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Welcome to the City of Novato July eNewsletter! We have a lot of exciting news for you this month! This issue includes the return of in-person meetings & many of your favorite Novato events; approval of the City budget for fiscal year July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022; an update to Homeless Outreach in Novato; new permit application process; the reopening of Novato's museums, and more!
You can still 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.
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City Council Resumes In-Person Public Meetings
After more than a year of virtual meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Novato's City Council meetings will resume under a hybrid model beginning with their meeting on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, 6pm at Novato City Hall.
Members of the public are welcome to provide public comment in-person or virtually through Zoom during the meeting. Additionally, eComment can be submitted online until 3pm on the day of the meeting.
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Homeless Outreach in Novato
At their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, the City Council will consider entering into an agreement with Homeward Bound of Marin to offer immediate housing and services to Novato's unhoused community.
This direct referral, first of its kind, opportunity coupled with the set of actions that Council had previously taken with the adoption of Ordinances 1669 and 1670 at their June 8, 2021 meeting, is a major step toward addressing homelessness in Novato.
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Novato Summer Outdoor Concert Series Returns!
We are excited to welcome the community back to our Saturday evening Concerts on the Green and Hot Amphitheater Nights outdoor concert series this summer!
Concerts on the Green, 901 Sherman Ave., 5-7pm:
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July 17 | Buck Ford (country /honkytonk /western swing)
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August 7 | Pacific Standard (americana)
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August 21 | Simon Lunche (pop rock)
Hot Amphitheater Nights, 601 N Hamilton Pkwy, 5-7pm:
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July 31 | The Peelers (top 40 mashups and medleys)
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August 28 | Careless Whisper (80's tribute band)
Gather your friends and family, grab your lawn chairs, pack a picnic, and join us for an evening of live music.
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Fiscal Year 2021/2022 City Budget Approved
On June 22, the Novato City Council unanimously approved a $45M Fiscal Year 2021/2022 City Budget.
With the social and economic impacts of COVID-19 on our community, your feedback during the City’s annual budget planning was more important than ever.
We'd like to thank our community for sharing their budget priorities during this year's process by attending budget meetings and taking our annual budget survey.
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Novato’s New ePermit Resource Center
The City of Novato has a new ePermit Resource Center, replacing our previous One Stop Shop over-the-counter services, with information necessary to obtain permits through the City’s self-service online permitting.
City staff from the Building, Planning, Engineering and Code Enforcement Divisions are available Monday - Thursday from 9am - 11am at City Administrative Offices, 922 Machin Avenue, to offer information on regulations, answer questions about individual projects, and provide necessary paperwork and direction on processes.
Physical documentation, including permit applications, will no longer be accepted in-person at the service counter.
When visiting City offices, unvaccinated individuals are required to wear a face covering.
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Get Your Free Evacuation Tag
Novato Police, in collaboration with Novato Fire & the Marin Sheriff's Office, are giving away free evacuation tags to Novato residents.
Evacuation tags are a new tool to help first responders quickly ensure that neighborhoods are evacuated during a disaster. Residents place the tag in a location that is highly visible when they evacuate (mailbox, front door, garage, or end of your driveway).
Each tag comes with a bilingual instruction flyer and zip tie. Evacuation tags are available at The Novato Police Department and the Novato Fire Protection District, so feel free to stop by during business hours to get a tag.
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City Partners with Local Rotary Clubs on Stormwater Medallion Project
A big thank you to the volunteers from four Novato Rotary Clubs, as well as Novato's own Senior Maintenance Worker and Stormwater Coordinator Melanie Fraley, for installing ‘No Dumping - Drains to Bay’ medallions at stormwater drains in Downtown Novato to draw attention to the importance of keeping litter and harmful liquids away from these water catchment basins.
The stormwater medallion installation project is a county-wide initiative facilitated by the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP), a collaboration between Marin’s 11 cities and towns, the County of Marin and the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District founded in 1993 and coordinated locally by the City’s Public Works Department.
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Holiday Crafts Faire is Back!
Novato Parks, Recreation and Community Services will be holding its annual Holiday Crafts Faire on Friday, December 3, 6-9pm, and Saturday, December 4, 10am-4pm at the Margaret Todd Senior Center located at 1560 Hill Road, Novato.
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There will be more than 55 artisans selling handmade crafts including jewelry, ceramics, specialty foods, wreaths, ornaments, bath and body products and more! There will be entertainment throughout the event and food will be available. Don’t miss this great opportunity to purchase unique holiday gifts!
Interested in becoming a vendor? Fill out and submit your application by September 3.
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Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month with NovatoFUN
It's National Parks and Recreation Month! Tell us about your favorite park, program, event, or even a Novato Parks & Recreation Staff member who has had an impact on you or your family’s life.
Don’t wait - participate NOW for a chance to be featured in July as we celebrate all month long! Here’s how:
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Post a comment on Novato Parks & Recreation's Facebook.
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Email your story to NovatoFun@novato.org
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Share on your own social media pages but be sure to use #NovatoFUN and tag @Novatofun!
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ICYMI! (In Case You Missed It!):
Novato Fourth of July Parade Video
A big THANK YOU to the Novato Fourth of July Parade Committee for keeping Novato's parade tradition alive this year.
Although the parade was virtual this year, it still took a village to pull it off, especially in the new video format.
We hope to see you all in person at the parade next year!
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Get to Know Your Novato Museums!
Novato is fortunate to have four wonderful museums and three have reopened for visitors, with the fourth coming soon.
Summer is the perfect time for adults and kids to enjoy our local arts and history, some of which may be surprising to you. Here is a rundown of our museums, with a link to their sites for hours and exhibits:
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Marin Museum of
Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA)
Located in Hamilton, MarinMOCA features a Free Family Day event on the first Sunday of each month.
Please note: Due to the 4th of July holiday this month's event will be held on July 11.
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Novato History Museum
Located Downtown, and part of the Novato Historical Guild, visit the Novato History Museum to learn about how our town Novato began and where some of our local street names and places came from.
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Hamilton Field History Museum
Located in Hamilton, this museum offers a look at the long and illustrious history of Hamilton Field — from military operations with an airport to today's wetland restoration!
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Museum of the American Indian
Located at Pioneer Park (opening soon) on the site of a Miwok village - a hidden gem!
This Sunday, July 11 at 11am, the museum offers a Healing Drumming event, and Basket weaving workshops start July 17!
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Downtown Novato Community Farmers Market
The days are getting longer and that means more time to eat fresh local fruits and veggies. If you haven't been to the market this season, you can find the produce vendors in the shade of the trees. Come see and taste the bounty on Tuesdays from 4-8pm at the Downtown Shopping Center, under the oaks, behind CVS.
Did you know that if you are a CalFresh Healthy Living participant, you can use your benefits to buy fresh fruits & veggies at the market? Get an extra $10 to spend when using your CalFresh EBT at the market!
¡Cuando gastas $10 de su tarjeta de EBT, puedes obtener $10 en fruta y verduras gratis en el mercado!
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Check out daily updates from Marin County Public Health about confirmed COVID-19 cases countywide, vaccination efforts, & more at coronavirus.marinhhs.org.
COVID-19 QUICK LINKS
The California COVID-19 Hotline is available to answer your questions and help with vaccine access. Please call 833.422.4255, Monday-Friday between 8am-5pm, weekends from 8am-5pm. For California Relay Service dial 711. The hotline supports callers in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, and other languages. Read More
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California Department of Public Health
(CDPH) reminds unvaccinated Californians that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, free and provides excellent protection from severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and death. Out of over 20 million vaccinated individuals, only 0.003% (584 people) contracted COVID-19 and required hospitalization.
The data and science clearly demonstrate vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19, including the Delta variant.
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Reopening Resources for a Safer Workplace
Workers, employers, co-workers, and their families all deserve a safe productive space. The resources available in order to keep work places safe are not always easy to find or understand.
The State has provided a centralized hub of information, via Safe at Work California, in order to make these tools easier to learn and to spread awareness.
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Draft Plan Bay Area 2050 Plan Released
Plan Bay Area 2050 is a long-range plan charting the course for the future of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
Plan Bay Area 2050 takes a comprehensive look at the region’s challenges and identifies actions to be advanced by all levels of government in the coming years.The 2050 Plan focuses on four key issues: the economy, the environment, housing and transportation
The Draft Plan Bay Area 2050 is open for a public comment period that will run through 5 pm, July 20, 2021.
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National Night Out on August 3
Join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “38th Annual National Night Out” (NNO) crime and drug prevention event on August 3 from 5pm-7pm at the Novato Police Department, 909 Machin Avenue. We will be handing out NNO swag and are excited to connect with our community. However, to ensure the safety of our community, we have chosen not to provide food this year.
Novato PD will also be accepting requests to stop by neighborhoods or locations that will be hosting their own block parties or events. Please let us know if you will be hosting an event by contacting Lauren Grant Lgrant@novato.org or by calling 415-899-8252. We would love to join in on the fun!
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Rock the Block with Pop Rocks presented by the Downtown Novato Business Association
Get ready to Rock the Block on Thursday, August 5 from 6-9pm!
Crowd-favorite Pop Rocks dance band features current high energy hits, mixed with the classics from the 80s, 90s, and today.
See you in a few short weeks at Novato's favorite block party in the heart of Downtown Novato!
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Nostalgia Days Classic Car Cruise & Show presented by the Downtown Novato Business Association
And yet another beloved free event returns on October 8 & 9!
October 8: Cruising from Our Lady of Loretto, 1806 Novato Blvd, at 5:45pm
October 9: Car Show on Grant Avenue, with live music and awards, 10am-4pm
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"Warm Line" in English and Spanish: You Are Not Alone
Marin County’s confidential peer-run Warm Line is a place for you to talk about anything that is on your mind—including anxiety, depression, fear, financial struggles and substance difficulties. We are here for you!
English Warm Line: 415.459.6330
Hours: 9 AM – Midnight
"Warm Line" en inglés y español: No Esta Solo
La Warm Line confidencial administrada por pares del condado de Marin es un lugar para que hable sobre cualquier cosa que tenga en mente, incluida la ansiedad, la depresión, el miedo y la lucha, financiero, uso de sustancias, etc. ¡Estamos aquí para ayudarlo!
Español Warm Line: 415.457.4026
Horas: 1 PM – 6 PM
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Marin Small Business Development Center
Check out the Marin Small Business Development Center's website for up-to-date information from the Small Business Administration (SBA), info on new grants and other important news to help you navigate your business through the effects of COVID-19. They are also available to help you apply for relief, guide you through available resources, cash flow concerns, supply chain interruptions, workforce capacity, insurance coverage and more — at no cost!
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With no rain in sight - drought continues
North Marin Water District has enacted Emergency Water Conservation Ordinances in both the Novato and West Marin Services Areas to preserve water supply during this drought.
Find and fix leaks! Using your water meter you can perform a simple leak check. Visit nmwd.com/drought for more water saving tips.
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Upcoming City Meetings
The City of Novato encourages community participation at our upcoming public meetings. Meeting details, including information on how to participate, is 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.
July 12 at 7pm | Planning Commission - cancelled
July 12 at 7pm | Novato Streetscape Committee
July 13 at 6pm | City Council
July 14 at 5:30pm | Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
July 15 at 7:30am | Novato Citizens Finance Advisory-Oversight Committee Meeting
July 21 at 7pm | Design Review Commission
July 22 at 2pm | Zoning Administrator
July 26 at 7pm | Planning Commission
July 27 at 6pm | City Council
July 28 at 6pm | Multicultural Advisory Commission Meeting
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We're Hiring — Join Our Team!
Interested in a career in local government? Check out some of our current openings:
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Deputy Director of Finance (continuous)
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Police Officer - Lateral / Academy Graduate (continuous; applications reviewed as they are received).
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Top Stories from Our Previous Editions
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Stay Healthy Novato
The best way to reduce the risk of becoming infected with respiratory virus, whether the flu or coronavirus, is to practice good hygiene:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Wear a face covering when out in public spaces.
- Maintain 6 feet distance from those outside of your own household.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or crook of your elbow (not your hands). If you use a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands afterwards.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Get vaccinated.
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CITY OF NOVATO
publicinfo@novato.org
415.899.8900
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