HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2025-10-06
MINUTES
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL - MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2025
This meeting will be held in-person. This meeting is being streamed to YouTube at
www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael.
How to participate in the meeting:
• You are welcome to come to the meeting and provide public comment in person. Each speaker will
have 2-minutes to provide public comment per agenda item.
• Submit your comments by email to city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org by 4:00 p.m. the day of the
meeting.
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SPECIAL MEETING AT 4:00 P.M.
San Rafael City Hall, Third Floor Conference Room
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Watch Online:
Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/spcc-2025-10-06
Listen by phone: (669) 900-9128
ID: 829-1614-4737#
Present: Vice Mayor Bushey (Left the room at 5:03 p.m., returned 5:05 p.m.)
Councilmember Hill
Councilmember Kertz
Mayor Kate
Absent: Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Also Present: City Manager Cristine Alilovich
City Clerk Lindsay Lara
SPECIAL MEETING
1. Special Meeting:
a. Boards, Commissions, and Committees Interviews
Interview Applicants and Make Appointments to the Board of Library Trustees and the Fire
Commission to the End of October 2029 (CC)
The City Council interviewed the following applicants for the Board of Library Trustees:
Alexander Vahdat, Michael Polk and Caroline Doyle.
Vice Mayor Bushey moved, and Councilmember Kertz seconded to reappoint Alexander
Vahdat and to appoint Michael Polk to the Board of Library Trustees to the end of October
2029.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Llorens Gulati
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The City Council interviewed the following applicants for the Fire Commission: Donna
McCusker, Kenneth Johnson and Robert Mittelstaedt.
Councilmember Hill moved, and Councilmember Kertz seconded to reappoint Donna
McCusker and Kenneth Johnson to the Fire Commission to the end of October 2029.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Llorens Gulati
Mayor Kate adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 5:07 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING AT 6:00 P.M.
San Rafael City Hall, Council Chambers
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Watch Online:
Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/city-council-1
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael
Listen by phone: (669) 444-9171
ID: 863-4489-1398#
Present: Vice Mayor Bushey
Councilmember Hill
Councilmember Kertz
Mayor Kate
Absent: Councilmember Llorens Gulati
Also Present: City Manager Cristine Alilovich
City Attorney Robert Epstein
City Clerk Lindsay Lara
Mayor Kate called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. and invited City Clerk Lindsay Lara to call the
roll. Councilmember Llorens Gulati was absent.
City Attorney Robert Epstein announced that no reportable action was taken in Closed Session;
however, the second case was continued following the adjournment of the City Council meeting.
Mayor Kate provided opening remarks, which included gratitude to City Staff, an announcement
of Walter Gonzalez named as Employee of the Quarter for the 2nd Quarter, how the Federal
Government shutdown affects San Rafael, and a land acknowledgment.
City Clerk Lindsay Lara informed the community that the in-person meeting would be recorded and
streamed live to YouTube and through Zoom. She noted the two-minute timer for public comment
and closed captioning on Zoom.
OPEN SESSION – THIRD FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM – 5:00 PM
2. Mayor Kate announced Closed Session items.
CLOSED SESSION – THIRD FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM – 5:00 PM
3. Closed Session:
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a. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION pursuant to
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) (2 potential cases)
CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS:
(including AB 1234 Reports on Meetings and Conferences Attended at City Expense)
4. City Manager and Councilmember Reports:
City Manager Cristine Alilovich provided the following announcements and updates:
• Downtown Library Grand Reopening and appreciation to Staff
• Fire Prevention Week
• Fire at 32 Woodland Avenue today
• Homelessness and Housing Subcommittee meeting to be held October 21 at 11 a.m. at
City Hall (in the large upstairs conference room)
• Police Advisory and Accountability Committee meeting to be held October 15 at 5:30
p.m. at City Hall (in Chambers)
• Pickleweed Park Ribbon Cutting & Movies in the Park to be held October 10 starting at
5 p.m.
• West End Block Party to be held October 10 from 6-9 p.m. downtown (from F to G
Streets)
• Public Safety Center Open House (across from City Hall) to be held October 11 from 10-
1 p.m.
• Mill Valley Film Festival is ongoing, October 2-12
• Halloween & Seasonal Community Events
o Costume Swap at Pickleweed Park to be held October 14 from 4–6 p.m.
o Floating Pumpkin Patch at Terra Linda Pool to be held October 18 from 1–3 p.m.
o Treat Walk at B Street Community Center to be held October 23 from 4–6 p.m.
o Trick-Or-Treat on Fourth Street hosted by the Downtown BID to be held
October 25 from 1-3 p.m.
City Councilmember Reports:
• Vice Mayor Bushey reported on the library reopening, Porchfest, a San Rafael
Sanitation District board meeting, the San Rafael High School Hall of Honor
celebration and Marin Sanitary Customer Appreciation Day.
• Councilmember Kertz reported on the library ribbon cutting, the Marin Senior Fair, a
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority board meeting, the Marin Center for Independent
Living’s new Executive Director Ted Jackson, Porchfest, a Marin County Council of
Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) Legislative and General meeting, the Landfill
Harmonic Band at Latino Chamber of Commerce, the Spirit of Marin Awards, the
Badge Pinning Ceremony, a Sustainable San Rafael event honoring Bill Carney, the
Canal Alliance Community Fair, and the Mill Valley Film Festival opening night.
• Councilmember Hill reported on Porchfest and expressed appreciation for the
volunteers, a MCCMC meeting, the Fire Department’s badge pinning and awards
ceremony and the Sustainable San Rafael event.
• Mayor Kate reported on Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART), Transportation
Authority of Marin (TAM), the Walk and Roll to school event, a Street Smarts campaign
and the Marin Gun Safety Collaborative.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speaker: Al Vetere
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CONSENT CALENDAR:
Mayor Kate requested item 5.b be removed from the Consent Calendar for comments.
Mayor Kate invited public comment on the remainder of the Consent Calendar.
Speaker: Al Vetere
Vice Mayor Bushey moved and Councilmember Kertz seconded to approve the remainder of the
Consent Calendar.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Llorens Gulati
Item 5.b
Director of Community and Economic Development Director Micah Hinkle presented the Staff
Report for item 5.b.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Don Dickenson, Craig Fenech, Ron Clyman, Sara Sonnet, Michael Poryes, Name
Withheld, Chris Weiker, Tim Blair, Gary Ragghianti
Staff responded to questions raised during public comment.
City Councilmembers provided comments.
Vice Mayor Bushey moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to approve item 5.b.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Llorens Gulati
Adopted Resolution 15464
5. Consent Calendar Items:
a. Approval of Minutes
Approve Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of September 15, 2025 (CC)
Approved minutes as submitted
b. Agreement for Environmental Consulting Services for the Dominican Residential Development
Project and Associated Supplemental Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Appropriation
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to (1) Execute a Professional Services Agreement
with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) In an Amount Not to Exceed $675,221 for
Environmental Consulting Services for the Dominican Residential Development Project
(PLAN23-081) Located at Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 015-163-03 and (2)
Appropriate Supplemental Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 Budget Appropriations Totaling
$675,221 (CED)
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Adopted Resolution 15464
c. Replacement of Fire Hoses and Nozzles
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Purchase Orders for Firefighting
Hoses from L.N. Curtis & Sons, Inc., In an Amount Not to Exceed $82,506, and for Hoses
and Nozzles from Allstar Fire Equipment Inc., In an Amount Not to Exceed $152,718 (FD)
Adopted Resolution 15460
d. Wireless Access Point Upgrade
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Order for the Replacement
of Wireless Access Points, In an Amount Not to Exceed $128,299 (DS)
Adopted Resolution 15461
e. Information Technology Services Agreement Renewal
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a General Service Agreement with
Xantrion, Inc., for Information Technology Services from November 1, 2025, through
October 31, 2026, In an Amount Not to Exceed $1,207,200 (DS)
Adopted Resolution 15462
f. Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Proclamation in Recognition of Support of Cybersecurity Awareness Month (DS)
Received and filed
g. Measure C – Wildfire Prevention Fund
Resolution Authorizing a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Supplemental Budget Appropriation
from Measure C, Wildfire Prevention Fund (242) Fund Balance In the Amount of
$1,108,319 to Support Ongoing Wildfire Prevention Efforts (Fin)
Adopted Resolution 15463
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6. Special Presentations
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there was none.
a. Presentation of Proclamation in Recognition of Fire Prevention Week 2025 (FD)
Mayor Kate presented the proclamation and Fire Chief Abraham Roman provided
comments.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
7. Other Agenda Items
a. Capital Project Management Services Contract for Albert Park Library & Community
Center and Measure P Project Update
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement
with Griffin Structures for Albert Park Library & Community Center Capital Project
Management Services, In an Amount Not to Exceed $350,000 in FY 2025-26; And
Subsequent Amendments Based on Each Fiscal Year’s Appropriation for a Total Contract
Amount Not to Exceed $4,440,606 Through Project Completion; Measure P Project
Update (CM)
Assistant City Manager John Stefanski presented the Staff Report and introduced Gary
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Chubb, Griffin Structures who provided comments.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment; however, there was none.
City Councilmembers provided comments.
Vice Mayor Bushey moved and Councilmember Hill seconded to adopt the Resolution
authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Griffin
Structures for Albert Park Library & Community Center capital project management
services, In an amount not to exceed $350,000 in FY 2025-26; and subsequent amendments
based on each fiscal year’s appropriation for a total contract amount not to exceed
$4,440,606 through project completion; Measure P project update.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Llorens Gulati
Adopted Resolution 15465
b. Wildfire Prevention Efforts in San Rafael from 2019-2025
Informational Report on the 38-Point Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan (FD)
Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager Kate Anderson and Deputy Director of Emergency
Management Quinn Gardner presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
Mayor Kate invited public comment.
Speakers: Salamah, Sherna Deamer, Montecito Area Residents’ Association, Belle Cole
Staff responded to questions raised during public comment.
City Councilmembers provided comments.
Councilmember Kertz moved and Vice Mayor Bushey seconded to accept the report and
proposed revision.
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Llorens Gulati
Accepted report and proposed revision
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION
• Steve Danaher addressed the City Council regarding crime at 7-Eleven on B Street.
• Sergio Barajas, Carpenters Union Local 35, addressed the City Council regarding labor
standards for upcoming projects in San Rafael.
• Tammy Edmonson, MVFREE, addressed the City Council regarding the Police Advisory and
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Accountability Committee.
• Ed Rusky, MVFREE, addressed the City Council regarding the Police Advisory and
Accountability Committee.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Kate adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m.
__________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2025
_____________________________________
KATE COLIN, Mayor