City of Novato
March 2016
Photo by Craig Solin
Novato Neighborhood Unites & Makes a Difference

East Olive Avenue area neighbors join forces to get a soundwall along Highway 101 from the De Long Ave exit to Kenwood Ct and to beautify their neighborhood via a monthly cleanup and new landscaping. Top photo-soundwall celebration-left to right: Tim Snead, Hank Bruins, Bob & Marge Schram, Vivian Curtaz, Sheila Hubert, Jessica Power, Laura Colin & Harvey, Diane & John Schaumleffel. Bottom photo-beautification volunteers-left to right: Bob Schram, Chad Carlson, Ashley Vallee, Marge Schram, Jo Dixon, Tho Do-Le, Hank Bruins, Jon Kopp, Victor Grule & son.
 
Neighbors Join Together to Turn a "Pit" into a Garden
By Virginia Hanna
City of Novato Streetscape Committee Volunteer
 
Thirty-five volunteers turn out on the first Saturday of every month to maintain an area in their east Novato Olive Avenue neighborhood that through their efforts is now beautifully landscaped area that they formerly referred to as "the pit." They bring their own rakes, shovels and green waste containers--and with the assistance and encouragement initially provided by the City of Novato Streetscape Committee--they join together in  maintaining this newly replanted and attractive area.
 
The neighbors came together, wanting a safe and attractive area in their neighborhood and began to explore how this could be achieved. They met the City's Streetscape Committee, drew up a landscaping plan and received funding from the City's Committee to purchase plants and received a donation of top soil from Marin Landscape.
 
The "Olive Pit Neighbors," a name they have given themselves, have been active on their island since September 2015. Given their location near the freeway, trash tends to be a continuing problem, but with so many volunteers on alert to pick up the trash it is more manageable.
 
Recently, the neighborhood gathered to celebrate the start of construction on a 1250-foot concrete soundwall that will reduce some of noise created by traffic on HIghway 101--something they had been advocating for since 2007. In addition, Caltrans will be installing landscaping as part of the project. 
   
The Streetscape Committee can assist anyone interested in adopting an island or site that could benefit from some loving care. They can be reached at 415.899.8287 or at www.novatostreetscape.org.  Join forces with your friends, neighbors or colleagues to make a difference in your community. We can match you with the perfect project!
 
Mark your calendar for Novato's 21st Annual "Clean and Green Day" on April 23, 2016 from 9am-1pm and do your part in celebrating Earth Day by cleaning up our beautiful town as we remove litter from city streets, median strips, creek banks, parks and bike paths. Meet at the Civic Green at 901 Sherman Ave. Some supplies will be provided. For more information or to register, call the Clean and Green hotline at 415.899.8244 or go to www.novatostreetscape.org. Community service hours for interested high school students is available. Let's Beautify Novato Together!
News Highlights 
 


Initial work on a Downtown SMART station, and the General Plan Update process was recently approved. 

The City Council held two meetings in January to discuss options for a potential Downtown SMART station--which would be a third stop along the SMART route for Novato. The other two include Novato North @ San Marin and Novato South @ Hamilton. After considering community input--both at the meeting and from the City's online forum, Open Novato, the Council voted to fund an initial phase at $2.4 million, which will include design and permitting and some track and platform improvements. The remaining work, which would make the stop operational, would require additional funding. For updates on progress of the train, go to http://main.sonomamarintrain.org/construction-updates/

On March 1, staff gave a presentation to Council to get direction on the process of the General Plan update and a plan for public outreach. Highlights of the General Plan update include:
  • no major land use changes proposed;
  • focus on four areas in the City that are most likely to change over the next 20 years: North Redwood Blvd. corridor, North, North Redwood Blvd. corridor, Northwest Quadrant neighborhood, and Downtown;
  • and the assumption of a substantially-slower growth rate. 
COMING SOON: opportunities to learn more about the Novato General Plan 2035 and how it affects you. More info at novato.org/generalplan

YOUR FAVORITE NOVATO PHOTOS WANTED:
Give us your vision of Novato by sharing photos of your favorite places and spaces around town. Your photos may be included in the plan with your photo credit!

How to Submit:
  • Share your high-resolution photos on Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to tag them with #mynovato, Or
  • Visit novato.org/opennovato and submit your photos under the General Plan Update topic. Please include location of the photo, your name and contact info.

Dogbone Meadow Design Workshop #2--Weigh in on Open Novato: On March 3, the City held a second public workshop to get input from dog park users on draft designs based on the initial feedback at the first workshop. Unable to attend? Check-out what was presented and weigh-in at Open Novato. For more info on this project, e-mail prcs@novato.org or call 415.899.8246.
 
Record-Breaking Annual Donation from Novato Gymnastics Boosters
 
The Novato Gymnastics Boosters presented the City with a check for $31,000 at the February 23 City Council meeting. Since 2010, the Boosters have made an annual donation of $25,000 to help support the Novato Gymnastics program, but this year's donation was the highest the City has ever received.
Above: Gymnastics Boosters Co-President,
Kristie Berryhill (center) presents the City with their annual donation

The Novato Gymnastics Boosters was established in 1999 to support gymnasts and the Gymnastics Center. Their support began by donating gymnastics equipment, such as training mats and equipment, and helping families with expenses for competitions. However, when citywide budget cuts threatened the continuation of Novato's competitive gymnastics team in 2010, the Boosters set a goal to raise $25,000 annually to help offset some of the City's gymnastics program expenses and ensure its continuation. Their contributions to the program since then now total over $150,000.
 
The Boosters' annual donation defrays some of the overall operating expenses of running a highly-successful gymnastics program--which has served nearly 6,000 people in the past year through classes, camps, meets and special events.
 
The Boosters also co-host an annual gymnastics meet in Novato, where more than 500 competitors from 25 teams will participate and which has become both a tradition and one of their most successful fundraisers. The 2016 Novato Classic Gymnastics Meet will be held at the Novato Gymnastics Center on March 11-13. The community is encouraged to come and see this exciting community tradition. Admission is $5 per person. Please call 415.899.8279 for more information.
 
To get agendas and recaps of Novato City Council meetings, please sign-up for our e-notification.
Community Embraces Energy-Saving Program

To help our community reduce greenhouse gases in response to climate change, the City has partnered with five providers of PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing to assist homeowners and commercial and multi-family property owners make energy efficient, water efficient, and renewable energy upgrades in a cost-effective way.  PACE financing can be used for energy and water efficient projects that can increase your property value, lower your monthly utility bills, make your home more comfortable and contribute to making our community more energy independent.
 
PACE providers offer low-fixed interest rates and flexible payment terms of up to 20 years, with repayments made through your property taxes. This unique program allows owners to make efficiency upgrades with no up-front cost and the ability to transfer the property-assessed financing to a new owner upon resale. All five PACE providers offer full customer assistance including a list of local, certified contractors to evaluate your structure and objectives, and recommend cost-effective improvements.
 
In the past year, 30 Novato property owners have financed nearly $700,000 in energy-efficient upgrades.

Eligible upgrades include:
For more information check out Frequently Asked Questions about PACE or visit the Finance Finder Tool to find the provider and financing best for you.
In This Issue
In this issue
Novato Neighborhood Unites
News Highlights
Community Embraces Energy-Saving Program
A New Addition to Downtown
Resilient Neighborhoods
Another Crime-Free Program Success Story
Be Prepared, Novato!
 
The City provides a limited stockpile of sand and bags available to Novato residents at the following locations:
Note these are for emergency use and limit sandbags to 10-15 per resident. You must must supply your own labor and shovels. If you are physically unable to fill the bags, please contact the Public Works Corp Yard at 415.899.8280 during business hours and schedule a time to pick-up prefilled bags.

For more information--including tips on how to properly fill and stack sandbags, please visit novato.org/sandbags.
 
For more information on how to prepare for heavy rains and potential flooding, go to: http://novato.org/community/flood-information.
Quick Links:
922 Machin Way
Novato, CA 94945
415.899.8900
www.novato.org
Inquiries: publicinfo@novato.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS
For a complete listing and updated information, please check out the City Calendar. Click on the images below for more info.
  
 
 
Upcoming City Council meetings in March:
  • Tues., March 15
  • Tues., March 22
  • Tues., March 29--special meeting added to discuss the City's public engagement efforts
Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue

NOTE: City Council meets most Tuesdays. Check the City calendar for dates.
Much-Anticipated Welcome to Downtown
In April, Copperfield's Books will be opening its newest store in Downtown Novato at 999 Grant Avenue in the Umpqua Bank building. Novato residents are invited to visit copperfieldsbooks.com to take a survey and share what you would like to see in the store. Join us in welcoming this great addition to our community and spend some time in Downtown Novato and #ShopLocalNovato!
 
Resilient Neighborhoods                      
Join other Novato residents in becoming a Resilient Neighborhood. Resilient Neighborhoods has helped 550 Marin residents save money, make their families safer, and reduce over 2.6 million pounds of carbon emissions. The program is fun and effective because it's done with a team of households. Each household goes on a low-carbon diet to reduce 5,000 pounds in 10 weeks. At five facilitated meetings, team members learn about actions they can take like simple ways to trim energy and waste, conserve water, drive economically, and prepare their homes and neighborhoods for emergencies. The program works well even for people who have already done a lot. Sign up for a team or get more information at www.resilientneighborhoods.org, or e-mail them at resilientneighborhoods@gmail.com. 
Another Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program Success Story             

Recently, Ignacio Gardens Apartments completed their final phase in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and  are now the 15th fully-certified property in Novato!

The Crime Free Multi-Housing program is recognized worldwide as the leading crime prevention program targeted at reducing crime, drugs, and gangs in multi-unit housing properties. Novato launched the program in 2014 and it is the first of its kind in Marin County.

 

Our community currently has 15 certified properties and more on track to reach full certification in the near future. Phase I of the program consists of a FREE 8-hour seminar presented by the Novato Police Department and City Code Enforcement staff. All classes are held from 8 a.m. to 4p.m. in the Novato Police Department's training room located at 909 Machin Avenue. If you are interested in attending this or a future class, please contact NPD Officer Thomas Lyons at 415-897-4361 or tlyons@novato.org.

 

Thank you Ignacio Gardens for being a good neighbor!