Earlier this year, City staff presented two informational reports (on February 4 and May 6, 2019 to be exact) to the City Council regarding Mandatory Mediation and Just Cause evictions. Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party facilitates the negotiation of a mutually acceptable resolution to a dispute between a landlord and...
Earlier this month, the San Rafael and Marinwood Fire Departments held a promotion and recognition ceremony: a celebration of family, service, and accomplishment. #1 Badges were awarded to Battalion Chief Matt Windrem, Fire Captain Andy Rogerson, and Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Winkelman, and Fire Engineer Jason Schmitt. Numbered badges were awarded following the successful completion of probation...
The City is required to comply with Senate Bill (SB) 743, which is a major change to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines that will go into effect in mid-2020. SB 743 requires that all local jurisdictions in California phase-out the use of the level of service (LOS) methodology for assessing traffic impacts in...
Looking for an extra job to pick up a few hours, or just looking for a way to give back to the community? Apply to be a lifeguard at the Terra Linda or Hamilton Pool! We provide the training (and a free season pass to the pool!). We especially need lifeguards who can work early...
From May 20 to June 7, the San Rafael Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers and passengers who are not buckled up, including drivers who do not secure children in child safety seats. The enforcement effort is part of the national Click It or Ticket campaign focused on increasing seat...
Third Street is a critical component of San Rafael’s transportation network serving tens of thousands each day as they travel to work, school, recreation, and retail destinations. Marin County’s busiest transit node, the San Rafael Transit Center, brings nearly 9,000 people daily to and through Third Street as they use Golden Gate Transit and Marin...
PG&E recently announced that they will be implementing a coordinated Public Safety Power Shutoff program that will turn off electricity when extreme fire danger conditions pose a threat a portion of the electric system that serves a particular community. This program includes all electric lines that pass through high fire-threat areas – both distribution and...
We were recently awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for our 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The GFOA established this award program in 1945 to encourage and assist governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally...
2nd Street Closure Friday, May 31 at 8:00 p.m. to Monday, June 3 at 4:00 a.m Beginning on Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. and ending on Monday, June 3 at 4 a.m., 2nd Street will be closed between Tamalpais Avenue to Hetherton Street. To travel eastbound, access A Street from Second Street as follows: To...
It has been a goal for at least a decade and it has finally been achieved. San Rafael's Fire Station 52 is now open for service! On Monday, May 13, we celebrated the opening of the new fire station, which replaces the original station built in 1958, with a ribbon-cutting that was attended by our City...
City Hall and all non-essential City facilities will be closed on Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. Emergency police and fire services will be available during this time. If you require assistance while we’re closed, visit our Service Center on our website. MORE INFO
Considering the unexpected rain we've experienced these past couple of days, the idea of summer, water, and recreation seems far-fetched... but I thought I'd let you know that May is National Water Safety Month. As the weather warms up (although not likely this weekend), it’s important to use good judgment and be safe around water. Here are...
In response to concerns from some of our residents, our staff completed an analysis for an All-Way Stop at Merrydale Road and the U.S. 101 South ramps and got approval from Caltrans to do the work. Our Streets Maintenance Crews painted STOP legends and limit lines, refreshed striping, and installed STOP signs and advanced warning...
Do you remember back in February when the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge temporarily closed because of falling concrete from the upper deck? Caltrans crews thoroughly inspected the bridge to make sure it’s safe to use and to assess the problem--and determined that the each of the bridge’s original joints, which date back to the mid 1950s, is in...
On Wednesday, May 8, the County of Marin hosted a press conference to announce preliminary results from the 2019 Homeless Point-in-Time Count. While there is still work to be done, these results suggest that our strategy to end chronic homelessness is working! The City of San Rafael has been one part of a much larger team that helped...
Over the last 12 months, several of our neighboring jurisdictions (including the County of Marin, Town of San Anselmo, and City of Larkspur, to name a few) have approved bans on flavored tobacco and the sale of tobacco at pharmacies. The purpose of a flavored tobacco ban is to combat the increase in youth tobacco...
Join us next Monday, May 13 at 5 p.m. for the Hose Uncoupling Ceremony and Housing of the Engine at the grand opening of Fire Station 52! Refreshments will be served and tours of the new station will be conducted. We hope to see you there!
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) construction is progressing within and around the San Rafael Transit Center in preparation for SMART's rail extension to Larkspur. And if you’ve visited the Transit Center lately, you may have noticed some changes to the platforms: all buses now operate first-in, first-out and pull as far forward as possible as they...
Golden Gate Transit is proposing changes to its bus lines that provide service to Northern and Central Marin County, including in Terra Linda, Lucas Valley, and Marinwood. The goal of these changes is to provide faster and more frequent service to San Francisco. Under their proposal, Golden Gate Transit service would be reallocated from poor performing...
Did you know: California now requires all businesses that generate four or more cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week to enroll in services to collect organic waste separately from other waste. Four cubic yards is about the size of a small dumpster and organic waste includes food scraps, landscape trimmings, clean wood and...
There's a new ride in town! Marin Transit has launched a new on-demand accessible shuttle service known as Marin Transit Connect. The new service is designed to help passengers connect to bus routes, SMART and major destinations across Northern San Rafael, like Northgate Mall, Marin Civic Center and Kaiser. Download the app on your smartphone...
The time has come! The completed Climate Change Action Plan 2030 will be presented to the City Council for consideration at Monday’s meeting. The Climate Change Action Plan 2030 sets targets for a minimum 40-percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and outlines steps that residents, businesses, and the City can take to...
On February 4, 2019, City staff presented an informational report to the City Council regarding Mandatory Mediation and Just Cause evictions. Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party facilitates the negotiation of a mutually acceptable resolution to a dispute between a landlord and a tenant. With Mandatory Mediation, if a triggering event...
Once a year, the City Council recognizes Public Service Recognition Week and National Police Week at a City Council meeting. Public Service Recognition Week appreciates government employees across the U.S. in all levels of government, including City government. Similarly, National Police Week is an annual observance that recognizes the contributions of our law enforcement personnel...
Also on Monday night, the City Council will be considering an agreement with the Town of Ross relating to the annexation of a property that lies at the border of San Rafael and Ross. The property owner of 400 Upper Toyon Drive, San Rafael, submitted an application to the Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to detach...
Are you ready to lower your carbon footprint and get prepared for emergencies? Join a free Resilient Neighborhoods workshop series to achieve measurable results in five meetings and meet great people who also care about a healthy planet. Have fun calculating your personal carbon footprint, and taking effective, measurable and money-saving actions to reduce it....
Over the last 12 months, several of our neighboring jurisdictions (including the County of Marin, Town of San Anselmo, and City of Larkspur, to name a few) have approved bans on flavored tobacco and the sale of tobacco at pharmacies. The purpose of a flavored tobacco ban is to combat the increase in youth tobacco...
At last week’s annual State of the City Dinner, we were so excited and honored to receive the Joe Garbarino Large Green Business of the Year award. Designated by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, award recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated extraordinary efforts to imbed sustainable principles in their business operations and philosophy....
At Monday’s meeting, Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD)’s General Manager, Ben Horenstein, will present to the City Council regarding their rate increase proposal. Mr. Horenstein will explain the contents of the proposal and provide figures detailing the impact to the City of San Rafael and San Rafael residents. There are two main components of the...
The San Rafael Police Department, in conjunction with the Fairfax Police Department and Novato Police Department’s dispatch centers, is excited to announce that we now have the ability to accept text-to-911 service throughout our jurisdictions. CHP - Marin also accepts text-to-911. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office should begin accepting text-to-911 calls in June 2019. Wireless...
