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1. What is your opinion on light
rail throughout Folsom?
The start of light rail in Folsom has
been pushed back until July of 2005. I have seen some plans on an
extension to El Dorado county line but that would be a long-long way
off. The plans are for light rail to only run Monday through Friday.
We need it to run seven days a week to help the Sutter Street
Merchants. I know the police chief is working on a plan to help keep
the crime problem down as Folsom will be the last stop. When we
build the Railroad Block light rail will be an easy way for people
to visit Old Folsom.
2. What is your view on the south of
50 situation? What do you support in terms of development?
When we build out in four to five years
we will need additional revenue from South of 50 to maintain our
quality of life. I want to see more jobs created so our residents
won’t have to commute. One study that was done suggested that the
top three types of business we should be looking for are medical
device manufacturers, wine & spirits and communications companies.
3. What actions would you like to
see taken to mitigate excess high density housing in south Folsom?
When the city re-zoned the 128 acres
for affordable housing, the south area got more then its fair share.
Nothing will happen until a developer brings the city some plans. I
would try and use some incentives to help mitigate this problem. I
need to do more study on this issue.
4. What are your opinions on an grow
out population for Folsom ? 70,000, 90,000... over 100,000?
The city’s current population is about
65,000. At build out we should be around 75,000. When we go south
and let’s say we build 5,000 homes. At 2.3 persons per house that
would give us another 11,500 residents. Add that to the 75,000 and
we would be at approx 86,000. This would be my goal.
5. What plans do you support to
control out of town traffic within the city, without interfering
with residences right to access?
The only way to control out of town
traffic would be with a toll road. We must not forget that non
residents who shop here contribute to our sales tax base.
6. What are your opinions on the
Folsom Library?
I still don’t understand how the
library site at the old firehouse got switched within a matter of
weeks to the city park. I think the city could have done a better
job explaining this. I am also amazed that the opponents of the city
park location never brought another site to the table. At the last
city council meeting approx $ 1MM was approved for the construction
document. I think the horse is out of the barn and we need to move
on. However I see that the cost has already jumped up by $ 2 MM. We
have not even gone out to bid yet. The city needs to keep a close
eye on this project so that there are no more surprises.
7. Why is Folsom trying to keep its
own solid waste system when a great savings and better service for
the residents of Folsom can be obtained by contracting this service
out ? What are your plans to revisit this in the near term ?
This has been one of my priorities
since I started attending city council meetings. We all know that
competition is good! Because of our current city charter we can’t
contract out for certain services without the public voting on each
situation. I want to change the city charter so a majority vote on
the city council can make that decision. The city of Rancho Cordova
just signed a contract with BFI for eight years. Here is the kicker.
BFI will pay the city a 10% franchise fee per year. This will amount
to approx $ 300,000 per year that will go into the city’s general
fund to be used anyway they so chose. Is there anybody out there
that doesn’t think this is an idea that needs to be explored?
8. What are your opinions of the Dam
Road closure? Do you think an effective compromise is obtainable?
There is no logical reason why the dam
road should be closed completely. The police chief is working on a
safety plan to present to the BOR to allow the opening of the dam
road in the morning and afternoon during commute times. The bureau
won’t decide this until March of 2005. If they turn us down then I
am not willing to wait for another three years until we build a new
bridge. I would support a lawsuit against the BOR.
9. With the growing population, how
will the city ensure adequate public safety services?
The city’s revenues will only increase
approx 5% per year after we build-out. Our expenses will grow approx
10%. At this rate it won’t take long to dig into our general fund
reserves. We will have to get additional revenue from south of 50 to
maintain our public safety service plans.
10. Rainbow bridge is a landmark to
the city. It is also one of the more memorable sites to visitors.
What will you do to clean up the graffiti from RB and preserve this
city treasure?
With regard to the Rainbow Bridge and
the graffiti problem, I have a solution. As a member of the Folsom
Prison Citizens Advisory Committee we pushed the state to renew its
prison work crews. We have just learned that we will get two 15
person work crews to help keep Folsom clean. One of their tasks will
be graffiti removal.
11. How do you plan on making Folsom
more bicycle-friendly?
We have only finished ½ of our bike
trail plans. I want to continue funding the balance of our bike
trails and also spend more money on stripping more streets for bike
lanes.
12. How do you see Transit Oriented
Development (TOD) fitting into Folsom's future (north or south of
50)?
When if comes to transit oriented
development ( TOD) I want to see this happen at each light rail
station. It only makes sense to have a higher density around light
rail stations so that you get the maximum benefit and people don’t
have to drive as far.
13. What would you propose to
improve the long-term (after the new bridge) prospects for traffic
in Folsom, particularly in the historic district?
We can’t wait for the new bridge to
improve traffic in Folsom. The first thing I would do is never to
close any more streets. The Sutter Street Merchants are hurting.
There is a plan that is coming before the city council to improve
the traffic flow in old Folsom. I am in favor of this plan. I know
the city is working with a traffic consultant to do an overall plan
for our traffic problems. I would speed this up.
14. Many of our major roads (Prairie
City, Iron Point, Greenback) are major thoroughfares, yet are
unlandscaped. What would you do to help beautify these areas?
I agree that many of our median strips
and major thoroughfares need landscaping help. I have had several
people tell me about problems with their L & L districts. It seems
like in many cases they don’t know if the developer or the L & L
districts are in charge. I have a suggestion, if there seems to be a
continuing problem why not let one of our many service clubs adopt a
median strip or other area to maintain as a club project. I think
you would have a good response.
15. What are your thoughts on
Measure T? (Note to voters: Measure T will not be on the ballot)
As I said before, I find the Fish
initiative to be to restrictive. Since the City has no control over
adding lanes to highway 50 their initiative will result in
no-growth. I do wish that both initiatives were still on the
November ballot so the citizens could have voted on both. If we have
no-growth south of 50 then we will have no additional revenue to
spend on the quality of life issues that we all moved here for.
16. What are your thoughts on
Measure W?
The City’s initiative puts in place all
the requirements that the S. O. I. we signed with LAFCO in writing.
This will be a five or six year process before anything gets
annexed. The visioning process will take about 15 months. Everybody
who wants to be involved can be. I would like to see another
frontage road like Iron Point on the other side of highway 50. Also
SACOG has in their plans a connector road from highway 99 to highway
50 by the El Dorado county line. This will take some of the pressure
off highway 50.
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