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Welcome to the City of Novato's monthly newsletter! This issue features the appointment of Tim O'Connor to District 3, the Spring CCB application period - now open, Open Novato community surveys, Women's History Month, upcoming Parks and Recreation events, 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.

At their regular meeting of January 24, the Novato City Council voted to accept applications to fill the seat vacated by former Councilmember Eric Lucan on January 2, in lieu of holding a special election.

At their February 14 meeting, Council unanimously voted to appoint Tim O’Connor as a City Councilmember to fill the current District 3 seat until December 2024. Council interviewed four candidates that met the eligibility requirements for the seat.

O’Connor stated “I appreciate the Council’s confidence in selecting me as the City of Novato's District 3 representative. I am committed to our community and to ensuring all residents are included in discussions affecting their quality of life. It’s an honor to be appointed to do this work and give back to the community that I am raising my family in.”

O’Connor has served on the City’s Finance Advisory Commission since 2016, and prior to his appointment to Council served as Chair of the commission. O’Connor currently works as the Director of Finance and Business Services in the Office of the Chancellor at UC Berkeley. Originally from Ireland, O’Connor graduated from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology with a BA in Business & Marketing. O’Connor has dedicated years of volunteer time to the Meadow Park HOA in Hamilton, Bahia HOA and various service committees throughout Novato.

Mayor Susan Wernick commented “Tim’s professional background sets him up to be an excellent addition to the Council. To have somebody with his expertise who has already done a deep dive into the finances of the City will be of great benefit to us. Having received over 30 letters of support tells me this community feels comfortable and confident in this person representing them.”

To watch this meeting or view the staff report, visit novato.org/watchmeetings.

The City of Novato welcomes questions and comments from the community for City Manager Adam McGill in advance of this year's State of the City Address at novato.org/opennovato. Online submission period closes on March 22, 2023 at 5pm.

Presented annually by the Novato Chamber of Commerce, Novato’s 2023 State of the City Address will be held in person at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue on April 6, 2023 from 5-7pm. Discussion will include a look back on 2022 and highlights of upcoming projects and programs for the new year.

Unable to join us in person? You can watch the State of the City live at novato.org/watchmeetings. A recording of the event will also be available at novato.org/watchmeetings. This event is FREE to join and open to the public.  

La Ciudad de Novato recibe de Buena manera preguntas y comentarios de la comunidad para el gestor municipal Adam McGill antes del discurso sobre el estado de la Ciudad de este año en novato.org/opennovato. El período de entrega en línea cierra a las 5pm el 22 de marzo de 2023.

Presentado cada ano por la Cámara de Comercio de Novato, el discurso sobre el estado de la ciudad de Novato en 2023 se hará presencialmente en la municipalidad de Novato, 901 Sherman Avenue el 6 de abril de 2023, de 5-7pm. El discurso incluirá una mirada para atrás al 2022 y detalles destacados de los próximos proyectos y programas para el año nuevo.

¿No puede asistir en persona? También puede mirar el discurso sobre el estado de la Ciudad en vivo en novato.org/watchmeetings. Una grabación del evento también estará disponible en novato.org/watchmeetings. Este evento es GRATIS y abierto al público.

What City services are most important to you?

The City of Novato has kicked off its annual Community Priorities Budget Survey and encourages community members to share their input and help shape the City’s Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget.

Please take our survey and share your feedback at novato.org/opennovato. Survey closes on Monday, April 3 at 5pm.

More information on the City’s budget process, upcoming budget meetings, and prior year’s budgets are available at novato.org/budget.

¿Cuáles servicios de la Ciudad son más importantes para usted?

La Ciudad de Novato ha lanzado su encuesta anual de prioridades comunitarias sobre el presupuesto y anima a la comunidad a compartir sus comentarios y ayudar a formar el presupuesto municipal para el año fiscal 2023/24.

Por favor responda a nuestra encuesta y comparta sus comentarios en novato.org/opennovato. La encuesta cierra a las 5pm el lunes 3 de abril.

Hay más información sobre el proceso del presupuesto municipal, las próximas reuniones del presupuesto y presupuestos anteriores en novato.org/budget.

This #WomensHistoryMonth, Novato proudly celebrates women's contributions to history, culture and society across the country. To celebrate, we’ll be sharing some remarkable women from our community throughout the month.

We’re #NovatoProud of the women in Novato and encourage you to nominate a Novatan who has made a positive impact in our community at novatoproud.com.

Members of our Novato community are encouraged to attend our upcoming Recreation, Cultural & Community Services Advisory Commission meeting on Thursday, March 9 at 6:00pm at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue to provide their input regarding proposed improvements to the large play structure at Pioneer Park. ⁠

Please email questions to novatofun@novato.org.

The Margaret Todd Senior Center is bringing back its Spring Trash to Treasures Flea Market on Saturday, March 18 from 9am-2pm!

Please visit novatofun.org/events or call (415) 899-8290 for more information.

Join us for our Spring Magic Show with Mike Della Penna on March 25 at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue.

From March to June Novato's third grade classes will be visiting the Novato History Museum and with the help of our docents, will be transported back to the 1800s and early 1900s.

They will experience what it was like to live in a home during the 1800s, work the land and hear the old train whistle!

If you would like to be a Third Grade Docent and join in on the fun please contact Laurie O'Mara at (415) 246-8168 or laurieomara@gmail.com.

You will be trained, have the opportunity to shadow tours beforehand, and be provided with all of the materials you will need.

Reminder - Don't miss Marin Historian Scott Fletcher's talk based on his book "Familiar Tales and Untold Stories". The talk will take place at the Historical Guild quarterly membership meeting at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue on Saturday, March 11 from 10am to 12pm.

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!

Several years ago, the City stopped using glyphosate (the active ingredient in Round Up) and does not use any chemicals on the Proposition 65 list. All weed removal is done by hand, by either pulling and/or cutting the weeds down, and if the location is suitable, future weed growth is suppressed by applying a thick layer of mulch.

Our Public Works team is hard at work and doing their very best to keep the weeds at bay, but they ask for your patience over the next few months as they tackle the spring surge of weeds.

If you’ve got weeds springing up in your yard, rather than reaching for weed killer, here are some tips to help stay on top of spring weeds:

✅ Start to pull the weeds now, while the soil is moist from all the recent rain

✅ Remove the weeds while they are young and have tender leaves, since their roots are less developed

✅ Use tools such as a screwdriver to remove weeds in cracks

✅ Be sure to remove the whole weed, roots, and all – otherwise it may regrow

Maintaining a lawn is thirsty work and can be expensive. Between watering, weeding, and mowing, keeping a lawn looking green and healthy during our dry summer months requires significant resources. So if you think it’s time to lose your lawn, spring is a great time of year to sheet mulch turf.

Sheet mulching involves cutting down the turf, placing a thick layer of cardboard over the whole area and covering the cardboard with 3-4 inches of mulch. Be sure to check out rebates and incentives from North Marin Water District.

The City of Novato is partnering with Resilient Neighborhoods to offer a five-session series of climate action workshops this spring. Participants will learn how to save natural resources and money, bring climate-friendly practices into their homes, and prepare for emergencies. Workshops will take place every other week and run for 10 weeks. Choose from the Thursday series (starting March 30 from 6:30-8:30pm) or the Tuesday series (starting April 5 from 4-6pm).

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.

March 8 at 5pm | Housing and Homeless Committee

March 9 at 7:30am | Finance Advisory Commission

March 9 at 2pm | Zoning Administrator

March 9 at 6pm | Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Commission

March 13 at 7pm | Planning Commission

March 13 at 7pm | Novato Streetscape Committee

March 14 at 6pm | City Council

March 15 at 5:30pm | Complete Streets and Pathways Oversight Committee

March 15 at 7pm | Design Review Commission

March 16 at 6pm | Sustainability Commission

March 22 at 6pm | Multicultural Advisory Commission

March 23 at 2pm | Zoning Administrator

March 27 at 7pm | Planning Commission

March 28 at 6pm | City Council

Visit novatojobs.org for more information and to apply.

March 7, 2:30pm - 6:30pm

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