HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Committee 2025-12-02 MinutesSAN 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)