HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 15494 (Temporary Camping Prohibition at City Hall)RESOLUTION NO. 15494
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
PROHBITING CAMPING AT CITY HALL (APN 011-203-12)
FROM JANUARY 21, 2026 THROUGH JULY 21, 2026
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael owns and operates public facilities, including City Hall,
for governmental operations, civic engagement, and the delivery of public services, and has a
responsibility to maintain these facilities as safe, accessible, and functional spaces for the
community; and
WHEREAS, San Rafael Municipal Code (SRMC) Section 19.50.030 prohibits camping at
all times on certain public properties, including public facilities; and
WHEREAS, Section 19.50.030(B) of SRMC authorizes the City Council to absolutely
prohibit camping, or to adopt time, place, or manner conditions on camping, at any time in or on
one or more public properties or portions thereof; and
WHEREAS, camping at City Hall has resulted in conditions that raise public health and
safety concerns, including but not limited to the accumulation of trash, food waste, and human
waste, which have contributed to rodent and pest activity on the property; and
WHEREAS, City staff have determined that rodent and pest mitigation activities are now
necessary to protect the health and safety of individuals camping at City Hall, City employees,
and members of the public, and that such work cannot be safely or effectively conducted while
camping continues on the property; and
WHEREAS, the current size of the encampment at City Hall has also resulted in disruption
to City Hall; and
WHEREAS, The Fiscal Year 2025-26 through 2027-28 Capital Improvement Program
includes Project BF26-04 City Hall Building Envelop Maintenance Upgrades, which is scheduled
for Spring 2026 and requires the encampment to be removed to have full access to the building;
and
WHEREAS, given the time necessary to complete the comprehensive rodent and pest
control around City Hall and the planned capital improvement project, a camping prohibition at
City Hall for six months is required to complete these activities; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that this action is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (common
sense exemption), and sections 15307 and 15308 of Title 14 of the California Code of
Regulations, as actions taken to protect natural resources and the environment.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, based on the staff report and presentation and public
comment received, the City Council hereby finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct
and order camping to be prohibited on or at City Hall, which includes all of APN 011 -203-12, from
12:00 pm on January 21, 2026, through July 21, 2026, 11:59 p.m. and authorizes the City
Manager to take action to effectuate this prohibition, including but not limited, to clearing the
existing campsite.
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 said City on
the 20th day of January 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk