San Rafael Park and Rec Commission reviews draft facility-use guidelines for libraries and community centers

The San Rafael Park and Recreation Commission on Jan. 15 reviewed draft guidelines intended to align library conduct rules with recreation facility use and set a clearer, department-wide approach to prohibited behavior and enforcement.

Staff introduced the proposal as a tool to provide consistent expectations across community centers, pools and sports fields, saying, "This is a policy proposal for some new guidelines that we're recommending." The draft, staff said, was reviewed by the city attorney's office and the Library Board of Trustees and is meant to streamline how staff educate visitors and respond to behavior that threatens health, safety or operations.

The policy categorizes prohibited conduct into buckets. Under a safety-and-security category, staff flagged conduct that violates federal, state or local law, loud or harassing behavior, indecent exposure, being under the influence of alcohol or nonprescribed drugs and possession of weapons. The draft also specifies limits on unattended personal items to reduce overcrowding (the document cites dimensions "16 by 18 by 24" as an example) and lists behaviors such as blocking entrances or unplugging city equipment as potentially subject to enforcement.

Staff described a graduated enforcement approach that starts with education and staff conversations, moves to warnings for repeated behavior and can include temporary suspensions (days to a week) or, in extreme cases, longer suspensions and permanent restrictions. "We bring this for up to, 1 year period of time," staff said when describing the proposed suspension range. An appeals process would allow individuals to write to the city manager's office to request review; staff also noted a reasonable-accommodation process for people who need adjustments.

Commissioners pressed staff on how subjective items — such as complaints about body odor or overpowering scent — would be handled. Library staff said these situations are handled sensitively and enforced only in extreme cases that significantly interfere with others. Staff also emphasized that the policy is behavior-focused, not targeted at a particular population, and said outreach materials and a communications packet will accompany enforcement steps to help staff give a softer landing to those affected.

Staff noted support resources available to frontline teams, including the San Rafael Police Department and community partner SAFE, and said library staff will help recreation staff as needed. After discussion, the commission moved to receive the staff report for further refinement; the motion carried by roll call.

Next steps identified by staff included refining communications language, clarifying severity levels that would trigger escalated enforcement and coordinating implementation and training with library and recreation staff.