Qualifications:
1. Strengths.
What makes you the best
candidate to be Mayor of
I have
concentrated my work as a Whatcom County Councilman to creating policies that
protect the treasured character of my home town and rural surroundings. I grew up in a
2. Weaknesses.
Many in our neighborhoods
feel that the choice of Mayor this year will be between vision/leadership and
administrative experience. What do you
perceive as your weakest attribute of the two and how will you address this?
My
weakness will be perceived as a lack of administrative experience. I feel very strong on the vision/leadership
aspect. However I think we all need to
look deeper then whether one has actual administrative experience. I can think of numerous examples of people
who have administrative experience who are poorly regarded by the people
actually managed. I think more important
is to look at which candidates have rich experience leading group dynamics
where judgment and worth are based on things being accomplished; hopefully, in
ways where people who participate and help feel respected and appreciated. I would hope that people would look at which
candidates have experience and records that provide insight into whether that
person has the capacity to be a good administrator. I believe I possess that experience and have
that record. As a history buff I wonder
if Abraham Lincoln would ever have become the greatest President in American
history because his only administrative experience was running a small law firm
with one partner and a clerk.
Growth and Planning:
3. Consistent Development Process and
Neighborhood Input.
The spot
rezone process that was recently used for the Squalicum Lofts proposal created
an unfair situation pitting neighbors against the developer, Planning staff,
and policy makers in an unpredictable process.
Without changes, other neighborhoods and developers will be similarly
affected in the future. What are your
observations of this process and what would you propose as Mayor working with Planning staff to protect the integrity of Comprehensive
Plan goals and policies, neighborhood plan updates, and a meaningful proactive
exchange of ideas with stakeholders?
The spot rezone was denied and illustrated the need to have
inclusive planning processes completed before considering this type of request.
In order to protect the treasured character of ALL the
qualities we love about
that favor
infill and holding the line on constant expansion of our growth boundaries to
the detriment of rural character. Such
expansion, over time, will result in urbanization of the entire region. Something we say we don’t want.
The
Squalicum Lofts conflict could have been avoided had a process occurred before
the consideration that allowed neighbors to participate in identifying where a
neighborhood village should be sited.
That neighborhood vision could then be expressed in a plan update. I support empowering the neighborhoods with
authority to propose siting of such locations.
Certainly this process is underway with the plan update process but I
would provide more leadership in pushing the idea of siting neighborhood centers. Such master planning of our neighborhoods
with public buy in would provide predictability to a developer and acceptance
by the neighborhood.
4. Urban Center Infill.
Do you support the
Comprehensive Plan’s direction of infill housing created through Urban Centers
and if so, how can this method be expedited in order to take pressure off leap-frogging
in inappropriate areas?
Yes, I
support urban centers very much. In 2004
I co-founded the Bellingham Growth Forums.
The object was to establish thoughtful methods to infill in ways that
actually enhanced the quality of life in
5. Watershed Comprehensive Plan.
How will
you move the community to embrace an overriding vision with specific goals for
stormwater management and land acquisition in the
As a Whatcom County Councilman from
6. Funding Choices.
In last
week’s Cascadia Weekly Gristle Column, Tim Johnson declares
Both deserve our concentrated attention. Having said that one could make a favorable
argument that protection of Lake Whatcom is an absolute necessity and the
other, comparatively, a fortunate luxury afforded by timing and our geographic
endowments. Clean water is a
requirement; a beautiful, clean, thriving waterfront is something we all very
much want. I would prioritize them both and
concentrate efforts on mechanisms that fund their needs to the highest extent
our public and council will see fit to fund.
Special recognition should be conceded, however, that emergency needs to
enhance protections for our drinking water warrant the edge on ultimate
priorities. That priority has been
reflected in my work on the Whatcom County Council
Waterfront
Redevelopment:
7.
Harbor Cleanup.
Describe, briefly, the key features of
the cleanup plan favored by the
We
sometimes forget that cleanup plans for the uplands is just beginning. The Port and Ecology have just started the
preliminary “scoping” process for a forthcoming environmental impact
statement. So there still is no cleanup
plan for a substantial portion of the “New Whatcom” project. What is talked about is the aquatic aspect
relating to the waterways and the ASB. I
have read the Port’s preferred alternative and believe it presents some
difficult issues. The plan meets State
regulations under the Model Toxics Control Act.
But questions
remain: Is it adequate to protect public health? No project in
I
have read the agreements. What strikes
me is they are not yet ratified.
8.
Infrastructure:
What is your “back of the envelope”
list of Capital needs and your guess as to the cost? By how much would your list exceed the
borrowing capacity of the COB? At what point would the amount borrowed lead to higher interest
rates? What would be your
priorities?
No
one knows the true cost of these capital needs today, especially without
knowledge of costs for upland cleanup.
We can predict based on best current information. Technicians and analysts provide that
information and help. A mayoral
candidate is without that information.
Initial
infrastructure improvements that best stimulate the blossoming of New Whatcom
is the first priority. Estimations on
what these initial projects are should be determined in a thoughtful, logical
way that draws on the talent and expertise of our community. Efforts must proceed with buy in from our
citizens. It is known that a substantial gap exists
between projected revenues and the cost of implementing necessary
infrastructure. I would accept that
reality and do the best we can with our resources. The Mayor will be instrumental in ensuring
that processes exist to make these decisions in ways that are fair. General criteria would guide my leadership in
this area: we cannot bankrupt the City
pursuing an amenity like the waterfront; we must be careful to not publicly
subsidize development where development should pay an appropriate share; we
must not so favor the waterfront to the detriment of other much desired
improvements in other parts of our town.
9.
Redevelopment of the Waterfront:
Will the economic benefit exceed the
cost for the average
There
remain question marks as to whether public infusions of taxpayer money will be
recovered in taxes generated from developing the waterfront. We don’t know yet. The way we find out is through open and
honest processes that address these important questions. The Mayor must ride herd on the process and
make sure those answers are arrived at in daylight in a very public
process.
The
impact to adjacent neighborhoods could be numerous; noise, traffic, air
pollution from the demolition of the old site, dump trucks exiting the site to
name but a few. It is hoped that a well
developed waterfront will, over time, be an exciting amenity to the neighbors
but in the short term there will be annoyances and bother. The next Mayor must be a sheriff and ensure
that these disturbances are minimized to the fullest extent practicable
Recreation:
10.
Parks, Trails, and Open Space.
Besides the dedicated
funding of the Greenways III levy, how would you suggest the City balance its
parks, trails, and open space system so that north
Yes, north
Emergency Response:
11.
Utility lines.
Our neighborhoods
have large industrial high-pressure gas pipelines and high voltage power lines
running through residential areas. There
are houses connected directly to the gas lines, still at high pressure. These were installed to service industries in
the area. They pose tremendous danger in
case of earthquake. The Cascade Natural
Gas franchise agreement will be renegotiated for a new term during your tenure
as Mayor. PSE's agreement can be
reopened after January 31, 2013. What
should new agreements with any utility company provide for to protect our
neighborhoods? How important is this
issue to you? Are you prepared to ask
these companies to reopen the contracts now to provide safe service?
This is a tremendously important issue. New agreements should have a requirement that Cities are notified of compliance with State and Federal pipeline safety laws and provide notices of inspection reports. There should also be a requirement that these agreements provide for adequate liability insurance. Many old agreements called for very minimal insurance. The Mayor should oversee the very best emergency management system that anticipates high level response in case of earthquake.
Personnel Management:
12.
Finance Director Role.
What is the role you see of an
appointed Finance Director in decisions related to the large financial impacts
of the
The
role of the Finance Director in that specific capacity should be to provide
accurate information and advice to the Mayor and Council as needed and
requested. Indeed, that is one of the
primary roles of the Finance Director.
13. Advisory Committees.
What skill set and geographic balance do you look for as a Mayor in the makeup of the Planning Commission and other advisory boards? Does it concern you that all current members of the Commission live south of Whatcom Creek?
Balance is a requirement; geographic balance and variety of
experiences and backgrounds amongst the members. Different perspectives that reflect the
diverse makeup of our citizens should be reflected on our boards and advisory
commissions so the council members appreciate the full spectrum of viewpoints
that exist in our community. I have
learned a lesson on the County Council.
When I first got elected we had a very conservative planning commission
that was well known as such. Over time
the left leaning majority on our council filled up vacancies with more liberal
minded commission members. We went from
primarily all one viewpoint to primarily all another. All of one or all of another is a mistake. I
won’t support that again. Balance and a
variety of viewpoints should rule the day so that healthy debate and proper
questioning of alternatives occurs.
So, of course, all commission members residing in one
general area of town is a mistake and should be corrected as new vacancies open
up.