Politics & Government

Pro Baseball on Tonight's City Council Agenda

The San Rafael City Council will consider a proposal to bring a minor league team to Albert Field.

At tonight’s meeting, the San Rafael City Council will vote on a measure to bring a professional minor league baseball team to .

If the proposal, brought forward by Centerfield Partners LLC, is approved, it would add between 26 to 40 full-time and seasonal jobs and host 45 home games from late May to early September starting next year.

Centerfield Partners would also maintain and make improvements to Albert Field, including refurbishing locker rooms, cleaning the grandstand facade, adding 700 seats to the stadium, adding bathrooms and making room for local food vendors at games.

On May 19, the .

Many residents close to Albert Field about added traffic, noise and liquor sales if the proposal is approved by the City Council.

“I love baseball, but I don’t want this project,” Kevin Stockton said at the Park and Recreation Commission meeting.

Stockton lives across the street from Albert Field. “[The project] will ruin my life and the lives of my family,” he said.

Others believe the plan could bring in more business and would be a fun and entertaining past time for families.

“Downtown is dying,” restaurant owner Leslie Burnside said. “We need to keep the community alive and thriving and not make business owners want to move out of town.”

The meeting will begin at 8 p.m. at 1400 Fifth Ave. Other items include public hearings on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Strategy and an update of the San Rafael General Plan 2020.

See the full agenda on the right.

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