SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL
Special Closed Session
Monday, October 19, 2026 at 5 p.m.
City Hall, Third Floor Conference Room & Virtual
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Virtual Participation:
https://tinyurl.com/spcs-2026-10-19
Phone: +1 (669) 900-9128
ID: 861-5290-5671#
OPEN SESSION
The Mayor will announce Closed Session items and invite public comment on agenda items. Each speaker will have two minutes to provide comments before the City Council convenes in Closed Session.
1. Mayor Kate to announce Closed Session items.
CLOSED SESSION
2. Closed Session:
a. THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Consultation with: Rob Epstein, San Rafael City Attorney; Andrea Visveshwara, Chief Assistant City Attorney; Katherine Kasameyer, Deputy City Attorney; Todd Berringer, Captain for San Rafael Police; Abraham Roman, San Rafael Fire Chief; April Miller, San Rafael Public Works Director; Paul Navazio, City Manager; Angela Robinson Piñon, Assistant City Manager; Kate Hageman, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planner Staff Comment: On September 21, 2026, Governor Newsom found that pursuant to Government Code Section 8558(b), conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the developing El Niño event, and that the developing El Niño event is likely to cause conditions that, by reason of their magnitude, are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to appropriately respond. Accordingly, on September 21, 2026, Governor Newsom proclaimed that a state of emergency exists statewide due to the developing 2026-2027 El Niño event, based on the findings set forth in that declaration, that include, but are not limited to, that local governments, local water agencies, and local flood control authorities have requested action now to enable them to move quickly to begin preparations for preventing and responding to the impacts of potential flooding.
Similarly, on October 5, 2026, at a regular City Council meeting, the City of San Rafael also proclaimed a local emergency due to the developing 2026-2027 El Niño event. As required by Government Code Section 8630(c), the City Council anticipates reviewing the status of this proclamation at its November 16, 2026, meeting. The closed session agenda item arises out of the potential threats from the 2026-2027 El Niño event. b. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) (unknown number of potential cases) Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the Council less than 72 hours before the meeting, shall be available for inspection online and at City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue, and placed with other agendarelated materials on the table in front of the Council Chamber prior to the meeting. Sign Language interpreters may be requested by calling (415) 485-3066 (voice), emailing [email protected] or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Copies of documents are available in accessible formats upon request. To request Spanish language interpretation, please submit an online form at https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/request-for-interpretation/. c. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: City APNs 009-032-06, 009-032-07, 009-071-08, 009-081-44, 009-081-45; Marin Audobon Society APN 009-142-01
Agency negotiator: City Manager Paul Navazio, Assistant City Manager Angela Robinson Piñon, Public Works Director April Miller
Negotiating parties: The City of San Rafael and Marin Audobon Society Under negotiation: Price, Terms of Payment for Easement for Levee Staff Comment: The easement under discussion relates to the Tiscornia Marsh Project, which was discussed publicly at the Sea Level Rise Subcommittee meeting on October 8, 2026.
ADJOURNMENT: