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 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
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
I wanted to take this space to share a little about the Mountain View Council’s current plans regarding three different issues: The Town Hall Remodel Council has been talking about how best to remodel Town Hall for several years now. The building has numerous problems, not the least of which is that it simply is
It is the policy of the Town to promote the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the Town and, therefore, the Town Council declares that every public nuisance shall be unlawful and shall be restrained, prevented, abated and enjoined. –Mountain View Town Code 7.01.010 This section
New Sidewalk and Alley Clearance to Begin Section 11-01-040 of the Mountain View Town Code allows for the town to cut back any vegetation that has grown into the public right-of-way (such as the sidewalks, alleys, and streets) if the property owner does not take care of this themselves in a timely manner, after notification.
One of my biggest priorities as mayor has been transparency, especially as it applies to the budget. Council, led by the Finance Committee Chair Sean Davis, has been working on the 2023 budget since their June workshop. In August, Ronny Farmer, the town’s auditor, presented the 2021 Financial Statements, pointing out that the General Fund
Mountain View held many events this past year: from offering Mother’s Day flowers to residents and washing cars on Father’s Day, to our Annual Picnic at the end of the summer, it’s been a very fun and busy year at Town Hall. Memorial Day included a somber flag presentation by the CU Boulder Air Force
Some of the town residents have been experiencing problems with consistent trash and recycling pickup, and in a meeting with me, the town’s service provider, GFL, has acknowledged their efforts have fallen short of their goals. In response to my request for GFL to address the shortfalls, all residents have been given a $5 discount
You may have noticed that we’re having more town events these days. The events are designed to create community and encourage neighbors to get to know each other. But there are other benefits as well. They are really good opportunities to interact with your police officers and your elected officials. They create many low-key, entertaining
As in many other cities and towns, the Town of Mountain View Municipal Code requires that adjacent property owners keep their sidewalks in good repair and safe for public travel. This means keeping the sidewalk clear of overgrown plants, snow and ice, as well as making repairs to the sidewalks when damaged. Historically in Mountain
When I first moved to Mountain View, I found it difficult to stay informed about town plans. I attended a council meeting, but the language and process was intimidating and unfamiliar. I didn’t feel welcomed. I know now that this was simply my own inexperience, and not by design. But the traditional ways Town Hall
Comprehensive planning is a process whereby a municipality works together to imagine an ideal future for the community. It focuses on the overall growth trajectory of the town as well as the vision and values of the people who live there. Mountain View is an oasis in the Denver metro area. And it’s my belief
