| | Published December 19th, 2012
| Thanks and Praise at City Council Reorganization
| | By Cathy Tyson |  | | New council members Mark Mitchell and Traci Reilly Photo Cathy Tyson
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It was the end of an era last Monday night, as two longtime City Council members retired after a combined 37 years of volunteer service on Lafayette's Planning Commission and City Council. Former Mayor Carol Federighi sat on the council for 13 years, serving three times as mayor, and prior to that spent eight years on the planning commission. Carl Anduri had been on the council for 10 years and planning commission for six. All told, that's countless Monday nights, listening to potential ordinances, proposed projects, budget dilemmas and task force reports that keep the city running.
With heartfelt comments all around, it was obvious the two council members stepping down from the dais will be missed. Having won seats in the November election, newcomers Traci Reilly and Mark Mitchell change up the membership of the city council for the first time since December 2006 when Brandt Andersson joined the team. The "Fab five" -Federighi, Anduri, Andersson, Don Tatzin, and Mike Anderson -had a good working relationship; while they didn't always agree with each other at city council meetings, their tenure was marked by civility and respect.
Former vice mayor, and now mayor, recently re-elected Mike Anderson joked, "You're going to miss us, but when you come back you only get three minutes," referring to the allotted time for members of the public to comment on issues.
"It's been a pleasure to serve with you," Federighi told her fellow council members. "It's truly been a privilege and honor. This has been a wonderful community to live and work in." She reflected on the changes that have happened downtown during her volunteer service to the community, including new businesses and restaurants, a new affordable senior housing project in the works, passing the downtown specific plan, creating a downtown historic district, and the soon to be authorized wireless facilities ordinance.
Thanking his wife, city staff, and election volunteers, Anduri went on to praise the creation of the environmental and senior housing task forces. He said his biggest regret was the timely repair of all the residential roads in the city; Anduri had worked diligently on the Fix our Roads campaign. In his opinion, the hardest part of serving on the city council was making decisions based on what is in the best interest of Lafayette and all residents.
Longtime council member Tatzin told Anduri, "I look up to your contributions and your powerful vision for the city. We're very fortunate to have had your exceedingly sound judgment." He also thanked Federighi as the best advocate for the three-minute rule, "A true velvet gavel."
"It's been an absolute pleasure," said City Manager Steven Falk, complimenting the pair for their incisive analysis and probing questions, civility and for their "fair and respectful treatment of staff." Both Federighi and Anduri received gifts of Lafayette-opoly from city staff and a framed small reproduction of the banners with signatures of city staffers on the back.
Council freshmen Mitchell and Reilly graciously thanked family and friends who made their election to the city council possible. Reilly called the transition "pretty amazing," and commented that she is surrounded by four men at home, her husband and three boys, and now on the dais, once again surrounded by four men.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA