San Rafael council caps big meeting with new city manager

Paul Navazio is no longer the interim.

The San Rafael City Council on Monday, Aug. 17, appointed the longtime finance director as permanent city manager under an indefinite term, ending a six-month leadership vacancy that began when former City Manager Cristine Alilovich went on leave in February.

The action, taken as a separate agenda item at the council's regular meeting at 1400 Fifth Ave., came alongside two other decisions: final adoption of Ordinance 2069, which lowers speed limits on 18 roadway segments outside downtown, and authorization for five new art murals on downtown utility boxes.

As we reported Aug. 14, all three items were on the agenda as recommended actions. Official minutes with vote tallies have not yet been posted.

Navazio's path to the top job

Navazio joined San Rafael as finance director in July 2023. He was named acting city manager on Feb. 11, 2026, the day after Alilovich went on paid administrative leave. She later resigned under a mutual separation agreement. The council formalized Navazio's interim title in April and raised his pay to $343,752, retroactive to Feb. 18, the Marin Independent Journal reported.

City Attorney Rob Epstein said in February that Navazio "brings more than 30 years of public sector experience, including prior service as city manager for the city of Woodland, and leadership roles in finance and administration in other California jurisdictions."

The Aug. 17 resolution makes the appointment indefinite under City Charter Section 8 and authorizes Mayor Kate Colin to execute the employment agreement. Terms of the permanent contract have not been publicly released.

Speed limits drop 5 mph on 18 segments

Ordinance 2069 is the second phase of a citywide speed-reduction effort. Last year, the council cut limits on 24 segments in the downtown core, creating a 20 mph business-corridor zone. The new ordinance extends those reductions to roads outside downtown, using authority granted by state Assembly Bill 43.

Key changes include Point San Pedro Road (Marina Boulevard to Porto Bello Drive) dropping from 40 to 35 mph; Andersen Drive and Fourth Street segments falling from 35 to 30 mph; and portions of B Street, Fifth Avenue, Grand Avenue, Greenfield Avenue, Kerner Boulevard, Lindaro Street and Mission Avenue going from 25 to 20 mph.

Traffic consultant Jimmy Jessup of Parametrix told the council in July that "the primary collision factor of the greatest number of crashes in San Rafael is due to high speed," according to the Marin Independent Journal. He noted a pedestrian struck at 20 mph faces a 10% chance of death, compared with 80% at 40 mph.

Five murals headed for downtown utility boxes

The council authorized the city manager to sign art license agreements with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce for five painted murals on downtown utility boxes. The program is separate from the city's 2025/26 Public Art Program, a $260,000 California Arts Council-funded initiative that placed larger murals, mosaics and sculptures at prominent downtown sites, according to city records.

Artists, specific box locations and mural themes have not been announced.

Other actions

The council also accepted a $108,500 Office of Traffic Safety grant for a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program running Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, and approved a temporary road closure on Point San Pedro Road for the SGRAIL Marin Triathlon & Trail Half Marathon on Oct. 3–4.