Pinole Mayor Devin Murphy Offers Farewell Remarks

The following remarks were by Pinole Mayor Devin Murphy who highlighted a list of accomplishments in 2023 for the City of Pinole. He posted the message to his website on Jan 20. With a mayoral rotation, Maureen Toms is now the 2024 mayor.

As I stand before you today, my heart is filled with both love and gratitude. Serving as your mayor has been the greatest honor of my life. The journey we’ve shared has been marked by triumphs and challenges, but together, we’ve built a stronger, more vibrant community.

Under my leadership, here’s what we were able to accomplish:

• Reopening and reactivation of the long-closed Fire Station 74
• Approve Over 600 units of housing approved including: SAHA: 100% affordable, all-electric housing complex for veterans, Vista Woods: Affordable housing for seniors, Pinole Vista: all-electric condomimums and townhomes
• The first-ever Pinole Earth Day Celebration and Walk which coincided with our groundbreaking efforts to develop our first Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
• The first-ever celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Junteenth, and of course, the anniversary of the incorporation of our vibrant city of Pinole
• Critical traffic and pedestrian safety improvements at Tennent Avenue at the Pear and Plum Street intersections as well as improvements at Marlesta and Appian Way
• Over $168 million dollars that Pinoleans can now leverage to lower their energy bills and upgrade their homes and apartment
• A community celebration to celebrate Pinole Valley High School’s many achievements including winning the Football Team’s success at State Champions!
• Improved communications to keep our residents informed, including our very new Beat of Pinole video series, over 7000 readers of our citywide newsletter, The Pulse, and a record number of residents engaging in our participating budget process through The Balancing Act.
• The opening of several businesses that encourages our residents to #shoppinole and others to #visitpinole including Sweet Pipers, Uptown Yard, PSB Cafe and Venue, MAC Permanent Beaut, Mochinut, Ike’s Sandwiches, Homegoods, and many more
• A newly-activated evacuation route located at the end of Galbreth Road in Pinole Valley to keep our residents safer, a citywide town hall with Contra Costa Fire Protection District, and acres of vegetation mitigation to keep our wildfire risk down
• Adopted a local road safety plan that will be it safer for all pedestrians in our community and coincided with hundreds of potholes filled — and of course, fallen trees mitigated to protect our resident

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible residents who make this city what it is. Your passion, resilience, and commitment to progress have inspired me every day. Our accomplishments are a testament to the power of unity and collaboration.

To the dedicated city council, municipal employees, and community leaders — you are the backbone of this city. Your unwavering dedication to public service has been the driving force behind our achievements. I have full confidence that our Council will continue to propel our city forward.

As I step back into the role of a Councilor, I carry with me the memories of shared successes, the lessons learned from setbacks, and the profound love I have for this community. The spirit of Pinole is resilient, and I have no doubt that this community will continue to flourish.

In closing, I entrust our beloved city to your capable hands.Our work is not finished, and I’m eager to work with our dynamic city constituency to build a better Pinole for all. Embrace change, nurture inclusivity, and continue the legacy of progress we’ve built together. It has been an honor to serve as your mayor, and I am excited to witness the bright future that lies ahead for this remarkable city.

Thank you, and God bless you.

Devin Murphy