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Home My WebLink AboutPW Temporary Street Closure to Support Vaccination Efforts in the Canal Neighborhood____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: May 17, 2021 Disposition: Resolution 14916 Agenda Item No: 5.f Meeting Date: May 17, 2021 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Public Works Department Prepared by: Bill Guerin, Director Department of Public Works City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE TO SUPPORT VACCINATION EFFORTS IN THE CANAL NEIGHBORHOOD SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SATURDAY STREET CLOSURES TO SUPPORT CANAL ALLIANCE’S EFFORT TO PROVIDE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FROM SATURDAY MAY 1, 2021 THROUGH SATURDAY JULY 10, 2021 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the Resolution authorizing Saturday street closures to support Canal Alliance’s effort to provide Covid-19 vaccinations from Saturday May 1 through Saturday July 10, 2021. BACKGROUND: Coronavirus (Covid-19) has had a dramatic impact on the residents of San Rafael and especially essential workers and other people that live in the Canal neighborhood. With vaccinations becoming more available, the Canal Alliance is seeking approval to conduct free vaccinations for this community. The Marin County Department of Public Health will help support the vaccination effort by providing a mobile vaccination unit and other logistical support. In order to effectively administer the Covid-19 vaccine, the Canal Alliance has requested approval to close a portion of Alto Street, a one block street next to the Canal Alliance offices, from Larkspur Street to mid-block, on several Saturdays between 6:30 am and 3 pm. The partial street closure will allow people seeking vaccinations to drive or walk up to the medical professionals administering the vaccine. Other businesses on this short street support the vaccination effort and can access their properties from the Belvedere Street end of Alto Street. Canal Alliance requested the City to use the Street starting on May 1st. They intend to provide vaccinations on May 1st and 22nd, June 5th and 12th, and July 3rd and 10th. Because their request came too late for the City Council to take official action and adopt a resolution, the City Manager/Director of Emergency Services used his emergency authority to approve this temporary closure for May 1st only. The next scheduled closure is to happen on May 22nd, with additional closures occurring on the Saturdays listed above until July 10th, 2021. To maximize flexibility, staff is seeking approval to close every Saturday in case the Canal Alliance schedule shifts between now and mid-July. The Council’s approval for all Saturdays would not close the SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 street more often, but would allow staff the flexibility to reschedule a date as necessary (e.g. availability of mobile unit) without the requirement to return for additional City Council approval. ANALYSIS: Temporary road closures require that the City Council adopt a resolution finding that the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons using the road during the closing, per Vehicle Code section 21101(e) which states: “(e) Temporarily closing a portion of any street for celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes when, in the opinion of local authorities having jurisdiction or a public officer or employee that the local authority designates by resolution, the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing.” Department of Public Works staff will support the street closure by providing closure signage and traffic control support. The Police Department and Fire Department may provide ancillary support as well. STREET TO BE CLOSED: Alto Street from its intersection with Larkspur Street to mid-block at approximately the entrance to the Johnson and Daly Moving Company warehouse entrance. Future closures will occur between Saturday May 22nd, to Saturday July 10th, 2021 from 6:30 am to 3 pm each Saturday when vaccinations are scheduled. Public walk -up access to businesses will be maintained during event hours. Staff also requests the City Council to ratify the City Manager’s emergency decision to approve the closure on Saturday May 1, 2021. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Canal Alliance is advertising the opportunity to be vaccinated through their public outreach network. Canal Alliance has also received the support of other nearby businesses for this closure. FISCAL IMPACT: The City will provide in-kind services, such as “no parking” signage and traffic control support and advice. Any cost associated with this support will be minimal. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: 1. Adopt resolution. 2. Adopt resolution with modifications. 3. Direct staff to return with more information. 4. Take no action. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt the resolution. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution authorizing Saturday street closures to support Canal Alliance’s effort to provide Covid-19 vaccinations from Saturday May 1 through Saturday July 10, 2021 RESOLUTION NO. 14916 RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING SATURDAY STREET CLOSURES TO SUPPORT CANAL ALLIANCE’S EFFORT TO PROVIDE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FROM SATURDAY MAY 1, 2021 THROUGH SATURDAY JULY 10, 2021 WHEREAS, the Corona Virus (Covid-19) has had a dramatic impact on the residents of San Rafael and especially essential workers and other people that live in the Canal neighborhood of the City; and WHEREAS, the Canal Alliance, with the support of the Marin County Department of Public Health, has the capability to administer Covid-19 vaccinations to nearby residents who wish to receive it: and WHEREAS, the Canal Alliance has requested that the City allow the temporary closure of a portion of Alto Street on several Saturdays to support their vaccination effort including May 1st, May 22nd, June 5th, June 12th, July 3rd, and July 10th, 2021; and WHEREAS, staff additionally seeks the ability to close Alto Street on any other Saturday between May 22 and July 10, 2021 to accommodate schedule changes, if necessary, and WHEREAS, after reviewing the request, City staff has determined and recommended that, in the interest of the safety and welfare of pedestrian and auto traffic in the Downtown area, that Alto Street should be temporarily closed to through traffic each Saturday from Saturday May 22nd to Saturday July 10th, 2021 from 6:30 am to 3 pm for scheduled vaccination efforts; and WHEREAS, under his authority as Director of Emergency Services during the existing state of local emergency, the City Manager approved the temporary closure of Alto Street on May 1, 2021 to support the vaccination effort; NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: 1. That all of the above findings are true and correct. 2. That, pursuant to the authority of Vehicle Code section 21101(e), for the safety and protection of persons, both pedestrians and vehicle drivers, the City Council hereby authorizes the temporary closure of Alto Street for the dates and times described above. 3. The decision of the City Manager/Director of Emergency Services to approve the temporary closure of Alto Street on May 1, 2021 is hereby ratified and confirmed. 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 City Council of said City held on Monday, the 17th day of May 2021 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None Lindsay Lara, City Clerk