Swearing in of New Councilmembers
At 6 p.m. on Monday, we will have a special City Council meeting to swear in new Councilmembers Kate Colin and Maribeth Bushey Lang as well as two Board of Education Trustees, Rachel Kertz and Natu Tuatagaloa. Please join us for this special ceremony in the Council Chambers. Refreshments will be served.
Plastic Bag Ban
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On Monday night the City Council will take public comments on a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for single-use plastic bags. This Report is part of a countywide JPA effort to ban plastic bags. Staff will forward comments and feedback on the DEIR and alternatives to the Marin Hazardous and Solid Waste Management JPA. After the DEIR is certified, we expect to bring back an ordinance to the City Council for consideration in February. Click here for the staff report.
PaintCare Program
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Also, at the Monday meeting, the City Council will consider an agreement with PaintCare, Inc. to provide management of leftover architectural paint that is collected through Marin County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program. State Law requires paint manufacturers to develop a “take back” system for leftover paint from household and commercial consumers. The HHW Program collects paint at their 565 Jacoby Street facility in San Rafael. Local Sherwin-Williams, Kelly Moore and Dunn-Edwards paint stores in San Rafael also take back paint. Click here for the staff report.
Green Building Ordinance
Also on Monday evening, the City Council will hold a public hearing on our green building ordinance. The staff report recommends moving away from our local green building ordinance written in 2009 in favor of the California Green Building Standards Code, commonly known as CalGreen. The state has gradually increased the stringency of measures since the original publication in 2010, such that the upcoming 2013 code has now caught up to where we have been locally for the last 3 years. This change-over will allow the building and design community to be consistent in their design and construction techniques throughout the county and state, and still keep San Rafael on the leading edge of sustainability and resource conservation. Click here for the staff report.
Shop Local for Schools
When people "Shop Local for Schools" at participating Downtown San Rafael retailers and restaurants Dec. 5th through the 8th, they’ll not only beat the holiday crush; they’ll also invest in local jobs and public education, according to the HeadsUp Public Education Foundation. HeadsUp has partnered with 50+ downtown merchants who pledge to donate a percentage of the days’ sales to support San Rafael City Schools. Maps listing participating merchants will be available at downtown businesses and at www.HeadsUpSR.org.
Citizen of the Year Nominations
In honor of former Planning Commissioner Richard O’Brien, an annual “Citizen of the Year” award has been established to recognize an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the City of San Rafael by making it a better place to live and work. Nominations of San Rafael residents who have made significant and lasting improvements to the community are now being sought. Click here for the nomination guidelines and form.
Be Conscious about Waste during the Holidays
San Rafael residents take great pride in our community by recycling and making smart purchasing decisions to keep our community a clean and beautiful place to live. However, each and every day thousands of pounds of waste still enter our landfill. Did you know that the average family throws away $1,600 worth of food each year? For practical tips on food storage and shopping, please visit ZeroWasteMarin.org. When shopping for your holiday feast, think about purchasing items made from recycled goods or with less packaging. During the holidays and beyond, please put all food scraps in your green bin or set up a compost pile in your backyard to create ‘food’ for your garden. Let’s show how San Rafael is a model of a community that protects our natural resources.
EVENTS
Parade of Lights Winter Wonderland
Downtown San Rafael will once again commence the Holiday Season with the Parade of Lights, Winter Wonderland, and the special Holiday Market on Friday, November 29. This will be the 34th Annual Parade of Lights in Downtown San Rafael with free snow sledding on A Street. Sledding will continue on Saturday, November 30, snow conditions permitting. For more information, click here or call 800-310-6563.
Art Talk – Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol
Come hear about this family-friendly pay! The festive ghost story opens, as does Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with Old Marley dead “as a door nail.” Given just 24 hours to redeem himself, Jacob Marley scrambles to reform his former partner in greed Ebenezer Scrooge. The talk will be on Wednesday, December 4 from 1-2 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Art Talks are sponsored by the Friends of the San Rafael Public Library.
Jingle Bell Walk/Run
The Jingle Bell Run/Walk is coming to Downtown San Rafael on December 8 and it benefits the Arthritis Foundation. People tie jingle bells to their shoes, dress in holiday costumes and bring their friends and pets out for a fun time for a great cause. There is a timed 5k, a fun run and a kids run with elves. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. at 4th and A Streets in San Rafael. Come share in the holiday spirit and help us end the #1 cause of disability in the US. Click here for more information.
Lighted Boat Parade
Each year, San Rafael celebrates the beginning of the holiday season with its annual lighted boat parade in the San Rafael Canal. Boaters throughout Marin County devote many hours and days preparing their vessels for what has become one of the largest lighted boat parades in the Bay Area. The best viewing locations are the Albert J. Boro Community Center, Beach Park, and along the Canal area at the Montecito Plaza. The event starts on December 8 at 5:30 p.m. Click here for more information.
