Celebrate YOUR "Quality of Life" - August 03, 2016

So often we hear catch phrases that resonate differently to each of us. Lately I am hearing the phrase, “do not do this or do that, as it will affect my quality of life.”  

Quality of life is not the same to any two people!
 
So often I receive e-mails from residents asking us as a City Council to protect their quality of life. When I get gas or go shopping, ride my bike around town, visit one of our 24 parks to see kids playing sports, I wonder what they mean by protecting their quality of life?

If you Google quality of life, here is what you get:

Quality of life (QOL) is the general well-being of individuals and societies, outlining negative and positive features of life. It observes life satisfaction, including everything from physical health, family, education, employment, wealth, religious beliefs, finance and the environment.

As the City Council liaison to the Parks & Recreation Committee, we often describe qualify of life based on our recreation programs and parks that provide numerous health and environmental benefits, economic vitality, and social engagement opportunities.

I ran for City Council to protect our quality of life. But in fairness to all residents who live, work and play in town, we all enjoy a parks system that is one of the finest in the country and state. We have more parks per capita than any other city around; as well as enjoy home values that continue to grow each year. Foster City has some of the best teachers who make our schools some of the best in the state, and a very, very low community crime rate which are borne out by statistics.

Our City enjoys a balanced budget and a well-funded infrastructure program that covers the next 20 years.

I am also very proud of the fact that we maintain strong reserves in all our budget operating funds, including a general fund reserve of over 85% at the start of FY 16/17.  

Overall, I believe we have done just that – protected your quality of life; or very truthfully, why would you not live here?

So I say to those of you who want me, or my fellow colleagues to protect your quality of life – help by offering solutions that are practical and manageable, not become a “nay-sayer”. As a City Council, we understand that not all change is good. Our goal is to foster an environment in which appropriate change is made, with a clear vision in mind, consideration of all positive and negative impacts; all the while in the utmost professional and sensitive manner. Consider that without change, there can be no progress and I ask you to think about the following –

1)  If we curtail adding housing in Foster City, are we saying that the job market that is growing in San Mateo County that requires housing is not our issue?

2)  How many of you carpool to work? Do you use public/alternative modes of transportation whenever you can? If you do not work, could you make appointments at non-peak hours?  

3)  Our schools may be overcrowded, but the education received is still one of the tops in our county and state. The San Mateo/Foster City School board is working diligently to finalize the plan on helping to build another school in Foster City.

I know firsthand that our residents are vested in our community. Their passion for protecting their quality of life is foremost on their minds when changes are presented to us at City Council to consider. Together let’s embrace each other’s values and not dismiss each individual “quality of life.”

Both as a City and as residents of Foster City, we need to understand our role as vital partners in the county and not continue to isolate ourselves!

I challenge each of us to consider our role and do what we ALL can do to achieve our OWN “quality of life” definition!!

I live in Foster City for one simple reason – It makes me happy!

If you wish to comment or share your thoughts, please contact me at gpollard@fostercity.org or (650)286-3505.