AGENDA
ITEM
PROCLAMATION NO. 2022-05
WHEREAS, Paul Miller served as a Member of the City Council of the City of Gonzales from December 3rd 2018 to December 5th 2022 upon retiring from the City as Chief of Police where he spent 32 years; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Paul Miller generously dedicated his time and provided selfless efforts as a City Council Member in continued service to the community of Gonzales and served in a dignified, faithful, impartial and professional manner, with the highest level of integrity, honesty, dignity, and accountability; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Paul Miller, in his four years of service on the City Council, served and held leadership roles on numerous boards and commissions including the League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division, the Association of California Cities Allied with Public Safety, Monterey Salinas Transit (MST), the South of Salinas US 101 Traffic Safety Alliance, and a Board Member of the Housing Authority of Monterey County where he served as Chair and Vice Chair; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Paul Miller, throughout his tenure not only served on many regional and countywide boards and commissions, but locally, he served and helped shepherd the work on the Gonzales Community Center Complex, the Gonzales Police Station, the Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD), the initial work on the expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, the renovation of Iverson-Gloria Road; and supported significant increase to the community’s access to health resources, which included the expansion of the Taylor Farms Family Health & Wellness Center; the establishment of the Gonzales Community Cares Program and the Gonzales Community Health Worker Program; and WHEREAS, under the leadership of Councilmember Paul Miller, the City of Gonzales successfully supported the community’s fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic by taking up unprecedented measures such as directly supporting the community with rental and utility assistance, food assistance, and other basic needs; as well as working to bring in vaccine clinics for the community, helping to get the City of Gonzales to a 100% vaccination rate, and putting the City at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Paul Miller’s strong advocacy on closing the Digital Divide supported the City’s implementation of the Broadband Strategy, which included partnering with TMobile to purchase 2,000 Hot Spots to provide a Free Internet solution for the community, which was critical and forward thinking during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the establishment of the South Salinas Valley Broadband Authority which will work to form a permanent solution to broadband access and will provide free to low cost internet services to the communities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, King, and the unincorporated surrounding areas; and WHEREAS, Councilmember Paul Miller’s support for Housing, with a special emphasis on Affordable Housing, allowed for the purchase of 498 S. Alta St. and its conversion to Senior Housing through a partnership with affordable housing developer, CHISPA; and WHEREAS, Councilmember Paul Miller’s support and emphasis on building strong partnerships has allowed for the City to continue to build and nurture relationships with key institutions like Hartnell College, California State University-Monterey Bay, and Middlebury Institute of International Studies as well as with our Sister City of Tateposco, Cocula, Jalisco, México to which the City under Council Miller’s direction, donated MST buses to be used to transport students to and from school; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Paul Miller’s foresight has allowed for the establishment of cooperative agreements and partnerships, on many programs and projects like the Joint Use Gymnasium, joint funding of a School Resource Officer and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker position along with support for Youth Leadership and Development and the Gonzales Youth Council; and
WHEREAS, during Councilmember Paul Miller’s tenure, the City received many awards and recognitions including, but not limited to: the Inaugural 2018 Champion for Children Award from the Monterey County Children’s Council; Clean Air Leader Award from the Monterey Bay Air Resources District; Helen Putnam Award from the League of California Cities for Excellence in City-Business Relations; 2019 Project of the Year Transportation – Under $5 million; 2019 Transportation Excellence Award from TAMC; and Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Engaging Youth in City Government.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the City Council of the City of Gonzales hereby extends to Paul Miller its highest and humblest expression of thanks, gratitude and appreciation for serving the City faithfully and well, and offers its best wishes for good health, success, and prosperity for many years to come.
Jose L. Rios, Mayor
December 5, 2022