HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM Administrative Order Prohibiting Camping at City HallCITY OF SAN RAFAEL ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OF THE CITY MANAGER
PROHIBITING CAMPING AT CITY HALL & ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER #
00933009:
(EFFECTIVE MAY 19, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 9TH, 2025 AT CITY HALL)
(EFFECTIVE MAY 27, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 17, 2025 AT ASSESSOR
PARCEL NUMBER #00933009)
This Administrative Order of the City Manager of the City of San Rafael prohibits
camping in or on City Hall, located at 1400 5th Avenue, San Rafael, CA ("City Hall") and
Assessor Parcel Number 00933009, located near in between Baypoint Village Drive and
Kerner Boulevard ("ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 00933009"). This Order is effective
from the date of this Order through June 17, 2025. This Order is being issued pursuant
to the authority of the City Manager, under San Rafael Municipal Code section
19.50.030(8), to "absolutely prohibit camping, or adopt time, place, or manner conditions
on camping, at any time in or one or more public properties, or portion thereof."
L BACKGROUND
Through other Administrative Orders and City Council Actions, the City has
prohibited camping at all parks through Administrative order on March 26th, 2025 and
subsequently amended the City's camping ordinance on (, the Falkirk Cultural Center
(July 27, 2023, August 13, 2024, Revised August 31, 2023, October 2, 2023), a portion
of Lindaro Street (December 6, 2023), and the northern portion of the Mahon Creek Path
(December 6, 2023, September 9, 2024)
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal, under the direction of CAL FIRE,
has issued updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Local Responsibility
Areas (LRAs) throughout the state, including the City of San Rafael. These maps identify
areas within local jurisdictional boundaries where wildfire hazards are present, using a
consistent, science -based methodology. Pursuant to Government Code Section 51178,
at its May 5, 2025, meeting, the City Council introduced an ordinance and is scheduled
to adopt an ordinance at its May 19, 2025, meeting, adopting the updated FHSZ map for
the City.
In light of the recently released fire risk maps by Cal Fire, the San Rafael Fire Department
is increasing its fire mitigation efforts citywide through its Zone Zero program. This critical
work includes tree and vegetation management to reduce fire hazards on City -owned
property and protect both natural areas and surrounding communities.
As part of this effort, work will begin at the two locations mentioned above and is expected
to take one to two weeks to complete. The scope and nature of this work—using heavy
equipment and removing hazardous materials—make it unsafe for individuals to remain
in the area while it is underway.
We recognize that there are encampments currently in these areas, and City Staff for the
past several weeks, has been conducting outreach to unhoused community members at
these sites, offering support services and connecting individuals with any available shelter
and housing resources. In accordance with local and legal requirements, residents of
these encampments have been provided with proper 72 -hour notice prior to any
relocation efforts.
This administrative order is necessary to allow critical fire mitigation work to proceed
safely, but we remain committed to working compassionately and collaboratively with our
unhoused neighbors to support their safety and long-term stability.
This Administrative Order adopts a temporary prohibition on camping in or at City
Hall from May 19, 2025 through June 9, 2025 and in or at ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER
00933009 from May 27, 2025 through June 17, 2025. This Order is necessary to mitigate
a substantial risk or risks to the public health, safety and welfare of the City's residents,
businesses, visitors and/or property, and such prohibition is permissible under applicable
law.
II. RECITALS
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has implemented a Sanctioned Camping Area as part
of its comprehensive approach to address homelessness within the City; and
WHEREAS, recent fire incidents elsewhere in the state, such as the January 2025
fires in Southern California, with the Palisades Fire burning 23,707 acres and the Eaton
Fire burning 14,021 acres, have heightened public awareness and sensitivity to these
risks, leading to calls for action from residents across the City; and
WHEREAS, the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, under the direction of
CAL FIRE, has issued updated FHSZ maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs)
throughout the state, including the City of San Rafael, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51178, at its May 5, 2025,
meeting, the City Council introduced an ordinance and is scheduled to adopt an ordinance
at its May 19, 2025, meeting, adopting the updated FHSZ map for the City; and
WHEREAS, in light of the maps released by Cal Fire, San Rafael Fire Department
has increased their fire mitigation work throughout zones designated as high risk fire
zones.
WHEREAS, City Hall is located in a high wildfire risk designation; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to carry out wildfire mitigation activities throughout
public property as well as elsewhere in the City to mitigate some of the hazards; and
WHEREAS, clearing the encampments at City Hall and Assessor Parcel Number
00933009 will facilitate the fire mitigation work to occur efficiently and safely; and
WHEREAS, this Order is necessary to mitigate a substantial risk or risks to the
public health, safety and welfare of the City's residents, businesses, visitors and/or
property, and such prohibition is permissible under applicable law.
III. ORDER
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to authority vested under Section 19.50.030(6) of
the San Rafael Municipal Code, the City Manager of the City of San Rafael hereby orders
as follows:
No person shall camp, including in a tent, on the ground, or in a motor home or
other vehicle, or use or store camp facilities or camp paraphernalia, as defined
in the San Rafael Municipal Code, in or on City Hall from May 19, 2025 through
June 9, 2025, unless extended by City Council action or the City Manager by
subsequent administrative order.
2. No person shall camp, including in a tent, on the ground, or in a motor home or
other vehicle, or use or store camp facilities or camp paraphernalia, as defined in
the San Rafael Municipal Code, in or on Assessor Parcel Number # 00933009
from May 27, 2025, through June 17, 2025, unless extended by City Council
action or the City Manager by subsequent administrative order.
3. City staff, including the San Rafael Police Department and Department of Public
Works, shall have the authority to take all actions necessary to implement this
order consistent with San Rafael Municipal Code Section 19.50.50
4. This Order shall be effective immediately and does not modify or alter any previous
issued Administrative Order by the City Manager pursuant to Chapter 19.50.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City Manager of the City of San Rafael has executed
this Order as of the day, month and year below written.
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL:
CRISTINE ALILOVICH, City Manager
ATTEST:
City Clerk
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
DATE:
')7/1