Redlands Council Take Oaths in Swearing-in Ceremony

Redlands welcomed back two leaders to its council and a new councilmember in a swearing-in ceremony Dec. 2. Paul Foster won re-election and was voted by the council as the city’s newest mayor. Jon Harrison, who also won re-election, was voted as mayor pro tem. Paul Barich, the council’s newest member, was sworn in to the seat of former Councilman Bob Gardner. Barich is the owner of Barich & Associates, an insurance agency in downtown. He thanked residents, campaign team and family for their support. “You’ll get the best of me and I will do the best job as I can,” Barich said, drawing inspiration from his father. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have the guidance of that man that I look up to. He taught me: do the best you can do and you’ll turn out just fine.” Harrison, who has served on the council for 13 years, said he was honored for the chance to serve an additional four years and help “steer Redlands toward the goals and aspirations of its residents,” he said. Harrison felt the city has several opportunities including the arrival of light rail, expansion and improvement of public parks, trails and open space, and continued economic growth. He said, “As the council, city staff and community members work toward a better future, it will be essential that robust efforts, community outreach and involvement are included in the process.” Foster, who announced that he plans to retire in 2016, told the audience it was the job of the current council to build on the foundation past city leaders created. “I’m confident that with this team here on the dais now… we will do just that,” Foster said. Foster, who has worked with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group for 32 years, thanked his SCPMG colleagues, his campaign team and his family – son Taylor and wife Julie, whom he called “a daily inspiration.” Foster and other council members thanked city staff for their work. “Without your work, ladies and gentlemen… none of what we envision up here would ever come to pass,” Foster said. The council also recognized Gardner, who served one term on the dais after his election in November 2010. Gardner retired in September from his position as vice president of administration and finance at Cal State San Bernardino. Councilwoman Pat Gilbreath recalled working with Gardner through two budget cycles. Though the process was hard work, Gilbreath said, “When you have someone working with you that can appreciate it as much as you do, it goes very quickly. I do appreciate that, because this time it was fun.” Gardner extended thanks toward the council and city staff for their leadership. “Thank you to my colleagues… for creating the environment where we can do good governing,” Gardner said. “In a time—whether it’s local, state or national—where people can’t get together and get things done, we have proven that we can get together, have good discussion, debate and get things done. It’s been a privilege to be a part of that, and I know you will continue to do that.” Gardner called city staff “incredibly responsive,” and encouraged the council to show appreciation toward staff. He asked the council and staff to “constantly keep the whole idea of governing, which is about doing the most good for the most people, and put aside… personal agendas and (engage) in some sacrifice.” Additionally, former Mayor Pete Aguilar was elected to Congress, where he will represent California’s 31st District that includes Redlands. He will be resigning from his council seat in the future. [END] TRANSCRIPTION QUOTES Jon Harrison: 15:37-17:09 I’m very honored that the voters and residents have chosen to allow me an additional four years of service as a member of the city council. It’s a privilege and a pleasure to be in a position to work with my council colleagues in a collaborative effort to provide leadership as we steer Redlands toward the goals and aspirations of its residents. It’s an equal pleasure to have an opportunity to work with the great staff of this city. Their dedication is to always do the best for Redlands, and is one reason our city continues to be an exemplary place to live, work and enjoy the bonds of a strong community. Over the past 13 years I’ve been a member of the city council, great strides have been made to secure the safety and the prosperity of our community. Working with my council colleagues and staff, I hope to build on these past successes to continually improve the quality of life for our residents. Many exciting opportunities are on the horizon: the arrival of light rail; expansion and improvement of our network of parks, trails and open space; and the continued economic growth for our community are just a few examples. For this purpose to be fully gainful, however, it must be of benefit to all of our residents. As the council, city staff and community members work toward a better future, it will be essential that robust efforts, community outreach and involvement are included in the process. Thank you again for this opportunity of serving the community of Redlands on the City Council. Appreciate it. Foster: 17:16 – 20:02 I’d like the opportunity to take a few minutes to say thank you to some folks. I want to express my appreciation as well to all of those in the community that supported me during the campaign, and particularly those that helped me financially or went out walking precincts handing out material, which isn’t always the most fun task that you can ask your friends to do. • “Unsung hero” Shirley Harry. Campaign treasurer. • Richard Pennington & Pennington Design – website. • Luis Fedori. Campaign Consultant. • Special thanks to niece Sarah. Worked table at events. • Wife Julie and Taylor, son. I look forward to the next four years on the city council. Like my colleagues, I feel that the last four years have been very successful years, but we built on the successes of some very difficult decisions by prior councils. It’s our obligation to now, as things are getting better economically in our community and in the nation, take our city and advance it and build on that foundation even further. I’m confident that with this team here on the dais now, as we’ve had with the team in the past with Councilmember Gardner and Councilmember Bean, that we will do just that. And I appreciate the city residents’ confidence in me to elect me to a second term. Barich: 20:23 – 23:21 Like Paul Foster said, I really want to thank the citizens of Redlands and all the groups that supported me. If I listed every one of them, we’d be here all night. I’m a very, very lucky person. I’m flattered that the citizens of Redlands elected me and I can promise you that I will do the best—you’ll get the best of me and I will do the best job as I can. I’m really looking forward to working with fellow councilmembers, although I guess one of them’s going to be leaving pretty soon… Mr. Congressman. And every staff member I’ve met so far have been really super, so I’m really looking forward to working with you. Thanks: • Patty Holohan, Campaign Manager • Mick Gallagher • Mom, I wish she was here. “I think she’d be real proud of me and I love her very much and I miss her.” • My father, who, trust me, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have the guidance of that man, that I look up to. He taught me: do the best you can do and you’ll turn out just fine. Thank you, Dad. I can’t thank you enough. • Brother George. • Last, but not least, every good man has a wonderful woman behind him. My wife, I tell you, I can’t thank her enough and how much I love her. Wife: Joanne (Joann)? I’m very lucky to have a great family and be in a great city. Redlands and the citizens of Redlands have been very good to me and I promise you, you’ll get the best that I have. * Harrison, on mayor pro tem: 25:36 Well, I have an easy job because Paul will never be out of town, so, thank you. Foster, on mayor: 25:50 -31:56 I’m very honored to have the support of my council colleagues to serve as mayor. I’m truly humbled by the presence of those sitting with me at the dais tonight, and many others, some of which are in the audience, that have served our community so well as the mayor in past years. It is in your footsteps, ladies and gentlemen, that I follow and I will walk. I’ve had the good fortune of working for the same organization for 32 years, and for almost that same length of time I’ve been involved in service to Redlands. Without the commitment of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care program to community service, my work on behalf of Redlands and the people of Redlands would not be possible. As I plan on retiring in 2016, and my colleagues that are in the audience know that, I may not have the opportunity to publicly say thank you to the senior leaders of our area here in the Inland Empire, so please allow me to do so now. I know that two of them couldn’t make it this evening and one is here and I appreciate that, but I would like to thank Dr. Dave Qualm (?) our area medical director and chief of staff, Ms. Annie Russell, the chief administrative officer of Southern California Permanente Medical Group, and I’m going to embarrass him and ask him to stand, but my friend Ray (?) Christian in the back there, who is the executive director for the Kaiser Permanente Foundation Health Care and Hospital. During the campaign, you heard Mayor Pro Tem Harrison and I speak about teamwork and what a successful team looks like. For me, the basis of the idea of team comes from the experience that I’ve had with my peers and our staff at the medical center. Many of them are indeed here tonight and I want to thank each of them for teaching me each day about working as a successful team and for their support and encouragement for my passion for Redlands. In the audience tonight are many friends, and I thank you for coming. I know a lot of my scouting friends are in the audience. Thank you for your ongoing friendship and support. I never can thank you enough for how much you’ve given me over many many years. In my 32 years at Kaiser Permanente, I’ve had only 3 assistants. Jackie O’Quinn – assistant now. On behalf of the entire council I’d like to say how much we appreciate and we value the commitment and the hard work on behalf of our city by our city clerk Sam Irwin, and our city treasurer Robert Dawes. These are two elected officials that give countless hours behind the scenes to make the city run smoothly and keep it in good financial order. Gentlemen, thank you both very much. Some of the others here this evening… we could not do what we do without the staff that we have and I’d like to thank city manager Enrique Martinez, our entire city legal staff, our city attorney (Dan ?) and each and every one of the department heads and the entire city family for their dedication to the citizens of Redlands. Without your work, ladies and gentlemen, the work of the staff, none of what we envision up here would ever come to pass, so I really appreciate it. *Thanks his wife again: Julie. *Choked up* Recovering from auto accident for 9 months, at home. Every day I’ve watched her work through the pain, frustration and the challenges of recovery. She is a daily inspiration to me and I want her to know how much I love her and how much I appreciate her support for everything I do. Thank you, Dear. * Recognition of Bob Gardner 6:15 It’s been a great four years. I do remember going into the water meeting and wondering what I was getting myself into and with the great help of Steve Frazier and others it was wonderful to be elected to the council and I certainly thank this city, the people of Redlands, for that opportunity. That’s the most important thing I want to say, is thank you. Thank you to my colleagues, all of you here and Jerry Bean, for putting up with me, for indulging me and really for creating the environment where we can do good governing. I think that’s what’s been the thing is that we have proven in a time, whether it’s local, state or national, in a time where people can’t get together and get things done, we have proven that we can get together, have good discussion, debate and get things done. And it’s been a privilege to be a part of that, and I know you will continue to do that. That’s what’s great is that we are a great city and a great city council and a great city staff that can do that. I also want to say thanks to the staff. The staff has been incredibly responsive, Enrique… you know I appreciate your wisdom, your experience, your expertise, and everyone that works for you,a ll of our directors, we do have great city staff here in the city of Redlands and we do not appreciate them enough, and I hope we can do better in that regard. No one is perfect, myself included, but we have great staff that spend a lot of time and energy and work hard and we need to appreciate them more, and I’ve considered that an important part of my time on the council is getting to know the staff. Finally, let me just say, the city of Redlands is a great place to live, work and play, as we say. But it can be better, and I think the challenge is to the council and paul and others beyond to keep working at making this city be better, and that will require that we constantly keep the whole idea of governing, which is about doing the most good for the most people, and put aside our own personal agendas and engaging in some sacrifice, the most difficult decisions are the ones where we all give up a little bit. We’ve all talked a little bit about that on the council, but I think that’s the challenge ahead, is that in order for Redlands to continue to prosper we all need to think about what’s the best thing we can do for the most number of people in this city and that may involve some sacrifice, financial and otherwise, so I challenge you all not only the council, but I challenge you all to keep that ahead in terms of the charge and the banner and move forward. Pat Gilbreath 3:09 Bob, it’s been my pleasure this last few months and years to work with you on the budget, we went through two budget cycles together. People that don’t know numbers don’t appreciate the fact that we enjoy numbers and find them, very often, humorous. And working with staff for days at a time and just going through that process can be really, really tiring. But I can tell you, when you have someone working with you that can appreciate it as much as you do, it goes very quickly. And I do appreciate that, because this time it was fun. Thank you very much.