San Rafael council declares shelter crisis, accepts $8M county grant and authorizes purchase of 350 Merriddale for interim shelter

San Rafael — The City Council on Nov. 17 voted unanimously to declare a local shelter crisis, adopt emergency standards for interim shelters and authorize a county‑funded purchase of 350 Merriddale (referred to in staff materials as the Mary Dale site) to be used as a time‑limited interim shelter and later for affordable housing.

Staff told the council the county will provide a grant of $8,000,000 to support purchase and initial site setup and that the city would appropriate $7,000,000 to cover acquisition costs, with a purchase and sale agreement price of $6,700,000 and a broker agreement not to exceed $201,000. Assistant City Manager John Stefanski summarized program parameters: up to 65 locking cabins on a 2.5‑acre infill site, 24/7 on‑site staff and security, coordinated county case management, and a closed program prioritizing existing sanctioned camping participants and local encampment residents.

Staff emphasized that the interim shelter is intended as a bridge to permanent affordable housing: the county grant assumes entitlement of up to 80 affordable units by June 30, 2028; if fewer than 80 units are entitled the city would return $100,000 per unentitled unit to the county, and the site must close no later than June 30, 2029 (extensions permitted only with additional funding). Staff also described planned program rules (no registered sex offenders, quiet hours, visitor policies), a proposed camping ordinance to prohibit camping within 2,000 feet of the site, and community meetings slated Dec. 9 and Jan. 14 for operational input.

The meeting’s public comment period was lengthy and sharply divided. Neighbors from San Rafael Meadows and adjacent areas pressed the council to pause the vote, alleging insufficient neighborhood outreach, slow or rolling public records responses, and that the city had effectively decided the purchase before public disclosure. Several residents said the October 15 press conference and some closed sessions had created a perception that the decision was already made; speakers asked for a face‑to‑face roundtable, full records release and more time.

Service providers, faith leaders and residents who have worked in homelessness services offered the opposite assessment: representatives from Saint Vincent de Paul, Homeward Bound, Community Action Marin, Dignity Moves, Marin Organizing Committee and others described success with sanctioned camping and interim cabin programs, cited housing outcomes and reductions in emergency calls at Mahone Creek, and urged approval to move people off streets and into case‑managed interim housing. County Executive Derek Johnson said the county will follow its public process for grant funding and described the county’s role as funder and facilitator.

After questions from council about CEQA (staff said ministerial exemptions apply for low‑barrier navigation centers and identified other CEQA findings in the staff report) and operational oversight, Councilmember (speaker 6) moved to adopt the shelter declaration; subsequent motions advanced the urgency ordinance, grant agreement and purchase authorization. All were approved on 4–0 roll calls.

What passed (high level): a resolution declaring a shelter crisis under the cited Government Code provision; an urgency ordinance adopting local standards and procedures for homeless shelters; a grant agreement accepting $8,000,000 from the County of Marin; and authorization for the city manager to negotiate and execute a purchase and sale agreement for 350 Merriddale for $6,700,000 and related documents. Staff promised continued community engagement on detailed operational items in December and January before site setup and cabin procurement proceed.

The council's decisions set a timeline for a program intended to open in 2026, convert the site for permanent affordable housing by entitling up to 80 units by mid‑2028, and close the interim shelter no later than June 30, 2029 unless funding extensions are secured.