Title
Adopt a Resolution Honoring Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter
Body
RESOLUTION THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-
RESOLUTION HONORING MAYOR PAULINE RUSSO CUTTER AND PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGING HER TERM ON THE CITY COUNCIL, TWO TERMS AS MAYOR, AND NUMEROUS PUBLIC SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WHEREAS, Pauline Russo Cutter served for 12 years as an elected member of the San Leandro Unified School District Board of Trustees; and
WHERE she was then elected to the San Leandro City Council in November 2010 and helped champion the adoption of the Crime Free Business Program as well as assisted in enshrining San Leandro’s reputation as a ‘Smart City’. Related efforts included being invited as an honorary guest to the countries of Italy and China to speak about San Leandro’s vision and journey to become a Smart City; and
WHEREAS, Pauline Russo Cutter was elected to serve as Mayor of San Leandro in November 2014 and served two terms of office through 2022. During her terms of service, she led the City Council through various challenges while modeling resiliency and a “can do” attitude; and
WHEREAS, she specifically led the San Leandro City Council in committing to the ‘P.U.L.L. Program’ to mitigate the City’s unfunded liabilities associated with its retirement benefits, and was instrumental in the creation of a new sustainability staffing position to implement the City’s Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, she took a leadership role in the creation of the San Leandro Homeless Compact that provided permanent housing to numerous individuals in need; and
WHEREAS, she served in numerous leadership roles on various regional and national organizations including: Chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission, Chair of the Women’s Leadership Alliance of the United States Conference of Mayors, President of the East Bay Dischargers Authority, and represented Alameda County on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, in addition to many other important roles on other policy-making bodies; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cutter led San Leandro through the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges that this public health emergency generated; and
WHEREAS, she launched a Community Conversations Speaker Series that brought prominent figures to San Leandro to foster dialogue on issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cutter has always been a strong advocate for the rights of all people including the LGBTQ+ Community, and has endured as a strong advocate for the City’s partnerships with local schools and the education community for the benefit of all families and children; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cutter modeled volunteerism, made San Leandro a City where Kindness Matters, instituted the Mayor’s Award for Kindness, and was invited to meet the Dalia Lama because of her work centering kindness; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Leandro seeks to honor Pauline Russo Cutter in recognition of her leadership, political expertise, enthusiasm for and dedication to the quality of life in San Leandro.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the entire City Council hereby recognizes and honors Pauline Russo Cutter. The City of San Leandro further invites all members of the San Leandro community to utilize this recognition as an opportunity to reflect on Mayor Cutter’s influence, calm demeanor, flexibility, public policy knowledge, and courage to stand firm in her advocacy for the San Leandro community.
Passed and adopted this 19th day of December 2022, by the following vote:
Members of the Council:
AYES: ()
NOES: ()
ABSENT: ()
ATTEST:
Kelly B. Clancy, Acting City Clerk