MINUTES
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL - MONDAY, MARCH 2, 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-1
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael
Listen by phone: (669) 444-9171
ID: 863-4489-1398#
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
Absent: Mayor Kate
Also Present: Acting City Manager Paul Navazio
City Attorney Robert Epstein
City Clerk Lindsay Lara
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and invited City Clerk Lindsay Lara to call the roll.
City Attorney Robert Epstein announced that no reportable action taken in the Closed Session held earlier that evening.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz provided opening remarks which included gratitude to City Staff.
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
• Elena Garnaché addressed the City Council regarding stop signs at Smith Ranch Road and Yosemite.
• Jo, Small Business Administration, addressed the City Council indicating that Marin County was added to the Disaster Declaration (CA 21431), which allows eligibility for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits to seek disaster loan assistance from the King Tide floodings of late December/early January.
• Stephen Bingham addressed the City Council regarding SB 707. • Heidi Merchen addressed the City Council regarding SB 707. • Name Withheld addressed the City Council regarding SeeClickFix, sidewalks, street vendors and potholes.
• Christian Viebrok addressed the City Council regarding the Scouts in attendance at tonight’s meeting working on their communications merit badge.
CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS:
(including AB 1234 Reports on Meetings and Conferences Attended at City Expense)
1. City Manager and Councilmember Reports:
Acting City Manager Paul Navazio provided the following announcements and updates:
• Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program available to those impacted by the King Tide incident
• Summer Activity Guide - Registration started today
• Northgate Specific Plan RFP (Request for Proposals) due March 16 • OpenGov, new City permitting system now live
City Councilmember Reports:
• Councilmember Bushey reported on a San Rafael Sanitation District board meeting, a Measure P Subcommittee meeting, and a Marin County Transit Board of Directors meeting.
• Councilmember Hill reported on a Measure P Subcommittee meeting and a Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) meeting. • Councilmember Llorens Gulati reported on the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum, a Canal Promise Neighborhood Steering Committee meeting, Marin Clean Energy (MCE) board and executive committee meetings, and a Marin County Transit Board of Directors meeting.
• Mayor Pro Tem Kertz reported on a Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority board meeting, a Homelessness Subcommittee meeting, and an MCCMC Legislative meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment; however, there was none.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment.
Speakers: Name Withheld, Tammy Edmonson, MVFREE, Edward Rusky, MVFREE, Jason, Stephen Bingham, Daniel Alm, Police Advisory & Accountability Committee Councilmember Bushey moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
2. Consent Calendar Items:
a. Approval of Minutes
Approve Minutes of the Special Closed Session and Regular City Council Meetings of February 17, 2026 (CC)
Approved Minutes as submitted
b. Women’s History Month Proclamation
Proclamation in Recognition of Women’s History Month (CM) Received and filed
c. Parking Ordinance
Final Adoption of Ordinance 2059: An Ordinance Amending San Rafael Municipal Code, to Repeal Chapter 5.74 Bail Schedule for Violations of the San Rafael Municipal Code (CC) Final Adoption of Ordinance 2059
d. Parking Ordinance
Final Adoption of Ordinance 2060: An Ordinance Amending the San Rafael Municipal Code, to Amend Chapter 5.48 Regarding Parking in Off-Street Parking Facilities (CC) Final Adoption of Ordinance 2060
e. City Quarterly Investment Report
Acceptance of City of San Rafael Quarterly Investment Report for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2025 (Fin)
Accepted report
f. Pickleweed Library Furniture Purchase
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Order with KBM Hogue for the Purchase of Furniture for the Pickleweed Library in an Amount Not to Exceed $121,879 (LR)
Adopted Resolution 15517
g. 2025 Police Advisory & Accountability Committee Annual Report Accept the 2025 Police Advisory & Accountability Committee Annual Report (PD) Accepted report
h. Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project Notice of Completion Accept Completion of the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project, City Project No.
C661137610, and Authorize the City Clerk to File the Notice of Completion (PW) Accepted completion of the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project and authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
3. Other Agenda Items:
a. Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement Project i. Resolution Finding that the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement Project is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.25(b)(1) and Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines (PW)
ii. Resolution Approving and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Program Supplement Agreement with Caltrans to Receive State Funds Public Works Director April Miller commented on the agenda item and introduced Grey Melgard, Senior Civil Engineer who presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment.
Speakers: Name Withheld, Name Withheld
Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to adopt a Resolution finding that the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.25(b)(1) and Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
Adopted Resolution 15518
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to adopt a Resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Program Supplement Agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for $630,000 in Active Transportation Program (ATP) funds for the project.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
Adopted Resolution 15519
b. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget Update
Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget Update for the Second Quarter Ending December 31, 2025, and Approval of Resolutions Authorizing Selected Mid-Year Supplemental Budget Appropriations Totaling $569,805, Authorizing Application of Credit Card Processing Fees to Selected Credit Card Transactions, and Amendments to Applicable Salary Schedules to Reflect FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Personnel Changes (Fin) Acting City Manager Paul Navazio presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment; however, there was none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to accept the FY 2025- 26 Mid-Year Budget Update, presenting revenue and expenditure results through the second quarter of the current fiscal year (through the accounting period ended December 31, 2025).
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
Accepted report
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to adopt a Resolution authorizing supplemental FY2025-26 mid-year budget appropriations totaling $569,085 across all funds.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
Adopted Resolution 15520
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to apply a credit card processing fee for payments received through credit card, debit card, or electronic transfer transactions to selected transactions.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
Adopted Resolution 15521
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to adopt a Resolution approving personnel classification and salary resolution updates related to traffic engineering staffing and temporary/seasonal/retiree minimum wage adjustments.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
Adopted Resolution 15522
c. Mid-Year Updates to the City Council Three-Year Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan
Resolution Adopting Mid-Year Updates to the City Council Three-Year Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan (CM)
Assistant City Manager John Stefanski commented on the agenda item and introduced Vedika Ahuja, Product Manager who presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment.
Speakers: Marianne Nannestad, Name Withheld
Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to adopt the Resolution adopting Mid-Year Updates to the City Council Three-Year Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Mayor Kate
Adopted Resolution 15523
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION CONTINUED
• Name Withheld addressed the City Council regarding his impression that the City Council is reluctant to engage the community in performing acts that they perform themselves, like with planting trees and in other instances.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m.
__________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2026
_____________________________________
RACHEL KERTZ, VICE Mayor