1. What prompted your decision to run for City Council?
My wife and I moved to Mill Valley 23 years ago because we were in love with its unique beauty, community and lifestyle. Over the past 23 years I have volunteered on the planning commission, in the schools, in youth sports and other City and civic activities and committees. I am eager to work hard for the people of Mill Valley to respond to their values and concerns and to promote excellence in all we do. This is a small way I can repay a community that has given my family so much. We are now facing new challenges that require careful consideration of the views of the entire Mill Valley community. I want a City Council that reaches out to the community for input, information and participation. I am energized by my discussions with Mill Valley residents, some of whom aren't normally heard. I listen to all sides of an issue and try to work out a consensus and practical solution. A major goal of mine is to facilitate and affirmatively encourage increased community participation in City discussions and decisions.
I truly and deeply love this City and will do all I can to keep it the best place to live, work and raise our children.
2. Briefly, what do you think of the city's current state in regards to local issues (finance, infrastructure, schools, crime, seniors, environment, etc.)?
All-in-all, the City works remarkably well. The Miller Avenue Precise Plan is one of the areas that needs to be addressed (as discussed below). The City is fiscally sound, crime is low, schools are great and seniors are respected. We need to expand our environmental awareness including our Green and renewable resources building policies. Many of our neighbors cannot attend the long hours of City meetings. They have families, homework and other important priorities. We need to web broadcast City meetings so more people can be informed and participate. The City Council should seek the input and ideas of the community before making important decisions.
3. What qualities and prior experience do you think you would bring to the city council?
I have experience in a wide range of community activities which give me a broad and understanding focus on our community. This includes
Mill Valley Planning Commission (six years, Chair for one year),
Mill Valley Affordable Housing Committee,
Mill Valley Bicycle and Trails Committee,
CERT Certified (Community Emergency Response Team),
Fundraising Committees for the Community Center, Tam High Foundation and Kiddo!,
Mill Valley Soccer Club (President for 4 years, coach for 12 years),
Old Mill PTA (Committee Chair), Site Council (President),
School District Class Size Reduction Task Force,
Mill Valley Little League Board Member.
I also have experience as a land use attorney.
From this background of civic involvement I understand Mill Valley's current challenges. I am deeply committed to excellence in government and maintaining our small-town character.
4. What's your position on the Miller Avenue Precise Plan as it currently stands?
I agree with the City's recent decision to put the Miller Avenue Precise Plan on hold with no additional outside consultant work done for six months. This matter should be addressed by the new City Council to be formed in December.
The zoning ordinances on Miller Avenue are antiquated and unusable. Many of the buildings on Miller are reaching the end of their feasible commercial life. Without a new plan, each owner and developer will come to the City asking for a special set of zoning entitlements for their individual parcel. This results in the City reacting to each application rather than planning ahead and there is the potential for unpredictable and inconsistent development. Clearly, an updated zoning ordinance is necessary to provide predictability to both the community and property owners and to give specific guidelines to the City from which changes will require a variance procedure.
But then the hard decision is what should this new zoning ordinance look like? Zoning ordinances, like tax codes, are a collection of community values. Does the community want multi-unit housing, affordable housing, distinct bike paths, restaurants, commercial spaces, increased building heights, increased or decreased parking requirements or setbacks? The City needs to take 3 big steps backward to make a greater affirmative effort to seek and understand our community's values for Miller. Those values may differ from the consultants' ideas or the current MAPP design. I care less for what is done elsewhere than the importance of retaining Mill Valley's unique history and values. If elected I will reach out to the entire community and seek widespread input before we make any long term decision regarding the future zoning of Miller Avenue, or for that matter any major aspect of the City's future. With the input and understanding of the community we can go forward with a new zoning ordinance that reflects the reality of the street, the neighborhood and the values of our community.
5. Mill Valley has lost a number of longtime local-serving businesses recently. What might city leaders do to reverse this trend?
Businesses close for several reasons. Village Music is primarily closing because John Goddard is retiring. Not much can be done about that and we all wish John well. Others such as Jennie Lows, Lylas, and Sweetwater are challenged by rising rents. I believe in community involvement in these issues but I don't believe in price or rent controls. The City should work as a partner with our local business community. Our local businesses should be encouraged to have a greater involvement in planning discussions and decisions so we can be sure this is a city in which they can continue to do business. Business regulations should be flexible and creative to meet the needs of the businesses and the community. The bottom line is, however, that we all need to shop in our local stores so they can prosper and afford to pay their rent.
6. What other issues aren't getting enough attention in Mill Valley?
The beauty of Mill Valley is its Achilles' heel when it comes to fire danger. While our Police and Fire departments are well trained and prepared for a major emergency, I believe that much of our community is not. Many of us live in a Wildland Urban Interface Area. Battalion Chief Greg Moore explained to me that there is 10 times more fuel per acre on our hillsides than there was in the catastrophic Middle Ridge fire of 1929. The best way to stop a fire is to prevent it. We need to enhance our vegetation management program that maintains fire breaks on our ridges. We need to better inform our citizens of fire safety issues and the location and maintenance of our network of hillside paths and trails. We need to encourage more of our community to become CERT trained so we can better help each other in all forms of emergencies. We need to facilitate the distribution of three day's provisions per resident.
The issues of affordable housing needs to be better addressed. There is not one solution. Encouraging second units and possible City investment in affordable housing should be creatively explored. Under proper circumstances, the City might grant increased floor area to homeowners who dedicate a second unit to affordability.
7. What kind of feedback have you received since announcing your candidacy?
My candidacy was encouraged and very well received by many in our community. I am proud that my supporters include elected officials, former mayors, leading environmentalists, business leaders, education professionals and volunteers, and people from all Mill Valley neighborhoods.
One of my Campaign Chairs is former mayor Clifford Waldeck. I am proud to have the endorsement of Marin County Supervisor Charles McGlashan, and former Mill Valley mayors Joan Boessenecker, Betsey Cutler, Dennis Fisco, Kathleen Foote, John Jaeger, Richard Jessup, Warren Levinson, Ivan Poutiatine and Flora Praszker. I have the support of leading environmentalists Carol Misseldine, Marge Macris, Phyllis Faber and Charles McGlashan as well as affordable housing proponent and super senior Elizabeth Moody. I also have been endorsed by the four immediate past Kiddo! Chairs, Elizabeth Suzuki, Deborah Miller, Leslie Wachtel and Karen Jernstedt.
8. Anything else you'd like to add?
The new City Council will make important decisions in the next few years with regard to both public policy and management issues that will affect our community and the direction it takes for years to come.. I pledge to listen to and work affirmatively with everyone in our community to maintain excellence in our City through good government. I will devote my time to issues of health and safety, fiscal responsibility, education, culture, recreation, the arts, environmental conservation and sustainability, affordable housing, emergency preparedness, traffic, transit and parking and support for local-serving businesses,.
I recognize that effective implementation often means grappling with complicated facts, balancing multiple interests and making difficult choices. I pledge to devote the time, care and perseverance needed to work with our community to address these issues and to protect our City values.
I hope I you will vote for me on November 6.
