MINUTES
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL - TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
REGULAR MEETING AT 6:00 P.M.
San Rafael City Hall, Council Chambers
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Watch Online:
Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/city-council-2
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Listen by phone: (669) 444-9171
ID: 860-6190-5675#
This meeting will be held in-person. This meeting is being streamed to YouTube at www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael.
How to participate in the meeting:
• You are welcome to come to the meeting and provide public comment in person. Each speaker will have 2-minutes to provide public comment per agenda item. • Submit your comments by email to [email protected] by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
If you experience technical difficulties during the meeting, please contact [email protected].
Present: Councilmember Bushey
Councilmember Hill
Vice Mayor Kertz
Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Mayor Kate
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Cristine Alilovich
Chief Assistant City Attorney Andrea Visveshwara
City Clerk Lindsay Lara
Mayor Kate called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and invited City Clerk Lindsay Lara to call the roll.
Chief Assistant City Attorney Andrea Visveshwara announced that the City Council met in the Closed Session held before the regular meeting and voted unanimously to authorize a settlement in the worker's compensation case at 50% permanent disability.
Mayor Kate provided opening remarks which included gratitude to City Staff, an acknowledgment regarding the uncertainty, concern and fear people are having about what’s happening in our nation and the world, volunteering locally, an Open Time for Public Expression update, and a land acknowledgment.
City Clerk Lindsay Lara informed the community that the in-person meeting would also be recorded and streamed live to YouTube and through Zoom. She noted the two-minute timer for public comment and closed captioning on Zoom.
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION – 10 MINUTES
• William Rawlins addressed the City Council regarding parking tickets for his truck with a slide-in camper.
• Nancy Long addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather Path lighting project and the proposed art installation there.
• Susan Levine addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather Path lighting project and the proposed art installation.
• Mark Fallos addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather Path lighting project. • Jeffrey Sanchez, Marin Cyclists, addressed the City Council regarding bicycle safety on Pt.
San Pedro Road.
CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS:
(including AB 1234 Reports on Meetings and Conferences Attended at City Expense)
1. City Manager and Councilmember Reports:
City Manager Cristine Alilovich provided the following announcements and updates:
• San Rafael’s receipt of Bloomberg’s What Works Cities Designation • AT&T 911 Failure and Update
• Fatality of Lucia Jennifer Blandina Sontay Vicente on Pt. San Pedro Road • 350 Merrydale Interim Shelter Project community meeting • Prescribed burns - Subscribe to Alert Marin
• Final call for nominations for the 2026 Public Service Award • Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Oversight Committee – Call out for applications – Applications due by Tuesday, February 3
• 3rd Annual Downtown San Rafael Lunar New Year Horse Hunt & Word Scramble Challenge to start February 17
• Police Advisory & Accountability Committee meeting to be held Wednesday, January 21, 6 p.m.
• Planning Commission meeting to be held Tuesday, January 27, 7 p.m. • Sea Level Rise Feasibility Study final results presentation to be held Monday, January 26, 12 p.m. on Zoom, and again at 6 p.m. in Spanish on Zoom City Councilmember Reports:
• Vice Mayor Kertz announced the “What About Age?” art exhibit, running January 26 through May 6, at the Marin County Civic Center Galleries. • Councilmember Llorens Gulati reported on a Marin Transit meeting, a Canal Promise Neighborhood Steering Committee meeting, a Marin Clean Energy Executive Committee meeting, a Marin Clean Energy board meeting, a Canal Transportation and Lighting meeting, and a Climate Change Action Plan forum. • Councilmember Bushey reported on a Marin Transit meeting, a San Rafael Sanitation board meeting where a draft agreement was approved with Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) that will move City employees to CMSA, and a Montecito Area Residents Association meeting.
• Councilmember Hill reported on a Finance Subcommittee meeting. • Mayor Kate reported on a visit with Laurel Dell 2nd graders at City Hall, a Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) meeting, speaking at the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute, speaking at the Marin County Civil Grand Jury, and a Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) meeting.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Ken Dickinson, Wayne Rayburn, Gregory Andrew
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Ken Dickinson, Gregory Andrew, Marianne Nannestad Staff responded to questions raised on items 2.h and 2.b.
Councilmember Bushey moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
2. Consent Calendar Items:
a. Approval of Minutes
Approve Minutes of the Closed Session and Regular City Council Meeting of December 15, 2025 (CC)
Approved Minutes as submitted
b. Temporary Camping Prohibition at City Hall
Resolution Prohibiting Camping at or Around City Hall (APN 011-203-12) from January 21, 2026 through July 21, 2026: CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15061(B)(3); 15307, 15308 (CM)
Adopted Resolution 15494
c. Award WRT Consultants Contract to Prepare the Southeast Specific Plan Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute A Professional Services Agreement with WRT Consultants for the Preparation of the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan in an Amount Not to Exceed $797,000; and Authorizing A Supplemental Budget Appropriation within the Development Services Fund (207) (CED)
Adopted Resolution 15495
d. Voter-Approved Tax Oversight Committee Annual Report & Bylaws Amendment Presentation of Voter-Approved Tax Oversight Committee’s (VATOC) Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025 and Resolution Amending the Bylaws of the VoterApproved Tax Oversight Committee Established by Resolution 15118, Adopted on September 6, 2022 (Fin)
Accepted report and Adopted Resolution 15496
e. Replacement of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Purchase Orders for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus from Southern Marin Fire District, In An Amount Not to Exceed $92,170, and from Allstar Fire Equipment Inc., In An Amount Not to Exceed $48,629, and Authorizing FY 2025-26 Supplemental Budget Appropriations within the Fire Equipment Replacement Fund (625) (FD)
Adopted Resolution 15497
f. South Merrydale Road – Civic Center Connector Pathway Project Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with CSWST2 to Provide Design and Environmental Services for the South Merrydale Road – Civic Center Connector Pathway Project in the Amount Not to Exceed $469,963 (PW) Adopted Resolution 15498
g. Metropolitan Transportation Committee (MTC) Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA 3) Funding Agreements
i. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Funding Agreement with Metropolitan Transportation Commission in an Amount of $66,700 in TDA Grant Funds for the Park Street and Belle Avenue Pedestrian Enhancement Project; and ii. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Funding Agreement with Metropolitan Transportation Commission in an Amount of $88,300 in TDA Grant Funds for the Point San Pedro Pedestrian Quick Build Enhancement Project Adopted Resolutions 15499 and 15500
h. Joint Quiet Zone Agreement
Resolution Establishing a Joint Quiet Zone and Designating the County of Sonoma as Lead Authority for Purposes of Establishing the Joint Quiet Zone; CEQA Determination: Exempt (PW)
Adopted Resolution 15501
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
3. Special Presentations:
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there was none. a. Presentation of Proclamation in Recognition of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification (DS)
Mayor Kate presented the Proclamation, and Digital Service and Open Government Director Sean Mooney & Product Manager Vedika Ahuja gave a presentation about the award.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
4. Public Hearings:
a. Public Works Director Authority to Approve Public Works Project Plans Consideration of An Ordinance Amending San Rafael Municipal Code Section 2.12.290, Duties of the Supervisor of Public Works, to Clarify Delegation of Authority to the Supervisor of Public Works and Designees to Approve Plans, Specifications, and Designs for Public Works Projects; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15378(b)(5) (CED)
Chief Assistant City Attorney Andrea Vishveshwara introduced Deputy City Attorney Katherine Kasameyer who presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there was none.
Vice Mayor Kertz moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to introduce the Ordinance, waive further reading, and refer to it by title only.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
Introduced the Ordinance, waived further reading, and referred to it by title only.
The City Clerk read the title of the Ordinance:
An Ordinance Amending San Rafael Municipal Code Section 2.12.290, Duties of the Supervisor of Public Works, to Clarify Delegation of Authority to the Supervisor of Public Works and Designees to Approve Plans, Specifications, and Designs for Public Works Projects
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
5. Other Agenda Items
a. City Council Governance, Agreements, Roles & Responsibilities and Communication Protocols
Resolution Authorizing the City Council Approval of the City Council Governance, Agreements, Roles & Responsibilities and Communication Protocols (CM) City Manager Cristine Alilovich provided comments and introduced Senior Management Analyst Preya Nixon who presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Ken Dickinson, Gregory Andrew, Victoria DeWitt Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Bushey moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to adopt the Resolution Authorizing the City Council Approval of the City Council Governance, Agreements, Roles & Responsibilities and Communication Protocols and Authorize the City Manager to make such non-substantive grammar/punctuation corrections as may be needed.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
Adopted Resolution 15502
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION CONTINUED
• Joe Mulligan addressed the City Council regarding the fatality on Pt. San Pedro Road and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• David Snaith addressed the City Council regarding the fatality on Pt. San Pedro Road and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Name Withheld addressed the City Council regarding her See-Click-Fix submission for a crosswalk near the Civic Center.
• Susan Yatta addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather Path proposed art project.
• Dave Rhoads addressed the City Council regarding the fatality on Pt. San Pedro Road and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Aaron addressed the City Council regarding the fatality on Pt. San Pedro Road and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Victoria DeWitt addressed the City Council regarding the placement of Open Time on the City Council and community engagement.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Kate adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
__________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2026
_____________________________________
KATE COLIN, Mayor