This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

The Mayor's Week in Review (Oct. 28 – Nov. 3)

Andy Berman, Mill Valley's Mayor, writes his weekly review, with some inside news, reminders and reflections, and whatever else comes to mind.


It’s all about having momentum:

I like momentum around an initiative because there’s nothing like it to drive towards a result – and nothing like the lack of momentum that lets something fizzle away.  So I don’t want anyone to think for a second that we wrote a new General Plan only to stick it on the shelf for 20 or 30 years.  Au contraire: we are diving right in – “we” being the operative word.  Two things come to mind that demonstrate this point:

Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kudos first go to the Art Commission (including former Chair Lynn Klein, and current Chair Teresa Rae) and Jenny Rogers (our Recreation Department head) for holding our first ever “Arts & Culture Symposium” on Sunday to begin getting feedback on implementing the Arts Goals, Policies & Programs outlined in the new General Plan’s Community Vitality chapter.  This “convening” included not only the City but also much of the leadership from our residents and local businesses – a veritable “who’s who” of art community members.  Jenny facilitated a SWOT analysis (a discussion about our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), the results of which will guide much of the General Plan’s implementation.  The final tally will be shared, but a sneak peek into a few of the SWOT’s results includes:

·      Strengths:  A robust arts community, community (and City) support for the arts, and a willingness to see more partnerships between and among the arts community.

Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

·      Weaknesses:  Funding, conflicting events and the lack of any central calendar, a dedicated arts center, and limited infrastructure to support of the arts.

·      Opportunities:  Getting more youth involved with local art programs, creating a public art ordinance, more support from the City in permitting events and art-related businesses, coordinated calendaring, and a central kiosk for events.

·      Threats: Macro economic conditions, competition from other activities, and increasing pressures on already limited infrastructure.

Kudos next go out to Jim McCann (our City Manager) and Mike Moore (our Planning Director) for bringing to the Council on Monday a hearing on implementation of the short term Goals from the 2009-2013 Housing Element.   There’s a lot of work we need to do in a relatively short period of time to begin implementation – and we need momentum to drive these quickly.  Items on this list include:

·      Looking at multi-family design guidelines, condo conversion regulations, inclusionary housing regulations, and mixed use zoning in commercial districts

·      Conducting a second unit  survey

·      Creating an affordable housing overlay for The Redwoods

·      Revisiting parking standards, a density bonus ordinance, and special needs housing

·      The creation of  a Housing Advisory Committee.

The point here is that the General Plan is not an answer; it’s a guide, a path, and a blueprint.  It facilitates discussion, partnerships and resources.  It takes people, however, to create momentum.  So please: get involved  . . . then stay involved! 

(PS:  My personal momentum isn’t waning either, despite leaving my Office soon and despite all my emails to the City having been “blacklisted” last week -- apparently our IT department took last week’s column a bit too seriously).

What else?

·      Muir Woods Transportation and Parking Update:  The thought of adding a parking lot near Dias Ridge to accommodate the increased traffic into Muir Woods really caused a stir.   If you want to learn more, please attend (or listen on the web to) the informational update Council will receive on the proposed parking and transportation projects at our Monday meeting.  If you would like to learn more about the proposals, and/or would like to comment on them, we also encourage you to visit the National Park Service website (which is available again, thanks to the end of the government shutdown); there are two projects, and therefore two links from which to learn more and comment: 

o   (1) Parking Reservation & Shuttle System and

o   (2) Transportation & Access site improvement

Comments may also be submitted in writing to: GGNRA, Attn: Muir Woods Transportation Projects, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco 94123. The current comment period has been extended to January 11, 2014.  While the City has no regulatory authority over the land use and decision-making process in National Park Service lands, we have encouraged National Park Service representatives to extend and enhance their public communication efforts and to ensure that the decision-making process includes all viewpoints.

·      Election Day:  If you haven’t already sent in an absentee ballot, please remember to vote on Tuesday!  Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. 

·      Measure A Funds for Parks:  The City will soon receive around $81,000 a year for nine years for parks, open space preserves, recreation programs, and vegetation to promote biodiversity and reduce wildfire risk.  Marin County voters approved Measure A in November of last year - a one-quarter of one percent transactions and use tax, dedicated to parks and open space.  Funds for this year have been assigned to the Boyle Park Tennis Court capital improvement program fund.  HOORAY!

·      Be safe out there!  The Mill Valley Police Department suggests this link for more information on driving safely in winter weather conditions: Please drive safely! 

About town: 

Monday:  City Council Meeting (730 pm at City Hall). 

Tuesday:  VOTE! 

Wednesday:  

·      Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting (7 pm at City Hall).

·      Creative Writing Workshop (7 pm at the Library): High School students only. 

Thursday:  

·      First Thursday “Slam Poetry” Workshop with Jazz Hudson (7 pm at the Library - High School students only):  Jazz Hudson has been rocking the East Bay since the eighth grade.  From her first writer’s workshop at the West Oakland Library — where her father sent her to “curb that mouth of hers” — she has performed everywhere from the streets of Oakland to the national stage.  Jazz will help students refine pieces already in progress or come up with something new — perhaps something for the Slam Poetry Competition in March.  Register here: Slam Poetry. 

Friday:   City Hall Closed. 

Sunday Special with Eddie Madril, Native American Hoop Dancer (11 am at the Library):  Experience the skill and artistry of Native American hoop dancer Edwardo Madril, a Pascua Yaqui tribe member.  Edwardo will share the rich traditions through the beautiful expressions of song, story, and dance. Learn some Native American sign language too. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Thanks, as always, for reading. 

Andy

PS: See you at The Sweetwater on Dec. 2 after our City Council meeting.  Do come by and say goodbye.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?