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Welcome to the City of Novato's monthly newsletter! This issue features the 2023 State of the City Address, the Virtual Community Budget Workshop, the return of NPD's Community Police Academy, a Diversity Month celebration, exciting Parks and Recreation news, 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.

Last night, City Manager Adam McGill presented Novato’s 2023 State of the City which included a look back on 2022 and highlights of upcoming projects and programs for this year.

Some topics included:

The speech was live-streamed on the City’s website. Watch Novato’s 2023 State of the City Address online now or view the presentation at novato.org/watchmeetings.

This week, the City held a Virtual Community Budget Workshop via Zoom which included a presentation on the budget development process, Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program, followed by a community Q&A. Some topics discussed included:

Watch the Virtual Community Budget Workshop above or view the presentation at novato.org/budget. Additional budget information including upcoming meetings is also available at novato.org/budget.

April is Diversity Month! The Multicultural Advisory Commission invites you to celebrate with us on April 26, 6pm at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue.

Join us for an in-person panel conversation on combatting hate and the significance of diversity and inclusiveness within our community. MAC Commissioner Nicole Gardner will be moderating the event, and we will be featuring four guest speakers.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🤎🖤🤍

Registration is now open for Novato Parks and Recreation’s summer camps and programs! Visit novatofun.org to view our Summer 2023 Digital Activity Guide and to register for your favorite summer activities.  

Visit novato.org/regforfun to register today before these programs fill up! Questions? Please call 415.899.8975 or email novatofun@novato.org. 

To celebrate the first anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Novato, a jet warbird was gifted by the Air Force to the children of Novato on February 22, 1961. The two sections of the plane were moved through the narrow gate of Hamilton and with traffic unable to pass were transported under escort up highway 101 and Grant Avenue.

Attendees of the ceremony, pictured above, included: J. Wayne Womack, Novato’s first mayor; John Baget, Novato City Manager; Col. Harvey E. Henderson, Hamilton’s base commander; Col. Benjamin B. Cassiday Jr., Hamilton’s deputy base commander; Col. William F. Barns, 78th Maintenance & Supply Group commander; Col. Reet P. Smith, 78th Air Base Group commander; Al Rivasplata, Novato school principal; Bill Gnoss, Marin County supervisor; and others.

Friendly Reminder -- Rainy season is also pothole season 🌧️🕳️ The Novato Public Works Department prioritizes pothole repairs and encourages the community to report potholes (and other issues) by submitting a service request at novato.org/servicerequest or by calling the Maintenance Division at 415.899.8280.

We appreciate your patience as we work to repair problem areas as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thank you and drive safely!

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, we will be recognizing members of our community who go above and beyond to protect our environment.

If you know a family member, friend, student, neighbor, or colleague that deserves to be recognized for their efforts to create a sustainable future, nominate them at novatoproud.org.

We'll feature a selection of our superstars on the City's social media accounts during the week leading up to Earth Day. Nominations will be accepted through April 14.

At their March 28 meeting, Council received a presentation from City and County of Marin staff on a draft single-use foodware ordinance. The ordinance will be introduced for consideration at the April 25 meeting and, if successful, final adoption will be May 9.

The draft ordinance is based on the premise that reusable foodware is best, fiber-based compostable and/or aluminum foodware is compliant, and single-use plastics (including bioplastics) are prohibited. If adopted by the Council, only fiber-based compostable foodware would be compliant under the ordinance.

Exemptions would be provided for foodware items that are not currently available in a compliant alternative and a list of exemptions will be maintained by the County of Marin’s Environmental Health Services Division. If adopted, Novato City staff plans to conduct further outreach to assist businesses in making this important transition and meeting both existing and upcoming waste-related state mandates.

The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Curbside Chipper Day Program is back for its third season.

To assist Marin County residents with their defensible space efforts, the Chipper Day Program offers free curbside pickup and disposal of excess vegetation from residential properties. The purpose of the program is to provide assistance with the process of removal and disposal of hazardous vegetation to residents. Activities include the chipping and transportation of vegetation from properties within MWPA’s jurisdiction as well as assisting MWPA member agencies in vegetation management projects that are in-line with the core mission of the program.

- This season, all residents will have 5 chipping events throughout the year, more than doubling the regular season opportunities.

- Season pre-registration is NOW OPEN and is required.

Residents will have the ability to apply for extra-large pile pickup.

- Residents will be able to “drop a pin” on their exact pile location and check on their reservation status through the website.

Learn more and pre-register at firesafemarin.org/chipper.

The Novato Fourth of July Parade Committee is preparing for the annual Independence Day celebration and is seeking volunteers.

The theme of this year’s parade is “A Nation of Innovation.”

The parade, Novato's largest single-day annual event, typically attracts between 10,000 and 20,000 visitors. The event was in-person in 2022 after the pandemic forced cancelations in 2020 and 2021.

80 volunteers are needed to run a safe and smooth event. Volunteers are assigned to duties such as traffic monitoring, barricade and trash can placement, temporary signage installation, barricade supervising, and post-parade cleanup. This is an excellent opportunity for high school students to accumulate community service hours. A mandatory orientation meeting for volunteers will held on July 3 in the late afternoon.

Additionally, registration is now open for parade entries and for vintage convertible vehicles to be used to transport parade VIPs.

Learn more and register at NovatoParade.com.

Martes 18 abril | 6:30 - 8:30pm | Regístrese aquí

Martes 16 mayo | 6:30 - 8:30pm | Regístrese aquí

Wednesday, May 3 | 6:30-8:30pm | Register Here

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.

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.

April 10 at 7pm | Planning Commission - Cancelled

April 11 at 6pm | City Council

April 13 at 2pm | Zoning Administrator

April 19 at 7pm | Design Review Commission

April 20 at 6pm | Sustainability Commission & Workshop

April 24 at 7pm | Planning Commission

April 25 at 6pm | City Council

April 27 at 2pm | Zoning Administrator

Visit novatojobs.org for more information and to apply.

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