From: Jennifer Kerrigan
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 4:38 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: City Council Meeting 9/15/2025 Public Comment and Request for Council Members to do a Point of Order and defer voting on Building Code/Fire amendments until Agenda includes the 516 Canal Street fire on 8/21/2025
Please address an agenda line item and a public discussion at your next City Council meeting for the investigation of the fire at 516 Canal Street on 8/21/2025.
Noteworthy, pleases also either call for a Point of Order on all agenda items related to Building Code Ordinance and Fire Safety Amendments until the current and proposed systems are evaluated for oversight and legal remedy; specifically:
1) Breach of Public Safety including the decision to NOT release an emergency alert to the actual neighborhood where the emergency was active and occurring under the premise of "panic" in a "high density" area. No one should be able to override emergency safety protocols or make such a decision on possible vs. actual danger; this is obvious prejudicial bias which must be prevented from happening in the future. 2) All systems failed prior to this horrific fire; there are conflicts of interest, franchise agreements, and no public disclosure regarding oversight and enforcement; there are too many cooks in the kitchen and no one has the same recipe, nor do they use what authority they do have to achieve the inspections and legal compliance of everyone involved; specifically, City of San Rafael Code Enforcement, Franchise agreements with PG&E, emergency services, Marin Housing Authority and the property owners. No problem solving prior to this fire and now there are dead and injured civilians and no prevention for future breaches of the public trust and safety.
3) No emergency second door escape routes at 516 Canal street and throughout this area.
Immediately address this huge discrepancy and risk ongoing by installing Fire Escape Ladders everwhere because there are no sprinklers and high density housing. Do something now.
4) Police and Fire Reports are incomplete and need to be updated and amended by actual witnesses and civilians accounts of timelines and actual reality. The current assessments are grossly inadequate and incomplete.
Thank you for your time,
Jennifer Kerrigan