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The city of Livermore welcomed its new City Council members and bid farewell to the three departing representatives during its final meeting of the year last Monday.
The Dec. 12 regular meeting kicked off with proclamations to former mayor Bob Woerner, vice mayor Gina Bonanno and councilmember Trish Munro.
As part of the presentation, a video montage featuring city staff and officials sharing messages of gratitude was played. Some of the applauded efforts mentioned in the video include the council's leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic, their commitment to equity and inclusion and prioritizing public safety, among others.
Pre-recorded proclamations from Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) and Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert were also presented.
"I want to congratulate you all for your wonderful years of service to Livermore," Glazer said, addressing Woerner, Munro and Bonanno. "Your great passion for our community is commendable."
Haubert expressed similar sentiments.
"Great communities are not made overnight and they don't happen by accident, they are made by good leaders like each of you, Haubert said.
He added, "You all have been treasured by the Livermore community for what you've done. You will all be missed. That said, you are being replaced by very capable people and they will be recognized as incoming in their own way. I just bid you all today farewell and congratulate you."
Woerner served on the City Council from 2012 to 2020 before being elected mayor. He carried out his two-year term at the helm of the council and opted not to seek reelection this year for health reasons.
Munro was elected as an at-large councilmember in November 2018. When Livermore shifted to district-based voting in 2020, Munro chose not to seek reelection for District 3 where she resides, instead opting to finish out her four year at-large term, which expired this year.
Bonanno was the newest member on the council. She was appointed by the council in January 2021 to fill Woerner's vacant at-large seat upon his ascension to mayor following the 2020 election.
"I've very much enjoyed working with this council and all the previous ones I've had the privilege of collaborating with," Woerner said in his outgoing remarks.
"We've taken quite a professional approach to getting the city's business done and now that we just certified the results for the next council, I'm confident the next one will continue the tradition of cooperation we have here in Livermore," he added, before wishing luck to both the departing and incoming councilmembers.
"Sometime in the past 20 years that I've lived here, this town became my hometown and it's really the first place I've really set my roots. So, being able to serve on the City Council in what I consider my hometown has really been an extreme honor and I've been very, very grateful for the opportunity," Bonanno said.
Munro shared individual remarks of gratitude to each of the other councilmembers, noting that the Key to the City program is what inspired her to get involved.
"We're all the heroes we can be but we can't be heroes alone. Let's be heroes together," Munro said. She also shared a word of advice to the incoming council. "Just remember, it takes three. It's OK to just have three – it's OK to disagree, productively – but you've got to have three," she said.
Woerner, Bonanno and Munro also all thanked the community and city staff for their support and collaboration in their comments.
Newly elected councilmembers – Mayor John Marchand, District 1 representative Evan Branning and District 2 representative Ben Barrientos – took the oath of office toward the end of the first half of the meeting before taking their places on the dais to begin the second portion.
A video presentation from city staff and officials welcoming the new councilmembers was also presented during the second half of the meeting.
"We are happy that you will be joining councilmembers (Bob) Carling and Kiick to serve this community, guide our organization and set the policies that will ensure the Livermore community receives quality services and programs," City Manager Marianna Marysheva said in the video.
In addition to the transition of members on the council, Brittni Kiick was named the city's new vice mayor.
The departure of Bonanno and Munro also creates a shift on the council to a male-majority with Kiick now serving as the only woman on the governing body.
A complete recording of the Dec.12 council meeting is available here.
