What Is a Citizens Initiative?
A citizens’ initiative is one of the most powerful tools in California democracy. It allows ordinary residents not politicians, not lobbyists, not insiders to place a binding measure directly on the local ballot.
Under California law, any registered voter can draft an ordinance, charter amendment, or policy change, gather the required number of valid signatures, and force the city either to adopt the measure or to submit it to voters at the next election. The only permission needed is the community’s. The only approval that matters is the people themselves.
How Does It Work?
A citizens initiative follows a clear legal process:
1. Draft the Measure and File a Notice of Intention — A group of residents writes the proposed law or charter amendment, often with legal guidance. Proponents then file a Notice of Intention with the City Clerk (for city measures) or County Elections Official (for county measures), along with the full text of the initiative.
2. Title and Summary — The City Attorney (for city measures) or County Counsel (for county measures) prepares an official ballot title and summary within 15 days. This neutral description is what appears on the petition and ballot.
3. Gather Signatures — Proponents have 180 days to circulate petitions and collect signatures from registered voters. For a city initiative, the threshold is 10% of registered voters; for a county measure, it is typically 10% of voters in the last gubernatorial election.
4. Verification — Petitions are filed with the city or county elections official, who forwards them to the County Elections Office for signature verification.
5. Legislative Body Action — Once verified, the City Council (or Board of Supervisors for county measures) must either adopt the ordinance as written, place it on the ballot for a public vote, or order an impact report before deciding.
6. Election — If placed on the ballot, all registered voters in Novato decide whether to approve or reject the measure.
Why Does It Matter?
The citizens’ initiative exists because representative government does not always represent. When elected officials are unresponsive, when transparency is lacking, when fiscal decisions do not reflect community priorities, the initiative process gives residents a direct path to structural change.
It is not protest. It is not complaint. It is lawmaking by the people. It is pure democracy.
What Can a Citizens Initiative Do?
In Novato, a citizen’s initiative can:
• Establish a city charter that replaces the default state template with a locally written constitution.
• Reform tax structures to ensure fairness and eliminate regressive measures
• Mandate transparency and public reporting requirements for all city operations
• Create independent oversight bodies with real authority
• Set rules for elections, redistricting, and governance that prevent political manipulation
• Direct how public funds are allocated and spent
Has This Ever Been Done in Novato?
According to the Novato City Clerk's office, no citizen-led initiative has been filed in recent memory. The legal right has existed for over a century under California law, but it appears to have gone unused in Novato. That means one of the most powerful tools available to residents has been sitting on the shelf.
While Novato has had ballot measures placed by the City Council, the initiative process — where residents drive the agenda from start to finish — has gone unused. Novato Stewards believes it is time to change that.
Who Can Participate?
Any registered voter in Novato can sign a petition, support an initiative campaign, or help draft a measure. You do not need to be an expert. You do not need political connections. You just need to care about your community.
Novato Stewards and the Initiative Process
Novato Stewards exists to make the citizens initiative process accessible. We research the issues, draft clear and enforceable measures, educate residents on what is at stake, and organize signature collection so that the people of Novato can exercise their legal right to shape local government.
This is not about one party or one ideology. This is about ensuring that the system works for the people who live here.