City of Novato
January 2015
 
  
A City that Works: Preparing our Community for the "Storm of the Decade"
  
Clean-up continues after the December storms, as City crews remove fallen trees from waterways, clear storm drains, and remove debris caused by mudslides. Photo above: crews removing a large Bay tree from Novato Creek by Oliva Court.

The storm system that blew through Novato in early December, brought much needed rains to our parched North Bay, but also left behind debris-clogged waterways and unstable hillsides.

 

In preparation of the "decade storm,"our Public Works maintenance crews cleared storm drains, stockpiled sand and bags for resident and business use, and loaded trucks with equipment, materials, and barricades to quickly respond once the storm hit.

 

Throughout the storm, at least 60 employees from the City of Novato and Novato Fire Department staffed our Emergency Operations Center to track the storm and damages, take calls from the community, deploy staff and equipment to affected areas, contact partners for assistance including PG&E and the Novato Sanitary District for assistance, and provide frequent updates to the community.

 

In the meantime, City crews and our Novato police and fire, were out in full force monitoring flood-prone areas, removing felled trees, addressing mudslides, closing flooded roads, removing debris from storm drains, responding to calls for service, and redirecting traffic.

 

It is events like these, that our City prepares for throughout the year. In partnership with  Novato Fire, the City provides a robust emergency management program that trains staff and develops resources to quickly respond to our community in a disaster. At the Jan. 27 City Council meeting, the National Weather Service recognized Novato as a "Storm Ready" Community for its proactive emergency preparedness efforts that keep our community safe and resilient.

 

For more information on how you can be better prepared for a future emergency, sign up for a free Get Ready class and make sure you get timely updates from the City, especially during an emergency, by signing up for our e-notification.

News Highlights 

Pioneer Pk tennis cts before   Pioneer Pk tennis cts after

Before & After: Pioneer Park Tennis Courts 

 

Grand Re-opening of Pioneer Park Tennis Courts

 

Despite the inclement weather, several high-spirited tennis enthusiasts joined City Council and staff to celebrate the grand re-opening of the tennis courts at Pioneer Park in November. Although many of ceremony attendees were Novato Tennis Club (NTC) members, a group which uses the courts on a regular basis, now that extensive improvements have been made--including light installation which will allows for night play--the hope is that the courts will be utilized more frequently by more Novatans.

 

"As a father of five children all raised here in town, I can say I have spent many hours enjoying Pioneer Park. Now as a tennis player it just got better. Thanks to the City's hard work and willingness to listen to our needs. We will all benefit," said NTC member Peter Overfield.

 

"This project is a great example of how Novato's residents, community groups and City staff working together accomplished something that will benefit our community for many years to come, and I'm very proud to have been a part of it," said Pam Shinault, Director of the City's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.


 
Improvements included rebuilding the courts' surface with post-tension concrete, installing new benches, new fencing and gates, building a new picnic shelter with LED lighting, creating new pathways around the exterior of all four courts and installing court lighting. The project was included in the City's Capital Improvement Budget and totaled an investment of approximately $613,000.

 

"Tennis is a great social activity," says NTC President Izzat Amadea. "We're like a big family. We want people to feel welcome here, and anyone can come and play with us. We really enjoy playing with each other and the improved courts just make it that much more enjoyable."

 

The courts are available to the public on a drop-in basis for individuals, and by reservation for groups. Schedules are posted on-site. For information on availability and reservations, please call 415.899.8977. 

 

Passing the Gavel


In December, the Novato City Council appointed Mayor Pro Tem Jeanne MacLeamy as the new Mayor, and Councilmember Pat Eklund as Mayor Pro Tem. Each will serve in that capacity for one year. MacLeamy, elected to the Council in 2003, starts her third term as Mayor of Novato.

 


 Left to right: Councilmember Eric Lucan, Mayor Pro Tem Pat Eklund, Mayor Jeanne MacLeamy, Councilmember Denise Athas, Councilmember Madeline Kellner, City Manager Michael Frank

 

Your City Council At Work

 

In January, the City Council discussed and adopted a Local Preference Purchasing Ordinance, which provides a competitive advantage to local businesses when doing business with the City. The ordinance will go into effect 30 days after adoption.

 

On Jan. 27, Council adopted by a 4-1 vote the Community-Based Transportation Plan, which identifies the transportation needs of lower-income residents and provides solutions to address those needs. The plan funded by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) and developed in partnership with the City, Marin Transit, TAM, and with the active participation of Novato community members and organizations.
  

To get quick previews and recaps of Council meetings, sign-up for our e-notification.

Novato PD: Building Community

         

Annual "Shop with a Cop" program--the NPD--in partnership with Target Corporation, Novato Youth Center, and Novato Unified School District--provided holiday shopping for Novato families in need.

 

Shop with a Cop
 
In December and for a third year in a row, the Novato Police Department teamed up with the Target Corporation, Novato Youth Center, and the Novato Unified School District to bring holiday joy and cheer to 29 local children and their families. 
 
NPD officers accompanied the children on a shopping spree at the Novato Target store, where they were greeted with Target gift cards to purchase gifts for themselves and family members. With the help of the Novato Youth Center in the selection of the participating children, and the underwriting of the transportation by the Novato Unified School District, some of our Novato neighbors in-need had a happy holiday.

 

Keeping Novato Safe: Crime Stats & Tips

Our City continually reports declining crime rates year after year--and 2014 was no exception. According to end-of-year crime stats from our NPD:

  • Overall crime was down nearly 5%
  • Violent felonies decreased by 25%
  • Auto & residential burglaries dropped 45% and 32% respectively
  • DUI arrests increased 24%, while DUI-related collisions increased 12%
  • Increases in identity theft by almost 96% and commercial burglaries--which includes shoplifting--increased 25%

Novato continues to experience historically-low crime rates--with more than a 45% drop in total crimes over a 20-year period.

 

"The decline in crime in our City is due to the diligent, outstanding work by our officers on a daily, 24/7 basis," said Chief James Berg. "We have made substantial progress in the reduction of crime over the past few years and our Department continues to be committed to keeping our community safe through education, enforcement, and working closely with our neighborhoods. I would like to thank our community for their willingness to get involved and keep us informed when they witness crimes--we would not be as successful, nor as safe, if it weren't for our involved community."

 

Key in our efforts to keep Novato safe is crime prevention through awareness. Check out the sidebar for more information on our Novato Response Team.

 

 

A helpful reminder from the NPD:

 


 

Annual Sweetheart Stroll in Downtown Novato             

This Valentine's Day take your sweetheart on a horse-drawn carriage ride through Novato's quaint downtown...for FREE!

 

Why not have dinner at one of Novato's romantic restaurant spots, and either begin or finish the evening with a dreamy stroll down Novato's ever-so-charming Grant Avenue?

 

WHEN: Saturday, February 14th, 2015 from 6:30PM - 9:30PM

 

WHERE: Two Pick-up Locations- 2nd & Grant and Sherman & Grant

 

HOSTED BY: The Downtown Novato Business Association (DNBA)

 
 

www.downtownnovato.com
 

Downtown Novato for Valentines--it's a date!  

Did Someone Say "Summer?"
        
Dive into Summer 2015!

Swimming passes available for Hamilton Community Pool now  20% off!
 
Fill out your season pass form (through Feb. 6) online at: www.bit.ly/hpool
 
In This Issue
In this issue
A City that Works: Preparing Our Community
News Highlights
Novato PD: Building Community
Annual Sweetheart Stroll in Downtown Novato
DECEMBER STORM OPERATIONS
Quick Facts     

City and Novato Fire District staffs working in the Emergency Operations Center during Dec storms

  • More than 6,000 sandbags provided to community at two Novato locations
     
  • 60 City & Fire employees staffed Emergency Operations Center for 24+ hours, providing information & dispatching resources
     
  • Staff responded to 100 calls for service in a 5-hour period
     
  • Levee near Highways 37 & 101 was breached to reduce flooding of Novato Creek
     
  • Updates to community--in English & Spanish--via media interviews, news releases, e-notifications, website updates, posts to Nixle & Facebook, and Tweets on Twitter!
922 Machin Way
Novato, CA
94945
415.899.8900
www.novato.org
Inquiries: [email protected]
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Calendar Highlights
For a complete listing and updated information, please check out the City Calendar.

  

2/1

2/2
Gymnastics Pre-registration begins (Season 4)
Women's Basketball Spring League Registration
  begins
Adult Softball Registration begins
Prescription drop-off
Pickleball drop-in
Planning Commission
 
2/3
Lunch @ Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball drop-in
English as a Second Language class
City Council meeting

2/4
Senior Produce Market
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Brown Bag Market
Pickleball Drop-in
English as a Second Language class
Design Review Commission meeting

2/5
Victim Witness Protection Program
Free Blood Pressure Clinic
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball Drop-in
English as a Second Language class
  
2/6
Reverse Coed Volleyball A/B Spring League Registration deadline
Men's Volleyball A/B Spring League Registration
   deadline
Women's Volleyball A/B Spring League
   Registration deadline
  
2/7
Gymnastics Pre-Registration for Season 4 ends

2/8
Big Bucks Public Bingo

2/9
Pickleball Drop-in

2/10
Gymnastics Open Registration for Season 4
   begins
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball Drop-in
English as a Second Language class
City Council meeting

Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Brown Bag Market
Pickleball drop-in
English as a Second Language class

2/12
Legal Services for Seniors
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball drop-in
Zoning Administrator meeting
English as a Second Language class

2/13
City Offices closed

2/14
Gymnastics Session 3 ends

2/15
Big Bucks Public Bingo

2/16
Presidents' Day Holiday--City offices closed

2/17
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball drop-in
English as a Second Language class

2/18
Senior Produce Market
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Brown Bag Market
Pickleball drop-in
English as a Second Language class
Design Review Commission meeting

2/19
Victim Witness Protection Program
Free Blood Pressure Clinic
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball drop-in
English as a Second Language class
  
2/20
Women's Basketball Spring League Registration
   deadline
Adult Softball Spring Registration deadline

2/21
Gymnastics Session 4 begins

2/22
Big Bucks Public Bingo

2/23
Pickleball drop-in

2/24
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball drop-in
English as a Second Language class
City Council meeting

2/25
Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy
   Program
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Brown Bag Market
Pickleball drop-in
English as a Second Language class

2/26
Legal Services for Seniors
Lunch at Margaret Todd Caf�
Pickleball drop-in
Zoning Administrator meeting
English as a Second Language class

2/27
City Offices closed
Bus Stop Improvements
Underway in Novato 
 
Click image below for more info
Marin County Transit
Did You Know?
The Novato Response Team--a proactive public safety police unit--focuses on crime prevention, early intervention, enforcement of gangs, street crimes, and quality of life issues?
 
Schedule a NRT presentation for your group or organization today! Topics can be tailored to fit your audience and can include: crime trends, safety tips, property improvements to prevent crime, and tips on how to protect yourself.

For more info, contact Officer Nick Conrad or call 415.899.7039.
Are You Novato's Most-Romantic Couple? Click below to tell us more...
         
415 Area Code 
     
In December, the CPUC approved an overlay that  added the new 628 Area Code to the 415 Area Code region.

Under the  plan, current 415 Area Code customers can keep their numbers, but as of February 21, 2015, all calls made from the 415 Area Code will have to be dialed using 1 + area code + 7-digit telephone number.  This means that all calls in the 415 Area Code that are currently dialed with 7 digits will need to be dialed using 1 + area code + 7-digit telephone number.

 

Beginning February 21, 2015, callers must use the new 1 + 10-digit dialing procedure for all calls.  After that date, if customers do not use the new dialing procedure, their calls will not be completed and a recording will instruct them to hang up and dial again. 

These changes will primarily affect the County of San Francisco, most of Marin County and a small portion of San Mateo County. The communities that will be affected are Belvedere, Brisbane, Corte Madera, Daly City, Fairfax, Ignacio, Inverness, larkspur, Mill Valley, Nicasio, Novato, Point Reyes.


 

For more info, go to the California Public Utilities Commission website.