Candidate for
Council Member; City of Manhattan Beach

I have a been on the MB City Council since March 2005, currently serving as the mayor.

Especially in light of the current economy, this city needs an experienced councilmember that not only knows the infrastructure, but that has worked with city staff and community leaders in the past, to address the challenges we residents face over the next four years.

While on the Council Finance Sub-committee, we have attained a Triple AAA rating from all three credit rating agencies (one of only two CA cities). We also increased the cash reserves in the city to over $14 million. In part because this council has a policy of 20% of our General Fund must be reserved for "Economic Uncertainty". Our reserves will enable us to carry through FY 2009-2010, but we will begin now to address additional revenue sources as well as look at every operation of the city to reduce costs.

I proposed and the council supported a new Residential Construction Officer Program in 2005. This new program created a full time officer to police every construction site in the city to make sure that builders did not block driveways or gargages, did not start to work early or finish late, cleaned up nails in the roadway and did not leave trash out on the site. In addition, we made it a requirement for the buider to meet the adjacent residents before a building permit was issued.

I understand our residents concerns regarding the Environment, Traffic, Utility Undergrounding and thier frustation with the process. In addition, our residents are concerned with the ever present traffic problem - even more so now with increased traffic on both Rosecrans and Sepuleveda Boulevard.

As for financial oversight, I was appointed to the Police/Fire Facility oversight committee and it came in $1 million under budget. The surplus was used to create a new Field Turf Soccer Field behind Manhattan Village Mall.

My qualifications have already been stated, but I have the endorsement of all four sitting council members along with all five of the MB School Board and the majority of the city commissioners as well.

With me continuing as your councilman, you have someone that is experienced, knowledgable and can work with the other members of council to get things done.

I have shown four years of committment, community involvement accessability and accomplishments.

Nothing beats experience!

I am asking for your vote on March 3, 2009.

RE-Elect Montgomery for City Council. Thank you.