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Residents urge board to reject Starkweather Path as site for 'Peoples of the Canal' signs
Summary
Multiple Bay Point and Spinnaker residents told the San Rafael Public Art Review Board they support the project''s intent but strongly oppose placing 22 signs and a sculpture on the Starkweather Path, citing flood-control, safety, environmental and maintenance concerns; staff said no formal location proposal has been submitted to the board.
San Rafael ' Residents from Bay Point and Spinnaker urged the Public Art Review Board on Jan. 14 to require a different location for Rich Stork's "Peoples of the Canal" installations, saying the planned use of the Starkweather Path would put views, access and public safety at risk. "The Starkweather Pass sits atop a critical flood control levy that protects more than 400 homes," said Stuart Dubey, a long-term resident, who added the proposal includes "approximately 22 fixed signs and a 9 by 6 foot steel sculpture" and "over 130 square feet of permanent signage."
"Twenty-two signs are a hazard," Claire Taylor, a Spinnaker Point resident, told the board, citing narrow stretches of path, proximity to children and walkers and recent high tides. Susan Levine, another Bay Point resident, said the community was "blindsided" by the project and listed concerns about ADA accessibility, sea level rise, vandalism and the city's capacity to maintain new structures. Richard Peterson, a Spinnaker HOA board member, described muddy trails and long walking distances on alternate routes and proposed three alternative locations including Pickleweed Park and the paved path near the Target shopping area.
City staff acknowledged the comments but said Brown Act limits prevent an extended back-and-forth during general public comment. "As of right now, there has been no proposal brought forward to the public art review board identifying specific locations," staff liaison Craig Verime said, adding that emails and other outreach would be included in the project record when a formal proposal arrives. Stacy Lauman, the city's economic development program manager, said the city had been in contact with the project's proponents and that public comments would be tracked in the record.
Several speakers raised environmental concerns, noting parts of the path pass through salt marsh habitat that could host species protected under the California Endangered Species Act. Others emphasized vandalism and upkeep: speakers said existing placards and fencing have been defaced and questioned whether the city could reliably maintain 22 additional structures.
Board members did not vote on the Starkweather Path placement; staff said specific locations and any formal proposal would return to the board for review and that public comment would be allowed when that item's on the agenda. The board is expected to see more detail at a future meeting, possibly in April, and city staff said they would add received emails to the project's official record.
