Finance Subcommittee 04/14/2026

The City of San Rafael Finance Subcommittee met on April 14, 2026, to discuss several key procurement and budget-related items. The meeting focused primarily on updates to the sanitary service franchise agreements, including proposed amendments to solid waste collection fees and the rescinding of the refuge vehicle impact fee due to a recent legal ruling, which results in a $1.5 million annual revenue loss for the city. Staff previewed recommendations for fee adjustments to be presented to the full council on April 20, 2026, and discussed short-term funding strategies to mitigate the impact on the street maintenance program. Additionally, the subcommittee reviewed updates to the park impact fee program, which has not been revised in decades. A nexus study was presented to justify fee adjustments aligned with regional market comparisons, with a recommendation to implement the updated fees by May 2026 to support park and recreation infrastructure amid increasing development. The meeting also included a presentation on the recreation and childcare program cost of service analysis, highlighting current cost recovery rates and proposing moderate fee increases to maintain service levels and general fund support. Public comments from developers emphasized the potential impact of increased fees on project feasibility. The subcommittee acknowledged the need to balance fee adjustments with development incentives and planned further discussions on related impact fees in the coming months.