Snapshot – de parte del Gerente de la Ciudad de San Rafael
Spotlight Photo
CAPTION: Loch Lomond Marina Jetty, January 2022
PHOTO CREDIT: Rob Fassberg, Sun Valley Resident
Last Quiz Question
Congrats to Missey Jaquysh for being the first to correctly respond to our mystery photo in the last Snapshot Quiz. The photo featured was of the Southern Heights Bridge that was recently completed after being in the works for many years. Construction began in December 2020 and ended with a ribbon cutting that took place on January 7th, 2022! Congratulations Missey and thanks for reading Snapshot!
Scroll down for this week’s quiz and be the first to answer.
San Rafael City News
The Neighborhood at Los Gamos
At Monday’s City Council meeting, the Council will hear updates from the applicant of the “Neighborhood at Los Gamos” proposed mixed-use project of both residential and commercial land uses on the property located at Los Gamos Drive. This proposed 192-unit apartment project on a hillside property will include an approximately 5,600 square foot neighborhood market and 5,000 square foot community building. The hearing will include several administrative updates on the project including a General Plan amendment, ordinance for zoning change, and updates on the environmental and design review for the project.
Third Street Corridor Rehabilitation and Safety Improvements
Progress towards the Third Street Rehabilitation Project will take a step further when the City Council considers multiple agenda items at Monday’s City Council meeting. Construction, engineering, and professional services items will be presented, along with reimbursement agreements with Marin Municipal Water District and the San Rafael Sanitation District.
Pavement improvements, replacing uneven sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, and new and improved curb ramps are just a few of the fixtures that would be addressed. Downtown San Rafael would also see improvements in upgraded water, sanitation, and traffic signal infrastructure.
Checkout the Staff Report.
City Council to hear Proclamation on Black History Month
On Monday, the City Council will hear a proclamation supporting Black History Month for February 2022. This year’s 2022 Black History Month theme focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness, which includes both emotional and mental health in addition to bodily health. Black History Month provides us the opportunity to celebrate the immeasurable contributions of Black Americans and honor the legacies and achievements of generations past and continue to address and work towards reversing injustices of the past.
The City Council of the City of San Rafael takes great pleasure in recognizing Black History Month and urges all residents of San Rafael to join in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans in the medical field and beyond and encourages the people of San Rafael to support and advocate for the health and wellness of our African American community.
Read more about anti-racism and the City’s Social and Racial Equity efforts
Let’s House San Rafael Housing Survey
The City of San Rafael wants to hear from you: What makes housing great? What would you like to see in San Rafael? Complete the San Rafael Housing survey to help us guide future housing policy for years to come!
This survey is a valuable part of the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element Update, and its success will depend on your input. Survey responses are anonymous, and you will not be contacted. To learn more about housing issues in San Rafael, visit the following link to join upcoming meetings, subscribe to updates, and learn about the city’s programs for affordable rental housing and homeownership.
Read more about the Housing Element
Upcoming District Community Conversations and Joint Community Conversation Meetings
As part of the City Council’s effort to increase inclusive community engagement, Mayor Kate and your local City Councilmembers will be hosting community conversation meetings in 2022. These community conversation meetings will allow community members to request a topic of discussion and meet with their local elected officials in a friendly and accessible environment.
Although our February and March 2022 community conversation meetings will be held virtually via zoom, further meetings will be hosted in a variety of formats, from an ice cream social to a local waste clean-up event. Be sure to mark your calendars for the citywide Joint Community Conversation meetings coming up, as well as for the district focused District Community Conversations to be held periodically through 2022. District 1 recently met, and the next ones are:
- District 3 Community Conversation via Zoom – February 9, 2022
- District 2 Community Conversation via Zoom – February 17, 2022
- District 4 Community Conversation via Zoom – February 22, 2022
- Joint Community Conversation via Zoom – March 17, 2022
See our calendar page for the Zoom link and to learn more about the Community Conversations
San Rafael City Schools Announces Open Seat on Board of Education
San Rafael City Schools has launched a provisional appointment process to fill an open seat on its Board of Education. The open seat was created when Natu Tuatagaloa recently resigned from the Board after a distinguished 20-year tenure as a school board member.
The application for the open Board seat is now available. Click here to view the application or call 415-492-3233 to arrange to pick-up an application. Applications are due on February 23, 2022 (more information below). Applications with an attached resume must be received by the Office of the Superintendent no later than 4 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
For more information and to apply visit the school board’s website, application and information is available in English and Spanish.
New State Composting Law!
In 2016, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1383 into law to keep food and other compostable materials (“organics”) out of landfills to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. Starting January 2022, all California residents and businesses must compost all organic waste. In addition, this law will require some food-producing businesses to donate excess edible food to reduce organic waste.
Even food-soiled paper and certain fiber-based containers can be composted. Learn more about the law and how you can easily comply by visiting our website. And learn what can be composted or not at Marin Sanitary Service’s go-to resource page.
COVID-19 Updates
The State of California Department of Public Health has extended indoor masking guidance for all indoor public settings until February 15, 2022. See link for more information regarding indoor masking guidelines.
Marin County Public Health office continues to advise all residents to remain diligent against the threat of the COVID-19 despite the lessened severity of the Omicron variant. This includes wearing masks indoors, getting vaccinated and a booster shot when eligible, social distancing, testing for infection via at-home and PCR tests and following the appropriate isolation and quarantine policies if exposed or testing positive with COVID-19.
COVID-19 booster shots and vaccination appointments continue to be offered at all Marin vaccine clinics. If you need transportation assistance to get vaccinated, please visit the below links. The requirement to wear masks in indoor settings still applies to restaurants, retail stores, salons/barbershops, and other indoor business environments where members of the public rotate in and out daily. For more information on the most current mask mandate, visit the Marin County masking page (link below).
As always, if you are experiencing any COVID-19 like symptoms, please get tested as soon as possible, even if you are fully vaccinated. Common symptoms consistent with COVID-19 include fever, chills, coughing, congestions, sore throat, difficulty breathing, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, or a new loss of taste or smell.
If you or anyone you know of are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, we urge you to get tested for COVID-19.
Find available Covid-19 at home tests: https://www.findacovidtest.org/
Make a vaccination appointment : https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccinefinder
Boosters and third doses: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/VaccineBooster
For more information on transportation assistance visit Lyft’s Vaccine Access Program AND GOGOGrandparent
Free Covid-19 testing resources
Marin County masks and face covering information
Become a San Rafael Lifeguard!
The City of San Rafael is hiring Lifeguards, Swim Instructors and Head Lifeguards for the Terra Linda and Hamilton Pools. Flexible shifts are available seven days a week from early mornings to mid days and evenings.
Never been a lifeguard or need to get retrained? We will provide certification. You do not have to be a competitive swimmer to be a lifeguard.
Prospective applicants should be people-oriented, safety minded and enjoy swimming. Lifeguard training requires the ability to swim 300 yards, either with freestyle or breaststroke, a timed event where you must retrieve a 10lb brick and swim 20 yards with it, and tread water for two minutes. Lifeguard Training includes certification in CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid.
Rate of pay is $17.00-$29.86.
The minimum age to apply is 15. The deadline to apply is July 1, 2022. For more information, please email here or call (415) 485-3344.
Check out our website for more information on lifeguard training schedule
TALES OF THE CITY – Firefighter of the Year 2021:
The City of San Rafael and the San Rafael Firefighters’ Association would like to congratulate Captain Garrett Northern and Firefighter/Paramedic John Swartz who both received the 2021 Firefighter of the Year award. This award, which is voted on by members of the Association, is awarded to individuals whose knowledge, attitude, and willingness to step up, go above and beyond their daily job requirements.
Both Garrett and John bring energy, commitment and passion to the job and are involved in many extra department projects including apparatus ordering, academy/probationary training, EMS supply ordering, and equipment inventory. Their hard work, consistent effort, and leadership are an example to all.
The San Rafael Firefighters’ Association Firefighter of the Year Award has been in existence since 2013. Previous winners include Andy Rogerson (2013), Gabe Williams (2014), Jeff Endaya (2015), Jason Hatfield (2016), Nick Giusti (2017), Anthony Alviso (2018), Shawn Gordon (2019), and William Berkey (2020). Please join us in congratulating Garrett and John on their achievement and continued service to San Rafael.
AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING on January 18, 2022
Due to Executive Order N-29-20, we no longer offer an in-person meeting location for the community to attend public meetings. In an effort to provide remote community participation for our City Council meetings, we are piloting real-time virtual public comment on agenda items.
At the January 18, 2022, regular City Council Meeting, the Council:
- Approved consent calendar items
- Heard a public hearing on 2021-2022 City Council Redistricting Process
- Heard and Informational Report regarding San Quentin Pump Station Reconstruction Project and Funding
City Council meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month. City Council meetings that fall on a holiday are rescheduled for the following Tuesday.
Events
District 3 Community Conversation via Zoom
Thursday, February 9 | Hours 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
District 2 Community Conversation via Zoom
Thursday, February 17 | Hours 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
District 4 Community Conversation via Zoom
Tuesday, February 22 | Hours 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Joint Community Conversation via Zoom
Thursday, March 17 | Hours 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Join your local Councilmember for upcoming District Community Conversations this February held via Zoom. Learn more about District updates and happenings and submit your inquiry or question to staff for the opportunity for discussion at upcoming District Community Conversations (DCC). Also keep an eye out for the upcoming Joint Community Conversations by Mayor Kate in March that will also be held via Zoom.
Email to submit an inquiry to be added to the agenda
Email here to RSVP and receive Zoom link
Black History Month 2022
All February 2022 | Open Library Hours
Each February, Black History Month reminds us to honor and share not only the past, but to continue building a future for Black communities – not just in February, but year-round. Take some time this month to read books by African American authors and try out a new genre or two!
Learn more about Black History Month events at the San Rafael Library
Detect and Connect – Hosted by Marin Aging Action Initiative
Friday, February 11, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Online
Join us for a free workshop about mental health and dementia issues in older adults. Learn how to detect:
● The differences between normal aging and abnormal aging behaviors.
● Symptoms and behaviors.
How to Connect:
● Appropriate responses with compassion to client behavior.
● Good ways to communicate with older adults.
● Older adults to support services.
Who Should Attend?
Marin County Community members supporting the needs of older adults
Quiz
Who is this and where is this located?
