Op-Ed: Get Up Early Sept. 8 and Voice Concerns about City Offices

There is a meeting at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 8 to discuss the $15 million to be spent on city offices in downtown Novato. It will take place in the Rowland room of the at 75 Rowland Way.

This public meeting is the time to go and speak about the lack of planning and the need for a better location for the offices. Unless we speak up, the city will move ahead with $15 million for .

There are better uses for funds designated for capital improvements. This is money that can only be used for infrastructure purposes and not for pensions or adding personnel. There will be no money of this size once it is spent, so it is imperative the city spends it wisely. We need to come up with better money saving ideas for the placement of downtown offices.

For example, the city can save money and the parking spaces on Machin Avenue, the location where the new city building is supposed to be built. Instead, the city could build at a different location and with less space. Build it on Sherman Avenue or perhaps in the Community House using only the first floor.

Saving parking for the Novato Theater is important to downtown businesses. It will help businesses when people shop and dine at restaurants before and after the films and live performing arts at the renovated theater.

The city should consider planning by the American Institute of Architects. It may do a better job of planning for the whole area taking into account all of the downtown and parking including its economic needs. We could pay them to plan for the whole downtown for far less than what is being contemplated for a small area now.

Another reason to look hard at this expenditure only for city offices is that we need to save money for use in other areas. There is needed capital city improvements such as safety traffic lights on Olive Avenue  and Redwood Boulevard. Also, capital improvement money is needed to repair or replace storm drains, street lights or use as leverage for either replacing or repair the Hamilton Theater.

Again, there are more options than building over the existing parking spots on Machin and not having funds for other capital improvements in the future. Remember, this is one-time-only money and must be spent wisely. 

Furthermore, it is better to not to rush things to get the city offices built on Machin and out of Rowland. Why not consider a temporary move? For example: For a year or two, the city could move into and work with the and parents to find temporary space to lease for less money than what is spent now at Rowland. That approach will give the city more time to really come up with a better plan for city offices.

temporarily could be converted to the city manager’s office and community development department. Public Works could go to Hill Middle School. Finally, more ideas would be forthcoming if the city takes its time and not rushes into something that does not work for all the downtown businesses and the public who wants the parking.