San Rafael officials explain surplus-property priority offering for Glenwood, set May 31 deadline

Assistant Superintendent Bob Maruchi opened the session and introduced outside counsel Jessica Johnson, who gave a detailed overview of the district's current priority-offering process for several surplus parcels, including the Glenwood site.

"I am Bob Maruchi, I'm the assistant superintendent of Business Services," Maruchi said, describing the session as an informational Q&A rather than a decision meeting. Johnson told attendees the priority offering was published in late March and that written offers from public agencies and nonprofit organizations are due May 31. "This is an informal meeting...this is not a forum for advocating for a particular position or a particular use," Johnson said, emphasizing the session's informational purpose.

Why it matters: the district has several properties declared surplus and is seeking current expressions of interest so the board can make an informed choice about whether to sell, lease or keep the land. The district says it is following a consolidated timeline tied to the Glenwood site so all properties are considered on the same schedule.

What officials said: Johnson described the Glenwood surplus area as roughly 16.87 acres (the city included 13.75 acres in its housing element with an estimated capacity of 52 units), and she identified wetlands and flood-zone constraints on parts of the site. She explained zoning details, noting a baseline county zoning density of roughly 4.36 units per acre and a separate housing overlay that allows up to 30 units per acre on a limited portion of the property. Johnson said an appraisal is being sought and that if the board later opens a public bidding process it would set any minimum bid in a resolution.

How the priority offering works: under the current priority period, only public entities and nonprofit organizations are eligible to submit written offers; private developers would be able to participate only if and when the district opens a later public bidding process. Johnson said the district intentionally left the priority offering broad: offers may propose purchasing, leasing, leasing with an option to buy, the whole site or a portion, and parties should include proposed price or lease payments plus any supporting information about educational or community benefits.

Residents pressed officials on notice, process and consequences: multiple residents said neighborhood groups were not adequately informed. Kevin Hagerty, president of the Glennwood Neighbors Group, said neighborhood organizations must be kept in the loop; Johnson replied the district published legal notices and sent direct notices to known groups and pledged to add attendees' contact information to the distribution list for follow-up materials.

Environmental and safety concerns: neighbors described wildlife, wetlands and student pathways on and around the parcels and asked how traffic and pedestrian safety would be addressed. Johnson said environmental permitting (for wetlands) and traffic mitigation would be handled during future city permitting or by any prospective buyer or tenant as part of their due diligence; she noted that some wetland areas would require Army Corps of Engineers and regional water-quality board review if development affected them.

Board role and next steps: Johnson said the board will consider any compliant written offers after May 31. If offers arrive, the board may enter negotiations (a 90-day negotiation period was described), accept an agreement, reject offers, or instead open a public bidding process; the board also may choose to take no further action. Johnson stressed the district is not required to sell and that, even if a contract is entered before July 1, statutory limits affect how sale proceeds may be used.

What residents can expect: the district recorded the meeting and will distribute the recording, slide deck and a Q&A summary to attendees who signed in. Johnson and staff said site visits can be arranged through business-services staff and that any sale would be "as is," with standard purchaser due-diligence and disclosure steps.

The board is scheduled to review offers following the May 31 deadline and will announce any subsequent procedures at a public board meeting.