HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Citizen of the Year 2021____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: October 4, 2021
Disposition: Resolution 14978
Agenda Item No: 5.c
Meeting Date: October 4, 2021
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: City Clerk
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2021
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO RECIPIENT OF THE RICHARD P.
O’BRIEN AND MARY FERRARIO O’BRIEN CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD -
2021
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the 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 who 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 Selection Committee to
review nominations from the public and recommend an award recipient to the City Council. The
Selection Committee includes two City Council members, two Planning Commissioners, a
member of the O’Brien family, a representative from the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce,
and neighborhood community representatives (e.g., Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods).
The call for nominations was initiated in November 2020. Once the current year nominations
have been submitted, they are reviewed along with the nominations submitted over the past
three years (in this case 2018, 2019 and 2020). Last year’s Citizen of the Year recipient
(Dominican Sisters – 2020) was removed from the pool of eligible candidates.
This year, a total of 19 candidates were considered. Of this total, 10 nominations were submitted
for 3 nominees this year and 16 were carried over from the past three years. On February 3,
2021, the Selection Committee met to review and consider the nominations. The Committee
selected Shirley Fischer as the twenty-first recipient of the award.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
As summarized in the attached Resolution and nomination materials, Shirley Fischer was
selected as Citizen of the Year due to her impact on the community in the areas of civic
participation, community engagement and her volunteer work over several decades to
participate in planning the future of San Rafael. Shirley has served on countless committees and
organizations, such as the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents, General Plan 2000, 2020
and 2040, the North San Rafael Vision Committee, and the Vision in Action Committee, to name
a few. Shirley doesn’t just participate, she inspires other members of our community to be
involved and have their voices heard as well.
Shirley Fischer’s impact on our community has been foundational. She invigorates community
engagement in constructive governance, and for many decades she has been a dedicated,
organized, intelligent, and faithful community volunteer. Her ability to lead and contribute to
complex processes has improved our community over her many years of service, and surely will
continue to do so for many more years to come. Shirley’s efforts and accomplishments have
bettered our community in many ways and merit her designation as the City of San Rafael’s
Citizen of the Year for 2021.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: The call for nominations for Citizen of the Year was advertised in
Snapshot (the City Manager’s e-newsletter), the City’s 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. However, 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 2021 Citizen of the Year Award on
Shirley Fischer.
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 and letters of support for Shirley Fischer
Resolution 14978
City of San Rafael
Richard P. O’Brien and Mary Ferrario O’Brien
Citizen of the Year Award for 2021
Presented to
Shirley Fischer
WHEREAS, Shirley Fischer has dedicated her life to civic participation for the greater good of the
community, and since she moved to Terra Linda 40 years ago she has been consistently
active in bringing together community members and organizations to foster
communication between residents and the City, to develop a common vision of
community needs and aspirations, and to advocate for implementation of this common
vision; and
WHEREAS, Shirley was a founder and chairperson of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents
(1988-2005), an umbrella organization of 13 homeowner and neighborhood associations
which sponsored Candidates’ Nights, community workshops and regular meetings with
City staff and officials to advocate for community needs and views on multiple key
issues; and
WHEREAS, Shirley has participated actively in the development of three San Rafael General
Plans—GP2000, GP2020, and GP2040, and was a key member of the North San Rafael
Vision Committee (1996-1997) and the Vision in Action Committee (1998-2003), helping
facilitate community participation in the development of a common vision for the
future of North San Rafael and the implementation of portions of this vision, such as
gateway beautification on Freitas Parkway and conceptual design of the North San
Rafael Promenade; and
WHEREAS, Shirley has been instrumental in revitalizing the Terra Linda Homeowners
Association’s Community Development Committee and has been a key strategist and
team leader for Responsible Growth in Marin, analyzing General Plan and Priority
Development Area policies and continuing to advocate for the development of a mixed-
use Town Center in North San Rafael; and
WHEREAS, Shirley conceptualized, founded and led the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents to
reinvigorate neighborhood participation and representation in governance, and under
her guidance, the Coalition’s meetings, newsletters, and persistent community
communications nurtured an increasing interest and participation in civic affairs in the
North San Rafael (NSR) community. Her efforts on the NSR Vision Steering Committee
and the Vision in Action Committee encouraged wide participation from residents of
all ages in developing and refining a unified vision including a town center in the
Northgate area and the North San Rafael Promenade to connect Terra Linda to the
Marin Civic Center. Shirley Fischer’s impact on our community has been foundational
and she invigorates community engagement in constructive governance; and
WHEREAS, If you ask Shirley’s family, they will say that her civic and community volunteer
activities have been her job, her identity, and her principal engagement for the last four
decades. Whether Shirley is spending her days counting cars for a traffic study or
spending countless hours researching an upcoming project, she is always involved and
inspiring other community members to participate in the planning of San Rafael’s
future; and
WHEREAS, Shirley has been a dedicated, organized, intelligent, and faithful community volunteer,
with the ability to lead and contribute to complex processes to improve our community
for many decades, and surely for many more years to come;
NOW, THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the San Rafael City Council expresses its appreciation to Shirley
Fischer on behalf of her community and hereby awards her the Richard O’Brien and the Mary Ferrario O’Brien Citizen
of the Year Award for 2021 on Monday, October 4, 2021.
Mayor
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New submission from Citizen of the Year
Forms Admin <notify@proudcity.com>
Sun 1/3/2021 10:28 PM
To: Lindsay Lara <Lindsay.Lara@cityofsanrafael.org>
Date
01/03/2021
Nominee for Citizen of the Year
Shirley Fischer
Nominee' Home Addre
San Rafael, Ca 94903
United States
Doe thi nominee live within San Rafael City Limit ?
Yes
Nominee's Phone
Nominee's Email
Your Name
Grace Geraghty
Your Address
Your Phone
Your Email
What contributions has this individual made to the community that are beyond the scope of normal civic
responsibilities?
While thi i an annual award, we want to recognize Shirley Fi cher for a lifetime of civic participation for the greater
good of the community Since he moved to Terra Linda 40 year ago Shirley ha been con i tently active in bringing
together community member and organization to fo ter communication between re ident and the City, to develop a
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common vision of community needs and aspirations, and to advocate for implementation of this common vision.
Shirley was a founder and chairperson of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents (1988-2005), an umbrella
organization of 13 homeowner and neighborhood associations (some of which had not been active for years)which
sponsored Candidates’ Nights, community workshops and regular meetings with City staff and officials to advocate for
community needs and views on multiple issues.
Shirley has participated actively in the development of three San Rafael General Plans—GP2000, GP2020, and
GP2040---and was a key member of the North San Rafael Vision Committee (1996-1997) and the Vision in Action
Committee (1998-2003), helping facilitate community participation in the development of a common vision for the
future of North San Rafael and the implementation of portions of this vision, such as gateway beautification on Freitas
Parkway and conceptual design of the North San Rafael Promenade.
As bespeaks Shirley’s personal commitment to the commonweal, , her advocacy for the community did not end after
her official participation in these organizations. When she noted the opportunity for implanting a key element of the
community ‘Vision’ project, she initiated discussions for implementation of portions of the North San Rafael
Promenade during renovations of Northgate Mall (2010) and, more currently, for connection to the SMART train station
(DPW advisory committee 2016-2019).
In 2013, with another former VIA Committee member, Shirley pursued the Vision Goal of preserving local history by
raising funds and personally participating in conducting an Oral History Project for Northern San Rafael, which
archived videotaped interviews of nine early residents of the Las Gallinas (Terra Linda) Valley in the Marin County
Library, recognizing and memorializing unique contributions of citizen leadership. This legacy is a crucial to
encouraging others to continue in their footsteps, as Shirley does herself.
More recently, Shirley has been instrumental in revitalizing the Terra Linda Homeowners Association’s Community
Development Committee and has been a key strategist and team leader for Responsible Growth in Marin, analyzing
General Plan and Priority Development Area policies and continuing to advocate for the development of a mixed-use
Town Center in North San Rafael.
In addition to her community development and planning activities, Shirley has volunteered many hours in various other
community activities. She and her husband have gardened in the Terra Linda Community Garden for 40 years, and
Shirley has served on the Garden Steering Committee, published a garden newsletter, and weekly taken excess
produce to the Marin Food Bank. While her children attended elementary school, Shirley was a classroom volunteer
and also taught an experiential nutrition curriculum in the classroom and afterschool programs.
What impact on the community did this individual's activities make? How has this person made a difference?
What difference can one person make? Shirley’s impact on the community has been often subtle but continuous over
the last four decades. Shirley tends to shy away from the limelight but all the people that have worked with her in the
various committees, and civic leaders at many levels of government, both staff and elected officials, will agree that
without her excellent research skills, foresight in seeing solutions and attention to detail, while never losing sight of the
big picture, major goals may not have been achieved. Here are a few of the community impacts that have made a big
difference: Many neighborhood associations in North San Rafael, originally formed to collectively represent
homeowners with the original developers, were inactive by the 1980s. There was a vacuum. Shirley conceptualized,
founded and led the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents.. She did it to reinvigorate neighborhood participation
and representation in governance. Under Shirley’s guidance, the Coalition’s meetings, newsletters, and persistent
community communications nurtured an increasing interest and participation in civic affairs in the North San Rafael
community. Her efforts on the NSR Vision Steering Committee and the Vision in Action Committee encouraged wide
participation from residents of all ages in developing and refining a unified vision including a town center in the
Northgate area and the NSR Promenade to connect Terra Linda to the Marin Civic Center. Her “nudging” and
persistent advocacy has often initiated action that otherwise would have languished on a back burner. Shirley
Fischer’s impact on our community has been foundational. She invigorates community citizenship in constructive
governance.
Over the years many City officials and community leaders have grown to know and respect Shirley because of her
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objectivity and tenacity in doing what’s right for the community. For example, most recently in 2020, after thorough
researching traffic methodologies and highly contentious Priority Development Area (PDA) issues, when she voiced
her perspective at various City public meetings and in letters to the Marin IJ Shirley was able to influence many in the
community to support keep both LOS and VMT, and of supporting the City’s application to designate North San Rafael
as a PDA.
Di cu the time and energy thi per on ha devoted to community project or effort
If you ask Shirley’s family, they will say that her civic and community volunteer activities have been and continue to be
her job, her identity and her principal engagement for the last four decades. Many days and evenings of consistent
and diligent work, including the kind of baseline, primary research and fieldwork (for example, counting cars for a
traffic study), that is necessary to support knowledgeable advocacy.
Di cu the challenge met and overcome by thi individual
Over the years Shirley has had to balance her dedication to civic activities with raising two children and her third
career as an assistant teacher and private tutor. This is not an unusual challenge, and one faced by many who
contribute to civic life.
The biggest personal challenge Shirley faced, however, was overcoming her intrinsic timidity and allowing herself to
speak boldly when necessary, to effect change for the collective benefit, When leadership was needed, she rose to
occasion in order the achieve the goals that she so strongly believed in. Over the years, many people have asked
Shirley why she did not run for public office. Her answer has always been this role does not match her intrinsic
aptitudes, but that she cares deeply enough about the welfare of her community that she is willing to put herself
forward and engage in public activities when necessary for greater good.
To what extent ha thi individual' effort been previou ly recognized by the community?
Shirley has received resolutions of appreciation from the City of San Rafael for her participation in the Freitas Advisory
group, the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents, the North San Rafael Vision Steering Committee, and the Vision in
Action Committee.
Cathy Manovi
January 9, 2021
Citizen of the Year Selection Committee
c/o Lindsay Lara, City Clerk
City of San Rafael
1400 Fifth Avenue, Room 20
San Rafael, CA 94901
city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org / Linsday.Lara@cityofsanrafael.org
Subject: Letter of Support for Shirley Fischer for 2021 Citizen of the Year
Dear Citizen of the Year Selection Committee,
I wholeheartedly support the nomination of Shirley Fischer as San Rafael’s 2021 Citizen of the Year.
Shirley is the most informed, engaged and influential community organizer I have ever met, and has
been an amazing role model for me personally. She is a wonder at tracking events and organizing and
influencing people with diverse interests to work toward community improvements.
I’ve had the good fortune to work alongside Shirley since 2016 on efforts to ensure North San Rafael
neighborhoods’ needs got addressed when SMART’s hectic design-build works were barreling through
our area. SMART and the city were on the brink of making quick decisions that impacted our
neighborhoods without adequate consideration of community safety and quality of life and that
sidelined prior community vision planning. Shirley’s stepping up to ensure the community was heard at
a public meeting was critical to creating outcomes that addressed community needs.
Shirley’s efforts on behalf of the NSR community began long before she and I met with her involvement
in NSR visioning efforts a couple decades ago. Her efforts continue today with her robust involvement in
ensuring NSR has a detailed general plan that includes re-imagining Northgate Mall. Shirley’s consistent
civic engagement over the years has facilitated community vision plans being honored, and has been
very important when such plans were at risk of being lost due to inattention during fast-moving events.
The attached notice is evidence of the first public meeting we helped organize—briefly mentioned
above. Since that hearing Shirley has been a key member—a leader-by-default—of a group of
community members who’ve been meeting with San Rafael Public Works staff to plan the
promenade/multi-use path segment on N. Merrydale Road between the Civic Center Station and
Northgate Mall. SMART’s promised multi-use-path between its station and N. San Pedro Road, which
Shirley and the group advocated for, did get built—a much needed, safe and pleasant walk-bike path
connecting NSR neighborhoods.
I can’t say enough how grateful I am to Shirley Fischer for her diligent, respectful, and influential work
on behalf of the North San Rafael community. Shirley is a wonder and highly deserving of receiving the
2021 Citizen of the Year award.
Respectfully,
Cathy Manovi
Resident, Rafael Meadows Neighborhood
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
You are inv ited to attend an inform al public meeting on t h e follow ing proposed subject s :
Civic Center Drive -Merrydale North Pathway -Th e City of San Ra fael is working cl osely w ith the County of Marin a nd t he Sono ma Marin
Area Rai l Transit (SMART) in the area surrounding the C ivic Center Station. T he foll owi ng proj ects a re c urre nt ly be in g p urs ued in t hi s a rea:
Civic Center Drive Reconstru ction (County o f Marin/City of San Ra fael) -C urrently in Construction
C iv ic Cente r Rail Stat io n (SMART) -lnf rasturct ure Comp let e
Multi Use Pat hway -Civ ic Cente r Station to Los Ranchi t os (SMART) -Aw ait ing Permit Issuance
Merryda le North -Insta ll at io n of Parkin g a nd Sidewalk (SMART) -Design Phase
Merrydale South -Installation of Creek Vegetation (SMART )
On Thursday November 10 , 20 16 at 6:00 p.m. an informal public meeting will be he ld at the Terra Linda Com munity Cente r to provide a n
update to the community o n each of t hese proj ects. Representatives f rom t he City of San Rafael, Coun ty of Ma rin a nd SMART wi ll be present
to convey how each project will be implem ented in t he comm unity.
MEETING CATE/TIME/LOCATION: November 10, 20 16, 6:00 p.m. Terra Li nd a Community Cente r 670 Del Ganado Road , San Rafael CA
94903
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin M cGow an, A ssistant Public Works Director at (41 5) 485-3389 o r
Ke v in.McG o wan@cityofs anrafael.org.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN : This is an informational meeting inten ded to prov ide the public with additional informat ion about cu rrent and proposed
const ru cti on in the area. Th e City welcomes your co mments and feedback with regard to th e projects stated above . If you ca nnot attend, you can sen d
a lette r to th e San Rafael De partment of Public Works, 111 Morphew Street, San Rafael, CA 9490 1.
Sign Language and interpretation and assistive listening devices may be requested by calling (415) 48~3085 (voice) or (415) 48~198 (TDD) at l east 72 hours in advance. Copies of
documents are available in accessible formats upon request. Public transpoltation to City Hall is available through Golden Gate Transit, Une 22 or 23. Para-transit is available by calling
Whistles/op Wheels at (415) 454-0964. To allow indi viduals with environmental illness or multiple, chemical sensitivities to attend th e m eeting/hearing, indMduals are requested to refrain
from wearing scented products.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Y ou are inv ite d to attend an inform al public m eeting on t h e follow ing proposed subject s :
Civic Center Drive -Merrydale North Pathway -The City of San Ra fael is working closely w ith the County of Marin a nd t he Sono ma Ma rin
Area Rai l Transit (SMA RT) in the area surrounding the C ivic Center Station. T he fo ll owi ng proj ects a re c urre nt ly be in g p urs ued in t hi s a rea:
Civic Center Drive Reconstru ction (County o f Marin/City of San Ra fael) -C urrently in Construction
C iv ic Cente r Rail Stat io n (SMART) -lnf rasturct ure Comp let e
Mul ti Use Pat hway -Civ ic Cente r Station to Los Ranchi t os (SMART) -Aw ait ing Permit Issuance
Me rryda le North -Insta ll at io n of Parkin g a nd Sidewalk (SMART) -Design Phase
Merrydale South -Installation of Creek Vegeta ti on (SMA RT )
On Thursday November 10 , 201 6 at 6:00 p.m. an informal public meeting will be he ld at the Terra Linda Com munity Cente r to provide a n
update to the community o n each of t hese proj ects. Representatives f rom t he City of San Rafael, Coun ty of Ma rin a nd SMART wi ll be present
to convey how each project will be implemented in t he comm unity.
MEETING CATE/TIME/LOCATION : November 10, 20 16, 6:00 p.m. Terra Li nd a Community Cente r 670 Del Ganado Road , San Rafael CA
94903
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin M cGow an, A ssistant Public Wo rks Director at (41 5) 4 85-3389 o r
Ke v in.McG o wan@cityofs anrafael.org.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN : This is an informational meeting inten ded to prov ide the public with additional informat ion about cu rrent and proposed
const ru ction in the area. Th e City welcomes your comments and feedback with regard to th e proj ects stated above . If you ca nnot attend, you can sen d
a lette r to th e San Rafael De partment of Public Works, 111 Morphew Street, San Rafael, CA 9490 1.
Sign Language and interpretation and assistive listening devices may be requested by calling (415) 48~3085 (voice) or (415) 48~198 (TDD) at least 72 hours in advance. Copies of
documents are available in accessible formats upon request. Public transpoltation to City Hall is available through Golden Gate Transit, Une 22 or 23. Para-transit is available by calling
Whistles/op Wheels at (415) 454-0964. To allow indi viduals with environmental illness or multiple, chemical sensitivities to attend the meeting/hearing, indMduals are requested to refrain
from wearing scented products.
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Shirley Fisher for Citizen of the Year for San Rafael
Cecil Nielsen
Wed 1/6/2021 11:14 AM
To: Lindsay Lara <Lindsay.Lara@cityofsanrafael.org>
Good Morning
I am writing to you because I heard that Shirley Fisher was nominated for Citizen of the Year for San Rafael.
This is wonderful news! I am hugely in support of this nomination! It is about time!!
I worked with Shirley for many years on the VIA committee and on several sub-committees. There wasn't one rock
that Shirley couldn't turn over. She was committed about her dedication to this city wholeheartedly. She made sure
things got done
This Citizen of the Year Award should commend her for all her years as a true advocate for everyone in San Rafael.
If it weren't for Shirley I doubt many things would have been completed in our City She fueled our fire to keep going
and persevere. She made our VIA committee thrive.
We need more people like her.
I support Shirley Fisher's nomination!
Cecil Nielsen
I am writing in support of Shirley Fischer as San Rafael Citizen of the Year. I first met Shirley
when I was appointed to a group to oversee the implementation of “Vision North San Rafael in
the Year 2010.” The group became known as the VIA (vision in action) Committee, and we
served together from 1998-2003.
Shirley had already been active in shaping the Vision, serving as a member of the steering
committee for the visioning process. The plan was published in November 1997 and guided the
work of the VIA Committee. In our final year, Shirley and I were deeply involved in the process
of completing the conceptual plan for the North San Rafael Promenade, working with architects
Brian Wittenkeller and Brian Powell. VIA disbanded in May 2003.
In 2008 Shirley and I worked with Bob Brown, San Rafael’s director of Community
Development, on specific design features for The Promenade, developed with RHAA Landscape
Architects and Planners. This came about because the owners of Northgate Mall, Macerich
Company, agreed to install the segment of The Promenade on their property as part of their
remodel process.
In May 2010, Shirley and I became involved in planning for a celebration at Northgate Mall. As
a direct result of the vision process, Macerich included the first segment of The Promenade as
part of its renovation project – as well as the Oak Plaza “community gathering space” behind
Kohl’s where the celebration was held.
In 2012-2013, Shirley and I partnered on a new project to capture oral histories of our
community. We approached Laurie Thompson, California Room Librarian, Civic Center Library.
Laurie brought in professional oral historian Marilyn Geary. Our first hurdle was to successfully
raise $2,000 for the project. In a stroke of luck, neighbor Paul Kawaga saw our fundraising letter
posted at Scotty’s. A professional videographer, Paul volunteered to film the interviews.
By the end of 2013, our project had nine oral histories in both audio and video versions as well
as written transcripts. Some of the community leaders who shared their memories are no longer
with us, including Dave Freitas, Jean Starkweather, and Catherine Munson.
In all these efforts, I have known Shirley to be a dedicated, organized, intelligent, and faithful
community volunteer, with the ability to lead and contribute to complex processes to improve
her community. I know her contributions have gone well beyond those that we shared.
Kay Noguchi
San Rafael, CA 94903
January 6, 2021
San Rafael Citizen of the Year Selection Committee
c/o Lindsay Lara
1400 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Via email: Lindsay.Lara@cityofsanrafael.org
RE: Support for nominee Shirley Fischer
Dear Selection Committee:
During a presentation by the North San Rafael (NSR) Vision Steering Committee to the San
Rafael City Council in November 1997, Shirley Fischer is quoted as saying, “we in San Rafael are
blessed to have the opportunity to participate in our own government.” Shirley has taken
advantage of that fortunate opportunity for many decades to the benefit of her community.
During the years leading up to Shirley’s service on the NSR Vision Steering Committee and her
time since serving on San Rafael’s 2020 General Plan “Getting Around Town” Task Force
[GP2020 was adopted in 2004], Shirley has participated in, as well as facilitated others’
participation in, implementing local plans. Tracking and advocating for implementation of long-
range action priorities and policies requires sustained focus, commitment, energy and time.
Shirley’s dedication to San Rafael meets those requirements.
Shirley is a leader and an organizer. Her tactics for getting things accomplished include frequent
communication and developing positive relationships with City staff especially with those in the
Community Development and Public Works (DPW) departments, encouraging other community
members to take part in meetings, and sharing her detailed notes from public meetings, or
meetings she attended with City staff, to keep her community partners informed.
I met Shirley in 2016 when she invited me to attend a site visit with DPW at the Civic Center
station area to discuss bicycle and pedestrian connectivity improvements near the intersection
of the train tracks with Merrydale Road. She explained the Vision for the Northgate Promenade
in connecting the Terra Linda Community Center to the west to the Civic Center to the east in
order to ameliorate the physical divide between the North San Rafael communities created by
Highway 101. A small group of us met several times at Shirley’s house as we looked at iterations
of planning and engineering documents over the years. Directors at DPW have changed hands
three times since our first encounter and the planning for continuation of the Promenade down
North Merrydale continues.
Recently, in response to development proposals in North San Rafael that would likely
jeopardize goals set forth in the NSR Vision, Shirley became re-involved with the Terra Linda
Homeowners Association’s Community Development committee. At the time, we were loosely
meeting to review development proposals. Today, Shirley is leading the group, holding biweekly
meetings with agendas and reports. She has advocated for retaining Level of Service (LOS) as an
evaluation tool for new projects in addition to the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) measurement
required by CEQA in order for San Rafael to retain analysis of congestion impacts from
development as part of project review. She worked with others to comment on the Terra Linda
section of the Neighborhood Element of the 2040 General Plan, attended a number of General
Plan 2040 Steering Committee meetings waiting hours to speak as a member of the public, and
has submitted individual comments on the draft Plan. She has become active with Responsible
Growth in Marin, and last June authored a Marin Voice piece in the Independent Journal
promoting the City’s application for a Priority Development Area designation in order to secure
funding for a community planning process of the Northgate area. The area as described in the
NSR Vision would expand and evolve over time as “the heart of the North San Rafael
community”.
Shirley has not only spent many, many hours each year working on the behalf of her community
in San Rafael, but she has supported others in joining her and she has raised the level of
achievement for all those involved. Shirley has earned the honor of becoming San Rafael’s
Citizen of the Year. Thank you for considering this letter of support with her nomination.
Sincerely,
Kate Powers
January 9, 2021
Nomination of Shirley Fischer for San Rafael Citizen of the Year
It is my pleasure to add my support to Shirley Fischer for San Rafael Citizen of the Year. In a year when
there have been so many fissures in our system of government, at least at the local level, democracy is
alive and well.
One of the reasons our local civic life is so healthy is an active, educated and engaged citizenry. No one
embodies this more than Shirley Fischer. For over thirty years she has been steadfastly working for the
public good in our city.
I have known Shirley for over twenty-five years. I was co-chair of the North San Rafael Vision Committee
in preparation of the General Plan for 2020. We worked on getting input from residents of North San
Rafael through many public meetings held at locations throughout the community. We also reviewed
survey information and had countless conversations with our friends and neighbors north of the Hill. I
know her dedication and hard work, first hand.
I am amazed at how steadfast her involvement and contribution to city life has been. While some of us
come and go, depending upon the issue at hand, Shirley is always there providing education,
information, doing research, talking to friends and neighbors and providing thoughtful input to our
public processes.
None of this would be possible, though, without the openness and good will of our local government.
Our civic leaders have worked to make San Rafael the wonderful city it is. For this, we have in large part
to thank Shirley Fischer for her years of advocacy and the openness of local government to ensure the
wonderful of quality of life that we enjoy in our fair city.
Sincerely,
Annie Song-Hill
Former Co-Chair of North San Rafael Vision
Former Trustee, Miller Creek School District
PATRICK M. SEIDLER
Transportation Alternatives for Marin
January 27, 2021
Dear City of San Rafael:
It is a pleasure and an honor to write to support Shirley Fischer as San Rafael’s
2021 Citizen of the Year.
I met Shirley in 1993, and worked with her through 1994 on The North-South
Bikeway Study. This pivotal Study led to what is now known as The North-South
Greenway. Many of the multi-modal Greenway segments are built, and the
remaining segments are planned to be built. When completed, the vision Shirley
helped set out in the 1994 Study will be realized.
Part of the North-South Greenway was embodied as the SMART Pathway, which
has now been extended to The Great Redwood Trail, ultimately stretching 350
miles from Sausalito to Blue Lake in Humboldt County!
That 1994 project is a prime example of how Shirley Fischer has generously and
consistently contributed to her community over many years. Shirley undertakes
projects that are intellectually-pure, good-spirited, and deliver long-term
community benefits and tangible results that will be enjoyed for generations.
Shirley led the community in creating the North San Rafael Vision Plan, which
included the Northgate Promenade. Shirley led negotiations with the Northgate
Mall property owner, securing their commitment to build the largest segment of
the Northgate Promenade next to Las Gallinas from Northgate Drive past the
Merrydale Drive overpass, an impressive financial and alignment feat.
In 2005, the Northgate Promenade “Plans” were upgraded to a Study funded with
federal grant money from the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program.
Shirley led the community input on this Study, which brought the complete
Promenade one step closer to being built as a model for multimodal access and
safety.
PATRICK M. SEIDLER
Transportation Alternatives for Marin
From 2019 through the present, Shirley has led the effort to establish the
“Preferred Plan” linking the Northgate Promenade from Las Gallinas and
Merrydale to the Civic Center SMART Station, a crucial connection. This section of
the Northgate Promenade, almost 20 years in the coming, will complete a major
link from Northgate Drive along Las Gallinas all the way to the Civic Center.
While the above projects are important building blocks of our community, they
represent a small fraction of the multitude of Shirley’s projects and contributions.
Shirley’s prescient vision and ceaseless efforts have made our community a better
place to live, and Shirley’s generous character and spirit make us lucky to share
that community with her.
It has been an honor to work with Shirley on only a few of her many community
projects. It has been a pleasure to witness Shirley’s accomplishments after
generations of her personal involvement and volunteerism. We are all better for
her efforts and success.
Shirley exemplifies the best in civic engagement; she leaned into the long-haul
process of envisioning then creating her own livable community. Shirley’s efforts
and projects are the thread that weaves together the vibrant fabric of our
community.
These are but a few of the reasons that Shirley Fischer should be recognized as
San Rafael’s Citizen of the Year in 2021.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick M. Seidler
Transportation Alternatives for Marin
San Rafael Home Owner
1/25/2021 Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkAGE4NDc2ZDVlLWQxMTYtNDBiOC04NTI0LTRjYTQzNTJlMTJkMQBGAAAAAAAyY1qsYIBjQ6ajfUy…1/1
Volunteer of the Year Award for Shirley Fischer
Carol Mack <
Sun 1/24/2021 9:58 PM
To: Lindsay Lara <Lindsay.Lara@cityofsanrafael.org>
Please add this to Shirley Fischer’s nomination to the San Rafael Volunteer Citizen of the Year award. Thank you. This
will replace the previous one I sent you. Thank you,
Carol Mack
San Rafael, Ca 94903
Shirley Fischer is most deserving to receive the San Rafael Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award.
I have known Shirley for many years as a fellow gardener in the Terra
Linda Community Garden. In the 40 plus years that Shirley has
participated in the community garden, she has contributed to
making the garden both a successful and productive place for
people to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers and also a
community where people form friendships and encourage and help
each other. Shirley has mentored many new and old gardeners,
sharing her skills, knowledge and experience of organic gardening.
She generously shares plants, vegetables, garden tools, physical help
and watering for other gardeners, and often goes beyond working
in her own garden to help with the needs of the community garden
as a whole. Shirley volunteered as a member of the Garden
Steering Committee for a number of years, helped assemble Bylaws
for the community garden, and for eight years edited a quarterly
newsletter for the gardeners. In recent years she collects extra
vegetables every week to share with the Food Bank, and in the fall
she organizes the purchase of onion plants on behalf of many of the
gardeners (1300 plants this year!). Shirley has put her heart and soul
in making our Community Garden a successful and rewarding place
for many.