The Mayor’s Week in Review (Oct. 7 – 13)

This week’s Review is dedicated to the memory of Deborah Ross.

Squeezing Mill Valley’s liver:

My Iyengar instructor’s (Alice Rocky) Saturday yoga class was dedicated to squeezing the liver – the place that carries all our toxins (in my case, the remnants of 3 glasses of Dutton-Goldfield’s 2008 Sanchetti Pinot Noir that I had Friday night – each glorious to the last drop!).  We spent 90 minutes twisting the area, starting each pose on the left side.  Even the inversions had twists.  Needless to say squeezing the liver through poses sometimes creates unnatural reactions, occasional anxiety and frustration, and sweat.  So what’s my point, right?  Work with me – I have one. 

We had a huge milestone last week -- in fact on Tuesday morning at around 1230 AM, when we passed three resolutions formally adopting the MV2040 General Plan, our 2009-2014 Housing Element, and the associated project EIR.  This was HUGE, for all the reasons I’ve been writing about all year long.  I couldn’t help but think all during Alice’s cleansing class about the similarities between liver twists and the last two years of General Plan work.  In each case we wrung out the issues and brought them to the surface.  We faced them head on and worked through them.  Along the way each experience had some tough times, seemingly insurmountable positions being taken, sweat, and yes: even occasional tears.  And in the end I am here writing, and we have a General Plan and certified Housing Element (say “wow” here).

Life throws a lot at us – twists, turns, curveballs, hurdles, and inversions.  So what!  Some of us got upset that we stumbled along the way; I never counted the times we fell – I only counted the times we got back up, and Tuesday morning proved that we got back up more than we fell down.   Stated another way:  it’s not what we said along the way, but what we did as a community last week -- on time, in budget, with no truly divisive results.  HOORAY! 

Implementation of the General Plan will begin immediately and will be incorporated into the City Council’s annual work plan and budget cycle. To go to the MV2040 project website, click here: MV2040. 

What else?

Safe Routes to Schools:  Last Wednesday was International “Walk & Roll” Day and the Council participated in a number of community events to celebrate the day’s spirit.  But do you know what I really loved learning that day?  During a conversation between Detective Paul Wrapp and my colleague Stephanie Moulton-Peters, we learned that even more education is needed, because some kids walking and biking to school that day were not using the “Safe Routes” to schools.  Mill Valley is very fortunate to have Det. Wrapp and Stephanie “on the case” to fix this going forward. 

Update on Muir Woods Transportation Projects: According to a letter from Frank Dean, General Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the comment period on proposed solutions to the transportation and parking problems at Muir Woods has been extended to November 4, 2013 (excellent move).  If the government shutdown continues beyond October 15, it will be extended even further.  Comments may be submitted in writing to: GGNRA, Attn: Muir Woods Transportation Projects, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco 94123.  Online comments are not currently being accepted due to the federal government shutdown (kind of funny isn’t it that the US Post Office is the reliable party here?).  As of this time, the meeting planned for November 20 is still scheduled to take place; however, due to the shutdown, this meeting may be canceled and rescheduled. Check here for updates: Muir Woods. 

40 Years Young - The Mill Valley Chamber Music Society:  The Chamber Music Society is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season.  It’s incredible to think that for 40 years this group has been bringing acclaimed, world-class chamber music artists to the Methodist Church opposite the Middle School -- at a great price too!  The Society also offers an Outreach Program of free teaching workshops and age-appropriate performances to our local schools, supplementing KIDDO by exposing our kids to this classical music and gifted professional musicians.  This is all in addition to the Society’s free Youth Concert (at which co-sponsor Marin Music Chest’s scholarship prize-winners perform).   Upcoming concerts are November 17, January 26, February 23 and March 23; the free Youth Concert is May 18.  Season subscriptions may be had at Mill Valley Chamber Music or by phoning 415-381-4453.  Needless to say yours truly could use a little of this culture . . . . how about you? 

Miller Avenue Streetscape Project - Business Survey:  Is your business on or near Miller Avenue?  If so, the City wants to hear from YOU regarding the upcoming Miller Avenue Streetscape project.  As you know from having been riveted by many of my prior postings, this infrastructure project will repair and improve multimodal functions addressing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists of all ages and abilities.  Yeah!  This project will, however, be MAJOR, and so also has the potential to impact your business operations, customers, employees, and delivery services with traffic delays and parking restrictions. City staff will make every effort to minimize impacts to the businesses community – but we need your help to plan accordingly.  City staff is in the process of writing the construction plan and budgeting for this important project, and now is the time to give us input and feedback on your needs.  City engineers need to know about you, your business, and any accommodations that you may need, such as special provisions for noise, parking, path of travel, and hours of operation.   Please take a moment to fill out the Miller Avenue Business Survey: Miller Avenue Survey.

I love Small Town Character and civic pride:  It’s so easy to find; last week’s included: 

·      Say Yes to The Brownies:  Thank you Vice Mayor Shawn Marshall and City staff for entertaining a very special Brownie Troop with a tour and presentation of City Hall.  You have to love it when our children care enough about our City to truly earn a government leadership badge.

·      Cat’s Meow:  Sunday’s Ribbon Cutting at Irene Leija’s “Cat’s Meow” grooming spa brought out a nice crowd on a sunny day for free popcorn, sno-cones, face painting, and other activities. 

·      The Great Shake Out:  Maggie Lang and Battalion Chief Mike St. John accepted a Proclamation acknowledging our participation in next Thursday’s “Great Shake Out.” 

Stop bullying!  October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month.  As we all know, bullying is really bad, comes in may forms, and can severely affect a child’s school performance, often leading to insecurity, lack of self-esteem and depression.  California enacted legislation in July of 2012, known as “Seth’s Law,” which requires California public schools to have a strong anti-bullying policy as well as a process to evaluate reports of bullying.  The law also requires that schools publicize the anti-bullying policy and include anti-bullying resources on a school’s website.  For a variety of resources for October and throughout the year, please access: Bullying Must Be Stopped! 

About town: 

Monday:  

·      Quiet Space (12-5):  You asked for it, we did it -- come to the Creekside Room every Monday for an extra quiet workspace – free Wifi  . . . and even coffee is allowed!  Wow have Libraries changed . . . .

·      Planning Commission:  7 pm at City Hall

·      Monday Night Movies -- The Horses Mouth (1958):  730 pm at the Library 

Tuesday:

·      Pizza & Pages Middle School Book Club: 630pm at the Library

·      Art Commission Meeting:  7 pm at City Hall 

Wednesday: 

·      Friends of the Library Book Group (430 pm at the Library): The Hair with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal

·      Grow Your Business Online (4 class series):  7 pm at the Library 

Thursday:

·      SASM Board Meeting: 7 pm at “The Plant” 

Friday:

·      First Friday: Naked Truth – Masquerade (7 pm):  This is the Library’s true storytelling series, with an amazing line-up to share tales based on the theme Masquerade: stories of posing, pretending and faking it. Sit back, enjoy a glass of wine and watch as the Library is transformed into a venue for real people telling real-life stories, raw and without notes. Registration for this event is full but there is a good chance you can still get a seat.  No-shows and last-minute cancellations usually free up seats. 

Saturday:

·      Rocktoberfest (830 am to 6 pm):  Join Mill Valley Recreation and The Boyle Park Renovation Committee to “Rock the Courts” at the Rocktoberfest Fundraiser.  Funds raised will go directly into the Tennis Court Renovation Project Fund. $40 Adults & Seniors / $15 Kids age 6-18 / FREE Kids age 5 and under.

·      Bloomathon Planting (9 am at the Community Center):  Join Mill Valley Bloomathon to plant bulbs and annuals at the Mill Valley Community Center and. Bring a trowel and gloves.

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

Sunday:

·      The 2013 Milleys Awards Ceremony and Dinner (5 pm at the Community Center).  The Milley Awards are sponsored by the Mill Valley Art Commission and produced by the Milley Awards Board of Directors, a volunteer community group.  The award recognizes those who, through their accomplishments in the arts, have contributed to the creative life of the Mill Valley community. The Milley Awards celebrate living artists and artist-teachers who were born in Mill Valley, California, went to school here, work here, or have made their home here, and who have enriched our lives. 

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Thanks, as always, for reading.  Embrace twists. 

Andy