Palo Alto Neighborhoods
Questionnaire for City Council
Candidates
September 2003
Please note that no response was received from Ed Power. An essay from Victor Frost is included at the end.
1. What
skills and experience would you bring to the City Council?
RONNY
BAR-GADDA
I am a 21 year resident of Palo
Alto, first as an apartment renter, then a condominium owner and finally a
homeowner. I have started up 3 companies and have managed them within budget.
The last company I raised over $12 million even in the midst of a recession. I
bring both experience with managing and operating businesses, as well as
working with city and state governments on various projects. I also bring a
fresh perspective and creative ideas.
BERN BEECHAM
I bring to
the City Council a set of leadership skills, experience and knowledge that our
community needs now more than ever. My
conservative voice on City fiscal matters will continue to be critical in
meeting short and long-term budgetary constraints. Under my leadership, the
Council passed and implemented my motion for a permanent 5% structural
reduction in city expenses. In addition, I called for a controlled
restructuring of City Hall, which was unanimously supported by both the Finance
Committee and the majority of my colleagues.
I voted to maintain commitment to preserving our infrastructure. My leadership will be critical in preserving
a sound financial and business structure for Palo Alto’s City-owned
utilities.
LADORIS CORDELL
I served as a State Court judge for almost 19 years, during which time I routinely analyzed complex material, balanced competing interests, and arrived at fair and sound decisions. This ability to be decisive, and move on, is an important quality for a City Council member. During three of these years, I was the Supervising Judge of the Family Court where I was able to forge the highest percentage of mediated settlements in the Court's history. I have served on many committees, including The Community Working Group for the Opportunity Center and the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (I am a past Chairperson), and have consistently had amicable and constructive relationships with my colleagues. As a Vice Provost at Stanford, I am responsible for a large and complex budget, and am experienced at making hard choices to reduce expenditures and balance the budget, while maintaining the quality of services.
JOHN FREDRICH
I have lived in Palo Alto for over 30 years, mostly as a renter
downtown. I have a couple of Stanford degrees and I served on and chaired
numerous committees at school and church. I teach on the south side (Gunn H.S.)
SKIP JUSTMAN
In 1976, 1 founded my real estate law practice. I have managed a
business budget during boom times as well as recessions. I know how to eliminate
wasteful spending and dedicate a percentage of revenues to future capital
needs.
NANCY LYTLE
I am an
energetic leader, homeowner and a parent of a school-age child. I have two
decades of municipal finance, redevelopment and city planning experience,
including 10 years in Palo Alto. Please
refer to my website at www.nancylytle.net for a more complete resume.
In my
first term as a Council Member, I voted against both oversized city operational
budgets and proposed making cuts based on resident priorities; worked for the
successful reopening of Terman Middle School and protection of Ventura School
as a future school site, championed library, park, sport field and tennis
upgrades now budgeted. I want to see my
efforts through to completion and assure we maintain the best schools,
libraries, parks and quality of life in the Bay Area here in Palo Alto.
JUDY KLEINBERG
I am the only practicing attorney on
the City Council. My expertise is often an advantage when legal matters are
being evaluated or when my colleagues want an unofficial “second opinion” when
dealing with advice from our City Attorney. I am also a credentialed mediator
and these skills have proven helpful when negotiating among stakeholders, as
when I was called upon to mend the breakdown in relations between the City and
the School District, which I was able to do over many months of negotiations
between the two organizations. I have earned a reputation for being
collaborative, bringing differing groups to agreement, and being a constructive
influence on the Council and among my colleagues.
I have extensive regional experience
working with Santa Clara County, and currently as a member of the Social
Services Advisory Commission, in providing comprehensive, cross-sector,
culturally sensitive social, health and mental health services. I am also the
only candidate who has worked as a child advocate on behalf of children and
family services at the local, regional, state and national level. This background
gives me the experience and network to promote more progressive and
comprehensive youth and family services in Palo Alto. In this regard, I
participated in the development of a Youth Master Plan for our community, and I
was able to secure my colleagues’ unanimous vote to allocate additional funds
in the current budget for increased services for frail seniors, the homeless,
the developmentally disabled, and youth leadership programming.
I have been actively involved in
promoting affordable housing for our City, taking an active role both on our
Council and regionally. As a member of the Santa Clara County Housing
Leadership Council, the Housing Action Coalition and the Silicon Valley
Manufacturing Group’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Teachers and Affordable
Housing, I have worked hard for legislation and funding strategies to support
and incentivize more affordable housing.
In my third year of trying, I was able to get a vote of the Council to
make affordable and attainable housing one of the City’s top five priorities. I
also initiated efforts that created a new City loan program to preserve below
market rate units.
I am actively involved
in open space preservation, not only as a Council member, but also as a
volunteer, which I have pursued for nearly 15 years. I am a former President of the Committee for Green Foothills,
during which time I led that organization’s successful advocacy for maintenance
of the greenbelt and coastal preservation throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo
counties. And I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Sempervirens
Fund, which preserves old growth redwoods in Santa Cruz County. I worked with one of my colleagues to secure
funding to purchase the Bressler property, a prime piece of land contiguous to
the Arastradero Preserve, saving the property from private development. And
with another colleague, I helped initiate the City’s Sustainability Plan under
which the City will use less, pollute less and waste less.
DENA MOSSAR
̊
Mayor, 2003
̊ Vice Mayor, 2002
̊ Member, Council Finance
Committee, 1998, 1999; Chair, 2000
̊ Member, Council
Policy and Services Committee, 2001-2002; Chair, 2001
̊ Member, National League of
Cities—Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Steering Committee,
2001-2003
̊ Delegate, National League
of Cities—Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee, 2003
̊ Chair, League of
California Cities—Community Services Policy Committee, 2002; Vice Chair, 2001;
Member, 1998-2002
̊ Member, League of
California Cities, Smart Growth Subcommittee, 2000-2001
̊ Delegate, Association of
Bay Area Governments, 1998-2000
̊ Director, Bay Area Air
Quality Management District, 1999 to present
̊ Director, Valley
Transportation Authority, 2002-2003
̊ Director, San Francisquito
Creek Joint Powers Authority, 1999 to present
̊ Director, Altamont Commuter
Express, 2002-2003
̊ Alternate
Commissioner, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, 2000 to present
̊ BCDC Delegate, Regional
Airport Planning Commission, 2003
̊ Chair, Santa Clara County
Pollution Prevention Committee, 2001-2002; Vice Chair 1999-2000; Member, 1998
̊ Delegate, Northwest Flood
Control Zone Advisory Committee, 2000-2001
̊ Chair, Valley
Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee, 2001; member 1998-2002
̊ Director, Santa Clara
Valley Housing Trust Fund, 2002
̊ Member, Blue Ribbon Task
Force: Teachers and Affordable Housing, 2003
̊ Delegate, San Francisco
Airport Runway Reconfiguration Committee, 1998-2000
̊ Founder, Palo Alto Try
Transit Campaign, 1996
̊ Founder, Special Event
Shuttle Program, 1996
̊ Member, Downtown Parking
Committee, 1993-1997
̊ Board Member, University
South Neighborhoods Group, 1994-1997
̊ Member, Comprehensive Plan
Advisory Committee, 1992 to 1995
̊ Alumni Advisor, Leadership
Midpeninsula—Environmental Issues, 1992-1998
̊ Co-chair, Research Park
Transportation Task Force, 1993-1997
̊ Founding Board Member,
Silicon Valley Pollution Prevention Center, 1995-1997
̊ Founding Member, Santa
Clara County Creeks Coalition 1993
̊ Member, Needs Assessment Committee,
United Way, 1997
̊
Member, Education and Outreach Committee, Housing Action Coalition
2. What do you consider the three most significant issues facing Palo Alto residents? What would you do to address these issues?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
Traffic Situation in Palo Alto:
The traffic issue is an important one for this community. A huge amount
of money has been expended for traffic blockers. My pointed questions as to the
legality of arbitrarily closing a public thoroughfare for the benefit of some
local homeowners, was brought up City Officials at the orientation meeting for
candidates. My position on this matter is that you cannot block public streets,
since I consider this as an illegal act, in that it is prejudicial
for the benefit of a minority of local residents at the expense of the majority
in Palo Alto. It also discriminates against the majority of Palo Altans, in so
far as they are not being treated in an equitable manner. Could you imagine
blocking every street in Palo Alto in order not to discriminate against
everyone? Their reply (at this meeting) was that this was considered as an
" experiment" and "temporary". I believe these statements
were made to get around the issue. The bottom line is that some residents will
benefit from this activity at the expense of all the other residents of Palo
Alto.
The issue of response
time also came up. Here are some interesting facts that residents of the City
may not be aware of: The number of fire calls has risen over 78 % in the last
five years; medical and rescue calls have increased over 12%; service calls
have increased by more than 116% while staffing in the fire department per
1,000 residents have remained flat. In addition, the same fire stations have
had to increase the number of residents served by over 500 per fire station in
the last five years. This increases the potential for a less safe environment
and increases our response time for emergencies. By creating a labyrinth of
traffic blockers we are courting disaster for our community. The present City
Council has seen fit to increase the administrative budget by 44% over a
five-year period at the expense of fire and police protection.
If there is an earthquake, fire, or other disaster, such as a medical
emergency, we are open to a lawsuit if it turns out that the cause of a death
or injury was due to increased response time from traffic blockers. There are
other prudent solutions that will work and does not entail pushing the problem
onto other communities or endangering lives. My program will ensure the
building of more parking garages, traffic bumps to slow traffic, as well as
establish a long- term regional plan for public transportation.
Administrative Overhead in
the City of Palo Alto: Statistically
speaking, approximately less than 1% of the population of the United States
(~284,000,000) was employed by the Federal Government. That number (2,700,000)
also includes our entire armed forces.
The State of California employs less than 0.6% 220,000) of the population (35,000,000). The City of Palo Alto
has about 1,200 employees servicing a population of about 60,000, amounting to
a percentage of 2%. Even if you subtract the utility employees from the total,
we still have over 30% more civil service workers than the entire Federal
government. As one can tell by the
numbers, the City of Palo Alto has a much higher percentage of the population
employed as civil servants compared to the state and federal level. On a local
level, comparing other cities with Palo Alto, the differences are even greater.
For example, Redwood City has about 9 employees per 1,000 residents (FY
1999-00) as compared to Palo Alto of 17 employees per 1,000 residents. Alameda,
which offers electric and telecom services to their residents, has about 15
employees per 1,000 residents served.
Although Palo Alto has over 350 utility employees our average
residential electric bill has increased by 27 per cent over five years. The
City of Santa Clara has a smaller average residential bill than the City of
Palo Alto. For the last century, Santa Clara utility customers have
enjoyed lower rates for utility services than many other communities in our
County. On a recent survey of 105 cities and agencies in the nine Bay area
counties, the City of Santa Clara provided the lowest combined water, sewer and
electric service charges! The City's residential electric rates have averaged
about 35% lower than rates from private companies in the surrounding areas.
If elected, I will ask the City Council to
review the organizational structure of the City. This will include a review of
the manpower allocation, remuneration and staffing levels in the City. Although
I consider layoffs as a last option for the reduction of
expenses, it will be reviewed along with other proposals and options for cost
cutting.
Affordable Housing: Smart growth for me entails cooperation not competition. The
City should encourage regular meetings between concerned citizens, business
leaders, government officials and developers. If there is a new development
that is desired, we must implement a City policy that ensures adequate parking.
This should be part of the building code. In addition, I would encourage the
instituting of an infrastructure tax. This tax would be implemented across the
board (new business, residents, etc.) However, it would be weighted so that the
most beneficial party would pay more of the tax. For example, if a large chain
or company desired to move into Palo Alto but did not attempt or prioritize the
hiring of local residents first, they (company or chain store) would pay the
preponderance of the tax. This is because there would be added stress to the
existing infrastructure since additional housing would be needed. However, if
the company or chain desired to hire local talent then the preponderance of the
tax would be levied more on the residents. Why? The reason is simple. The local
residents are the principal beneficiaries of the entity doing business here and
since local citizens are being hired, the stress on the existing infrastructure
would be diminished. Affordable housing is possible if a sane growth policy is
adopted.
Affordable housing will only result
if a comprehensive City and regional strategic plan is developed. I will
encourage the City Council to create public forums so that developers, residents
and business owners will co-create a vision for the City.
BERN BEECHAM
Manage the budget:
our budget will continue to be under pressure for the next several
years. We have successfully balanced
the budget by permanently reducing costs and overhead. But as the State is forced to do the same in
their budget, we must plan for further constraints in our own
expenditures. You ask what I will do –
I’m pleased to tell you what I have been able to accomplish just in the past
several months on our current budget. I
have already called for the City Manager to present to the Council a detailed
plan for restructuring City Hall (motion accepted by Council). I have also called for the City Auditor to
conduct a performance audit of the Community Services Department, our largest
department (accepted by Council). In
addition, I have moved that we increase capital funding over the next two years
(accepted by Council).
Restore trust and confidence in City leadership:
I will continue to build consensus within the community on difficult
issues. I believe I can work with all
my Council colleagues. Over the past
four years I have crafted joint memos with nearly all my fellow
Councilmembers. Further, I have
successfully advocated for open government, and continue to promote the
philosophy that our elected officials should be accessible to Palo Alto
residents on all issues.
Manage growth sensibly: Just as I
worked to moderate the Housing Element Update for our Comprehensive Plan, I
will continue to carefully assess how to achieve the housing required by state
law against their specific impacts on neighborhoods. I moved the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Study, specifically
incorporating Alma Plaza into the moratorium.
LADORIS CORDELL
I believe that the three most significant issues facing Palo Alto
residents are (1) traffic/safety; (2) affordable housing; and (3) the city's
budget. I am committed to protecting
school commute areas by implementing traffic calming measures, and by closely
monitoring proposed developments for traffic impacts, before approving these
developments. Please see my answer to
question #10 for more on this issue.
Truly affordable housing must continue to be a priority for our
City. Please see my answers to
questions #6 and #7.
Palo Alto's annual budget for 2003-2004 is $121
million. The budget for 2004-2005 is
$126 million. While it is commendable
that the City Council has passed a balanced budget, given the large size of our
budget, one wonders why we are left with inadequate revenues to fund our
libraries and other important infrastructure costs. I suggest that it is time for our City Council to undertake an
in-depth look at our City's budget to enable us to better understand and manage
it, so that we can fund clear community priorities such as libraries, athletic
fields, etc.
JOHN FREDRICH
Community Development and Quality of Life
Housing and Traffic
Honesty and Competence in Government
I would hope to broaden the range of opinions & improve
decision making by moving away from an ersatz concensus towards open
deliberations.
SKIP JUSTMAN
Deteriorating infrastructure ‑ I will seek a charter amendment to
require a dedication of revenues to infrastructure projects.
Deteriorating business climate ‑ I will require a new
mission statement from our Planning Department.
Lack of affordable housing ‑ I support a yes vote on Measure C.
NANCY LYTLE
There
is a structural budget problem. Escalating employee costs, the local
effects of the state deficit and the aging infrastructure are on a financial
collision course.
I voted against the last two budgets because the priorities
did not reflect community needs and they failed to address our structural
financial problems. We can solve our budget problems by cutting services in
areas that are low priority for Palo Altans.
For example, we should not have spent our money and staff
CIP resources on the Baylands Parking lot
project. Nobody wanted us to pave that parking lot beyond the current surface
treatment. On the other hand, everyone
wants to upgrade our libraries. The
hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on the parking lot and staff resources
to build it should go instead to the Children’s library. The grant funding for the lot should be
returned to the grant provider to be used on a project that is supported by the
community. This is just one example.
We also need to work collaboratively with other partners,
like the League of Cities and Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, to put an end
to ERAF shifts and retain local tax dollars locally.
We must continue updating and
modernizing our old infrastructure, like storm drains, police headquarters,
libraries and parks and fields. We have
now achieved capital commitments for sport fields and some modernization of our outdated library
system. That is a good start.
We need to complete our private and public match fundraising
and develop partners to eliminate wait lists for our children in team sports
and summer camps. And we must keep working
to make Palo Alto’s libraries a source of community pride again. We must move
forward on getting our entire infrastructure inventory up to snuff.
JUDY KLEINBERG
Fiscal reform and budget management through further reduction of
operating expenses while maintaining the high quality services that our
residents expect, and rebuilding trust and accountability about City financial
decisions
Promotion of pedestrian-oriented
neighborhoods
through protection of first floor retail services, traffic calming measures,
and our Zoning Ordinance Update (in compliance with our Comprehensive Plan) and
through continued capital investment in our parks, libraries, community service
facilities, and supporting infrastructure
Development of
neighborhood-compatible affordable housing, linking services such as parks and alternative
transportation, including shuttles and bike routes, to planning decisions.
DENA MOSSAR
Restructuring
city hall operations. I took the lead in directing our City Auditor to begin
operational audits of our largest and most costly department – Community
Services. Our Auditor is also at present, completing an operational audit of
our Planning Department. I believe that both of those audits will yield many
ideas for streamlining the way we do business with the community and will
enable us to reduce our budget and provide better service to the community.
Solving traffic problems. I have
supported increased police traffic patrols, voted to fund additional crossing
guards and worked aggressively for city/school traffic safety measures. My
leadership has resulted in a city-sponsored shuttle system, improved bicycle
and pedestrian access and national recognition as a "Bicycle Friendly
City."
Housing. I have been a strong advocate for infill housing in our community. I am committed to approve solid housing projects. I voted for 800 High, and support infill housing on other sites in the city that are transit oriented and designed to be sensitive to their surrounding environment.
3. What steps would you propose to increase City
revenues and/or reduce City spending to meet anticipated budget shortfalls?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
Please see the answers
to question 2.
BERN BEECHAM
* Through my leadership, we have achieved a balanced
budget that has cut expenditures by 5% overall while keeping reserves intact
and not cutting any critical service.
* See also comments in previous response.
* I will continue the work begun as a member of Economics Ad
Hoc Committee to strengthen partnerships with private enterprise, including
business-to-business, regional retail and neighborhood retail sectors to
increase sales tax revenues while providing needed services. Council passed my motion to develop policies
regarding supporting our nine auto dealerships.
LADORIS CORDELL
I would increase developer impact fees for new housing to cover more of
the actual costs that the City incurs from housing. Currently, developers are required to pay $6,930 per housing
unit, whereas the actual cost to the City is $10,329, leaving a deficit of
$3,399 per unit. (see City Manager's Report #188:02, dated March 25,
2002).Given our bleak financial situation and the lack of funds for library
expansion, new parks, new schools, and other infrastructure cost, it is imperative that new development pay
its own way.
See my answer to question #12, for ideas about being proactive in
bringing in more retail services to expand our city revenues, and my answer to
question #2 re a city budget review.
JOHN FREDRICH
Changes in Washington, D.C. and
Sacramento are needed. The Republican & Democratic parties are corrupt
influence peddlers ignoring the long term needs of theaantion. I’m for
reforming Prop 13, reducing Bush tax cuts & locally (as a council person)
eliminating some middle management.
SKIP JUSTMAN
I would reduce the
Planning Department budget by $3,000,000 a year.
NANCY LYTLE
I championed the
institution of development impact fees for parks and community centers, and
more equitable fees for traffic controls and housing. I also promote the use of
tax increment in the Cal Ventura area and some segments of El Camino Real. High
quality redevelopment of retail will boost City revenues.
Spending reduction can be accomplished by negotiating with
employee unions to share escalating benefit costs, reducing operational and
capital spending on areas that are not priorities for Palo Alto residents, and
auditing all contracts to reduce redundancy and dependency on contractors for
services that are low priority (using instead services in-house).
JUDY KLEINBERG
I would raise the TOT
rate (the hotel transient occupancy tax) to be competitive with our neighboring
cities, which would bring in millions of dollars a year depending on how much
was raised. I would also work with local businesses to negotiate their
designation of Palo Alto as the point of sale for their businesses, thus
capturing now lost sales tax revenue. And I support an organizational audit of
City services and would continue the present structural reorganization,
especially in keeping with the audit findings and recommendations, to
streamline management while maintaining the highest level of direct service to
residents and businesses. Finally, future contract negotiations with unions
must address in a collaborative way the escalating costs of retirement
benefits.
DENA MOSSAR
I support
restructuring City Hall, so that we can run a “leaner and meaner” organization
and continue to provide the services we treasure at a time when both the State
and Federal governments are reducing our revenues. I also support working with
the League of California Cities to encourage the State to return control of our
local tax dollars back to the cities in which we live.
4. What changes in organizational structure or
services, if any, do you believe should be made to our City-owned utilities to
ensure that they serve our residents well?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
Having worked in the energy field both in management and
also as an inventor; I invented a garbage-to-gasoline process as well as a new
hydrogen from water process technology, there are many things that can be done
to improve service and lower rates. First, I would introduce an equitable
net-metering program to lower utility rates. This would empower homeowners to
invest in their future while potentially profiting from creating their own
energy. In this deregulated environment, city municipalities must find ways to
leverage their assets and influence in order to get better utility rates. We
now flare off the biogas at the City dump. That precious energy can be best
utilized within our utility system.
A complete review of
the contracts made by the City Council should be done as a priority. In July of
1999, the City Council signed a 20 year agreement with the Western Area Power
Administration starting in 2005. This contract will substantially change the
way energy will be provided to the City. Because the power will come from
hydroelectric sources, the energy provided will vary with hydro-conditions. The
result as stated by the Utilities Department will " leave the City with a
substantial "energy gap" starting in 2005 that varies by year by
month and by hour". The second part of the contract is undefined and will
require substantial department resources to define what will be delivered to
the City. As the Department admits in its overview, " supply costs are
projected to increase substantially, compared to past years, as the City makes
supply commitments to fill the energy deficit starting in 2005". Who ever
heard of signing a contract in which prices and energy type is not known?
BERN BEECHAM
* Our utilities comprise one
of the best municipally-owned utilities in the state. Its overall structure has proven sound as we and other muni’s
have emerged strengthened after the energy chaos of the last several
years. Nonetheless, we need to ensure
our utilities have sound “cost accounting”.
* In the last budget cycle, I supported the
separation of expenses by city employees who support Utilities from General
Fund employees. In addition, I
requested that the City Auditor assess the expense relationship between the
General Fund and Utilities.
* I will continue to work with cities in our region
to assert appropriate control over our Hetch Hetchy water supply, managed by
San Francisco.
* We have the opportunity to enter a new utility area
– Fiber to the Home (FTTH). We need to
look at this opportunity with an open mind, assessing both the possible
benefits to residents and the inherent risks.
LADORIS CORDELL
It is important to distinguish between our City Utilities and the Public
Works Enterprise Fund, both of which are owned by the City. The Fund's employees (app. 111) address refuse, storm drains, and water
quality. Our Utilities employ 234
individuals for gas, electric, water, wastewater, and fiber optics. Our Utility's budget is separate from the
General Fund. Recently, streets lights,
traffic signals, street sweeping, and sidewalk washing were shifted from the
General Fund to Utilities. This means
that a general city expense has now been passed on to ratepayers i.e. Palo Alto
residents. To better understand the
impact of the Enterprise Fund and Palo Alto Utilities upon city revenues and
upon our residents, and before recommending any service or organizational
changes, I suggest that our City Council undertake an in-depth review of the
City's utility budget.
JOHN
FREDRICH
Some part of these revenues should be unavailable for
transfer to the general fund except for utility infrastructure. I don’t know if
that’s currently the case.
SKIP
JUSTMAN
I support fiber to the
home.
NANCY LYTLE
We
need a full audit and inventory of all City contracts. It would make sense to put an oversight
committee, working with our Auditor, in charge of reviewing status and
redundancy of all City contracts. The
focus would be to reduce contract dependency and bring more services in house.
No expansion of staffing is justified in this economy and we should utilize
attrition and reorganization to reduce the size of the organization.
The size of the organization should be reduced at the top as
well. I would strongly support a Charter amendment to reduce Council size to
seven members.
JUDY KLEINBERG
I believe our Utilities department has been a leader in delivering high
quality, reliable and sustainable services to residents and businesses. The
proposal for adding fiber to the home as a new City utility is a visionary
proposal worth careful evaluation for value and cost. We should increase our proportion of utilities that are from
renewable resources and look for opportunities to streamline the organizational
structure to reduce costs.
DENA MOSSAR
City-ownership of our utilities remains a great decision for our community. Our utility rates have remained highly competitive with other providers. Palo Alto is among the top 10 users of green energy in the nation. Utility taxes have enabled our continued $6 million investment in local schools. I support continued efforts to increase water and energy conservation and the use of alternative energy.
5.
Do you believe that any of our
infrastructure (parks, libraries, recreational facilities, schools, etc.) is inadequate for our current
population? If so, please explain what
specific improvements are needed and how you would fund them.
RONNY BAR-GADDA
In this tight environment, we need to make sure that
the infrastructure does not fall into disrepair. My priority, if elected, will
be to sustain the infrastructure during these difficult times.
BERN
BEECHAM
*
We have an infrastructure deficit in several areas – and Palo Alto is
not alone in this. Cities across
California acknowledge the need to maintain and improve our
infrastructure.
* According to National Park Standards, Palo Alto
needs additional parkland to accommodate current population. My work to ensure new parkland and athletic
field space at Mayfield will help to meet this need. Additional work needs to be done to create usable parkland to
serve the neighborhood surrounding Greer Park, and a new park in the South of
Forest neighborhood.
* The new soccer fields at Mayfield will provide the
ideal test for synthetic turf. Should
it prove successful there, synthetic turf, where appropriate taking into account
neighborhood compatibility concerns, can extend the usability of our existing
fields.
* Libraries need renovation and repair. We cherish our branch library system,
providing library access to neighborhood residents across Palo Alto. The successful public-private partnership
that is working to repair and improve Children’s Library to meet current and
future needs is an example of what we can achieve. Other libraries, recreational facilities and community centers
across town will need improvement.
* The City will continue to lease the Cubberley community center from PAUSD, providing $6M per year to the school district. This supplements development impact fees in providing funds critically needed by our schools. I will continue work begun earlier to partner with the schools to explore areas of common interest, including traffic safety.
LADORIS CORDELL
Our libraries are severely in need of expansion, and are totally
inadequate for the current needs of our community (much less the additional
demands of future growth). This is
unacceptable in a community which
values learning as much as Palo Alto does.
Our schools are overcrowded. In
the elementary schools, there are so many portables that they are encroaching
on the space for children to play. Our high schools are also overcrowded. It may be necessary to open a third high
school at Cubberly, which would exacerbate the already inadequate community
service space in south Palo Alto. Our
Comprehensive Plan calls for a two-acre park for every 1,000 residents; and, we
are already out of compliance with that requirement. Even if developers pay a park impact fee, we lack available land
on which to build new parks. Fixing
these inadequacies is a major challenge in tough financial times. We must allocate part of our budget every
year for the repair and expansion of these services, including the acquisition
of more public land.
Developer impact fees should be raised to cover the FULL
proportionate increase in demand created for these services. Our City is too focused on more and more
housing growth without concurrent planning for the services that must accompany
the increase in population, such as new schools, parks, libraries, etc.. This balance must be corrected.
JOHN FREDRICH
All of them…But it’s a question of economics…As I
said, I believe state & federal taxes for the richest people in our society
are too low (question 3)
SKIP JUSTMAN
We need to rededicate our general revenues to parks, libraries, etc. by
reducing the Planning Department budget by $3 million a year.
NANCY LYTLE
Yes. Our libraries
are inadequate, as was documented in the library bond effort. Our parks do not meet national standards,
particularly for district park facilities, as documented in the Comp Plan EIR. Our schools are overcrowded, particularly at
the high school and north Palo Alto elementary level. We have insufficient facilities for children’s sports and summer
camps, as documented in our Fields Subcommittee Report.
The first step was the institution of impact fees. Next, we need to put more teeth into our
Subdivision Ordinance to require exactions as part of the re-mapping of
property. New taxes in Palo Alto are difficult to achieve, as evidenced by both
the failed library and storm drain bond ballot measures.
I propose we redirect our capital program to these
facilities on an urgent basis.
I also promote working at the State level with partners to
reduce the 2/3 voter approval requirement for libraries, schools and park
bonds. And I support tax increment as a
partner in financing these facilities.
JUDY KLEINBERG
Our infrastructure had fallen behind in meeting the
needs of the changing population in our community, especially with respect to
the needs of young families. Our parks and libraries are in greater demand
today than ever, and our Children’s Library, Museum and Zoo, and Children’s
Theatre are all in need of renovation and upgrades. The south neighborhoods of
the City especially need expanded and refurbished libraries and community facilities.
The failure of the Mitchell Park Library/Community Center effort should be
studied and a new scaled-down plan developed as soon as practicable. We’ve done
a good job upgrading parks in the past five years and the current focus on
improvements and upgrades is commendable and reaping tangible results.
We need more land for playing fields, micro-parks for neighborhoods that don’t have parks now, and mixed-use development and redevelopment of under-utilized property. I believe our Capital Improvement Plan, which for too long went under funded, is now being funded at a greater rate and we need to further increase our investment and timeline in these upgrading facilities.
As we look for ways to fund infrastructure
improvements, the investment/staffing priorities should focus on:
*
preservation of emergency services and safety strategies/systems (safe streets
and school corridors through traffic calming methods and alternative
transit/shuttle support, emergency response time, neighborhood preparedness)
* utility service personnel and top-quality equipment and service
* community services (libraries, parks, senior, youth
and homeless services)
DENA MOSSAR
We have a
rich mix of city facilities and services. We need to continue to dedicate
significant resources for their protection and enhancement. It is clear that
libraries are crowded and need repair, and that we need more playing fields.
All of these things cost money and we will need to set our budgetary priorities
in order to meet these needs.
6. How would you harmonize the State/ABAG housing
requirements with infrastructure needs (including parks, libraries, recreation
facilities, schools and roads) relating to that level of growth?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
Please see previous
answer.
BERN BEECHAM
* Palo Alto must continue to provide housing to meet requirements the State defined when approving our Housing Element Update. This update calls for zoning that will allow 250 affordable units to be built, not concentrated in one area of the city, but on carefully-defined sites in various parts of Palo Alto.
* As earlier, we must continually improve infrastructure to meet needs
of a growing population, and must manage growth in conjunction with our need
for parks, libraries, recreation facilities, schools and roads.
LADORIS CORDELL
I am committed to building more truly affordable housing in our
community and am proud to say that I serve on the Community Working Group which
created the Opportunity Center in Palo Alto.
I oppose current City policies which allow developers to count units as
"affordable" when they are
not actually affordable to our teachers, police, and firefighters. For example,
the units at 800 High Street may require an occupant to have an income of
$60,000 or more to purchase them. Too,
the "affordable" units at 800 High Street are too small to
comfortably accommodate the needs of even a small family.
I favor reasonable levels of development. I am opposed to over development, by which I
mean more development than can be absorbed in a given location without
unacceptably high impacts on traffic, safety, noise, etc. I will work diligently to satisfy the
State/ABAG housing requirements; however, I will not support projects which are
excessive. Our current City planning
pushes too much development in areas which already have too much traffic,
endangering children walking and bicycling to school. I favor looking for new locations for housing to minimize and spread
the impacts, and to focus development in areas which are either in walking
distance to train stations and supporting retail, or near the freeway to reduce
traffic impacts. As a Council member I
would make every effort to meet the State/ABAG requirements within the
above-listed constraints.
JOHN FREDRICH
I believe broader
revenue sharing & larger community block grant funding is necessary. The
federal housing assistance monies were gutted in the Reagan tax cuts.
SKIP JUSTMAN
I would support the purchase of existing apartments by the Palo Alto Housing Corporation. This would increase affordable housing without increasing density.
NANCY LYTLE
We
can meet our ABAG requirement and keep pace providing infrastructure to our
growing population, daytime and 24 hour. But we have to acknowledge and
understand those numbers and plan accordingly.
We have been in “denial.” A 1990
to 2000 census analysis and demographic projection update for Palo Alto has yet
to be performed. It is unfortunate that
an educated community is functioning in a climate of ignorance on a matter so
important to our future.
Parkland should be provided at a rate of four acres (2
district and 2 neighborhood) per thousand as national standards require and our
Comp Plan. These are not a luxury items. They are necessities. We must preserve
school sites, like Ventura, so that we can reopen them to meet populations
projections. We should not ignore our
responsibility to plan ahead. We need
to build all-affordable housing projects and develop partnerships for doing so.
One partner is the Palo Alto Redevelopment Agency. This is the largest finance source for affordable housing in our
state, and Palo Alto has refused to use it.
We must also work at the state level on legislation to
reduce the 2/3 voter majority requirement for library and school facility
financing, at minimum.
JUDY KLEINBERG
We must meet our ABAG
fair share responsibilities through the development of neighborhood-compatible
affordable housing, linking services such as parks and alternative
transportation, including shuttles and bike routes, to planning decisions. We
must look for ways to allocate housing units that discourages densities that
overwhelm nearby neighborhood streets and facilities, and that is why I have
pushed for our new Zoning Ordinance to rezone areas of the City that are
currently commercial to a mixed-use or residential zone, which may provide
incentives for housing in less dense areas such as along the eastern
now-commercial corridor of the City (along 101) where empty office buildings could
be converted into housing or mixed uses.
One of the major challenges is to provide for affordable and
attainable senior housing. The senior population is the fastest growing
population in our City and seniors need and want affordable alternative housing
that allows them to remain as residents while reducing their housing burden.
Senior housing is relatively low on infrastructure burdens (fewer car trips,
for example). We must also consider a program for land banking, whereby the
City would create a fund to buy up parcels for later affordable housing
development.
DENA MOSSAR
For 30 years, Palo Alto has had a successful housing program. The program requires below market housing to be included in every residential development. We have also required in lieu fees for commercial developments. Last year, when I was Vice-Mayor, we increased these in lieu fees from 10 – 15%. In lieu fees have been effectively used to build successful affordable housing like Alma Place and Oak Court.
7. What specific steps would you take to create
sufficient affordable housing to ensure economic diversity?
RONNY
BAR-GADDA
A comprehensive housing
plan. What the city residents need to ask is where do they want Palo Alto to be
in the next 10 or 20 years? What kind of City do we want? Before we can answer
your question intelligently, it is important to define the Vision for Palo
Alto.
BERN BEECHAM
* I have championed affordable housing, and support
implementation of the Housing Element Update as approved by the State. Specifically, I have supported the increased
requirement for Below-Market-Rate housing, increasing from 10 to 15% for
parcels under 5 acres, and from 15 to 20% for parcels 5 acres or greater. This will improve our ability to achieve
economic diversity.
* Economic diversity is critical to a thriving
community. I will continue to support
projects such as the Opportunity Center and
Oak Court, just as I have previously supported Alma Place and Lytton 4.
All provide low and very low income
rentals. I also support mixed use projects that provide ownership opportunities
at costs below comparable market rate units.
LADORIS
CORDELL
As I wrote in response to question #6, I am committed to building more truly affordable housing in our community and am proud to say that I serve on the Community Working Group which created the Opportunity Center in Palo Alto. Our finest affordable housing developments are those which we have built using funds derived substantially from developer impact fees and grants, such as Webster Woods, Alma Place, and Arastradero Parks Apartments. I support the developer set-aside requirement, which requires developers to make 15%-20% of new units "affordable." (The requirement is a 15% set-aside for sites less than 5 acres; and 20% set-aside for sites which are 5 acres or more.) However, I would change the guidelines to make sure that these units are priced in a truly affordable range (See my answers to questions #6, supra. and #13 infra.). The City needs to work harder to secure public and private grant funding for affordable housing since reliance upon the developer set-asides results in a greater volume of housing than our existing infrastructures can absorb.
JOHN FREDRICH
Again all of America needs federal help with
this; I support BMR programs, expansion of entitled housing & Section 236
subsidies.
SKIP JUSTMAN
I would seek to build 10‑20 units at the City owned substation on
Alma.
NANCY
LYTLE
The following three steps;
* Get our zoning code
updated and applied to the maps.
* Use our Redevelopment tools to partner with developers in
the Cal Ventura area for affordable housing production and mixed use
(redeveloping in collaboration with important retail generating tenants like
Fry’s electronics).
* Partner with non-profits and others to find sites and put
projects together as we have done
in the past many
decades. Today we have the advantage of the market being pro-housing
and we should seize
the moment.
JUDY KLEINBERG
I would continue to
work, as I have in the past four years, to create affordable and attainable
housing for residents of lower income levels.
I have been actively involved in promoting affordable housing for our
City, taking an active role both on our Council and regionally. As a member of
the Santa Clara County Housing Leadership Council, the Housing Action Coalition
and the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Teachers
and Affordable Housing, I have worked hard for legislation and funding
strategies to support and incentivize more affordable housing, as well as
market rate housing as called for in our Comprehensive Plan (Goal H-1).
In my third year of trying, I was able to get a vote of the
Council to make affordable and attainable housing one of the City’s top five
priorities. I also initiated efforts that created a new City loan program to
preserve below market rate units. And I
took a lead in helping protect the affordable mobile home units in south Palo
Alto through mediation and a protective ordinance.
I will continue to work on my proposal for the City of Palo
Alto to collaborate with the School District to co-develop the city-owned Alma
Street substation into affordable and attainable housing for school staff and
city emergency/utilities staff.
DENA MOSSAR
I will continue to use every opportunity to build affordable housing and to protect existing affordable housing from being converted to market-rate housing. I am especially interested in finding opportunities for housing that are close to neighborhood commercial services and Caltrain.
8. Our zoning code allows “planned community”
projects to exceed the zoning rules that would otherwise apply in exchange for
a “public benefit”. Do you favor
retention of this zoning category? Do
you favor modifying it in any way?
RONNY
BAR-GADDA
Like any project, each case would have to be
reviewed on an individual basis.
BERN BEECHAM
Planned
Community zoning has become more controversial in recent years and needs refinement. Many of the facilities which we now value
have been possible only by use of PC zones.
These facilities include Lytton Gardens, Alma Place and the Opportunity
Center.
LADORIS CORDELL
I support a very limited use of the "planned community" provision. The planned community exception allows a
developer to circumvent applicable zoning limits on density, height, and
floor-area ratio. Our zoning codes were
drafted to balance a developer's need for profit against the impacts on
neighboring properties. Therefore, deviation from these rules is not, in
general, good public policy.
Additionally, the "public benefit" component of a planned
community is poorly defined and can include, for example, a piece of art, or
something else vastly smaller in community benefit than the bonus received by
the developer. I view the planned community as an exception, rather than the
rule. This means that I would support a planned community only rarely and when
the public benefit is substantial and is proportionate to the benefit given to
the developer. Finally, I would redraft the portion of the planned community
provision to clearly define the term "public benefit."
JOHN FREDRICH
Maybe I favor an immediate moratorium on PC zoning
until the south of Forest, Rickey’s & Elks zoning & JCC (old Philco
& Sun site) issues are settled, or as a key part of that settlement.
SKIP JUSTMAN
I support PC planning but would seek to limit it to
one acre sites.
NANCY
LYTLE
I
would put a moratorium on this tool until we get our zoning ordinance
updated. It is being abused in the
meantime.
JUDY KLEINBERG
While there may have been
instances of poorly developed PC projects in the past, I don’t think this tool
should be completely abandoned. It needs to be revised with defined significant
public benefits, such as those proposed in the SOFA II Plan, and a cap on the
size of PC developments may be needed in all zones.
DENA MOSSAR
The Comprehensive Plan allows for special development rules for transit-oriented housing sites (such as a 25% density bonus for building affordable housing projects). Until the Zoning Ordinance Update is completed, planned community zoning is the only tool available to build such housing. I believe that Council has to look very carefully at the public benefits of particular projects and make sure that they are indeed worth the exchange of development rights.
9.
The Comprehensive Plan calls for
consideration of a new Transit-Oriented Residential zoning category which would
allow multifamily housing up to 50 units per acre in commercial areas that are
within 2,000 feet (walking distance) of a train station. Should this category be applied outside this
radius (such as along El Camino Real), and if so, under what
circumstances? Should Transit-Oriented
Residential zoning, wherever it is applied, also require a mixed-use component?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
As stated before, we
must have a comprehensive strategic plan for both housing and transportation.
Transit oriented zoning should apply to all public transit arteries. We should
aim at a society where commuting to work should be done by public transit.
Europe is an example of this. Cars should be used for discretionary activities
only (e.g. shopping, restaurants, visiting, touring, etc.)
BERN BEECHAM
* Transit-Oriented Residential
development was envisioned in the 1998 Comprehensive Plan to apply to areas
within 2,000 feet of CalTrain stations.
The Housing Element Update provides limited exceptions that will need
justification for projects on an individual basis.
* Mixed use may be a desirable component of TOR developments
but should not be a required component.
LADORIS CORDELL
I strongly believe that the new Transit Oriented Residential (TOR) Zone should be limited to sites within
2,000 feet of a train station. Busses
are not widely used in Palo Alto because services in our community are spread
throughout town such that the bus routes are not located where people need to
go. If high density housing is
constructed along bus routes, huge traffic impacts will be created because the
residents will have to drive everywhere they need to go. I would also tie the TOR Zone to areas where
there are retail services to meet the daily needs of the residents in order to
keep traffic impacts at a livable level.
It would be good to include mixed-uses in new
high density housing projects, if the mixed use is closely integrated with the
daily needs of the residents. I would
not, however, give density bonuses for these mixed uses over and above the 50
units per acre already allowed, because that density already allows for more
growth than we can probably absorb, given the infrastructure shortages I
highlighted in my response to question #5, supra.
JOHN FREDRICH
This sounds like more
PC type varience that needs holistic analysis with the issues I cite in
question 8.
SKIP JUSTMAN
Transit oriented residential zoning would
not be appropriate all along El Camino Real. Where appropriate this zoning
could be applied provided housing was included in any project.
NANCY LYTLE
It
should not be applied to all areas within the radius that are meant to be
retained , like single family
neighborhoods. It should be applied to
areas a bit outside the radius when
these areas are within perceived convenient distance to the transit center
(Psychographic distance rule). The two
best examples are the Town and Country property and the Fry’s electronics site.
On some sites mixed use is definitely desired, like at Fry’s
and Town and Country. It depends on the site
JUDY KLEINBERG
Although the Comp Plan calls for
this density within 2,000 feet of a “transit center,” not specifically a “train
station,” I believe that bus routes do not justify the same density as train
station areas because this transit is not as productive in creating trip
reductions as trains. In addition, it’s not as pedestrian-oriented, which is an
important goal for transit-oriented housing development.
I believe “TOR” zoning should
require a mixed-use component that could be either horizontal or vertical,
placing retail services within a contiguous pedestrian-accessible area. In
particular, I would push for nearby small retail services, such as dry cleaners
and grocery stores, scaled to the neighborhood and addressing local needs.
DENA MOSSAR
This
zoning category will be especially useful for residential projects that are
very close to Caltrain stations and are easily accessible to these stations by
shuttle, walking or bicycling. I support the inclusion of a mixed-use component
in this zone to encourage residents not to drive.
10.
Many Palo Alto residents want to reduce
speeding and cut-through traffic on local and collector streets, as well as
improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, including school commute
routes. Others are concerned about how
to reduce backups and increase safety on our major streets, especially
residential arterials. As a City Council member, how would you address these
concerns? What solutions to our city’s traffic problems would you support?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
See
answer number 2.
BERN BEECHAM
I am a
strong proponent of traffic calming.
The City’s experience in recent years is that each neighborhood has
different needs and tolerance for various traffic calming techniques. I support our continuing to work with
neighborhoods on an individual basis to determine the best fit for the
neighborhood and community needs.
LADORIS CORDELL
I would tie future land
use decisions more closely with traffic studies, limiting future development in
areas where there are existing traffic safety problems so as to not exacerbate
existing problems and shift traffic to local residential streets where it would
create even worse safety problems. I am
committed to protecting school commute areas from significant increased
traffic, and to conducting trials of traffic calming devises in these
areas. If the measures are successful,
I would implement them permanently.
Trials are necessary, rather than immediate permanent implementation, in
order to ensure that we are improving the situation, rather than making it
worse. I oppose measures that would divert traffic to residential streets which
cannot absorb additional traffic safely.
Traffic should only be diverted from local streets to arterials and
collectors (not to other local streets), or from residential arterials to
collectors. Essential to conducting the traffic studies is gathering input from
the community, which include those who reside on the heavily trafficked
streets, those who reside on neighboring streets, as well as business owners in
the vicinity.
JOHN FREDRICH
Reduce car travel, put
Bart around the Bay as an integrated system.
SKIP JUSTMAN
I support traffic calming through police ticketing of offenders.
NANCY LYTLE
I have supported traffic calming and I think the “trial
period” is a good way to test effectiveness and determine the level of support
for the measures. These measures work if a super majority of the residents
support the measures after the trial.
If there remains a 50% 50% split
in support after the trial, it is impractical for the City to impose or enforce
the measures
JUDY KLEINBERG
I was pleased to make the motion, supported by my
colleagues, to make school corridors the top priority for our traffic calming
projects. I have supported the various pilot traffic calming projects that have
been initiated in our City and we are learning a great deal about what types of
measures will work to improve safety while moving traffic along at a safe
speed, but at the same time not creating cut-through traffic problems on side
streets or annoyances to drivers that actually result in more dangerous
driving. In this regard, I prefer that we take the least draconian measures
first to create safer streets, such as speed tables rather than speed bumps,
which slow down only the speeding drivers, while those observing the regular
speed limit are not inconvenienced and can maintain their usual progress.
I also pushed for the installation of speed
monitoring signage, which is now installed at various routes in the City. These
are proving a great tool for slowing drivers and making our streets safer,
while maintaining traffic flow. We still must tackle the problem of oversized
trucks on residential streets, such as the east portion of University Avenue.
DENA MOSSAR
I support
continuing to build a strong working partnership with the School District to
enhance our Safe Routes to School program. I support continued efforts to
improve bicycle and pedestrian accessibility throughout the City. I was
instrumental in creating our citywide shuttle. I voted for the neighborhood
traffic-calming program and believe these programs are most effective in
dealing with safety for children, seniors and bicyclists.
I am committed to
eliminating cut-through traffic, especially traffic diversion onto residential
streets that were never intended to be arterials.
11. Discuss how you would use corridor studies
to analyze the aggregate impacts of future development on traffic and infrastructure
(school, parks, libraries, and recreation facilities). What streets might benefit from inclusion in
such a corridor study?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
A comprehensive traffic
plan is needed to anticipate future growth. Piece-meal solutions will not solve
the problems but rather exacerbate them. I will call forth, if elected, a forum
for all residents to be in attendance in order to develop a strategic traffic
plan. What is needed right away is more public parking in all business
districts, traffic bumps on major through-fares, additional 4 way lights and
stop signs and more remote monitoring equipment for traffic violators.
BERN BEECHAM
The Charleston corridor study
analyzes the aggregate impacts of multiple, local developments on traffic. The Comprehensive Plan adequately addresses
other impacts of multiple, local developments.
LADORIS CORDELL
I would use corridor studies to analyze all the aggregate impacts in
areas where substantial
amounts of development are being planned to determine what level of
growth can be
accommodated in that area. I
disagree with the approach the City Council is taking with the
Charleston Corridor Study, currently underway, because that study is
limited to traffic
impacts and ignores the impacts of as many as 970 units (including the
proposed
development at the Hyatt, the possible development at the Elks, the
Campus for Jewish Life,
and other sites listed in the Housing Site Inventory) on our parks,
schools, libraries, and
recreational facilities. Smart
growth requires matching new housing with expanded
infrastructure. Current City
planning policies focus on more high density housing
development without concurrent plans for expanding our infrastructure to
accommodate our
growth. I would use corridor
studies to analyze the full range of impacts and ensure that our
land use decisions are tied to the level which can be absorbed without
an unacceptable
decline in quality of life. I
would consider a corridor study in other areas which are slated
for substantial amounts of development.
There are other areas which may require comprehensive traffic studies
for existing
traffic problems (such as Churchill and Channing) where there is
currently minimal
development planned and so no need to study infrastructure impacts.
JOHN FREDRICH
Further inability to reduce car traffic leads
to reducing quality of life even more. All East-west arterials & Alma,
Middlefield need analysis.
SKIP JUSTMAN
I support grade
separations at Charleston and East Meadow
NANCY LYTLE
I would use these studies to assure we maintain appropriate
quality of life in our community and keep our infrastructure upgraded in pace
with the impacts of growth. The studies
are a tool to predict the ramifications of development on our level of service
at intersections, school safety, parks and recreation facility crowding, etc….
JUDY KLEINBERG
I voted to support the Charleston
Corridor Traffic Study, which will delay the final approval of some
developments but which I supported because it will give us reliable data from
which residents and the City Council can make informed decisions about the
impacts of these proposals on safety and traffic flow in the surrounding areas.
I believe these studies should not only allow for analysis, but for specific
recommendations of measures for ensuring that we have improved the safety of
these corridors for pedestrians and bicycle riders, as well as vehicular
safety.
DENA MOSSAR
I
advocated and voted for the staff proposal to initiate the Charleston Corridor
study. This study will be an excellent opportunity to implement measures that
will improve safety for bicycles and pedestrians, especially our children and
seniors. This study also provides an excellent opportunity to test and evaluate
safety measures that have not been in place in the past.
12. What steps would you take to revitalize our
neighborhood retail, regional retail and business-to-business sales sectors?
RONNY BAR-GADDA
The city wastes our
money by hiring a public relations staff to the tune of a $500,000 budget. Yet
businesses are failing and tax revenue is decreasing. Other cities have solved
this problem by assisting local business to flourish. By promoting the unique
qualities of our local businesses, the City can assist in marketing, education
and guidance with local businesses to improve their competitiveness. It is not
a well-known fact that local businesses are price competitive with large
outside chains. The City has at least two other major business districts that are
being ignored. Isn't it time to give equal weight to all business districts?
The life-blood of the City is local businesses, since they are the entities
that reinvest the money locally. If the City courts the Walgreen's, Longs,
etc., the people of Palo Alto should realize that these stores will not
reinvest the revenue generated by the shoppers in the local community.
BERN BEECHAM
As
mentioned earlier, I have worked with the Economics Ad Hoc Committee to foster
and improve the city’s economic strength.
I authored the memo to colleagues to protect ground floor retail
city-wide and will continue to work with my colleagues to enhance retail
operations that serve residents.
LADORIS CORDELL
There is a great need to increase our neighborhood retail services to
provide more businesses catering to the everyday needs of residents within
walking distances of their homes. These
services will help reduce our daily number of car trips, and provide more
neighborhood gathering spots, thus fostering a greater sense of community. I oppose any re-zoning of existing
neighborhood retail properties. I
favor re-zoning some of our vacant office properties to retail use, both to
serve residents and to bolster our tax revenues. I believe that the City should make a greater effort to attract
new retail services, and to try to influence the types of new businesses which
open so that we can avoid excessive duplication of uses, such as two drug
stores or nail salons on the same street.
We need to make more proactive efforts to
attract regional retail services (i.e.,
Trader Joe's, book and music stores, etc.) in appropriate locations to increase our tax revenues. The recent loss of an auto dealership on
Embarcadero Road (next to Ming's) had a substantial and negative impact upon
our tax base. I would direct Staff to
work more closely with key businesses to meet their needs and concerns, so that
we can promote their longevity in our City. We are losing some of our business-to-business
sales to other communities at a significant loss in local tax revenues. I would explore establishing a City policy
favoring City purchasing contracts with companies that keep these services in
Palo Alto. The idea, in the end, is to make Palo Alto a more business-friendly
environment, while at the same time balancing the needs of businesses with the
need to maintain the integrity of our neighborhoods.
JOHN FREDRICH
I would listen to what
these business people can agree needs to be done & support their best
knowledge.
SKIP JUSTMAN
I would seek a new mission statement for the Planning Department that
reduces the delay and expense of business remodels.
NANCY LYTLE
We
must preserve our only small business-to-business districts from being wiped
out by gentrification of luxury housing construction. The only three areas of
our community that provide for these services are at risk of private market
shift to housing development under current zoning: SOFA and Downtown North Frame, Transport Area and Cal
Ventura. We must protect these business
areas and do it soon. Already we have
received applications for housing in the wrong places and it will be the end of
business-to-business in Palo Alto!
Neighborhood retail needs to be revitalized through the
private market by allowing a reasonable redevelopment scheme at Alma and
Edgewood. Parking should be provided
and housing should not supplant the need for walkable retail destinations and
appropriately sized modern grocery stores with other convenient and attractive
shops.
We should be working TODAY, with regional retailers like
Fry’s to redevelop the site for mixed use using our Redevelopment Agency as a
partner. We should not wait until their
lease has almost come to term. What are
we thinking?
JUDY KLEINBERG
I was pleased to take the lead on the Council
in proposing the neighborhood retail preservation ordinance. These local
service providers are critical to the vibrancy of neighborhoods and to
promoting walkable, safe neighborhoods, thereby reducing traffic. We need to continue to promote strategies
and make land use decisions that protect neighborhood retail services, such as
has been so successful in the Midtown area.
To revitalize regional retail and
business-to-business sales, the City of Palo Alto should create a quarterly City-Business
Roundtable bringing residents, city officials, and business leaders together to
work on collaborative strategies in a creative, proactive manner. Currently, we
are too reactive. I also support the creation of a business license so that we
can track business activity and be of better service and support to businesses
already here, as well as to know of opportunities for new businesses to locate
here.
DENA MOSSAR
I support continuing work to identify priority businesses and to develop plans to help these businesses thrive. I support continuing partnerships, like “Shop Palo Alto,” with the Chamber of Commerce, the non-profit and school community and neighborhood associations. I support strong retail protection for our neighborhood centers
13.
What lessons did you learn from 800 High
Street that you would use to improve the decision-making process for future
projects?
RONNY
BAR-GADDA
There should be rules in the planning and zoning code that would incorporate the needs for parking, traffic control and affordable housing. This is noticeably absent in the present code leading to avoidance by the City Council of tackling these problems. Do we have to have a referendum every time there is a proposed development project? The City Council must act responsibly and come up with criteria that will benefit the citizens of this City and not create new problems.
BERN BEECHAM
As with
the Charleston corridor study, we must carefully define the timeframe and objectives
and responsibilities of specific
studies, regardless of the group, be it staff, citizen-based or other,
performing the study
LADORIS CORDELL
I learned that the City needs stricter rules for what constitutes
"affordable housing". To
qualify for the "affordable" units in this project, individuals and
families must have an income ranging from $60,000 (for single units) to as much
as $100,000 or more (for family units).
This means that they are not affordable to teachers, nurses, police
officers, firefighters, and most city workers.
Palo Alto has already satisfied its goals for the higher ranges of
affordable housing but still needs truly affordable units. I favor strengthening the rules for
affordable housing to ensure that new units are truly affordable.
I learned that the community felt resentful and misled when residents
were asked by the City to participate in a Working Group with staff and
business leaders to create the SOFA II Area Plan, because that Plan was
subsequently ignored. Even though the
Working Group plan, a two-year effort,
had been completed, the 800 High project was approved by the City
Council before the SOFA II plan was voted upon. The problem is that the cart
was placed before the horse, i.e., the 800 High Project should have be
reconciled with the SOFA II plan. The lesson learned here is that the area
study should be considered first and then Council should determine whether a
specific project is consistent with the plan.
It is disrespectful of the hard work of the Working Group to circumvent
the process.
I also learned that the "planned
community" zone allows developers
to get vastly more density than they would otherwise be entitled to in exchange
for a "public benefit" which may be much smaller than the extra gain
received by the developer.
JOHN
FREDRICH
It’s too big. Note my proposed freeze on PC zoning.
Moreover as someone who lives two blocks away I believe business &
residential compatability needs more review.
SKIP JUSTMAN
Protracted and
expensive studies of a project do not resolve the density and mass issues. Both
businesses and residents are entitled to a shorter review process.
NANCY LYTLE
If the Council had struck a compromise on 800 High, it never
would have ended up on the ballot and would be a far better project. But it is the responsibility of the Council
majority to compromise. The minority
voting members are not in position to do so.
In this case, the historic impacts and
business concerns were largely ignored. The scale of the building was allowed
to be out of character with surrounding single story buildings and historic
district. The current design does not
fit the neighborhood. Parking was
included as the only real public benefit, inconsistent with the assertion that
the project is “transit oriented.” The
opportunity for a higher number of affordable units was overlooked. We could have achieved a far more compatible
project and public benefit package, given the nature of the upzoning and the
real estate value we created for the developer.
JUDY KLEINBERG
I would have preferred, and voted, that the City Council defer its
approval of the 800 High Street proposal until after the working group’s plan
had been finalized. In the future, I will hope that when the City engages a
group of citizens to advise it, that it wait for the guidance of the group in
order to use their input in its decision-making. We need to improve the method
by which we obtain the involvement of neighborhood members and of area
stakeholders. This will include a clearer mandate and commitment to wait for
the results of the group’s efforts.
DENA MOSSAR
The
process for zoning this site was several years too long. It is important that
the City Council accept input from the staff, its boards and commissions and
the public; after considering that input, the Council must develop a balanced
proposal for adoption.
The
Council should take ownership and give direction to staff to develop a balanced
proposal for private redevelopment of commercial properties. Conversion of
commercial properties to residential is the only way that the city can comply
with its goals to create housing and to meet state housing requirements.
14. What role do you believe citizens and,
separately, neighborhood associations should play in the City Council’s
decision-making process?
RONNY
BAR-GADDA
Associations would be co-creators in the vision for Palo
Alto that is needed in order to give guidance on the other pressing issues of
our community.
BERN BEECHAM
* Citizens
and neighborhood associations are partners as well as consumers of government
services.
*
Neighborhood associations play an important role, by providing a forum where
information can be shared and concerns raised so that they become visible to elected
officials. Recent important examples
are neighborhood association efforts on Matadero and San Francisco Creeks,
Channing and Downtown North traffic calming and the Charleston/Arastradero
corridor.
* As I have in the past, I will continue to promote citizen access to elected officials.
LADORIS CORDELL
City Council members are elected by the
residents and, therefore, must keep the needs of the
residents paramount. Residents should feel welcome to ask
questions and communicate their
concerns. Residents often feel that some Council members are not interested
in their input. I
will actively seek the input of those who
reside in our neighborhoods.
Neigborhood associations are a very
valuable and important part of our civic process. Our
regulations are complex and Council
meetings are time-consuming. Many
people do not feel
knowledgeable enough to participate or
simply do not have time. Developers have excellent
access at City Hall. Many developers know Council members
personally and/or have paid
public relations people who do. Neighborhood leaders balance out the
process by making
sure that residents' needs are also
represented in the process. In order to qualify as a
neighborhood association, there should be
guidelines in place for keeping constituents
informed and soliciting their opinions on important issues.
JOHN FREDRICH
I believe that the
individual and all citizens as they practice their rights of free association
and concerted action are the pole star of American democracy. I believe the
exclusionary practices of some claiming to be “neighborhood association” on the
north of downtown area are misdirected and undemocratic. As we as a society
have created a more distributive rather than deliberative political process,
there has become more and more “inside trading:, if you will, in regard to
decision making, I stand for open meetings, disagreements in public rather than
glossing over substantive differences, and a higher regard for preserving more
options for the future rather than burning it all up right now. Usually when a
mandate for action is absent, the mandate is “don’t act.”
SKIP JUSTMAN
Neighborhood
associations should be incubators for residents who want to learn more about
issues that concern them. To be effective as information resources,
neighborhood associations should accept all points of view.
NANCY
LYTLE
Both have very important roles.
Neighborhood associations do not in any way “threaten” individual participation
or the City Council, as has been speculated by some. Every individual has the right to participate as fully as they
chose in their government, right up to running for office. The power of the
City Council is protected by Charter.
In addition, neighborhood
associations are effective at putting forward the concerns of our neighborhoods
when others don’t have time to get involved at the individual level. It is far easier for government to work
through issues with twelve neighborhood associations than it is with 60,000 individuals. Without Neighborhood Associations, the
concerns of residents would have less voice since they are not organized and
consistent in asserting their rights and needs.
I was responsible for the original plan adoption of San Jose’s Strong Neighborhood Initiative. In San Jose we are helping neighborhood associations become more effective and representative and using the neighborhood association structure to develop capital investment strategies and public/private partnerships for making improvements to all the areas of the City, based on local priorities. SNI is now a model being used in other cities, and Palo Alto could learn from it. It is a very progressive way of regaining confidence in local government.
JUDY KLEINBERG
In recent years, neighborhood
associations have become a valuable tool for residents, not only in creating a
sense of place and identification, but especially in representing the needs and
concerns of specific residential areas in land use decisions and service
provision. Individuals should always be given great respect in meeting their
needs and concerns and the city service staff should continue to be
customer-oriented. At the same time, the input of individuals and associations
must be weighed carefully in the context of what is best for the community
overall.
DENA MOSSAR
I support
the public process whereby all members of the public have the opportunity to be
heard.
Neither neighborhood associations
nor those who want to develop properties are pleased with the current process –
it is too lengthy and too costly for all parties.
The
Council must take the leadership in identifying where residential and
commercial development is expected to take place. I am committed to developing
a process which allows for early input from neighborhoods and commercial
interests on development issues, before the dollars have been spent.
Essay by
Victor Frost sent in mail.
Palo Alto is now longer a quiet cow town..
We are in the middle of the Silicon Valley, and the eyes Of the world are looking at us and what we do. Yet, I wish Palo Alto to stay Palo Alto. This is hard to do with greedy developers, with big money to buy votes, and build what ever they wish.
If I'm elected to a seat on the Palo Alto
City Council, I will stay in touch with the people and the issues, on
a daily basis... The people will advise me, I will listen, making, decisions
using my common sense, and their feedback, Not, being swayed by white
envelops full of cash ... And I will not be a part of the. block‑voting
ring….
My level of political accountably, accessibly, competitiveness and responsiveness will always be top notch. In turn I'm looking at developing trust and a positive work environment with fellow council members.
We
will argue and fight for our issues, and come to a compromise ‑‑
which will be for the common good of our community and this will be
the start of a better democracy.
We new
blood, new ideas, and new ways.
The
budget…a 15% property tax cut, Why? The people need it…City Hall has
started to live within it's means With their feet on the
ground….Still there needs much Work in cutting the fat and cutting
the crap….we know where all the money goes on paper, but as a city counsel
member I want to do spot checks on departments..
Public
Works? Jobs: The Silicon Valley is not dead, but it is not alive... The
residents of Palo Alto need jobs.J
No one from the 800 projects or the new Low Income
Stanford Student and Staffers Apartments Complex Has said anything about
day labors Jobs…we need to put Fresh food on the table... a lot people are out of work...The work
programs that I will start, I will be in. Reporting To the city council
and to the people on how the jobs are going ... An on sight inspector,
right there on the job, getting paid……..I need a job….
The present city
council, still after
two years has not solved the homeless crises ... they were giv en a
road map still they are lost…..Three homeless men died do to exposure,
they would not open the door to our building, The winter is coming again,
How many more will die? Something
The 800 project, Stanford Homeless Garden Project.
And the new Palo Alto Food hill Park Redevelment Project, Will provide
jobs for the down and out residents of Palo Alt. If the big developers
disagree about the common good of Palo Alto in there blue prints, we
can start the permit pulling process.
I want to be proud of my hometown and our democracy.
I don't like the rest of the world laughing at city hall. We can change
this... electing city counsel members that Show merit and concem for
our community not socialites Worrying how they look on TV or trying
to control other Other members or forgetting to do their homework
I love Palo Alto because Palo Alto
is Palo Alto..
This is why I'm running for a seat
on the Palo Alto
Council. To bring unity and make a
better democracy
We all can be proud of. Thank You, Victor Frost