From: David Seltzer
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 3:18 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: My public comment for today's City Council meeting (Item 2.a - June 15th) Hello Mayor Kate and City Council Members,
As someone that has been active in supporting various bike and pedestrian related infrastructure, I wanted to send in a note on my support for the proposed lighting for the section of Bay Trail / Starkweather Path.
To my perspective the addition of lights feels like an obvious and important improvement.
As someone that frequently uses the Anderson Smart Path as part of my commute I know how these separated paths without proper lighting can quickly feel like dark and unsafe places. So please don't let a small vocal minority derail meaningful safety improvements.
Thank you,
-David Seltzer
From: Laurie Bishop
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 11:05 AM
To: Mayor Kate <[email protected]>; Maika Llorens Gulati <[email protected]>; Eli Hill <[email protected]>; Maribeth Bushey <[email protected]>; Rachel Kertz <[email protected]>; Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]>; Paul Navazio <[email protected]>; April Miller <[email protected]>; Craig Veramay <[email protected]>; Greg Minor <[email protected]>; Grey Melgard <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; Community Development <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Concerns About Environmental Impact on Starkweather Path Hello,
My name is Laurie Bishop, and I'm a resident of Spinnaker neighborhood. I'm writing to express serious concerns about the environmental impact of the proposed "Peoples of the Canal" art installation (3'X2') and the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement ("Canal ATE") artificial Lighting Project on the 2-mile Starkweather/Bay Trail Path.
Starkweather Path runs directly adjacent to sensitive salt marsh habitat, one of the Bay Area's most fragile ecosystems. The proposal to install 22 permanent placards (3'X2') and artificial lighting proposed by the Canal ATE would:
• Disturb nesting shorebirds and migratory species that depend on this corridor • Introduce artificial light into a naturally dark environment, disrupting nocturnal wildlife and natural circadian rhythms
• Proposal to increase foot traffic on a shared use path with constrained widths leading to pedestrian safety issues
I understand and appreciate the value of public art and cultural storytelling. However, I believe this particular location, a nature corridor with documented wildlife sensitivity, is not the appropriate setting for permanent infrastructures of this scale.
I respectfully request that the city reject both proposals in their current form and stand with the residents who are directly impacted by these decisions.
Sincerely,
Laurie Bishop
San Rafael
Laurie Bell Bishop
Specializing in Brand Portraits for Business Women 40+
(Translation for the public comment below)
Good afternoon, my name is Nery Ortiz. I am a resident of San Rafael and a member of the Voices of the Canal group. For me and for many families in and around the Canal, lighting along the trail is very important and necessary for recreation and exercise. Since most residents work during the day, the late afternoon and evening are the most common times to spend with family! And even more so during this hot season when the apartment gets hot, and it’s nice to go out for a walk and breathe in some fresh air!! I hope the project gets approved!! Thank you all. Sent from my iPhone -----Original Message-----
From: Nery
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 2:17 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Proposición
Buenas tardes mi nombre es Nery Ortiz soy residente de San Rafael y miembro del grupo voces del canal , para mi y para muchas familias de canal y alrededor es muy importante y necesario la iluminación del sendero, para la recreación y el ejercicio. ya que la mayoría de los residentes trabajan durante el día , la tarde noche es el momento más común para disfrutar con la familia ! Y aún más en esta temporada de calor cuando el departamento se calienta, y es bonito salir a caminar y respirar aire fresco !! Deseo se apruebe el proyecto!! Gracias a todos Sent from my iPhone From: Anton (“Tony”) Schneider
Baypoint Lagoons
June 15, 2026
Topic: Starkweather path lighting
Summary: Existing User Conflicts May Present More Immediate Safety Concerns John and Jean Starkweather Park provides public access to beautiful bay views and the wildlife that makes this area so special. I appreciate that the council is focused on safety, because safety should be the top priority for this project.
As has been mentioned, the park is heavily used during the day, with only rare nighttime activity. The real safety issues are on the path during daylight hours, when it is open and in use.
Many sections remain narrow, and some lack the lateral clearance recommended for a path with this level of use. This is a shared path used by pedestrians, bicycles, scooters, and other wheeled users, so conflicts already exist.
Lighting does not solve those problems. If the city’s goal is safety, there are more effective and more cost-effective ways to improve conditions for everyone who uses the park during the day.
Before spending taxpayer dollars to alter one of San Rafael’s most valued waterfront open spaces, I respectfully ask the council to consider solutions that address the real daytime safety issues.
Thank you for listening to our community’s voices.
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Good evening.
Thanks for allowing me to address the council today. My name is Tony Schneider, and my wife and I have enjoyed living in Baypoint Lagoons for the past two years with our precious 10-yearold collie, Missy. One of the primary reasons we purchased the property was access to the bayfront walk.
The John and Jean Starkweather Park provides public open access from dawn to dusk to the magnificent views of the bay and the wild birds and other fauna and flora that frequent the area. I couldn’t be more delighted that the council is focused on the safety of all of us that use this multi-use path, as I understand that safety is the primary goal of this project.
As has been mentioned, the park is very popular during the day, every day, with only rare nighttime activity, and I would encourage the council to focus on the safety issues that exist for all users.
The 1989 Shoreline Master Plan envisioned a substantially wider trail than that which currently exists. NACTO standards recommend a path with this much usage to be wider, and to have 2’ or more of unobstructed lateral clearance on either side of the path. Today, many sections of the path remain narrow and heavily used. Parts of the current path have no such lateral clearance.
As you know so well, this is a mixed-use path shared by pedestrians and 2-wheeled vehicles, with the recent addition of high speed high momentum motorized bikes, scooters and motos.
Just to be clear, I’m talking about daylight usage - when the path is open. Lighting addresses none of these safety issues. If the City’s primary objective is safety, there are many more effective and cost-effective solutions to address these issues and improve the experience of all users.
Before spending precious taxpayer dollars to alter one of San Rafael’s most valued waterfront open spaces, I respectfully ask the Council to consider more cost effective ways to improve safety for all of us who use the park during the daylight hours. And not at night when the park is empty.
Thanks so much for this opportunity to hear from us here in the community.