The Mayor’s Week in Review (August 5 - 11)

What is it about August?

The town’s quiet.  We only meet once as a Council.  Folks I know well and love so much have birthdays this month too.  My grandfather’s name is August.  So why is it such a needy month?  It has National Owner's Manual Week in it (I like that one though), a week to remind us to Stop on Red (smart, but sad we have to be reminded), it’s also National Water Quality Month, and “Alert Driving Month” too (hey folks, don’t text or watch videos while driving, please!).  See Drive (or stated another way: Pay Attention Please!).  Now I’m told it also has a “National Smile Week.”  And as discussed below, it also happens to be "National Golf Month" too.  Do I smell “naming rights” overkill here?  Is August that insecure and in need of the attention?  

Dear August: puff out your chest!  You’re a fine month.  Folks are enjoying you away from home, work and school.  You own the dog days (and those are always the best)!  In fact, we love you so much, we don’t want you to end (because then it’s September, and we all know what September brings). 

Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile, nothin’ left to do but smile, smile, smile . . . . .

What else?

August kicks of some great fun too, as the Art Commission presents the 28th Annual Concerts in the Plaza for Summer 2013! Bring your lawn (ah . . .  I mean brick pavement) chairs & your dancing shoes. Concerts are FREE and open to the Public; here are the dates & line ups: 

·      Wednesday, August 14 – 6 pm:  Mari Mack & Livin' Like Kings

·      Sunday, August 18:

• 3 pm:  The Rusty Strings Express
• 4 pm:  The Mill Valley Philharmonic

·      Sunday, August 25:

• 3 pm:  Solid Air
• 4 pm:  Todd Morgan & The Emblems

·      Wednesday, August 28 – 6 pm:  The Hot Club of Marin 

Elect-rical Energy 2013:  Last week I shared that at least one person who pulled papers decided not to run, but two new candidates pulled papers.  See  S-Elect-ion 2013.   Technically, the deadline to file papers was Friday August 9, and both George Gordon and John McCauley timely filed papers, so they are running for office.  Neither Jessica Jackson nor Dan Kelly filed on Friday . . . but since neither Shawn nor I did either, the deadline’s been extended to August 14 – so that gives them each a reprieve.  We’ll see what the week brings, won’t we?   

National Golf Month:  In the never-ending turf (no pun intended) war over naming August, it really is National Golf Month too.  Well, why not get inspired and (re)discover our lovely Mill Valley Golf Course!  In a world of layoffs and cost cutting, municipal golf courses are largely a thing of the past – but not here.  This really is a hidden gem and a darn good value too:  this 9-hole, par 33, 42 acres of hills, creeks and mature redwoods is a “2 for 20” course – meaning you can play it in about 2 hours for under $20!  Do I smell long lunch break here?  With a putting green and a revitalized (and remodeled) Pro Shop that offers logo apparel, basic equipment, and a snack bar that is open year round -- complete with all of the game’s essential nutrients – including beer – and a full BBQ in  . . . August (there we go again) . . . why not come down to 280 Buena Vista for some fun.  For a tee time you can also call the Pro Shop at 388-9982. 

Professional Services Agreement:  Last week someone asked me what the City’s doing these days with the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce.  I told them I’d share some information here.  Basically, we have a new “partnership” with the Chamber under a formal “professional services agreement.”  At our strategic planning retreat in 2012, the Council identified the execution of a Professional Services Agreement (“PSA”) with the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce as one of our Priority Projects.  See Priority Projects Status Report.   In September 2012, the Council approved a Resolution authorizing our City Manager to execute the PSA.  Under the PSA the Chamber has, among other things, promoted local businesses, coordinated a holiday event open to the community, conducted two beautification initiatives, coordinated marketing and public relations efforts, promoted City services and programs to residents and visitors, and also operates a Visitor Center to provide general information and promotional services to visitors and local businesses.  We are very pleased with the arrangement and look forward to more of the same in the time to come. 

About town: 

Monday:  Planning Commission Meeting:  7 pm at City Hall 

Tuesday: 

·      Art Commission Meeting:  7 pm at City Hall

·      Computer Class: Using Picasa to Organize and Share Photos:  7 pm at the Library 

Wednesday: 

·      Friends Book Sale: 3 pm at the Library

·      The Mark and Dre Comedy Show:  330 pm at the Outdoor Amphitheater.  Professional goofballs Mark and Dre (a.k.a. Carnival of Chaos) specialize in comedy, world class juggling, and some witty repartee. Their brand of controlled chaos is guaranteed to stimulate your brain, tickle your funny bone, and whet your appetite for dangerous stunts. 

Friday:  Lego Play Day:  230 pm at the Library.  The skills used to build with Legos support problem solving, reading, and creativity – so seriously consider exercising your brain via Lego. 

Saturday:

·      Friends Book Sale:  9 am at the Library

·      MY VERY LAST STINT AT OUR COUNCIL “TABLE ON THE PLAZA.”  Come on down and enjoy the dog day and say goodbye.  1030-1230.  Please: no gifts :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Thanks, as always, for reading.  I really really do appreciate it. 

Andy