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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. Untitled First Choice