Priority Area E: Quality of Life: Safety and Wellbeing
Foster a safe, healthy, and thriving community.
Core Services
Provide all-hazard emergency services
Provide a suite of emergency services including structural firefighting, emergency medical care, technical rescue, and hazardous materials response.
Manages Public Libraries
Oversee and enhance the operations of our three public libraries, while providing enriching programs that expand the community’s access to knowledge, culture, and learning opportunities.
Protect Against Wildfire
Create and implement vegetation standards for residential properties. Conduct inspections to ensure compliance, provide public education on wildfire prevention, award grants to aid in compliance with safety standards, and conduct inspections to ensure compliance.
Facilitate community engagement
Build partnerships with community groups and community members to increase involvement in neighborhood development.
Protect Against Structural Fires
Inspects the life safety components of new building construction, building remodels, fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems to ensure compliance with the San Rafael Fire Code.
Offer Recreational Programs
Offer a wide array of recreational programs, classes, and activities for all ages, focusing on promoting health and wellness.
Ensure police, fire and emergency medical services meet evolving community needs through increased engagement, innovation, training, and operational excellence. - E.1
E.1.1 Develop strategies to ensure public safety response times and services can meet the needs of future development and increased population growth.
E.1.2 Implement data-driven deployment models to enhance emergency medical services and improve Fire Department response times.
E.1.3 Implement an enhanced fire code compliance program, emphasizing education before enforcement.
E.1.4 Identify and implement strategies to foster more community involvement to increase trust between law enforcement and the community.
Enhance community safety through innovative programs that strengthen neighborhood security and public safety. - E.2
E.2.1 Reduce emergency response times of Priority 1 police calls.
E.2.2 Identify funding to ensure sustainability and expansion of the Specialized Assistance for Everyone (SAFE) program.
E.2.3 Integrate safety and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) elements in all infrastructure development and improvement plans/projects.
E.2.4 Reduce dangerous driving behavior and the number of collisions resulting in injury through education and enforcement efforts.
E.2.5 Assess and utilize technology solutions to improve public safety systems and response times.
Develop and implement a community engagement, design, and planning process for Measure P implementation that will result in a new Library and Community Center at Albert Park and will meet the needs of San Rafael residents now and into the future and will identify adaptive reuse options for the historic Carnegie Library. - E.3
E.3.1 Establish a project team, including specialists in building and landscape architecture, design, engineering, environmental, community engagement, project management, construction management, and regulatory compliance, to ensure the City has the capacity and expertise to successfully complete the Albert Park Library and Community Center project.
E.3.2 Based on robust community engagement, develop a preferred site plan for the Albert Park Library and Community Center that includes the proposed building location, surrounding site layout, recommended programmatic elements, and a preliminary cost estimate.
E.3.3 Develop and select final conceptual design/architectural rendering, building floor plan, and cost estimate the Albert Park Library and Community Center, and begin the creation of detailed design and construction documents, due diligence, and permit applications.
E.3.4 Initiate a public planning process related to the preservation of the historic Carnegie Library for ongoing civic, community, or community-serving commercial uses.
Maintain and improve parks, libraries, recreation facilities, and outdoor spaces to ensure they are clean, safe, and accessible for all community members. - E.4
E.4.1 Complete the Pickleweed Library and Pickleweed Preschool renovation.
E.4.2 Utilize the Terra Linda Park and Community Center Enhancement Plan to guide future site improvements, seek funding, and enhance the park and community center’s role as a community resource.
E.4.3 Initiate the planning process to renovate the play area and make pathway improvements at Gerstle Park.
Deliver diverse recreational, cultural, and literary programs and services that engage residents and respond to evolving community interests. - E.5
E.5.1 Evaluate library and recreation programs to identify opportunities for improvements in service delivery and enhanced program offerings.
E.5.2 Evaluate options for providing enhanced library services in North San Rafael.
Improve neighborhood safety and reduce nuisances by developing new policies and strengthening the code enforcement program. - E.6
E.6.1 Revise the Street Food Vending Ordinance and develop an implementation, enforcement, and communications plan.
E.6.2 Pursue regulation changes and increase public education and enforcement efforts to curb illegal fireworks, illegal hemp/cannabis, illegal food vending, and illegal massage establishments.
E.6.3 Collaborate with state agencies to ensure ongoing enforcement of illegal hemp/cannabis products.
E.6.4 Evaluate policies and enforcement mechanisms to address businesses that are not in compliance with the City’s municipal code.
Calendar Year 2024 by the Numbers
5:39
Police response time to Priority 1 calls
7,150
Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Calls
44,473
Total calls for service the police department managed including 35,942 community initiated calls and 8,531 Officer initiated incidents
90,289
Items maintained in the library collection
3,025
Calls for Service responded to by SAFE Team.
32% Reduction
In use of force incidents by the police department