MINUTES
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL - MONDAY, JUNE 1, 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-1
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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
Councilmember Hill
Vice Mayor Kertz
Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Mayor Kate
Absent: None
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 the Pride flag raise held earlier, gratitude to City Staff, the City’s quarter one employee (Lynette Starnes, Police Department) and team of the quarter (Police Department Communications Dispatcher Team), tomorrow is last day to vote, and a land acknowledgment.
City Clerk Lindsay Lara announced the meeting would 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
• Claire Taylor addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather path lighting project • Susan Levine addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather path lighting project 2 • Corey Sias addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather path lighting project • Reva Revas addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather path lighting project • Mark Fallows addressed the City Council regarding the Starkweather path lighting project CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS:
(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:
• Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2 - Voting Centers open until 8 p.m. • Survey (accessible on City website) seeking broad community input for new Albert Park Library and Community Center
• Terra Linda Pool is open for the season – Season Passes now available • Seeds of Hope Luncheon to be held on Monday, June 8, Al Boro Community Center, 11 a.m.
• City Council Study Session on Housing (Part 2) to be held on Thursday, June 4, City Hall, 5 p.m.
City Councilmember Reports:
• Vice Mayor Kertz reported on a Homeless Subcommittee meeting and a County Priority Services Setting Committee meeting.
• Councilmember Bushey reported on a Central Marin Sanitation Agency meeting, a Transportation Authority of Marin meeting, and a Marin Transit Authority meeting. • Councilmember Llorens Gulati reported on a Marin Transit Authority meeting, a Marin Clean Energy Board meeting, a Canal Promise Neighborhood Steering Committee meeting, a Marin County Sea Level Rise BayWAVE Committee meeting, and a Canal Futbol Club vision meeting at Canal Alliance.
• Councilmember Hill reported on a Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers meeting held at Homeward Bound.
• Mayor Kate reported on a San Rafael Sanitation District meeting, a Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) meeting, and a Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority meeting.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Al Vetere, Sherna Deamer, Mark Fallows
CONSENT CALENDAR:
2. Consent Calendar Items:
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there was none.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
a. Approval of Minutes
3 Approve Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of May 18, 2026 (CC) Approved Minutes as submitted
b. 2026 General Municipal Election
Resolution Calling and Giving Notice of By-District Elections for Districts 2/Western and 3/Eastern, and San Rafael Board of Education Trustee Area Elections for Areas 2, 4 & 5 to Be Held on November 3, 2026, Requesting the Marin County Board of Supervisors to Consolidate with Any Other Election Conducted on Said Date, and Requesting Election Services (CC)
Adopted Resolution 15556
c. Proclamations
Proclamations Recognizing Juneteenth, Pride Month, and National Gun Violence Awareness Day
Received and filed
d. FY 2026-27 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Projects, Funded by Senate Bill 1 Resolution Adopting a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017: CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15378(b)(5) and 15061(b)(3) (PW)
Adopted Resolution 15557
e. Caltrans Project Specific Maintenance Agreement
Resolution Approving and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Project Specific Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans for the SR-129 (Redwood Highway) Trash Capture Device Project, City Project No. C441145610 (“Project”); CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15378(b)(5) (PW)
Adopted Resolution 15558
f. Baypoint Lagoons Assessment District
Baypoint Lagoons Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District Annual Assessment FY 2026-27 (PW):
i. Resolution Directing the Filing of Engineer’s Annual Report FY 2026-27 Adopted Resolution 15559
ii. Resolution Approving Engineer’s Annual Report FY 2026-27 Adopted Resolution 15560
iii. Resolution of Intention to Order Improvements and Setting a Public Hearing on the Annual Assessment for the City Council Meeting of June 15, 2026 Adopted Resolution 15561
g. Point San Pedro Road Median Landscaping Assessment District Point San Pedro Road Median Landscaping Assessment District Annual Assessment FY 2026-27 (PW):
i. Resolution Directing Filing of Engineer’s 2026-27 Annual Report Adopted Resolution 15562
ii. Resolution Approving Engineer’s 2026-27 Annual Report Adopted Resolution 15563
4 iii. Resolution of Intention to Order Improvements and Setting a Public Hearing on the Annual Assessment for the City Council Meeting of June 15, 2026 Adopted Resolution 15564
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Public Hearings:
a. Zoning Code Amendments to Add Clarifying Language and Simplify Existing Zoning Regulations
Introduction of An Ordinance to Amend the San Rafael Zoning Code, San Rafael Municipal Code, Title 14, Division I General Provisions, Chapter 14.03 Definitions, Section 14.03.030 Definitions as Well as Division V Administrative Regulations, Chapter 14.28, Sections 14.28.010-14.28.080., and to Find CEQA Determination:
Exempt Pursuant to 15061(B)(3) (CED)
Planning Manager Margaret Kavanaugh-Lynch 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 introduce the Ordinance, waive further reading, and refer to it by title only.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
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 OF SAN RAFAEL AMENDING THE SAN RAFAEL ZONING ORDINANCE, SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE, TITLE 14, DIVISION I GENERAL PROVISIONS, CHAPTER 14.03 DEFINITIONS, SECTION 14.03.030
DEFINITIONS AS WELL AS DIVISION V ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, CHAPTER
14.28, SECTIONS 14.28.010-14.28.080 AND FINDING THAT THIS ACTION IS EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3)
b. Amendment to the General Plan’s Safety and Resilience Element Resolution Adopting an Amendment to Safety and Resilience Element of the General Plan 2040 to Continue to Meet the Goals of Assembly Bill (AB) 2140 (2006), and Finding that this Action is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(A), and 15061(B)(3) (CED) Planning Manager Margaret Kavanaugh-Lynch presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
5 Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there were none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Hill moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to adopt a Resolution adopting an Amendment to Safety and Resilience Element of the General Plan 2040 to continue to meet the goals of Assembly Bill (AB) 2140 (2006), and finding that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(A), and 15061(B)(3).
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
Adopted Resolution 15565
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
4. Other Agenda Items:
a. Sea Level Rise Feasibility Study
Presentation on the Sea Level Rise Feasibility Study (CM) Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planner Kate Hagemann presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Corey Sias, John Rising, Marina Palma, Miles Smith, Sustainable San Rafael, Jessie Rountree, Greenbelt Alliance, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Voces del Canal, Carly Finkle, Canal Alliance, Bill Carney, Sustainable San Rafael, Claire Taylor, Carlos, Voces del Canal/Canal Alliance, Noah Bugbee
Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to receive the presentation on the Sea Level Rise Feasibility Study.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
Received presentation
Mayor Kate called a recess at 8:04 p.m., and called the meeting back to order at 8:15 p.m. b. Brown Act Updates and Teleconferencing Provisions
6 Resolution Authorizing Hybrid City Council Meetings Effective July 1, 2026, and Adopting a Technology Disruption Policy, Multilingual Agendas & Participation Policy, and Disruptive Behavior in Public Meetings Policy to Implement Senate Bill 707 (Durazo) (CC)
City Clerk Lindsay Lara presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speaker: Matt Butler
Staff responded to further questions from the City Council.
Councilmembers provided comments.
Vice Mayor Kertz moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to adopt a Resolution authorizing hybrid City Council meetings effective July 1, 2026, and adopting a Technology Disruption Policy, Multilingual Agendas & Participation Policy, and Disruptive Behavior in Public Meetings Policy to implement Senate Bill 707 (Durazo).
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
Adopted Resolution 15566
c. City Council Three-Year Strategic Plan Implementation Update and Performance Metrics
Report on City Council Three-Year Strategic Plan Implementation and Performance Metrics (CM)
Assistant City Manager John Stefanski and Digital Service and Open Government Director Sean Mooney presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Gregory Andrew, Marianne Naanestad, Craig Murray, Civic Center Arms, Bill Carney, Sustainable San Rafael
Staff responded to questions from public comment.
Councilmembers provided comments.
7 Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to receive the report on City Council Three-Year Strategic Plan Implementation and Performance Metrics.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
Received report
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION CONTINUED
• Craig Murray addressed the City Council regarding maintenance along Merrydale Road.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Kate adjourned the meeting at 10:31 p.m.
__________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2026
_____________________________________
KATE COLIN, Mayor