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 Summer Camp Brochure and Activity Guide Now Available | |
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 Summer Camp Guide
Are you looking for options to keep your children busy this summer? Why not sign them up for one of the City's Summer Camp programs?
Gymnastics camp, baseball and softball camp and junior chef's club are just some examples of the exciting summer camp program offered by the City's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department! Staff has developed a number of programs for Novato youths. The programs have been categorized by age group (pre-school to kindergarten, 1st grade to 5th grade and 6th grade to 12th grade). The programs last for one week between June and August with the first programs starting on June 18th.
The Summer Camp guide is available on the City website at this link. We hope to see you at camp this summer!
Summer/Fall Activity Guide Released
In addition to the Summer Camp Guide, the Activity Guide for the Summer and Fall was recently released. This Guide covers programs offered from May through December. A guide was mailed to each resident earlier this month and can also be picked up at the following locations.
- Margaret Todd Senior Center;
- Novato Gymnastics Center;
- City Offices (75 Rowland Way);
- Novato and South Novato Libraries; and
- Novato Chamber of Commerce.
The Guide is also available on the City's website. For additional information, please call 899-8279 or 899-8290. |
| Council Receives 2012-2013 Budget Proposal | |
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Over the last month, the City has been focused on preparing the 2012-2013 operating and capital improvement program budgets. The City has developed a central page on the City website for information on the 2012-2013 budget. This page includes all the budget presentations and will be updated as the process continues.
Operating Budget Presentation:
On April 17th, the City Manager and Department Heads presented the proposed 2012-2013 operating budget to the Council and the community. The City Manager highlighted some general context about the upcoming budget including that:
- The loss of redevelopment will have funding as well as resource/operational impacts;
- The need for a budget that is sustainable in the long-term and restores some expenses where operations were cut too deeply before; and
- A proposed budget that seeks to use targeted resources to implement the City's Strategic Plan.
Some key recommendations for the 2012-2013 operating budget include:
- Establish a new "Novato Response Team" with three grant financed Police positions to focus on crime prevention and intervention in a multi-disciplinary approach;
- Recreate a City Economic Development program with the elimination of redevelopment; and
- Pilot an After School Initiative program designed to steer youth away from crime and improve their academic performance and health/fitness.
The Council provided initial feedback to staff at the April 24th Council meeting. Staff will incorporate this feedback into the proposed budget document for final Council consideration in June.
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget:
On April 24th, executive staff presented the proposed 2012-2013 Capital Improvement Program budget. The City's CIP budget is comprised of four parts:
- Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities;
- Municipal Facilities;
- Transportation, Drainage and Utilities; and
- Technology and Organizational Investments.
Funding for CIP projects does not come from the City's General Fund. Rather, the City uses specialized revenues such as development impact fees, state excise gas tax funds, grants and other sources for these projects. The City's proposed 2012-2013 CIP budget is modest due to limited funding. Next year's CIP will generally focus on maintaining and preserving our existing capital resources. At the same time, strategic technological investments will be made as resources permit to enhance organizational efficiency. The CIP budget recommendations are included on the presentation on the City's budget website.
Next Steps:
A public hearing on the proposed 2012-2013 Operating and Capital Improvement Program budgets will be held at the June 12th Council meeting. The Council will deliberate the final budget proposal with input from the community. The budget will be formally adopted at the Council meeting on June 26th.
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| City Receives Awards for Budget Document | |
The City recently received two awards from prominent government finance associations for the City's 2011-2012 budget document.
Government Finance Officers Association Award:
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada is a nonprofit professional association serving over 17,000 government finance professionals throughout North America.
The GFOA recently awarded the City with its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. The Association, in its letter to City, stated that, "This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. Its attainment represents a significant achievement by your organization." To receive the award, the City budget is reviewed by a panel of independent reviewers who assess how well the City's budget serves as:
- a policy document;
- a financial plan;
- an operations guide; and
- a communications device.
A certificate of recognition will be displayed in the 2012-2013 budget document.
California Society of Municipal Finance Officers Award:
The California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) is a statewide organization serving all California municipal finance officers. The CSMFO recently awarded the City with its Excellence in Operating Budget Award. In order for a public entity to receive this award, it must pass a comprehensive, independent review that assesses how well the City's budget document communicates financial information to the public. A certificate of this award will also be displayed in 2012-2013 budget document.
Both of these awards are valid for one year. The City's Finance staff will apply for these awards again next year and are pleased to receive this recognition on behalf of the community. |
| Sustainable Communities Strategies Process Update | |
Over the last two years, Council and staff have been deeply involved in the development of the Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) plan mandated by state Senate Bill 375, which was signed into law in 2008. The SCS plan is designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the goals of Assembly Bill 32, which became state law in 2006. The SCS process is being led by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), in conjunction with other local agencies. The SCS plan will be based on future jobs and housing growth projections for Novato and other local communities.
The SCS development process culminated last month with the release of the Jobs-Housing Connection Scenario. The City Council and staff had concerns about the methodology used to project future jobs, population and housing units/households in Novato. The City Council sent a letter to ABAG communicating the City's views and highlighting the need for peer review of the projections.
As a result of the City's feedback, the projections for Novato have become more reasonable as the growth assumptions are more in line with actual job and household growth over the past 30 years. A table outlining the City's household and job growth since 1980 and the revised future projections is included here.
Even with the improved projections, the City concerns about the methodology for the jobs projections remain unanswered at this time. Recently, Mayor Athas sent this letter to ABAG outlining the outstanding concerns the City Council has with the assumptions.
Council and staff will remained involved in the SCS process. In particular, the City will have an active role as the environmental impact report scoping hearings take place between May and July.
Additional information on the SCS can be viewed in this staff report from April 16th. Questions regarding this process can be directed to the City's Community Development Department by calling 899-8989. |
| Police Department Open House on May 5th | |
The Novato Police Department will hold an Open House for the community on Saturday, May 5th, from 10a.m. to 2p.m.
During the Open House, tours of the police facility will be held throughout the event. There will also be a number of displays and demonstrations including:
- Investigations Bureau
- Traffic Section (Motorcycles and Dirt Bikes)
- Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiations Team
- Patrol Vehicles
- K-9 Program
- Chaplain/Volunteer Programs
- Teen Driver Safety
The City hopes you have to opportunity to visit the Open House and view the services provided by our Police force. |
| Novato Multi-Cultural Festival This Weekend | |
The Novato Multi-Cultural Commission presents its annual multi-cultural festival this Saturday, April 28th, from 12p.m. to 4p.m. at Miwok Park. This Commission organizes this free event to encourage efforts to improve the understanding of the diverse cultures that form our community and to foster cooperation and respect among the cultures.
In the event of heavy rain the day before the event or on the day of the event, the festival will be moved to the Hamilton Community Center.
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| Marin Energy Authority Notices Coming to You | |
The Marin Energy Authority (MEA) has begun sending opt out notices to Novato residents. Residents who wish to opt out of the Marin Clean Energy (MCE) program and remain with Pacific Gas & Electrict must formally opt out. State law mandates that individuals who do not wish to participate in a community choice aggregation such as MEA must officially opt out.
The opt out notice will come in a sealed envelope. Please view the links to view examples of the notice and the envelope.
Residents can opt out of MEA service in two ways. The first way is by calling MEA at 1-888-632-3674. MEA has live operators who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to process opt out requests. The second way is to visit this link on the MEA website. Residents should have a copy of their PG&E bill with their account number to refer to when they opt out.
The MEA will send out a second notice to residents in the middle of May. Please watch for this notice in your mail if you wish to opt out.
If you have any questions, please contact the Marin Energy Authority at 1-888-632-3674 or the City of Novato at 899-8900. |
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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 |
 Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 13th. Don't forget to call your Mom! |
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Plan for Winter and Spring Fun! | |
Summer/Fall 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:
Downtown Recreation 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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