From: Camille
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2026 10:37 PM
To: Lindsay Lara <[email protected]>
Subject: Thoughts on Starkweather Path lighting and art installation
Hi Lindsay-I’m a homeowner in the Spinnaker Point neighborhood of San Rafael. I don’t think I can attend the City Council meeting on Monday, June 1 in person, so I am sending comments to put my objections on record.
Both of these projects align with the typical ‘logic’ of the City of San Rafael. You should change the City motto from ‘the city with a mission’ to ‘the city of bad decisions.’ Lighting:
One of the main reasons I purchased my property almost six years ago was the proximity to the water and the peaceful, beautiful nature preserve all around.
The proposed lighting is an egregious violation of said peace, beauty, and nature. The path is closed from sunset to sunrise, so why and for whom is this lighting intended? The City and police claim this is for safety reasons, but in the numerous meetings I have attended, I have yet to see any data to support this claim.
Presumably this is for residents of the Canal. Why not invest $$ to provide better and safer transportation along already lit street paths instead? Besides, the most treacherous part of the path - between Target and Baypoint/Spinnaker neighborhoods - is private property and from what I understand will not be lit, so you are essentially creating a lit path to and from nowhere. And creating disruption for hundreds of residents.
Not to mention the environmental impact of said lighting on birds, ground squirrels, and other critters who will quite literally be in the spotlight 24/7.
Art installation:
While the concept is well-intentioned, the proposed ‘Peoples of the Canal’ art installation along a two mile stretch on the Starkweather/ Bay Trail path is another asinine idea by one person looking to make his legacy known without thinking about the consequences on hundreds of actual residents.
Who is realistically going to walk a four mile round trip to see the signs? Where are people going to park? In a neighborhood already busting at the seams for parking? Who is going to maintain the installations?
I personally report graffiti and dilapidated fencing along that path on a monthly basis and the City can’t keep up, so this is yet another project doomed to fall into disrepair. I am all for public art, but put it in places where people actually congregate. Like at Pickleweed Park. Or behind Target. Or the ‘beach’ area where Spinnaker/Baypoint/dirt path to Target meet.
There could be a place for this-but the Starkweather Path is not the right one.
Thanks,
Camille
From: Kischeder
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2026 5:03 PM
To: Lindsay Lara <[email protected]>
Subject: Starkweather Path Concern
Dear Council,
I, along with many (most, as far as I can tell) of my neighbors who reside in Baypoint Lagoons, have serious concerns about the proposal to add lighting and info stands to the pristine nature walk we currently enjoy along Starkweather pathway. When I moved into this neighborhood 30 years ago, the proximity to a beautiful pathway along the water was a selling feature. Today, I feel that the benefits to all users of the pathway for enjoyable outdoor exercise or meditation is under threat of being used to make a museum setting featuring information about Miwoks. I have nothing against Miwoks, but if I wanted to know more about them, I could find information and history at several places in Marin County, including Kyle Lokio at Pt Reyes National Seasore, Olompolli State Historic Park, Museum of the American Indian in Novato or Muir Woods and Angel Island. We have plenty of locations featuring Miwok information…. And some of these areas are not well maintained…so do we really need another space taken up to tell us more about the Miwoks or would the community be better served to do maintenance on the spaces already dedicated to that history? And might we be better served by the City spending tax payer dollars on proper maintenance of this pathway and the other monuments already established?
Regarding the lighting, I see absolutely no benefit to adding lighting to the pathway but I do see a downfall of losing another rarely found area of dark sky. Wildlife around here depend on dark sky areas to carry out nocturnal natural activities. This project will only disrupt that. What Marin needs are more natural shoreline spaces that provide a space with a calming atmosphere, not more commercially-driven, lit up spaces. I respectfully suggest that the money that would fund this be used to do proper maintenance along the pathway that already exists. And while some petty criminal activity may occasionally occur along the pathway at night, although none that I’ve ever heard of, you simply cannot light up every public space in the hopes of preventing crime. The criminals will just move to the next darkened space.
If you want to put up any kind of sign along Starkweather Path, I’d suggest a couple of signs prohibiting e-bikes, which endanger ALL the users of the path.
My hope is that this Council truly is taking heed of the serious concerns to this project and will make an informed and service-oriented decision.
Respectfully,
Karen Scheder
San Rafael, CA 94901
Sent from my iPad
From:
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2026 7:31 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Canal Lights
Hi,
I am unable to attend the June 1st meeting about lights wanting to be installed on Starkweather Path in San Rafael. I am ADAMANTLY OPPOSED to such a Ludacris idea. I’ve lived in the Canal area since 1974, walk the path all the time day and night. There has not one single time been a problem with anything bad happening. Lights will totally destroy the habitat, the ambiance not counting ruining the night sky. We also DO NOT need signs. No one will read them. Vandals with destroy them. They will also be a blight on the pathway.
If the City would like to do something constructive how about removing the dead tree behind the ball field that’s been half in and out of the water for several years. How about leveling the pathway getting rid of all the ruts, redoing the walkway. Those things could use help NOT useless lights & signs.
Marty Komitopoulos
Marty Komitopoulos
– Land Line
- Fax
San Rafael, CA 94901
From:
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2026 9:51 AM
To: Lindsay Lara <[email protected]>
Subject: Starkweather Path
Hi Lindsay,
I have emailed 3 to 4 times about NO SIGNS OR LIGHTS on Starkweather Path. I’ve lived in the Canal area since 1974. Love it here. Signs and lights will totally destroy the path, cause harm to the wildlife, both are completely unnecessary. I agree with ALL the items listed on the Opposed list. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the meeting but here is my vote & say – NO!
Thank You,
Marty Komitopoulos
Marty Komitopoulos
– Land Line
- Fax
San Rafael, CA 94901
From: Richard Peterson
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2026 2:38 PM
To: Lindsay Lara <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed Lighting of Starkweather Path
Hi Lindsay,
I am submitting my comments to the City Council regarding this lighting proposal:
I agree with all of the environmental objections to this project. The fact that it was even proposed defies all logic to me:
In a prior online meeting, the City communicated in a Powerpoint presentation and in a comment by one of the City’s employees that the park will continue to be closed after dark, even after the lighting has been installed. In that case, all those supporting the project have miserably flunked my eight-grade logics course:
Logic is the systematic study of the principles of valid reasoning and correct argumentation. It provides the formal rules to determine if a conclusion is true or false based on a given set of information, helping us separate sound reasoning from faulty assumptions or biases.
To light the path after dark when it is illegal is completely contradictory—and we should not forget the potential harm done by inviting drug dealers, robbers and sex offenders to enjoy the illumination, rather than operating in the dark. Let’s hope for once the City Council will incorporate public input into their plans, instead of continuing to doggedly pursue their original misguided ideas.
In spite of Ms. Colin’s constant comments about listening to residents, her actions have constantly indicated that she has ignored public input and simply followed her own misguided path(s). I can only pray that for this and the Art project, she will somehow properly represent the public. And they call Trump a king! She must think she is the Queen of San Rafael!
Richard Peterson
San Rafael 94901