Best managing the challenges and opportunities presented by the potentially transformative developments and decisions facing Millbrae are not merely a professional obligation for the new city manager.
As a Millbrae resident for more than two decades, new City Manager Tom Williams recognized the changes brought to the city will have lasting repercussions on his quality of life in the community where he raised his family.
Following an extended stint in an interim position following the departure of his predecessor Marcia Raines, Williams was permanently hired last month and is heading into the new year with great ambition and optimism.
But with momentum building toward development of the sweeping mixed-use projects near the BART and Caltrain station along with plans to update the general plan and the need to rebuild a lost community center, Williams acknowledged the magnitude of the moment.
“We are given the chance to guide comprehensive change,” said Williams, of the task before his office and the Millbrae City Council going into the new year. “That’s exciting.”
To accomplish the lofty goals, Williams will lean heavily on the nearly three decades of professional experience he built in public service, much of which was spent focusing on community development.
A Southern California native, Williams cut his teeth in San Diego where he honed a passion for design and planning primarily expressed in the work to redevelop the city’s formerly sleepy core commercial district to the thriving destination it is today.
He then left for a period in the private land development sector, before rejoining public service by taking a community development position in Los Gatos, prior to taking a promotion in San Bruno.
He departed after two years and joined Milpitas in 2005, rising through the administrative ranks and ultimately being named city manager — a post which he kept for about 10 years.
Williams’ time in Milpitas ended unceremoniously last September, as he resigned amid controversy swirling over allegations of his spending public funds without authorization, stemming from a dispute with the city’s mayor.
Reflecting on his departure, Williams acknowledged his misstep — specifically his decision to use a city credit account to finance a private investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.
“I maybe shouldn’t have done that,” said Williams, who defended his motivations in attempting to push forward an investigation amidst a politically-charged climate.
In his next chapter, Williams is unable to leave behind unrest in City Hall, as dysfunction prevailed over a decision earlier this month to rotate the Millbrae City Council. For the second consecutive year, Councilwoman Ann Schneider was again skipped over in her campaign to serve as vice mayor, as her colleagues determined Reuben Holober was better suited to be next in line to be mayor.
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The decision roiled Schneider, who expressed an interest in raising a ballot initiative designed to mandate orderly rotations, according to the most recent election’s outcome.
With the variety of pivotal decisions rapidly approaching, Williams expressed confidence councilmembers could look past their differences and unify around their shared interest in serving the community.
“They are good people, they have their heart in the right place and they want to do the right thing,” said Williams, who said such characteristics would allow elected officials to maintain their focus on the issues they face.
Of those key decisions to be made in 2019, Williams suggested pushing forward mixed-use developments proposed at the train station, updating the general plan and rebuilding the community center would be top priorities.
The station developments are the city’s best chance to build its economic foundation, address the regional housing crisis and establish Millbrae’s presence as a modern destination on the Peninsula, said Williams.
Updating the general plan can smooth blending those developments and others in the area into the rest of the community, said Williams, while better preparing Millbrae for the future.
And rebuilding the community center will fill the void left by the previous facility’s loss in an arson fire. While an initial step to finance the rebuild failed, as voters shot down a bond proposed to finance reconstruction, Williams said officials will continue pushing forward.
“The community center was heavily used. It was a community asset and a service that needs to be offered and rebuilt,” he said, while suggesting officials may adjust their vision for financing the effort. Rather than again pursue a bond, Williams said a ballot measure seeking support for a sales or hotel tax increase could be sought in the future.
Looking ahead to the variety of potentially transformative decisions for his hometown, Williams said he will defer to the passion for public service which has fueled him throughout his career.
“I love what I do. I love local government. And I really enjoy helping communities,” he said.
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(1) comment
He left Milpitas under suspicion of using public funds inappropriately.
This should end well for fiscally challenged Millbrae.
Wow!
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