Peter Ingram - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...

A Conversation With City Manager Peter Ingram (continued from previous page)
Challenges: The General Plan
As the last version of the city’s general plan was
completed in the 1990s, work is underway to
develop a new roadmap for the city’s future. The
new general plan will “be a living document that
is graphically engaging and easy to use,” Ingram
said. “I am especially excited about the evolving
vision for our corridors and how the plan will
enable ‘smart growth’ in the right places, and with
a uniqueness that is Redwood City. I am intrigued
with the notion of ‘streetcar neighborhoods’ and
absolutely believe that a bold vision of ‘complete
streets’ and a sustained commitment to reduce
dependence on cars will yield opportunities that
we can turn into real places.”
Doing Things Right
Ingram holds his bosses, the City Council, in high
regard. “They really care about this community.
I don’t need to question their motives; I just have
add my own caring,” he said. “They demand that
we all do things right (and themselves, too). They
are all about integrity, respect and trust: I have
to meet very high standards. They set a fast pace
and get frustrated when disingenuous actions by
others prevent them from realizing their vision.”
Living on the Edge
It’s not all “swell.”
“The worst day is when we get a big
disappointment after a lot of good collaboration
and hard work,” Ingram went on to say. “I
just have to remember that in this job, the
disappointments are just setbacks, and it’s my role
to pull us together, make sense out of something
that may not make sense at all, and find a way to
continue the journey forward.”
And the journey forward will find Peter Ingram
taking it all with determination and a sense of humor.
“Apparently, I love working and living on the
edge,” he said, laughing.
“It’s my role to pull us
together, make sense
out of something that
may not make sense at
all, and find a way to
continue the journey
forward.”
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