HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM Citizen of the Year 2019____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: 03/04/2019
Disposition: Resolution 14641
Agenda Item No: 4.b
Meeting Date: March 4, 2019
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: City Manager
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: ____________
TOPIC: Citizen of the Year 2019
SUBJECT: Resolution of Appreciation to Recipient of the Richard P. O’Brien and Mary
Ferrario O’Brien Citizen of the Year Award - 2019
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution of Appreciation
BACKGROUND: In March 2001, J. Michael Mahoney established an endowment in honor of
former Planning Commissioner Richard O’Brien and his wife, Mary Ferrario O’Brien. The
endowment funds an annual “Citizen of the Year” award. The purpose of this award is to
recognize an individual in the San Rafael community wh o has made exceptional contributions
to the City, making it a better place to live or work. In addition to public recognition, the
endowment provides a cash award to the recipient.
In September 2001, the City Council adopted procedures for the “Citizen of the Year” award
program and process. The procedures include the appointment of a Se lection Committee to
review nominations from the public and recommend an award recipient to the City Council. The
Selection Committee is comprised of two City Councilmembers, two Planning Commissioners,
a member of the O’Brien family, a representative from the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce,
a representative of the Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods and a representative of the
North San Rafael Coalition of Residents.
The call for nominations was initiated in November 2018. Once the current year nominations
were submitted, they were reviewed along with the nominations submitted over the past three
years (in this case 2016, 2017 and 2018).
This year, a total of 17 candidates were considered. Of this total, eight nominations were
submitted to the City this year and nine were carried over from the past three years. On January
31, 2019, the Selection Committee met to review and consider the nominations. The Committee
selected Jeff Craemer as the eighteenth recipient of the award.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
As summarized in the attached Resolution and nomination materials , Jeff Craemer was selected
as Citizen of the Year due to his involvement in the community through his service on the San
Rafael Fire Foundation board of directors, his unwavering efforts to save the Marin History
Museum, and his commitment to revitalize the San Quentin Museum. Jeff has delivered benefits
to the institutions he supports both financially and by the investment of his time, energy, and
creative thinking. He was a vocal proponent of saving the Marin History Museum by rallying
support wherever he could find an ear to listen. He personally salvaged artifacts from destruction
during the last days of the previous museum administration. Beyond that, Jeff worked his
personal network to help find support for restoring the museum. It was through his efforts that
the San Quentin Museum, which had sunk into disuse, was brought back to life and sustained
by his tireless efforts. Financially, Jeff has filled gaps that enabled the fruition of goals by the
institutions he supports. Jeff’s effort to actively seek ways to help, with no expectation of reward,
has earned him the receipt of the City of San Rafael’s Citizen of the Year Award for 2018.
If approved by the City Council, Jeff Craemer will be recognized at this year’s State of the City
Dinner, which is scheduled for Thursday, April 4, 2019.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: The call for nominations for Citizen of the Year was advertised in
Snapshot (the City Manager’s e -newsletter), the City website, NextDoor social media, and with
neighborhood associations.
FISCAL IMPACT: As the Citizen of the Year Award program is privately funded, there is no
financial impact to the City of San Rafael. The recipient of this award receives a check in the
amount of $2,500 from the Richard P. O’Brien and Mary Ferrario O’Brien Citizen of the Year
Fund, which is administered by the Marin Community Foundation.
OPTIONS:
1.Adopt the Resolution of Appreciation conferring the Citizen of the Year Award to Jeff
Craemer.
2.Return the recommendation to the Selection Committee for reconsideration.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt the Resolution of Appreciation.
ATTACHMENTS:
1.Resolution of Appreciation
2.Nomination materials for Jeff Craemer
Resolution 14641
Date
11/09/2017
Nominee for Citizen of the Year
Jeff Craemer
Nominee's Home Address
San Rafael, CA 94901
United States
Map It
Does this nominee live within San Rafael City Limits?
Yes
Nominee's Phone
Nominee's Email
Your Name
Jack Devlin
Your Address
San Rafael, CA 94901
United States
Map It
Your Phone
Your Email
What contributions has this individual made to the community that are beyond the scope of normal
civic responsibilities?
John R. "Jeff" Craemer has been instrumental in making the San Rafael Fire Foundation a success. Jeff
was also a significant actor in resurrecting the Marin History Museum. Without Jeff, the museum at San
Quentin would not be in operation. Jeff is also an industrious contributor to his church.
What impact on the community did this individual's activities make? How has this person made a
difference?
Jeff has delivered benefits to the institutions he supports both financially and by the investment of his time,
energy, and creative thinking. Without his financial help, there may be no Marin History Museum nor might
there exist a fire and rescue boat at the San Rafael Fire Department. Jeff also saw to the restoration of a
classic fire engine at San Quentin.
Discuss the time and energy this person has devoted to community projects or efforts.
Jeff is a member of the San Rafael Fire Foundation board of directors. He attends all meetings and
energetically campaigns for community fundraising support to back up his own financial contributions. Jeff
was a vocal proponent of saving the Marin History Museum rallying support wherever he could find an ear
to listen. He personally salvaged artifacts from destruction during the last days of the previous museum
administration. Jeff personally resurrected the San Quentin Museum and is the docent there every
Tuesday and Thursday without fail. If Jeff says he will do a task, it will be done!
Discuss the challenges met and overcome by this individual.
As mentioned above, Jeff had to "dumpster dive" to salvage artifacts from the failing Marin History
Museum. Beyond that, Jeff worked his personal network to help find support for restoring the museum. It
was through his efforts that the San Quentin Museum, which had sunk into disuse, was brought back to
life and sustained by his tireless efforts. Financially, Jeff has filled gaps that enabled the fruition of goals
by the institutions he supports.
To what extent has this individual's efforts been previously recognized by the community?
I am unaware of any previous acknowledgement. Jeff goes quietly about his projects actively looking for
ways to help any institution he supports with no expectation of reward except the satisfaction of knowing
he made a difference.
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