Mary Schickling said she is seeking info, advice from all
The bi-monthly Avalon City Council meetings are just the television show starring five community council members. The real work comes in the 13 days in between meetings, when those council members wade through staff reports, meet with staff members, community members and seek out information for the “scripts” they share when the camera is rolling.
For new members there is a learning curve and the council’s newest member, Mary Schickling said she is learning as fast as she can. As the only first-timer currently on the council, Schickling said she has been seeking out information and that everyone she is reaching out to has been eager and available to assist her.
“Everyone is very supportive,” Schickling said recently.
She said she has been having regular meetings with the city manager David Maistros and that he has been helping her get up to speed on the status of the city’s many projects and plans. As for some of the things Schickling said she sees as potential front-burner projects, she said she thinks that the Garibaldi Bus system could be upgraded and become a more regular service for residents.
It could also help take some of the pressure off the golf cart issues if people can have a more regularly scheduled bus service to get around town. Like the boats to and from overtown, she thinks regular schedules and added routes might encourage people to use the public transportation for daily travel. She hopes to reach out to local staffers and Los Angeles Metro to find out how that could be done.
“I think that could be a really good solution for this town,” Schickling said.
In terms of the long-term projects, Schickling noted the new hospital construction as a vital project in the works.
However, due to the importance of the project, she is hopeful that city officials and the community at large can remain updated on the process and the plans to ensure it meets the needs of the community, without becoming overburdening.
“I think the community needs to know,” Schickling said.
