Snapshot: City Council meeting agenda, sweet sweeping, Lincoln Ave safety improvements, and more!

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San Rafael City Council Meeting Highlights

The San Rafael City Council will be meeting on Monday, March 16, 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 public employee appointment and conference with labor negotiators.

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 March 16, 2026

• Final Adoption of Ordinance 2061: An Ordinance Adding Chapter 2.09 to Title 2 (Administration) of the San Rafael Municipal Code to Require Electronic and Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Campaign Disclosure Statements

• Reappointment of Stan Burford to fill one four-year term on the Fire Commission

• Resolution to increase the settlement authority of the City Manager for claims and litigation from $20,000-$50,000

• Proclamations supporting Week of the Young Child and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Month

• Resolution adopting an updated integrated pest management policy

• Resolution authorizing a program supplement agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for $173,600 in Federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP) Funds for the Lincoln Avenue Bridge Preventative Maintenance Project

• Resolution authorizing an agreement with Class Leasing, LLC for the procurement and installation of portables for the Pickleweed Childcare Replacement Portables Project

Other Agenda Items:

• Presentation on the Economic Development Strategic Plan

• New Main Library and Community Center Project Update and evaluation of alternative project delivery methods

• Resolution Appointing Paul Navazio as Interim City Manager and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Employment Agreement with Paul Navazio

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

Safety Improvements on Lincoln Avenue Begin Next Week

The City is improving two Lincoln Avenue crosswalks to make it safer and easier to cross the street. Work begins April 6 and is planned to conclude by the end of May at Lincoln Avenue and Wilson Court, and Lincoln Avenue and Brookdale Avenue.

What's improving:

• Flashing pedestrian crossing lights at both intersections

• Curb extensions to narrow travel lanes and slow vehicles

• Upgraded curb ramps for better accessibility

• Roadway resurfacing and improved pavement markings

What to expect:

• Work will take place between 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Anticipate temporary parking and traffic disruptions throughout construction

• "No Parking" signs will be posted at least 72 hours before any restrictions take effect

Check Out the 2026 Street Sweeping Schedule

One way San Rafael's Department of Public Works helps keep our community clean and safe is by removing the dirt, metals, petroleum products, garbage and vegetation that regularly collect on streets and paths in San Rafael.

Each year, the sweepers follow a regular schedule for designated neighborhoods. Annual street sweeping begins in April and runs through October.

San Rafael Begins Enforcement of New Mobile Food Vending Policy

In November 2025, the City Council adopted a mobile vending permit program in San Rafael. The program rests on three goals: stronger enforcement tools, multiple paths to legalization, and real support for local entrepreneurship.

Support for vendors: Mobile vendors can now apply for a permit to vend food and merchandise in the City of San Rafael. The City has published a vendor guide, an approved vending map, and a bilingual promotional flyer so vendors know exactly what's required and where they can operate legally.

Enforcement in action: On March 5, 2026, Code Enforcement staff and EHS conducted a joint outreach and enforcement sweep at five locations citywide. At each stop, staff assessed compliance and connected vendors with permitting resources where possible. At three locations where unpermitted food was present and vendors were unavailable or unwilling to engage, EHS collected and disposed of the food per standard health protocol.

Report a concern: You can report a concern about food safety by calling the County of Marin Environmental Health Services Division at 415-473-6907. Complaints may also be reported to the City of San Rafael Code Enforcement Division at 415-485-3097.

San Rafael Libraries Thrive

Your library had a big year. According to the annual Public Library Survey from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, San Rafael's three library locations logged more than 6,200 open hours and welcomed over 162,000 in-person visits in FY 2024-25.

What you did with your library:

• 32,000+ cardholders checked out over 379,000 items across physical and digital collections

• 41,000+ interlibrary loan transactions connected San Rafaelites to resources regionwide

• 17,400+ people attended 503 programs - from storytimes and author talks to workshops and virtual events

• Hundreds more participated in self-directed activities like Video Game Club, VR Saturdays, and Lego Club

• Staff answered over 39,000 questions and supported more than 119,000 virtual website visits

• 52 volunteers who contributed over 6,800 hours of service.

San Rafael's libraries are places where anyone can walk in and belong - whether you're there to check out a book, learn a new skill, finish homework, or spend an hour in a quiet space. Thank you for loving your library!

Youth-Led Climate Forum at City Hall

San Rafael is partnering with Sustainable San Rafael for SF Climate Week - and this year, we're bringing the conversation home to City Hall. Join us for a free, youth-led forum on climate action featuring local high school and college students sharing what they're thinking, building, and doing about climate change.

The evening includes panels, presentations, tabling, and live demonstrations. Come ready to be inspired and leave with new ideas for how we can work together toward a more resilient San Rafael.

The details:

• When: Tuesday, April 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

• Where: San Rafael City Hall

• Free and open to the public

Downtown Clean and Green Day is Coming Up!

Join your friends, neighbors, and downtown businesses for our annual Downtown Cleanup Day with the Business Improvement District! Help us remove graffiti, pull weeds, polish parking meters and sidewalk fixtures, beautify intersections, and pick up litter throughout downtown San Rafael.

The details:

• When: Wednesday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to noon

• Where: Meet at the City Plaza, 1000 4th Street, to check in and pick up supplies in a safe, outdoor manner. Look for the Business Improvement District canopy.

• All volunteers get free gelato from Hot Italian as a thank-you for pitching in!

Sign up at downtownsanrafael.org/clean-green-day/.

Exciting Upcoming Events

Join us for these upcoming events in San Rafael:

Canal Easter Egg Hunt: Apr. 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Pickleweed Park, 50 Canal Street

• Join us at Pickleweed Park for the annual Canal Easter Egg Hunt! Egg hunts are organized by age group. Free and open to the community.

Red Cross Blood Drive: Apr. 15, 2026, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street

• Roll up your sleeve and make a life-saving difference at our community blood drive. Sign up at RedCrossBlood.org

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.

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!