City's New Publicist Starts Job Monday

There is a new voice for the city of Novato — an official public communication coordinator to boost outreach between the local government and the masses.

Peggy Flynn, a Santa Rosa resident with 15 years of public sector and nonprofit management experience, was introduced Wednesday by City Manager Michael Frank.

By a 4-1 vote, with Pat Eklund dissenting, the Novato City Council approved the reclassification of an existing position to "continue the city’s commitment to transparency and community engagement," according to a release. Flynn will report directly to Frank and start work Sept. 24. Her starting salary is $83,736.

Flynn most recently worked for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. She served as communications manager for the now-defunct San Jose Redevelopment Agency and for the Santa Clara Valley Water District as well. She was a consultant for the Downtown San Mateo Association, a public affairs assistant with San Jose State University and a business manager at a biotech firm.

"The City Council has made it a priority to enhance our public outreach program, and we believe that Peggy is the right person to advance this goal," Frank said in the release. "She has extensive experience in the field working for a number of public agencies, and her record of achievement is very impressive.” 

Flynn, who has a journalism degree from San Jose State University, is the former owner of a fitness gym in Illinois. She was the executive director for the Downtown Bloomington (Ill.) Association in 2006-2008.

“The Novato community is clearly a special place,” Flynn said. “I’m delighted to be joining the city of Novato and to support the City Council and staff so that by working together we can improve accessibility to information and strengthen public participation.”

The position represents no change to the city's staff count because it replaces an administrative vacancy.

Click here for a story about this in the Marin Independent Journal. 

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