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Home My WebLink AboutCM East San Rafael and Canal Community – Collective Plans in Action Progress Report PPTEast San Rafael and Canal Community Collective Plans in Action Progress Report City Council Meeting September 15, 2025 Background MAYOR INSTITUTE on CITY DESIGN JUST CITY MAYORAL FELLOWSHIP •Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Dearborn MI •Mayor Cory Mason, Racine WI •Mayor Matthew Tuerk, Allentown PA •Mayor Rex Richardson, Long Beach CA •Mayor Shareeta Smith, Lima OH •Mayor Remy Drabkin, McMinnville OR •Mayor Kate Colin, San Rafael CA Just City Manifesto Original Vision Statement The City of San Rafael, in partnership with Canal Alliance, will co-create with the residents a Community Vision Plan which,utilizing the city's many strengths,will guide future policies, funding and infrastructure decisions. Integration Adopted plans for Equity, Transportation, Education, Health, Arts, Parks, Infrastructure Context 1 Background and Context 8 Agenda 2 3 4 Collective Plans in Action Framework Collective Plans in Action Status Update Collective Plans in Action Data Summary 5 Using the Collective Plans in Action Spreadsheet 6 Next Steps Current Planning and Public Policy Initiatives Canal Vision Plan Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro Canal Promise Neighborhood A resident-led vision to imagine a safer, healthier, and affordable Canal Collaborative led by Canal Alliance, Marin Promise Partnership East San Rafael Specific Plan A framework of planning tools that impact the future of housing, economic development, and transportation while responding to sea level rise City of San Rafael Sea Level Rise Project A collaborative project to explore the feasibility of different actions to reduce flood risks in east San Rafael City, Canal Alliance, Multicultural Center of Marin Collective Plans in Action: Progress Report A comprehensive progress report to inform future planning efforts and report back to community JLP+D, City of San Rafael, Canal Alliance City's 2025-2028 Strategic Plan A strategic work plan for the City outlining priorities for the next three years City Council Community Engagement Program An investment in creating a community-led inclusive engagement program City of San Rafael 9 Ongoing Plans & Objectives Policymaking at Multiple Scales Canal Vision Plan Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro Community Engagement Program East San Rafael Specific Plan Sea Level Rise Project City's 2025-2028 Strategic Plan Collective Plans in Action report Canal Neighborhood East San Rafael Citywide 10 Geographic Focus Canal Promise Neighborhood 11 East San Rafael Specific Plan Sea Level Rise Project Collective Plans in Action: Progress Report City's 2025-2028 Strategic Plan Community Engagement Program Nuestro Canal Nuestro Futuro –Canal Vision Plan Coordination across Varied Timelines 2024 2025 2026 2027 Status & Timeline Draft Neighborhood Snapshot completed Kickoff ⅔ completed Update to Council Draft Engagement Guide and Worksheet Council Presentation + Drafting narrative 2028 Canal Promise Neighborhood 12 East San Rafael Specific Plan Sea Level Rise Project Collective Plans in Action: Progress Report City's 2025-2028 Strategic Plan Community Engagement Program Nuestro Canal Nuestro Futuro –Canal Vision Plan Coordination across Varied Timelines 2024 2025 2026 2027 Status & Timeline Draft Neighborhood Snapshot completed Kickoff ⅔ completed Update to Council Draft Engagement Guide and Worksheet Council Presentation + Drafting narrative 2028 Canal Promise Neighborhood James Lima President Isabella Conway Project Manager Meet the Team Introduction Experts in planning and implementation of large -scale mixed-use development , offering best practices for public -private partnerships in urban transformation investments that unlock value and create enduring vibrant places. 13 JLP+D Collective Plans in Action Framework Purpose 15 ●Synthesizes past years of planning and engagement in the Canal District ●Serves as a replicable model for other neighborhoods citywide, demonstrating how communities can organize input, track progress, and coordinate planning efforts ●Organizes community input into a shared framework for tracking progress ●Identifies where efforts are aligned and where additional focus may be needed ●Supports coordination across City departments and partners for new planning efforts ●Provides a tool for setting priorities, informing decisions, and communicating progress A Strategic Tool for the City and Community Principles Transparency Make planning progress visible and accessible to all Alignment Connect community priorities to agency implementation Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Coordination Foster collaboration across agencies and initiatives Action Drive informed decision-making and strategic investment Collective Plans in Action Framework Plans Reviewed 16 Past Strategic Plan, Programs, Projects 20 Total Initiatives 715 Canal Neighborhood Citywide County Level Different Scales of Plans Reviewed 3 city led and external plans 6 city led and 1 external plan 6 county led plan & 4 programs Though there are 6 current initiatives, there have been 20 plans in the last 10 years that we reviewed for this analysis. Collective Plans in Action Framework City Plans 17 County Plans Projects and Programs External Plans Collective Plans in Action Report Outline 18 1. Executive Summary 2. Purpose & Scope 3. Methodology & Source Materials 4. Community Sentiment 5. Implementation Overview by Topic Area & Community Priority 6. Gaps in Implementation and Alignment 7. Opportunities for Alignment 8. Conclusion 9. Appendices Collective Plans in Action Framework 1. Executive Summary 1919 Alignment Connect community priorities to agency implementation Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Action Drive informed decision-making and strategic investment Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents: ●Report objectives and methodology ●Total number of initiatives reviewed and responsible agencies ●Key implementation findings: ○Areas of notable progress ○Gaps in implementation ○Priorities needing urgent attention ●Summary of coordination and investment opportunities Purpose: To provide a concise overview of the Collective Plans in Action report goals, methods, and key findings to quickly orient the reader. Principles 2. Purpose & Scope 20 Contents: ●Alignment with City and community goals ●Geographic focus on the Canal District ●Stakeholders whose priorities are represented ●Overview of how this project supports accountability and coordination ●Framework for replicating this approach in other neighborhoods Purpose: To explain why the project was conducted, what it is meant to achieve, and how it can be used by the City and community. 20 Transparency Make planning progress visible and accessible to all Alignment Connect community priorities to agency implementation Coordination Foster collaboration across agencies and initiatives Collective Plans in Action Framework Principles 3. Methodology & Source Materials 21 Transparency Make planning progress visible and accessible to all Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Action Drive informed decision-making and strategic investment Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents: ●Criteria for selecting plans ●Process for extracting community priorities from engagement content ●Method for identifying and categorizing initiatives ●Collection of implementation status updates from agencies ●How the gap analysis was conducted ●Inventory of reviewed plans Purpose: To ensure transparency in how findings were developed by describing the data sources and analysis process. Principles 4. Community Sentiment 22 Transparency Make planning progress visible and accessible to all Alignment Connect community priorities to agency implementation Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents: ●Community priorities extracted from engagement sections of plans ●Organized into six key Topic Areas with input from Canal Alliance: ○Housing, Development, and Anti-Displacement ○Economic Mobility & Development ○Transportation and Mobility ○Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice ○Parks and Public Spaces ○Health and Public Safety Purpose: To summarize and organize community sentiment from the engagement processes documented in the reviewed plans. Principles 5. Implementation Overview by Topic Area & Community Priority 23 Transparency Make planning progress visible and accessible to all Alignment Connect community priorities to agency implementation Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents (for each Topic Area): ●Pie chart of initiative statuses ●Summary table of initiative statuses by Community Priority ●Narrative summary of quantitative findings by Topic Area Purpose: To assess the implementation status of each Topic Area’s Community Priorities and evaluate progress made by responsible agencies. Principles 6. Gaps in Implementation and Alignment 24 Transparency Make planning progress visible and accessible to all Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Coordination Foster collaboration across agencies and initiatives Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents: ●Implementation gaps ●Misalignment between Community Priorities and agency commitments ●Coordination barriers and capacity challenges Purpose: To identify gaps between Community Priorities, agency commitments, and actual implementation efforts. Principles 7. Opportunities for Alignment 25 Alignment Connect community priorities to agency implementation Coordination Foster collaboration across agencies and initiatives Action Drive informed decision-making and strategic investment Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents: ●Priority focus areas for near-term action ●Opportunities for inter-agency partnerships ●City-specific governance and process improvements ●Suggestions for responsive planning to reflect emerging needs Purpose: To highlight ways the City and partners can better coordinate and address existing gaps. Principles 8. Conclusion 26 Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Coordination Foster collaboration across agencies and initiatives Action Drive informed decision-making and strategic investment Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents: ●Report as a tool for improving alignment between community priorities and planning ●Role of gap analysis in guiding action ●Encouragement for stakeholders to use the findings for coordination, investment, and accountability ●Emphasis on continued tracking and adaptability Purpose: To reiterate the purpose of the report and call attention to the importance of continued tracking and accountability. Principles 9. Appendices 27 Transparency Make planning progress visible and accessible to all Accountability Track commitments and measure real results Action Drive informed decision-making and strategic investment Collective Plans in Action Framework Contents: ●Full list of plans reviewed, including engagement depth ●Full spreadsheet of initiatives with status ●Crosswalk of initiatives by Topic Area and priority Purpose: To provide supplemental detail and source materials that support the findings. Principles Collective Plans in Action Status of Report 29 Work Completed to Date Collective Plans in Action Status of Report 1. Executive Summary 2. Purpose & Scope 3. Methodology & Source Materials 4. Community Sentiment 5. Implementation Overview by Topic Area & Community Priority 6. Gaps in Implementation and Alignment 7. Opportunities for Alignment 8. Conclusion 9. Appendices Initial informational and planning meetings with City staff and Canal Alliance Completed Drafted Next Steps 30 Next Steps Wrapping up Collective Plans in Action: Progress Report Narrative Development City staff will be working with agency partners to develop a qualitative narrative to contextualize the progress data. September Drafting Sessions JLP+D will draft Sections 6 and 7, grounding findings and recommendations in the City and partner agency narrative and local knowledge. September Final Delivery JLP+D will incorporate feedback and deliver the final Collective Plans in Action Report by the end of 2025 December Draft Submission By early fall, JLP+D will submit a draft of the Collective Plans in Action Report for City staff review. October 2026 Stakeholder Engagement City Staff will engage the community to report back work that has and hasn’t started, get feedback on community priorities, and gather ideas for feedback loops moving forward. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Community Sentiment Chapter 6 Topic Areas Community Priority Priority identified by the community through engagement JLP+D analyzed community engagement content from plans and organized the community sentiment into six Topic Areas, each with a set of specific community priorities. Initiatives were then matched to these priorities to assess alignment and implementation progress. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Categorization Framework Housing, Development, + Anti-Displacement Transportation + Mobility Economic Mobility + Development Climate Resilience + Environmental Justice Parks + Public Spaces Health + Public Safety 32 Community Priority Community Priority Status Key Collective Plans in Action Data Summary The initiatives were assigned a status based on the following key and then grouped based on their progress. Initiatives encapsulate commitments made in a plan approved by a governing body.Examples include plan strategies, programs, objectives, measures, goals, or action items. ●Completed In Full ●Completed In Part ●Ongoing ●In Progress ●In Development ●Not Started Completed/Ongoing Showing Positive Implementation Not Started 33 Key Takeaways: ●Most plans are concentrated in transportation, housing, and climate initiatives ●Economic development has only one major city plan, while health and public safety lacks independent plans and instead draws from various different plans across topic areas ●Some initiatives overlap across multiple topic areas, which may affect the accuracy of these category totals Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Total Initiatives by Topic Area Total Initiatives associated with a community priority: 554 35 Community Priority Increase affordable housing Remove development barriers Improve housing conditions Diversify housing types through renovation and new development Prevent homelessness Implement stronger tenant protections to mitigate risk of displacement Reduce racial disparities in housing affordability and access Collective Plans in Action Community Priorities Housing, Development, and Anti-Displacement Community Priorities Plans, Projects, or Programs included in this Topic Area: •Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan (2009) •Climate Change Action Plan 2030 •Economic Development Strategic Plan (2023) •San Rafael General Plan 2040 •Marin County Housing Element •Marin County Race Equity Action Plan Implementation Strategy 36 This Topic Area includes 116 initiatives linked to seven main community priorities. Implementation is strongest where the City has clear authority, such as housing conditions and tenant protections. However, critical priorities like reducing racial disparities and increasing affordable housing show lower completion rates. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Housing, Development, and Anti-Displacement Data Summary by Topic Area 59% 31% 10% 37 Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Housing, Development, and Anti-Displacement Data Summary by Topic Area 59% 31% 10% Agencies responsible for initiatives in this topic area include: •City of San Rafael a.Community and Economic Development b.Sustainability Division c.Emergency Management d.Department of Public Works •County of Marin a.Housing -Housing & Federal Grants Division of the Community Development Agency (CDA) b.Office of Equity 38 Community Priority Improve connectivity for underserved areas Create multi-use transportation nodes Increase transit service frequency, reliability, and affordability Develop better bicycle infrastructure Enhance pedestrian safety and infrastructure Increase parking enforcement to ease traffic congestion in critical corridors Transportation and Mobility Community Priorities Collective Plans in Action Community Priorities Plans, Projects, or Programs included in this Topic Area: •Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan (2018) •Canal Neighborhood -Based Transportation Plan •Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan (2009) •Climate Change Action Plan 2030 •Economic Development Strategic Plan (2023) •Local Road Safety Plan (TAM and DPW) –2024 •San Rafael General Plan 2040 •GGBHTD “Bettini Transit Center“ •Short Range Transit Plan •580/101 Local Access Improvement Project •Crossing Guards Program •Safe Routes to School Program 39 This Topic Area includes 154 initiatives aligned with six main community priorities. Transit service improvements and pedestrian infrastructure are advancing, but improvements in bicycle infrastructure and connectivity for Canal community have seen slower progress. This suggests uneven momentum across the Topic Area. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Transportation and Mobility Data Summary by Topic Area 45% 32% 8% 14% 1% Potential Future Priority 40 Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Transportation and Mobility Data Summary by Topic Area 45% 32% 8% 14% 1%Agencies responsible for initiatives in this topic area include: •City of San Rafael a.Department of Public Works b.Sustainability Division c.City Manager’s Office d.Community and Economic Development e.Parking Services •Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) •Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (Bridge District) •Marin Transit Potential Future Priority 41 Community Priority Improve digital infrastructure and literacy Enhance community spaces that support economic activity Address barriers to employment Create economic pathways for underserved populations Support brick and mortar, online, and mobile small businesses Build wealth-creating opportunities Economic Mobility and Development Community Priorities Collective Plans in Action Community Priorities Plans, Projects, or Programs included in this Topic Area: •San Rafael General Plan 2040 •Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan (2009) •Climate Change Action Plan 2030 •Economic Development Strategic Plan (2023) •Digital Marin Strategic Plan •Marin County Race Equity Action Plan Implementation Strategy •MoMentum Guaranteed Income Pilot •580/101 Local Access Improvement Project 42 This Topic Area includes 73 initiatives tied to six main community priorities. There has been strong progress in employment services and digital equity. However, efforts to support wealth-building and small businesses, including brick-and- mortar and mobile vendors, are falling behind. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Economic Mobility and Development Data Summary by Topic Area 39% 35% 24% 1% 43 Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Economic Mobility and Development Data Summary by Topic Area 39% 35% 24% 1% Agencies responsible for initiatives in this topic area include: •City of San Rafael a.Community and Economic Development Department b.City Manager’s Office c.Library & Recreation Department d.Sustainability Division •County of Marin a.Digital Marin Division b.Office of Equity •Marin Community Foundation •Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) 44 Community Priority Develop multi-benefit adaptation projects Include community leadership in adaptation decisions Prevent displacement due to climate impacts Prepare for emergencies Protect community assets, especially housing Promote environmental justice Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice Community Priorities Collective Plans in Action Community Priorities Plans, Projects, or Programs included in this Topic Area: •Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan (2009) •Climate Change Action Plan 2030 •Citywide Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2023) •San Rafael General Plan 2040 •Marin County Housing Element •Short Range Transit Plan 45 This Topic Area includes 80 initiatives tied to six main community priorities. Many initiatives are underway but not yet complete, especially in areas like adaptation projects and housing protection. Broad engagement is evident, but implementation is still limited, pointing to a need for greater coordination and investment. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice Data Summary by Topic Area 38% 49% 13% 46 Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice Data Summary by Topic Area 38% 49% 13% Agencies responsible for initiatives in this topic area include: •City of San Rafael a.Department of Public Works b.Sustainability Division c.Community and Economic Development d.FIRE/Emergency Management e.Library and Recreation Department •County of Marin a.Housing -Housing & Federal Grants Division of the Community Development Agency (CDA) •Marin Transit 47 Community Priority Increase safe park access Support self-directed recreation activities Maintain and renovate existing facilities Improve cleanliness and maintenance Enhance pedestrian connections Improve waterfront access Parks and Public Spaces Community Priorities Collective Plans in Action Community Priorities Plans, Projects, or Programs included in this Topic Area: •Citywide Parks and Recreation Master Plan •San Rafael General Plan 2040 •Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan •Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan (2018) •Canal Neighborhood -Based Transportation Plan •Marin County Housing Element 48 This Topic Area includes 58 initiatives tied to six main community priorities. Many initiatives are still in early stages, with relatively few completed to date. Efforts related to park maintenance, cleanliness, and pedestrian or waterfront access show potential for future focus and could benefit from additional support or coordination. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Parks and Public Spaces Data Summary by Topic Area 14% 43% 32% 9% 2% Potential Future Priority 49 Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Parks and Public Spaces Data Summary by Topic Area 14% 43% 32% 9% 2%Agencies responsible for initiatives in this topic area include: •City of San Rafael a.Community and Economic Development b.Library and Recreation Department c.Department of Public Works •County of Marin a.Housing -Housing & Federal Grants Division of the Community Development Agency (CDA) Potential Future Priority 50 Community Priority Create better coordination among service providers Develop community leadership Strengthen community connections and cohesion Build trust between police and community Enhance street lighting for safety Address gang-related violence and public disorder Enhance access to mental health services Health and Public Safety Community Priorities Collective Plans in Action Community Priorities Plans, Projects, or Programs included in this Topic Area: •Canal Neighborhood-Based Transportation Plan •Climate Change Action Plan 2030 •Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan (2009) •San Rafael General Plan 2040 •Civic Action Plan •Digital Marin Strategic Plan •Marin County Race Equity Action Plan Implementation Strategy •Community Power Initiative 51 This Topic Area includes 79 initiatives tied to eight main community priorities. The majority of initiatives are underway or complete, particularly those focused on mental health and community cohesion. Continued attention to priorities like leadership development and trust-building can help round out this strong foundation. Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Health and Public Safety Data Summary by Topic Area 69% 25% 5% 52 Collective Plans in Action Data Summary Health and Public Safety Data Summary by Topic Area 69% 25% 5% Agencies responsible for initiatives in this topic area include: •City of San Rafael a.City Clerk’s Office b.City Manager’s Office c.Library & Recreation Department d.Police e.Sustainability Division f.Department of Public Works g.Community and Economic Development •County of Marin a.Office of Equity b.Digital Marin Division •Dominican University of California •Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (Bridge District) •Marin Community Foundation Using the Collective Plans in Action Spreadsheet 54 Use Case:A community member wants to understand what progress the City has made in the Topic Area of Housing, Development, and Anti-Displacement, in order to stay informed and share updates with their neighbors. Instructions: 1.Open the Housing, Development, and Anti - Displacement tab in the spreadsheet. 2.In Column A (Community Priority), click the filter icon and scroll down to Filter by Values to select a specific Community Priority (e.g., “Increase Affordable Housing”) to narrow the view. Click OK. 3.In Column D (Status 2025), use the filter icon to sort by Status and view which initiatives are Completed, Ongoing, or In Progress. Click OK. Using the Collective Plans in Action Spreadsheet Measuring Progress for a Community Priority 55 Use Case:The Planning Division wants to review the status of all initiatives associated with a particular plan to assess implementation progress and identify areas to prioritize in future planning efforts. Instructions: 1.Open the List of Initiatives tab in the spreadsheet. 2.In Column F (Plan Name), click the filter icon and scroll down to Filter by Values to select a Plan (e.g., “San Rafael General Plan 2040”) to narrow the view to only initiatives in that plan. Measuring Implementation Progress for a Plan Using the Collective Plans in Action Spreadsheet Next Steps Accountability to the Community Priority Setting •A comprehensive tool for tracking community priorities alongside progress and gaps in initiative implementation Data-Driven Decision Making •Helps make better decisions by consolidating years of planning efforts and tracking what’s getting done Enhanced Coordination •Encourages coordination across City departments, agencies, and partners through a shared accountability framework Transparent Communication •Provides a clear, accessible way to share progress with the community and track commitments over time Advances City’s 2025-2028 Strategic Plan •Develop a East San Rafael Specific Plan using the City’s inclusive resident engagement philosophy; collaborate with the community and Canal Alliance to ensure alignment with their Community Vision Plan Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro (A.3.5) •Develop a comprehensive inclusive community engagement program (G.2.1) 58 Next Steps Wrapping up Collective Plans in Action: Progress Report Narrative Development City staff will be working with agency partners to develop a qualitative narrative to contextualize the progress data. September Drafting Sessions JLP+D will draft Sections 6 and 7, grounding findings and recommendations in the City and partner agency narrative and local knowledge. September Final Delivery JLP+D will incorporate feedback and deliver the final Collective Plans in Action Report by the end of 2025 December Draft Submission By early fall, JLP+D will submit a draft of the Collective Plans in Action Report for City staff review. October 2026 Stakeholder Engagement City Staff will engage the community to report back work that has and hasn’t started, get feedback on community priorities, and gather ideas for feedback loops moving forward. Next Steps 2025 Stakeholder Input •Solicit input from stakeholders on the development of the final report 2026 Community Engagement •Report back our progress •Ask if initiatives yet to be started remain community priorities •Be transparent about why certain initiatives haven’t been completed 2026 Accountability Systems •Solicit input about how to design accessible accountability systems to consistently report back on progress moving forward Thank You to our Partners Eighteen staff across seven partner organizations made this possible and are invited to continue to collaborate on next steps. •Canal Alliance •County of Marin’s Community Development Agency, Office of Equity, and Department of Information Services and Technology •Dominican University of California’s Center for Community Engagement •Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District •Marin Community Foundation •Marin Transit •Transportation Authority of Marin Thank You to Our Staff Staff across nine departments collaborated to provide status reports and continue to ensure an accurate progress report for the Canal community. •City Clerk’s Office •City Manager’s Office •Community and Economic Development •Department of Public Works •Fire/Emergency Management •Library & Recreation Department •Parking Services •Police Department •Sustainability Division Thank You