Loomis Leadership

Supporter Councilman Walt Scherer talks with Gary about train depot and energizing downtown.

Since joining the Council in December 2008, Gary has served with distinction in the following official roles as Councilmember:
Ø Serves on Placer County Economic Board and helps promote Loomis businesses.
Ø Serves on Loomis Business Committee, which developed business loan fund and new directional signs.
Ø Serves on Loomis Borders Committee engaging our neighboring cities to work cooperatively.
Ø Serves as alternate to Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG).

In addition, Gary initiated a number of activities more informally, including:
Ø Green Ribbon Task Force when Mayor in 2010, to recommend how residents, businesses and the Town could save money, be more efficient, self-reliant and resilient, and benefit from the new Green economy.
Ø As Mayor in 2010, offered residents letters of support to their financial institutions to assist in negotiating on loan modifications.
Ø Championed bikeway, trails, park, recreation and open space master plans and funding of bikeways and trails to make it easier to get around and decrease traffic.
Ø Led the Town's purchase of the 11-acre Heritage Park and Council's decision to preserve it as the only publicly accessible nature area in Loomis.
Ø Supported keeping funding of Traffic Officer to keep our streets safe.
Ø Serves as Chair of PlacerSustain, working to connect people and inspire collaboration to build healthy communities and thriving local economies.
Ø Horse Rescue - tried to develop a temporary horse rescue at the former Loomis Marketplace land at Horseshoe Bar Road and I-80 (bank that owned land said no).

Gary also strongly supports the long tradition of fiscal responsibility in Loomis. Loomis remains debt-free with a balanced budget and healthy financial reserves. Loomis lives within its means.

Prior to getting elected to Council, Gary was the Chair of the Loomis Park and Open Space Commission (he was elected Chair by fellow Commissioners after having been appointed to the Commission by the Town Council).

Immediately prior to that, he served as a member of the Town's Open Space Committee-2 from January 13, 2004 until that Committee was disbanded by Council in February 2007. One of his main accomplishments for the Open Space Committee was his role in helping to edit the Loomis Open Space Committee Final Report in December 2006.

For the Open Space Committee, Gary was also chair of the Education and Outreach Task Force, which:

Published Brochure: Your Role in Preserving the Rural Character of Loomis
Published Brochure: Town of Loomis Open Space Preservation, What You can do!
Organized Open Space Forum, March 9, 2006 highlighting Loomis Basin Natural Resources, Placer Land Trust and how to establish conservation easements
Drafted letter from Mayor mailed to all 2,300 households in Loomis encouraging them to voluntarily preserve their land in conservation easements.
Organized Earth Day 2006, and related groups have participated in Earth Day every year since then
Submitted several articles on Open Space to the Loomis News

Gary was also a member of the Open Space Committee-2 Funding and Resources Task Force, which:

Drafted Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Loomis and Placer Land Trust (still ongoing)
Drafted letter from Mayor to Loomis Business Owners to solicit donations for a special Loomis Basin account set up by the Placer Land Trust for open space preservation
Researched and evaluated various sources of funding for open space activities (including grants and land trusts)
Reviewed the Town's tree mitigation, parks and open space development fees structure and how the collected funds are used
Organized a New Year's Eve Party as a fundraiser for Loomis Open Space Projects (December 31, 2006)

Gary also participated as a member in other key activities of Open Space Committee-2, including:

Participated in the "Green Sheet" reviews of proposed development projects.
Reviewed the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance to identify open space policies and clarifications needed.
As a direct result of Green Sheets and policy reviews by Open Space Committee-2, the Town adopted a new Grading Ordinance in February 2007 to require developers to design with the flow of the land, rather than to flatten it like every other town in the area.
Developed a list of "Special Properties" to be added to the General Plan as deserving of additional protections

For many years, Gary has also reviewed and commented on many proposed development projects and policies in Loomis as an individual, to encourage preservation of the Loomis rural lifestyle.

Gary helped draft a Town of Loomis resolution to help Save Clover Valley