Mayor's Weekly (Dec 30 - Jan 5)

On my Mind
The Holiday Season and New Year’s Week are coming to a close as we head into our first full week of 2014.  The New Year is always a great time to reflect and I am sure there are many great resolutions out there.  It is only 5 days into the 2014, so hopefully they are still holding strong.  I came up with 3 this year that were briefly shared in an IJ article earlier this week, but I thought I would expand on them a bit more:

1.  Shop and Dine Locally – There are so many benefits ranging from building a stronger sense of community, supporting local businesses, reducing road congestion, and keeping tax dollars local.  Not only is this something I want to do more of in 2014, but I want to encourage others to do the same.  Besides, how can you beat Taco Tuesdays at Mi Pueblo?  You will often find me there right before a council meeting enjoying their $1.25 tacos.

2.  Explore the unexplored areas in Novato and Marin – We are surrounded by beautiful open space and hiking trails.  Having grown up in Novato, I often feel like I have seen most places through the city and the county, but am always amazed by discovering new areas and places I haven’t been before.  If you have any great “lesser known” trails in Novato, feel free to share them below.

3.  Make every moment matter – Sometimes routine gets the best of us.  This year I want to make a concerted effort to make the little moments matter.  Whether it is just an email exchange, a phone conversation, a personal encounter, or even a blog post, I hope to go that extra mile to leave a lasting impression.

Around Town
North Redwood Corridor on this week’s Council Agenda – This Tuesday, following several community meetings, workshops, and two more recent charettes, council will provide direction on desired land use and design criteria for the North Redwood Boulevard Study Area to be included into the Draft General Plan.  This area is considered one of the last major re-developable areas in Marin County and plays a vital role within our community. 

Novato’s Housing Element Approved by HCD – Late Friday we received word from the Department of Housing and Community Development that Novato’s Housing Element was approved! Our entire community along with our city staff ought to be commended for their efforts throughout this 4 year process.

Novato’s Birthday Bash “Paint the Town Red” is January 24th – Whether you are a regular or a first time attendee, you won’t want to miss this year’s event.  Visit http://ww.paintthetownred.org/ for more information and to buy your tickets online.

The Week Ahead
Monday:
Planning Commission Meeting at 7PM

Tuesday:
City Council Meeting – 6PM start time for quarterly agenda setting followed by regular council meeting at 6:30

Thursday:
Recreation, Cultural, and Community Services Commission Meeting at 7PM