HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 14199 (Appreciation Viktoriya Wise)Resolution 14199
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
PRESENTSTHIS
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TO
VIKTORIYA WISE
SAN RAFAEL PLANNING COMMISSIONER
WHEREAS, following her valued service on the Design Review Board from July 2008 to May 2009, Viktoriya
Wise was appointed to the San Rafael Planning Commission in May 2009 and has served on the Planning Commission for
seven years and two months. Viktoriya's participation on the Planning Commission will forever be known for her keen
ability to listen, understand and weigh diverse public comment in assessing and supporting her decisions on planning
projects and her well -reasoned decision-making; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Viktoriya served as Chair of the Planning Commission, and as chair, she was well known
for her efficient management of Commission meetings and gracious approach to facilitating public participation during
public hearings; and
WHEREAS, during her tenure on the Planning Commission, Viktoriya contributed to the long-range planning of
the City through her participation in the review and action of the 2011 and 2015 updates to the San Rafael General Plan
2020 Housing Element, comprehensive amendments to the City's Zoning Ordinance, and development of the Downtown
Station Area Plan, Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan, Climate Change Action Plan and General Plan 2020 Sustainability
Element; and
WHEREAS, during her tenure, the Planning Commission reviewed numerous important community development
projects which will positively impact the City for many decades including: the Airport Recreational Facility, BERST/Green
Building Ordinance, Guidedogs for the Blind campus renovations, Kaiser Tena Linda Emergency Department and Parking
Structure addition, new Target Store at Shoreline Center, Northgate Mall renovations; 21 G St townhomes, new science
center at Marin Academy and 815 B St residential development, as well as countless smaller projects; and
WHEREAS, Viktoriya used her background as a professional City planner, including her expertise in CEQA, to
provide valuable insight and technical knowledge to ensure proper review of development applications. This expertise also
helped Viktoriya decipher and understand the myriad of planning acronyms, such as CEQA, BERST, PDA's, TOD's,
ABAG, RHNA and SMART; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby
extend their sincere appreciation for the ountless contributions Viktoriya Wise has made to the betterment of the
community and its reside s.
MAYOR
.;a C L MEMBER
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^CITY MANAGER
Dear Mayor Philips, Councilmembers and Fellow Commissioners,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you this letter of resignation from the San Rafael Planning
Commission. Due to family circumstances, I have to move to the town of San Anselmo and as a
result am no long able to serve as a Planning Commissioner. It has been my privilege to serve
our community for the last 7 years first as a Design Review Board Member and then as a
Planning Commissioner. Together we worked through many important and sometimes tough
land use decisions (e.g., Northgate One renovations, new residential buildings downtown,
Target, Soccer Fields at the Airport, Ritter Center, etc.). I have always found the discourse with
the public and between my fellow Commissioners to be thought-provoking and decision -shaping.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned so much about the City of San Rafael from
members of the public who not only share with us the details of their neighborhoods but also the
history of our town and to have witnessed the growth and formation of community groups like
Sustainable San Rafael and San Rafael Heritage.
I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to grow as a Planning Commissioner and to learn
from past and present Commissioners. I would be remiss not to acknowledge Jeff Kirchmann
who set the bar high for detailed review of the resolutions and brought a calm and measured
demeanor to our body. Similarly, I am quite grateful to the now Vice Mayor Kate Colin who
taught me to be more compassionate and to always talk with the community. Vice Mayor Colin,
in the true fashion of mentorship and friendship, has continued to share with me her concerns
and vision for our City and as such, deepened my love of it over time. Councilwoman Maribeth
Bushey taught me how to be concise and convey the rationale of my decisions so that our
community understands the why behind the what. Former Commissioner Charlie Pick shared
with us the ability to attentively listen to all points of view and then acknowledge all of them
during deliberations and lay out his thinking about a decision in the most eloquent way. I sat
next to him for a few years and it was always impossible to follow his impassioned well -
articulated speeches. Having served on the Commission with Larry Paul the longest, I am
thankful for his consistent perspective and deep knowledge of architecture. Last but not least, I
have had the pleasure of serving under the chairmanship of Commissioner Jack Robertson who
showed steady leadership and encouraged thoughtful deliberations. Thank you to all the other
past and present members of the Commission for choosing to spend their time serving our
community.
Serving on the Planning Commission was made easier by the hard work of staff. I have been
continuously impressed by their professionalism and knowledge and am very grateful for their
quick responsiveness to all my questions. San Rafael is very fortunate to have Steve, Caron,
Anne and Kraig working for the City. They do so under Raffi's steady leadership and
commitment to service and incredible knowledge of the code - he just recites all the requirements
at the hearing without looking anything up! Most of all, I wanted to acknowledge Paul who is
the hardest working person I know. More than that, he shares his institutional knowledge and
amazing CEQA and Planning chops with staff and the Commissioners to inform and guide better
planning outcomes. I could not have served the City of San Rafael in a meaningful way without
Paul's advice and guidance.
A very special thank you to Barbara Heller for being a strong force on the Council and paving
the way for other women to serve in that role. Finally, a word of gratitude to Mayors Boro and
Phillips who daily inspire me and many others with their continued dedication and vision for our
City and to Jim and Christine for executing that vision. Serving under these two administrations
has been instructional and inspiring. Most of all, I am grateful to the San Rafael community for
trusting in me to represent them.
I love the City of San Rafael with all my heart and hope to move back here in the future and at
that time seek out opportunities to serve out amazing community. Until that time, I bid you
adieux and hope we see each other from time -to -time at the farmer's market, at our local shops,
at the Pacifics games and in our parks.
Sincerely,
Viktoriya Wise
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