Health & Fitness
San Rafael Snapshot - December 12, 2013
Year-End Thanks and Reflections
As 2013 comes to an end, I’d like to take a moment and to reflect on some of the issues and opportunities we’ve faced as a community this year. There are too many to mention in this newsletter, but allow me to reflect on a few: We’ve made quite a bit of progress on our Climate Change Action Plan this year with regards to plastic bags, solar energy, zero waste, and Styrofoam. Our emissions inventory shows that our residents and businesses are also stepping up to the plate in helping to reduce Greenhouse Gases. Our work hasn’t gone unnoticed; the City Council was awarded with a Beacon Award for Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change.
We have also been hard at work tackling tough issues such as pension reform and homelessness in our community. These are big issues that require a lot of thought, care, and compassion. Our City Council, City staff, and the members of our community have shown incredible dedication to the tasks. We’ve also welcomed many new businesses this year which is a hopeful sign of a long-awaited economic recovery. Also, thanks to the voters of San Rafael we have secured long-term funding for important city services with the passage of Measure E. We’ve finalized a shared service agreement for fire services with Larkspur, an action that strengthens regional cooperation, and last but not least, the community also showed their support by funding the return of our canine unit in the Police Department. It’s been a great year and we look forward to a wonderful 2014 in San Rafael.
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Refuse and Recycling Rates
The City Council will hold its annual public hearing on refuse and recycling rates at the December 16 Council Meeting. Council will review the maximum rates Marin Sanitary Service can charge customers in San Rafael for trash, recycling and composting services. Marin Sanitary Service handles all refuse and recycling for San Rafael residents, businesses and government operations. The proposed rate increase for 2014 is 5.52%. Rates are set through a rate setting formula, and are audited by a third party each year. Marin Sanitary Service launched a Commercial Food to Energy project this past year to great success and will be increasing this service four-fold in the coming year. In addition, through Marin Sanitary Service, San Rafael has a high rate of diversion from landfill at approximately 75%. San Rafael’s rates are comparable to other jurisdictions in the Bay Area, and are lower than the Marin County average. Click here for the staff report.
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Reminder: City Hall Closed 12/23 – 1/1
Due to furloughs, the City’s administrative offices in City Hall, the San Rafael Public Library, and the City’s community centers (with the exception of private rentals) will be closed from December 23 – January 1. Childcare Centers will remain open and 24-hour operations will remain in effect for the Police and Fire Departments. The Department of Public Works and Parking Services will also remain open.
Reminder: Downtown San Rafael Free 3-Hour Parking, All City Lots, 11/28 – 12/31
Shopping and dining in Downtown San Rafael will be a bit sweeter this holiday season thanks to the City of San Rafael's Downtown Holiday parking Validation Program. Working with the Downtown Business Improvement District, the City has expanded the popular free 3-hour parking program to include all City-owned parking lots and garages. Starting Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Eve, visitors to the Downtown area may park for 3-hours, FREE of charge in all City-owned parking lots.
Support Santa Cop
The San Rafael Santa Cop Program aims to make the holidays a little happier for children who have no control over their own circumstances. Every child deserves the joy and magic of Christmas! The program also helps to create a positive bond between police and firefighters and the families they serve. Uniformed personnel from the Police and Fire Departments as well as volunteers from the International Footprinters Association Chapter #15 deliver gifts and food to each recipient’s home. The program is successful due to the support and donations from the community. For more information about donations or how to help with delivery of presents, call 456-2685 or visit www.sanrafaelsantacop.org.
Fire Safety in the Season for Sharing
Fire Chief Chris Gray would like to remind all of us that fire safety remains important in this holiday season. Each year, fires happen that could easily have been prevented. Click here for a list of simple life-saving steps that can be taken to ensure a safe and happy holiday, including how to pick a tree, how to care for it, how to ultimately dispose of it as well as information on lights, decorations and candles. After the holidays, from January 2-15, your tree can be recycled at:
Fire Station 52 - 210 Third Street
Fire Station 55 - 955 Point San Pedro Road
Fire Station 57 - 3530 Civic Center Drive
Albert J. Boro Community Center - 50 Canal Street
Manuel T. Freitas Parkway & Del Ganado (Scotty’s Market Parking Lot)
Marin Resource Recovery Center (During the entire month of January)
565 Jacoby Street San Rafael, CA 94901 (call 415-485-5648)
Winter Weather Preparedness
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s getting pretty cold outside. Are you ready for winter? Get your mittens out, your scarf and coat and get prepared with the help of our Office of Emergency Services’ Winter Weather Preparedness Worksheet (also available in Spanish). As many of you will be lighting up you fireplaces, remember to check Spare the Air first. As you keep warm this winter, here are some tips for saving money and conserving resources:
Install a programmable thermostat
Clean or change the furnace filter about once a month and have your furnace professionally cleaned and turned once a year
Winterize windows and doors by caulking and weather stripping
Snapshot Holiday
This is the last Snapshot for 2013. Due to City Hall being closed during the last week of December, there will be no January 6 City Council meeting. Be on the lookout for the first edition of 2014 on January 16. Happy Holidays!
EVENTS
Meet the Mayor
Come Downtown and join Mayor Gary Phillips for a ‘Meet the Mayor’ social on Monday, December 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The event will be held at Copperfield’s Books at 850 Fourth Street at Cijos. This is your chance to say hello to the Mayor, ask questions about San Rafael, enjoy some tea and cookies, and do some book shopping at San Rafael’s brand new independent book store. This is the first of what will be quarterly ‘Meet the Mayor’ events to be held at various locations throughout San Rafael.
Art Talk
On Wednesday, January 8, Docent Gretchen Turner will give an illustrated lecture on “I Am Not Myself: Masks and Masquerades.” Part of human culture for thousands of years, masks or their images appear in art of every kind. Humans comprise the only species that consciously changes identity by donning masks or costumes in rituals for communing with the worlds of the spirits, the gods, or the dead. First Wednesday Art Talks are sponsored by the Friends of the San Rafael Public Library. The lectures are held in the Council Chambers at San Rafael City Hall beginning promptly at 1:00 p.m. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Seating is limited and admission is free.