The community has expressed a strong interest in working with City staff on solutions to housing concerns. In response, a City Manager’s Working Group has been brought together to address housing issues and work to reach consensus on recommendations regarding housing policies. The group is made up of twenty three community members from all over the city representing a range of community perspectives.

The first meeting of the group was held on October 25, 2010. See below for all meeting dates and materials. This meeting focused on the organization and role of the group and their discussions extended into concerns and aspirations for the future of Novato. The group will continue to meet over the coming months in order to develop their recommendations. The focus of the group will be developed by consensus of the group members but topics for discussion may include:

    Concerns about housing and crime

    State law requirements

    Review of sites available for housing

    How other jurisdictions are addressing housing issues

    Density and compatibility with existing development

A key issue for the Working Group discussions will be sites for housing and it is expected that the Group will have recommendations leading to a new or revised listing of possible housing sites.

The Group’s meetings are open to the public but in order to allow the community members on the committee to have purposeful and effective discussion, public comment is not presently included in the agenda.

I am looking forward to working closely with this group as they prepare recommendations for housing solutions that work for Novato and I will keep you informed of their activities.

David Wallace
Community Development Director 

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