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 City Becomes Successor Agency for Former Redevelopment Agency | |
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On December 29th, the California Supreme Court issued its decision on the California Redevelopment Association's (CRA) and the League of California Cities' (LCC) lawsuit against the state challenging the elimination of redevelopment agencies. Last June, the Legislature and the Governor approved AB X1 26, which dissolved redevelopment agencies effective October 1, 2011, and AB X1 27, which allowed agenices to continue operations by making a payment to help mitigate the state's budget deficit. The CRA and the LCC sued the state challenging these actions as a violation of Proposition 22. Proposition 22 was overwhelmingly passed by the voters in November 2010 and sought to protect local revenues from being borrowed or taken by the state.
In a landmark decision, the California Supreme Court upheld the validity of AB X1 26 and invalidated AB X1 27. This action means that redevelopment agencies in California are dissolved effective February 1st and there is no option to "opt-in" to continue an agency. This decision was unfortunate as it eliminates a tool for Novato and other communities to foster economic development and revitalize community areas.
In accordance with the AB X1 26 provisions, the City had to make a decision by January 31st on whether or not to serve as the successor agency for the former Novato redevelopment agency.
On January 10, the Council elected to serve as the successor agency for the RDA. The City will thus be in the role of winding down the affairs of the agency and transfering any assets that are not used to pay "enforceable obligations" of the former agency. The Council decided to take on this role to ensure that the City has the ability to interact with the Oversight Board that will be appointed to oversee the successor agency and to manage the preparation of the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule, which will specify the payments that are necessary to meet the prior obligations of the Novato redevelopment agency. In addition, AB X126 also provides at least $250,000 to cover the administrative expenses of serving as the successor agency. Therefore, these costs will not be the responsibility of City's General Fund.
Additional information and background on this action is available here. |
| City Council Approves Hanna Ranch Project | |
 | | A visual of the hotel that is part of the Hanna Ranch Project |
On December 13th, the Council approved a final environmental impact report and the various entitlements necessary for the Hanna Ranch Mixed Use Project to proceed. This project would develop the currently vacant 19.7 acre site at the southern terminus of Rowland Boulevard at Vintage Way with five buildings totaling 135,900 square feet. The project will consist of:
- A single story 13,571 square foot retail building
- A two story 42,240 square foot office over retail building
- Two restaurant buildings totaling 10,000 square feet
- A three or four story, 116 room hotel (approximately 70,000 square feet)
It is estimated that the net financial benefit to the City will be approximately $500,000 after the Measure F sales tax sunsets.
Staff has created this page on the City's website specifically dedicated to the Hanna Ranch Project. Please visit this page to obtain additional information. |
| City Honors Dennis Hagerty as Novato Citizen of the Year | |
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The City Council congratulated Dennis Hagerty for being selected as Novato's Citizen of the Year for 2011 on January 24th by the Paint the Town Red Citizen of the Year Committee. Mr. Hagerty's selection was first announced at the annual Paint the Town Red/Novato Birthday celebration on January 19th.
Mr. Hagerty, a State Farm Insurance Agent, has been a Novato resident since 1981. Since that time, he has been an active volunteer for numerous programs, including the Novato Theater renovation project, in the City.
Congratulations, Dennis! Thank you for everything that you do for the community. |
| Employee Profile: Maggie Rufo | |
 | | Maggie Rufo |
The Our Town newsletter features employee profiles to help the community learn about City employees and the services they provide to the public. The profile includes highlights of the employee's interests and community contributions outside of their professional role with Novato.
The January profile is of Maggie Rufo.
What is your position/job with the City?
Maggie: I wear many different hats for the City. I help the Community Development Department by providing customer service and processing building permits at the One-Stop Shop. I also support other City departments by creating and updating department pages on the City's website and performing various administrative tasks. Finally, I provide staff support for the Public Works Department and the Streetscape Maintenance Advisory Committee.
How long have you worked for the City?
Maggie: I have been with the City for almost eight years. I started in March of 2004.
What do you like best about your job with Novato?
Maggie: I like being able to help the public and my co-workers solve problems. For example, I enjoy helping residents complete the necessary steps to obtain their building permit. I also like helping my co-workers with computer issues. I get the opportunity to share my knowledge and help them learn.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
Maggie: I am most proud of the occasions where I have found ways to enhance the efficiency of City operations. One example that comes to mind is when I utilized technology to improve the public meetings noticing process.
What are some of your personal interests outside of your role with the City?
Maggie: Outside of the office, I am an active volunteer for environmental causes. I volunteer with Wildcare, the Marin Humane Society, the Hungry Owl Project and the Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue. I also help out at events for Project Coyote.
I am also very interested in preventing the closure of California state parks. I recently traveled to Sacramento and testified at a legislative committee meeting encouraging legislators to keep the parks, including Olompali State Park, open to the public.
What are some interesting facts about you that people may not know?
Maggie: I am two classes away from becoming a Certified Naturalist through the College of Marin. I hope to complete the program later this year.
I have also had approximately 25 letters to the editor published in local and national publications related to animals and the environment.
Editor's Note: Maggie encourages readers to visit the websites of the numerous volunteer organizations she participates in to find out more information.
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| City Receives Public Safety Grant for 3 New Police Officers | |
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On January 24th, the Council formally accepted a $1.095 million grant from the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) to fund the hiring of three sworn police officers for the next three years. The DOJ provides these grants to local agencies to enhance public safety through community policing. These grants are very competitive; of the 217 California agencies that applied for grant funds, only 10.5% received funds. The Police Department staff is to be commended for their hard work in securing this grant!
As stated, the grant will fund three officers for the next three years. As a condition of accepting the grant, the City had to agree to retain the officers for an additional year at the City's expense. Funding for these positions and associated equipment will be discussed through the formal 2012-2013 budget process. The Police Department expects the officers to be hired by July.
For additional information on the grant, please view the staff report from the January 24th Council meeting. |
| City Presents Medals to Police Officers | |
On December 13th, the Council recognized two Novato police officers for exemplary service.
Officer Duaine Labno - Medal of Merit
Officer Labno was presented the Medal of Merit for his actions at a suicidal subject incident in August. His actions at the scene and his negotiation skills in calming the subject lead to a peaceful end to the situation and saved the subject's life.
Officer Steve Cogan - Medal of Valor
Officer Cogan was presented the Medal of Valor for his actions at a vehicle accident on Highway 101 while off duty. Dressed in shorts, sandals and a t-shirt, Officer Cogan approach the overturned vehicle that was on fire and took actions to free the driver before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. These actions saved the driver's life.
The Novato Police Department Award and Recognition Committee reviewed and approved the nominations of Officer Labno and Officer Cogan.
Congratulations to Officers Labno and Cogan and thank you once again for your actions! |
| City and Fire District Offer Reward in Arson Investigation | |
The Novato Police Department and the Novato Fire District have announced that a $15,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for a series of arson fires that occurred between January 7th and 10th.
The Department is the lead criminal investigative agency. Anyone with information is encouraged to call (415) 897-4361 during the day or (415) 897-4361 after hours. The public can also call the Novato tip hotline at (800) 848-0101. Additional information is available in this press release. |
| Stormwater Pollution Permit Update | |
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As Novato finally begins to receive some winter rain, we are reminded that stormwater eventually drains to our local creeks, bays or the ocean. As rain flows over our infrastructure, it can pick up pollutants that can degrade our water quality.
In a joint effort to prevent stormwater pollution and protect our creeks and wetlands, Novato, along with other Marin cities, towns and the County work together through the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP). In 2003, the State Water Resouces Control Board issued a Stormwater Permit to the Marin area that required Marin's municipalities to implement a comprehensive program designed to reduce stormwater pollution.
The State Board is currently working on an updated Permit. A preliminary draft released last year would have increased local program costs by three times. MCSTOPPP staff and Marin local governments are currently working to develop a second draft Permit that will prioritize new requirements in a way that provides for a less dramatic impact to local budgets.
The State Board plans to release a 2nd draft of the Permit in June. From this date, there will be a 45-60 day window for public comment. While a final permit may be adopted and effective by the end of 2012, municipalities will be given an additional year to update our local plans.
Please continue to monitor the City website for additional updates. Information is also available at www.mcstoppp.org.
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| Construction Moving Forward on Hamilton Community Gymnasium | |
The steel walls are up and the wood framing in place for the community gymnasium at Hamilton School. This project is a jointly funded partnership effort between the City and the Novato Unified School District.
The gym is expected to be completed later this Spring. When complete, the gym will be home to a wide variety of active recreation programs managed by the City and will serve as the School's cafeteria and meeting assembly space.
The City looks forward to the arrival of this new community amenity to help meet the recreation needs of the community! |
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City and School District Collaborate on New Mobile Food Vending Ordinance | |
The December 13th City Council meeting was the culmination of an extended collaboration between the City and the Novato Unified School District (NUSD) to develop a new Mobile Food Vending Ordinance. The new ordinance had broad support and was approved unanimously by the Council. The new ordinance prohibits mobile food vendors from selling their products within 1,500 feet of public and private schools between the hours of 7:30a.m. and 4:00p.m on regular school days. This restriction applies to any food vendor using a City street, alley or highway. Last May, the Council received a report outling the increasing concerns the proliferation of mobile food vending trucks parked outside the NUSD sites before and after school and during the lunch hour at local high schools. The primary concern involved the safety of youths. At the conclusion of this discussion, Council directed staff to work with the NUSD staff in an interest-based format to research the issues and develop a response that was acceptable to both parties. City staff and NUSD staff worked with a school site and a mobile food vending representative to craft this comprehensive reform. The parties believe that the new ordinance effectively balances all interests and will address this problem. The City thanks all parties for their hard work on this project!
Please see the staff report on the City website for further information. |
| City Unveils New Commuter Bike Connection | |
 | | The New Bike Path |
Last month, the City sponsored a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Commuter Bike Connection multi-purpose path project.
The project constructed a ¾ mile multi-purpose path from the south end of South Novato Boulevard to just north of Enfrente Road.
This project was funded with Federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program for Marin County and Transportation Enhancement funds. |
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CITY OF NOVATO
| 75 Rowland Way, #200 Novato, CA 94945 415/899-8900
FAX 415/899-8213
city@novato.org www.novato.org
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Our Town
E-Newsletter Staff
Contact Us:
city@novato.org
Cathy Capriola, Editor-in-Chief
Dane Wadlé, Editor/Production
Maureen McNiff, Production |
 The New Year's Eve song, Auld Lang Syne, was written by Scottish poet, Robert Burns, in 1741. Auld Lang Syne literally means, "old long ago" or more simply, "the good old days." |
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Plan for Winter and Spring Fun! | |
Winter/Spring Activities Guide is filled with many classes and programs for all ages!
The guide is posted on the City's website. You can also pick up a guide and register at one of our customer service centers:
Novato Gymnastics Center
950 Seventh Street
Novato, CA 94945
415-899-8279
415-897-6395 Fax
M/W/F 9-4:30PM
Tues & Thurs 9-6PM
Margaret Todd Senior Center
1560 Hill Road
Novato CA 94945
415-899-8290
415-897-0239 Fax
Mon-Fri 9-5PM |
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