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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD General Plan 2040 Steering Committee ____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 08/06/2018 Disposition: Resolution No. 14556 Agenda Item No: 5.a Meeting Date: August 6, 2018 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Community Development Prepared by: Paul Jensen, Director Barry Miller, Contract Project Mgr. City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: SAN RAFAEL GENERAL PLAN 2040 STEERING COMMITTEE SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION 14426 TO MODIFY THE GENERAL PLAN 2040 STEERING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS AND BYLAWS RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment 1) amending the General Plan 2040 Steering Committee Appointments and Bylaws. BACKGROUND: In February 2017, the City Council authorized a preliminary work program to update the San Rafael General Plan. The Update responds to recent state laws, incorporates current data, addresses emerging issues, and moves the Plan’s time horizon to 2040. The Update also provides an opportunity to engage San Rafael residents and businesses in discussions about the future of the community. The General Plan 2040 is a community-based process that is guided by a Steering Committee of stakeholders. On December 4, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution 14426 appointing Steering Committee members and adopting Committee Bylaws. The Steering Committee is comprised of 23 members and alternates representing the following groups and organizations: 1. City Council 2. Planning Commission 3. Design Review Board 4. Citizens Advisory Committee 5. Parks and Recreation Commission 6. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 7. Pickleweed Advisory Board 8. Climate Change Action Plan Update Working Group 9. Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods 10. North San Rafael Coalition of Residents 11. Point San Pedro Road Coalition 12. Gallinas Creek Watershed Council 13. Chamber of Commerce 14. East San Rafael Working Group 15. Seniors Advocate 16. Youth Advocate 17. Environmental Advocate 18. Homeless Advocate 19. Housing Advocate 20. Cultural Resource Advocate 21-23. At-Large (3) SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 To date, the Steering Committee has held six meetings including four regular business meetings, a “welcome” reception, and a City Tour. Adjustments to Committee Membership Given the large size of the Committee (45 people, including the alternates) and the nature of the appointments (e.g., representing specific Commissions and organizations), member turnover is to be expected as the project transpires. Members may move out of the City, leave the Commissions they represent, or step off the Committee for personal reasons. The Bylaws anticipate such turnover and include provisions for replacement. These provisions require Council approval in most circumstances. There have been several changes during the past two months that require Council action. The changes and recommended actions are summarized below: 1. Park & Recreation Commission representative. Eric Holm, the Steering Committee member representing the Park & Recreation Commission, is no longer serving on this Commission. Jeff Jones, the Park & Recreation Commissioner who has served as the Steering Committee alternate, will now serve as the primary member. A new Steering Committee alternate will need to be appointed. On July 19, 2018, the Park & Recreation Commission recommended Commissioner Cicily Emerson to serve as the new Steering Committee alternate. Eric Holm has asked to continue serving on the Steering Committee. As a sight-impaired individual and member of the City’s ADA Access Advisory Committee, he provides an important perspective that can benefit the Committee’s upcoming discussions on topics such as mobility, public health, and community services. Mr. Holm’s continued involvement on the Steering Committee will be valuable. It is recommended that a fourth “At-Large” seat be added, which would increase Committee membership to 24. No change to the number of “alternates” for the at-large seats is proposed. 2. Design Review Board (DRB) representative. The DRB representatives on the Steering Committee are Eric Spielman (primary) and Cheryl Lentini (alternate). Cheryl Lentini recently stepped down from the Design Review Board, so a new alternate for the Steering Committee needs to be appointed. On July 17, 2018, the Design Review Board recommended Board member Alternate Don Blayney to serve as the Steering Committee Alternate. 3. Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) representative. Committee member Pam Reaves, the primary representative of the CCAP, has resigned for personal reasons. The CCAP has recommended Robert Miller to replace Pam as the primary Committee representative. The Committee alternate for CCAP is Kif Scheurer, who has indicated a preference to remain as the alternate rather than taking over Pam’s seat. 4. Environmental Advocacy representative. Robert Miller is currently the Steering Committee alternate representing environmental advocacy. Should the Council appoint Robert Miller as the primary representative for CCAP, a new alternate will need to be appointed for environmental advocacy. The Marin Conservation League has recommended Larry Minikes to serve in that capacity (see attached letter). The primary representative for environmental advocacy will continue to be Kate Powers. 5. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) representative. Committee alternate Joakim Osthus has moved out of San Rafael. The BPAC has recommended Jim Geraghty to SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 serve as the new alternate. DJ Allison will continue to serve as the primary BPAC representative. 6. Citizens Advisory Committee representative. Committee alternate Felix AuYeung has moved out of San Rafael. The CAC has recommended Kati Miller to serve as the new alternate. Bill Carney will continue to serve as the primary CAC representative. Revisions to Committee Bylaws As mentioned above, the General Plan 2040 Steering Committee is governed by Committee Bylaws, which were adopted by the City Council in December 2017. The Bylaws establish the number of Committee members, and the organizations represented. Should the City Council appoint Eric Holm as a fourth “At-Large” member, the Bylaws will need to be amended to note the increased number of at- large members and Committee members as a whole. An amendment is also needed to note an increase in the requirement for a quorum from 12 to 13 members. An amendment to the Bylaws has been drafted (Exhibit B) to incorporate these changes. ANALYSIS: As noted, the Bylaws anticipated some degree of turnover on the Steering Committee. The Bylaws specifically require that the City Council approve changes to Committee membership except in cases where an “alternate” is replacing a resigning primary member. Of the changes described above, only one meets this criteria (Jeff Jones replacing Eric Holm). Jeff has attended several Steering Committee meetings in his capacity as an alternate and is enthused about the opportunity to represent the Parks and Recreation Commission on the Steering Committee moving forward. In four of the cases above (BPAC, CAC, DRB, and Environmental Advocacy), the request is to replace the alternate rather than a primary member. These appointments should have minimal impact on the Steering Committee, since the alternates do not regularly participate in Committee meetings. Staff will conduct an orientation for the new appointees so they are aware of the General Plan process and the work completed to date. In the case of the CCAP replacement, the recommended new member (Robert Miller) is currently serving as a Committee alternate—but in another category (environmental advocacy). Robert is well positioned to take on the role of CCAP representative, as he has attended almost all of the Steering Committee meetings to date in his capacity as an alternate. He is fully up to speed on the General Plan Update process. Likewise, the proposed new “at-large” member has been serving as a primary member since the Committee was created in December 2017. Eric Holm has attended almost all Steering Committee meetings and events to date. As noted earlier, Eric brings an important perspective to the Committee. If approved by the Council Eric’s appointment will bring the total number of Committee members to 24. Staff is aware that this could potentially result in “tie” votes (12:12) during deliberations. Such outcomes are unlikely, given the large number of Committee members, but would be documented in the unlikely event they occur. As noted earlier, Eric’s appointment also requires an amendment to the Bylaws increasing the quorum requirement from 12 to 13. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Each of the impacted City Commissions (CAC, BPAC, DRB, PRC, and CCAP) was contacted to solicit their input on new representatives or alternates. Votes were taken to confirm the selection in a number SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4 of cases. Staff also reached out to the Marin Conservation League to solicit a new “alternate” to replace Robert Miller. Staff has communicated with the prospective incoming members and confirmed their interest in serving. At the July 11, 2018 General Plan 2040 Steering Committee meeting, staff announced that changes to the Committee membership would be considered at the August 6, 2018 City Council meeting. In addition, a news release on the proposed changes was posted to the General Plan website concurrently with release of this staff report. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact to the appointment of members to this Steering Committee, other than the staff time associated with implementing the overall, General Plan 2040 Work Plan. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider regarding this matter: 1. Adopt the Resolution as recommended, which includes the appointment of new Committee members/alternates and amendments to the bylaws; 2. Modify the Steering Committee appointments and/ or bylaws; or 3. Direct staff to return to a future meeting with more information, or a modified list of Committee members and /or bylaws. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept report and adopt resolution. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution with attached amended list of Steering Committee Appointees (Exhibit A) and amended Committee Bylaws (Exhibit B) 2. Correspondence 1 RESOLUTION NO. 14556 RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AMENDING RESOLUTION 14426, MODIFYING APPOINTMENTS TO THE SAN RAFAEL GENERAL PLAN 2040 STEERING COMMITTEE AND AMENDING THE ADOPTED COMMITTEE BYLAWS (CITY FILE NOS. GPA 16-001 & P16-013) WHEREAS, California Government Code 65300 requires that each city and county in the State adopt a comprehensive long range General Plan to address community growth, physical development, and planning of citywide programs; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael is in the process of updating its 2020 General Plan to move the time horizon forward to 2040 and address new State requirements, current conditions, and emerging issues; and WHEREAS, the General Plan Update process includes a Community Engagement Strategy, one component of which is a Steering Committee appointed by the City Council; and WHEREAS, on December 4, 2017, the City Council appointed 23 members and 22 alternates to serve on the Steering Committee, and approved Bylaws addressing the organization and membership of the Committee and protocol for its meetings and conduct; and WHEREAS, the Steering Committee has been convened six times since its creation, including four general business meetings, a reception, and a bus tour; and WHEREAS, the Steering Committee is scheduled to continue meeting approximately once a month through at least the end of 2019; and WHEREAS, the Steering Committee represents a diverse array of organizations, interest groups, neighborhoods, and perspectives, which contributes to the quality of its dialogue and ultimately will create a balanced and comprehensive General Plan; and WHEREAS, the Steering Committee Bylaws anticipate occasional membership turnover due to members and/or alternates leaving the organizations they represent, relocating out of the City, or other factors; and WHEREAS, such membership turnover has recently occurred; and WHEREAS, the replacement of exiting members and alternates with new members and alternates is important to the future performance of the Steering Committee, and will ensure that its desired balance and diversity is retained; and WHEREAS, Staff has solicited and received nominations to replace exiting members; and 2 WHEREAS, revisions to the Bylaws are also required to address a proposed increase in the number of Committee members from 23 to 24; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council takes the following actions: 1. City Council Resolution 14426 Exhibit “A”, approved on December 4, 2017, listing the members of the General Plan 2040 Steering Committee and their alternates, is amended as shown on Exhibit “A” attached to and incorporated by reference in this Resolution, making the following changes: a. Eric Holm is appointed as a new “At Large” member. b. Don Blayney replaces Cheryl Lentini as the Alternate representing the Design Review Board. c. Jeff Jones replaces Eric Holm as the Primary Member representing the Parks and Recreation Commission. d. Cicily Emerson replaces Jeff Jones as the Alternate representing the Parks and Recreation Commission. e. Jim Geraghty replaces Joakim Osthus as the Alternate representing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. f. Kati Miller replaces Felix AuYeung as the Alternate representing the Citizens Advisory Committee on Economic Development and Affordable Housing. g. Robert Miller replaces Pam Reaves as the Primary Member representing the Climate Change Action Plan Committee. h. Larry Minikes replaces Robert Miller as the Alternate representing Environmental Advocacy. 2. City Council Resolution 14426 Exhibit “B”, approved on December 4, 2017 and adopting Bylaws for the General Plan 2040 Steering Committee, is amended as shown in Exhibit “B” attached to and incorporated in this Resolution, making the following changes: a. The number of “at large” members serving on the Committee is increased from three to four people. b. The total number of Committee members is increased from 22 to 23 people. 3 c. The number of members constituting a Quorum of the Committee is increased from 12 to 13 people. I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 6th day of August 2018 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Colin, McCullough & Vice Mayor Gamblin NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Mayor Phillips Lindsay Lara, City Clerk EXHIBIT A: LIST OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES, AS AMENDED EXHIBIT B: STEERING COMMITTEE BYLAWS, AS AMENDED 4 EXHIBIT A LIST OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES, AS AMENDED AUGUST 6, 2018 Organization Member Alternate 1. City Council Maribeth Bushey Kate Colin 2. Planning Commission Berenice Davidson Jeff Schoppert 3. Design Review Board Eric Spielman Don Blayney 4. Parks and Recreation Commission Jeff Jones Cicily Emerson 5. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee DJ Allison Jim Geraghty 6. Citizens Advisory Committee William Carney Kati Miller 7. Pickleweed Advisory Board Jenny Broering Salvador Avalos 8. Climate Change Action Plan Committee Robert Miller Kif Scheuer 9. Chamber of Commerce Roger Smith Joanne Webster 10. East San Rafael Working Group Stephanie Plante Laura Bertolli 11. Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods Jackie Schmidt Amy Likover 12. Point San Pedro Road Coalition Bonnie Marmor Alan Schaevitz 13. Gallinas Creek Watershed Council Margaret Johnston Judy Schriebman 14. North San Rafael Resident Richard Hall Brad Honsberger 15. Senior community Sparkie Spaeth Hilda Castillo 16. Youth member Bella Bromberg Jack McGinn 17. Environmental Advocate Kate Powers Larry Minikes 18. Housing and Social Service Advocate Omar Carrera Sara Matson 19. Homeless Advocate Karen Strolia Paula Doubleday 20. Cultural Resource/ Preservation Advocate Jeff Rhoads Leslie Simons 21. At Large Linda Jackson Samantha Sargent Jed Greene 22. At Large Cecilia Zamora 23. At Large Drew Norton 24. At Large Eric Holm Persons referenced in the Resolution are shown in bold print. 5 EXHIBIT B STEERING COMMITTEE BYLAWS, AS AMENDED AUGUST 6, 2018 (separate document) -1- GENERAL PLAN 2040 STEERING COMMITTEE BYLAWS Revised August 6, 20181 A. ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP The San Rafael General Plan 2040 Steering Committee (“Committee”) has been created to provide guidance, oversight, and direction in the update of San Rafael’s General Plan. The Committee will be a sounding board for policies, actions, and priorities throu ghout the planning process. Committee members must either reside in the San Rafael Planning Area or own/operate a business in San Rafael to be eligible to serve. If a member is representing a specific group or organization, a written endorsement from that organization is required. The Committee shall be comprised of 24 “primary” members. Thirteen of the members shall represent the following organizations, with one member from each organization selected • City Council • Planning Commission • Design Review Board • Parks and Recreation Commission • Citizens Advisory Committee on Economic Development and Affordable Housing • Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee • Pickleweed Advisory Board • Climate Change Action Plan Committee • Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods • Chamber of Commerce • East San Rafael Working Group • Point San Pedro Coalition • Gallinas Creek Watershed Council Seven of the members shall serve as advocates for specific topic areas including: 1 Revisions are noted in tracked changes. -2- • Youth • Seniors • Homelessness • Housing • Environment • Cultural/ Historic Resources • North San Rafael resident Four members shall serve at large. B. ALTERNATES With the exception of the “at large” seats, each “primary” member of the Committee shall have an “alternate” who may serve in the event the member will be absent at a meeting or leaves the Committee prior to the end of the General Plan Update. In the latter instance, the alternate will become the representative and a new alternate may be appointed. In the case of the “at large” seats, two individuals shall serve as the “alternate” for all four seats, rotating in their attendance if called on to participate. C. APPOINTMENT The Council shall formally appoint all Committee members through a vote. In the event of a future vacancy, alternates may replace primary members without a Council vote. However, the designation of replacement alternates shall require a Council vote. D. LIMITATIONS The Committee shall serve the Planning Commission and City Council in an advisory capacity only. It shall have no authority to take actions that bind the Planning Commission or City Council. Members of the Committee may be dismissed from the Committee by the Council at any time. E. TERMS Members shall serve until General Plan 2040 and its associated CEQA documents are completed and adopted by the San Rafael City Council. However, monthly Committee meetings are expected to conclude upon publication of the Draft Plan, several months prior to adoption. F. REPRESENTATION To the extent possible, members of the Committee who have been appointed to represent a particular organization should represent the perspective of their organizations and associated -3- constituents, rather than their personal viewpoints. Members will be responsible for periodically reporting back to their organizations on the Committee’s discussions. G. ABSENCES A commitment to participate in the process is important for continuity and progress. At the same time, it is recognized that Committee members may have occasional schedule conflicts, illnesses, vacations, and other circumstances that require that they miss a meeting. Members should notify the City’s Project Manager and their designated alternate at least 24 hours prior to meeting time in the event they will be absent and will be noted as “excused” in such instances. In the event a member has three consecutive unexcused absences, or six consecutive excused absences, they may be removed from the Committee and replaced by the alternate at staff’s discretion. H. SUBCOMMITTEES Formal, standing subcommittees of the Steering Committee are not proposed. However, in the event a particular issue or topic requires focused consideration , the Committee may create an ad hoc group comprised of several members and alternates to address the issue. Such groups may meet on an as-needed basis, with no quorum requirement. Under no circumstance may a subcommittee consist of a majority of Committee members. I. QUORUM A quorum of the Steering Committee shall be 13 people. Alternates may be counted toward the quorum requirement only if the primary member is absent and the formally designated alternate is present to serve in their place. J. SELECTION OF OFFICERS The Committee shall have a Chair and Vice Chair, with the selection made by a majority vote at the first meeting. The Chair shall preside at all meetings and shall represent the Committee before the City Council. In the absence of the Chair at a Committee meeting, the Vice Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair. In the event both the Chair and Vice Chair are absent, the Committee may appoint an acting chair from among the members present. Staff shall act as Secretary and shall take notes of Committee Proceedings. The Committee may elect to rotate the Chair and Vice Chair positions over the course of the project, in order to provide multiple members with the opportunity to serve in that capacity. For continuity, such rotations should be a minimum of six months in duration. -4- K. BROWN ACT COMPLIANCE Meetings shall be subject to the Brown Act, which sets standards for the conduct of public meetings, public access, and noticing requirements. The Brown Act also imposes certain limitations on how and when Committee members may communicate with one another. Steering Committee members will be advised of the basic requirements of the Brown Act as part of their orientation, and may be removed from the Committee if they violate the terms of the Act. L. FORM 700 Primary members of the Committee (23 members) will be required to complete a statement of economic interest (Form 700) as required by the California Fair Political Practices Act. The Form should be filed with the City Clerk and is a public record. Alternates are not required to complete Form 700. Members of the Committee who have already completed Form 700 in their capacity as a City Commissioner, Councilmember, or Board Member do not need to complete the form a second time. K. AGENDAS AND SUMMARIES An agenda shall be prepared for each meeting. Agendas and related attachments will be sent electronically to Committee members at least 72 hours prior to the meeting time. Agendas will also be posted to the project website (www.sanrafael2040.org) 72 hours prior to the meeting time. Committee members may suggest items to be included on upcoming meeting agendas. A Meeting Summary will be prepared following each meet ing. The Summary will be included as an attachment to the agenda packet for the next month’s meeting. L. VOTING The Committee will strive to reach consensus on policies and proposals. If a consensus cannot be reached, recommendations may be made by a simple majority vote called by the Chair. Alternative perspectives (e.g., minority positions) shall be documented in the Meeting Summary when appropriate. M. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Members shall recuse themselves from discussion and any voting action in the e vent of a potential conflict of interest on a topic being addressed by the Committee. -5- N. MEETING TIMES, LOCATION, AND PROTOCOL Regular meetings shall be held on the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings shall start at 6 PM and end no later than 9 PM. End times may be extended by a majority vote of the Committee when meetings are in session. At the discretion of staff, special meetings may be convened at other times, including weekends. Special meetings may include bus tours, field visits, and similar activities that are difficult to convene during evening hours. Meetings shall generally be held in large multi-purpose rooms with sufficient capacity for Committee members and the public. Members of the public are encouraged to attend Committee meetings, but may not participate in Committee discussions unless specifically noted on the Agenda or authorized by the Chair. All meetings shall include dedicated agenda time for public comment. The Committee Chair has the discretion to limit the time avail able for each speaker based on the number of speakers present and the length of the agenda. O. MEDIA In the event Committee members speak to the media, they are encouraged to provide accurate, factual information and shall refrain from engaging in specul ation, advocacy for a particular position, or speaking on behalf of other Committee members unless authorized by the Committee to do so. Staff will facilitate communication with the media and will assist Committee members in doing so if desired. P. PARTICIPATION OF ALTERNATES IN MEETINGS Alternates are encouraged to attend Committee meetings but are not required to be present. When an alternate and primary member are both present, the alternate shall be seated in the audience and shall not participate in the Committee’s deliberations unless specifically called on to do so by the Chair. Alternates may participate in the public comment period. When the primary member is not present, the alternate shall assume the role of that member in the Committee’s deliberations and be seated with other primary members. Q. BOARD AND COMMISSIONER TERM-OUTS In the event a Committee member representing a City Board or Commission ceases to be a member of that Board or Commission during the course of the General Plan Update , that member may serve on the Committee in a “holdover” capacity for a period not to exceed three months from the end of their Board or Commission term. Following the holdover period, the Committee member shall resign their seat, and the designated alternate shall represent the associated Board or Commission as a full member. A new alternate shall be designated by vote of the City Board or Commission during the holdover period, subject to Council approval. -6- At its discretion, a Board or Commission may vote to allow a termed out member to continue to represent them on the General Plan Steering Committee for the duration of the project. In such instances, the termed out member shall report back to the Board or Commission at least once every three months to provide an update on the General Plan and relevant issues. R. RELATIONSHIP TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM The Steering Committee is an essential part of the General Plan 2040 Community Engagement Strategy, but it is not the only part. The Committee is part of a broader outreach program that includes community meetings, stakeholder meetings, Board and Commission meetings, direct interviews, and on-line engagement. The City will balance input from the Steering Committee with these other sources to ensure that the process is as fair and inclusive as possible. S. ROLE OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS The City expects Committee members to: • Become familiar with the issues surrounding the General Plan and the future of San Rafael • Attend and participate in approximately 20 to 24 Committee meetings • Review agenda packet materials in advance of Committee meetings • Keep the interest of the entire community in mind, even when representing a particular organization or advocacy group • Keep stakeholder groups informed of the progress of the Update program • Serve as ambassadors to the community and encourage participation in the General Plan process by the public, including attendance at community workshops, town hall meetings, exhibits, and focus group discussions • Work collaboratively and in good faith with fellow committee members, keeping an open mind, being respectful, and listening to other perspectives and viewpoints • Stay focused on the task at hand and refrain from distracting others through side conversations and commentary that is unrelated from the agendized topics • Be succinct in their comments in order to allow others to share their thoughts and opinions • Provide constructive feedback to staff and consultants on process issues and work products throughout the update process • Make recommendations to the Planning Commission and/or City Council on issues at key milestones Staff and consultants will play a supporting role at each meeting and will provide discussion points, presentations, and background material. Staff and consultants will also serve as information resources at each meeting and will help guide and focus the discussion of key issues. Protecting Marin Since 19 34 email: mcl@marinconservationleague.org web: marinconservationleague.org address: 175 N. Redwood Dr., Ste. 135 San Rafael, CA 94903-1977 phone: 415.485.6257 fax: 415.485.6259 Marin Conservation League was founded in 1934 to preserve, protect and enhance the natural assets of Marin County. July 19, 2018 Barry Miller Project General Manager, General Plan 2040 City of San Rafael 1400 Fifth Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 [Email: Barry.Miller@cityofsanrafael.org] Dear Mr. Miller Marin Conservation League is interested in following the progress of San Rafael’s planning process for its 2040 General Plan. At the July 17th board meeting, the Marin Conservation League Board of Directors voted to endorse MCL Director Larry Minikes’ application to the City of San Rafael’s 2040 General Plan Steering Committee. He will replace Bob Miller as the Alternate for the Environmental Advocate. Larry is a resident of San Rafael and he will serve the Steering Committee well. Thank you for considering his application. Sincerely, Linda Novy President C.c., Paul Jenson From: Bjorn Griepenburg Date: Mon, Aug 6, 2018 at 4:16 PM Subject: Agenda Item 5B - Grand Ave. Pathway To: City Council Cc: Bill Guerin, Omar Carrera Dear Mayor & Councilmembers, As you know, people who walk and bike to and from the Canal must do so via Francisco Boulevard East/Grand Avenue or Bellam Boulevard, both of which are dangerous and uninviting, to say the least. The City's planned improvements to Francisco Boulevard East and Grand Avenue are long overdue for the many who brave this trip everyday. Please approve staff's recommendations so that this project can move forward as expeditiously as possible. We greatly appreciate and will continue to support the City's efforts to establish bicycle and pedestrian connectivity to the Canal and East San Rafael. Best Regards, Bjorn Griepenburg Bjorn Griepenburg Policy & Planning Director Marin County Bicycle Coalition (415) 723 4673 1 marinbike.ors When you ride Marin's roads., trails, and patNvays, you Experience MCBC. Join us today.