The City of San Rafael is beginning its community planning process for the update of its comprehensive long-range plan. General Plan 2020 (https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/generalplan-2020/) will address community growth and physical development. There will be a “General Plan Steering Committee” formed to provide guidance, oversight and direction. There is a designated senior community representative to ensure that the aging population’s needs and concerns are appropriately addressed. This representative will be closely linked to the SR Age-Friendly Task Force and their work. Highlights of existing policies that can be built upon include:

HOUSING: San Rafael’s General Plan 2020 specifically encourages housing that meets the needs of SR’s older population, including Junior Second Unit ordinance adopted 2016, alternative low income housing options, full service senior communities as well as memory care and assisted living, continued policy support to preserve programs to help special needs populations, by preserving existing affordable rental housing and continued support for permit streamlining, house sharing, and aging in place assistance.

TRANSPORTATION: SMART Train service to begin in 2017 with two stops in San Rafael, including downtown. Whistlestop provides door-to-door transportation for seniors and disabled.
San Rafael Village provides rides to seniors through a network of volunteers and Golden Gate Transit Bettini Transit Center in downtown SR with bus service linked to San Francisco, airports and throughout the County

OUTDOOR SPACES: 3 community centers offering active seniors programs with 1,100 members

Multicultural services provided by Whistlestop
Congregate meal sites at two community centers, 19 neighborhood parks, 6 community parks, 1 County park and 1 State park.

SOCIAL PARTICIPATION: City Sponsored workshops coordinated with local non-profits to educate and support older adults, Goldenaires club for seniors offering a variety of activities, Farmer’s Markets downtown and yearly at Civic Center, San Rafael Village offers social activities, Osher Life Long Learning Institute at Dominican University -classes and events for older adults, College of Marin Emeritus classes and 3 library branches. COMMUNICATION: City of San Rafael website and Snapshot electronic newsletter, San Rafael Village e-newletter and webpage, Nextdoor social media neighborhood communication tool city wide, Marin County Aging and Adult Services Information and Referral Help Line, Whistlestop Annual Directory of Older Adult Services, Federation of San Rafael Home Owner’s Associations, Marin IJ and News Pointer daily and weekly newspapers. COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND HEALTH SERVICES: Marin County Health and Wellness Campus with public health clinics, Marin Community Clinics (FQHC), Kaiser Permanente hospital and outpatient services, Marin General Hospital, Sutter Health and Rotocare free clinic in downtown San Rafael.