LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Anderson spells out 2020 goals for the city


Lafayette Mayor Mike Anderson Photo courtesy Jeff Heyman, city of Lafayette

Though recent operational reports show the city of Lafayette in good overall shape, Mayor Mike Anderson pushed the city for more as he presented his major goals for 2020 at a December city council meeting.

The mayor kicked off his priority list by referring to the eight goals and objectives former Mayor Cam Burks spelled out for the city in 2019. Those targets included the augmentation of citywide emergency preparedness, relief of downtown traffic congestion and the development of a comprehensive transparency strategy for the city. Anderson charged the city staff to develop a proposal and a budget for delivering the eight high-priority items.

Recently passed legislation could impact the city planning and development review process, Anderson said, and his goal was for the city to increase the awareness of those impacts. For example, Senate Bill 330 changes the timeline for consideration of a project from 120 days to 90 days, with no more than five total hearings permitted. "That is going to be very difficult to do," Anderson said.

The Capital Projects Assessment Committee comprises five members, and the mayor would like to add two more in 2020, with the goal to evaluate the operation of public utilities and to advise on future options. Anderson cited the development of microgrids for delivery of electrical service as a way to lessen the impacts of a citywide power shutoff. "Maybe in parts of the city we can have separate power sources that can keep the city lit in those particular areas," he said.

An unusual uptick in residential crime likely prompted the goal to review video surveillance systems in order to enhance city security. The mayor praised the work of the Lafayette Police Department, which had solved two frightening home invasion crimes in the fall, but Anderson pushed to stay ahead of the curve. "We need to keep on our toes and see if there are things out there we can do better," Anderson said.

Impressed by the Park Theater renovation, the mayor led the charge for the city to codify a density transfer ordinance, a way for developers to trade increased density for certain public amenities, like affordable housing or height restrictions.

Anderson also urged the city staff to focus on the General Plan update. "Hopefully it won't take 10 years," Anderson said. "Maybe we can get it done in five."