Healdsburg City Council selects Tom Chambers as mayor

Veteran Healdsburg City Councilman Tom Chambers on Monday was chosen to be mayor for what he acknowledged will be his last year in office.

Chambers has been mayor twice before, but didn't seem jaded about being selected unanimously by his colleagues for the council leadership role, beginning in January.

'I'm still thrilled to be representing Healdsburg,' he said. 'It's going to be an exciting year.'

Chambers, 64, said he is not planning to run again for City Council when his term expires at the end of 2016.

But in the meantime, he foresees a busy year ahead, with housing topping the list of upcoming issues.

'Clearly housing has been on everybody's radar screen for some time, as it has in the entire county. That's a big one,' he said.

Among the issues the council will be taking up is a modification of the city's growth management ordinance, which is seen as an impediment to the construction of apartment complexes and affordable smaller homes.

A housing subcommittee is recommending that the voter-approved ordinance, which restricts the number of new homes to 30 each year, be loosened to accommodate 1 percent growth, or about 49 dwellings per year. The council is scheduled to consider the recommendations at its Dec. 21 meeting, beginning the process for placing the issue on the ballot next year.

'We need to provide houses that are affordable for what we call the 'missing middle,' ' Chambers said, what he defined as people who make 120 to 155 percent of median income but still can't afford to live in Healdsburg.

'Those folks have kind of been priced out of the market; also folks below that,' Chambers said.

He said the housing committee will also be looking at ways to streamline the approval process for second dwellings, or granny units, to make them more affordable.

Chambers noted that the economy is starting to take off 'and there's a tremendous number of projects in the pipeline in Healdsburg.'

He acknowledged the perennial debate about whether there is too much tourism in Healdsburg at the expense of residents.

'We understand the concerns, but try to strike that balance,' he said, adding that the lion's share of hotel bed taxes benefit the local community by going to park and recreation programs.

The council next year is also expected to approve the design and construction of a roundabout at the city's five-way intersection at the entrance to downtown.

Chambers said he also expects long-stalled plans to turn the old fruit packing warehouse on the Cerri property into an event space and parking area will move forward.

Chambers first served on the City Council from 1992 to 1996 and returned to elected office in 2008.

He had a brief campaign for Sonoma County supervisor in 2014, but bowed out of the race after less than two months.

He said he was unable to gain momentum after a late start and threw his support to James Gore, who ended up winning.

Chambers said Monday he has decided not to run again 'because I've put in three terms,' and even though he has enjoyed it, 'I think it's time for a little bit of change, time for another voice on the council.'

'I'm still working full time. I have other things I want to pursue, and it's time to move on,' he said.

Chambers, who has mechanical engineering degrees from UCLA and Stanford, is vice president of operations for MAC Thin Films, a Santa Rosa optical coating company.

The firm, which has about 55 employees, makes products for the consumer electronics and avionics sectors.

Chambers has lived in Healdsburg for 30 years and raised his three children there.

You can reach Clark Mason at 521-5214 or clark.mason@pressdemocrat.com On Twitter@clarkmas