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Frankly Speaking with Michael Frank, City Manager
Shop Local. Play Local. Stay Local. We have hundreds of reasons why--unique businesses, stellar open spaces, and endless events and activities--all within our incredible City of Novato. Discover a local gem, spread the word about a local business you love, and connect with Shop Local Novato to get special offers from our local businesses.
As we begin the start of a new fiscal year on July 1, our City Council is considering a long-term fiscal plan to address the chronic deficit our City continues to experience. You can read the draft plan (check out the executive summary) as well as try your hand at solving our long-term budget challenges by using the sustainability options tool. Come to one of our community meetings on July 2 or 8 to learn more. The meetings will walk through the highlights of the recently released Draft Fiscal Sustainability Plan and the web-based Fiscal Sustainability Options Tool.
At each of the upcoming meetings, City staff will provide an overview about the Draft Fiscal Sustainability Plan and briefly walk through the options that are within the web-based Options Tool. After the staff presentation, participants can fill out their own version of the options tool on available computers--and learn whether they have balanced the deficit or not. Participants are free to complete multiple versions of the Options Tool--hopefully this process will demonstrate some of the challenges and tensions that face City Council.
If you can't join us, the meeting will be televised on NPAT, Channel 27, and will be available on the City's website following the July 2 meeting. Stay local. Stay involved. See you around town!
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News Highlights
In June, the City installed four LED light fixtures on Grant Avenue as it explores options for an eventual conversion to this energy-efficient source-- which uses approximately 80% less energy than the existing fixtures. Additionally, site surveying began for the approximately $13 million Novato Boulevard Improvements Project from Grant to Diablo Avenues, which is expected to begin next year.
This month, we launched a " Shop Local Novato" campaign to encourage our community to think local first when seeking services or purchasing goods. Also this month, we released a plan for the City's long-term fiscal health as well as a sustainability options tool for the public to explore the choices we face as we address our financial future.
In other City news:
The Novato Police Department (NPD) K-9 Program received a $15,000 grant from the Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund for emergency medical care for the canines, and also located a stolen vehicle using Automated License Plate Reader technology. To get the latest news from the NPD, sign up for Nixel to get e-mails or text alerts.
The City Council approved a 10-month extension of the North Redwood Boulevard Corridor moratorium on development to allow time for robust community input on the planning of this key commercial area in the City, and at the same meeting heard the results of the community survey. On June 25, the Council also approved the City's $54.4 million budget for the next fiscal year, 2013-14, which reflected a second year of avoiding cuts.
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Fourth of July Festivities
 Boasting more than one hundred entries, the 4th of July Parade is one of the largest in the San Francisco Bay Area! Early in the morning on the 4th, crowds line Novato's Grant Avenue where the parade begins in the City's Old Town district. Parade-goers arrive early to watch the pageant of classic cars and color guards, festive floats and music bands, fancy cowgirls on golden palominos, and decorated basset hounds. The parade is famous for its contingent of vintage military vehicles from the Joe Garbarino World War II Military Vehicle Museum. This year's parade honors the heart of our community: "Novato's Unsung Heroes." Partial list of the 100+ parade participants: Grand Marshall Chip Young--owner of Pini Hardware, Space Station Museum and Novato's own astronaut, Dr. Yvonne Cagle, musical acts including Bushnell's Irish Pipers, St. Mary's Girls' Bell & Drum Corps, Novato Summer Music Institute, Fountain of Ukes, and a kazoo band! Novelty marching groups Pini Plungers and the Nave Patrola, also the Novato Horsemen, Friends of Dogbone Meadow, Lake County Animal Services, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team, Peace Novato, San Marin Reunion of the '70s and vintage vehicles from Nostalgia Days, Fireman's Fund celebrating 150 years with the City's first fire truck, and the Novato Cub and Boy Scouts carrying a giant American flag...and so much more! Please note street closures. More info: www.novatoparade.com |
With Gratitude from Friends of Dogbone Meadow
pictured above: Kenneth Castro Abrams, Joshua Garcia, Maria Garcia Hernandez, Nicholas Grech, Ryan Hickey, Emma Irving, Zachary Lupatkin, Kevin McEachern, Lester Rodriguez, Andrew Schimmel, Devin Sola, Isabel Steward, Michael Stompe, Grace Vavuris, and teacher Linda Kislingbury-Cain The Friends of Dogbone Meadow want to thank the San Marin High School Class of 2013 for their hard work in helping clean-up the dog park. Fourteen students and their teacher joined the Friends of Dogbone Meadow bright and early Monday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m. They worked hard in the hot sun, pulling foxtails, burrs and thistles. Armed with the proper utensils they cleaned the park, treated the gopher holes with peppermint oil cotton balls to discourage gopher activity, and filled in those holes to keep dogs and their owners safe from trip hazards. After a late morning snack, they planted a Hopseed bush which is dedicated to their Class of 2013. A big thanks to these hardworking teens! For more info on Dogbone Meadow, e-mail dogbonemeadows@aol.com or call 415.827.0097. |
Helping Small Businesses Save Money, Energy
  
MCE Clean Energy, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and Marin County Energy Watch Partnership (MEWP) are working together to help small businesses in the City of Novato reduce energy use and save money. SmartLights, a program funded by the MEWP and MCE, will be coming to Novato in July and August and will offer no-cost energy evaluations, technical assistance, and financial incentives for energy efficiency improvements. The program provides rebates for lighting, refrigeration, HVAC, and other energy efficiency improvements. For qualifying customers, it can offer low cost financing to cover the upfront costs of the retrofit. If you're interested in receiving an energy evaluation or learning more about the program, please visit the SmartLights website for enrollment forms and contact information. |
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Contact Us: |  | |
75 Rowland Way, #200 Novato, CA 94945
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7/1-5
City offices closed (7/4-5)
7/8
Streetscape Maintenance Coalition Advisory Committee
7/9
7/11
Novato Recreation, Cultural & Community Service Commission
7/15
Planning Commission meeting
7/16
City Council meeting
For times, location, and updated info, please check out the City Calendar. |
 Another way to be part of the conversation
Launching soon!
To get more info, sign-up under "News" and select "Open Novato" to get e-mail updates about this new online tool for the Novato community. |
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TRANSIT ROUTE CHANGES
EFFECTIVE AUGUST 4
In May, the Marin County Transit Board of Directors approved service improvements to many local routes throughout Marin. More info or call 415.226.0855. |
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SUPPORTING THE HISTORIC NOVATO THEATER
Upcoming events:
July 13--ARTrageous Gallery auction
July 25--"Christmas in July" Dinner Theater at Ghirenghelli's
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