5 Point Plan
My Commitment to You
People love living in Pleasant Hill. For decades, it has been a place to raise a family, to run a business, to get an education, to work and to play. Today, that spirit continues to draw people to come to Pleasant Hill and call it home. With that unprecedented population growth though, Pleasant Hill faces a number of challenges. We cannot be timid in our response. We need to renew that welcoming spirit and improve the quality of life by delivering concrete, common sense results. My commitment to you is to advocate for bold solutions that take advantage of opportunities to move Pleasant Hill forward. To do this, I am proposing a 5 Point Plan.
#1. A Healthier Pleasant Hill
Parks and open spaces are an integral component of a community and significantly enhance our quality of life by serving as vital green spaces that promote physical and mental well-being. They are essential to fostering community spirit, offering safe and accessible areas for families to gather, children to play, and individuals to engage in healthy activities. By providing an environment for exercise and relaxation, parks help reduce healthcare costs and improve public health outcomes. They also contribute to environmental sustainability by supporting biodiversity and improving air quality. Investing in parks is an investment in our future, making neighborhoods more attractive and increasing property values, thereby driving economic growth. Parks are a cornerstone of vibrant, healthy, and prosperous communities, reflecting our commitment to a better quality of life. In essence, "Parks Make Life Better", and I will strongly advocate for more parks and open spaces within our community.
#2. A Safer Pleasant Hill
Parks play a crucial role in making neighborhoods safer by fostering a sense of community and providing well-maintained, accessible spaces for recreation and social interaction. They deter crime through increased foot traffic and the presence of engaged residents, creating a natural environment that encourages beneficial activities. Well-designed parks with proper lighting, amenities, and well-maintained infrastructure ensure that residents feel secure while enjoying parks and green spaces. Moreover, parks offer constructive outlets for youth engagement, increasing the likelihood of positive behaviors by providing structured activities and safe spaces to play and socialize. Investing in parks demonstrates a community's commitment to public safety, enhancing the overall quality of life and making the entire community more vibrant, connected, and secure. As your advocate, I will ensure that public funds entrusted to the PH Recreation and Parks District are wisely used to maintain our high quality parks and services.
#3. A Revitalized Pleasant Hill
As a Board member, I have advocated for our parks and open spaces to be transformative assets that can uplift and revitalize our community by stimulating economic growth, enhancing property values, and attracting visitors. Well-designed parks serve as dynamic hubs for community activities, multi-cultural events, and recreational opportunities, drawing people from diverse backgrounds together and fostering a sense of civic pride. By providing green spaces, parks improve the natural and built environments, making communities more attractive to residents, businesses, and investors. Parks also offer environmental benefits, such as reducing heat islands and improving air quality, which contribute to a healthier, more sustainable, and ultimately, more attractive community. Leveraging our parks is a strategic move that drives economic opportunities, strengthens community ties, and positions communities as vibrant, desirable places to live, work, and visit.
#4. An Interconnected Pleasant Hill
Parks are essential in creating an interconnected city by linking neighborhoods, fostering social cohesion, and enhancing mobility. Strategically placed parks, green spaces and recreational areas act as nodes that bring communities together, encouraging interaction and building a strong sense of community. Parks and open spaces serve as natural connectors between different parts of a community, often integrated with well-designed walking and biking trails that promote active transportation and reduce reliance on cars. This network of parks and greenways makes communities more accessible and navigable, encouraging residents to explore and engage with their surroundings. By providing inclusive spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can gather, parks promote social equity and cultural exchange, making cities more harmonious and united. Investing in parks is a commitment to creating a more integrated, vibrant, and resilient environment that benefits everyone.
#5. An Accountable Pleasant Hill
As Chair of the PH Recreation and Parks District Budget and Finance Committee, I advocated for transparency and fiscal responsibility. But what does that mean and how does that look like? Since being on the PH Recreation and Parks District Board, the District runs an operating surplus, the Board has committed to paying down unfunded pension liabilities at an accelerated rate so that they will be paid within 8 years, the Board committed to openness so we reformatted the budget reports to make them more transparent with easy to read summaries, charts, and tables, and the Board has invested into capital improvements including upgrading restroom facilities and adding park amenities using only internal funds. The Board also took advantage when interest rates were low to refinance loans to save the public money and are looking at ways of optimizing and growing operating funds. (View PHRPD financial reports)