MINUTES
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL - MONDAY, MAY 18, 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
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael
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 Hill
Vice Mayor Kertz
Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Mayor Kate
Absent: Councilmember Bushey
Also Present: Interim City Manager Paul Navazio
City Attorney Robert Epstein
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.
Mayor Kate provided opening remarks which included gratitude to City Staff, tonight’s Proclamations on the Agenda, 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
• Neymar Rodas addressed the City Council regarding Alcohol Justice • Jeik Azanon addressed the City Council regarding Alcohol Justice • Noah Bugbee addressed the City Council regarding the January flood in the Canal neighborhood
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:
• National Public Works Week
• “May in Motion” Challenge Month
• Homelessness Subcommittee meeting to be held Tuesday, May 19, at City Hall, 10 a.m. • Police Advisory & Accountability Committee meeting to be held Wednesday, May 20, at City Hall, 6 p.m.
City Councilmember Reports:
• Vice Mayor Kertz reported on the “Touch the Sky” Sculpture Ribbon Cutting, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority budget, May Madness, Friday Night Market, the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce State of the City dinner, the Marin County Survivor Celebration, and the Golden Gate Regional Center legislative breakfast. • Councilmember Llorens Gulati reported on the 2026 Zero Waste Symposium, May Madness, the State of the City, the Golden Gate Regional Center legislative breakfast, the Rotary Epic Day of Service, and the Small Business Marketplace at Canal Alliance. • Councilmember Hill reported on May Madness, the State of the City, and a Finance Subcommittee meeting.
• Mayor Kate reported on the State of the City and a Central Marin Sanitation Agency meeting.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there were none.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
2. Consent Calendar Items:
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speaker: Gregory Andrew
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey
a. Approval of Minutes
Approve Minutes of the Special Closed Session and Regular City Council Meetings of May 4, 2026 (CC)
Approved Minutes as submitted
b. 770 Lindaro Street / 999 3rd Street (BioMarin San Rafael Campus) Final Adoption of Ordinance 2063: An Ordinance Adopting the First Amendment to the Development Agreement (DA26-001) Between the City and California Corporate Center Acquisition, LLC (Ordinance No. 1982) to Remove Requirements for Park and Conference Room Access and Auxiliary Parking for General Public (APN 013-021-34, 35, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 & 55) (CC)
3 Final Adoption of Ordinance No. 2063
c. Organizational Conflict of Interest Policy for Design-Build Projects Resolution Establishing Organizational Conflict of Interest Policy for Design-Build Projects (CM)
Adopted Resolution 15548
d. 350 Merrydale Road Interim Shelter Design Services
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to a Professional Services Agreement with LCA Architects to Provide Design Services in the Amount Not to Exceed $71,236 for a Total Contract Amount of $351,986, and Authorizing a Supplemental Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Appropriation in the Amount of $71,236 Provided Through the Encampment Resolution Fund Round 3 Grant (Fund 283) (CM) Adopted Resolution 15549
e. Below Market Rate Rental Housing and Homeownership Program Administration Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Marin Housing Authority for Administration of the Below Market Rate Rental Housing and Homeownership Programs for Three Years in an Amount Not to Exceed $125,000 Per Year (CED)
Adopted Resolution 15550
f. City Quarterly Investment Report
Acceptance of City of San Rafael Quarterly Investment Report for the Quarter Ending March 31, 2026 (Fin)
Accepted report
g. San Rafael Canal Crossing Project
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) (PW) Adopted Resolution 15551
h. Large Trash Capture Device Installation: SR-129 (Redwood Highway) and SR-143 (Rossi Pump Station) Project
Resolution Approving the Plans and Specifications for the Large Trash Capture Device Installation: SR-129 (Redwood Highway) and SR-143 (Rossi Pump Station) Project, City Project No. C441145610 (“Project”); Awarding and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Construction Agreement with Corcus Construction, Inc in the Amount of $363,850, and Authorizing the City Manager to Amend the Contract Amount Using Contingency Funds of $36,150 for a Total Not-To-Exceed Amount of $400,000 (PW) Adopted Resolution 15552
i. Marin Emergency Radio Authority
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Second Amendment to the Communications Site License Agreement with the Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) (PW)
Adopted Resolution 15553
4 j. National Public Works Week Proclamation
Proclamation in Celebration of National Public Works Week, May 17-23, 2026 (PW) Received and filed
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Public Hearings:
a. Military Equipment Annual Report and Renewal of Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy
Resolution Renewing the Ordinance Approving San Rafael Police Department Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy (Policy 706) (PD) Police Chief David Spiller introduced Lieutenant Ronda Cordero 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.
Vice Mayor Kertz moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to adopt a Resolution renewing the Ordinance approving the San Rafael Police Department Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy (Policy 706).
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey
Adopted Resolution 15554
b. Update to Park Impact Fee Programs and Nexus Study
i. Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 3.24, Entitled “Park and Recreation Facilities Fee,” and Chapter 15.09, Entitled “Park Dedication and In-Lieu Fees,” of the San Rafael Municipal Code; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378, 15262, 15273, and 15061(b)(3)
Recommended Action – Introduce the Ordinance, waive further reading, and refer to it by title only
ii. Resolution Adopting the Park Nexus Study and Associated Park and Recreation Facilities Project List, Adopting Updated Charges for the Park and Recreation Facilities Fee, and Adopting Updated Park Dedication Requirements and Park Dedication and In-Lieu Fees; CEQA Determination: Not a Project Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065; CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15262, 15273, and 15061 (b)(3) (CED) Recommended Action – Adopt Resolution
Interim City Manager Paul Navazio commented on the item and introduced Senior Management Analyst (Community & Economic Development Department) Sullina Smith. She and Debbie Kern, Keyser Marston Associates, presented the Staff Report. 5 Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate opened the public hearing.
Speakers: Gregory Andrew, Jenny Silva, Call Marin Home, Jeff Dougherty, Ani Gupta, UMB Marin
City Attorney Robert Epstein provided comments and outlined the process for continuing the public hearing.
Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Councilmember Hill moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to continue the public hearing to June 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. or soon as thereafter that the matter can be heard.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey
Continued the public hearing to June 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. or soon as thereafter that the matter can be heard
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
4. Other Agenda Items:
a. San Rafael Sanitation District Separation Agreement
Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Separation Agreement Between the City of San Rafael and the San Rafael Sanitation District; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(B)(3) and 15378 (CM) Assistant City Manager Angela Robinson-Piñon presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there was none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to adopt the Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Separation Agreement between the City of San Rafael and the San Rafael Sanitation District.
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey
Adopted Resolution 15555
6 b. Preliminary Citywide Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Preliminary Citywide Proposed Budget and Proposed Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2026-27 (Fin)
Interim City Manager Paul Navazio and Senior Civil Engineer Grey Melgard (Public Works) presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Gregory Andrew, Rhonda Kutter, San Rafael Massage Advisory Committee Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to receive the report and provide direction to staff to inform preparation of the Final Proposed FY 2026-27 Budget for adoption at the City Council meeting of June 15, 2026 AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey
Received report and provided direction to staff to inform preparation of the Final Proposed FY 2026-27 Budget for adoption at the City Council meeting of June 15, 2026
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION CONTINUED
• Rhonda Kutter addressed the City Council regarding her prior position as the City’s Volunteer Coordinator.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Kate adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
__________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2026
_____________________________________
KATE COLIN, Mayor