City Council Meeting 10/05/2026 at 6:00PM

The October 5, 2026 regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council approved, by a 5–0 vote, a resolution declaring a local emergency due to anticipated 2026–27 El Niño conditions and appropriating $500,000 from the General Fund emergency reserve for storm preparation and response. Staff described planned readiness work, including equipment and supply pre-orders, facility hardening, flood-response planning, emergency contracting, and free use of city parking garages during king-tide events. The council also approved, 5–0, an application for California’s Prohousing designation, which could improve the city’s eligibility or scoring for state housing, transportation, and infrastructure grants; the designation requires implementing identified housing policies, including specific planning and parking-standard updates.

The council considered an exclusive negotiating agreement with Eden Housing for affordable housing at 350/383 Midale Road, a city-owned site intended for at least 80 affordable units. Eden was selected following an RFP that received five proposals; EAH and SAHA were among the other finalists. Eden’s proposal envisioned about 111 units and included a proposed 99-year land lease for $1 annually, but the ENA is an initial negotiation step, not final approval of the project or its design. A motion to authorize the ENA was made and seconded, but the transcript cuts off during the roll call, so the final vote is not fully captured. Staff also reported that an RFP process for the North San Rafael specific plan was underway, with a contract execution expected to return to council. Public comment included requests for tenant protections and rent stabilization; staff said preliminary recommendations on tenant policies were expected to come to council, likely in November.