Founded in 1992, the Federation has served as an umbrella and advocacy group for all neighborhoods in San Rafael, south of Puerto Suello Hill. 

What we do:  The group sees a real need to address multi-neighborhood issues that cross over neighborhood boundaries and impact a multiple number of neighborhoods.  Often individual neighbors or neighborhood associations have  addressed these issues in ineffective and redundant ways and have been unable to gain the attention of the City of San Rafael.  The Federation has gotten involved in Graffiti abatement, downtown development, street repaving, illegal units, wildfire safety, St Vincent’s dining room and many more issues since its inception.  The group is made up of both neighborhood associations and individuals who often care about broad issues that can impact all of San Rafael.  The group has established a positive partnership with the City and created a vehicle for solving real problems with positive outcomes.
Photo: Supervisor Damon Connolly at the March, 2008 Federation meeting. Photo by Jim Draper

2008 Membership Dues

·         Individual Membership Dues--$25
·         Neighborhood Association Dues $50-100
(smaller and new groups-$50, larger/established $75++, plus!)
~Send checks with Association Name, contact person, address & email...
   TO: 
          Federation of SR Neighborhoods
             Post Office Box 151485
             San Rafael, CA. 94915-1485                                                    

 THANKS…!
 

2008 Goals:

·         Monthly meetings—guest speakers and topics of interest, steering committee business, public welcome on the third Wednesday of each month.

·         NewsPointer—“Neighborhood Speak” monthly column written by myself that reflects city or neighborhood issues that many neighborhoods/citizens are interested in.  Creates added exposure for the Federation and those key issues.

·         Historic Preservation—always an interest of members from the older neighborhoods or those that have interest in downtown.  SR has a huge number architectural significant structures that are desperately in need of cataloging and systematic inventorying.  Most importantly, restoration and preservation of key buildings needs monitoring.

·         SMART transportation alternatives for the future—when SMART gets closer to a formal ballot measure later this year, or as alternatives surface, we will be disseminating more information.

·         Trees—preservation of the canopy—A huge community asset that deserves close maintenance, for the cooling affects and the amenity factor it creates for neighborhoods.  The management of the Canopy needs a more formal effort.

·         Traffic / Traffic Calming--#1 issue in SR/and maybe Marin.  We’d like to see more traffic calming tools used.  Currently, speed bumps are about it in SR.

·         Events--The Federation organizes large public events during the year as needed on any important or controversial topics.   Prior events have been on SMART and candidates-night.

·         CCA, Marin Community Choice Aggregation—Sustainable/Renewable Power sources—Potential formation of a JPA that would provide sustainable—wind/solar power non-carbon power sources.  Towns/Cities/County will vote on whether to move forward.

·         The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and Vegetation Management Plans—SR has passed an ordinance that mandates certain types of property owner vegetation within certain proximities to Open Space.  Not clear how the City will Veg Mgmt it own open space vegetation.

·         Downtown Development—numerous upcoming projects/design issues, always a challenge to maximize strong design outcomes for new development projects that come up in the Downtown core.

·         Marin Square Redevelopment—The next Marin General?

·         Target—getting the best institutional design and siting for this big box retailer facility near Home Depot.

·         Process within SR—look for ways to create positive change—working with the City Manager, Community development to assure a continuing neighborhood focus.

·         Assist other Neighborhoods in evaluating their planning development, and navigating the City of SR bureaucracy—a challenging process for neighborhoods to understand the complex process and language.

·         Retaining and increasing Public access to public property—Often not maintained, or sometimes blocked with little signage for the residents indicating the existence of these public properties.

·         Critical Facilities—financing option, long term solutions—Library, Police and Fire Facilities are functionally obsolete.  How can new facilities or updating be “financed”

·         Bicycles path designations—safe routes—still a challenge for children to bike to schools with routes not always fully thought out or marked.

·         Disaster Preparation—organizing neighborhoods—earthquake, fire, flooding and other types of disasters will require organized preparation.  The city attempting to organized key people in neighborhoods who can then organize—block by block.

·         Advocating City Services for Neighborhoods—always at risk and City budgets come under more pressure with cuts often mandated.

·         Continued development of the Federation website—launched and off the ground.  More details to follow

·         Membership drive—tying in presence on our website—membership soon to be launched that will enable member neighborhoods to have presence on our site—www.fsrn.info