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Home My WebLink AboutCM Collaboration Agreement with Marin County Transit District ____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 03/17/2025 Disposition: Resolution 15379 Agenda Item No: 4.d Meeting Date: March 17, 2025 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: City Manager’s Office Prepared by: Angela Robinson Piñon, Assistant City Manager City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH MARIN COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH MARIN COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (MARIN TRANSIT) REGARDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRIC BUS CHARGING FACILITY LOCATED AT 1075 FRANCISCO BLVD EAST RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter a collaboration agreement with Marin County Transit District (“Marin Transit”) regarding community benefits for the development of an electric bus charging facility located at 1075 Francisco Blvd East. BACKGROUND: In 2023, Marin Transit received a $31.5 million grant from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) to purchase and develop land for an electric bus charging and maintenance facility. Of that total, $2.2 million was allocated for workforce development and childcare-related programs and initiatives. Marin Transit has created a project webpage linked here. In October 2024, the Marin Transit Board gave direction to their staff to explore developing a collaboration agreement with the City of San Rafael for community engagement. This direction was made in consideration of Marin Transit voting to overrule the City’s disapproval of conformity of the purchase and development of the 1075 Francisco Blvd East property with the City’s General Plan 2040. The meeting agenda is linked here. In November 2024, Marin Transit purchased the 3.5-acre property at 1075 Francisco Blvd. East. On March 3, 2025, the Marin Transit Board ("Board") heard an informational item from their staff on a draft collaboration engagement and communication plan. At this meeting, the Board expressed its support for the draft agreement between the City of San Rafael and Marin Transit to collaborate on the community engagement and outreach approach for this project. At this meeting, Marin Transit staff noted the collaboration agreement had been prepared to affirm this partnership. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 ANALYSIS: The City of San Rafael practices an inclusive, robust engagement approach which ensures that all community members—including historically underserved or marginalized groups—have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making. It goes beyond traditional outreach by actively removing barriers to participation, fostering trust, and co -creating solutions with the community. The following are examples of the City’s inclusive community engagement approach: • Meetings, materials, and engagement opportunities are available in multiple languages, held at various times, and in accessible locations (both physical and virtual). Digital access, childcare, food, stipends, and transportation needs are also considered. • Staff works to understand and respect cultural differences, building long -term relationships with community-based organization and local leaders. • Uses a variety of formats (e.g., in-person meetings, online surveys, pop-up events, focus groups, door-to-door outreach) to meet people where they are. • Engagement is not just about government informing the public; it is about actively listening, integrating community input into policy and planning, and following up to show how feedback is used. • Helps community members build capacity and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage in civic processes, such as training residents to serve on boards, commissions or advisory committees. • Moves beyond seeking perfunctory input and ensures that communities, particularly those most affected directly by policies, have meaningful influence in shaping outcomes. • Open communication about processes, decision-making timelines, and constraints while ensuring community expectations are managed and met. • Prioritizes ongoing practices embedded in how we serve the community to ensure sustained civic participation and trust. These elements are key to ensuring the project design and associated community benefits reflect significant resident input. Towards that end, the City is committed to working with Marin Transit to support their community engagement efforts. The purpose of the collaboration agreement (Attachment 1) is to affirm the City and Marin Transit's commitment to an inclusive community engagement process. City staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to sign the collaboration agreement. FISCAL IMPACT: This agreement does not require the expenditure of any City funds, so it has no fiscal impact. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: 1. Authorize the City Manager to sign the collaboration agreement. 2. Do not authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement and provide further direction to staff. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter a collaboration agreement with Marin County Transit District (“Marin Transit”) regarding community benefits for the development of an electric bus charging facility located at 1075 Francisco Blvd East. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution 2. Collaboration Agreement with Marin Transit RESOLUTION NO. 15379 RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH MARIN COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (MARIN TRANSIT) REGARDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRIC BUS CHARGING FACILITY LOCATED AT 1075 FRANCISCO BLVD EAST WHEREAS, in 2023, the Marin County Transit District (“Marin Transit”), received a $31.5 million grant from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) to purchase and develop land for an electric bus charging and maintenance facility; and WHEREAS, $2.2 million was allocated for workforce development and childcare-related programs and initiatives; and WHEREAS, In November 2024, Marin Transit purchased a 3.5-acre property at 1075 Francisco Blvd. East.; and WHEREAS, On March 3, 2025, the Marin Transit Board expressed its support for collaboration between the City of San Rafael and Marin Transit staff on community engagement and outreach for this project; and WHEREAS, The City is committed to an inclusive, robust engagement is key to ensuring the project design and associated community benefits reflect resident input, and the City is committed to working with Marin Transit to support their community engagement efforts. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter a collaboration agreement with Marin County Transit District (“Marin Transit”) regarding community benefits for the development of an electric bus charging facility located at 1075 Francisco Blvd East. 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 the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 17th day of March 2025, 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 Collaboration Agreement By and Between MARIN COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (“Marin Transit”) and CITY OF SAN RAFAEL Dated March 3, 2025 Marin Transit commits to execute a robust community engagement and communication process as presented to the Marin Transit Board on March 3, 2025, for the development of an electric bus charging and maintenance facility, in partnership and collaboration with the City of San Rafael and other community organizations. The community engagement process includes, among other things, exploration of:  The potential for housing, retail, or other supportive transportation uses in conjunction with the needs of the District’s transit use of the site as one or more of the alternatives studied  The potential for the facility to serve as a Community Electric Resilience site in the event of an emergency or disaster  The potential for high quality design elements supporting the gateway to the Canal neighborhood  The potential for circulation, streetscape and pedestrian/bike improvements to the site and in support of the Bellam Blvd. improvements currently being studied by TAM  The potential for adding or relocating the existing bus stop on Bellam Blvd. with rider feedback to improve traƯic and pedestrian flow near the potential future roundabouts on Bellam Blvd.  The potential for pedestrian circulation and safety improvements on the site including sidewalk widening and lighting on E. Franciso Blvd and the surrounding area, and explore a potential new pedestrian connection from E. Francisco to Kerner Blvd along the southern perimeter of the property  The potential for enhancements and expansion of existing childcare facilities and workforce development programs in San Rafael that would serve transit workers and community needs MARIN COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT CITY OF SAN RAFAEL _________________________________ ___________________________________ Nancy Whelan Cristine Alilovich General Manager City Manager