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Home My WebLink AboutCM Priority Conservation Area Nomination____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 07/21/2025 Disposition: Resolution 15439 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: City Manager, Sustainability Division Prepared by: Cory Bytof Sustainability Program Manager City Manager Approval: ___ TOPIC: PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA NOMINATION SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL’S PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA, CHANGING THE DESIGNATION FROM NATURAL LANDS TO RECREATION AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend San Rafael’s Priority Conservation Area designation, changing it from Natural Lands to Recreation and Climate Adaptation. BACKGROUND: A Priority Conservation Area (PCA) is a specific designation by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and approved by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). It is similar to a Priority Development Area, but for conservation purposes. They are regionally significant areas to be protected and improved. PCAs include natural habitats, farms and ranchlands, recreation areas, urban green spaces, and locations that can help fight the effects of climate change. Having a Priority Conservation Area does not restrict land use in any way. However, the designation acknowledges the ability for conservation-related activities in the area and enables access to grant funding. PCAs are nominated by local jurisdictions with land use authority (such as open space districts, city and county parks and recreation departments, and other local entities) and adopted by ABAG. ABAG has adopted more than 180 existing PCAs. They are categorized by five types: Natural Lands, Agriculture and Working Lands, Urban Greening, Recreation, and Climate Adaptation. The Marin Audubon Society initially nominated San Rafael’s PCA in 2007. At that time, outside entities could submit nominations regardless of land use authority. Also, at that time, San Rafael's PCA was designated as "Natural Lands" under a different set of definitions for the various PCA types. MTC/ABAG conducted a Priority Conservation Area Refresh in 2024, updating the PCA program, including changes to the nomination process: only the City can apply for this designation now. Additionally, San Rafael is no longer eligible for the Natural Lands type and must renominate under a new type to retain its current Priority Conservation Area designation and access to grant funding. A copy of the Priority Conservation Area Amendment form is included as Attachment 2. ANALYSIS: Agenda Item No: 4.b Meeting Date: July 21, 2025 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 Much of Southeast San Rafael, including Canalways, the land around Target, the Public Works Corporation Yard, and land up to the San Rafael Canal, is in the PCA. The map of the PCA is included as Attachment 3. The Canalways property owner was opposed to the initial PCA due to the Natural Lands designation. However, staff have confirmed that having a PCA would not restrict the activity within this zone. Instead, it would simply provide the City with the ability to apply for related grants. Additionally, MTC explicitly acknowledges the need for multiple uses of these areas in a dense urban environment. The PCA Refresh Report states: “By drawing distinctions for each PCA type, the PCA Framework allows for protection and management of key conservation lands in most areas while identifying a balanced, multi- benefit approach within communities to ensure enough housing is produced to meet the needs of current and future Bay Area residents. Urban Greening, Recreation, and Climate Adaptation PCA types can overlap with growth geographies, recognizing that enhancements advancing goals of each can coexist with thoughtful planning.” The City is only eligible for two types of PCA designations: Recreation and Climate Adaptation. However, Climate Adaptation is not a standalone type and must be combined with another designation type. The benefit of staying in the program and amending the nomination to this new type is that it will allow the City to seek additional funds for adaptation projects. Areas within the San Rafael PCA designation are among the most vulnerable to near-term sea level rise in the entire Bay Area. The current sea level rise feasibility study underway in San Rafael is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The City will need to secure additional funding opportunities to continue and further planning efforts, including completion of a sea level rise plan, which the State requires as part of the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan effort. Since the City is only eligible for the standalone Recreation type, staff are recommending renominating the area as Recreation and Climate Adaptation and keeping the PCA intact. The City’s nomination deadline is July 25. The original deadline was in May, but the City requested and received an extension to engage key stakeholders and bring this to the City Council review. Renomination occurs every four years, and the City will have the opportunity to revisit this in 2029. At that time, the City could make further revisions, including remapping the area, considering insights and recommendations from the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan, which is set to launch this fall. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Staff have discussed this with the City’s current sea level rise collaboration partners, the Chamber of Commerce, Marin Audubon, and significant property owners in the area, and have heard no major objections to date. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to amending this designation other than the potential of receiving grants in the future. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider relating to this item: 1. Adopt the resolution as presented. 2. Adopt the resolution with amendments. 3. Do not adopt the resolution. RECOMMENDED ACTION: SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend San Rafael’s Priority Conservation Area designation, changing it from Natural Lands to Recreation and Climate Adaptation. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution 2. Priority Conservation Area Amendment Form 3. Map of Priority Conservation Area RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL’S PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA, CHANGING THE DESIGNATION FROM NATURAL LANDS TO RECREATION AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION. WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael currently has a Priority Conservation Area designation in Southeast San Rafael that was nominated in 2007 and approved by the Association of Bay Area Governments as a Natural Lands type; and WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments updated the requirements and procedures for Priority Conservation Area designations in 2024; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael is no longer eligible for the Natural Lands type under the new requirements; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael wishes to retain the Priority Conservation Area designation for this area to be eligible for potential funding for climate adaptation-related studies, planning efforts, and projects related to recreation; and WHEREAS, retaining this Priority Conservation Area designation incurs no restrictions or prohibitions to the City in any regard; and WHEREAS, in order to retain the Priority Conservation Area designation, the City must re- nominate the area under the Recreation type and then may add a Climate Adaptation type. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby finds the foregoing recitals are true and correct and authorizes the City Manager to sign and submit a Priority Conservation Area Amendment Form to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments changing the designation from Natural Lands to Recreation and Climate Adaptation. 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 21st day of July 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: NOES: Councilmembers: ABSENT: Councilmembers: _____________________ Lindsay Lara, City Clerk Priority Conservation Area Amendment Form (Single PCA) Use this form to amend an existing PCA as part of the 2025 amendment period. After completing this form send it to pcas@bayareametro.gov by May 2, 2025. Following the review of the proposed amendment by MTC/ABAG staff and additional discussion with applicants if needed, MTC/ABAG staff will route the amendment to the ABAG Executive Board for final approval in summer 2025. PCA Staff Contact Name: Cory Bytof Title: Sustainability Program Manager Email: Cory.bytof@cityofsanrafael.org Phone: 415-485-3407 PCA Information Lead Public Agency Name: City of San Rafael PCA Name: Central Marin Bayfront, Canalways Select how you are sharing the GIS shapefile: ☒ MTC/ABAG staff generated the proposed amended PCA boundary ☐ File Attachment ☐ Cloud link: Click or tap here to enter text. Check the appropriate box(es) for the PCA Designation: The selected designations must meet the minimum mapping standards. ☐ Natural Lands ☐ Agricultural & Working Lands ☐ Urban Greening ☒ Recreation ☒ Climate Adaptation Local Jurisdiction Amendment Signature Approval Forms may be signed by planning directors, parks directors, city/county managers, or city/county administrators. Name: Cristine Alilovich Signature: Title: City Manager Date: Click or tap here to enter text. Attachment 3 – Map of Priority Conservation Area City of San Rafael July 3, 2025