Minutes subject to approval at the Monday, October 5, 2026 City Council Meeting
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 6:00 P.M.
San Rafael Council Chambers & Virtual
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Virtual Participation:
Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/city-council-1
Phone: (669) 444-9171
ID: 863-4489-1398#
Present: Councilmember Bushey
Vice Mayor Kertz
Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Mayor Kate
Absent: Councilmember Hill
Also Present: City Manager Paul Navazio
Chief Assistant City Attorney Andrea Visveshwara
City Clerk Lindsay Lara
Mayor Kate called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. and invited City Clerk Lindsay Lara to call the roll. Councilmember Hill was absent.
Mayor Kate provided opening remarks which included gratitude to City Staff, recognition of the retirement of Parking Manager Jim Myhers after 13 years of service, how to participate in tonight’s meeting and decorum, and a land acknowledgment.
City Clerk Lindsay Lara informed the community that the meeting would be recorded and streamed live to YouTube and Zoom, and members of the public would provide public comment either inperson, by telephone or online, and she explained the process for community participation.
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION
• Wayne Rayburn addressed the City Council regarding the 350 Merrydale Affordable Housing Subcommittee and the proposals for affordable housing.
CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS:
(including AB 1234 Reports on Meetings and Conferences Attended at City Expense)
1. City Manager and Councilmember Reports:
City Manager Paul Navazio provided the following announcements and updates:
• Friday, September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of 9/11 – A community remembrance event with the Fire Department and others to be held at Lauren Place on Fourth Street, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• September is Emergency Preparedness Month
• Summer Movies in the Park
o Friday, September 11, Zootopia 2 at Sun Valley Park, festivities start at 6 p.m. o Friday, September 25, at Terra Linda Park
City Councilmember Reports:
• Vice Mayor Kertz reported on her CERT training completion. • Councilmember Llorens Gulati reported on a Canal Promise Neighborhood Steering 2 Committee meeting, a MCE Clean Energy Board of Directors meeting, a MCE Executive Committee meeting, a community tree planting event at Bahia Vista Elementary School, an informal grand opening at Golfery, a MCE Clean Energy workshop, a Nuestro Canal Nuestro Futuro stakeholder meeting, and a Quarterly Climate Action Forum meeting.
• Councilmember Bushey reported on a 350 Merrydale Subcommittee meeting, a San Rafael Sanitation District Board meeting, and a (new joint Community Center and Library) Measure P Subcommittee meeting.
• Mayor Kate reported on an Economic Development & Housing Subcommittee meeting, a Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) meeting, and a Change.org initial phase one report out regarding helping build civic engagement and civic muscle.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Ken Dickinson, Name Withheld, Wayne Rayburn, Gregory Andrew CONSENT CALENDAR:
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, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill
Mayor Kate presented the Proclamation recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Marin County Senior Program Coordinator for Suicide Prevention Kara Connors provided comments.
2. Consent Calendar Items:
a. Approval of Minutes
Approve Minutes of the Special Closed Session and Regular City Council Meeting of August 17, 2026 (CC)
Approved Minutes as submitted
b. Proclamations
Proclamations in Recognition of:
i. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
ii. Hispanic Heritage Month (CM)
Received and filed
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
3. Special Presentations:
a. County of Marin Office of Emergency Management City Council Brief (FD) Deputy Director of Emergency Management Quinn Gardner introduced Marin County Director of Emergency Management Steven Torrence and Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Maher who gave a presentation.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
3 Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there were none.
Councilmembers provided comments.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
4. Other Agenda Items:
a. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report
San Rafael Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy Annual Report for 2024 (CM)
Sustainability Program Manager Cory Bytof and Marin Climate & Energy Partnership’s Sustainability Coordinator Christine O’Rourke presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Bill Carney, Sustainable San Rafael, Belle Cole Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to accept the San Rafael Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy Annual Report for 2024.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill
Accepted Inventory and Report
b. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Unaudited Results and Budget Amendments FY2025-26 Year-End Budget Update and Resolutions Authorizing Amendments to the City of San Rafael Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for the Purposes of Confirming Authorized Appropriations and Transfers and Authorizing Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget to Reflect Carry-Over of Available Unencumbered FY2025-26 Appropriations for Specified Purposes, Totaling $16,477,797 (Fin) City Manager Paul Navazio introduced Finance Manager Shawn Plate 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.
Councilmember Bushey moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to accept the report presenting preliminary, FY2025-26 unaudited financial results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026.
4 AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill
Vice Mayor Kertz moved and Councilmember Llorens Gulati seconded to adopt the Resolution authorizing amendments to the FY 2025-26 Budget for the purpose of confirming authorized appropriations and transfers.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill
Adopted Resolution 15611
Councilmember Llorens Gulati moved and Vice Mayor Kertz seconded to adopt the Resolution authorizing amendments to the FY 2026-27 Budget to reflect carry-over of unencumbered FY 2025-26 appropriations for specified purposes, totaling $16,477,797.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Hill
Adopted Resolution 15612
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Kate adjourned the meeting at 8:44 p.m.
______________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS __DAY OF____________, 2026
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KATE COLIN, Mayor