Snapshot: City Council meeting agenda, employee recognition, bike and pedestrian plan, and more!

San Rafael City Council Meeting Highlights

The San Rafael City Council will be meeting on Monday, April 20, at San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue.

Meeting Details:

Closed Session: Begins at 5:30 p.m., in the Third Floor Conference Room, for conference with legal counsel on existing litigation.

Regular Meeting: Begins at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers

City Manager and Councilmember Reports:

• Reports from the City Manager and Councilmembers, including updates on meetings and conferences attended.

Consent Calendar Highlights:

• Approve Minutes of the Special Closed Session and Regular City Council Meetings of April 6, 2026
• Resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Environmental Science Associates for environmental consulting services for the Kaiser Hospital Development Project
• Resolution waiving formal bid requirements and authorizing a contract with Mike Brown Electric Company for electric vehicle charging infrastructure installation
• Resolution authorizing an amendment to the professional services agreement with Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers for additional design services associated with the large trash capture device projects
• Proclamation in recognition of National Library Week
• Resolution authorizing professional services agreements with 4 Leaf Inc., Coastland, Interwest, TRB and Associates, and Willdan for on-call plan check and building inspection services; and M Group and LAK Associates, LLC, for on-call planning and environmental consulting services

Public Hearings:

• Resolutions adopting a fee study and authorizing an amended agreement with Marin Sanitary Service, and consideration of an ordinance amending the municipal code regarding solid waste collection and disposal, encroachments, and property maintenance code amendments

Other Agenda Items:

• Resolution approving the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Measure AA Amended Expenditure Plan
• Resolution authorizing a second amendment with Foege Schuman Global Disaster Solutions LLC for implementation and initial operations of the 350 Merrydale Interim Shelter, to extend the term of the agreement through June 30, 2028, and authorize a supplemental budget appropriation within the City's grant fund to reflect the portion of County grant funding for this purpose

View the full agenda and watch the meeting online via Zoom or YouTube. Participate in person or submit public comments ahead of the meeting by emailing [email protected].

City Unveils "Touch the Sky" Sculpture

Photo credit: Local Edition Creative

The City of San Rafael is proud to announce the installation of "Touch the Sky," a new public art sculpture now on display in front of the San Rafael Community Center.

Created by artist Martin Taylor, the steel figure features a dynamic form with silver accents, designed to capture a sense of motion, light, and upward aspiration. The piece is part of the City's broader Downtown Public Art initiative in partnership with the Downtown San Rafael Art District to bring vibrant, engaging artwork to highly visible community spaces.

"Touch the Sky" will be temporarily located at the San Rafael Community Center before moving to its permanent home at the 2nd and 4th Street intersection later this year, continuing to enhance San Rafael's growing Arts District.

Residents and visitors are invited to stop by, experience the artwork up close, and celebrate the role of public art in bringing creativity and connection to our community.

Help Shape San Rafael's Language Access Plan

San Rafael is developing a Language Access Plan to ensure residents who speak languages other than English can access City services, information, and programs.

Why it matters: Many residents face real barriers when trying to get information, access services, or participate in civic life. This plan will set clear expectations for how the City provides translation and interpretation.

Share your thoughts: Community input is critical to ensuring the plan will be effective in reducing language barriers. Provide input by taking the City's online survey by May 1. To complete the survey in Spanish, select "Spanish" in the top right corner when you begin.

‍♂ Share Your Thoughts on Bike and Pedestrian Plan Projects

The Citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (CBPP) Update team has released a draft list of projects for public review - a key milestone after two phases of community engagement.

Why it matters: This plan will shape where San Rafael invests in biking and walking infrastructure for years to come. Now is the time to weigh in before the final plan heads to the City Council for adoption this summer.

Review the draft: The Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects List is available online now.

Attend the presentation: The project team will present the draft at the next Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting on Tuesday, April 21, at 6 p.m.

• In-person: Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall, 1400 Fifth Ave.
• Online: Join via Zoom

Submit a comment: There is no formal public engagement period for the draft plan, but residents can submit comments by email to [email protected] by 4 p.m. on April 21, or share feedback in person at the BPAC meeting.

⚾ Support Libraries at an SF Giants Game

The San Rafael Public Library is partnering with the San Francisco Giants for Library Day on Saturday, April 26. For every ticket purchased through the Library Day link with San Rafael Public Library selected from the dropdown menu, $5 goes directly to local library programs for children, teens, and adults.

Before the game, head to China Basin Park across from McCovey Cove from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for books, kids activities, library card signups, and more from library systems across the Bay Area.

It's a fun way to spend a Saturday and support your library at the same time.

Get your tickets and select San Rafael Public Library at checkout!

San Rafael Boosts Disaster Readiness

San Rafael's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains residents to take an active role in disaster preparedness and emergency response. Graduates learn hands-on skills in fire safety, light search and rescue, medical operations, and team organization - and become part of the City's broader network of trained community volunteers ready to support neighbors when it matters most.

This spring, a new cohort completed the program, adding to a growing group of prepared residents across the City.

CERT is coordinated through San Rafael's Emergency Operations Center, which manages the City's preparedness planning and disaster response. Trained CERT volunteers extend that capacity into neighborhoods, serving as a direct link between City emergency staff and the community during a crisis.

Want to learn more? Check out the Office of Emergency Services webpage to learn how you can prepare yourself and your community for emergencies.

Join Marin's Wildfire Preparedness Forum

Hosted by Marin Wildfire, you are invited to join wildfire safety leaders, local fire agencies, and community partners for a countywide public forum on wildfire risk, preparedness, and action.

Be among the first to learn about Marin's new Community Wildfire Protection Plan, hear insights from a discussion panel of wildfire experts, take part in a live Q&A, and connect with local resources on evacuation planning, defensible space, fire-smart landscaping, vegetation management, Chipper Days, and more.

The details:

• When: Saturday, may 2 from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Where: Embassy Suites, 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael

Preparedness starts with knowledge, and grows through community action.

Congratulations to Our 2025 Employee and Team of the Year

The City of San Rafael has named Walter Gonzalez Valdez as Employee of the Year and Vedika Ahuja and Sherman Peng as Team of the Year for 2025. Please join the City in celebrating their service to the community!

Walter Gonzalez Valdez, management analyst - 2025 Employee of the Year

Walter Gonzalez Valdez has built a reputation across the City as someone who shows up, steps in, and gets it done, whatever the task requires.

Walter has served as a consistent bridge between the City and communities it serves, including playing an important role in community engagement in the Canal neighborhood. His dedication has helped ensure residents' voices are part of how the City does its work.

Walter works in the City Manager's Office, which oversees daily City operations, implements the direction of the City Council, and serves as a resource for residents and businesses seeking information or looking to get involved.

Vedika Ahuja, product manager for Data and Insights and Sherman Peng, data engineer - 2025 Team of the Year

The work of the Digital Service and Open Government Department's Data and GIS Team tends to happen behind the scenes, but residents feel it every day. The team's mission is to help the City use data and evidence to improve operations and services, and to make that data accessible to everyone. That means building tools like San Rafael's Open Data Portal and Citywide Performance Management Dashboard, which track the City's progress on key priorities including housing, sustainability, and equity. Vedika and Sherman manage both.

San Rafael's commitment to this work was recognized in 2025, when Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded the City its What Works Cities Certification, an international standard of excellence in data-driven city governance.

Their approach, starting with the end user and working backward, has drawn interest from other local government agencies looking to do the same.

Exciting Upcoming Events

Join us for these upcoming events in San Rafael:

Youth-Led Climate Action Showcase: Apr. 21, 2026, 5:30-7:30 p.m., San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue

• Local high school and college students are taking on climate change - and they want to show you what they're building. Join us for panels, demonstrations, and a look at what the next generation of San Rafael leaders is creating. Free and open to the public.

Fiddler on the Roof JR.: Apr. 22, 2026, 6:30-9:00 p.m., San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street

• Happy Lane Children's Theater performs this youth adaptation of the beloved Broadway classic. Get your tickets.

Indie Lens Pop-Up: The Tallest Dwarf: Apr. 18, 2026, 6:30-8:15 p.m., Downtown Library Carnegie Room, 1100 E Street

• Filmmaker Julie Wyman's intimate documentary explores body image, identity, and the little people community. Recommended for adults 18 and older. A discussion follows the screening. Free to attend.

Free For All: The Public Library: Apr. 19, 2026, 2:00-4:00 p.m., San Rafael Downtown Library, 1100 E Street

• Celebrate National Library Week with a screening of this documentary about the public library movement, followed by a Q&A with directors Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor. Free to attend.

Under the Stars with Marin Stargazers: Apr. 25, 2026, 7:30-9:00 p.m., Jean and John Starkweather Shoreline Park, Spinnaker Point Drive at Portsmouth Cove

• Explore the night sky through telescopes with the Marin Stargazers. Spanish interpretation provided. Carpool if possible; parking is limited. Event cancels in poor weather.

Library Day with the San Francisco Giants: Apr. 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., China Basin Park, 1 China Basin Park, San Francisco

• Purchase tickets through the Giants website and select San Rafael Public Library from the dropdown - $5 from every ticket benefits local library programs.

85+ and Better Celebration: May 3, 2026, 2:30-4:00 p.m. (Doors open at 2:00 p.m.), San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street

• San Rafael and the San Rafael Goldenaires invite residents to a special afternoon honoring community members who are 85 and better. Come celebrate the contributions, stories, and legacy of our treasured older residents. Free.
• RSVP by April 17. Call (415) 485-3333 with your name and number of guests (limit three), or visit the office at 618 B Street, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Plus, there's always something happening at the library! Check out the San Rafael Library event calendar!