San Rafael, CA – The San Rafael Police Department is accepting applications for the Citizen’s Police Academy. The Citizen’s Police Academy is an exciting ten-week program hosted by the police department. Offered free of charge, this hands-on, interactive, behind-the-scenes program is taught by experienced police department employees who share their unique perspective on law enforcement....
In the early days of the City's homelessness newsletter, we posted a series of interviews with local stakeholders to help the public meet the various people involved with this important issue. Those interviews included the City of San Rafael's Mental Health Outreach Liaison Lynn Murphy and the County of Marin's Homelessness Policy Analyst Ashley Hart McIntyre....
We are proud to announce that the Fire Station 57 project has received LEED® Gold certification. This is now our second City-owned building to obtain this green building honor. This follows Fire Station 52 which also received LEED® Gold certification last year. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system was developed by...
With the Spring-like weather, Public Works crews have been able to get a jump on some much needed preventive maintenance this month. The Parks Division was able to take care of a few safety concerns such as, a line of sight issue at the Mission and Alice Street crosswalk located behind San Rafael High School....
With the help of interns and maintenance crews, the Traffic Engineering division is making huge headway with improvements at uncontrolled crossings throughout the City. An uncontrolled crossing is any marked crosswalk that is not controlled by a traffic signal or STOP sign. Improvements include painting red curb for visibility, installing signs in advance, and at,...
The City is one step closer in securing battery back-up (BBS) units at signalized intersections along major arterials. After selecting the equipment last year, Public Works recently procured three units and tested them in real conditions. The test at Second Street at Lindaro Street, Third Street at Lindaro Street, and Andersen Drive at Bellam Boulevard...
San Rafael’s new Public Safety Center (PSC) is nearing completion and we plan to open this summer. The contractor, Alten Construction, is working on the sidewalks around the building and a sidewalk “bulb-out” is required to create a safer crosswalk between the City Hall and the new PSC. In order to accomplish that work, the...
Marin County, CA – A new application for mobile devices now available in Marin County is designed to provide the public with real-time fire agency incident information and to locate CPR-trained people near someone in cardiac arrest. The free PulsePoint app, available on the App Store and Google Play, recently expanded its geographic scope so that Marin...
Join us to plant 100 beautiful, carbon-capturing trees in San Rafael on March 28! Here’s how to help: Learn how to plant and maintain trees at a Tree Planting workshop, February 29, 9am, 618 B St. Volunteer to plant, mulch and water, March 28, 8:30 am, McInnis Parkway. Adopt-a-tree. Donate funds to water the trees...
If you know about the new Albert Park playground, then you have probably heard of the B Team. A group of community members, known as the B Team, came together a few years back to co-create solutions to challenges in their neighborhood, including, spearheading the design and construction of Albert Park. They hosted fundraising events, developed relationships...
On Tuesday evening, the City Council will hold a public hearing to review proposed changes to the General Plan 2040 Land Use Map. The Land Use Map is used to determine how parts of the City are used (such as residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). These land uses are then used to determine property zoning. The City Council will invite public...
Also on Tuesday night, the City Council will hear an informational report about the final phase of a multi-project, long-term vision to fill a significant bicycle and pedestrian safety gap between the Canal neighborhood and Downtown. This project spans ¾ mile along the roadway and will provide a seamless pedestrian and bicycle connection, increasing safety...
Historically, the United States has relied heavily on China to manage our recycling needs. Amidst recent changes we are facing new recycling challenges. Did you know recycling still uses energy and causes pollution? And although it is still good to do, it’s the last thing to consider when it comes to the “stuff” we use....
Advertising impacts our health! The Community Health and Prevention Program with Marin Health & Human Services is conducting a survey about the retail environment and wants to know your opinion about advertising in stores. The survey takes about five minutes. TAKE THE SURVEY
Thanks to a partnership with property owners and the City, over 20,000 square feet of new sidewalk was installed last year; that’s a mile of new sidewalk! In two weeks, we will finish up projects in both the Gerstle Park and Bret Harte neighborhoods and gear up to start projects in East San Rafael, with work starting...
In 2019, the Department of Public Works completed reviews for approximately twice as many building permits than in 2017 and 2018. The increase in demand was accommodated by existing staff working with applicants directly whenever possible to ensure that projects met the necessary standards. We also provided positive recommendations on improvements. Even though there were...
Up until last week, the intersection of Park Street and Belle Avenue was a two-way stop controlled on Park Street. The Traffic Engineering Division determined that an All Way Stop was warranted at the intersection, so Public Works maintenance crews freshened up the paint on the intersections and added STOP signs to Belle Avenue. Notifications...
The Sidewalk Repair Program is nearly complete for residents who signed up for the 2018 program in the Gerstle Park and the Bret Harte neighborhoods. The last of the nearly 90 properties will completed in the next two weeks. 13,000 square feet of new sidewalk were poured during this round, which would be enough to...
Gregory Kelly, Parking Services, was recognized as the Employee of the 4th QTR 2019! "Greg is an all-around awesome human and such a pleasure to work with. Greg makes work enjoyable through his optimism, integrity, sense of humor, readiness to be a team-player, and respect for those he works with. Great played a major role...
Public Works Community Development Digital Services Art Works Downtown Youth in Arts Fox & Kit Economic Development Parking Services "This project was a true public-private collaboration with multiple city departments, local businesses, and nonprofits all pitching in. The rehabilitation of the 5th & C Garage included a new modern paint job designed in collaboration with Fox and Kit...
Try out the new SPARKL Reusables takeout container program at Whole Foods Market in San Rafael The City of San Rafael has partnered with SPARKL Reusables to offer a reusable takeout container program at the local Whole Foods Market to help customers reduce waste and their impact on the environment. This new program is a...
We provide you with cleanup supplies to help us keep trash off sidewalks, gutters, city paths and open space, on your own schedule. The San Rafael Clean Coalition includes volunteers that support each other’s projects and the City. They also plan promotional activities to educate the community about the impacts of litter and benefits of...
On Monday evening, the City Council will hear a special presentation about the countywide efforts underway to ensure maximum participation in this year’s census. The City has been working closely with the County, Canal Alliance, and others on outreach and education efforts related to our “Hard-to-Count” communities across Marin. Over the next few months, these efforts will...
Also on Monday, the City Council will consider a proposal involving a new 45-unit townhome development at 350 Merrydale Road / 3833 Redwood Hwy. The project proposes a creative redevelopment of an underutilized infill site with much-needed housing, on a site that is located near major employment and services and with a variety of transportation...
On Monday evening, the City Council will also consider amending the 19-20 budget based on a mid-year budget report. This report presents the City’s financial condition in the current fiscal year (2019-2020) based on actual revenue and expenditure performance for the period July 1 through December 31, 2019, as well as budget actions taken through...
Over the past year and a half, a court case called Martin v. Boise has been significantly impacted cities’ abilities to respond to street homelessness. In a nutshell, the 9th Circuit Court ruling essentially says that imposition of criminal penalties for sitting, sleeping, or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who cannot obtain shelter is unconstitutional. In...
UPDATE: The City is no longer proceeding with the Public Safety Center Art project. The COVID-19 pandemic halted the process and the City Council, through its Essential Facilities Subcommittee, determined not proceed with the outdoor art component. The City of San Rafael is pleased to announce a Call for Artists to submit images/renderings/drawings of public...
Over the past year and a half, a court case called Martin v. Boise has been significantly impacting cities' ability to respond to street homelessness. In a nutshell, the 9th Circuit Court ruling essentially says that imposition of criminal penalties for sitting, sleeping, or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who cannot obtain...
In collaboration with Andrew Hening and PD, Public Works installed new signage encouraging residents to donate to local charities and nonprofits that offer services for the homeless, rather than donating to panhandlers. The Marin IJ covered this story, as well!
Construction of the Public Safety Center continues to progress. The exterior brick installation is well underway, despite the recent rainstorm. The City’s contractor, Alten Construction, is currently working on the interior finishes. Painting of the interior walls, as well as, installation of T-bar ceilings and lighting is around 90% complete. In addition, the first and...
