Mike Was elected to Council in 2004
and is currently serving as a Councilmember
He Served as Mayor of Sausalito in 2007
NOW IT’S TIME TO RE-ELECT MIKE TO THE SAUSALITO CITY COUNCIL
ON NOVEMBER 4
Issues
On November 4 Sausalito voters will elect three members to the City
Council. The daunting tasks facing the Council demand creative,
pragmatic and affordable solutions. The future City Council will
embark on a path marked by the challenge to:
- complete the construction of our Police and Fire
facilities within budget
- preserve our waterfront and water environment
- refine the Marinship Specific Plan without abandoning
the unique characteristics it embodies
- manage our resources wisely in the face of
our present economic realties. More than ever the Council will
need to seek affordable solutions without imposing undue burdens
on our residents or businesses
Our cities and villages are living organisms where
change is inevitable. Great cities manage change without damage
or destruction to the fabric that makes them great. I pledge to
support policies for growth which preserve the historical and philosophical
underpinnings of our city, at the same time encouraging renewal
that will keep our city vital.
Public Safety Facilities
The police and fire buildings are under construction.
It is essential that we complete the process to provide new public
safety facilities for these crucial functions. I have worked as
a Councilmember and Mayor to create facilities that give our police
and firefighters the tools they need to be highly effective. We
have raised $15.5 million dollars through our bond measure, Yes
On S, and now we must build these facilities within budget. I pledge
my efforts to successfully complete this process.
Waterfront
I support efforts to keep our waterfront open and
accessible to the Public. I pledge to work with those groups, such
as Friends of Dunphy Park, whose dedication to the waterfront has
already enlarged the public land at their namesake site. I support
the efforts to use a combination of grants, funding by non-profits
such as the Audubon Society, and private funds to acquire sensitive
waterfront lands for preservation and public use.
Marinship
Marinship’s historical boat building tradition
and contribution to the maritime history of Richardson Bay deserves
to be preserved and protected. The Marinship Specific Plan is now
two decades old and pressures to revisit its premise are building.
I appreciate the special nature of the Marinship lands
and the need to maintain the historic uses. I support the continuation
of the Marinship Specific Plan and its water and marine related
uses. We must also work to promote the vitality of uses already
approved.
Fiscal Responsibility
In the current economic environment we must continue
to tighten expenditures and search for new sources of revenue that
do not place undue burdens on residents or our business community.
Revenue generation from land use (property tax, parking income,
land rentals, planning & building fees) is our lifeblood providing
over 60% of our 2004-2005 budgeted income. Sales tax revenue supplies
another 12%.
Drawing on my business and real estate experience, I will work to
maximize the rental income we receive from city properties (such
as MLK), and look for new and innovative ways to build long term
income streams. Sales tax paid by tourists is another significant
contributor to the financial health of our city. I will work to
build mutually beneficial, supportive relationships with our visitors
and our merchants.
I will give my full support to our new City Manager, Adam Politzer
as he trains his staff, boosts their effectiveness, and strives
to provide the exception customer service to which he is committed.
Historic Preservation
I believe we must preserve and enhance the characteristics
that render Sausalito unique, including our historic fabric, our
artist communities, and the diversity of our residents. I encourage
the efforts of the Historic Landmarks Board to catalogue our historic
buildings so they may be identified and their histories and physical
characteristics not lost as improvements are made.
Arts and Artists
Sausalito has garnered a world-wide reputation for
its artist community and the Art Festival. As a graduate of San
Francisco State University with a music degree, I have a special
affinity for the arts. I will support the continuance of the arts
in Sausalito, from the Art Festival to Opera in the Park and Jazz
by the Bay and more.
Waste Water and Sewer Collection
Major upgrades to our wastewater and sewer collection facilities
are needed to ensure safe and reliable service under all conditions,
especially during large storms. The City of Sausalito along with
the Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District and the Tamalpais Community
Services District are under a Compliance Order from the EPA to address
sewerage collection and spills into the bay. These are crucial negotiations
among three separate agencies and the EPA to put a plan in place
to meet regulatory requirements, with cost implications to Sausalito
residents. I will bring my experience and negotiating skills to
the table in these critical discussions.
Finally,
I am a consensus builder. I bring years of negotiating
experience along with my knowledge and skills gained on the City
Council. I advocate programs that encourage cost savings and generate
new revenue sources. My business experience in urban land use, experience
as planning commissioner, Councilmember and Mayor will help me contribute
to necessary strategic planning for our precious resources and our
future.
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