City Council to Discuss City Offices at Special Meeting

On Monday, December 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m., an update on whether to "build or buy" City offices will be provided at a special City Council meeting at City Hall. City staff will also ask for Council direction to initiate a feasibility period to explore the cost, timing, and impacts of building City offices downtown in the City-owned parking lot off Machin next to the Community House.

The City currently leases 24,341 square feet at 75 Rowland Way for $707,000 a year (which will increase to $750,000 a year by lease expiration in September 2013). Staff has determined that it is more financially prudent to own an office building than to lease. The City has one-time financial resources from monies owed to the General Fund from the Redevelopment Agency that could be used either to purchase or build a permanent office building for City staff or for other general purposes.

For 30 years, various City Councils, commissions, subcommittees and architects have struggled with the design and financing for the civic center and City offices. None of the previous efforts has moved forward to completion.

In 2010, the City Council directed staff to begin work to "buy or build" City offices in order to eliminate the lease payment to help with the City's financial issues. Over the past eighteen months, staff and the City Council have researched, reviewed and considered over 20 different office buildings and properties. As with the selection of a residential home, there are pros and cons with each option. While there were some properties that were extremely well priced, these properties were located on the northern or southern edge of Novato, had ingress/egress issues, or had other downsides.

On April 6, 2010, an agenda item was brought in open session to Council to discuss the relative merits of construction of City offices next to the Community House versus the purchase of an existing building. By a 4 to 1 vote, the City Council directed staff to explore the possibility of purchasing an existing building such as 75 or 88 Rowland Way. Staff entered into negotiations with the owner of 75 Rowland Way to ascertain whether the City could afford to purchase the building. After several rounds of negotiations, staff has determined that the City cannot afford to purchase 75 Rowland given the present pricing status. Based on this, the Council directed staff to reconsider the downtown site in order to gain additional feasibility information. The December 6th Council meeting was scheduled for this purpose.

The December 6th staff report recommends that the City Council approve the allocation of the necessary staff and budgetary resources to execute feasibility study contracts to conduct space planning and geotechnical analysis, consult with a parking structure expert, refine architectural layouts for office floor plans, consult with a structural engineer and obtain input from contractors and understanding of the planning process for the downtown site. The process will likely entail the above-described consultant team, under the direction of an experienced Project Manager, to conduct their initial studies, gather and disseminate the information and then incorporate the information into further recommendations.

Based on the information obtained during this initial due diligence phase, a decision would be made as to whether the next phase of feasibility study should be pursued or other options considered. Future feasibility study tasks, which would include preparation of more detailed plans and information such that more detailed construction pricing could be attained, could cost $300,000 or more.

This item is not intended to be a final decision on whether City offices should be built downtown. Rather, it is to discuss whether to allocate funding to engage experts to provide Council with data on the downtown site in order to evaluate its feasibility. Throughout the process, there will be ample opportunities for the public to provide comments and feedback before a final decision is made.

To view the full staff report on this item, which includes a detailed historical timeline and information on the potential timeline if it is ultimately decided to build on the downtown site, go to the City's website.

On January 20, 2011, the City of Novato will celebrate its 51st birthday. Once again PTTR Inc. ("Paint the Town Red") will put on a celebration to mark this anniversary. PTTR, a local non-profit, is a community partnership bringing together the City of Novato, School Fuel, the Downtown Business Association, the Novato Chamber of Commerce and the Citizen of the Year Committee.

The party will again be held in Novato's historic City Hall at 901 Sherman Avenue on January 20 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Many highlights of last year's 50th birthday extravaganza will be featured, such as "Taste of Novato," a variety of hors d'oeuvres from Novato's best restaurants and fine wines from local wineries. Live entertainment will be headed by Marin's own Noah Griffin and there will be a live auction presented by School Fuel with a spectacular item for bid. The highlight of the evening will be the revelation of the 2010 Citizen of the Year, always a well-kept secret until this announcement.

There is an "early bird" ticket discount, so if you buy your tickets by December 31st, you only pay $40 per person. Starting January 1, the price goes up to $50 per person. And remember, this event always sells out and tickets are not available at the door. To buy your tickets and for more information, go to www.paintthetownred.org.

The November ballot included certain initiatives relevant to the City. On a statewide level, two initiatives, Proposition 22 and 26 had the greatest relevance to Novato.

Proposition 22 passed with 60% of the vote. This measure, which was placed on the ballot by the League of California Cities, was supported by the Novato City Council. This initiative prohibits the state government from taking, borrowing or redirecting local government funds dedicated to local services. Over the past ten years, the state Legislature and the Governor has taken more than $15 million in Novato revenues to address the state's budget deficit. With the passage of Proposition 22, the state will no longer be able to take, borrow or redirect local taxpayer funds dedicated to local services. The passage of Proposition 22 was a major victory for Novato and cities across the state, as the provisions provide more financial certainty to local communities.

The second measure was Proposition 26, which passed with 52% of the vote. This initiative redefines many "regulatory fees" as taxes: and requires the state Legislature to approve these fees with a 2/3rds vote. For cities, the language requires any extension or increase of an existing regulatory fee or a new regulatory fee to be approved by 2/3rds of the voters. Regulatory fees are charged to businesses or individuals to pay for programs that achieve certain public goals or offset the public or environmental impact of certain activities. The initiative was designed to address various fees imposed by the state; many local government fees are explicitly excluded from the 2/3rds vote requirement. Examples of excluded fees include: development impact fees, recreation class fees, and license and permit fees.

In conclusion, the immediate impact on the City of Novato appears to be minimal because most, if not all, existing city fees are exempt. If any new regulatory fee is adopted, it would have to be approved by 2/3rds of Novato voters. It is important to note that attorneys are reviewing the language to provide clearer guidance to cities. City staff will continue to monitor legal determinations and will provide further updates to the community as necessary.

Novato voters also decided on Measure F, a proposal to temporarily increase the sales tax by ½ cent for five years in order to preserve funding for core municipal services. Measure F passed with 57% of the vote. This measure will raise $3 million annually. Approval of the measure means that the City will not have to make additional reductions, beyond those already approved. Measure F officially takes effect on April 1, 2011 with the City receiving the new revenues at the end of April.

The provisions of Measure F require the City Council to establish a Citizens Oversight Committee. The Council will discuss a process for establishing this Committee and selecting members at a Council meeting in January. The City will engage the public in discussions regarding the Measure F funding priorities as we move forward. Please check the City website for more information on Measure F as it becomes available.

One of the City's ongoing goals is to enhance the public's access to City government. New technologies have changed the way government communicates with residents. City staff has incorporated a number of new strategies, including social media and an electronic newsletter, to complement traditional methods, such as newspaper articles, to relay information. To effectively represent the community, Council and staff rely on suggestions and feedback from the residents. Therefore, we encourage the public to monitor City news through one or more of the following avenues:

• Subscribing to the City's "Our Town" monthly newsletter and signing up for electronic notifications (E-Notifiers). The public can subscribe to both at this link.
   
• Visiting the City's website. Staff constantly updates the website with top stories and current news. The website is: http://www.cityofnovato.org/
   
• Becoming a fan of the City's Facebook page. City events and Council agenda items are just some examples of information displayed on the City's Facebook page.
   
• Following the City on Twitter. To follow the City, log on at www.twitter.com and search for "TweetNovato."
   
• Watching Council meetings live. The City has been a leader in televising its Council meetings, having started this practice in 1981. The Council generally meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The meetings can be viewed on channel 27 or on the Internet.
   

Staff constantly evaluates new opportunities to interact with the community and provide information. For example, the City will soon establish a presence on the new community on-line newspaper, Novato Patch (http://novato.patch.com) website.

As always, we welcome suggestions as to how we can improve communications with you and provide the best service possible to the public. Call Jennifer Goldfinger at 899-8900 or jgoldfinger@novato.org with your comments or suggestions on "Our Town".

Recent statistics have demonstrated that childhood obesity rates have tripled nationwide. It is estimated that one third of all children born since 2000 will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. To address this national epidemic, President Obama and the First Lady have introduced the Let's Move Initiative across America. The Initiative is designed to get individuals to be more active and ultimately, build healthier communities.

Locally, the "Let's Move Novato" initiative will officially be launched in January 2011 and is anticipated to involve collaboration with health care providers and a number of other agencies. The "Let's Move Novato" Initiative was introduced to Novato residents in the Winter-Spring Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department Activity Guide. Programs with an active focus can easily be found by looking for the blue apple icon. Novato's "Get out, Get active" initiative will have a variety of components, from ways to increase activity, particularly through City recreation programs and use of community facilities and parks, to sharing health and fitness information via handouts and other media. A highlight of "Let's Move" will be a day dedicated to active recreation on Saturday, April 30th - mark your calendars now!

Looking for an unusual holiday gift? Something special for family and friends? Then look no further than your own backyard or rather City Hall's patio, where you can purchase a brick and have it engraved for $100 and be a part of Novato forever.

Each brick has three lines (23 characters per line) available for your inscription and close to 800 bricks have been purchased since the City starting selling the bricks a year ago. You can find the order form on the City's website and pay via Pay Pal, mail the form in with a check, or come by the City's main offices at 75 Rowland Way #200 and pick up a form there. On request, you can also get a complimentary gift card. For all the information click here or call the City at 899-8900 and ask for "Brick Sales."

The holiday season has arrived and local businesses are ready to welcome Novato shoppers. Shopping locally has many benefits. Rather than spending stressful time in traffic on US 101, Novato residents and workers can enjoy the ease of access to our many retailers, restaurants, and service businesses. Many of Novato's shopping centers and our downtown have recently added new tenants providing variety and diversity to the business mix. Some Novato businesses also provide gift certificates that give the recipient of the gift even more choices.

Buying locally is a way to help build the Novato economy and create jobs as well as help pay for local services, such as police, senior and youth services. Nearly a quarter of the City's revenues are derived from sales tax. In a recent newsletter, Barbara Wold, author and business strategist stated of local shopping: "You are fostering a strong community in your community." We agree and it is especially important in the current economy. Shop Local!!

See what the current edition of "Marin Magazine" says about Grant Avenue.

Holiday Crafts Faire

The Parks, Recreation and Community Services will hold its annual Holiday Crafts Faire on Friday, December 3, 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM, and Saturday, December 4, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Margaret Todd Senior Center. Admission is free. The Faire will feature more than 50 artisans selling handmade crafts including jewelry, scarves, ceramics, aprons, soaps, dolls, toys, specialty food items and much more. The Novato Garden Club and the Novato Senior Citizens Club partner with the City for this festive event. The Novato Garden Club will be selling fresh greens, wreaths, and swags and the Novato Senior Club will be selling handcrafted items and raffle tickets to win a beautiful quilt. Make sure to stop by the Homeward Bound of Marin booth for their famous truffles, breads and preserves, and pick up a bit of Novato History at the Novato Historical Guild booth. The Guild will be selling the "Novato Now and Then" book, "Hamilton Field History" book, Novato history collector cards, and ornaments. Food will be available for purchase throughout the event and lively entertainment will fill the air. This is a perfect opportunity to find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. Thank you to Novato Whole Foods for sponsoring the Faire this year. For more information, please call 899-8290.

Breakfast with Santa

Join Novato Kiwanis and the Margaret Todd Senior Center on Sunday, December 5 from 9:30 AM-Noon at the Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Road, for a festive pancake, egg and sausage breakfast. Enjoy the morning with family and friends and make sure to take your photo with Santa! The cost is $5/adults and children under 12 are free. Reservations are not needed. For more information, call the Center at 899-8290.

The City Council met on November 9th and began the evening with ceremonial events. First, a proclamation was presented to commemorate National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. Next, the Council expressed its appreciation to outgoing Planning Commissioner Michael Blanchard for his service on the Commission. Finally, the Council honored In-Home Caregivers in recognition of National Caregivers Month, and Tuti Giavina was present to accept the proclamation and share her personal story of caregiving.

After an hour of open Public Comment, the Council approved items on the Consent Calendar, including acceptance of the State Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant for FY 2010/11, and the execution of a consultant services agreement with Miller Pacific Engineering Group, for materials testing services for various CIP projects.

On the General Business calendar, the Council discussed plans and specifications for the Margaret Todd Senior Center Emergency Generator and HVAC CIP project, and, after discussion, directed staff to choose the best site from among four options, excluding the originally recommended site. An informational item providing an update on state and local measures that will affect the City and another dealing with the proposed timeline of the 2010-2013 Strategic Plan, were continued to the meeting of November 30th. At the conclusion of regular business, the Council convened to closed session to discuss property negotiations for various sites which may be appropriate locations for City offices.

Council meetings in December are:

December 6 - Special Council meeting (Monday)
December 7 - Council meeting to re-organize (new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem selected)
December 14 - Regular Council meeting

All meetings will be held at 6:30 PM at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue.

"Our Town" Publishing Schedule

Starting in January 2011 our goal is to publish "Our Town" on the fourth Thursday of every month (with the exception of November and December when holidays occur). Look for a new edition of "Our Town" on the following dates through June 2011, when we will re-evaluate the schedule:

January 27, February 24, March 24, April 28, May 26, June 23

If you haven't yet subscribed to "Our Town", it is easy to do by clicking here.

Novato Patch

As of November 16, Novato has its own online community newspaper "Novato Patch." The editor is former IJ reporter and Novato resident, Brent Ainsworth. The goal of the site is to be "a local source for news, events, business listings and discussion". The site is funded by AOL, which launched the concept in February 2009 on the East Coast and now covers over 300 communities. The staff for each "paper" consists of a local editor assisted by freelance reporters. It is envisioned to be an interactive site, where you can post your group's events, make announcements, ask questions and comment on stories.

Check it out at novato.patch.com.