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Mountain View honors outgoing Mayor Ellen Kamay as council highlights childcare, housing and first ambulance
Summary
Outgoing Mayor Ellen Kamay was recognized with a formal proclamation and tributes at the Jan. 13 reorganization meeting; she highlighted childcare subsidies, a parental leave commitment, affordable housing openings and the placement of the city’s first ambulance into service.
The Mountain View City Council presented a formal proclamation and multiple tributes to outgoing Mayor Ellen Kamay at a special reorganization meeting on Jan. 13.
County and legislative representatives delivered certificates and commendations before council members read a proclamation that listed accomplishments from Kamay’s mayoral year, including new parks and playgrounds, a bicycle safety pilot, the opening of the La Avenida affordable housing project in North Bayshore, and El Camino Real ADA improvements.
During her outgoing remarks, Kamay cited several policy achievements. She said the 2025 budget included a $100,000 subsidy to help Learning Links continue offering affordable childcare, and she pointed to an eight-week paid family leave benefit for city employees that was made permanent and reflected in a parental leave reserve of $1,000,000 in the recommended budget. Kamay also noted that the city placed its first ambulance into service and launched a comprehensive homelessness response strategy called Pathways to Housing.
Council and staff speakers praised Kamay’s accessibility and leadership at public events, partnerships with regional agencies, and emphasis on inclusion and civic outreach. Peter Katz, CEO of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, thanked the mayor for supporting businesses; County Supervisor Margaret Abekoga and representatives from state and federal offices offered official recognitions.
Why it matters: The proclamations and remarks serve both as formal recognition of an outgoing elected official and as a public accounting of initiatives the council says it advanced during her mayoral year — child care support, housing openings, public-safety capacity and community-engagement programs.
Details and clarifications: - Child care: Kamay said the city included a $100,000 subsidy in the year’s budget to offset costs at Learning Links so the city-run site can continue offering affordable care; the transcript lists that amount as $100,000. - Parental leave: The mayor highlighted a permanent eight-week paid family leave benefit for city employees, and a parental leave reserve of $1,000,000 in the recommended budget. - Housing and services: The proclamation and remarks cite the opening of La Avenida affordable housing in North Bayshore and the Pathways to Housing homelessness response strategy. - Public safety: Kamay noted the city placed its first ambulance into service to strengthen emergency response.
Quotes: - "All are welcome. All belong. We're a community for all," Kamay said as she closed her remarks. - "On behalf of our 600 members, I just want to really thank from the heart, Mayor Kamay," Peter Katz said in public comment praising her support for local businesses.
What’s next: The council formally moved to nominations and elections for mayor and vice mayor. A reception with light refreshments followed the adjournment at 6:51 p.m.
—Reporting based on the Mountain View City Council meeting transcript and on-speaker attributions contained in that transcript.
