Financial Health
Lake Forest Park City Government is currently experiencing a revenue shortfall, and are working on strategies to raise revenue and cut some expenses to balance the budget. It appears that the city intends to raise franchise fees on a host of services (water, sewer, garbage, cable television and telephone, to name a few) which can be done by vote of the council, and send to the voters a ‘levy lid-lift’ proposal to increase the City’s share of the property tax.
I believe that the budget crisis can be solved by realizing increased efficiencies in city government and by accessing additional sources of non-tax revenue. The most under-utilized source available is grant revenue, with the city currently brining in a mere 1% of the total through grants. In the current climate, I don’t think 10% from this source would be unreasonable to expect, and the city should staff a grants-administrator position full-time. I contend that this combination of actions will reduce or eliminate the need for any new taxation.
budget
North/East Cities Municipal Jail site selection
I oppose the Shoreline/Aldercrest site for the new NEC Municipal Jail, and favor the unincorporated King County site instead. While the Aldercrest site is almost completely surrounded by residential properties and was a good location for a school, it is a poor site for a jail for the same reasons. The King County site is in an industrial area (as their own site selection criteria recommends), and is centrally located between Kirkland and Redmond, both of whom would be served by the new facility.
public_safety
LFP Tree Ordinance
I oppose the current LFP tree ordinance, and applaud the work of Councilman Don Fiene and the tree task force to come up with a more workable solution.
While I am a strong supporter of environmental protection and preserving the unique quality of life we enjoy in Lake Forest Park, the current ordinance is unbalanced and disrespects the rights of private property owners.
I’m confident that a solution exists that protects the rights of our citizens while maintaining the health of our environment, and I’m committed to finding it.
environment
Burke-Gilman Trail Redevelopment
I support redevelopment of the Burke-Gilman trail and the capacity and safety improvements contained in the King County plan. The trail has been a great asset to the community since it was first opened and one of the country’s first ‘rails to trails’ conversions, and these improvements will help it remain so. Above all, the trail must be maintained in a safe condition for ALL of its varied users.
parks
LFP Park & Ride
Working through the LFP Transportation Commission I was able to help get $500,000.00 from the State to fund a Park & Ride in the City. Having such a facility in LFP would provide transportation alternatives to many of our citizens in these times of high fuel prices, an also relieve commuter parking problems in neighborhoods near bus stops. Transit service to park & rides is much more efficient than circulating busses through our city. WE NEED A PARK & RIDE IN LFP!
transit
School-zone traffic cameras
I was an initial supporter of these cameras as a safety enhancement at our schools, but after seeing them sited and operating I am convinced that they are merely a means of generating revenue. They should be modified or removed.
public_safety
Summary
The premier issue facing LFP is how the City will weather these lean economic times and maintain essential services without raising taxes. The focus must be on an efficient government in partnership with our citizens to best meet their needs.
Maintaining and improving Lake Forest Park’s unique quality of life is vital, and the 100-year Legacy plan of ‘green infrastructure’ should guide our planning and future development.
Transportation is also a priority, and I am working to establish a Park & Ride within the city both to provide a transportation hub and reduce commuter parking problems.
I care deeply about the future of our City and I’ll work to ensure that all of our citizen’s rights are valued and respected. Lake Forest Park is a small city of great possibilities, and if you agree I’d like your support!
summary
Accomodation of Bicyclists and Pedestrians
Do you support policies requiring he routine accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians?
How would you work to see Complete Streets policies adopted and implemented in your community?
Yes I do, and I have advocated
Complete Streets as a component of Lake Forest Park’s Legacy project, development of urban trails, and trail connection routes through the city.
Many streets in Lake Forest Park do not have developed shoulders or sidewalks, and future improvements in these areas are intended to provide uninterrupted access to pedestrians and cyclists - while also using permeable construction materials that will allow infiltration of storm water back into the ground to replenish groundwater supplies and reduce storm water pollution.
I have proposed that one of the primary routes through LFP (Perkins Way) have cycle and pedestrian access separated from the roadway on the other side of the creek to improve safety and provide continuity.
There is a huge amount of grant money available for exactly these types of 'low-impact development' (LID) projects, and Lake Forest Park has the required long-term plan adopted to bring them in. These improvements could be made at very little cost to the city.
pedestrian_bicycle
Zoning & Pedestrian/Bicycle Issues
Do you support using zoning codes to promote compact, sustainable development that makes bicycling a more convenient transportation option? If so, how?
I do, but I qualify that by saying that I support compact development in urban areas and new residential developments, while I favor keeping rural areas in low density to preserve farmlands and open space.
Extensive use of zoning codes runs the risk of violating individual property rights and so care must be taken to provide an optimal solution for all concerned.
These types of solutions are hard to achieve, but the effort must be made to improve our personal environments and preserve freedom.
I think people are healthier and far more satisfied when they aren’t slaves to their cars, and they welcome the availability of alternatives. I was able to get almost everywhere I needed to go in Northwestern Germany and Holland via bicycle, and it was great!
pedestrian_bicycle
Non-motorized Transportation Development
Are you committed to enhancing support for the development and maintenance of bicycle and pedestrian facilities that encourage more trips be made by walking and bicycling? Would you still be supportive if it meant less money spent on new roads and capacity for cars? Finally, how many cents from every local transportation dollar do you believe should be allocated towards non-motorized transportation?
YES! For over a decade as a transportation commissioner, my focus has been on providing and improving non-motorized transportation alternatives.
I conceived the ‘pedestrian pathways initiative’ to develop trails through unused city rights-of-way for the purpose of increasing non-motorized access in the community. This program has proven so popular with citizens that it became a major feature of the City’s 100-year ‘green infrastructure’ Legacy plan, and has been budgeted $50,000 initial development funding by the LFP City Council.
I led the effort on the commission to identify mitigation measures to tolling on the SR 520 floating bridge. Through our mitigation recommendations we were able to secure $500,000 funding from the state of Washington for establishing a Park & Ride facility in Lake Forest Park.
Finally, I testified before the LFP City Council as Transportation Commission Representative supporting installing sharrows and signage through LFP to mark routes connecting the Burke-Gilman trail to the Centennial trail in Shoreline.
I WOULD be supportive even if it means less money for roads/cars. Bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure is much less expensive than motor vehicle infrastructure, and a lot can be done with relatively little funding compared to what is needed for cars.
How many cents per dollar? A very subjective question, but I believe that you should be able to do just about anything you need to with say 5 cents/dollar. That is a LOT of money.
pedestrian_bicycle
MultiUse Trails
What position do you hold on any proposed or planned multi-use trails in your jurisdiction? What previous positions, stances, or votes have you made or taken? Please identify the trail(s) you refer to in your answer.
I have testified in support of trail connections between the Burke-Gilman trail in LFP and connections with Shoreline before the LFP City Council.
I argued that officially designating and signing these routes provides a significant tool to users of non-motorized transportation alternatives, which the City officially endorses through its adoption of the Legacy plan.
parks
Planned Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
What, if any, specific bicycle and pedestrian projects are planned in your jurisdiction, or are likely to come up during your tenure if elected, and what is your position on each?
My Pedestrian Pathways Initiative, adopted as part of the 100-year Legacy plan, identifies at least 15 additional pathways to be constructed on unused City rights-of-way in the next several years.
First and foremost of these is the MacKinnon Creekway, which has been given first priority and an initial budget for surveying and access development. This route will provide an idyllic pathway and near direct access for cyclists and pedestrians from the Horizon View area down to the LFP Town Centre. I have engaged in discussions with the LFP water district and the City Engineer to begin this project within the year.
parks
Ethics, Accountability, and Transparency
How will you address ethics, accountability, and transparency in city government?
I believe government processes must be formal and transparent or abuse is inevitable. City business should be conducted and recorded via formal communications that outline the terms and detail of all agreements made and the responsibilities of all parties, and these files must be available via freedom of information request. Elected officials and City employees must read and sign an acknowledgement of City ethics policy, and those policies should be posted on the City website and accessible to all.
Finally, the city should have an independent ethics review board that can review violations and recommend actions to the city council.
ethics
Reducing Negative Impact of Economy
With the national economic troubles, what will you do to lessen the impact on average citizens already struggling for years now with rising gas, food, and healthcare costs?
The best thing we can do for our citizens is to ease the burden of government and not to raise taxes when they can least afford it.
After city departments trim their budgets by 10%, I favor balancing the budget by reducing the forecast amount by 10% (for contingency), and then funding mandatory expenses first and prioritizing those remaining through the remaining available funds.
What remains to be funded when the 90% level is reached does not receive funding unless the council votes to use contingency. We all have to live on a budget, and city government should be no exception.
budget
City and Community Communication
How will you foster and deepen regional city and community communications?
Lake forest Park does a good job in this area, making the Town Crier available monthly by mail and electronically on the city website, offering city news via free citymail e-mail, and the city’s website is excellent in providing those interested with information on city happenings.
I think LFP could improve by designating a city Ombudsman that would be a personal contact for those having difficulty navigating the city’s electronic news and information sources.
Regionally, the city should maximize its participation in forums with other cities, like the Seashore Transportation forum, Suburban Cities Association, Association of Washington cities, etc.
Open_Government
LFP Economy
How will you help the city to support developing a sound economy?
Because most of city revenues are property tax based, the city should explore additional sources of revenue through grants, and I believe a sound investment would be to hire a full-time grants administrator to bring in these revenues.
Currently LFP reports that it brings in only 1% of revenue from grant sources, while it brings in twice as much processing passport applications for the state department! This performance is abysmal, and we should reasonably expect it to be improved by several hundred percent.
Additional city expenses could be trimmed by effectively coordinating volunteer efforts with a part-time coordinator.
budget
Low Impact Development
I support the use of permeable asphalt and concrete for use in our city to help harmonize our human infrastructure with the natural world.
We can begin this process today by using permeable construction materials that will allow infiltration of storm water back into the ground to replenish groundwater supplies and reduce storm water pollution.
There is a huge amount of grant money available for exactly these types of 'low-impact development' (LID) projects, and Lake Forest Park has the required long-term plan adopted to bring them in.
These improvements could be made at very little cost to the city.
LID