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Home My WebLink AboutFinance Subcommittee Agenda Packet 2026-01-20 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Third Floor Conference Room San Rafael City Hall 1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 Watch Online: Watch on Zoom Webinar: https://cityofsanrafael-org.zoom.us/j/86715249411 Listen by phone: +1 669 444 9171 ID: 867 1524 9411 One Tap Mobile: +16694449171,,86715249411# US SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes a. Approve the minutes of the December 2, 2025 meeting Recommended Action – Approve minutes as submitted 3. Open Time for Public Expression a. The public is welcome to address the Committee at this time on matters not on the agenda that are within its jurisdiction. Comments may be no longer than two minutes and should be respectful to the community 4. Reports/Action Items a. Framework for Fiscal Sustainability – Staff will provide the Committee with an updated on the City’s fiscal outlook, framework for maintaining balanced budgets and prudent reserves, and preliminary recommendation(s) related to potential June 2026 and/or November 2026 ballot measures. Recommendation: Provide feedback b. Voter Approved Tax Oversight Committee Annual Report FY2024-25 – Informational item to preview Committee’s report and recommendation appearing on City Council’s agenda for meeting of January 20, 2026. Recommendation: Receive verbal report. 5. Future Agenda Items 6. Adjournment Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the board or commission less than 72 hours before the meeting, shall be available for inspection in the City Clerk’s Office, room 209, 1400 Fifth Avenue, Sign Language interpreters and assistive listening devices may be requested by calling (415) 485-3066 (voice), emailing Lindsay.lara@cityofsanrafael.org or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Copies of documents are available in accessible formats upon request. Public transportation is available through Golden Gate Transit, Line 22 or 23. Paratransit is available by calling Whistlestop. Wheels at (415) 454-0964. To allow individuals with environmental illness or multiple chemical sensitivity to attend the meeting/hearing, individuals are requested to refrain from wearing scented products. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE Tuesday, December 2, 2025 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Third Floor Conference Room San Rafael City Hall 1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 1. Call to Order Time: 11:30am Committee Members: Mayor Kate Colin, Councilmember Eli Hill Staff Present: Paul Navazio (staff liaison), Cristine Alilovich, John Stefanski, April Miller, Catherine Quffa, Abraham Roman 2. Approval of Minutes a. Approval of Minutes of the Special Finance Subcommittee meeting of November 4, 2025. Action – Approved 2-0 (Mayor Kate, Councilmember Hill) - noting spelling correction. 3. Open Time for Public Expression • None. 4. Reports/Action Items a. Framework for Fiscal Sustainability – Staff provided the Committee with an update on the City’s fiscal outlook as well as a framework and timeline for consideration of potential ballot measures for the June 2026 and/or November 2026 elections. • The City’s General Fund forecast shows emerging baseline deficits, beginning in FY2026/27, and growing to $2.0-$2.5 million by FY2029/30 • Additional budget pressures and unfunded needs, along with general economic uncertainties exacerbate the potential fiscal challenges over the near term – challenging to address inflationary cost increases, deferred maintenance, infrastructure needs, and public safety service levels • While staff believe FY2026/27 budget can be balanced with modest budget adjustments, fiscal sustainability requires a more comprehensive long-term strategy and review of options, including revenue measures. • The budget forecast currently assumes renewal of the City’s Measure D Library Parcel Tax, which provides $1.2 million annually in support of library operations. Measure D is set to sunset on June 30, 2025; absent voter support for renewal of Measure D, the General Fund would need to backfill for the loss in tax revenues in order to maintain current library services and hours of operations. • Staff are also exploring potential revenue measures for the November 2026 ballot that would serve to maintain a balanced budget as well as address priority unfunded needs. Options being evaluated include an increase in the existing Property Transfer Tax and/or a new (special revenue) parcel tax. • Other revenue options being evaluated that do not require a ballot measure include a potential Stormwater Fee (via Prop 218 process) to provide funding for storm drain maintenance and infrastructure and negotiating for a portion of the County’s Hotel Assessment to support economic development activities. Subcommittee members expressed appreciation for the comprehensive approach outlined in the staff presentation, noting that other cities are also facing increased budget challenges. Highlights of subcommittee member comments included: o Mayor Kate noted that the Council was aware of budget challenges within the current timeframe as they were deliberating over the last round of bargaining resulted in three-year labor agreements; expressed a desire to place the renewal of Measure D on the June 2026 ballot; commented that with the sobering fiscal outlook, the expectation should be that many of the Year 1 workplan items supporting the Council’s three-year strategic plan will likely need to roll-over into the Year 2 workplan; limited resources for any new initiatives, absent additional budget flexibility; support for exploring a potential increase in the property transfer tax in November 2026. o Councilmember Hill concurred with need to ensure renewal of Measure D; inquired as to how the City’s reserve funds could be used to help address budget shortfalls in the near term; raised the question of whether the City can somehow leverage the expected future reduction in MCERA pension costs to assist with short-term deficits; as an additional source of potential revenue, he would support exploring allowing retail storefront cannabis licenses. Next steps: o Finance Subcommittee (1/20/26) - Continued discussion; updated budget forecast; and preliminary recommendation on June 2026 ballot measure o City Council (2/2/26) – Discussion of budget outlook and preliminary ballot measure recommendation(s). o City Council (2/17026) – Target date of Council action calling election and placing measure on June 2026 ballot. 5. Future Agenda Items a. Agenda planning for the upcoming meetings: i. The Subcommittee scheduled a Special Meeting for Tuesday, January 20, 2026. • Continued discussion of Fiscal Outlook (update) • Preliminary Staff recommendation related to 2026 ballot measures Adjournment • Meeting was adjourned at 12:32pm (Mayor Kate)