____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 2.g
Meeting Date: May 18, 2026
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works
Prepared by: April Miller, Public Works Director
John Thomas, Senior Project Manager
City Manager Approval: __________
TOPIC: SAN RAFAEL CANAL CROSSING PROJECT
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MARK THOMAS & COMPANY, INC.
TO PROVIDE PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR CANAL CROSSING PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,875,000, WHICH INCLUDES $181,500 IN CONTINGENCY FUNDS, AND AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 FROM THE CITY GAS TAX FUND (206)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. (Mark Thomas) to provide preliminary design and environmental services for the Canal Crossing Project (the “Project”) in the amount not to exceed $1,875,000 which includes $181,500 in contingency funds and authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $300,000 from the City Gas Tax Fund (206).
BACKGROUND:
The Canal Crossing Project aims to provide a non-motorized bicycle and pedestrian crossing bridge between the Canal Neighborhood and destinations north of San Rafael Creek. A new crossing would provide connectivity within a highly developed active transportation network in central Marin County. The bridge project has been identified in multiple planning documents, including the Citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, Canal Community Based Transportation Plan, and the General Plan/ Downtown Precise Plan.
The feasibility study report will identify and compare potential bridge options, provide a conceptual plan, identify potential environmental impacts, present preliminary engineering considerations, and estimate costs for construction and ongoing operation and maintenance of a movable bridge. The project team will engage with key stakeholders to gather feedback to incorporate into the feasibility analysis and planning process.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
The Project has received funding through the Active Transportation Program (ATP) to perform a feasibility study, environmental assessment, and preliminary design. In addition, if the project is deemed feasible, the City will receive additional funding to support the project's design. When Caltrans authorized the funding, the City had not yet identified an exact location for the bridge. However, in November 2025, the City acquired the property at 620 Canal Street, which is ideally situated for the bridge's southern landing. As part of the acquisition funding, the property was designated as future parkland, and the project scope has been refined to include the development and integration of the bridge and the park.
Due to rising project costs over time, the complexity of bridge options, and the incorporation of the park into the project, staff anticipate a significant gap between current grant funding and project design costs.
The City and design team are committed to pursuing grant opportunities for the combined bridge and park project to close this gap before the design phase begins. To proceed with the feasibility study, which includes environmental and permitting, the City will commit additional funding from the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Measure AA to augment this phase of the Project. The budget for the project will include contingency funds that will allow the City to incorporate the park into the Project to streamline permitting, environmental, and necessary studies. In addition to seeking grant funding for the final design of the full project scope, the city is actively pursuing grant funding for the planning, outreach, and preliminary design of the park elements.
On April 7, 2025, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Program Supplement Agreement with the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for $1,575,000 in Active Transportation Program (ATP) funds for a Feasibility study, Preliminary Engineering, and Environmental (PAED) phase of this Project.
ANALYSIS:
The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for this Project on March 7, 2026, and received three proposals from qualified firms. After reviewing the proposals, all firms were invited to participate in a video conference interview hosted by representatives from Public Works, City Managers, and Library and Recreation on April 21, 2026. Selection of the qualified firm was based on criteria specified in the RFP, including, but not limited to, completeness of the proposal, understanding of the project scope of work, relevant experience and success in similar projects, familiarity with state procedures, and experience and quality of the project team.
The selection committee found Mark Thomas and its sub-consultants to be the most qualified consultant team for this Project.
The recommended Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Mark Thomas will provide professional services associated with the Project, including project management, preliminary engineering and background research, feasibility study, and environmental compliance and permitting. City staff reviewed Mark Thomas’ fee proposal and found it to be complete and within industry standards.
At the time of this Staff Report, the City has only received an obligation from the ATP for the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase of the Project. Additional obligations for the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) phase of the Project will be completed by the City in accordance with state guidelines. Mark Thomas will complete no PS&E work without the express written approval of the City.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommendations in this staff report will authorize the PSA with Mark Thomas in an amount not to exceed $1,875,000, including contingency funds of $181,500 to complete the preliminary design, feasibility study, and environmental (PA&ED) work for the Project.
Appropriations in the amount of $1,575,000 for the PA&ED phases of the Project were included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget, approved by City Council on June 2, 2025, as part of the capital improvement program budget (Gas Tax – Fund 206). Funding for the appropriations is being provided through an Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant in the amount of $1,575,000 and does not require a local match. The remaining $300,000 for the PA&ED phases will need to be appropriated from the Measure AA Gas Tax fund balance.
The remaining grant funds for the PS&E phase will be utilized at a later stage, following completion of the PA&ED phases and upon receipt of construction obligation authorization from Caltrans.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider in this matter:
1. Adopt the resolution as presented.
2. Do not adopt the resolution and provide direction to staff.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. (Mark Thomas) to provide preliminary design and environmental services for the Canal Crossing Project (the “Project”) in the amount not to exceed $1,875,000 which includes $181,500 in contingency funds and authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $300,000 from the City Gas Tax Fund (206).
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Draft Professional Services Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc.
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MARK THOMAS & COMPANY, INC. TO PROVIDE
PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR CANAL CROSSING PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,875,000, WHICH INCLUDES $181,500 IN
CONTINGENCY FUNDS, AND AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 FROM THE CITY GAS TAX FUND (206) WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael (“City”) advertised and solicited a Request for Proposals (RFP) in accordance with the City’s Municipal code released on March 7, 2026, for the project entitled:
“San Rafael Canal Crossing Project”
City Project No. C441147210
the Department of Public Works received three proposals; and WHEREAS, staff reviewed the proposals and identified Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. (Mark Thomas) to be the most qualified firm; and
WHEREAS, the cost proposal from Mark Thomas was found to be complete and within industry standards; and
WHEREAS, the project has received funding through the Active Transportation Program (ATP) to perform a preliminary engineering, feasibility study, and environmental (PA&ED) for the project; and
WHEREAS, funding in the amount of $1,575,000 to support the recommended Agreement is provided within the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget appropriations (Canal Crossing Project – Gas Tax Fund 206); and
WHEREAS, supplemental budget appropriations are requested to support the remaining costs associated with completing the PA&ED of the Canal Crossing Project, to be funded through the available balance within the Transportation Authority of Marin Measure AA (Gas Tax - Fund 206).
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL RESOLVES as follows:
1. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Mark Thomas to provide preliminary design and environmental services for the Canal Crossing Project in the amount not to exceed $1,875,000, in a form approved by the City Attorney and authorizing supplemental budget appropriations from the Gas Tax fund.
2. The Director of Public Works or designee is hereby authorized to take any and all such actions as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this resolution.
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 Monday, the 18th day of May 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
_____________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk