Special City Council Meeting 06/04/2026 at 5:00PM

The City of San Rafael held a special City Council meeting on June 4, 2026, focused primarily on housing policy, affordable housing requirements, and the impact of state density bonus laws on local development standards. Staff presented options for potentially amending downtown density limits to address height concerns related to state density bonuses, outlining two pathways: one that would not require reopening the housing element and another that would. Council members expressed cautious interest in exploring amendments that do not require reopening the housing element due to the complexity and resource demands involved. The discussion also covered the city's current affordable housing inclusionary policy, comparing it with neighboring jurisdictions and considering potential adjustments to inclusionary percentages and development standards. Public comments and council deliberations emphasized balancing housing production with maintaining community character and compliance with state laws. The council directed staff to proceed with initial data gathering to assess feasible amendments to downtown density limits without immediately reopening the housing element, and to further evaluate development standards related to affordable housing units, including parity and concessions. No immediate changes to the inclusionary percentage were approved, but the council showed openness to future evaluation based on forthcoming data and consultant input.