____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 4.c
Meeting Date: December 15, 2025
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: City Clerk
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: ______________ S
TOPIC: VICE MAYOR ELECTION AND CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES FOR 2026
SUBJECT: ELECT THE VICE MAYOR FOR 2026 AND APPROVE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATION FOR 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Elect Rachel Kertz as Vice Mayor for 2026
2. Approve City Council Appointments to Committees and Representation for 2026 BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
Election of the Vice Mayor for 2026
At the final City Council meeting of each year, the City Council elects one of its members to serve as Vice Mayor for the upcoming calendar year. This process is a customary part of the City Council’s annual proceedings, ensuring continuity in leadership and providing support to the Mayor.
San Rafael Charter Article VIII, Section 1 states “when, by reason of absence from the city or from any other cause, the mayor is temporarily unable to perform the duties of his office, the vice-president of the council shall act as mayor during such temporary absence or disability." The role of the Vice Mayor is to act when the Mayor is unavailable, to preside over city council meetings, and represent the City at various functions, including ceremonial events, i.e., ribbon cuttings.
The City Council has historically selected the Vice Mayor through a rotation that considers Councilmember tenure, and when tenure is equal, the seat goes to the member who received the highest number of votes in their most recent election. Following this established practice, Councilmember Rachel Kertz is the next Councilmember to serve as Vice Mayor for 2026.
Appointment of San Rafael Councilmembers to Various Committees for 2026 Each year at the final City Council meeting, the City Council appoints its members to serve on various local and regional committees for the upcoming calendar year. These committee assignments play a critical role in shaping policy, fostering collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions, and addressing the diverse needs of the San Rafael community.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
Councilmembers serve on committees that cover a wide range of topics, including transportation, housing, homelessness, economic development, environmental sustainability, and public safety. Some committees are local to San Rafael, while others are regional, representing San Rafael’s interests in broader initiatives and ensuring the City has a voice in decisions that impact the Bay Area and beyond.
Committee appointments are an opportunity to leverage the skills and interests of each councilmember, while ensuring the City is well represented across various boards and working groups. These assignments also provide councilmembers with the ability to advocate for the City’s priorities and build relationships that benefit San Rafael's residents and businesses.
The 2026 appointments continue the Council’s tradition of fostering strong leadership and effective representation in these important roles.
On November 12, 2025, the City Council held a special meeting and reviewed the draft City Council Appointment to Committees list, provided feedback to staff on their availability and desired Committees, and held a vote on who would serve on the newly established Housing & Economic Development Subcommittee, which are reflected in Attachment 1.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City Council Appointments to Committees for 2026 (redlined) City Council Appointments & Representation for 2026
Updated: December 15, 2025
Position 2025 2026
Vice Mayor, City Council Maribeth Bushey Rachel Kertz
Association of Bay Area Government (ABAG) San Rafael
Representative
Maribeth Bushey Maribeth Bushey
BayWAVE Kate Colin
Maika Llorens Gulati
Kate Colin
Maika Llorens Gulati
Central Marin Sanitation Agency
(informational only- appointed by SRSD)
Maribeth Bushey Maribeth Bushey
Climate Change Action Plan Quarterly Update Forum Maika Llorens Gulati Maika Llorens Gulati County Priority-Setting Committee
(re Community Development Block Grant Funds)
Rachel Kertz Rachel Kertz
League of California Cities, North Bay Division Voting
Delegate
Rachel Kertz Maika Llorens Gulati
Library Foundation Board Maribeth Bushey Maribeth Bushey Marin Clean Energy (MCE) Maika Llorens Gulati Maika Llorens Gulati Marin County E-Bike Committee Rachel Kertz
Micro Grid Task Force Maika Llorens Gulati
San Rafael Sanitation District Kate Colin (C)
Maribeth Bushey
Kate Colin (C)
Maribeth Bushey
Sonoma/Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART)
(informational only- appointed by TAM)
Kate Colin Kate Colin
Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board of
Commissioners
Kate Colin
Maribeth Bushey (Alt)
Kate Colin
Maribeth Bushey (Alt)
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Rachel Kertz Rachel Kertz Kate Colin (Alt)
City Council Standing Committees
(Noticed public meetings)
City/School Liaison Committee (Noticed Joint City Council /Schools meeting)
(To rotate appointments every even-numbered years)
Kate Colin
Rachel Kertz
Rachel Kertz
Maika Llorens Gulati
Housing & Economic Development Subcommittee Kate Colin
Eli Hill
Economic Development Subcommittee - Mayor and Vice
Mayor
Kate Colin
Maribeth Bushey
Updated: December 15, 2025
2 Finance Subcommittee Kate Colin
Eli Hill
Kate Colin
Eli Hill
Homelessness & Housing Subcommittee Kate Colin
Rachel Kertz
Kate Colin
Rachel Kertz
Sea Level Rise Subcommittee Kate Colin
Maika Llorens Gulati
Kate Colin
Maika Llorens Gulati
Measure P Subcommittee Maribeth Bushey
Eli Hill
Council Liaisons to Boards, Commissions and Committees
(Open, noticed meetings)
All Boards, Commissions, Committees Kate Colin Kate Colin Joint Powers Agreement (JPA)
Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Joint Powers
Authority Board and Executive Committee
Angela Robinson
Piñon
Cory Bytof (Alt)
Angela Robinson
Piñon
Cory Bytof (Alt)
Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) Governing Board Roy Leon David Spiller (Alt)
Robert Sinnott (Alt)
Roy Leon
David Spiller (Alt)
Robert Sinnott (Alt)
Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) Executive Board Abraham Roman Abraham Roman Marin General Services Authority Cristine Alilovich
John Stefanski (Alt)
Cristine Alilovich
John Stefanski (Alt)
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, Operations Committee Abraham Roman Angela Robinson
Piñon (Alt)
Abraham Roman
Angela Robinson
Piñon (Alt)
Marin County Council of Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) Executive Committee
(MCCMC appointment; non-City appointment)
Eli Hill Eli Hill
Legislative Committee Rachel Kertz Rachel Kertz
Marin Transit District
(MCCMC appointment; non-City appointment)
Maribeth Bushey Maribeth Bushey
Maika Llorens Gulati
(Alt)
Homelessness Policy Maker Group Rachel Kertz (C) Rachel Kertz CalCities Policy Committees
(Non-City appointments – to update upon notification without Council approval) Community Services Policy Committee Rachel Kertz
Environmental Policy Committee Maika Llorens Gulati