The City of Novato is pleased to announce the hiring of Clare Hartman as the City’s next community development director, overseeing the City’s Planning, Building and Code Enforcement divisions. Novato’s current community development director, Vicki Parker, who has been an integral part of the City since 2019, will be retiring at the end of the year.
Hartman brings 30 years of community development experience to Novato with expertise in land use, entitlements and plan review, permit streamlining, community engagement, environmental review, historic preservation, hillside development, board support and public policy making in the areas of housing, economic development, cannabis and wildfire recovery.
Prior to joining Novato, Hartman spent 24 years working for the City of Santa Rosa, starting as a city planner, being promoted to supervising planner and planning director and more recently serving as interim assistant city manager and department director. During her tenure, Clare led the passing of several groundbreaking initiatives, including the City’s Housing Action Plan, Process Improvement Action Plan, Cannabis Program, Resilient City ordinances and successful post-Tubbs Fire rebuild of 3,000 housing units, 2023 Housing Element and outreach on the Draft Santa Rosa General Plan 2050.
“We are fortunate to welcome Clare as our next director of community development,” said Acting City Manager Jessica Deakyne. “Her wealth of experience, coupled with her collaborative, inclusive and action-oriented leadership style, makes her an ideal fit for the role.”
Hartman is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), has a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Planning from Sonoma State University and a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon.
“I am thrilled to join the vibrant Novato community and contribute to the City organization,” said Hartman. “As community development director, I am committed to fostering the fiscal and organizational health of the department. Additionally, I look forward to supporting the efforts of our dedicated staff to maintain an enhanced customer service experience and to facilitate housing and economic opportunities for all in the community.”
Clare and her husband Ron live in Sebastopol, where they both grew up, and have enjoyed raising their three children, now ages 16, 18 and 20. When she is not working, Clare loves to spend time with her family and friends, traveling, cooking or just being outdoors.
Hartman will begin her new role on December 11 and will receive an annual base salary of $200,161.