San Rafael hits milestone in library, community center development

San Rafael has taken its first big step toward realizing a vision to construct a new city library and community center at Albert Park.

Last November, city residents approved a tax measure to support construction. On Monday, the City Council voted unanimously to approve a $4.4 million contract with Griffin Structures to provide planning and construction management through project completion.

“This represents this generational opportunity for our community and really is going to be one of the largest investments in the city’s cultural and civic institutions,” John Stefanski, assistant city manager, said at the council meeting.

Measure P imposes an annual property tax of 14.5 cents per square foot of improved building area and $75 per vacant lot. The tax went into effect July and is set to last 30 years. It is expected to collect $6.37 million annually.

The plan involves moving the city’s main library operations from the historic downtown Carnegie library at 1100 E St. to Albert Park, the site of the downtown community center. A new library and new community center would be constructed at the property on B Street.

The cost estimate for the project is $70 million to $85 million.

Griffin Structures, a firm with offices in Irvine and Santa Clara, was selected from a pool of eight candidates.

“I think where they stand out versus the other eight proposals that we received is that they have done a ton of libraries and community centers and have a deep understanding of municipal process, procurement process and public engagement needs,” Stefanski said.

The firm’s recent projects include the Half Moon Bay Library, a 22,000-square-foot library completed in 2018 for $24 million; Burlingame Community Center and Washington Park, a $55 million project completed in 2022; and the $8 million Cupertino Library expansion, also done in 2022.

Griffin Structures has proposed a five-phase timeline for the San Rafael project: initial project planning through April; community engagement, design and planning through February 2028; contractor bidding in spring 2028; construction beginning that same year; and post-construction activity in 2031.

The new complex is expected to open in 2031.

Stefanski said officials are assembling a project steering committee, a technical advisory committee and a community stakeholder committee to provide input and track progress of the project.

Staff at Griffin Structures are thrilled to be part of the project, said Gary Chubb, the firm’s project executive.

“I have a deep understanding and appreciation for what goes into projects like yours: the energy, the commitment, the flexibility, the dedication,” Chubb told the council. “And really, building projects to return an asset like this to the community is really rewarding.”

Measure P was brought to the voters via a citizens’ initiative authored by the San Rafael Public Library Foundation, an organization formed in 2004 to look for a way to expand the downtown library. Over the years, the foundation collaborated with the library board of trustees, the Friends of the San Rafael Public Library and city officials to make plans.

Vice Mayor Maribeth Bushey had been working with the foundation throughout the process.

“We’re voting on this tonight, we’re getting started,” Bushey said ahead of the vote. “This is so exciting. I cannot wait. It looks great. Let’s move forward. Get those construction cranes in here.”

Councilmember Eli Hill said the approval Monday was a long time coming.

“Money matters and people are self-taxing to make this happen,” Hill said.

“So many people have been a part of this journey,” Mayor Kate Colin said. “We are impressed with the credentials and expertise of Griffin Structures and that they get how a community center and library are truly a manifestation of community values. The fact that Measure P is a self-taxation shows that this is a community value.”

After the vote, Joe O’Hehir, a board member of the library foundation, said he and his colleagues are happy with the city’s action.

“We were given the opportunity to meet during the selection process and we were very impressed with their knowledge and experience,” O’Hehir said of Griffin Structures. “We appreciate the city staff’s and council’s efforts to complete this new milestone in the library project. We’re looking forward to working over the next several years with this group.”