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When I took office in 2000, I ran on a platform of revitalizing our downtown with more arts, entertainment and retail; preserving our neighborhoods; slowing what was then a super-heated peripheral growth rate, and bringing high-tech industry to Davis. I promised that I would be able to say “no” to unnecessary expenditures. I can look back with some pride that I have accomplished much of what I have promised.
The decision to run for a third term was not made lightly. I have thought about the role that I play, and whether I have developed skills, experience and policy priorities that could be of benefit to the city for another four years.
We could well be facing difficult economic times over the next four years, and I have a strong understanding of economics and the dynamics affecting our revenues and expenditures. Being the senior member on the council, I have detailed knowledge of past decisions and their consequences. When I face the largest decisions, such as budget issues, environmental issues or water issues, I have developed a solid network that allows me to locate leading experts from the University, State government and the private sector. When it comes to the biggest issues, I usually consult with a number of outside experts before drawing conclusions.
Over the past few months, I have been thinking about the progress that has been made, and the projects that I would like to see accomplished in the future.
I ran for office first and foremost because I love city planning. I believe that environmentally sustainable communities have to be fun to live in, or they won’t work. That is our challenge. We have to learn to build sustainable communities that enhance our quality of life. Otherwise, people will continue to choose traditional sprawling suburbs. I hope to harness all my creative powers, and all of yours, to enhance our livable community while reducing our carbon footprint.
I believe that Davis is an even better town today than it was eight years ago when I first took office. It has been an exciting eight years for Davis. The community and the city council have worked together, and we have accomplished a lot.
We’ve seen the completion of the Mace Ranch Community, Arroyo and Barovetto parks, Walnut Park, the Arroyo pool and the slide hill pool reconstruction, the dog park, the Brady joint pool building and the joint use gym. We have the expanded the explorit science center, the Senior Center, and Pence Gallery. We have reaffirmed our focus on bicycling.
We have seen many great new buildings downtown, and new business and vitality. When I was first elected to the council, downtown was empty in the evenings during holidays and during the summer. Today, downtown streets are humming with activity every night.
I have played a key role in bringing an independent film theater to the Varsity, bringing the Bistro 33 to the former police station downtown, and in designing the Mace Ranch park, with its combination of natural areas and playing fields. I initiated the high-tech rezone of the Hunt-Wesson canning factory site.
Although progress has been slower than I would like when it comes to developing our high tech sector, we now have a major high tech company coming to fill one of our last remaining large industrially zoned parcels.
To touch on just a few of the things that I would like to help accomplish during the next four years: I would like to see us: Begin work on a parking structure/mixed use project on 4th and F Street; bring a bicycle museum downtown; plan for more outdoor dining downtown; create a stellar smart growth transit-oriented housing development on the underused 25 acre PG&E industrial site near downtown and the Amtak station, with, perhaps, a non-profit senior continuing care component. I would like us to take a firm stand to maintain our high-tech industrially zoned land at the Hunt-Wesson, and work vigorously to recruit high-tech companies.
I look forward to a short but enthusiastic campaign. I am running a grassroots campaign, and will need your help and contributions to win. Contributions can be sent to my Treasurer, Dennis Dingamens, 645 C Street, Davis, Ca. Our city campaign contribution limit is $100 per adult.
Time is short, so please e-mail me, phone me, or contact me on line. You can endorse or volunteer to host a lawn sign or drop literature on line as well.
It has been a pleasure being your Mayor, and working for you.
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