📸 Snapshot – City Council meeting agenda, library reopening, arts opportunities, and more!

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

Meeting Details:

Closed Session: Begins at 4:30 p.m. for a conference with legal counsel, liability claims and 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.

Consent Calendar Highlights:

1. Resolutions authorizing the City Manager to amend or enter into contracts with:

   • Mofffat & Nichol for Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Services

   • Software ONE, Inc., for Microsoft Software Licenses through Fiscal Year 2028-2029

   • AVI-SPL Inc. for Replacing Audio-Video Equipment in the Council Chambers and Authorizing the Carry-forward of Fiscal Year 2024- 25 Budget Appropriations

   • Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG) for a New Human Resources Information System

2. Resolution to amend the City’s Conservation Area, changing the designation from Natural Lands to Recreation and Climate Adaptation.

3. Resolutions authorizing the Temporary Closure of Fourth Street (Between F and G Streets) in San Rafael for the 2025 West End Block Party.

Public Hearings:

• Resolution to Approve a Major Environmental and Design Review Permit with an exception for a new attached elevated deck and detached parking deck.

• Introduction of an Ordinance Repealing and Replacing Ordinance No. 2038 to provide clarifying language.

Other Agenda Items:

• Resolution Authorizing Temporary Appointment of retired, Anndora Lee as Communications Dispatcher for San Rafael Police Department.

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 by emailing city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org.

On Monday, June 23, 2025, the San Rafael City Council approved the acceptance of at least $1.15 million in Measure A grant funds from the County of Marin. The Council also authorized $500,000 in City funds to help purchase 620 Canal Street for future public use.

What’s next: The Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider approving the Measure A grant in August. If approved, the funds would support the property purchase, contingent on its use as a public park.

The acquisition is a multi-agency effort led by the Trust for Public Land.

Why it matters: 620 Canal Street sits along the southern edge of San Rafael Creek and is a potential site for a waterfront park and a future bicycle and pedestrian bridge connecting the Canal neighborhood to Montecito Plaza and San Rafael High School.

• The purchase is a key first step toward expanding open space and improving connectivity in the Canal neighborhood, which has been a long-standing community interest.

• Significant additional funding will be needed to develop the park and to plan and design a bridge, which will take many years to complete.

• While this is a major milestone, there is a funding gap for the project and the City will be pursuing grants and philanthropic donations to bridge the gap.

After closing for critical safety and infrastructure upgrades last fall, the San Rafael Downtown Library is preparing to return to its historic E Street location on Monday, August 4, 2025.

The 4th Street Pop-Up Library will permanently close to the public on Sunday, July 21 to allow time to move back to the Downtown Library.

What to know during the transition:

• Library closures: All Downtown Library locations and the Northgate Library will be closed July 21 through August 3

• Returns: No physical item returns can be accepted during this period

• Due dates: Items due between July 21 and August 3 will be extended to August 4

• Holds: Unclaimed holds from the Pop-Up will transfer to the Downtown Library for pickup starting August 4. Requested items will not be accessible during the closure, but pickup windows will be extended.

*Reopening dates are subject to change. Please check the website for the latest updates.

Several members of the San Rafael Fire Department and medical team were recently recognized by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority for outstanding service in the field of emergency medical care.

The awards were presented at the annual Emergency Management Service Awards Ceremony on June 4 in Orange County.

Award recipients include:

• FF/Paramedic Marisa Nieto Gomez – EMS Cross Medal

• FF/Paramedic Graham Winkelman – EMS Cross Medal

• Katie Pannel – EMS Distinguished Service Medal

• Dr. Jordan Sax – EMS Medical Director of the Year Medal

These statewide honors recognize exceptional dedication, leadership, and contributions to emergency medical response.

Congratulations to all award recipients and thank you for your service to San Rafael.

The City of San Rafael is seeking artists for five public art installations in the Downtown San Rafael Arts District, with artwork slated for installation in 2026.

Artists and artist teams are invited to apply:

• Mural opportunities are open to California-based artists

• Sculpture opportunities are open to artists nationwide

Downtown San Rafael is one of just 14 officially designated California Cultural Districts. This project is made possible through a grant from the California Arts Council, which supports the expansion of public art and cultural programming in local communities.

Application deadline:
Friday, July 25, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. (PT)

Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) has launched a study aimed at reducing car trips while boosting alternative travel options throughout Marin County. The goal is to improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, enhance street safety, and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.

Share your thoughts: Help identify key areas for improvement and contribute to the development of effective strategies aimed at reducing car trips by participating in TAM’s public survey.

Potential strategies may include:

• Expanding shared mobility services (e.g., car share, ride-hailing subsidies)

• Improving connections to transit through bike/scooter share and shuttles

• Supporting transit-oriented development and land use planning

• Enhancing transit service and infrastructure

• Encouraging employer-based trip reduction (e.g., carpooling, transit subsidies)

• Exploring pricing or incentive models to reduce vehicle miles traveled

Why it matters:
Fewer car trips mean cleaner air, quieter neighborhoods, and safer streets for all road users. The outcomes of this study will help inform local and regional transportation decisions for years to come.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has launched a new Match My Payment Program to support eligible customers with overdue energy bills. The program provides a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $1,000, for qualifying low- to moderate-income households.

Program highlights:

• Available through December 31, 2025

• Customers must pay at least $50 toward a past-due bill to qualify for matching funds

• A minimum past-due balance of $100 is required to apply

• Matching support can be received more than once per year, up to the $1,000 maximum

• Eligibility is based on federal income guidelines — for example, a family of four earning less than $128,600 may qualify

The program is designed to reduce the risk of disconnection and provide flexibility for customers experiencing financial hardship. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability.

This new offering complements PG&E’s existing Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) program, which offers additional bill payment support for low-income households.

The City of San Rafael, in collaboration with Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, offers no-cost energy and water efficiency services through the Green House Call program.

Why it matters: This initiative empowers local youth while helping residents save money, energy, and water at home.

What’s included: Participants receive an energy and water assessment, and then receive free energy saving resources, including LED light bulbs, high-efficiency faucet aerators, and a smart power strip.

More info: Sign up today to reduce your utility bills and contribute to community sustainability.

San Rafael City Hall will be closed to the general public on Fridays through August 29, 2025. Community members who need in-person services at City Hall on a Friday may contact the relevant department in advance to schedule an appointment. San Rafael Community Centers, Libraries, Al Boro Parking Services, and all Public Safety services will remain open and maintain normal Friday hours.

City Hall Summer Hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Fridays: Open by appointment only

As a reminder, the San Rafael City Council will also be adjusting its regular meeting schedule during the summer months. Instead of meeting on the first and third Mondays of each month, Council will meet on the following dates:

Summer 2025 City Council Meeting Dates:

• Monday, July 21

• Monday, August 18

There will be no City Council meeting on:

• August 4

Agendas and meeting links will be posted in advance at www.cityofsanrafael.org/city-council-meetings.

The City of San Rafael is looking for talented people to join our team! Please click the links below for more information about our open positions.

• Child Care Instructor II – Parkside Preschool

• Construction Inspector – San Rafael Sanitation District

Have questions about working for the City? Please reach out to human.resources@cityofsanrafael.org.

Join us for these upcoming events in San Rafael:

• July 19: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: San Rafael Police Department’s Touch a Truck. Location: Pickleweed Park, 50 Canal St.

• July 26: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.: San Rafael Festival of the Arts. Location: Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Ave. Purchase tickets here.

• August 1: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Dancing Under the Lights. Locations: Fourth St. from A St. to Lootens Place

• August 5: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: National Night Out. Various locations, visit our website for more information.

• Every Second Friday, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Downtown San Rafael Art Walk. Location: Art galleries throughout Downtown San Rafael.

• Every Sunday and Thursday, 8 p.m. – 1 p.m.: 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!