Vision statement for the Mayor Race in 2007                             

• Increase communication city-wide
• Use energy-conserving design in all future development
• Fund essential city services  

1. Increase Mount Vernon City Government’s Communication with the Public

          Create a network of Neighborhood Councils that provides a structure for the City to inform all residents, for residents to meet and work together, express their concerns,
and give feedback to the City. This structure can build communication among people of all ages and facilitate family communication with schools and city agencies. Through neighborhood meetings, residents can find out about opportunities to contribute to revitalization of downtown Mount Vernon through the Main Street program.
Communication is the first step in neighborhood safety. I will work on effective crime prevention, gang intervention, and disaster preparedness at the local level.  I will work with city residents and emerging leaders--- including youth and young adults--- to identify areas of the city that are neighborhoods, and initiate neighborhood meetings.

City meetings for planning and public input should be publicized widely throughout the city, to all residents:

• Through designated kiosks in the neighborhoods  
• With email newsletters (mailed to those who request a paper copy)
• By announcements published in newspapers, on cable channel 10, on local radio.
• Meetings and agendas should be publicized at least seven days in advance (or as soon as possible, in the event of an emergency).
• Post announcements of City meetings on the City website in Spanish and English

2.  Support Recreational Opportunities
Fund sufficient maintenance for Bakerview, Edgewater, and all city playfields to be safe sources of family fun and learning through sports. Support development of walking and biking trails to make it possible to walk or bike safely and comfortably through the city.
         Provide sports, arts, and challenge opportunities for youth of all ages--- designate
         safe venues for youth and young adults to socialize, with community support.
Healthy and creative activities for people of all ages, including Seniors, are essential. Support
inter-generational programs that create opportunities for exercise, mentoring and sharing.

3.  Support the Public Library as a hub for public information
Fund maintenance of the library’s building and its signage to a high standard.  Promote use of the library by children and adult learners as a source of current, high quality reading materials, media, and computer technology.  Advocate for an equitably financed county-wide library system, accessible to all.

specific sources and costs to the public of proposed sales or property taxes. This can be done at neighborhood meetings, where city staff and Councilmembers explain the city budget and fiscal needs of the city to their constituents, and seek public feedback.
Discussions can include fire department staffing, provision of ambulance services, flood and disaster preparedness in Mount Vernon.

4.  Environmentally Sound Development
           Fund adequate staffing of Permitting and Inspection for new building projects to assure full compliance with current codes. Review current design guidelines and building codes; promote energy-efficient design and materials in new construction and renovation. Encourage well-designed, energy efficient density in current urban areas. Where there are existing empty homes and buildings, provide guidance or incentives for property owners to repair or upgrade these properties for use as housing. With awareness of the many Senior Citizens who will be living here in future years, create incentives for accessible and universal design.
Support Skagit Transit in planning and providing access to transportation for people of all ages and abilities throughout the city.  Include foot and bicycle trails and sidewalks as requirements in new development. Add sidewalks and bike lanes in existing neighborhoods where needed, so children can walk and bike to school safely.
       Designate City staff to help residents, especially people living on a fixed income, to audit their energy use. Working with public utilities and partnering with non profits, the city can help citizens to insulate their homes, install energy efficient appliances, and upgrade out-of- date home heating to lower their energy consumption.
        Require energy-conscious design in future development along the downtown riverfront. Explore opportunities for buildings on the river to include venues that can be rented for family events such as weddings, parties, and professional meetings. (Perhaps the City could retain interest in a partnership that provides space for City and public events.) Create design guidelines for development--- along the Skagit River, for other locations downtown, and for greater Mount Vernon--- that tie the city together through quality and detail that maintains the integrity of the city’s historic architectural and cultural flavor, while using highly energy-efficient materials.

5. Support Transportation Choices and Public Safety
           Let’s reduce Mount Vernon’s carbon footprint and model energy-efficiency for our children! Encourage individuals and families to walk, bicycle, carpool, and use alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle (“SOV”) trips whenever possible. Support community participation projects such as gardens and events in the parks that provide nutrition and recreation close to home.
          Support allocation of space and striping for safe bike lanes on major thoroughfares to provide a flow for bicyclists to ride through the city. Design bicycle capacity into all new road construction and parking lots; add bike racks!

City Council must provide leadership in supporting responsible generation of revenue and prudent use of city funds. Council should inform their constituents regarding        

6. Revitalize Downtown Mount Vernon,
            City Council should actively support collaboration among all stakeholders to reap benefit from Mount Vernon’s designation as a Main Street city.
Council members can become educated about the four elements of the Main Street approach (promotion, design, organization, and economic development), and share this information with their constituents, inviting them to participate. The Council may formulate and adopt a Historic Preservation ordinance and make Mount Vernon a Certified Local Government--two steps that open the door to grant funding opportunities. (See www.mainstreet.org for more information.)

          An inventory of homes, churches, and historic buildings, both downtown and in greater Mount Vernon, would showcase the rich legacy of architecture in the city. I believe City residents will gladly volunteer to help with this inventory. They would also make great tour guides!  (Student participation would be great service learning.)
          For downtown redevelopment, the City should fund visual renditions of the proposed riverfront development scenarios so the public can see what current proposals might look like if built.  Further meetings for citizen input should be fully publicized by the City, throughout Mount Vernon, with notices at neighborhood gathering points.   Invite citizen participation in revitalizing downtown as widely as possible.
City residents have avid interest in the proposed parking garage, and the location of a new jail (a County project) in downtown Mount Vernon.  Let these additions to the cityscape, wherever they are built, enhance Mount Vernon’s architectural heritage while incorporating high energy-efficient standards in design and materials.

7. Use the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, BC as a Springboard for Commerce
         Work with the Chamber of Commerce and businesses city-wide to promote what Mount Vernon has to offer in business and accommodations. Use the Winter Olympics in February, 2010 in Vancouver BC (and the Para-Olympics in March 2010) as springboards for downtown prosperity.  Reach out—promote Mount Vernon to people attending the Olympics and crews working on the events.

8.   Affirm a Culture of Accountability and Accessibility in City Government