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San Rafael to host Urban Land Institute technical assistance panel Oct. 12—6; panel to report back in about 60 days
Summary
City staff announced a two-day Urban Land Institute technical assistance panel for downtown on Oct. 12—6; the panel will include a tour, stakeholder interviews and a public presentation to council and planning commission, with a final report due about 60 days after the panel.
San Rafael staff outlined plans to convene an Urban Land Institute (ULI) technical assistance panel (TAP) to examine downtown vitality, placemaking and economic opportunity. The panel is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12 and Tuesday, Oct. 13 and will include a downtown tour, small-group stakeholder interviews and a public presentation to the city council and planning commission.
Staff said they will provide panelists with a detailed briefing book that includes maps, local policies and data so the panel can identify four or five near-term actions to improve downtown economic activity and placemaking. The panel will present preliminary recommendations at a joint evening meeting of the council and planning commission on Oct. 13; a final written report is expected about 60 days after the panel concludes.
"We will provide them with a very detailed briefing book which contains lots of information, maps, data, policies, and programs that the city's already adopted," staff said, adding that panelists have already begun requesting additional information.
Council members and public commenters welcomed the TAP as an opportunity for a dispassionate outside review that could validate the existing economic strategy or recommend tactical shifts. One council member noted that the TAP is already included as a targeted work-plan item and could inform updates to the city's economic strategic plan, depending on whether recommendations are policy or implementation oriented.
Staff also said they would coordinate TAP work with ongoing countywide economic efforts and would include data sources that stakeholders suggested, including foot-traffic metrics. Members of the public expressed confidence in ULI's track record and encouraged participation in interviews and the public presentation.
Next steps: interested stakeholders can contact staff (email on the city's meeting materials) to request interviews with the panel; staff will return recommendations and a briefing to the council as the panel work is completed.
