MINUTES
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL - MONDAY, APRIL 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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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 Hill
Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Mayor Kate
Absent: Councilmember Bushey
Vice Mayor Kertz
Also Present: Interim City Manager Paul Navazio
City Attorney Robert Epstein
City Clerk Lindsay Lara
Mayor Kate called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. and invited City Clerk Lindsay Lara to call the roll.
City Attorney Robert Epstein announced that no reportable action was taken in Closed Session.
Mayor Kate provided opening remarks which included gratitude to City Staff, the announcement of San Rafael’s Employee of the Year (Walter Gonzalez Valdez) and Team of the Year (Vedika Ahuja and Sherman Peng), 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
• None
CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS:
2 (including AB 1234 Reports on Meetings and Conferences Attended at City Expense)
1. City Manager and Councilmember Reports:
Interim City Manager Paul Navazio provided the following announcements and updates:
• Citywide Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Update
• “Touch the Sky” Sculpture now temporarily located at B Street Community Center • Public meetings:
o Wildfire Preparedness forum with Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) to be held Saturday, May 2, Embassy Suites, 9:30 a.m. - noon o Economic Development & Housing Subcommittee meeting to be held Tuesday, April 21, City Hall, 10 a.m.
o Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting to be held Tuesday, April 21, City Hall, 6 p.m.
o Planning Commission meeting to be held Tuesday, April 28, City Hall, 7 p.m.
City Councilmember Reports:
• Councilmember Llorens Gulati reported on a townhall community meeting with the Spinnaker and Baypoint Neighborhood, a Marin Sea Level Rise meeting, a San Rafael Public Library gardening class with Marin Master Gardeners, and a Climate Change Action quarterly meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 21, City Hall. • Councilmember Hill reported on a Finance subcommittee meeting and the groundbreaking for the Mill Creek project at 930 Irwin. • Mayor Kate reported on meetings with the West End Neighborhood Association (WENA) and the Montecito Area Resident Association (MARA), a Point San Pedro Open House with the County, a Finance Subcommittee meeting, a Homelessness Subcommittee meeting, and a Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) meeting.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there was none.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speaker: Ken Dickinson
Councilmember Llorens Gutati moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey & Kertz
2. Consent Calendar Items:
a. Approval of Minutes
Approve Minutes of the Special Closed Session and Regular City Council Meetings of April 6, 2026 (CC)
Approved Minutes as submitted
b. Kaiser Hospital Development Project Environmental Consulting Services Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to (1) Amend a Professional Services Agreement with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) in an Amount Not to Exceed $440,327 for a 3 Total Contract Amount of $457,648 For Environmental Consulting Services for the Kaiser Hospital Development Project (PLAN 25-196) Located at Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 175-060-57 and (2) Appropriate Supplemental Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 Budget Appropriations Totaling $457,648 Within the Development Services Fund (Fund 207) (CED)
Adopted Resolution 15533
c. Electric Vehicle Charging Electrical Contract
Resolution Waiving Formal Bid Requirements and Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Enter into a Contract with Mike Brown Electric Company for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Installation Work in an Amount Not to Exceed $288,000 (PW) Adopted Resolution 15534
d. Large Trash Capture Device Projects
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers (S&W) for Additional Design Services Associated with the Large Trash Capture Device Projects, in the Amount Not-To-Exceed $438,671, Increasing the Total Not-To-Exceed Amount Under the Agreement to $915,236 (PW)
Adopted Resolution 15535
e. National Library Week Proclamation
Proclamation in Recognition of National Library Week (LR) Received and filed
f. Agreements for On-Call Planning, Environmental, Plan Check, and Building Inspection Consulting Services
Authorize the City Manager to Enter into the Following Professional Services Agreements (CED):
i. 4 Leaf Inc., Coastland, Interwest, TRB and Associates, and Willdan for On-Call Plan Check and Building Inspection Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $500,000 Per Firm; And,
ii. M Group in an Amount Not to Exceed $500,000 and LAK Associates, LLC in an Amount Not to Exceed $300,000 to Provide On-Call Planning and Environmental Consulting Services
Adopted Resolution 15536
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Public Hearings:
a. Marin Sanitary Service Franchise Amendments
i. Resolution Adopting a Fee Study for the City’s Cost of Solid Waste Services Fee and the City’s Franchise Fee for the Use of City Property in the Provision of Solid Waste Related Services; (2) Repealing the City’s Imposition of the Refuse Vehicle Impact Fee; And (3) Decreasing the City’s Cost of Service Fee and Franchise Fee Imposed on Marin Sanitary Services: CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15378(b)(4)
ii. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Franchise Agreement with Marin Sanitary Service to Require Street Sweeping Services, and to 4 Clarify Authorization to Encroach Upon Public Right-Of-Way, and for the City to Impose a Fee for Right of Encroachment (CM)
Sustainability Program Manager Cory Bytof presented the Staff Report.
Staff, including Justin Wilcock, Marin Sanitary Service, responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there were none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to adopt the Resolution adopting a Fee Study for the City’s Cost of Solid Waste Services Fee and the City’s Franchise Fee for the use of City property in the provision of solid waste related services; (2) Repealing the City’s imposition of the Refuse Vehicle Impact Fee; And (3) decreasing the City’s Cost of Service Fee and Franchise Fee imposed on Marin Sanitary Services.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey & Kertz
Adopted Resolution 15537
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Amendment to the Franchise Agreement with Marin Sanitary Service to require street sweeping services, and to clarify authorization to encroach upon public right-of-way, and for the City to impose a fee for right of encroachment.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey & Kertz
Adopted Resolution 15538
b. Solid Waste Collection Code Amendments Ordinance
Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 9.19, Entitled “Solid Waste Collection and Disposal and Edible Food Recovery,” Chapter 11.04, Entitled “Encroachments in the Public Right-Of-Way,” and Chapter 12.260, Entitled “International Property Maintenance Code Amendments” of the San Rafael Municipal Code; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15061(B)(3) (CM)
Sustainability Program Manager Cory Bytof presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there were none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
5 Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to introduce the Ordinance, waive further reading, and refer to it by title only.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey & Kertz
The City Clerk read the title of the ordinance:
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 9.19, Entitled “Solid Waste Collection and Disposal and Edible Food Recovery,” Chapter 11.04, Entitled “Encroachments in the Public Right-OfWay,” and Chapter 12.260, Entitled “International Property Maintenance Code Amendments” of the San Rafael Municipal Code
Introduced the Ordinance, waived further reading, and referred to it by title only
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
4. Other Agenda Items:
a. Approval of Measure AA Expenditure Plan
Resolution Approving the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Measure AA Amended Expenditure Plan Adopted by TAM on March 26, 2026
Public Works Director April Miller introduced Derek McGill, Transportation Authority of Marin who presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there were none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to adopt the Resolution approving the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Measure AA Amended Expenditure Plan adopted by TAM on March 26, 2026.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey & Kertz
Adopted Resolution 15539
b. 350 Merrydale Interim Shelter Contract for Operational Services Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Second Amendment with Foege Schuman Global Disaster Solutions LLC (FS Global) in an Amount Not to Exceed $2,487,649 for a Total Contract Amount Not to Exceed $3,837,649, to Support the Implementation and Initial Operations of the 350 Merrydale Interim Shelter, and to Extend the Term of the Agreement Through June 30, 2028; and Authorizing a Supplemental FY2025-26 Budget Appropriation of $1,000,000 Within the City’s Grant Fund (283) to Reflect the Portion of the County Grant Provided for this Purpose (CM) 6 Assistant City Manager John Stefanski and Community Services Division Director Daniel Cooperman presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Gregory Andrew, Janet Shirley, Wayne Rayburn, Misha Morgrey, Marianne Nannestad, Ken Dickinson, Justin Solobay, Name withheld Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Second Amendment with Foege Schuman Global Disaster Solutions LLC (FS Global) in an amount not to exceed $2,487,649 for a total contract amount not to exceed $3,837,649, to support the implementation and initial operations of the 350 Merrydale Interim Shelter, and to extend the term of the agreement through June 30, 2028; and authorizing a supplemental FY2025- 26 budget appropriation of $1,000,000 within the City’s Grant Fund (283) to reflect the Portion of the County grant provided for this purpose.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey & Kertz
Adopted Resolution 15540
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION CONTINUED
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Kate adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
__________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2026
_____________________________________
KATE COLIN, Mayor