HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 14599 (San Rafael Transit Center Relocation)ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 14599
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER TO THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT
SUMMARIZING CITY COMMENTS ON THE SAN RAFAEL TRANSIT CENTER
RELOCATION PROJECT (SRTC) NOTICE OF PREPARATION (NOP); P18-001
WHEREAS, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District (District) owns,
operates and maintains the San Rafael Transit Center (SRTC), which is located at 850 Tamalpais
Avenue in the City of San Rafael; and
WHEREAS, SMART has received funding and is actively constructing the second phase of
commuter rail service to Larkspur. This second phase extension will actively use the currently
inactive rail line and right-of-way which bisects the SRTC site, which will significantly impact the
SRTC use; and
WHEREAS, commencing in 2014, the District, in collaboration with the City, began studying
interim and permanent solutions for the SRTC. In 2017, the District hired a transportation
engineering consultant to develop preliminary designs and supportive studies for relocation of the
SRTC; and
WHEREAS, as the ultimate relocation of the SRTC is critical to the planning for Downtown
San Rafael, in 2017 the District and City entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to
establish the respective roles of the two agencies and the process for the relocation project. The
MOU confirms that the City will serve as a “Responsible Agency” for the purposes of environmental
review of the relocation project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, consistent with the CEQA Guidelines, the District has published a Notice of
Preparation (NOP) to solicit comments on the scope of topic areas to be studied in the
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that will be prepared for this project. As a Responsible Agency,
the City is required to comment on the NOP. City staff has reviewed the NOP and has
recommended a scope of topic areas for study the EIR, which are summarized in a report to the
City Council dated November 5, 2018; and
WHEREAS, at a regular City Council meeting held on November 5, 2018, the report to the
City Council was presented. At this meeting, public comment was accepted, and the City Council
discussed the report findings and recommendations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby authorizes the Mayor
to sign, on behalf of the City Council, a letter to the District summarizing City comments on the
SRTC project Notice of Preparation (NOP).
I, Lindsay Lara, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution
was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council
held on the 5th day of November 2018 by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
Councilmembers: None
Councilmembers: None
____________________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk