____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: _______________________
Disposition: ___________________________
Agenda Item No: 4.b
Meeting Date: December 15, 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 APPOINTING DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends 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 that 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 employs a part-time BID Director with administrative support by the Chamber of Commerce staff.
The City Council adopted Resolution 15386 in April 2025, appointing ten people to the 2025 BID Advisory board with terms to expire on February 20, 2026. Staff recommends that the City Council appoint a 2026 Advisory Board as allowed under SRMC Section 10.09.080.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
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, which gives the City Council, in its sole and absolute discretion, the ability to appoint the District Advisory Board. Consistent with those guidelines, the BID conducted an annual meeting on September 30, 2025, to select nominations for the District Advisory Board. All existing BID Advisory Board members were nominated to extend appointments to the BID Advisory Board for the 2026 tax levy year. Subsequently, one nominee substitution has been recommended by BID staff due to regular attendance concerns that have compromised the BID’s functions. The membership application from the new nominee was received by BID staff on December 4, 2025, after the most recent November BID Advisory Board meeting, and therefore was not brought to the Advisory Board for consideration. This substitution is being recommended to ensure the Board’s ability to maintain consistent participation and quorum. All nominated BID Advisory Board Members represent businesses within the BID boundaries and are eligible for appointments.
The recommended BID Advisory Board Members in 2026:
Advisory Board Nominee Business Name Representation
Adam Dawson Mike’s Bikes Retail business
Crystal Vargas ARTT Retail business
Jay Yinger Yinger Studios Non-retail business
Jeff Brusati T&B Sports Retail business
Katherine Erilla Modern + Avenida Retail business
Morgan Schauffler Youth in Arts Non-retail business
Rick Lewis** Gold Rush Jewelers Retail business
Temple Schauble Metta Yoga Non-retail business
Terrance Thornton San Rafael Martial Arts Non-retail business Tobi Lessem Bodywise Massage Non-retail business
** New nomination
Staff recommends that the BID Advisory Board term expires on February 1, 2027, or at such time as the City Council appoints a new Advisory Board.
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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1) Adopt the resolution as presented.
2) Adopt the resolution with modifications.
3) Direct staff to return with additional information.
4) Take no action.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution appointing members to the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District Advisory Board.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
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 advises on 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;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following persons shall be appointed to the BID Advisory Board effective immediately, with terms expiring on February 1, 2027, or at such time as the City Council appoints a new Advisory Board.
Advisory Board Nominee Business Name Representation
Adam Dawson Mike’s Bikes Retail business
Crystal Vargas ARTT Retail business
Jay Yinger Yinger Studios Non-retail business
Jeff Brusati T&B Sports Retail business
Katherine Erilla Modern + Avenida Retail business
Morgan Schauffler Youth in Arts Non-retail business
Rick Lewis Gold Rush Jewelers Retail business
Temple Schauble Metta Yoga Non-retail business
Terrance Thornton San Rafael Martial Arts Non-retail business Tobi Lessem Bodywise Massage Non-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 December 15th 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk