I often hear questions about how local government works and why decisions are made the way they are. These questions reflect care for our community, and I’m grateful for that. Today, I’d like to offer some insight into how municipal governance functions and why it operates as a representative democracy, not a direct democracy. Local
We live in something of an oasis, since we are a small town with our own police force and low crime statistics, surrounded by a larger metropolitan area with higher crime statistics. The residents of our town know and appreciate this. But safety goes beyond law enforcement. And over the last three years, the Mountain
As the winter holidays approach, and I watch people decorate their homes and plan their celebrations together, I have been thinking a lot about the meaning of community. Community includes neighbors you might know and love already, but also people who just moved in and people down the block whose loud parties or parking habits
As a middle child and a professional mediator, I have always been interested in the work of building agreements between differing viewpoints. I have had the privilege of witnessing disagreements turn into solutions where both parties feel heard, understood, and respected. The heroes in these scenarios are always the people who assume best intentions, make
I have been so saddened over the last several weeks, as our sweet town has been thrust into the spotlight because of a news story which did not even happen in town. Staff, council, and myself have received emails and calls from all over the world. Most have been calls for me to take action
As you may recall, last month the Mountain View Town Council officially adopted an updated comprehensive plan that will guide our development and growth for the coming years. This plan is a result of extensive community outreach over the course of a full year, and it articulates a shared vision for the future of Mountain
Mountain View held our first town-wide yard sale this past month and it was a rip-roaring success. Over twenty households participated in our twelve-block town, and many community members told me they earned more money than anticipated. In addition to the usual furniture, books, and kitchen items, Venezuelan snacks were sold on Chase Street, cookies
The other night, a big dog was roaming the neighborhood unattended. He shuffled down the sidewalk, and then slowly wandered into the street without looking both ways. Concerned for his safety, I called Jeffcom’s non-emergency line. The operator informed me that Animal Control wouldn’t be available until the morning, due to after-hours. Could I hold
I was recently asked what I would change if I could wave a magic wand. I didn’t have to think very long to know my own heart. I said I would erase the partisan divides that sometimes cloud our town conversations. I have been working to achieve this goal without magic since I took my
Recently, I read a story about “the hottest” Denver neighborhoods, and it got me thinking. What does it mean to be “hot” as a neighborhood? Probably different people would have varying opinions, but I am not too shy to share mine. For this mom of four, Mayor of 550, Mountain View fits the bill. We
Spring is in the air bringing good moods, cheery waves and neighborly gatherings. Walking down Ames Street this week, a woman I wasn’t sure I recognized was walking in the opposite direction on the other side of the street, talking sweetly to a child in her arms. She waved at me across the street and
Mountain View is different! And not just due to our size. We are uniquely independent, creative, and determined – always forging our own path. This spirit has defined us from the beginning. Mountain View adopted a strong mayor-council government when it organized as a home rule municipality in 1972. (Although founded in 1904, our town’s
This year, the Town of Mountain View will be announcing Community Spirit awards at the Spring Fling on Saturday, March 30th, for community members who most consistently shoveled their sidewalks promptly this winter. Not everyone knows the rules. That is part of the problem, and so this year, we are working to help everyone understand
This past year, I was faced with an appalling fact. Statistically, only about 20% of what the community was putting out to recycle was being recycled. Instead, residents were seeing their recycling bins that had contamination — items that are not, in fact, recyclable — picked up by the trash trucks and taken to the
Happy New Year to you. May the new beginning bring you a fresh perspective and renewed energy. This past year, the Town of Mountain View has engaged in many important discussions, and in the coming year, we will again be handling some issues that are critical to the future of our town. I would like
One of the best parts of living in Mountain View is the flexibility we have as a community to pivot, be creative, and design our own present and future. Recently, we’ve had ample opportunities to see this in action. The Comprehensive Planning process has provided several key insights about who we are, and although the
At the beginning of this year, the town council began the process of engaging our community in order to update the Comprehensive Plan. A plan with robust input from the community articulates a shared vision for the future and guides the town in decision making. The shared vision must be rooted in shared values. And
I ran for mayor because I enjoy Mountain View so much, but it’s never been easy to quantify exactly why. The Town Clerk told me a story today however, that helped bring it into perfect focus. A delivery person brought something to the office the other day and said, “There’s something really special about this
Although I always appreciated the idea in theory, I didn’t fully understand the importance of supporting small businesses until I took office as mayor and could see how critical they are to Mountain View. Our small businesses are the backbone of our town and we would not be able to function well as a municipality
Watching our national politics these days, I can’t help wishing that the rest of the country could run more like Mountain View. There is so much “us versus them” in national politics right now, that it sometimes feels like the country has gone mad. But Mountain View is a place where the local leaders have
The Town of Mountain View is very lucky to have the services of our Public Works Coordinator, David Nugent. Readers will notice that every part of our Neighborhood Gazette content this month is related to the important work he does. And I want to take the opportunity to thank him publicly. David came to us
The Town of Mountain View will be making some big changes to the waste hauler services this month. Bins will be standardized, multiple sizes of bins will be offered, and composting will be added as an additional option for residents. After using GFL for many years, Mountain View Town Council recently decided to put the
As Mountain View mayor, community engagement is one of my highest priorities. I believe that the needs of the community should form the backbone of the work at Town Hall. A year ago, when I first took office, I shared my plan to hold what I called, “Community Office Hours.” Each month, on the third
I’m very happy to share that the town of Mountain View has launched a new comprehensive planning project this month. A comprehensive plan is a long-term guide that captures the shared vision of what a community wants to be in the future. It is a comprehensive roadmap with a set of goals and policies
