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| City Maximizes Grant Opportunities | |
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This article is the first in a series highlighting the success City departments have had in securing local, state and federal grant funding. The first profile is of the Novato Police Department. Through the department's hard work, the City has secured grants that have allowed the hiring of additional police officers, added new equipment and technology and enhanced youth and community outreach programs.
Currently the department carries a balance of $1.7 million in active State and Federal grants plus another $200,000 in recently completed and pending grants. These grants are used to help the department accomplish its high level of commitment to the community. In addition, these grants offer the department the opportunity to provide specialized or unique services to the community not normally funded by the department's operating budget.
The tables below highlight the Police Department's active, completed and pending grants. For a summary of each grant, please visit this link.
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Active Grants |
Grant Source |
Grant Allocation | |
1. Bullet Proof Vests |
U.S. Department of Justice |
$14,270 | |
2. Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) (Annual) |
U.S. Department of Justice |
$41,336 | |
3. Justice Assistance Grant |
U.S. Department of Justice |
$60,858 | |
4. Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) |
State of California |
$100,000 | |
5. Coordination of Probation Enforcement |
U.S. Department of Justice |
$250,000 | |
6. Avoid the Marin 13 |
California Office of Traffic Safety |
$20,000 | |
7. Youth Access Alcohol Laws |
Bay Area Resources |
$2,500 | |
8. Selective Traffic Enforcement Program |
California Office of Traffic Safety |
$130,500 | |
9. COPS Hiring |
U.S. Department of Justice |
$1,095,873 | |
10. Alcohol Beverage Control |
U.S. Department of Justice |
$13,333 |
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Recently Completed Grants |
Source |
Grant Allocation | |
1. Sobriety Checkpoint |
California Office of Traffic Safety |
$37,252 | |
2. Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety |
California Office of Traffic Safety |
$135,557 | |
3. Click It or Ticket Seatbelt |
California Office of Traffic Safety |
$2,158 |
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Pending Grants |
Source |
Grant Allocation | |
Alcohol Beverage Control |
US Department of Justice |
$16,288 |
In addition, watch for future Our Town articles that showcase the City's other grant-funded programs and services. |
| Citizen Police Academy Starting Soon | |
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The Police Department is proud to present the 7th Annual Novato Police Department Citizen Academy. The Academy will take place from April 5 through June 7, 2012. Each session will be presented on Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m. except for an 8-hour field exercise training day, which will be held on a Saturday. The full calendar is outlined below.
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Academy Session Date |
Topics | |
April 5, 2012 |
Chief's Welcome/ Department Overview/ Department Tour/ Professional Standards, Hiring, and Training/ Chaplain Program | |
April 12, 2012 |
Criminal Justice System Overview/ Criminal Law I/ Crisis Negotiations | |
April 19, 2012 |
Ride Along Signups/ Patrol Operations and Tools of the Trade/ Criminal Law II | |
April 26, 2012 |
Explorer Program/ Use of Force | |
May 3, 2012 |
Dispatch Operations/ Technical Services Bureau Overview/ Evidence Overview | |
May 10, 2012 |
K-9 Operations/ Criminal Law III | |
May 19, 2012 |
Field Exercises/ Firearms and TASER/ Field Tactics/ Special Response Team Overview | |
May 24, 2012 |
Investigations Section Overview/ Gangs/ Identity Theft | |
May 31, 2012 |
Traffic Section Overview/ D.U.I. Investigation/ Internal Affairs Investigation | |
June 7, 2012 |
Volunteer Program Overview / Graduation/ Course Review and Evaluation. |
The Novato Police Department's Citizen Police Academy provides community members with an inside look at local law enforcement. While at the Academy, individuals are introduced to a variety of law enforcement topics. The ten-week academy program is designed to give citizens an overview of the police department's function and operational procedures.
The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to the traditional police academy; however, the once-weekly sessions are not designed to train the participant as a police officer. Police officers and civilian employees teach the academy classes. Participants also have the opportunity to meet with the Chief of Police and staff members. They are encouraged to ask questions and express ideas and concerns to police employees.
The curriculum for the Citizen Police Academy includes the following topics:
- Chief of Police and City Manager Introductions
- Community policing
- Patrol procedures
- Investigative procedures
- Officer safety issues
- Use of force
- Communications/911
- Firearms simulation
- Ethics/Professional standards
- Criminal laws/laws of arrest/legal issues
- Crime scene investigations
- Records
- Property and evidence
- Special teams
- And much more
In addition to the classroom curriculum the students have the opportunity to participate in a ride-along with a Novato police officer. During the ride-along, the students get a chance to experience modern law enforcement up close.
The Citizen Academy has become a key element in the Novato Police Department's commitment to community policing and has created a collaborative partnership with the community. |
 Design Documents for City Office Project Approved | |
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On February 14th, the Council approved a series of actions on the downtown City Office project.
Design Documents:
The Council approved the 100% design development documents. These documents were needed to finalize the building design and enable staff to develop construction documents and solicit bids from construction firms. The documents also included the proposed exterior finishes and colors of the building that had been previously presented to the public at a workshop held by the Design Review Commission.
More information about the design documents are available in the staff report presented to Council.
Next Steps:
With the approval of the environmental and design documents, staff will be working with the consultants to develop formal construction documents. These documents will be presented to the Council and the community in early May. Upon the approval of the construction documents, staff will begin soliciting construction bids.
A model of the proposed City office building is available for the public to view in the Police station lobby. The Police station is located at 909 Machin Avenue.
 | | The model of the City office building and Civic Green area |
 | | The model of the City office building and Civic Green area |
This project will result in a centrally-located, permanent City office building. This location will make City services more accessible to the public. In addition, this project is part of the City's fiscal sustainability plan. By having our own office building, we will eliminate the $650,000 payment we currently have to lease space at 75 Rowland Way. Additional information on the City Office project can be found on the City's website at this link. |
| City Hires Interim Community Development Positions | |
This past month, the City hired two individuals to fill important roles in the Community Development Department. The City's previous Community Development Director, Dave Wallace, retired last December. Upon Dave's retirement, the City Manager made the decision to hire two part-time interim positions. The interim Community Development Director will focus on internal department operations while the interim General Plan Manager will manage the general plan update that began in 2008.
Interim Community Development Director:
 | | Bob Brown |
Bob Brown has been hired as the City's interim Director. Mr. Brown has worked in the municipal community development profession for over 33 years. Most recently, he served as the Community Development Director for the City of San Rafael. He has also served as the Community Development Director for the City of Milpitas and the Planning Chief for the City of San Mateo.
Mr. Brown will oversee the internal department operations. These duties include preparing agenda items for the Council and commissions, managing the department's budget, reviewing and evaluating work products and mentoring department employees.
Interim General Plan Manager:
 | | Anne Cronin Moore |
Anne Cronin Moore has been hired as the City's interim General Plan Manager.
She has 35 years of experience as a planning professional in California, most of which she spent in Marin County. She has operated her own consulting firm since 1991 and has managed the general plan updates as the interim Community Development/Planning Director for the Cities of Palo Alto and Saint Helena.
Ms. Moore's primary objective will be to complete the City's General Plan update. She will ensure that the feasibility studies are completed and she will shepherd the overall Plan through a community process.
Both Bob and Anne will report directly to the City Manager. They will begin working in early March. |
| Marin Energy Authority Update | |
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On September 27th, 2011, the City Council opted to join the Marin Energy Authority (MEA) and participate in the Marin Clean Energy Program. This action was taken to provide residents a choice regarding whether they receive their energy from MEA or PG&E. Due to provisions in state law, residents will be automatically enrolled in the Marin Clean Energy Program unless they specifically opt-out.
In April, the MEA will begin mailing opt-out notices to City residents. There will be a total of five notices mailed to each resident who has an individual meter. Anyone who wishes to opt-out must indicate so on a notice and return the notice to the Authority.
The MEA estimates that they will begin enrolling Novato accounts in July, 2012. Residents will have the opportunity to opt-out of MEA service within sixty days of enrollment with no penalty.
On a related note: residents can sign-up for MEA's "Deep Green" energy program today. A resident who signs up for the Deep Green program will receive 100% of their energy from clean, renewable sources. For more information on the Deep Green program, please visit this link.
If you have any questions regarding MEA and the opt-out process, please contact City staff at 899-8900 or MEA staff at (888) 632-3674. |
| Novato Pharmaceutical Collection Program | |
The Police Department, in partnership with Veolia Water, the Novato Sanitary District, the Novato Independent Elders Program, and the Novato Senior Citizen's Club is sponsoring the Novato Pharmaceutical Collection Program. On the first Monday of each month from 10am-12pm, individuals can bring their unwanted or expired prescription medicines to the Margaret Todd Senior Center for proper disposal. This program keeps people safe and helps keep leftover prescription medicine from getting into Novato's water supply and environment.
The City asks for your help in ensuring that these medicines are properly disposed. |
| Employee Profile: Oliver Collins | |
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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 Police Sergeant Oliver Collins.
 | | Sergeant Oliver Collins |
What is your position/job with the City?
Oliver: I supervise the Department's traffic section. The section includes three officers and two volunteers. I manage and supervise county-wide traffic enforcement operations through the "Avoid the Thirteen" program. I review all of the traffic collision reports and I supervise our traffic safety grants . I also supervised the application process and the research for the 2010 California Law Enforcement Challenge.
How long have you worked for the City?
Oliver: I was hired in 2000 and have been with the City for approximately 12 years.
What do you like best about your job with Novato?
Oliver: I really like the fact that every day is a new experience. I learn something new every day whether I am doing administrative work in the office or out in the field completing a collision report. The "changing scenery" really makes my job interesting.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
Oliver: I do not have one specific accomplishment I am most proud of. Rather, I am most proud of my overall supervision style. I teach the officers to think like a supervisor and encourage them to look at issues through that lense. Ultimately, I want them to be prepared to become a supervisor in the future.
What are some of your personal interests outside of your role with the City?
Oliver: I have three kids so I am very involved with them and their activities. They are active in baseball, soccer, swimming and Girl Scouts, so these commitments take up much of personal time.
What are some interesting facts about you that people may not know?
Oliver: I was born in Canada. In addition, my grandfather was born in Ireland. Therefore, I have citizenship in three countries. My children are also eligible for citizenship in each country.
Editor's Note: Sergeant Collins has also been very active in the community. He is a graduate of the Novato Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Program and he recently volunteered to become a member of the Novato Youth Center Board of Directors.
Due to his dedicated service to the Novato community, Oliver has been selected as the Novato Police Department's 2011 Employee of the Year. He will be formally recognized for his accomplishments on March 9th. Congratulations, Oliver!
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| City Renames Teen Center as Downtown Recreation Center | |
The Teen Center has a new name! On February 14th, the Council approved changing the name of the Teen Center to the Downtown Recreation Center. The purpose of this action was to reflect the diversity of activities that are now available at the Recreation Center with the addition of the artificial turk Pocket Park.
The facility includes programs and activities for adults as well as teens. Jazzercise classes, middle school dances and children's sports camps are just some examples of the programs available to the community at the Center. With a broader program focus, the Council agreed it was appropriate to change the facility's name.
We encourage the public to come down and take part in one of the Center's programs! Registration forms are available here. |
| Community Receives Employee Retirement Benefits Presentation | |
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As part of the City's efforts to develop a long-range fiscal sustainability plan, the Council recently held a public workshop on retirement benefit issues. On February 13, the City's actuary, John Bartel, gave a presentation where he provided an assessment of the City's current retirement benefits situation and outlined options for the Council and the community to consider.
Mr. Bartel's reports are available at this link. In addition, a video of the workshop is available on the City's website. Finally, the City has developed pages on the City's website to provide information to the public. The pages can be found here. |
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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 |
 February 29th, 2012 is a leap day. If we did not add February 29th to our calendar every fourth year, we would lose almost six hours from our calendar every year. |
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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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