San Rafael inks deal with chamber for business support

The San Rafael Chamber of Commerce will continue leading business revitalization in the city’s downtown under a new one-year deal.

The $140,000 contract was approved unanimously by the San Rafael City Council on Dec. 15. It is an extension of a $100,000 two-year agreement approved in 2023 when the chamber was enlisted to help the Downtown Business Improvement District, or BID, recover from the pandemic.

The district, which collects assessments from businesses on the Fourth Street corridor from Lincoln Avenue to the West End neighborhood, has only two part-time employees: a director and a social media manager.

“To make our marketing programs possible, I remained committed to creating promotions and events that either raise funds or pay for themselves to ensure that our downtown enjoys a full calendar of activity and promotion year round,” BID Director Sarah Tipple told the council.

In the past few years, the district has been expanding its programing and events to attract community and commerce. In 2025, the district presented a second Lunar Art Walk and a second annual Pride Art Walk. The annual elf hunt and menorah lighting are in their fourth year.

Tipple said the top three fundraisers for 2025 included the May Madness car show, Dancing Under the Lights and the Hops and Vine Stroll, netting a collective profit upwards of $18,000.

San Rafael Chamber of Commerce CEO Karen Strolia said Tipple brings an unprecedented level of commitment to the city’s downtown businesses.

“She’s so intentional and collaborative with the business community, bringing them to the conversation to hear what they need and how they want to move the assessment dollars forward,” Strolia said. “So I feel very lucky to have her on my team.”

In addition to managing the district’s funds and supporting the council-appointed BID advisory board, the chamber is contracted to perform business outreach, promote the city’s business programs, survey business owners and help enhance district programming and business expansion, among other duties.

In 2026, the district aims to strengthen its 25 promotional programs; expand public art installations; grow its beautification programs in mulching and graffiti removal; and increase fundraising, among other objectives.

San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin said she appreciates “the curiosity and the intentionality” of both the BID staff and chamber over the past two years.

“Because what we all want and what we’re pushing for and working towards is a thriving downtown,” Colin said.

The business district formed in 1979 with 125 businesses along Fourth Street between Lincoln Avenue and E Street. In 2013, the City Council approved an expansion to the West End and some side streets, growing the membership base to about 700.

On Monday, the City Council also voted unanimously to support the district’s recommendation to renew annual assessments collected from member businesses.

The assessments range from $25 for a personal service practitioner, like a salon in the West End, up to $425 for a financial institution on the main drag.

Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, the district was collecting about $83,000 annually in revenue. By 2022 that dropped 25% to $61,648. After facing a third year of revenue losses, the BID was thrown a lifeline when the Chamber of Commerce was tapped to help out.

For 2024, the city collected $63,525 in assessment revenue.

Stacey Laumann, a city analyst, said San Rafael collected $59,250 in assessments in 2025. That’s about $4,750 less than was projected.

However, the budget includes about $73,558 in earned income from events and activities, Laumann said. That brings the district budget to $138,558 for the next year, which is about a $14,000 increase.

Laumann said the district is projected to collect $65,000 in assessment revenue in 2026.

“These are a group of merchants in the downtown area that are self-assessing for the benefit of not only the downtown, but also for the community,” Councilmember Eli Hill said. “I think all of this is about public benefit and vitality downtown.”