Ken's Take on the Issues Facing Mill Valley

By Ken Wachtel

A Mill Valley resident for over 21 years, Ken Wachtel is the only candidate with a solid track record of making a difference in our community. Here, he outlines his reasons for running, his priorities, and his recommendations for enhancing and maintaining Mill Valley's small town character.

Our City faces a number of challenges and opportunities, including:

• Affordable housing - see Position Paper 2
• Fire and emergency preparedness - see Position Paper 3
• Traffic and parking - see below
• More and better communication between the City Council and the community - see below

ON TRAFFIC & PARKING: We have to deal with the increasing traffic and parking problems that result from Mill Valley's popularity with residents and visitors. This is a difficult issue. Addressing traffic problems requires consensus among the people who live in neighborhoods, the business owners, and the people who drive their kids across town to school. I have a track record of resolving similar, hard issues

I believe that Miller Avenue is underutilized as a traffic corridor. We need to divert traffic off Blithedale, out of the neighborhoods and onto Miller. In addition, I support encouraging people to ride bicycles and carpool, and believe an intra-city transportation plan is feasible.

ON MORE & BETTER COMMUNICATION: In talking with hundreds of Mill Valley residents during the campaign, I have come to understand that we need more open communication between the City Council and our community. When I am elected to the City Council I will hold quarterly town hall meetings, with no agendas. This will be a forum where anyone can come and discuss their dealings with the City, positive or negative. This will provide an important feedback loop to ensure the City Council remains in touch with the community.