MAYOR ONLY: 3 GHA Board members come up for reappointment this summer. Will you reappoint:
Gonzalez Yes __ No __ Abstain_X_
Lewis Yes __ No __ Abstain_X_
Mabasa Yes __ No __ Abstain_X_
Comment: I understand the question, and I would answer it now if I could; but I haven’t decided on these appointments yet. I can tell you now I definitely won’t reflexively reappoint without looking at my options. If I had to decide today (and - because the commissioners’ terms don’t expire until summer - I don’t have to decide today), I would lean toward replacing one or more. But, out of respect for the volunteer nature of each commissioner’s service, I choose to keep an open mind and make my final decision after giving each a fair opportunity to be interviewed. I believe that interview can only happen – and be of any real substance – with The Mayor (not with a candidate for Mayor). If elected, I will interview each of the three incumbents and allow him to make the case to me why he should be re-appointed to serve the community’s new vision for public housing. The reality is that each incumbent was appointed three years ago – before Ike – at a time that was radically different, and the GHA commissioners’ duties now call for new priorities and leadership skills. I will also identify at least two alternative candidates for each of the three positions. I will then ask each candidate to submit a written summary explaining why he/she should be appointed to serve. I will timely make my appointment based on the substance of the candidates’ personal interview and written statement, my interviews of a cross section of the community and my personal judgment. The Charter is clear: It will be my decision as Mayor, and I intend to make the decision professionally. It would be wrong to rush my decision – without doing my due diligence - before I am even elected!
Height & Density Ordinance. Do you support eliminating the Special Use Permit (SUP) option? Yes x No __ Abstain__
Comment: 100 words max
Developers and the City alike deserve certainty when proposing or approving development plans. The specific use permit process, however, is routinely and overtly political in a way that subverts good land use policy. For that reason I support eliminating the SUP portion of the Height and Density Ordinance. Instead, the City already offers a variance process that allows for rare departure from our laws for documented good cause. Subject to this, I prefer clear, fair development rules to be applied administratively by land use professionals.
Wetlands Ordinance: Do you support the wetlands ordinance that is currently proposed by Galveston Recovery Committee?
Yes x No __ Abstain__
Comment: 100 words max
I support a reasonable wetlands ordinance, providing that all presently permitted projects are grandfathered, and further providing that for new projects the maximum setback be 50 feet. In those instances where a variance might be appropriate, it’s settled that the Zoning Board of Adjustments is empowered to consider and, if appropriate under Texas law, to grant a variance. Any such variance should be the exception, not the rule.
Galveston will redo its land use plan and ordinance base this year. Should that effort be guided by residents, neighborhoods, the Comprehensive Plan and Galveston Recovery Committee recommendations?
Yes x No __ Abstain__
Comment: 100 words max
Yes. Land use laws exist to enforce community standards. Residents and property owners of our community have every right to shape our land use laws. The Comprehensive Plan and The Recovery Committee work reflect the residents’ and neighborhoods’ collective voice; therefore, the Comprehensive Plan and the Committee’s recommendations are guiding documents.
Will you vote for repeal of last year’s emergency property tax rate increase?
Yes x No __ Abstain __
Comment: 100 words max
I probably will, but I first need to examine next year’s revenue projections (which won’t be available until July at the earliest). I believe property appraisals will soon return to pre-Ike levels, allowing for a return to our normal tax rate. Further, the next Mayor needs to make it a priority to recruit new tax paying residents and businesses to the Island. This will allow for a reduction in the rate because more will participate in supporting the City. As Mayor I will lead a long over-due realignment of our City finances.
Would you cut the city budget?
Yes x No __ Abstain
And if yes, where? ____________
Comment: 100 words max
I will not vote to increase tax rates. But whether we cut the 2010-2011 budget depends on too many unknowns right now. I do know that the hundreds of millions of dollars of federal money we’re receiving must be spent within two years of receipt. That money will swell our budget, so in that sense I surely won’t “cut” the budget. Once that money is spent I will carefully compare City employee benefits and pay to regional private sector job compensation. We must better direct our revenues to fixing our infrastructure.
Should developers pay up front for required infrastructure to support their projects, instead of city funding with tax credits?
Yes x No __ Abstain__
Comment: 100 words max
In appropriate circumstances developers should pay impact fees, and they will do so if the amounts and rules requiring them are reasonable. These fees are routinely assessed by local governments to mitigate impacts on public infrastructure and services created by the development project. I broadly define an impact fee as a contribution of land, improvements or money
imposed as a condition of development approval to mitigate the impacts of the development project.
Should park board functions be reassigned to the city?
Yes x No __ Abstain__
Comment: 100 words max
Municipal fiscal belt-tightening and the tourism industry’s need to efficiently benefit from each hotel tax dollar demands that Council consider consolidating Park Board functions into City Hall. There’s no need for two administrations, two police departments and two buildings to house competing units of government serving the same community. Galveston’s beach and tourism effort can best be served by one administration with one board of directors: The Council. The City Manager, however, must keep every penny generated by tourism for tourism. But this consolidation must be done with State legislative approval so all HOT pennies are secured and used appropriately.
Should the City continue to fund the Galveston Economic Development Partnership (GEDP)?
Yes x No __ Abstain__
Comment: 100 words max
Yes for the next budget year 2010-2011; but, in order to merit the City’s continued membership, the GEDP must annually document those jobs created and tax revenue earned by the City as a direct result of GEDP’s efforts. The City should continue as long as we document a reasonable “bang for the buck.”
Please rank your top four priorities of the following: 1 for first choice, etc.
Rank
_ tourism 3 new businesses 4 attract new residents
_ new development
_ port performance
_ improve relationship between UTMB and city 1 quality of life for residents
_ fiscal management
_ improve land use plan (zoning, open space, wetlands, transportation, etc) 2 commuter rail
Since 2006 and before Ike, what was the worst decision city council made?
Comment: 100 words max
I don’t recall if it was before Ike or not, but this present Council’s worst decision has been abandoning its workshop session prior to its regular meeting. Council must workshop an agenda before debating action items. This is as important for staff as it is for Council. Due to this change in Council procedure, the meetings go on way too long, staff are “summoned” to appear before Council, collegial examination of matters is non-existent and a tangibly hostile environment has neutralized Council’s ability to lead. Open, scheduled workshop sessions can certainly be videotaped, even if in a less “produced” fashion.
The neighborhoods are concerned about hi rise development, casinos, industrial development and land use planning. How do you reconcile this with the neighborhoods?
Comment: 100 words max
I advocate appointing qualified neighborhood leaders to the City’s various planning boards and commissions. I will regularly meet with neighborhood leaders and understand their concerns. These matters are vital to the neighborhoods, and I will be accessible and responsive to the neighborhoods’ concerns.
