[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF GARY POLLARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 10, 2018

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Gary Pollard who is leaving 
the city council of Foster City and the governing board of the Estero 
Municipal Improvement District after four years, and after serving six 
years on the city's Parks and Recreation Committee.
  Serving on a city council means being serious about quality of life 
issues. Gary Pollard's service illustrates his commitment to the 
quality of life of every resident. For example, he served as the 
council's liaison to the transportation committee, the Chamber of 
Commerce, the Peninsula Clean Energy Authority and the Peninsula 
Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, and the countywide library board, 
just to name a few. Foster City was an early adopter of the use of 100 
percent renewable energy from the Peninsula Clean Energy Authority, and 
Gary was the one who led the city down this path to sustainability.
  Serving in local government also means being active in statewide 
associations. Gary was Foster City's representative to the League of 
California Cities and he made substantial contributions as a member of 
the League's Public Works Policy Committee for the past two years, 
ensuring that policy and legislative recommendations reflect the 
priorities of city residents.
  As an avid bicyclist, Gary focuses on mobility. He participates in 
the community bike ride every year and has encouraged bike safety. He 
served on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee as a part of a 
local agency composed of cities, and was involved in the bicycle, 
pedestrian, and intersection evaluation study.
  Gary served twice as the city's Vice-Mayor from 2014 to 2015 and from 
2017 to 2018. Foster City's finances are now enviable, but there was a 
time in his earlier years of service that difficult choices had to be 
made. He served on the city's audit committee and used that position to 
ensure that city operations were as efficient as possible. He 
participated vigorously in goalsetting during budget sessions and 
explained difficult choices to residents. One of those difficult 
choices was the need to upgrade the city's vulnerable levee. Gary 
supported the bond measure and city voters rewarded his decision and 
that of his colleagues with a vote of 81 percent to fix the levee.
  Gary also took time from his busy life to coach youth sports. For 
twelve years he coached Little League and Pony/Colt Leagues and was 
President of the Foster City Youth Baseball Association. His name was 
added to the city's Sports Wall of Fame in 2010.
  Mr. Speaker, Foster City is a planned community dedicated to families 
and to residents who love its bayside location and ample recreational 
opportunities. Gary Pollard is a great representative of residents 
because, like them, he values the city's quality of life and the tenor 
of the community, which is to seek a good outcome for everyone. I want 
to thank Gary's wife, Christine (Chris), and his children Bryan and 
Marcus for their patience as Gary served the community through 
countless hours of council debate and volunteer efforts.
  As a professional, he operates his own travel agency. It's been a 
long journey for Gary after ten years in the public spotlight. 
Hopefully, the tour was as remarkable for him as it was beneficial to 
the residents of Foster City. He leaves the council with the goodwill 
of his fellow residents and our thanks for a job well done.

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