The Mayor’s Week in Review: April 8-14

Leave the door open to the unknown – replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.

It’s been a very long week for me – travel, work, aging parents, with all the emotional highs these things bring ... and with Mill Valley always on my mind, because I never really leave. It’s our home. For what it’s worth, I left on April 5 to go back east to spend two weekends moving my folks out of our family home in Stamford, CT – some work in DC, VA and NYC in the middle of the week – but back here to Stamford (where I am writing this) to finish the tasks at hand. At times a rite of passage ... at times a Seinfeld episode, but what I admire in my folks’ journey from a home (of 50+ years) to an apartment is how they have approached what they needed to do, toss out much of the past (literally), and step into the unknown – without fear, without regrets, with some anxiety for sure, but also with enough curiosity to make it exciting.

It’s a great lesson: jump in! 

What I realize is that at 54, I’m still learning from my parents, and the lesson of this past week – jumping into something new – is a good one. Specifically, I’m thinking about how, after months of meetings and discussion, we have a new draft General Plan. The General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) will review the draft plan at meetings on Thursday, April 25 and Thursday, May 2 before sending it on the Planning Commission, and ultimately, the City Council for public hearings and adoption. The GPAC meetings will be in the City Council Chambers (and webcast) and will begin at 6:30 p.m. The City's annual Community Meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 6 p.m. at the Community Center will officially introduce the new MV2040 General Plan to Mill Valley. This is really a great moment. Jump in, don't be afraid, be curious, and stay positively excited. We’d be so privileged and honored to have your support for what we are trying to accomplish here.

Another matzoh ball in the bowl (that’s a good thing by the way):

You know that I am intensely focused on a second issue – the public pension topic – and wanted to let you know that we also have an important item on this subject during the City Council's meeting on Monday night (April 15). We'll be presenting a Council sub-committee's recommendations on pension policy and reform. The staff report outlining our efforts and suggestions is available through the City website (see Item 11 on this Council Agenda - Monday April 13). 

About town: 

The two items above are super important – along with safety they are Council’s most important initiatives this year. But if you trust what we’re doing, and simply want leave them to us, then here’s some other great stuff to do this week too:

• City Councilmember's Table on the Plaza: 4/20 from 10 a.m. – noon. 
• “Earth Day with Insects” Discovery Lab: 4/19 @ 3:30 PM @ (where else) Anji’s home (the Library). Celebrate Earth Day with amazing rainforest insects, millipedes, walking sticks, and more! Meet and touch live insects and find out why they are so important to our environment. Call 415-389-4292 x4741 for further information
• Mill Valley Beautification Day: 4/20 from 9 a.m. – noon. Have you made plans for Earth Day yet? Join community groups, businesses and residents in beautification projects all over Mill Valley! Volunteers are needed. Help make Mill Valley “clean and green” by participating in litter brigades and beautification projects at area parks, schools, and designated locations around town. Clean up Projects will be going on from 9 AM to noon. Contact: Lisa Johnson at 383-1370 or ljohnson@cityofmillvalley.org.

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We live in a very special place. There’s nothing like being away (and still in the U.S.) for more of that perspective.

Take care.

Andy