MINUTES
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL - MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2026
REGULAR MEETING AT 6:00 P.M.
San Rafael City Hall, Council Chambers
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
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Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/city-council-2
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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
Vice Mayor Kertz
Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Absent: Councilmember Hill
Mayor Kate
Also Present: Acting City Manager Paul Navazio
City Attorney Robert Epstein
Deputy City Clerk Brenna Nurmi
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. and invited Deputy City Clerk Brenna Nurmi 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.
Deputy City Clerk Brenna Nurmi 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
• Steven Bryant addressed the City Council regarding the 700 Irwin appeal process. • Wayne Rayburn addressed the City Council regarding the recent murder of a homeless woman.
2 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:
• A prescribed pile burning schedule for San Rafael Hill was moved to occur between March 18 and April 3, weather permitting – Residents to sign up for AlertMarin’s prescribed burning notifications
City Councilmember Reports:
• Councilmember Bushey reported on a Central Marin Sanitation Agency board meeting. • Councilmember Llorens Gulati reported on a San Rafael City schools and Miller Creek School District quarterly meeting (that she attended with Vice Mayor Kertz) and a CivicWell Conference.
• Mayor Pro Tem Kertz had no other items to report.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment; however, there was none.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Agenda item 2.e removed from Agenda at request of Staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment.
Speakers: Gregory Andrew, Kraemer Winslow, Rika Gopinath, Debbie Raphael Councilmember Bushey moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to approve the Consent Calendar, Agenda items 2.a through 2.d.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill & Mayor Kate
2. Consent Calendar Items:
a. Approval of Minutes
Approve Minutes of the Special Closed Session and Regular City Council Meetings of March 2, 2026 (CC)
Approved Minutes as submitted
b. Records Retention Schedule Adoption
Resolution Rescinding Resolutions 13483 and 13558 and Adopting a New City-Wide Records Retention Schedule (CC)
Adopted Resolution 15524
c. Temporary Street Closures for Special Events
Resolution Authorizing Temporary Street Closures in San Rafael for the Special Events of May Madness and Farmers’ Market in Downtown San Rafael (CED) Adopted Resolution 15525
3 d. 2025/2026 Pavement Management Program – Curb Ramp and Striping Project Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with BKF Engineers to Provide Design Services for the 2025-2026 Pavement Management Program – Curb Ramp and Striping Project, City Project No. C44A26PMP4, in the Amount Not to Exceed $260,637 (PW)
Adopted Resolution 15526
e. Integrated Pest Management Policy Update
Resolution Adopting an Updated Integrated Pest Management Policy; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(b)(3), 15301, 15304 (PW)
Removed from Agenda at request of Staff
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Public Hearings:
a. Establish Electronic and Paperless Filing for FPPC Campaign Disclosure Statements Introduction of an Ordinance Adding Chapter 2.09 to Title 2 (Administration) of the San Rafael Municipal Code to Require Electronic and Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Campaign Disclosure Statements; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (b)(2)-(3), 15378(b)(2),(5) (CC) Acting City Manager Paul Navazio presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment; however, there was none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to introduce the Ordinance, waive further reading, and refer to it by title only.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill & Mayor Kate
Introduced the Ordinance, waived further reading, and referred to it by title only The City Clerk read the title of the ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ADDING CHAPTER 2.09 TO TITLE 2 (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE
TO REQUIRE ELECTRONIC AND PAPERLESS FILING OF FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES
COMMISSION (FPPC) CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
b. General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report Highlighting Progress on the Policies and Programs Identified in the City’s General Plan and the City’s Progress Toward Meeting its Share of the Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) (CED) Community and Economic Development Director Micah Hinkle commented on the Agenda 4 item and introduced Community and Economic Development Assistant Director Greg Minor, who presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment.
Speakers: Susan, Jenny Silva, Call Marin Home, Steven Bryant, Gregory Andrew, Jason Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Bushey moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to accept the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report for 2025 and direct staff to present the report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill & Mayor Kate
Accepted the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report for 2025 and directed Staff to present the report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
4. Other Agenda Items:
a. Encampment Resolution Fund Round 3 Grant and 350 Merrydale Interim Shelter Project Update
Encampment Resolution Fund Round 3 Grant and 350 Merrydale Interim Shelter Project Update and Discussion Regarding the Proposed Operational Framework (CM) Assistant City Manager John Stefanski commented on the Agenda item and introduced Community Services Division Director Daniel Cooperman, who presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment.
Speakers: Wayne Rayburn, Jennifer Wallace, Robbie Powelson, Gregory Andrew, Name Withheld, Name Withheld, Craig Murray, Name Withheld
Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to receive the project update and provide direction regarding the operational framework for the 350 Merrydale Road Interim Shelter, including the revised Participant Code of Conduct and Good Neighbor Policy.
5 AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill & Mayor Kate
Received the project update and provided direction regarding the operational framework for the 350 Merrydale Road Interim Shelter, including the revised Participant Code of Conduct and Good Neighbor Policy
b. Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Purchase
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Procure Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Through a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in an Amount Not to Exceed $351,245 and Authorize Supplemental Budget Appropriations of $450,000 Within the Capital Improvement Funds (Fund 401) Supported by Additional Grant Funding Secured for the Project for a Total Cost Not to Exceed $988,000 (PW) Deputy Director of Public Works Jonathan Schellin, presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz invited public comment.
Speaker: Al Vetere
Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Bushey seconded to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to procure electric vehicle charging equipment through a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the Public Works facility at 111 Morphew Street in an amount not to exceed $351,245 and authorize supplemental budget appropriations of $450,000 within the Capital Improvement Funds (Fund 401), supported by additional grant funding secured for the Project for a total cost not to exceed $988,000.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Kertz NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill & Mayor Kate
Adopted Resolution 15527
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION CONTINUED
• Name Withheld addressed the City Council convene a task force about looking at the safety of unhoused women.
• Name Withheld addressed the City Council regarding the limited number of safe places for unhoused individuals in general, but specifically for women. • Name Withheld addressed the City Council regarding the 700 Irwin project. • Justin addressed the City Council regarding the recent murder at a homeless encampment and the 350 Merrydale Agenda item (4.a).
6 ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Kertz adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.
__________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2026
_____________________________________
RACHEL KERTZ, Vice Mayor