San Rafael Snapshot - July 17, 2014

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Solar Energy for City Facilities

We are currently investigating options to install solar at several City facilities including City Hall, the Department of Public Works building on Morphew Street, the San Rafael Community Center on B Street, the Terra Linda Community Center, the Albert J. Boro Community Center, and the C Street Parking Garage. The solar facilities will be placed on rooftops or over carports and will reduce our power bills significantly over time.  On Monday, July 21 at 7 p.m. the City Council will consider the project. Click here for the staff report.

Speaking of energy, the SmartLights program is offering free energy assessments for San Rafael businesses. We have used this program to assess almost all of our City facilities. The assessment helps identify opportunities for upgrades to save money on your overhead while reducing your energy consumption. This program is made possible thanks to a partnership with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Marin County Energy Watch, Marin Clean Energy, and PG&E. Click here for more information.

Terrapin Crossroads Lease of Beach Park

Also on Monday evening the City Council will hold a public hearing to consider leasing Beach Park on Yacht Club Drive to Terrapin Crossroads for 5 years. Essentially, the proposed agreement is a public-private partnership that will lead to a renovated, maintained, managed and secure park along with construction of a new dock.  In recent years the area has become a magnet for litter, vandalism, and other unlawful behavior, and this partnership will bring new improvements and desired activities to the park. Under the agreement, the public would be able to access the park and dock through the restaurant anytime during hours of operation and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, the gates to the park will be open from Yacht Club Drive. For more details of the agreement, click here to read the staff report.

H Street Construction Project Update

Did you know the drainage system under H Street dates back to the early 1900’s?  Upon City Council approval Monday night to award a contract for constructon, the Department of Public Works will soon begin a major drainage repair and street rehabilitation project on H Street that will bring needed improvements to a deteriorating street that many people use to access the Fairhills and Sun Valley neighborhoods.  Utility companies are currently performing significant improvements to their facilities and we anticipate this project, which is a combination of sanitary, roadway drainage repairs and roadway reconstruction, to conclude by mid to late November. Residents in the neighborhood will be affected by necessary traffic detours.

Multi-Agency Response to Transportation Emergencies

Over the past week we experienced a bit more than the usual fare with several serious transportation related challenges. An overturned truck on Highway 101 carrying two dozen crushed cars that spilled half its load started it off last week. This incident was followed by a car and driver into the Bay a few days later. Then a gasoline tanker ends on its side, spilling gasoline on Sir Francis Drake at San Quentin. Miraculously no one was injured in any of the incidents. Dispatchers, Fire/Rescue personnel, California Highway Patrol, Police, Sheriff, Paramedics, Public Works staff and additional agencies, including a wrecking crew, teamed up to help manage the incidents. While the traffic may have tried patience for some temporarily, the alternative scenarios of injuries, fatalities, fires and environmental damage could have been far, far worse. Thank you to all those in our partner agencies who respond to our emergencies and help keep San Rafael safe!

First Responder Referral Project

I am pleased to announce a new community partnership between Senior Friendly Marin and our Fire Department called the First Responder Referral Project.  Senior Friendly Marin is a community based initiative promoting healthy and active aging and a good quality of life for seniors in Marin County. This new partnership will allow us to better serve our community members with age and memory related issues that impair their function and lives. When first responders encounter an elderly patient with signs of a deteriorating function who needs extra help, they will make a referral to one of several community service agencies that can make a needs assessment and provide appropriate help to the patient.  Marin has terrific services available; many seniors are just unaware of them. This program will help connect patients to community resources and we are excited to be the first provider in the county to help our community members in this way.

Camp Chance Makes the News

KTVU 2 News recently spent some time with our Police Department at Walker Creek Ranch and learned all about Camp Chance.  Camp Chance is a great program helping kids stay on the right track by building rapport with peace officers and other first responders.  Supported by donations from citizens and businesses, this is our 15th year and we have 82 kids, our largest number. Click here to watch the news coverage.

EVENTS

The Great American Blues & BBQ

On Sunday, July 20, the Great American Blues & Barbeque Festival returns to the heart of downtown San Rafael. This soulful and finger-licking-good festival celebrates Marin and America's outstanding heritage of American roots and Blues music with performances by local and national blues artists on multiple stages. Food concessions and "King of the Q" competition focus on the great American original, Barbeque, in all its tasty glory. Blues and Barbeque, there isn't a better combo to be found. Click here for more event info.

San Rafael Twilight Criterium Downtown Pro/Am Bike Race

Don’t miss cycling’s biggest night in San Rafael. On Saturday, July 26 this incredibly exhilarating event turns Downtown San Rafael into a cycle track. There’s fun for everyone including an adorable kids race, several races throughout the day for both men and women, and the final men’s pro race as soon as the lighting is right. Food, beer, and bikes. Click here for more information about the event.

Summer Book Sale at San Rafael Library

A summer book sale will be held in the downstairs meeting room of the San Rafael Public Library from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25, and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Both days will be open to the public as well as Friends members to allow early shopping before the bicycle event in the afternoon of July 26 in Downtown San Rafael. The sale will offer vacation and travel reading for children and adults as well as the usual topics such as history, cooking and poetry as well as maps, music CDs, DVDs and interesting vintage books. All proceeds benefit the San Rafael Public Library. The library is located at the intersection of Mission Avenue and E Street. For additional information, call Friends Books at 453-1443 or the Friends of the Library at 485-3104.

Councilmember is In

Stop by and say hi at the Downtown Thursday Evening Farmers’ Market Festival. Throughout the summer Councilmembers hold “office hours” from 7 to 8 p.m. at the corner of Fourth and A Streets. This is a great opportunity to speak out and get answers to your questions from one of your elected leaders.  On July 17, meet Damon Connolly and on July 31, say hello to Andrew McCullough.