The Mayor’s Week in Review (July 15-21)

We are all on this together. 

Last week’s hearing on proposed amendments to the zoning code – and particularly the discussion around garages, basements & aprons - is a sound reminder that indeed, we are all in this together, and when we work together we come to the right result.  Now I’m not saying the path to get there is always easy or pleasant, but teamwork really does work.  Here, our result respected the calls of residents, while balancing the excellent work by staff and our Planning Commission.  Thank you all for your input and patience as we navigated the issues.

What else? 

The Race is On: The next Council election will be held on Tuesday, November 5.  Two seats are open (with me & Shawn retiring).  (Shawn: it’s been a good run; we’ve come a long way from black, white and grey, haven’t we?)  If you have questions about the process, feel free to reach out to Kelsey Rogers (our City Clerk) at cityclerk@cityofmillvalley.org or by calling her at 388-4033.  We also talked about the election at our May 6 City Council meeting where we “Called” the Election.  Election 2013.  Basically, July 15 was the first day for candidates to “pull” papers from the City Clerk.  See Notice of Election.  So far John McCauley (a Planning Commissioner and Chair of the Community Vitality working group of the MV2040 General Plan process) has pulled papers.  I’ve heard about three others who may also pull papers . . . all men.  Any women out there? Exciting times!! 

MV 2040 General Plan Update:  The Planning Commission meetings on July 22 & 24 will focus on the draft General Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  See Important Agenda & Important Memo.   Click here to download the draft General Plan and the EIR: Draft MV 2040 General Plan and EIR.   These documents can also be viewed at the Planning Counter at City Hall and the reference desk at Anji’s place (the Library).  For more information, go to Lots of great General Plan info or contact Danielle Staude at dstaude@cityofmillvalley.org. 

Happy birthday Charles:  Charles would’ve loved our Council meeting on Monday night – meaty issues with a packed room.  Charles: we deliberated in your honor.

SoLo:  I was at a ribbon cutting last week and Hollis Zimmer referred to the area at Locust and below as “SoLo” -- I love it!   I don’t know if you are taking note, but that part of town is really taking off -- with new businesses moving in too, like Be Sweet / 7 on Locust (where the ribbon cutting occurred), run by Nadine Curtis.  I’m very excited and “feel” a positive change.  As we develop the infrastructure to support the area, I am further encouraged by the vision.  I hope you are too. 

RSVP Stickers Expire at the End of this Month:  If you currently have a green RSVP sticker now is the time to purchase your new red parking sticker, since the greenbacks expire on July 31.  You can purchase new stickers online or at the Police Station or by mail (mail: c/o MVPD, 1 Hamilton Drive, MV 94941 or fax to 415.389.4148).  Click here to purchase online: Buy RSVP Sticker.  More information about the RSVP program can be found by visiting the RSVP FAQ.  Call 389-4100 if you have questions. 

Going Away in August?  Give the MVPD the heads up so we can provide a “Vacation Watch” for your home – effectively some extra patrols of your home while you are away.   Click here to request a Vacation Watch. 

Stoplight Synchronization: Director of Public Works Jill Barnes announced this week that the City received a $25K grant to help better synchronize our traffic signals for more efficient traffic flow.  Hooray!  We plan to use the money to “retime” traffic signals at E. Blithedale/Lomita & Roque Morales, E. Blithedale/Camino Alto, Camino Alto/Sycamore, the pedestrian activated signal on Camino Alto, and Camino Alto/Miller.  The project will take approximately nine months to complete between receipt of the funds, data collection, analysis, and implementation.  Thanks for remaining patient – I hate the traffic too! 

About town: 

Marin Traveling Poetry Show:  July 23 at 7 pm at the Library.  Join host Gaby Rilleau and these local poets: Lucille Lang Day, Richard M. Levine, True Heitz, Stephanie Noble, Mary K. Sweeny & Paula Weinberger. 

Storyteller Muriel Johnson:  July 24 at 330 pm at the Library.  Baby birds lost on an island, a leopard with no spots, and a lion without a tail? You’ll hear about these and more when you take a journey with Muriel Johnson. Her animated traditional tales from around the world will captivate you with distinct character voices, dramatic gestures, and melodic refrains. These stories are guaranteed to stay with you long after the show is over! 

Exploring Twitterverse:  July 25 at 7 pm at the Library.  Twitter allows only 140 characters per “tweet” (i.e., in each message), but it’s surprising how much you can say in 140 characters.  Click here and Learn to Tweet. 

First Ever Lego Play Day:  July 26 at 230 pm at the Library.  Did you know that the skills used to build with Legos support problem solving, reading, and creativity? Join us for our first ever Lego Play Day.  Thanks to the many families whose generous donations of used Legos makes this program possible.

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I really hope you are all having a great summer. 

Thank you, as always, for reading. 

My very best to you all.

Andy