Issues
"Three overarching issues must be addressed to build a safe, vibrant, sustainable Novato"
Fiscal
Facilities
Land Use
While I support the 7 strategic goals the City Council has defined, I believe our most critical focus must remain on 3 key priorities:
- Fiscal Responsibility and Sustainability
- Facilities and Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvements
- Balanced, Thoughtful Land Use
Much work remains, but with strong leadership and strategic, well-reasoned long term planning – “Working Together for Novato” – we can make better decisions in the best interest of this community and the neighborhoods we all love.
FACTS: For the past several years, the City of Novato has suffered multiple sustained fiscal hits from declining revenues, state takeaways, rising pension costs, and unfunded state and federal mandates. All of these severely erode our ability to fund essential city services while remaining fiscally responsible.
WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED:
- Cut over $4 million in annual expenses
- Negotiated pension concessions
- Started review of all programs and services to cut waste and become more efficient
- Eliminated 34 employees and required furloughs
- Passed Measure F sales tax with 5 year sunset
- Set up funds for long-term needs such as maintenance and emergencies
- Continue Budget Strategy: Income = Expenses + Long Term Savings
- Develop and implement a long-term strategy for fiscal management and financial sustainability
- Continue reducing expenses to reflect the fact that city revenue will not increase in the near future
- Build city offices using one-time funds to eliminate ongoing lease payments
- Continue to address responsible pension reform
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Use improved technology to reduce expenses and improve service to public
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Leverage one-time 5 year sales tax revenue to stabilize the budget and lower future deficits
- Continue reserving a portion of each year's budget for long-term needs
- Continue to prioritize public safety
- Seek opportunities to share facilities, programs and services, plus build reserves
- Repurpose derelict city properties with partners to enhance our community
- Retain/seek businesses offering high-paying jobs, quality products and services
- Focus planning the North Redwood Corridor for appropriate uses
Facilities
FACTS: Novato’s buildings, parks and infrastructure suffer from more than 20 years of deferred maintenance and neglect. City staff and services were housed in multiple unsafe old buildings. The Community House, a busy center for recreational programs and community and cultural events, has been vacant since 2004 when a fire inspection deemed it unsafe. The shuttered buildings are a liability and staff has been forced into costly leased space. Decisions surrounding preservation and usage of the iconic red City Hall, which also was deteriorating, remained an unresolved priority for 30 years.
WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED:
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I used my experience as an architect/project manager to propose a preliminary design for the restoration of the historic City Hall as a council chamber and community meeting space
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Determined that Civic Center is best fiscal solution for City Offices
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Restored City Hall and Civic Green opened in 2009 as a vital and popular public space
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Searched over 20 properties for a fiscally-responsible City Office location
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Researched partnerships with others to repurpose other city-owned properties
MY VISION:
- Continue to prioritize maintenance of facilities and infrastructure
- Build financially-responsible City Offices and save ongoing lease costs
- Provide parking on-site with no loss of spaces at Civic Center block
- Minimize City use of parking to maximize spaces available downtown
- Partner to restore Theater and Community House as downtown destinations
- Repurpose existing city-owned Hamilton properties by partnering with others
- Partner to repurpose and restore the remaining historic homes on Sherman Avenue
- Future: Restore Sherman Avenue
FACTS: Novato’s current General Plan and Zoning are often in conflict with neighborhood character and our hillsides and ridgeline ordinances. Uncertainty and unnecessary delays for projects is a result. The new State “metropolitan” high density housing mandates don’t fit our “suburban” town, resulting in housing that is out of character with our neighborhoods and discriminates against low income people by encouraging clustering them in affordable housing projects. Our inclusionary housing ordinance allows low income folks to live in housing complexes with all income levels.
WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED:
- I opposed the State’s high density mandate for Novato Read IJ Article
- I proposed a lower density affordable housing solution to City Council
- That meets state mandates
- Has minimum impact on existing neighborhoods
- Encourages senior housing (Council does not have authority to mandate this)
- That harmonizes with our neighborhoods and meets the need for a variety of housing prices and type
- I worked to approve Novato's Hillside and Ridgeline Protection ordinance, preserving valuable natural resources
MY VISION:
- Collaborate with others to limit State's growing control over our local land use
- Designate Novato a "suburban" density
- Expand current narrow limitations on what qualifies as affordable housing
- Amend General Plan, balancing environment, neighborhoods and revenue-generating development
- Resolve North Redwood Corridor land use and zoning issues
- Maintain the character of Novato
- Contribute to Novato's economic goals
