywide parkettes and the Puerto Suello Bike Path. Together, cutting these two contracts and performing the work with our...

Newly planted trees throughout the City

Posted on August 7, 2020

A little-known fact: The Parks Division has planted more than 70 new trees around the City as after all, we are a tree city. And with new trees comes more maintenance. Here we see Parks crew member Alexis Nacaspaca watering one of those many new trees. Alexis waters between 60-80 newly planted trees per week....

City Hall and Parks mowing

Posted on August 7, 2020

Parks crew member Jim Dunn has been doing an extraordinary job keeping up with the mowing needs of the City. Earlier in the month, Jim was seen doing some much needed mowing around City Hall. Once this task was complete, Jim moved on to complete his other tasks around the City, which included the parks...

Spinnaker Parkette irrigation repair

Posted on August 7, 2020

Parks crew member Daniel Walzer is the go-to person for any irrigation issues. Here we see Daniel working on a leaking valve at one of the Spinnaker Parkettes. Daniel took on the role as the irrigation technician for the Parks Department last year and has been learning on the go. He has been working diligently...

Corner of Lucas Valley Rd and Las Gallinas vegetation trimming

Posted on August 7, 2020

Parks Department crew members Matthew Scales, Jose Tellez, and Alex Nacaspaca have been working diligently to clear vegetation along Lucas Valley Rd. They all worked on cutting back the vegetation away from the sidewalk to create safe walkway for pedestrians. After loading up the truck with vegetation debris, the crew makes several trips to the...

On-going vehicle maintenance

Posted on August 7, 2020

Garage staff continue to keep busy with regular maintenance and unscheduled repairs of City vehicles. The Garage staff has also been working on putting this Black and White PD unit back into service. We salvaged parts from two other vehicles that will be sent to auction to make one functioning vehicle and will replace a...

Deck railing repairs at Albert J. Boro Community Center

Posted on August 7, 2020

Facilities crew members Michael Rieser and Anthony Heaven made necessary repairs to the Albert J Boro community Deck. The deck was missing boards and the existing gate and railing needed updating. The staff made repairs and inspected other areas of the deck to ensure that it was safe for use

San Rafael Awarded $19,980 from TAM for Quick Build Program

Posted on August 7, 2020

Along with 10 other Marin Agencies, San Rafael was awarded funding to support local businesses and redesign public streets through the TAM Quick Build Program. San Rafael’s application proposed to convert 7-9 parking areas along Fourth Street into outdoor dining areas. The City would procure and install the barricades and planter boxes, so that restaurants...

C and D Streets are now two-way streets!

Posted on August 7, 2020

It took a village, but with the help of City Maintenance Crews, Parking Services, Emergency Services, DC Electric, and the Striping Contractor, C and D Streets were opened to two-way traffic on Wednesday August 5. The main purpose was to better facilitate Emergency Access to and from the new Public Safety Center, but all visitors...

Ditch cleaning near Smart & Final

Posted on August 7, 2020

Matt Gaehwiler and the Forester & Kroeger crew worked in unison to prepare for the upcoming rains. Matt and the contractor worked on not only clearing the ditch near Smart & Final, but also did some vegetation management in the area. This work is important in helping prevent flooding and ensures proper water flow.

Smith Ranch Road /Lucas Valley Road Construction Project

Posted on August 7, 2020

After two years of coordination between the City, Caltrans, County of Marin, and Kaiser, the City is moving forward with construction of the Smith Ranch Road Resurfacing project. This project stretches from just east of Smith Ranch Road and Los Gamos Drive under Highway 101 to Smith Ranch Road and Redwood Highway. As part of...

Public Safety Center Tour

Posted on July 24, 2020

San Rafael’s brand-new Public Safety Center is nearing the finish line. Earlier this week, the project team gave the Department Directors and City Manager a tour of the new building. Mayor Gary Phillips was also able to join in. The building has begun occupancy. San Rafael Police started to move in this week and Fire...

Southern Heights Bridge Project moves closer to construction

Posted on July 24, 2020

The Southern Heights Bridge replacement project, a fully state-funded project, is moving closer to construction. The City recently selected a firm to lead construction management for the complicated project and will be seeking Council approval on August 3rd for the $425,000 professional services contract. AT&T also recently moved their lines away from the bridge, readying...

Peacock Gap Asphalt Paving Work

Posted on July 24, 2020

In order to assure safe passage for our sidewalks and streets, Paving Crew employees Arturo Tinoco, Jeremy Quintal and Matt Gaehwiler are hard at work in the Peacock Gap area paving back the asphalt after the sidewalk, curb and gutter had been replaced as part of the sidewalk repair program.