____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 4.b
Meeting Date: April 7, 2025
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Community and Economic Development
Prepared by: Stacey Laumann
Senior Management Analyst
City Manager Approval: __________
TOPIC: DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTMENTS
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL APPOINTING
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD
MEMBERS
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommend that the City Council adopt the resolution appointing members to the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District Advisory Board.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1979, the San Rafael Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) has operated to support economic vitality in the City’s core. Section 36500 of the California Streets and Highways Code allows for the creation of a BID within a municipality, whereby businesses within the district self-assess an annual fee to pay for improvements and activities which benefit the overall business district. The intent of the state law is to provide a funding mechanism for business districts to promote economic vitality.
BID funds are collected through the City’s annual business license process and are utilized to support business improvement programming and projects within the assessment district. Funds have been spent on program administration, marketing, physical improvements, and special events. Historically, special events have been the core focus of collected assessment funds.
The City Council appoints a BID Advisory Board, pursuant to San Rafael Municipal Code (SRMC) Section 10.09.080, typically on an annual basis. The BID Advisory Board consists of a volunteer board of directors, primarily small business owners or business representatives within the BID boundaries. The BID Advisory Board is supported by the Chamber of Commerce, which SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
employs a part-time BID Executive Director with administrative support by the Chamber of Commerce staff, via contract with the City of San Rafael.
The City Council appointed eleven people to the BID Advisory board for one year on February 4, 2024, per Resolution 15271, all of whose term expired on January 31, 2025. Staff recommends that the City Council appoint a new Advisory Board as allowed under SRMC Section 10.09.080. The City would also like to thank outgoing members Amy Bullock, Bishlam Bullock, Joe McCallum, and Kelly Phu for their service.
ANALYSIS:
The BID Advisory Board appointment process is outlined in Section 2.a of the Downtown BID Administrative Guidelines adopted by City Council on May 1, 2023. Consistent with those guidelines, the BID conducted an annual meeting to select nominations for the District Advisory Board on September 30, 2024. Seven of the 2024 BID Advisory Board members were nominated for reappointment to the Advisory Board in 2025. Two new nominees were also selected; however, both are no longer available to serve. A call for nominations to fill vacant seats was subsequently advertised by the BID and three new nominations were received. In total, ten people are nominated for appointments to the BID Advisory Board for the 2025 tax levy year. All nominated BID Advisory Board Members represent businesses within the BID boundaries and are eligible for appointments.
The recommended BID Advisory Board Members in 2025 (*new members):
Advisory Board Nominee Business Name Representation
Terrence Thornton San Rafael Martial Arts Non-retail business Adam Dawson Mike’s Bikes Retail business
Valon Grajqevci Tam Commons Non-retail business
Tobi Lessem Bodywise Massage Non-retail business
Jeff Brusati T&B Sports Retail business
Morgan Schauffler Youth in Arts Non-retail business
Jay Yinger Yinger Studios Non-retail business
* Temple Schauble Metta Yoga Non-retail business
* Katherine Erilla Modern + Avenida Retail business
* Crystal Vargas ARTT Retail business
Staff recommends that the BID Advisory Board term expires no earlier than February 20, 2026, to accommodate the annual meeting schedule, potential Advisory Board meeting cancelations, and allow sufficient administrative time to process Board appointment recommendations COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The BID has notified its members of the recommended Board appointments through its member communications including the BID e-newsletter, notifications on the BID website, and agenda items at the monthly BID board meeting.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1) Adopt the resolution as presented by appointing nominated members to the BID Advisory Board for the calendar year 2025.
2) Adopt the resolution with modifications.
3) Take no action.
4) Direct staff to return with additional information.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommend that the City Council adopt the resolution appointing members to the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District Advisory Board.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution Appointing BID Advisory Board
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL APPOINTING DOWNTOWN
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS WHEREAS, the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989, California Streets & Highways Code § 36500 et seq. (“1989 Act”), authorizes cities to establish parking and business improvement areas for the purpose of promoting economic revitalization and physical maintenance of business districts to create jobs, attract new businesses and prevent erosion of business districts; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1989 Act, in June 2013 the City Council of San Rafael adopted Ordinance No. 1912 (“Ordinance”), codified in the San Rafael Municipal Code (“SRMC”) Chapter 10.09, establishing the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District (“District”) to replace a former Parking and Business Improvements Area Business Improvement District established in 1979; and
WHEREAS, the Ordinance provides for the City’s collection of assessments on approximately 700 businesses that operate within the District’s boundaries; and WHEREAS, the revenues derived from the assessments (further defined herein as “District Funds”) are used for the general promotion of business activities, public events, and other activities that provide a specific benefit to the assessed businesses; and the acquisition, construction, installation and maintenance of tangible property that provide a specific benefit to the assessed businesses; and WHEREAS, pursuant to section 36530 of the 1989 Act and SRMC Section
10.09.080, the Council appoints a District Advisory Board consisting of members that own or represent a business in the District or voluntary members; and WHEREAS, the District Advisory Board administers the affairs of the District and prepares an annual report each year describing which assessments are to be levied and files the report with the City Clerk; and
WHEREAS, the District Advisory Board is subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part I of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) at all times when matters within the subject matter of the District are heard, and the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title I of the Government Code), for all records relating to activities of the District; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to update its appointed members to the BID Advisory Board; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following persons shall be appointed to the BID Advisory Board effective immediately with terms expiring on February 20, 2026:
Board Member Business Name Representation
Terrence Thornton San Rafael Martial Arts Non-retail business Adam Dawson Mike’s Bikes Retail business
Valon Grajqevci Tam Commons Non-retail business
Tobi Lessem Bodywise Massage Non-retail business
Jeff Brusati T&B Sports Retail business
Morgan Schauffler Youth in Arts Non-retail business
Jay Yinger Yinger Studios Non-retail business
Temple Schauble Metta Yoga Non-retail business
Katherine Erilla Modern + Avenida Retail business
Crystal Vargas ARTT Retail business
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 7 th day of April 2025, by the
following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk