Reflecting back on lessons learned during my first year on the Novato City Council.
It is hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since I was elected to the Novato City Council. It is still such a great privilege and responsibility to serve the community. Reflecting back on the past year, I thought I would share some of the things I have learned in my short time on the council. Rather than attempt to list every lesson learned, I decided to narrow it down to the 5 that resonate the most:
- Listening and hearing are very different things – We call them “Public Hearings”, but the only way to really make an informed decision is to intently listen to both sides to really understand the issues at hand. Hearing someone out is easy, but listening takes action, patience, and an open mind.
Disagreements are public, not personal – On the council, not only are our disagreements public, but they are even televised—that is the nature of the position and having open and public meetings. No disagreement with another council member is ever personal though and at the end of the day, I am fortunate to serve alongside 4 other individuals who share a common commitment and dedication to the city of Novato.
I can’t make everyone happy – In politics, trying to make everyone happy ultimately ends with nobody being happy. Herbert Bayard Swope said, “I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody”. I might not make everyone happy, but I can commit to thoroughly reviewing all sides of every issue and to clearly communicate how and why I reach certain decisions. The outcome might not always be preferable, but the process should be respectable.
Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses – This is a rather common saying, but have you ever really thought about it? A few months ago, I was talking to my neighbor about balancing council, work, and family and he reminded me to make sure to smell the roses. It is easy to become so busy in life or fixated on an issue that we forget to really enjoy life. While there is plenty of work to be done in Novato, we should all start by enjoying what Novato has to offer and why we have chosen to call this place home.
I still have a lot to learn – It is somewhat of a paradox, but sometimes the greatest lesson learned is that one has yet to learn anything. I have committed myself to be lifelong learner and continually seek ways to improve in the years to come.
Although I have grown up in Novato, I continue to discover new things everyday. From engaging with residents and attending community gatherings to studying council packets and learning how to correctly pronounce “Rowland”, I have truly enjoyed my first year on the council. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve and wishing everyone the best in 2013.
Become a blogger today!
Get started now
Yes, you do have a lot to learn. One is not to be the spoke's person of The Chamber. Being on council is more than just smiling and thanking people.
Eric voted against the City Offices. I would like to see his leadership on producing a parking area and advance the Downtown Business appeal. So far nada to my knowledge. Also: I would like to know where he stands on the Housing Element? I believed the City proposal was a step in the right direction. However SUNN and the multitude of organizations chaired & created by Katie C using a spider web of shadow group names pretending to be a lot more representative than they are pushing for way more than our fair share. The response from HCD indeed calls for more in part because of the letter writnig campaign of the forementioned. We are just beginning our fight for fairness. Where is the Councilperson on this issue and when will he come forth advocating that position? That should get us started.
But more importantly is Eric's position on the housing element. I can assure you that the silent majority in Novato is incensed that the State feels it has the right to determine Novato's economic and demographic makeup. Unlike Ross and the other wealthy communities in southern Marin, most of Novato's home owners busted their butts to be able to buy a home in Marin County. And now the State is trying to tell them that they can look forward to taking a permanent $200 to $300K discount to the value of their biggest asset. I would really like to know Eric's position on the housing element and to Bob Brown's appointment.
Aside from any issue differences we may have, I think it is awesome that you are posting here on Patch, and actually engaging with the voters. Most politicians won't do it, because they don't want to open the criticism floodgates. Politicians & public entities should be more engaging like this. It's what our democracy is all about, and this new medium of "Brent's internets" is a great place for community engagement. I hope you'll continue to post on a regular basis, and continue to engage with your constituents like this. Respond to the comments, so everyone knows where you stand. We might not all like what you say, but we will all appreciate your backbone. Put up with the criticism, reminding yourself that it isn't personal, but stay online.
PS where I come from you send an thank you not when someone buys you a book and give it to you as a gift.
Here are some areas that would be helpful to look into: 1. While SUNN focuses on more housing without a tax base, our local public schools are running a $3.3 million dollar deficit and the only suggested options have been increasing class size in K-12, shortening the school year and closing yet another school. In our response to HCD we need to show, by the number of free and reduced lunches, as well as our extremely low ADA, that we are indeed inclusive of low income housing and we cannot carry the entire county's debt in this area. Our schools are our future. 2. There is no way that trading 6 acres for less than one is a good deal for Novato. How about getting the SMART folks to build a parking garage at the Depot site? They get land we get a place for customers of downtown merchants to park? 3. The manner in which the downtown offices were funded clearly demonstrated the intention to build rather than buy. This intentional lack of transparency leaves a huge hole in our local laws. Measure F needs to be revised so that in the future it is inclusive of such a project. The fact that it was ignored on a legal basis doesn't make it ethical. Make certain that the people that live her have a vote in what happens with their tax dollars. 4. Every penny you accept from MTC comes with strings. It isn't worth losing local control to accept funding that will cost us infrastructure down the line. Let's live within our means.
How will you help address this discrepancy?
I voted for you, but won't again until you tell us what you have done about Pension Reform ( your campaign platform) and if you are going to allow developers to steamroll
We need a leader and I am hoping it will soon be you, but you haven't done much but smile and say thank you
All of my contact information is available on my website at http://www.ericlucan.com or on the city council website located here: http://www.ci.novato.ca.us/index.aspx?page=289