Candidate for
Council Member; Town of Moraga

Moraga is an exceptional place to live and work, to raise children, and to retire. I am running for Moraga Town Council to preserve what makes Moraga extraordinary, and to address the challenges that inevitably arise in managing a small town. These are my priorities:

1. Preserve Moraga's open space, ridgelines and semi-rural character:

• Guide development away from Moraga's scenic open spaces and toward existing downtown in-fill locations.

• Defend and uphold the General Plan's directives to "protect ridgelines from development" and "preserve open space to the maximum extent possible".

• Protect major open space areas, including the "painted rocks" scenic corridor and Bollinger Canyon, from massive hillside grading and ridgeline development proposals.

• Insist that Measure K sales tax funds, if approved by the voters, are used only for road and infrastructure repairs as intended.

• Support only balanced Town budgets and reduce costs.

• Foster closer ties and mutual respect between the Town Council and School Board. We need to establish a more collaborative relationship.

• Cooperate with the School District to expand public sports and recreation facilities at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School.

• Continue to strengthen the Town's relationship with St. Mary's college to address its needs while maintaining harmony with the surrounding community.

• Implement the approved Moraga Center Specific Plan to enhance the shopping center and support local spending.

• Promote "Shop Moraga First" and encourage additional businesses that respond to the needs and wants of Moraga residents.

• Promote pedestrian-friendly residential and senior housing adjacent to shopping areas.

• Respond to the thoughtful input of Moraga residents with meaningful actions. Residents should feel that public comment has been taken into account in Council decision-making.

• Improve the Town's notification of public meetings so that residents are better able to participate. Temporary signs, like those used by Lafayette, should be placed downtown to alert Moragans to public hearings on key issues.

• Amend the General Plan to support re-vitalization of the Rheem Park Shopping Center.

• Fortify the General Plan's ridgeline protection provisions to prevent further ridgeline development. We must avoid more developments like the Rancho Laguna II project approved by the Town Council last year which will remove 30 feet from the top of a scenic ridgeline for a road and ridgeline houses.

• Begin the General Plan Update process immediately, as recommended by California State guidelines.