With the election now over, I want to welcome our two new council members, Pam Frisella and John Kiramis to our team. I look forward to working with them and current council members Rick Wykoff and Ron Cox.
In the next few months we will begin to focus on updating the City’s General Plan. The General Plan represents the vision of our community in the years to come. There are some key issues that will be facing us. They include redevelopment of neighborhood shopping centers and business parks, preservation of our neighborhoods and development of key properties owned by the city.
In addition to these important issues, our city will still have to be vigilant when it comes to our budget and the impacts of the state’s budgetary deficits as well as continue our efforts in the area of emergency preparedness and pursue alternative water sources.
An item that must also be focused upon is the lack of citizen participation at public meetings and volunteering on citizen advisory boards. This is disturbing to me, as the public doesn’t always seem to be accurately informed.
We need a process of getting our citizens increasingly engaged in policy decisions. I believe better and more dialogue needs to take place. Through constructive dialogue we will be able to discover new possibilities and opportunities while finding common ground when it comes to debatable issues.
I feel that as a city council member, it is my responsibility to get the community involved; to engage our residents in a new level of community conversation as we move forward with decisions that will affect all of us. I am asking members of this community to become more involved so we can create a shared vision for the future of Foster City.
Change to our surroundings is inevitable. New and different projects will confront us, but it’s important that we plan wisely. The City is changing, and surrounding cities are changing. Residents must have an open mind to new ideas. Change is never easy and as John Kennedy once said “The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable”.
Foster City is evolving and I believe that by building community interest and involvement, we will bridge the gap between concept and reality. It will be the council’s responsibility to convince residents that their actions will make a difference and it is the responsibility of the residents to engage in the learning process from the beginning. I am asking the public to help me find the techniques to rise to a new level of community involvement.
I am proud to be a part of this council and have the opportunity to serve this community at such an important time. I look forward to your comments on this and other issues. Please email me at lkoelling@fostercity.org
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