Speech of Honorable Jackie Speier - In Recognition of Jim Hardy

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker and members, I rise today to honor the departing City Manager of Foster City, Jim Hardy. He's had an extraordinary 34 years with the city, the last 21 years as City Manager. Jim leaves a legacy that is profound having joined the city just 10 years after it was incorporated. He is only the second City Manager ever hired by Foster City, following in the footsteps of his esteemed predecessor, Rick Wykoff.

It is not quite fair to say that Foster City sits on San Francisco Bay. It's more correct to say that our beautiful bay envelops Foster City, and offers its residents a lifestyle that is, as Jim Hardy says, paradise. Boating, fishing, parks second-to-none, and excellent schools that compare to any in this nation--this is Foster City. Jim Hardy's role in stabilizing and growing this community was pivotal.

The finances of the city and its predecessor agency were shaky for many years. Jim joined the city's staff as stability arrived, but the city and its councils have always made a strong balance sheet a top priority. As Jim has often noted, the city has wonderful public improvements but they are also on the bay, and they deteriorate rapidly. The roads need more care than most and the extensive pumping systems that fill and moderate Foster City's lagoons are expensive to maintain. The community rightfully deserves a first class police department, and all of these expenses have to be managed aggressively. Jim is the classic ``man with the green eyeshade'' who realizes that a community of sustained good living cannot exist unless the city's finances remain strong. As a consequence of his financial and community leadership, transformative public and private improvements have been accomplished during his years as City Manager.
The Vintage Park Overcrossing was completed in 1992. A corporation yard project was finished in 1993. A lift station for water control purposes was finished in 1996. Upon entering Foster City, one is struck by its beautiful new library and civic center complex, completed in 1999 and 2003, respectively. The Leo J. Ryan Amphitheater was completed in 2004, a water main extension in 2006, a teen center in 2010, and the widening of two major roads in 2013. The Foster Square development was finished this year. These are just a few of the many physical manifestations of Jim's leadership.

However, the most important and enduring legacy of Jim is the way in which he created a cohesive team amongst city staff. Employees are encouraged to accept responsibility but to work as a team to meet the public's needs. As we know, public service can sometimes entail resolving contentious issues. Jim's decent, non-controversial approach to problem solving was a steady voice during many staff and council meetings.

Jim is not the only leader in the Hardy family. His wife, Luisa, is also retiring from her career and the two of them will be able to spend more time with their four adult children, all employed in challenging positions, and with the Hardy-family grandchildren. The airlines are going to be seeing a lot of Jim and Luisa as they make their way back and forth between Utah and the Bay Area over these next few years.

Mr. Speaker and members, one of the highest compliments that we can pay to anyone leaving public life is to say that they served with honor. Jim Hardy did so. He was honest and fair in his dealings with the public, patient with his councils and dutiful towards their directions, mindful of his employees and their needs and conscious of setting the highest personal standard of propriety. There are no statues erected or brilliant orchestral compositions written to commemorate the ending of a distinguished career in local government. However, there are fond memories. Jim leaves thousands of these as he exits public service. These fond memories are themselves a type of ode to a life well led, and as enduring as any statue that we might erect. Now is the time to say thank you to Jim Hardy, a man called father, grandfather, leader and friend.

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