Fiscal Year 14-15 Budget
On Monday evening at 7 p.m., the City Council will be presented with a proposed City-wide budget for fiscal year 2014-2015. The budget provides for essentially the same service levels as the current fiscal year, with additional resources dedicated to the homeless initiative, massage ordinance enforcement, facilities maintenance and technology. The City is poised to end the current fiscal year with 70% of its emergency reserves replenished, a dramatic increase from the 24% level that it had just two years ago. Click here for the staff report.
Community Engagement Survey Update
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Thank you to everyone who responded to the City’s recent Community Engagement and Communication Survey! We received 1,044 responses and are working hard to analyze the data. Based on what you told us, we will determine the next steps for improving our communication with you. It’s important to us to include as many San Rafael residents in the local decisions that affect your lives. We will be working in the coming months to meet with community members before formulating a plan to move forward on improved communication and decision-making. Once again—thank you to all who took the time to respond and help make San Rafael a better place.
Information Technology (IT) Roadmap
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The Recession took quite a toll on the City’s IT staffing, and during a time of rising technological needs. In order to meet the new demand and improve service delivery to the community, IT has developed at “roadmap” for the next 12-18 months which prioritizes the City’s needs. The plan identifies 10 IT top needs including technology infrastructure improvements, a document management system, training staff, and improving community engagement, among others. On Monday evening, the City Council will hear a report from the City’s IT Manager about the new “IT Roadmap.” Click here for the staff report.
Street Paving on Point San Pedro
The County of Marin is resurfacing a 3.3-mile stretch of Point San Pedro Road from Union Street (near San Rafael High School) to Riviera Drive (near Peacock Gap Lagoon) and construction is anticipated to last through July. In addition to road resurfacing, work will include drainage improvements, minor concrete, accessibility improvements, and road striping. Construction will take place during the daytime hours with traffic control measures. Click here for more information about the project.
Upcoming FEMA Meetings
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has finished developing new flood maps based on a recent San Francisco Bay Study. These maps delineate Special Flood Hazard Areas within San Rafael, and property owners who reside within these areas may be required to have flood insurance. The new maps go into effect in 2015. FEMA will hold three public meetings across the County to explain the map changes and how these changes may affect property owners within special flood hazard areas. The preliminary maps are ready for public review and comment, and will be on display at the three Marin meetings. One meeting will take place June 18 at San Rafael City Hall at 6:30 p.m. The other two meetings are June 17 at Hill Education Center in Novato and June 19 at the Mill Valley Community Center, both at 6:30 p.m. The preliminary maps are now available on the FEMA website and on the MarinMap website for public review and comment. The comment and appeal period begins June 4 and ends September 2. Click here to view a short presentation made recently by the Department of Public Works regarding the implementation of new Flood Maps.
Check out our New Bamboo Library Cards!
The San Rafael Public Library will be introducing the first ever library cards made from renewable bamboo. The bamboo library cards were developed to promote the City of San Rafael’s goals to create a greener environment through several initiatives, including changes in lifestyle, city operations, and construction. The bamboo library cards will be available to the public during the month of July, which the San Rafael Public Library has designated as their Free Library Card Replacement Month. Members of the San Rafael community are encouraged to replace their plastic library cards during that time. All new cards from July 1 onward will be the new, sustainable bamboo cards. We are thrilled to be able to contribute to a sustainable city and to reduce waste in our environment!
Vacancy on the Library Board of Trustees
The City Council is seeking applications for a vacancy on the Board of Library Trustees. The Library Board of Trustees is an advisory board with responsibility to provide support for the Director, support the Library Foundation, serve as advocates for the Library to the City Council and help increase the visibility of the Library in the community. After Monday, applications will be available online or at the City Clerk’s office.
EVENTS
Beautification Day in Terra Linda
Join a Parks Supervisor for a morning devoted to beautifying Terra Linda on Saturday, June 28 starting at 9 a.m. The event will include weeding and branch trimming on the easements behind Terra Linda Community Center, 670 Del Ganado Road. Click here for more information and to sign up.
Canal Summer Kick-Off BBQ & Program Opportunities for Youth
Come over to Pickleweed Park on Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a free BBQ lunch provided by the Marin County Probation Department. Program providers will be on hand with information on various programs for youth and teens this summer. For more information, call the Albert J. Boro Community Center at 485-3077.
Italian Street Painting Marin Pop-Up! Gallery
Italian Street Painting Marin (ISPM) is dedicated to showcasing the fine art of street painting and funding quality arts education and scholarship programs in our community. Held on alternating years with our signature event in Downtown San Rafael, the ISPM Pop-Up! Gallery on A Street will feature 20 of California’s amazing street painters as they bring history to life. The highlight of this special weekend is our Twilight Artists Meet & Greet. The inaugural ISPM/Pop-Up! Gallery event is June 28 and 29. Click here for more information.
Councilmember is In
Stop by and say hi at the Downtown Thursday Evening Farmers’ Market Festival. Throughout the summer the Mayor and City 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 June 12 and 19, meet Mayor Phillips and on June 26, say hello to Councilmember McCullough.
