Council To Decide on Target Tonight

San Rafael City Council will vote on the proposed Target store for the Shoreline Center in a special meeting at 6 p.m.

In response to opposition from local business owners and residents about the corporate chain coming to San Rafael, the council requested a community impact report that would analyze the effects a Target would have on local stores. On April 6, the report was made public and stated that a a net increase of 3.6 percent total retail sales in San Rafael and a total $646,000 in revenues for the city.

“If a Target came to San Rafael it would be disastrous,” said Steve Patterson, chair of the Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods. Patterson and others believe the report was too narrow and didn’t take into account the impact a Target would have on the entire region.

Some business owners, like United Markets owner Bill Daniels, believe that Target would displace jobs, and put local stores who can’t compete with the cheaper prices out of business.

City Manager Nancy Mackle said the council will most likely reach a decision tonight. Public comment will be limited to new information from the report (available to the right).

The meeting will be in the council chambers at 1400 Fifth St.

San Rafael Patch will be live blogging the meeting tonight. Check back at 5:30 p.m. for updates.