The Mayor’s Week in Review: April 15-21

This week is dedicated to our children – who among many other things provide great perspective during tough times.

I was so excited for the week to begin. We had an amazing agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting  – not the least of which were four proclamations for worthy events, and the public hearing on our comprehensive pension reform efforts. I was back in Mill Valley after being away for work, and my parents were safely settled into a new chapter of life. Spring was here. Earth Day festivities were happening all week. And we all had friends (and I have a lot of family) in Boston excited for Patriot’s Day and the Marathon. 

Then we heard the news. What a shock. A week of outrage. Safety back to the forefront of our minds ... folks in Connecticut hearing it while Sandy Hook is still fresh in their minds. 

A moment of silence...

What I found interesting, however, is that despite the week’s news, there was an obvious underlying theme to the week that provides a much better perspective, one that provides hope, and joy: our children. 

So let’s be grateful for what we saw in them this week:

• The Tam High varsity baseball and softball teams: Both the Red Tailed Hawks baseball and softball teams were recognized for the and share in a cultural exchange. Besides winning 5 out of 6 games, the team trained with Cuba’s professional team, visited museums, and learned to dance the salsa and the Cha Cha (one two, cha cha cha, three four, cha cha cha). At the end of the trip the students donated much needed equipment to their new friends too.  HOORAY! for representing America and Mill Valley so well.
• Old Mill School’s student council: This group of students and community leaders chose to help clean up some of the Steps, Lanes & Paths in the Old Mill neighborhood as a community service project. More than 30 student officers and representatives swept, raked, pulled weeds, and otherwise cleaned two segments of steps under the direction of Julie McClure from the city’s Department of Public Works, and Frank Zanco from Mill Valley Parks.  HOORAY! for representing Old Mill School so well.
• The Tam High Mock Trial Team: : County Champions, 7th in the state, and a local Tam High senior, Lindsey Sloan, won “best prosecuting attorney” in the state too. HOORAY! for representing Tam High so well.
• And how about these seven students who will be receiving Student Community Service Awards this Friday at The Redwoods 21st Annual “Celebration of Service” Awards Ceremony:
  • Finn Kalmbach, a 10 year old from Edna, who not only raised money to build a school in a remote village in Nicaragua, but went there to help build it too! 
  • Kylie Frame, a 5th grader from Old Mill, who has more random acts of kindness associated with her than most folks see in a lifetime,
  • Kara Kneafsey, a 5th grader at Park who has a 3 year involvement with fundraising efforts for endangered species,
  • Lily Bogas, a 5th grader from Strawberry, who among other things did fundraising for The Redwoods,
  • Paul Law, a 5th grader at Tam Valley, the school’s student council President and Officer Assistant,
  • Sona Dolasia, an 8th grader from MVMS, who among other things designed a summer reading program, and
  • Carlos Lopes-Alvarado, a senior at Tam who has worked on 3 job sites for Habitat for Humanity.

HOORAY! for these wonderful images to balance the other ones in the media.

Other things that are on my mind:

Our fiscal health: The room was virtually empty – but on Monday the Council culminated almost three years of work evaluating various ways to stem the tide of rising pension costs when we held our first public hearing on a comprehensive pension reform policy, including other post employment benefits. This wasn’t just fluff; yes, we have work to do, but we have done a lot, at all times respectful of the need to have a sound social contract with our employees. Please read this document if you have an interest in the issue. 

Fair Housing: April is Fair Housing month. Discrimination in all its forms – including with regard to housing – is illegal. We welcomed the spirit of equal housing into our city last week too. 

Service: I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank folks who spend so much time working for us here in Mill Valley. Captain Bill Schardt retired after 23 years of service to Mill Valley and our Fire Department. We thank Bill for his service ... and for the lessons we learned from him along the way.

Cancer Prevention – Volunteers are needed: This is such an important issue – and as it turns out, Mill Valley is teaming up with the American Cancer Society to help study environmental and genetic influences on cancer. At this point we are trying to identify some "Community Champions" who would be willing to volunteer to recruit 10 friends and/or family members to enroll in this life-saving study. Ideal volunteers would be anyone who is passionate about fighting (and eradicating) cancer in our lifetimes. If you are between the ages of 30-65, and you have never personally been diagnosed with cancer, you are eligible to enroll. Enrollment will take between 20-30 minutes. Once enrolled as a participant in the study, you will be contacted every few years (over the next 25 years) to update your information via a survey. If you want to learn more before the kickoff, please visit the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (Cancer Study Volunteer) or call toll free at 888-604-5888.

Mill Valley’s Annual Evacuation Drill: Please help in getting the word out about this year's Emergency Evacuation Drill. The drill will take place on Saturday May 4, and will be focused on the Panoramic and Edgewood neighborhoods of Mill Valley. The objective of this drill will be to provide an opportunity for residents to practice evacuation and to test the City of Mill Valley's "TENS" emergency telephone notification system. The drill will begin at 9 a.m. with the sounding of the city's emergency sirens and residents will receive an automated phone call on whatever phones they have registered with the TENS system (To register, click here). Residents will be then encouraged to evacuate on foot, bike, or car. Those who live in the Panoramic Highway area should meet at the Marin County Fire Department Throckmorton Ridge Fire Station and all other residents should meet at Old Mill School. At both meeting places, residents will be asked to take a brief survey and can receive additional information about emergency preparedness.

About town:

• Homeowners Association Meeting: Along with Angel Bernal, our Police Chief, and Jim McCann, our City Manager, I’m meeting with a number of the neighborhood associations Monday night at the Community Center at 7 p.m. Feel free to come by and listen in.  
• City Council Annual Retreat: Each year the City Council meets “offsite” in a more informal (but public) setting for a strategy and planning session. Our 2013 meeting is Tuesday night, starting at 5 PM, at Acqua Hotel.
• Review of Draft General Plan: The General Plan Advisory Committee begins its review of the draft General Plan (that was released two weeks ago) on Thursday April 25, at City Hall, starting at 630 PM.
• The Annual “Celebration of Service Awards Ceremony” will be held Friday night, April 26, at The Redwoods, starting at 7 PM. This is unquestionably the hardest event for any Mayor to prepare for each year, but simply the most rewarding. In addition to the Awards for the 7 students mentioned above, we will also celebrate more folks in town who give give give ... and then give more.  
• Please take the Golf Course and Clubhouse Survey! Tell us what you think about Mill Valley's "hidden jewel." We are seeking feedback from neighbors of the Golf Course, residents of Mill Valley, as well as golfing enthusiasts: Golf Course Survey.
• Planning Commission Meeting: Monday April 22 at 7 PM at City Hall (or on the web).
• Understanding Mental Health Issues: Marin Villages, in partnership with Seniors At Home, welcomes all volunteers, members, family and friends to a presentation and discussion on understanding mental health issues on Tuesday April 23 at 3 p.m.
• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee: The BPAC is meeting on April 24 at 7 PM.
• Save the date! Please join the Mill Valley City Council, Planning Commission, and City staff for our Annual Community Meeting to be held on May 14 from 6-8 PM at the Community Center. Topics include: an update on various City projects and events, an informational introduction of MV2040/Draft General Plan, and Q&A with City Council and staff. Doors open at 5:45 and refreshments will be served.

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As always, thanks for reading. Now go hug a kid!

Andy