Susan's Platform In Detail

By Susan S. Stompe

Covering issues such as traffic, environmental protection, economic health, growth, health and human services, public safety, and other local issues of special concern.

Traffic - It is unconscionable to approve major projects without improvement in the traffic flow. The HOV gap in central San Rafael must be fixed. NOW. The Novato City Council nearly destroyed the funding for this project when they met with the Petaluma City Council and agreed to put in a request to CALTRANS to open the bottleneck north of Novato, Caltrans wants countywide agreement to fund projects. The County's priority for at least 10 years has been to extend the HOV lane in San Rafael.

I was a member of the Marin Transportation Steering Committee that has recommended a ballot measure to improve transit and traffic. It would provide for train service between Healdsburg and San Rafael, shuttle bus services, para transit for seniors, and funds to acquire development rights to cut down on additional traffic. A feasibility study is being done and discussion of how the rail would be operated. The plan does not provide for enhanced bus service to San Francisco, but could free up some funding from local service that would be operated by a new entity.

Environmental Protection - Marin took an early lead in environmental protection in anticipation of the impacts of the Golden Gate Bridge. Throughout the years since then there have been challenges to Marin's vision. Through my involvement with many of the local environmental organizations I have fought to maintain Marin's environmental sensitivity and high standards. Pressure will continue to escalate to degrade our quality of life. I am committed to protecting wetlands, ridge lines and waterways, to maintaining habitat diversity and to reducing pollution.

Economic Health - Novato and Marin are currently benefiting from national and regional prosperity. Although Marin is a small element of the regional economic picture, it fills a niche for companies that appreciate the natural beauty of the area and have executives who like to live here. The Novato General Plan identifies the potential for 6 million square feet of office, commercial and industrial development. This is equivalent to 7 Vintage Oaks or Fireman's Fund complexes. A number of the executives could afford to live here, but most of the workers would probably live elsewhere, adding to traffic. The economic benefit of that kind of development would be short lived, and the burden of providing needed services would fall on the existing residents. The reality is that for every high paying job that could bear the cost of living here, there are _ support jobs created that could not afford to live here.

Fiscal Responsibility - Public jurisdictions have a responsibility to provide basic services to their communities. Primary among these are safety services. Allocating available resources requires setting priorities and keeping a lid on expectations. The Novato City Council has taken on a lot of new projects that they have not been able to finance, while the city streets continue to deteriorate and prices continue to rise for city services. The county provides critical services on which people's lives depend. I am committed to fiscally responsible budgeting that will provide for reliable basic services.

Growth - The countywide general plan incorporates all the city plans. Cumulatively it is apparent that there is more development planned than can possibly be accommodated on even improved roads with new transit. The Countywide Planning Agency must take a leadership role in quantifying the amount of growth we can accommodate and still allow for mobility throughout the county.

The Countywide Plan must be amended to include a Bayland Corridor to allow for special land use conditions within that special area. Over 90% of the baylands have been diked and/or filled over the last 150 years, reducing the benefits of wetlands and habitat diversity.

The county must include Novato's Urban Growth Boundary which was adopted by a vote of 70% Novato voters into its general plan.

Housing - I have supported the creation, retention and maintenance of affordable housing for many years. Affordable or workforce housing has long been a challenge in Marin with the high land costs. Mechanisms such as inclusionary housing, 2nd units and in-lieu fees have provided some housing, but new methods need to be tried. I support conversion of under-utilized commercial space to housing, mixed use zoning in downtowns, and housing impact fees for major employment development. Creating affordable housing where infrastructure already exists is much more realistic than agricultural land.

Child Care - The county has been a leader in coordinating child care services. There is a large need for quality child care. Part of the problem is finding, training and providing adequate benefits to potential child care workers. I support continuing efforts of the Child Care Commission to address these problems. I also support adding child care facilities to major housing and business developments.

Health & Human Services - By the time the new Supervisor is seated in January, the new department head should be on the job- We are fortunate that Dr. Peters is still in the county, although very busy with his new role at the Community Foundation. The H&HS dept. includes many services to the community that are not evident to the average resident, but extremely important to the overall welfare of the county. Currently some services are underfunded and constrained. The county should be able to provide for a local detox service. Mental Health services should be able to address the needs of those who end up being served only by the local jail, and not the treatment they need. New mandates by Cal Jobs will require more sensitive means of getting people self sufficient.

Public Safety - This includes law enforcement and fire protection, some of the most critical governmental services. But also should include flood protection and assurance that new construction is safe for the new residents. Most of the easily built land has already been developed leaving remaining lands prone to subsidence, landslide or flooding. Care must be taken to assure that more Marin homes do not suffer the tragedy that Partridge Knolls has suffered. We must get assurance from state agencies that their levies will be able to stand up to another winter like this last one. With the failure of Caltrans levies in two places, we came very close to losing our power and the flooding of the PG&E substation. Fish & Game levies gave out and flooded Gnoss Field. These must be reinforced before next winter.

Bel Marin Keys - Additional development at Bel Marin Keys could exacerbate the flooding and traffic problems that already exist. Certainly the massive proposal that was before the county was excessive. I encourage the negotiations with the Coastal Conservancy to include the site in the Hamilton marsh restoration.

Hamilton - As a member of the Hamilton Advisory Commission I participated in the development of the Hamilton Reuse Plan. The plan provides for the restoration of wetlands, affordable and transitional housing, senior housing and the removal and replacement of Rafael Village. It is a comprehensive plan that was arrived at through negotiations with a wide variety of interests. I support it. Rafael Village was slated for removal 3 years ago and nothing has happened but deterioration.

Urban Growth Boundary - The concept of an Urban Growth Boundary for Novato was initiated by a local group of citizens and taken over by the City Council to be put on the ballot. It passed last November with 70% of the vote. I worked on the passage of the measure by helping with the campaign strategy, raising funds, walking precincts and creating a video for cable TV. The UGB will, with cooperation of the county, keep urban uses within the existing city limits. This prevention of sprawl will keep urban costs down.

Unincorporated Communities - The neighborhoods of Black Point, Bel Marin Keys, Indian Valley, and Loma Verde are unincorporated and governed by the county (BMK has a CSD also). These neighborhoods are more dependent upon county services than the areas included within Novato's boundaries. Most of them have community plans that protect their special neighborhood character, adopted through a community participation process. I support these plans and am committed to adhering to their standards when addressing any proposals for these communities.

Buck Center, Partridge Knolls and Brookside - These areas exemplify the problems that the occur when zealous Council members lose objectivity in trying to please project proponents. The Buck Center got moved to another site after the EIR, the site is too close to existing housing and too dominating on the landscape. The resultant earth movement, rendering homes unusable is a deplorable dilemma for the homeowners. After a year of study, the Novato City Council must propose some resolution. Now the Novato City Council has approved another project in a slide prone area at Brookside, setting up another hazardous situation. This must stop!

For more information, visit the Stompe campaign website at http://members.aol.com/ssstompe/SusanWelcome.html.

Susan Stompe for Supervisor (415) 897-1610 SSStompe@aol.com 222 Crest Road, Novato, CA 94945