Increasing Enforcement of the Massage Ordinance
At a Study Session on May 14 the City Council indicated a strong desire to beef up enforcement efforts on massage establishments in San Rafael that violate the City’s ordinance. At their June 2 meeting at 7 p.m. the City Council will consider extending the current contract for enforcement services with CSG Consultants, and expanding some of these services in order to strengthen our ability to enforce the ordinance. Click here for the staff report.
Downtown Retail Recruitment
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Downtown is the historic heart of San Rafael and a key element of the community’s economic engine. At their Monday night meeting, the City Council will consider a contract for a Downtown retail recruitment study. This contract would pay for a retail specialist to work with City staff and the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) to identify strategies for Downtown business recruitment. Elements of the contract include research on ‘niche markets’, strategic co-tenancies with existing businesses, ways to market the Downtown to potential businesses, and the creation of a targeted list of retailers to recruit. This contract will assist other efforts to increase the vitality of our Downtown. Click here for the staff report.
The Municipal Code Really is Interesting!
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Our “muni code” is a set of rules that we use to govern our community, ranging from how tall buildings can be built, to how much you can win at bingo, to where you can smoke. At their meeting on Monday night the City Council will consider several amendments including allowing bee keeping in your backyard, increasing tree coverage requirements in parking lots, and new provisions to meet State Laws regarding a variety of issues including windmill and solar installations, commercial food production at home, and locations for permanent emergency homeless shelters. For the staff report, click here for Part 1 and click here for Part 2.
Business Incubator Now Accepting Applications
Venture Greenhouse 2.0 recently expanded its business accelerator program to include innovative businesses in a variety of markets, such as clean technology, energy, software, medical, consumer products, transportation and internet. Sustainable strategies will continue to be a strong component of the program. Entrepreneurs will receive an intensive 12-month curriculum, expert mentors, access to angel and venture capital funding sources, discounted professional services, MBA intern teams and executive coaching. Entrepreneurs and start-ups interested in participating as clients are encouraged to attend a free information session on June 11 at the Renaissance Center, 1115 Third Street from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Entrepreneurs must apply by June 20. To register for the free information session, apply to the program or learn more about the Venture Greenhouse, visit www.venturegreenhouse.biz.
Facility and Park Rentals
Our parks and facilities are great places to host your family events and celebrations. From the beautiful 19th century Falkirk Cultural Center to a local park, we’ve got something to meet your needs. With picnic areas, barbeques, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, basketball courts, gardens, auditoriums, and a variety of rooms, we can accommodate birthdays, weddings and reunions as well as professional meetings and retreats. Click here for information about our facilities and rental procedures.
San Rafael Pacifics 2014 Season Starts in June
The San Rafael Pacifics are back and will play 42 home games at historic Albert Park in Downtown San Rafael this season. The Pacifics open up their third season with a 15 game home-stand beginning on Tuesday, June 3, against the Sonoma Stompers. The schedule has the Pacifics at home for two major holidays, Father’s Day on June 15 against Pittsburg, and the Fourth of July against Vallejo. Click here for more information and… PLAY BALL!
EVENTS
May Madness Classic Car Parade
One of San Rafael’s best events takes place this weekend. Join us for a ton of classic cars, live music, and great food in Downtown San Rafael on Saturday, May 31. Music includes Reckless in Vegas, the Fenix House Band, the “Head’s Up” Battle of the Bands winner, and the Davidson School Marching Band. Click here for more information.
Councilmember is In – at the Thursday Evening Downtown Farmers’ Market Festival
If you have something on your mind that would you like to discuss, you might want to consider meeting your Mayor and Councilmembers at the Downtown Thursday Evening Farmers' Market Festival. This is a great opportunity to speak out and get answers to your questions from one of your elected leaders. From June to the end of August, Councilmembers will be available from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the corner of Fourth and A Streets. One June 5, meet Councilmember Maribeth Bushey and on June 12, say hello to Mayor Gary Phillips. Stay tuned for the rest of the summer schedule in future Snapshots.
Tip-A-Cop
Tip-A-Cop is an annual fundraising event organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run in which officers from different agencies volunteer their time and act as “Celebrity Waiters" to raise funds for Special Olympics. They serve patrons in uniform and give each table an envelope asking, in addition to the tips for their server, for a donation to Special Olympics. Tip-A-Cop will be held at several Bay Area Applebee’s during this week including the Applebee’s at Northgate Mall on Thursday, June 5 from 1700-2100 hours.
It’s Almost Summer Reading Time!
The Downtown and Pickleweed Libraries are ready to rock with this summer’s fabulous books and summer reading programs for all ages! For children there are three unique programs for pre-readers, elementary schoolers, and middle schoolers. Children who complete their reading programs will receive free passes to the end of summer bash at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. There are also prizes from the San Francisco Giants, McInnis Golf Center, Pacifics Baseball, Pasta Pomodoro, Arizmendi, Double Rainbow, Gamescape, Fairyland, and more. For Teens and Adults there is ‘Bookshelf Bingo’ which encourages reading a variety of different types of books and learning different things (e.g. Read a Foodie Book, Learn a Phrase in Another Language). Prizes have been donated by numerous generous San Rafael businesses (with food and fun at the top of the list). For more information about any of these programs, give the Library a call at 485-3323 or email library@cityofsanrafael.org.
