This evening the new members of the Foster City City Council will be sworn in, and the new City Council will be in office. New members include incumbents Ron Cox and Rick Wykoff, and new member, Linda Koelling. All three will begin four-year terms of office. Deborah Wilder and Marland Townsend begin the final two years of their term as Council members. Mayor Russ Harter will preside over the City Council meeting until the new members are sworn in. He will then retire from office after completing an important and successful year as our Mayor.
It has been my privilege to serve as Russ?s Vice Mayor for the past year. From that position it was easy to recognize the very fine qualities of integrity and sincerity Russ brought to the office of Mayor. Russ truly respects the office of Mayor, much the same way that Harry Truman respected the office of President. For both of these men, their office was a public trust, not a personal position of power. Russ treated his colleagues with respect. In his eight years as a Council member, Russ worked to complete our Civic Center Campus. It is appropriate that Russ presided over the opening of both the new City Administration Building and the new City Council Chamber.
After Russ leaves office, the new City Council will elect a Mayor and Vice Mayor. The first business meeting of the new City Council will be Monday, December 1st.
Your new City Council will continue the level of civility and decorum that made this City Council responsible custodians of Foster City?s finances and facilities. There will be problems to solve as the State of California works through the State?s current financial crisis. Our newest Council member, Linda Koelling will add her experience as a business owner and civic leader to the decision-making ability of the City Council. Her extensive knowledge of the educational and recreational needs of Foster City will be valuable as the Council selects exactly what will occupy the vacant 15-acre site on Shell Boulevard.
As the new City Council begins their work, I hope residents will attend a Council meeting in Foster City?s new Council Chambers. The Council Chamber is designed to be right-sized for our town, and we encourage you to come and see your City Council in action.
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