Your Man Around Town - April 05, 2017
The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
– The Beatles
Miss me? For those of you keeping track, it has been some time since my last Council Corner. Life has been busy, and I thought you could use a break from my musings for a bit. Break’s over. I have been traveling for both work and pleasure (remember my work is travel, so I do both!), and now I’m back in the swing of things and there are some thoughts I want to share with all of you.
Let’s Talk Budget. It’s important to understand that our City is in fine financial shape for now, and into the future, and this is because we are like the Boys Scouts – always prepared. We are fortunate to have senior staff under the direction of City Manager Kevin Miller who believes 100% in planning for the unexpected and being prepared to “pay as we go.” Our role as a City Council is to set policy and priorities that are in the best interest of our residents and businesses. I am pleased to share with you that our 2017/2018 budget, which begins July 1st, will be balanced and all service levels will remain as they are. Stay tuned for more discussions on CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) this fall as we continue to prioritize how best to allocate funds.
Levee Project. If you have been following our City Council meetings, you might know that each of the council members participates in various subcommittees, doing quite a bit of behind-the-scenes work. Last week, the Mayor, Charlie Bronitsky, and I met with staff and various members of San Mateo County to discuss our levee project. This subcommittee is working to provide details regarding funding and design. The work we do now will protect our City in the future.
Communication is Key. Another sub-committee I work on is Communications. Council Member Herb Perez and I work closely with Doris Palmer, our City Clerk, and Communications Director to review all facets of communication that comes from City Hall to you. Whether you get your information from our website, email, social media or our marquee (to name a few!), Doris and her team have been doing a fantastic job getting the word out about the goings-on in our slice of paradise. There are plans to unveil a brand new, more user-friendly website later this year. There is also a new logo being developed that would bring a fresh look and feel to the image of Foster City.
Coffee in the Park. Speaking of communications, on April 19th, 2017 at 8:30 AM-10:00 AM, I will be hosting "Coffee in the Park" with City Manager Kevin Miller and Parks & Recreation Director Jennifer Liu. Please join us for some coffee and conversation at Catamaran Park. We look forward to this opportunity to meet with our community members and discuss what matters most to you. Reserve a spot by registering at www.coffeewithgary.eventbrite.com or contacting the City Manager's Office at (650) 286-3220.
Working Together. Back in 2013, I joined the San Mateo, Foster City, Burlingame & Hillsborough Leadership Program. This 10-month, in-depth program covered a multitude of services offered by San Mateo County and the four cities mentioned above. The networking of individuals from various backgrounds allowed us to expand resources and put me in touch with people in other lines of work that help better serve the folks in Foster City. If you are interested in this program and have the desire to learn more and become a more connected member of our City, then this is the time for you to reach-out. In fact, Vice Mayor Hindi and Council Member Perez are past graduates. New registration will be taking place in May, so contact me if you want more details.
I Want to Ride My Bicycle. This is a perfect segue to my last item. The above-mentioned Leadership Program develops projects to work on in small groups. They choose the topic and do the research. My group took on the task of Bike Safety and Bike Lanes and the value they can bring to everyone. So, when I was elected to serve on the City Council in 2013, I brought forward the concept of developing a better bike master plan that would entail bike lanes, bike routes, and even sharrows. I am delighted to let you know that this summer Foster City, during the scheduled re-paving project located between Edgewater Boulevard and Foster City Boulevard, will add a bike lane on each side, plus sharrows that will clearly outline how we all share the road. If you have been waiting to get out and enjoy the nice weather, we just made it easier for you to ride your bike and get some Vitamin D!
If you wish to comment or share your thoughts, please contact me at gpollard@fostercity.org or (650) 286-3505.
Gary
Let’s Talk Budget. It’s important to understand that our City is in fine financial shape for now, and into the future, and this is because we are like the Boys Scouts – always prepared. We are fortunate to have senior staff under the direction of City Manager Kevin Miller who believes 100% in planning for the unexpected and being prepared to “pay as we go.” Our role as a City Council is to set policy and priorities that are in the best interest of our residents and businesses. I am pleased to share with you that our 2017/2018 budget, which begins July 1st, will be balanced and all service levels will remain as they are. Stay tuned for more discussions on CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) this fall as we continue to prioritize how best to allocate funds.
Levee Project. If you have been following our City Council meetings, you might know that each of the council members participates in various subcommittees, doing quite a bit of behind-the-scenes work. Last week, the Mayor, Charlie Bronitsky, and I met with staff and various members of San Mateo County to discuss our levee project. This subcommittee is working to provide details regarding funding and design. The work we do now will protect our City in the future.
Communication is Key. Another sub-committee I work on is Communications. Council Member Herb Perez and I work closely with Doris Palmer, our City Clerk, and Communications Director to review all facets of communication that comes from City Hall to you. Whether you get your information from our website, email, social media or our marquee (to name a few!), Doris and her team have been doing a fantastic job getting the word out about the goings-on in our slice of paradise. There are plans to unveil a brand new, more user-friendly website later this year. There is also a new logo being developed that would bring a fresh look and feel to the image of Foster City.
Coffee in the Park. Speaking of communications, on April 19th, 2017 at 8:30 AM-10:00 AM, I will be hosting "Coffee in the Park" with City Manager Kevin Miller and Parks & Recreation Director Jennifer Liu. Please join us for some coffee and conversation at Catamaran Park. We look forward to this opportunity to meet with our community members and discuss what matters most to you. Reserve a spot by registering at www.coffeewithgary.eventbrite.com or contacting the City Manager's Office at (650) 286-3220.
Working Together. Back in 2013, I joined the San Mateo, Foster City, Burlingame & Hillsborough Leadership Program. This 10-month, in-depth program covered a multitude of services offered by San Mateo County and the four cities mentioned above. The networking of individuals from various backgrounds allowed us to expand resources and put me in touch with people in other lines of work that help better serve the folks in Foster City. If you are interested in this program and have the desire to learn more and become a more connected member of our City, then this is the time for you to reach-out. In fact, Vice Mayor Hindi and Council Member Perez are past graduates. New registration will be taking place in May, so contact me if you want more details.
I Want to Ride My Bicycle. This is a perfect segue to my last item. The above-mentioned Leadership Program develops projects to work on in small groups. They choose the topic and do the research. My group took on the task of Bike Safety and Bike Lanes and the value they can bring to everyone. So, when I was elected to serve on the City Council in 2013, I brought forward the concept of developing a better bike master plan that would entail bike lanes, bike routes, and even sharrows. I am delighted to let you know that this summer Foster City, during the scheduled re-paving project located between Edgewater Boulevard and Foster City Boulevard, will add a bike lane on each side, plus sharrows that will clearly outline how we all share the road. If you have been waiting to get out and enjoy the nice weather, we just made it easier for you to ride your bike and get some Vitamin D!
If you wish to comment or share your thoughts, please contact me at gpollard@fostercity.org or (650) 286-3505.
Gary
