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City Open Space Closed Until Further Notice

Posted on October 9, 2019

The National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning when a combination of warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds puts a community at extreme risk of wildfire. A Red Flag Warning for the North Bay Mountains, interior valleys, and other parts of the Bay Area is in effect from 5 AM Wednesday, October 9 through...
PG&E Outage Map - 10-8-2019

Marin County PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff Update

Posted on October 8, 2019

Updated: 10/8/2019 - 4:00pm At this time the City of San Rafael will not be impacted by PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff in Marin County. For information about PG&E power shut off impacts in Marin and find ways to stay informed please visit the County of Marin's update page. We will provide updates if conditions...

CERT Communications Drill – October 20, 2019

Posted on October 4, 2019

San Rafael Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members are invited to practice their communications skills with other San Rafael CERT team members on October 20, 2019 at Gerstle Park - 201 San Rafael Avenue from 1 pm to 4 pm. Bring your Family Radio Service (FRS) radios, Zello app, or ham radio and your fellow...

National Fire Prevention Week 2019

Posted on October 4, 2019

National Fire Prevention Week 2019 Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape! ™ The San Rafael Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” The campaign works to...
bee

Falkirk Bees Get a Garden of Their Own

Posted on October 4, 2019

The Falkirk Cultural Center (and its grounds) is one of my favorite places in San Rafael. But did you know bees also love it? Volunteers from the Marin Master Gardeners are busy making the grounds at the Falkirk Cultural Center a beautiful and educational attraction. One small change so far is the transition of the...
Costco Proposed Entry

Costco: PRE-Application and Conceptual Design Review – October 15, 22

Posted on October 4, 2019

As you may know, Costco is proposing to build a new, approximately 147,000 square-foot warehouse center, including a warehouse, tire center, and fueling station to replace the Sears building at Northgate Mall. Costco is at a “Pre-Application” stage. The purpose of the Pre-Application is for an applicant to receive: 1) preliminary feedback from the City,...
Wildfire

Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority

Posted on October 4, 2019

Currently, 19 local fire agencies provide fire protection and emergency response services to communities in Marin County, but there is no single coordinating agency for wildfire prevention. The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) initiative, which was conceived by a collaborative countywide effort among jurisdictions across Marin County, would allow local fire agencies and emergency service providers,...
City Seal

Information Technology Services

Posted on October 4, 2019

We’re continuously on the move to modernize City services, and at Monday’s meeting, the City Council will consider approving an agreement with Xantrion, Inc. for information technology services. Our existing model for providing municipal information technology services (such as helpdesk and network support) relies on five separate vendors which has led to structural problems, inefficient...
Downtown Library

New Library Facilities Study

Posted on October 4, 2019

Did you know that the original Downtown Library opened at its current location in January 1909? In the late 1950s, local architect Gordon A. Phillips was hired to design a 6,000 square-foot addition that would more than double the Library’s size. San Rafael quickly outgrew the first library expansion and the next step was to...
Rendering of planned Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bicycle-pedestrian path. Photo courtesy of MTC

Barrier Installation Begins this week for the New Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bicycle/Pedestrian Path

Posted on October 4, 2019

Crews will begin work this week to install a moveable concrete barrier (similar to the barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge) that will separate the two westbound traffic lanes on the upper deck of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge from a new bicycle/pedestrian path that is expected to open later this fall. Installation work began earlier...
Marin Commutes

It’s Rewarding to Commute Green!

Posted on October 4, 2019

From October 7 through November 17, 2019, you can win prizes when you log your green commute trips on Marin Commutes. Easily log trips, including bus and train rides, biking, walking, carpooling, and riding the ferry, and you'll be automatically entered to win weekly prizes. Top performers compete for $250 gift cards. Commuters have a chance...
Golden Gate Bridge Logo

Fare Discount for Low-Income Riders on Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry

Posted on October 4, 2019

Last week, Golden Gate Transit approved a means-based fare program, beginning in 2020, that will provide a 50-percent fare discount for low-income riders on Golden Gate Transit regional bus routes and Golden Gate Ferry service. For the purpose of this program, “low-income” means people with income below 200 percent of the federal poverty Level (approximately...
Apartment Complex

703 Third Street – New Downtown Housing Near Transit

Posted on October 4, 2019

At Monday’s meeting, the City Council will consider approving the Use Permit, Environmental and Design Review Permit, and Lot Consolidation applications to allow the construction of a new, 120-unit, mixed-use building located at 703 Third Street (at the southwest corner of Third Street and Lincoln Avenue). This project includes 120 rental units (12 of which...

SMART Overnight Operations Update: Weekend of October 4-6

Posted on October 2, 2019

SMART overnight operations are not scheduled for this coming Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5. Upcoming overnight operations have not yet been scheduled.   Please stay tuned and we will post information about future overnight operations as it becomes available.   For more information and to check updates on our testing schedule, please visit...

2018 Sidewalk Repair Program 50% complete and 2019 Update

Posted on September 27, 2019

2018 Program The City along with Van Midde and Son Concrete hit an important milestone last week.  More than 50% of the scheduled work for the 2018 program has now been completed. This represents over 16,500 square feet of new sidewalk in the city. That's over 30 cement trucks worth of concrete weighting the equivalent...
SMART Train

Overnight Operations Update: Weekend of September 27 – 29

Posted on September 26, 2019

SMART is continuing to fine-tune the train control system based on the data they have collected over past weekend operations. The next overnight operations are scheduled for: Friday, September 27, from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 28, from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (if needed) For more information and to check updates on the...

Red Flag Warning and Open Space Closure

Posted on September 25, 2019

UPDATE: City of San Rafael open space areas have been re-opened   The National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning when a combination of warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds puts a community at extreme risk of wildfire. A Red Flag Warning was issued beginning Monday, September 23 at 9 P.M. that included elevations...

Costco and Northgate Mall hosting a community open house on September 25 and September 26

Posted on September 24, 2019

Costco and Northgate Mall are hosting a community open house on the Costco project. What: Costco San Rafael – Community Open Houses When:  Open House #1 – Wednesday, Sept. 25; 4:00 to 7:00pm Open House #2 – Thursday, Sept. 26; 5:00 to 8:00pm Where: Northgate Mall – Eastern Common Area (Entrance Next to H&M) 5800...

SMART Track Testing Canceled for Saturday, September 21

Posted on September 21, 2019

Overnight Operations Update: Saturday, September 21 SMART has canceled tonight’s overnight operations (Saturday, September 21). SMART continues to make good progress, and they are fine-tuning the train control system based on the data they have collected. The next overnight operations are scheduled for: Friday, September 27, from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 28,...
Prepare for Extended Power Outages

Prepare for extended outages

Posted on September 20, 2019

Don’t let the rain from earlier this week fool you… Wildfire season is still here, which means PG&E may activate a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event if extreme fire danger conditions are forecast. A PSPS event is intended to reduce the likelihood of a powerline-caused ignition. A PSPS event could last from 24 hours...
iew facing southwest of the northwestern reach of the lagoon, with the outfall location in the background. View facing

Marin Lagoons HOA – Maintenance Dredging

Posted on September 20, 2019

Privately funded maintenance dredging of the Marin Lagoons will begin on Monday, September 23rd. The work is expected to continue through to the beginning of 2020. The lagoons are centralized within the neighborhood, located off of McInnis Parkway, north of the Civic Center. The lagoons are over 4 acres of water and have a controlled...
Traffic Signals at Third Street and Tamalpais Avenue

New Traffic Signals on Second and Third Street at SMART Crossings

Posted on September 20, 2019

The new traffic signals are up and running on Second and Third Street so that SMART can begin service to Larkspur after they pass all the train tests. Both the Police Department and the Department of Public Works have received many phone calls and e-mails in frustration over the new traffic signals and increased delays....
New Tracking App

New Activity Tracking App for Public Works Streets and Parks Crews

Posted on September 20, 2019

After many years of tracking their activities on paper, the DPW Streets and Parks crews are going digital. With lots of collaboration, we now have an app that works on a smart phone in the field. The interface is simple and clear, so that crews can quickly document their work in the field. An important...
Renderings of Fire Stations 54 & 55

Fire Stations 54 & 55 Officially Approved

Posted on September 20, 2019

On September 17, 2019, two fire station renovations received approval from the Design Review Board. Fire Station 54, located on 46 Castro Avenue, and Fire Station 55, located on 955 Point San Pedro Road, are part of the Essential Public Safety Facilities Strategic Plan funded by Measure E on April 1, 2014. Both fire stations...
Track testing at Larkspur station

SMART Track Testing Update for the Weekend of September 20-21

Posted on September 19, 2019

Pre-revenue operations update: SMART has made significant progress in their pre-revenue operations and systems testing in preparation for opening the Larkspur station. Upcoming overnight operations are scheduled for: Friday, September 20, from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 21,  from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Please note, there may be additional overnight operations depending...
Police Logo

Think Two Steps Ahead: September is Pedestrian Safety Month

Posted on September 17, 2019

San Rafael, CA – The San Rafael Police Department is working with law enforcement agencies across the state to promote safe behaviors that allow drivers and those on foot to get where they need to go safely. September is Pedestrian Safety Month, and California continues to see more and more pedestrians getting injured or killed...
Housing Key

San Rafael Urges Governor to Sign Bill that Would Provide Sustainable, Ongoing Funding to Local Governments to Build Affordable Housing

Posted on September 13, 2019

The City of San Rafael Applauds Passage of Senate Bill 5 and Urges Governor to Sign Bill that Would Provide Sustainable, Ongoing Funding to Local Governments to Build Affordable Housing Senate Bill 5 (Beall, McGuire, Portantino) will provide funding to help local governments subsidize tens of thousands of housing units affordable to working class families...
Street Sweeping map

Street Sweeping Schedules

Posted on September 13, 2019

Here at the City of San Rafael, it’s no secret that we strive to make San Rafael a great place to work and live. We recently created a visualization tool to display sweeping routes and their schedules to make it easier for you to see what days and timeframes the sweeper will be on your...
CityOfSR_Seal

Gun Control and Safety Measures

Posted on September 13, 2019

Back in August, in response to ongoing and pervasive gun violence, Mayor Phillips ordered the City’s flags to be lowered to half-staff. After a period of time, the Mayor directed that the flags be returned to full-staff and that the City carefully review all available policy and program actions that the City may take to address gun...
SMART Train

Update on SMART Extension to Larkspur

Posted on September 13, 2019

SMART is getting closer to opening its extension to Larkspur and is currently testing the train control and railroad crossing warning systems along the newly constructed portion of track from San Rafael to Larkspur. This work was preceded by the construction of a new intersection at Andersen Drive, “flipping” the road and the railroad tracks to...
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