The Mayor’s Week in Review (Oct. 21 - 27)

The elephant in the blog:

I love elephants.  It’s too bad they became the image for something nobody wants to talk about.  Or is avoiding.  I guess it could just have easily been the “whale in the room,” or “the Hippopotamus” (all great animals).  Then again, I suppose when you’re that big and powerful nothing bothers you – least of all peculiar human phrases.

But I digress. Anyway, the “elephant in the blog” is that I’m getting down to the end – not just the end of this year, not just the end of writing this blog, not just the end of a second term as Mayor, not just the end of life on the Council.  No, actually December marks the end of a big chapter in my life – actively serving YOU, pretty much since 1998 when Betsey Cutler appointed me to the Planning Commission (after rejecting me the year before; of course – she always said that built character, and it did (though not on “rejection” day)). 

Of course it’s been a GREAT run.  I have been blessed with being able to serve. It’s TRULY been a privilege and honor.  YOU have given me a lifetime of memories – some worthy of CNN, others more akin to a Seinfeld episode, still others feel like they belong on HBO.  But all in all they have been fantastic, albeit time consuming, but fantastic.  

A number of you have asked me two questions:

·      What do I want to get done in the short time I have left? and

·      What am I going to do with the extra time on my hands?

As to the former, particularly with the General Plan drafting work behind us, I’m simply focused on “fine tuning” where I can, using small acts as opportunities to do so.  I’m talking here about issues cropping up that provide an opportunity to remind us all about the good old-fashioned neighborly way Mill Valley (should) acts.   If you are a resident or local business, it’s all about emphasizing the basics:  don't push the envelope, or seek special entitlements, and most certainly please play by the rules.  If you are with the City (and particularly given all the turnover the past few years), it’s important to point out the random acts of Small Town Character that make Mill Valley special, and providing excellent service (which includes returning phone calls, making site visits, and listening carefully).  Whether we call it home, family, community, town, fabric, City, or culture, for all of us it’s about being a good neighbor, saying please and thank you, looking for compromise, driving like your kids live here (LOVE that Lovell Ave. sign), and recognizing that it’s simply getting harder to preserve what we have – so appreciating (and nurturing) it all, each and every day.

As to the extra time I’ll have, well, I’ll nurture the two things that got sacrificed over the years: my family and myself.  You see, once elected, you can’t let residents down – that’s what the OATH OF OFFICE was all about for me – service above self.  And of course your job can’t suffer – I’ve always needed mine to pay the bills, provide for Sabra & the kids, keep the roof over our heads, and keep food on the table -- the basics.  So what gives?  Health and family.  So I think I’ll start by getting some extra sleep – that sounds luxurious – and take an extra yoga class each week.  But mostly I’ll just hang out at home more -- without having meetings 4 nights a week -- and watch the most precious things in my life flourish.  Yep, life as a “former Mayor of Mill Valley” isn’t going to be that bad . . .  J

Now, I’m not going to fool myself – this isn’t easy; I’m going to miss the service and all of YOU.  So to all of you who are reading this, if you are so inclined please come say hello and goodbye at The Sweetwater on Dec. 2 after our Council meeting – the Club’s hosting an event to honor the occasion -- and your presence will help start the next chapter.  No cover, great music, snacks -- and supporting a local business.  Isn't that what we love about Mill Valley anyway? 

What else?

Halloween Safety:  Gosh we’ve had our “ups & downs” with this holiday over the years.  Net/net:  please “Be Safe and Be Seen” on our streets while out trick-or-treating next week.  Our City website offers safety tips from the Police and Fire Departments at Safe Halloween.  Please make it fun for everyone by following them. 

Local boys made good!  Last week was truly an amazing one for some of our local boys: 

·      Congratulations to Bryan Price:  Truly a HOORAY! worthy one – Bryan Price, pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds, was just named Manager (replacing the fired Dusty Baker).  Bryan grew up in Mill Valley, started playing little league here, went on to Tam High, then to Cal (where he played baseball for the Bears too).  His mother, Jean, still lives downtown. Right on!

·      Mayor for a Day:  Here’s another HOORAY! worthy one – Dave Peters, a junior at Tamalpais High School, was named Mill Valley’s “Mayor for a Day” after completing a City internship. 

·      Mill Valley Fire Department Pinnings:  And finally, we had a badge pinning at City Hall for Captain Darin Allen, Firefighter / Paramedic Zac Fleckner, and Firefighter Steven Morlock on Monday night.  These are just amazing events; all about family, all about service. 

My hat’s off to you all! Congratulations. 

15th Annual Click off Competition (Nov. 5 – 17):  I know this one’s over a week away, but I want to share the news about the 15th Annual Click off Competition so you can begin preparing.  The Mill Valley Art Commission does a wonderful job with this event each year – it’s a “rite of passage” into autumn.  You don’t need to be a pro -- photographers of all ages and skill levels can capture images unique to Marin County and yes, you can even use your cell phone!  Learn more here: Click Off! 

Dia de los Muertos in Mill Valley:  Join the joyful celebration of dearly departed family, friends, and pets during the Mexican “Day of the Dead” festival with three events / exhibitions: 

·      First, there’s an exhibit by local artist Marsha Heckman at the Community Center all week long.

·      Second, try out our “Día de los Muertos” Altar Making Event on Friday at 330 pm at the Library.   Honor your ancestors or a loved one with a beautiful Day of the Dead altar made from a shoebox. Ages 5 and up welcomed.  Click here to register: Altar Making.

·      Finally, there’s the “Dia de los Muertos” Celebration on Saturday at 1030 am at the Community Center. 

Sherran – we did it (Single-Use Disposable Bag Ban):  The Council held a second reading of the ordinance amending our Municipal Code to add "Single-Use Disposable Bag Prohibitions and Regulations," limiting the provision of single-use carryout bags at the point of sale at most retail stores.  Encouraging the use of reusable bags in place of single-use plastic bags is part of the City's zero waste goal.  The implementation and enforcement of the plastic bag restriction (and $.o5 paper bag fee) will go into effect December 20, 2013. 

The sweet smell of $100,000:  How about this one – we were awarded $100,000 for pier restoration and habitat enhancements in Bayfront Park.  HOORAY!   Our recreational bay access pier was built in Bayfront Park in the 1970s to provide water access to Richardson Bay.  The structure was used for a variety of water-related activities but was severely damaged in a winter storm in 2005 and determined to be in need of complete reconstruction.  City staff applied for a grant in July of this year and in September, The Transportation Authority of Marin Board of Directors approved our application!  City staff will use the funds to rebuild the pier, build a split-rail fence, and make improvements to the trail connecting the pier to the Bayfront Multi-Use Path.  Of course, timing of the reconstruction will be dependent on obtaining all necessary permits from local, state and federal agencies . . . but the money was the major hurdle. 

About town: 

Monday:   

·      Happy birthday Hannah.  I love you so much.

·      Planning Commission Meeting (7 pm at City Hall)

·      Art Lecture - La Vita Dolce and Beyond: 40 Years of Bulgari (7 pm at the Library) 

Tuesday: 

·      Digital Storytelling Workshop (5 pm at the Library):  How often do you have the opportunity to reflect and create something meaningful in your adult life? Come explore the form of digital storytelling -- the process by which people share personal tales and creative thoughts with others using a combination of digitized still and moving images and sound.  The Library is extremely pleased to partner with the Center for Digital Storytelling in Berkeley to provide an incredible opportunity to those interested in sharing their story in a powerful way.   Register:  Digital Storytelling. 

Wednesday:  

·      Creative Writing Workshop (7 pm at the Library) 

Thursday: 

·      Happy Halloween! 

Friday: 

·      Dale Dougherty – “Why We Make” (7 pm at the Library; adults and high school students only):   Why does it matter that we “make” things ourselves when we can easily let other people do it for us? Dale Dougherty, CEO of Maker Media (Make Magazine and Maker Faire), co-founder of O’Reilly Media, and the man who coined the phrase "Web 2.0," will tell stories about why people “make” and how people connect through the common desire to create things. Click here to register: Make Me! 

Saturday: 

·      Councilmember's Table on the Plaza (10 am at The Depot) 

Sunday: 

·      Arts and Culture Symposium (130 pm at the Community Center):  The Mill Valley Art Commission presents this gathering of local arts & culture organizations, community supporters and artists.  Come discover more about our vibrant arts community and learn about opportunities to get more involved.  This will be the first public gathering of everyone interested in the future of the arts in Mill Valley, as called for in the Community Vitality section of the newly adopted “Mill Valley 2040 General Plan.” 

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Thanks, as always, for reading. I really have appreciated our time together. 

As always, I remain 

Your friend & (soon to be former) Mayor, 

Andy