Portfolio > Community
 
My goal is to empower neighborhoods and individuals by striving for quality [re]development; promoting adequate infrastructure; encouraging transparent and inclusive processes; and, breaking through bureaucracy and conventional thinking.
 
Change can come slowly but with dedicated patience and persistance we can effect positive change in your community, your neighborhood, your situation.
 
Key Skills

• Facilitative leadership of complex land use and public policy issues bringing diverse stakeholders together for mutual resolution.
• Outreach through websites, social media, and newspapers.
• Representing groups and viewpoints in front of large audiences and media (newspaper, television).
• Assertive advocate or neutral mediator as the situation may call for.
• Organize and manage large groups of volunteers.
• Organize and run public meetings on contentious issues.
• Private fundraising through campaigns and direct contact.
• Government relations including working with staff and elected leaders and presenting at public hearings.

 
La Jolla Community Planning Association, President
2008-2011

• Planning group recognized by the City of San Diego to make recommendations on land use permits and policies in this community of nearly 40,000 comprised of single family residences surrounding a village core and a spectacular coastline. One of the most active of the city's community groups making recommendations on over one hundred land use permit applications a year; as well as, one of the most contentious due to active redevelopment, high land values, and high quality of life. The group consists of 18 elected members as well as five subcommittees totaling forty members. Responsible for running meetings; point of contact for applicants, residents and city staff; and, working with the city to resolve community problems. I maximized community outreach through an informative website and regular e-blasts. I represented the community at public hearings and frequently quoted in local newspapers.

 
Community Planners Committee, City of San Diego, Vice Chair
2008-2011

• CPC provides a forum to discuss citywide planning issues and the opportunity to network with other community leaders and discuss important policy issues with City Planning staff. Positions taken by CPC provide a key link with decision makers at City Hall and in the various City Departments. I have offered leadership on many issues heard at CPC and sat on the subcommittee working with City staff to create a Community Plan Update Manual. My peers have twice elected me vice chair.

 
Bird Rock Community Council, President (2008-2009)
2004-2009

• Non-profit organization serving the 100 merchants and 5,000 residents of this neighborhood of La Jolla. The BRCC hosts community gatherings and fundraisers which attracts up to 2000 participants (Annual Taste of Bird Rock) and annually raises over $70,000. The BRCC is the liaison for the neighborhood to the rest of the community and City Hall. As President I chaired monthly board meeting as well as the monthly community meeting which consistently attracted the largest resident audience; wrote a monthly president's column; and, oversaw the 16-page monthly newsletter that is hand-delivered to each store and household in the community. I also oversaw the Bird Rock Maintenance Assessment District from initial concept to stabilized operation with a $150,000 annual budget. The District is funded by property assessments and maintains the public landscaping under a contract with the City of San Diego. Effort includes selection and management of contractors, prepare annual budgets, annual audits, and work with city staff for compliance and quality control.

 
Bird Rock Traffic Calming Plan
Peer Review and Community Outreach
2003-2008

• I provided peer review plan check during preparation of construction drawings as well as community outreach to ensure drawings reflected the community-approved conceptual solutions. I also provided peer review inspection to trouble-shoot field changes and unintended consequences of design. I supplemented the city's public relations program with monthly news articles, frequent e-blasts, and constant interaction with city inspectors.

 
Urban Land Institute Advisory Services, Volunteer Panelist
2003

• The City of San Antonio, Texas sought a vision, evaluation of the market potential, planning and design concepts, and a development and implementation strategy for the Southside Balanced Growth Initiative, a sprawling 57,600 acre area located south of the city. The panel articulated a long-term vision for the study area and outlined next steps to further refine that vision that will enable the city to attract residential, commercial, and industrial development.

 
Webmaster, Volunteer
on-going

• I created and maintained websites for numerous non-profit organizations including Bird Rock Elementary School, La Jolla High, National Charities League, ZLAC Rowing Club, and the Bird Rock Community Council (some have since been redesigned by others). I greatly expanded the scope and reach of the La Jolla Community Planning Association website and keep it up to date. While my coding skills are modest, websites are one of the best ways to push information out to stakeholders and provide transparency in an organization's operations.