March 2025

Welcome to the City of Novato's monthly newsletter! This issue features a community budget survey; commissions, committees and boards recruitment; Grant Avenue Bridge project update; Parks & Recreation programs; and more!

You can stay up-to-date on City news and events throughout the month by visiting novato.org/connectwithus and signing up for specific topics that are most important to you.

Novato Commission, Committee and Board Recruitment Now Open / Reclutamiento para comisiones, comités y consejos de Novato abierto ahora

Interested in serving your community? Apply for a position on a City Commission, Committee or Board (CCB) today! CCB members are appointed by the City Council and provide important oversight to City operations and the decision-making process. 

The application period is currently open and will close on Sunday, April 6 at 5pm.

Current Openings:

• Design Review Commission – 3 regular seats
• Housing and Homeless Committee - 3 regular seats
• Multicultural Advisory Commission – 6 regular seats
• Planning Commission – 3 regular seats
• Police Advisory & Review Board – 3 regular seats
• Recreation, Cultural & Community Services Advisory Commission – 4 regular seats
• Marin County Commission on Aging – 1 regular seat

For more information, please contact the City Clerk at (415) 899-8986 or lmcdowall@novato.org.

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Si le interesa servir a su comunidad, ¡postular a un puesto en una Comisión, Comité o Consejo de la Ciudad es un buen lugar para comenzar! Miembros de los CCB son nombrados por el Concejo Municipal y aportan supervisión importante a las operaciones y el proceso de toma de decisiones de la Ciudad. 

El período de postulaciones está abierto ahora y cerrará el domingo 6 de abril a las 5pm.

Puestos disponibles:

• Comisión de revisión de diseño – 3 puestos regulares
• Comité de Vivienda y Personas sin Hogar – 3 puestos regulares
• Comisión consultiva multicultural – 6 puestos regulares
• Comisión de planeamiento – 3 puestos regulares
• Consejo consultivo de policía – 3 puestos regulares
• Comisión consultiva para servicios de recreación, culturales y comunitarios – 4 puestos regulares
• Comisión de Envejecimiento del Condado de Marin - 1 puesto regular

Para más información, por favor contacte a la Secretaria Municipal al (415) 899-8986 o lmcdowall@novato.org.

Press play above to watch the video.

International Women's Day

This International Women's Day, we are Novato Proud to celebrate and recognize Novato’s incredible “Government Girls”, whose dedication and commitment to public service make our city a stronger, safer and more vibrant place to live, work and play. 

From public safety to public works, parks to planning, and everything in between, their hard work and commitment uplift our community in countless ways.

Grant Avenue Bridge Project Update

The Grant Avenue Bridge project is officially COMPLETE! Thank you to our Public Works team and construction crews for making this vision a reality with these much-needed improvements. Benefits of this project include widened roadway access; safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists; new bridge railing and pavement; and new signage and a streetlight system.

Be sure to keep an eye out for the two new stops signs added as part of these safety improvements:

1. Grant Ave Westbound traffic (from Seventh Street towards the bridge)

2. Grant Ave Northbound traffic (from Novato Blvd towards the bridge)

SAVE THE DATE! Join us for an official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, April 2 at 3:30pm to celebrate the new bridge. More details to come.

Parks & Recreation Summer Camps and Programs

Registration for Novato Parks & Recreation’s Summer activities is now open! From classic favorites like Camp Ton-Of-Fun and Gymnastics Camps to specialty camps in chess, theater, LEGO engineering, and more—there’s something for every child.

The Hamilton Pool opens May 24, with season passes, swim lessons, and daily admission options available starting May 6.

Adults and seniors can enjoy summer programming at Margaret Todd Senior Center, including yoga, dance, and game groups. Plus, don’t miss out on adult sports leagues like cornhole, volleyball, and softball, or our new Teen & Adult Open Gym Basketball at Hill Gym.

Questions? Call 415.899.8279 or email novatofun@novato.org.

Spring Trash to Treasures Flea Market

Join us Saturday, March 29 from 9am - 2pm at the Margaret Todd Senior Center for our Spring Trash to Treasures Flea Market. This market is held indoors, rain or shine, and admission is FREE. The snack bar will feature donations of hot coffee from Peet’s Coffee and many more tasty eats available for purchase. Come shop for unique second-hand treasures!

Spectrum Safety Event

Join us for a fun day with friends from a galaxy far, far away on Saturday, April 26 from 12pm – 2pm at Pocket Park, 950 7th Street. The Novato Spectrum Safety Event focuses on connecting our adaptive needs community to our Novato First Responders and other valuable resources in our City and County to continue to build strong relationships within our community.

The event will feature out of this world activities geared specifically for participants with adaptive needs provided by local partner agencies who directly support the adaptive needs community.

Calling All Writers! Share Your Story in the Pride Voices Contest

The City of Novato is excited to announce the Pride Voices Contest, a creative writing opportunity for Novato residents ages 13 and older! This contest invites participants to share what seeing the Pride flag fly in Novato means to them through poetry or a short story.

Contest Prompt:

Through poetry or a written story, share what seeing the Pride flag fly in Novato means to you or your loved ones.

Submission Guidelines:

Poetry: Maximum 30 lines

Short Story/Prose: Maximum 350 words

Selected winners will be honored at the 5th Annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Sunday, June 1, 2025, and one participant will be invited to accept the Pride Month Proclamation at a City Council meeting.

Submissions open March 12, 2025, and close April 11, 2025.

For questions, please email novatofun@novato.org.

Novato Police Department Diaper Drive

Donate new, unopened disposable diapers to adults and babies in need! All donations benefit local Novato families through the Salvation Army San Rafael & North Marin Community Services.

From of March 17 - March 22, the Novato Police Department (NPD) will be accepting diaper donations in the NPD lobby at 909 Machin Avenue, Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. If purchasing online, you may also have them shipped to the address above.

NPD will be also hosting a drive through drop-off event on Saturday, March 22 from 9am - 12pm in front of the Novato Police Department.

Note: Please enter the drop-off line from Grant Ave instead of De Long as U-turns are not advised due to limited space.

Novato Minimum Wage Reminder

Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum wage within Novato city limits increased in accordance with Novato’s local minimum wage ordinance. Please note that if the State of California sets a higher minimum wage than this ordinance, the State’s minimum wage will take precedence. 

In response to inquiries received from our business community, the City would like to provide a friendly reminder of the following minimum wage requirements based on business size:

• $17.27 per hour for very large businesses with 100 or more employees (in accordance with Novato’s local ordinance)
• $17.00 per hour for large businesses with 26-99 employees (in accordance with Novato’s local ordinance)
• $16.50 per hour for small businesses with 1-25 employees (in accordance with the State of California’s minimum wage)

The Novato minimum wage applies to each employee who performs more than two hours of work in a particular week within city limits. 

Age + Disability Friendly Novato Community Survey

Help shape Novato's future! Age + Disability Friendly Novato invites you to join the conversation and participate in our Community Survey.

Age + Disability Friendly Novato (ADFN) is a community-led volunteer taskforce that is working to ensure our community is an inclusive place for all ages and abilities. In partnership with the City of Novato, ADFN is aiming to achieve an Age and Disability Friendly Community designation from AARP’s Network of Age Friendly Communities and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. 

Your input will help create a strategic plan for a more vibrant, accessible, and inclusive Novato where everyone can live, work, play and thrive! Please participate in this community survey below or complete a paper survey in person at the Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Road. Deadline to submit surveys is March 21. Responses are anonymous and open to Novato residents ages 18 and older. 

Novato Proudly Celebrates Women's History Month

In honor of Women's History Month, Novato proudly celebrates women's contributions to history, culture and society across the country.

We’re Novato Proud of the incredible women in our community — leaders, volunteers, business owners, veterans, mentors, friends, neighbors and so much more! Nominate a Novatan who has made a positive impact in our community at novatoproud.com.

Sustainability

Sustainability & Climate Action Plan Survey Results

Last month, the City conducted a survey to gather feedback on which environmental sustainability programs and climate action initiatives are most important to our community.

The survey closed on February 23, and the results are now available online. Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey. Your input will help inform the City’s sustainability and climate action priorities over the next few years.

Transform Your Water-Thirsty Lawn

Spring is the perfect time to plant native, drought-tolerant and pollinator plants that use less water and support our ecosystem. If you’re looking to save money on your water bill, consider replacing your lawn, which typically uses four times as much water as climate-appropriate shrubs and perennials. North Marin Water District has a range of incentive programs available to support your water conservation efforts including Cash for Grass, plus rebates for irrigation controllers, rainwater tanks, and greywater systems! 

Climate Action Workshops

Are you a Marin homeowner or renter ready to make a difference for our environment? Resilient Neighborhoods offers a fun, no-cost Climate Action Workshop series that multiplies the power of individual action into collective impact. You'll take steps to reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and create a safer home and community. Each participant will create a personalized Climate Action Plan and receive free, ongoing support to turn the plan into reality! Spring teams kick off Thursday, March 27 at 6:30pm or Wednesday, April 2 at 4:30pm.

Marin County Office of Education: Digital Safety

Attention Novato Parents and Guardians! Are you looking for ways to better support your child’s mental health, well-being, and online safety? The Marin County Office of Education offers free virtual workshops and in-person events that focus on mental health, wellbeing, and online/digital safety. By participating, you can gain strategies to promote emotional resilience, improve family communication, and ensure your child’s safety in an increasingly digital world.

Don't miss out on these valuable opportunities to equip yourself with the tools to support your child’s growth and safety! Workshops are FREE, but advanced registration is required.

Upcoming Workshops:

March 20, 2025 | 6pm – 8pm | 1111 Las Galinas Ave, San Rafel 

Navigating Body Image in the Digital Age: How to Support your Child with Health Habits to Prevent Negative Body Image and Disordered Eating 

March 25, 2025 | 5pm – 7pm | Virtual

Hunt, Gather, Parent: How to Minimize Conflict & Maximize Cooperations

NUSD Education Workforce Housing Update

Novato Unified School District (NUSD) is making strides in education workforce housing with the Development Staging Plan, a multi-phase approach to addressing housing needs. A major step forward was the formation of the Surplus Property Facilities Advisory Committee (SPFAC), approved by the Board of Trustees on December 3, 2024. This committee, made up of 11 members and three alternates, is tasked with evaluating district-owned properties and recommending their best use.

Since its launch, the SPFAC has reviewed governance and elected leadership, evaluated two district-owned properties based on enrollment trends and site capacity, and unanimously agreed to declare Hamilton Meadow Annex and San Andreas Properties as surplus properties. This declaration will be a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for approval on March 18, 2025. 

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Alongside SPFAC efforts, NUSD continues working with city officials, local organizations, and community partners to explore housing solutions.

Marin Humane Society: Microchips are a Pet's Ticket Home

Nothing has done more to reunite lost pets with their worried guardians than something the size of a grain of rice – a microchip! Microchips are tiny devices safely implanted under your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades, which can be read by a scanner.

That scanner brings up a unique series of numbers and letters that can then be matched to various microchip registries. Most veterinary hospitals have microchip scanners in addition to Marin Humane’s Animal Services Officers and, of course, our shelter in Novato.

Marin Humane offers microchipping for dogs for just $25, and thanks to a generous cat lover, they’re free for cats. Just be sure to update your contact information if you move or change phone numbers.  

Even if your pet is microchipped, a license tag and/or collar with your information is immediately visible and doesn’t require a scanning device to determine contact information. Hundreds of dogs and cats end up at Marin Humane every year after becoming lost. And while we’re glad they’re safe with us, we always want to get them back to their families as soon as possible!

To make an appointment to get your pet microchipped at Marin Humane Society, call 415.883.4621.

Novato Historical Guild: Events & Opportunities

Novato Garden Club. Pictured from left to right: Gail Skarich (Treas.), Kathy Walker (Co Pres.), Cati Lago (V.P.), Laura Leonard (Membership), Rod Crow (Novato Public Works), Edna Scheller, Kathrina Novak, Nancy Cabaud (Co Pres.) and Donna Rich (Past Co Pres.).

Novato Garden Club's 90's Anniversary Celebration

The Novato Garden Club celebrated their 90th anniversary on February 12 at the Margaret Todd Senior Center. Founded in 1934, the club not only sparked interest in home gardening, but also led community projects. In its first year, members planted the depot oval, assisted with school landscaping, and planted trees along the old Redwood Highway. They also exhibited at the Marin Country Club flower show and hosted a floral tea at the Novato Community House. One of their most visible efforts is the ongoing maintenance of the decorative planters at Grant Avenue and Redwood Boulevard. Learn more about the Novato Garden Club at novatogardenclub.org.

Quarterly Membership Meeting

The Novato Historical Guild's quarterly membership meeting will be held on Saturday, March 15 from 10am to 12pm at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue. Featured speaker and Marin County Historian Dewey Livingston will present "Billboards, Bars, and Motels: 1950s Roadside Marin", a display of long-gone attractions along Highway 101. His talk will cover the Golden Gate to Novato, focusing on North Marin establishments including The Meadows, Bill's Station at Black Point, Club Rio, Joe's X-Road, and Dave's Village Inn. This event is free and open to the public. 

Become a Third Grade History Docent

From March to June Novato's third grade classes are able to visit the Novato History Museum and with the help of history docents, are transported back to the 1800s and early 1900s. You will receive training, have an opportunity to shadow tours before doing your own, and will be given all the materials you need. If you're interested in becoming a third grade docent, contact Laurie O'Mara at laurieomara124@gmail.com or 415.246.8168.

Interested in learning more about Novato's history? The Novato Historical Guild operates two museums — Novato History Museum, located at 815 DeLong Avenue, and The Hamilton Field History Museum, located at 555 Hangar Avenue. Both museums are open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12-4pm. For more information, please call 415.382.8614 or go to novatohistory.org.

North Marin Community Services Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Do you live in Novato and need help paying your rent? Whether your name is on the lease or you are renting a room, you may qualify for assistance if your household income qualifies according to HUD guidelines.

To find out how you may be eligible for Rental Assistance, contact Ceci Olmedo at 415.897.4147 ext 0 or info@northmarincs.org.

Para saber cómo puede ser eligible para asistencia de alquiler, comuníquese con Ceci Olmedo al numero 415.897.4147 ext 0 o info@northmarincs.org.

Upcoming City Meetings

The City of Novato encourages community participation at our upcoming public meetings. Meeting details, including information on how to participate, are included in each meeting agenda packet. Agendas are posted at least 72 hours prior to each scheduled meeting. To receive meeting agendas via email and/or text, sign-up at novato.org/connectwithus.

March 11 at 6pm | City Council

March 12 at 5pm | Housing and Homeless Committee - Cancelled

March 13 at 2pm | Zoning Administrator - Cancelled

March 13 at 6pm | Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Commission

March 19 at 5:30pm | Complete Streets and Pathways Oversight Committee

March 19 at 7pm | Design Review Commission

March 20 at 6pm | Sustainability Commission

March 24 at 7pm | Planning Commission

March 25 at 6pm | City Council

March 26 at 6pm | Multicultural Advisory Commission

March 27 at 2pm | Zoning Administrator

We're Hiring — Join Our Team!

Interested in a career in local government? Check out some of our current openings:

Administrative Services

• Senior Information Technology Analyst (Full Time) - deadline to apply is March 23
• Senior Accounting Assistant (Full Time) - deadline to apply is March 26

Community Development

• Building Plans Examiner I/II (Full Time) - deadline to apply March 30

Please note the following positions will remain open until filled.

Administrative Services

• Senior Accountant (Full Time)

Parks & Recreation

• Gymnastics Instructor (Part Time)
• Lifeguard (Part Time)
• Swim Instructor (Part Time)

Police

• Police Officer - Lateral/Academy Graduate (Full Time)
• Police Officer Trainee (Full Time)

Public Works

• Maintenance Superintendent (Full Time)

Top Stories from Our Previous Edition

Council Discussion regarding Lee Gerner Park

Become Firewise in 2025

Master Fee Schedule Update