Neighbor News
Mayor’s Monthly - September
Novato's Mayor Eric Lucan shares city news, events and meetings on the horizon, and on occasion a few spontaneous thoughts.
On my Mind (a few random thoughts)
As many of you probably know, a couple of weeks ago some hate filled, antisemitic flyers were posted in a few locations around Novato. As disturbing as the content was, I was encouraged by the collective response by our community to quickly send a message that this type of rhetoric is not welcome in the City of Novato and when residents see it or hear it, they are empowered to take a stand.
We are fortunate to have a group of committed residents who have formed a Not in Our Town Novato group which is aligned with the national Not in Our Town organization. The group is committed to making Novato a safer, more inclusive community and has the support of the Novato Unified School District, City of Novato, Novato Police Department, and North Marin Community Services. It truly is a community effort and I encourage others to get involved. It will take sustained, ongoing efforts to make Novato a more inclusive community, but if the response to these recent flyers is any indicator, then we are heading in the right direction.
PS - Thank you to working class families and unions for the long weekend... and weekends in general for that matter.
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Around Town (happenings in Novato)
School might be back in session, but the activities throughout Novato continue. Check out what’s coming up in September:
Rock the Block w/ Pride & Joy - Thursday, September 12th
Join your friends and family downtown for Rock the Block Novato on September 12 from 6-9pm on Grant Avenue between Reichert and Machin. Celebrate summer with a block party, presented by the Downtown Novato Business Association, and enjoy food, drinks and live music from the Bay Area's favorite dance band Pride & Joy! Learn more here.
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Museum of the American Indian Trade Feast - Saturday, September 14th
Come and enjoy the annual Trade Feast at the Museum of the American Indian on Saturday, September 14 from 11am-5pm at Miwok Park. The Trade Feast , a tradition since 1973, will include native crafts, dancing, singing, storytelling, food and other activities for children and adults. Admission is FREE. More info at marinindian.com
Sundays on Sherman - Sunday, September 15th
Please join us on Sunday, September 15th from 11AM to 3PM for as we take over Sherman Avenue in Downtown Novato to play! Sundays on Sherman is a chance for community members of all ages to come outside and participate in FREE games and activities! More info here
Marin MOCA Exhibit - Saturday, September 21st
The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) invites you to experience an an exciting new exhibit in collaboration with Associazione Naonis and the Italian Film Festival, MOCA presents 50 FACES. Experience this stunning exhibit of contemporary mosaic artwork from the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in Italy, where talented young artists redefine the ancient tradition of mosaic art with innovative methods and materials. Reception is Saturday, September 21st from 5PM to 8PM. More info at marinmoca.org
On the Agenda (upcoming at the City Council)
Below are a few key items and updates that are coming up at a future council meeting in September. Because dates tend to change, be sure to check the City Council agendas here (https://novato.org/government/city-council/agendas-minutes).
In September, we will meet on Tuesday, September 10th and Tuesday, September 24th.
Minimum Wage
Council will also follow-up on our conversation to possibly accelerate an increase to minimum wage that phases in faster than the increases set to take place by the State of California. We have posted a draft phase-in schedule here: https://novato.org/business/novato-minimum-wage. Under the draft schedule, businesses with 99 employees or less would have a minimum wage that is $1 higher than the state's minimum wage starting in July 1, 2020. Businesses with 100 employees or more, would move up to $15/hour on July 1, 2020.
Cannabis
We don’t have a specific date just yet, but be on the lookout for the next council discussion regarding commercial cannabis in September or October. We will be discussing the types of permitting options in Novato which could include manufacturing, distribution, microbusinesses, testing labs, and retail (stores or home delivery only).