The Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District opened a 20-day nomination window on Monday, Oct. 12, for three seats on its 2027 board of directors.

Three current directors are finishing their terms, and three new candidates have already expressed interest in replacing them, according to the BID's Notice of Nominations. The BID has not yet published the names of the nominees or the outgoing directors.

Under BID bylaws, any member in good standing can nominate an additional candidate by collecting signatures from 20 fellow BID members and submitting the petition within 20 days of the Oct. 12 notice. If no additional nominations come in, the three proposed candidates will be declared elected by the BID board under Section 5.3 of the bylaws, with no contested vote. The San Rafael City Council separately holds authority to appoint members to the district's advisory board.

What the BID does

The district covers roughly 585 businesses along the Fourth Street corridor, including the West End and some side streets, according to October 2025 city licensing data included in the BID's annual assessment report. Businesses pay an annual assessment expected to generate approximately $65,000 in 2026, which funds events, beautification programs and a part-time BID director employed through the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce.

The BID ran 25 programs in 2025, including the 35th Annual May Madness and two volunteer-led beautification efforts focused on mulching and graffiti removal, according to the same annual assessment report.

The body the BID calls its board of directors is formally an advisory board appointed by the San Rafael City Council under Municipal Code Section 10.09.080. A December 2025 city staff report recommended 10 members for the 2026 board, including Adam Dawson of Mike's Bikes, Crystal Vargas of ARTT, Jeff Brusati of T&B Sports, Katherine Erilla of Modern + Avenida, Rick Lewis of Gold Rush Jewelers and Temple Schauble of Metta Yoga, among others.

The staff report proposed terms ending Feb. 1, 2027, or when the council appoints a new board. The final appointments and term dates require confirmation from the council's adopted resolution.

How to get involved

BID members who want to nominate a candidate can contact the district at [email protected] or 415-849-1874. The petition requires 20 member signatures and must be submitted within 20 days of the Oct. 12 notice.