Steve Cohn's Year 2000 District 3 State of the District Report

By Steve Cohn

This Report highlights accomplishments citywide and for City Council District 3 in 1999 and outlines Steve Cohn's plans for 2000, including his work co-founding the Unity Center to combat hate crimes and prejudice.

Overview

This year in Sacramento will long be remembered through the prism of two terrible tragedies: Mayor Joe Serna's year-long struggle with kidney cancer which took his life on November 7, 1999, and the arson fires at three Sacramento-area synagogues on June 18, 1999. Mayor Serna left a tremendous legacy turning around the problem-plagued Sacramento City Unified School District and revitalizing Downtown. But I will never forget his unifying leadership against hate crimes like the synagogue arson fires and his call for a Unity Center to showcase the history, good and bad, of race/ethnic relations in California and to combat hate crimes.

As we look back on 1999 and the Serna years and ahead towards the new millenium, it is time to realize that Sacramento has truly come of age as a city. We have transformed from the Capital City to a big city that includes the Capitol. Our metropolitan population has almost doubled in the last 20 years from less than 1 million to almost 2 million today, and we may grow to 3 million by 2020.

Sacramento is now at a critical crossroad. Much has been accomplished over the last few years. Crime is down. We are gaining jobs faster than the rest of California and the nation. The soaring Downtown skyline, the sparkling new hotels, restaurants and cafes, and the resurgence of Midtown's neighborhoods signal the renaissance of the Central City. Sacramento is finally upgrading its long neglected city schools.

But the City still faces many complex problems that come with life in a rapidly growing region, such as suburban sprawl, congested roadways, polluted air, strained neighborhoods and resources, ethnic and cultural clashes, and persistent violence. It will be a difficult challenge for the City to maintain and improve the quality of City neighborhoods and business districts in the face of explosive growth.

My mission over the remaining years that I am on the City Council will be to achieve a vision of our future that I believe most Sacramentans share. That vision is to make Sacramento the most livable city in America, with excellent schools, abundant well-maintained parks and libraries, vibrant arts, sports and cultural attractions, and safe, quality, tree-lined neighborhoods within walking distance or a transit stop from Downtown and other thriving business and entertainment districts, and tied to the rest of our region and the world through world-class rail, freeway, airport, internet and telecommunications connections.

1999 IN REVIEW

1999 District 3 Highlights

I am fortunate to have two dedicated and talented public servants in my City Hall office: Sue Brown, my Administrative Assistant, and Anne Romo, my secretary. They handle dozens of constituent calls each and every day, working with city staff to resolve most problems without my involvement. We are particularly proud of the burgeoning Midtown renaissance, the ongoing success of Pops in the Park, and our growing list of improvements to our area's parks and pedestrian/bicycle paths.

Midtown has become one of the premier places in Northern California for sidewalk cafes, restaurants, art galleries, bookstores, bed and breakfast inns, unique shops, historic buildings, leisurely strolls and urban living at its best. Despite the controversy over the Midtown Traffic Plan, most neighbors and businesses have joined the City in a productive partnership to enhance Midtown through park improvements, more owner-occupied housing, traffic calming, street lighting, angled parking, free holiday parking and stricter enforcement of graffiti and other misdemeanor laws and nuisance and codes.

We are justifiably proud of another successful Pops in the Park series with evening concerts at East Portal Park, McKinley Park, Bertha Henschel Park, Glen Hall Park, and Sac State. Once again, we raised over $20,000 to package with past years' proceeds and money from the City's Landscaping and Lighting Fund (your tax dollars at work) and volunteer matching funds to complete a number of wonderful parks projects. The list of projects made possible through Pops in the Park, which is detailed in the attached Record of Accomplishments now boasts resurfaced tennis courts, new jogging trails, new wading pools and fountains, new playgrounds, refurbished ponds, at most of our area parks, as well as a new snack bar, backstops, landscaping, and ball fields for our youth baseball, softball and youth soccer programs. We also completed the community-funded fountain area at the entrance to River Park in honor of Fran and Roy Yermol, two unsung heroes who have spent more than 10 years planting flowers in and about River Park and East Sac.

Stay tuned because there is more to come. We are presently working on a variety of new projects, such as renovating the McKinley Park swimming pool area and possibly adding a snack bar; renovating the Shepard Garden and Arts Center; adding a new playground at Winn Park; renovating Grant and Stanford Parks; and opening the City's newest regional park, Sutter's Landing Park at the City landfill site in Midtown.

The City is going to be a lot easier for pedestrians and bicyclists to get around, thanks to a number of new projects under construction or about to begin construction, such as the new 20th Street Bikeway underpass next to Blue Diamond on C Street, scheduled to open by the start of 2000, and the CSUS Access project, which will improve bicycle and pedestrian access to both the north and south sides of CSUS and provide much needed landscaping to 65th Street between Folsom and Elvas. I obtained federal funding for this project earlier this year. Construction is scheduled to start in February 2000 and be completed in time for the Olympic Trials at CSUS in July 2000.

As in past years, I have also tried to remain as accessible as possible to all of you by conducting public meetings and sidewalk hours throughout the year.

1999 Citywide/Regional Highlights

As you also know, my work as a Councilmember does not stop at the District 3 border. While my staff spends most of their time working on District issues, I spend most of my time on citywide and regional issues. In addition to my duties as Councilmember (and Vice Mayor last year), I also serve as Chair of the Sacramento Transportation Authority and Capitol Corridor Rail Joint Powers Board, and as a Board member for Regional Transit (Vice Chair), the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, the Sacramento Library Authority (past-Chair), the Welfare-to-Work Policy Board, the Sacramento-Placerville Rail Corridor Joint Power Board, and the Sacramento Ballpark Authority. I am also a member of the Council's Law & Legislation, Personnel & Public Employees, and Technology Steering committees.

This past year, I joined with Mayor Serna and Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg to co-found the Capital Unity Council, a broad-based coalition of area leaders devoted to fighting hate crime and establishing a new Unity Center.

I have also been active with the Center for Youth Citizenship, the Area 1 Neighborhood Association Group, the Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Point West Area Business Association, the East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and the Midtown Business Association.

I am pleased to announce that the City Council recently approved my "Light the Neighborhoods" program, which will set aside $1 million in this year's capital budget to match one City dollar for every dollar spent by businesses or residents to install new streetlights in existing neighborhoods. The Police Department confirms that street lighting helps reduce neighborhood crime.

I am also proud of my work as Chair of the Sacramento Transportation Authority in 1999. Despite a lot of controversy initially, we were able to arrive at a unanimous vote to allocate $70 million in federal transportation (TEA-21) funds. The funds were allocated about 45 percent to rail/transit projects, 41 percent to roadway projects, and the remainder to bikeway, parkway and landscaping projects. The bikeway projects include the CSUS Access project and Tower Bridge project to link Old Sac with the new riverfront ballpark in West Sacramento, while the landscaping projects will beautify several aging business corridors, such as Fulton, Watt, Marconi, Stockton, Northgate, and Folsom Blvd.

1999 saw a lot of progress on many different fronts in the City and region. As a SAFCA Board member, I am pleased to report that we received federal authorization for a series of flood control improvements that will raise the area's level of protection to 140 years (1 in 140 chance of flooding in any given year). These measures include the Phase I "common elements" (levee slurry wall along the American River to be completed in 2000), and the Phase 2 elements (modifying Folsom Dam). SAFCA and the Army Corps of Engineers are currently working on a plan to raise Folsom Dam an additional six to 12 feet to achieve 200-year protection.

In addition, the new IMAX theater opened at 13th and K; construction began on the high-rise Sheraton Convention Center Hotel at 13th and J and the Embassy Suites Waterfront Hotel by the Tower Bridge; BLT built the City's new transfer station and recycling center, which will lessen the need for landfill space and decrease disposal costs; RT started construction on the South Light Rail line to Meadowview; the Capitol Corridor Rail Board began a sixth daily train between the Bay Area and Sacramento, reduced the travel time to 2 hours, and increased ridership to record levels; and the City significantly increased maintenance and repairs on City streets, while enhancing safety through its neighborhood traffic management program and installing photoradar cameras to target red light violations.

Finally, the City Council adopted two landmark decisions, (1) approving a $56 million capital bond program to renovate our long-neglected existing parks and build new facilities, and (2) adopting the Water Forum Agreement, which establishes a regional framework for securing adequate water supplies in the region, while protecting the habitat, aesthetic and recreation values of the American River.

SACRAMENTO IN THE YEAR 2000 AND BEYOND

As described in the Record of Accomplishments summarized above, I have had considerable success improving the livability of the Midtown, East Sacramento, University, and North Sacramento neighborhoods in which I have worked and lived. Through that experience, I have developed a 10-point plan to improve the quality of life in all neighborhoods throughout the City which, together with a vibrant city center, will make the City whole greater than the sum of its neighborhood parts.

1. Preserving and strengthening neighborhoods. We need to understand the linkage between quality neighborhoods and a great city. What makes a great city like Paris is not just the beautiful monuments, it's the livable neighborhoods or "arrondissements" as they call them in French, where everything you need is a short walk or metro stop away from where you live.

2. Improving public safety. All neighborhood streets should be safe enough for our children to play in day or night. Neighborhoods should be free not only of violent crime, guns and drugs, but the so-called "lesser" crimes too, including graffiti, prostitution and vandalism. Unsafe traffic volumes and speed must not be allowed to destroy a neighborhood. Finally, hate crimes must not be tolerated.

3. Improving public schools. Education is in my blood: I am a former teacher and school activist, my wife is a teacher and former school activist, and my father is a former teacher. We are finally making good progress in the City's elementary schools, but much work needs to be done to improve student performance, particularly in the middle and high schools.

4. Developing a balanced transportation network. We should use the 2000 Transportation and Air Quality Forum as an opportunity to reach consensus on setting aside money from the half cent Measure A sales tax and other state and federal funds to expand our light rail system so that it seamlessly and conveniently connects to the Airport, and the major destination points throughout the region, as well as to the Amtrak rail system and all our neighborhoods. When traffic comes to a standstill on Highway 50 or Interstate 80, commuters need to have other choices that do not overrun our neighborhood streets and pollute our air. Sacramento should also set the example of how to reduce car trips during summer smog season by encouraging more carpooling, transit, bicycling and telecommuting.

5. Promoting economic opportunity and good jobs. To strengthen our economy and promote a true regional center Downtown, we need to develop an Infill Development policy that will reward, not discourage, development of the Downtown and other older neighborhoods and business districts. Connecting all of our neighborhoods to a strong and vibrant Central City that takes full advantage of the waterfront and all of its historic resources makes good community sense. Such a program will complement the Midtown renaissance already in place. We need to continue Sacramento's trend toward a stronger economy and the generation of high-wage jobs. But it is not enough to generate big business jobs. Neighborhoods need healthy small business districts, and the City's working families need to get their fair share of the region's prosperity.

6. Protecting our urban and natural environment. Our quality of life is dependent on protecting our environment and conserving our resources. The City should partner with SMUD and all our neighborhoods to be the Solar Capital of the world, and be a national leader in recycling and historic preservation.

7. Reestablishing the City's parks and recreational opportunities in all neighborhoods. The City needs to reinvigorate its proud park system by developing new parks and improving older inner city parks.

8. Supporting world-class arts, sports and cultural attractions. We need to give stronger support to all the performing and visual arts to take advantage of the tremendous creative talent we have in each neighborhood of our community. We also need to keep the Central Library Downtown open for business in the evenings and on weekends. Not only will this allow people to use the library when they need to after work and school, it will also liven up the Downtown area at night.

9. Holding local government more accountable. We need to understand and practice the conservation ethic that all public resources, including natural and financial resources (taxes), should be used wisely and efficiently. That is why I led the Council to stabilize utility rates during my term in office. The role of local government is to bring people together # to give people tools to solve problems, not to solve all of the people's problems for them. But people need to have confidence that the people they elect will be responsive to those who elect them, not those who fund their campaigns. It is high time that the City Council adopt the comprehensive set of campaign reforms, including limits on campaign contributions, that I proposed two years ago.

10. Promoting unity and tolerance of our diverse population. Never has the need been greater to promote unity and tolerance among our diverse neighborhoods. Sacramento's greatest resource is its people. I never felt this so strongly as I did when Sacramentans of all races, religions and creeds gathered in a Unity rally in the wake of the three Synagogue fires this summer. I initiated a collaborative effort with Mayor Serna, Assemblymember Steinberg and others to capture this spirit of unity in a permanent Capital Unity Center that will include a museum, an educational program and a research arm to work towards greater understanding and tolerance and to combat hate crimes and prejudice.

My detailed record of accomplishments and plans for the year 2000 and beyond are attached. If you have any questions or comments about this report or any issue, please call my office at 264-7003, or write to me at City Hall, 915 I Street, Room 205, Sacramento, CA 95814. My FAX number is 264-7680 and my E-mail address is scohn@sacto.org. You can also visit my website at http://www.localview.com/citycouncil/.

Yours truly, Steve Cohn CITY COUNCILMAN STEVE COHN'S RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (12/94 THROUGH 12/99)

1. Neighborhood Preservation

- Led Council vote to create a $1 million program to fund street lighting in existing neighborhoods throughout the City.
- Sponsored an amendment to the City ordinance to prohibit a landowner from destroying or moving a house without notice and a public hearing and voted to adopt stricter historic building ordinance requiring notice and a hearing before a historic building can be demolished.

- Led City Council effort to deny developer proposal to tear down six homes next to the old Newton Booth School in Midtown.

- Opened the 72-hour hold detoxification center Downtown.

- Voted to adopt a strict new City ordinance regulating on-site and off-site liquor sales in over-concentrated areas.
- Led City Council effort to fight the overconcentration of social and homeless services in the Downtown/Midtown area and to seek locations in the County outside the City's existing neighborhoods.
- Led Council effort to fund graffiti and strike force efforts throughout City neighborhoods.
- Partnered with the Chief of Police and the Criminal Justice Cabinet to establish a Sacramento area Neighborhood Accountability Board.
- Sponsor a demolition ordinance to prohibit a landowner from destroying or moving a house without notice and a public hearing.

East Sacramento/River Park/University Neighborhoods
- Secured funding through Pops in the Park and other funds to install park and playground projects throughout District 3, including the resurfaced tennis courts, panhandle jogging trail, enhanced wading pool, playground, and duck pond in McKinley Park; the new wading pool and fountain at Bertha Henschel Park; the renovated pond at Sutter's Fort; the new snack bar, backstops, landscaping, and girls' softball field at the Old Sacramento Little League fields at Phoebe Hearst; the field work at the River Park Bambino League baseball diamond at Ciavarella Field; the completion of the new Dan McAuliffe Memorial Baseball Park near CSUS; the soccer goals at most of the East Sacramento Youth Soccer League's fields; the new playground under construction at East Portal Park; and the kindergarten and regular playgrounds at Caleb Greenwood School; and drinking fountains at parks throughout the District.
- Supported the neighborhood and business coalition's opposition to Taco Bell's bid to put a larger drive-through restaurant at 58th and Folsom.
- Secured neighborhood police officers (NPOs) and worked with residents to expand neighborhood watch citizen patrols and graffiti squad patrols.
- Secured over $4 million in City funding to upgrade the City's combined sewer/storm drain system to reduce street flooding south of Folsom on 42nd St. and Berkeley Way, and numerous other projects.
- Funded and landscaped the median and roadside on J Street in front of CSUS, filled in the ditch at the River Park entrance at Carlson and H Streets, and worked with the community to install a fountain dedicated to the the "Flower Lady", Fran Yermol.
- Worked to secure old commercial billboard (location) from Eller Media to be used for community billboard on Folsom Blvd.
- Shamed the SCUSD into painting Theodore Judah School.
- Adopted a tough curfew for outdoor concerts at Cal Expo (10:30 p.m. on weeknights and 11:00 p.m. on weekends).
- Reopened the Clunie Community Center and Library at McKinley Park with a new kitchen and refinished auditorium, and held several special events such as a City Council Meeting and 60th Anniversary celebration for the Library.
- Secured funding and Sheriff's Deputy crew labor to renovate the McKinley Park Duck Pond for $30,000 (projected cost was over $100,000).
- Formed an East Sac Traffic Advisory Committee to develop common-sense solutions to neighborhood parking and traffic problems, such as placing parking on the McKinley Park dogleg near Alhambra, and widening lanes on J Street by removing one lane of traffic between 36th and 42nd Streets.
- Helped form the East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce to develop a partnership between East Sac businesses, residents, and the City.
- Helped the River Park Neighborhood Association close Glenn Hall Park at dusk instead of 10:00 p.m. to reduce crime in the neighborhood.
- Established a committee of neighbors and businesses to adopt stringent conditions to ensure that future development at the old Centrage site and Cannery Business Park will be compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
- Worked with parents to secure funding for a new 4th R portable classroom at Caleb Greenwood School.
- Spearheaded the design and funding of the CSUS/65th Street Pedestrian, Bicycle and Light Rail Tunnel Connection, which includes safety, landscaping and beautification measures along 65th, Folsom, Elvas and J Streets.
- Appointed a citizens' advisory committee to draft design guidelines for McKinley Park improvements.
- Worked to ensure that the East Bay MUD Pipeline Project, if it is ever built, would minimize impacts and maximize benefits to our neighborhoods.

MIDTOWN
- Completed the $400,000 Midtown street lighting pilot in two areas bounded by 21st Street on the west, 24th Street on the east, H Street on the north and I Street on the south; and 17th Street on the west, 19th Street on the east, Capitol Avenue on the north, and Q Street on the south and secured future funding for street lighting.
- Completed the Neighborhood Preservation Transportation Plan (NPTP), which included converting G and H streets to two-way streets with bike lanes, and installing new storm drains, pedestrian islands and traffic circles throughout Midtown north of J St., and five new traffic lights on J, K and L.
- Developed a 16th Street Lighting and Landscaping Plan, working in concert with CADA, the Midtown Business Association, SHRA, and area businesses and residents, and secured $60,000 in initial funding.

- Brought the Pops in the Park summer concert series to Midtown and secured Pops in the Park and other funds to build a new playground at Washington School, help renovate Fremont Park, reopen the Sutter's Fort pond, enhance Stanford Park, and build a future playground at Winn Park.

- Supported local retailers through free holiday parking and assistance with special events and promotions, such as the Midtown Gardens beautification project and Midtown maps/guides.

- Led Council to adopt the neighborhood-supported R Street Plan and Zoning Ordinance changes.

- Worked out settlement with UP Railroad to obtain necessary right-of-way for construction of the 20th Street Bicycle crossing.

- Pushed for aggressive code enforcement of problem properties.

- Led Council to adopt the Sutter's Landing Park Plan to convert the City Landfill into a park and move all garbage disposal operations offsite.

- Worked with parks staff and area residents to develop an improvement plan for Fremont Park.

- Regularly participated with the Neighborhood Association Advisory Group and all of the Central City neighborhood associations to find solutions to problems plaguing the Central City neighborhoods.

- Helped develop several new city ordinances to address the growing over-concentration of social services in the Central City and supported an emergency ordinance regarding financial management facilities.
- Participated in the Central City Neighborhood Design workshop.
- Negotiated "Good Neighbor" conditions as part of the Blue Diamond retention deal, including additional security patrol for the immediate area around Blue Diamond, $50,000 per year from SHRA for lighting in Midtown, $50,000 per year from Blue Diamond for community non-profits, right-of-way along the river parkway, and for the new bicycle trail and future light rail.
- Procured a Sacramento START program at Washington School, which had been previously targeted by the School District's closure list.
- Helped to reduce vagrancy problems at 20th and I streets by persuading the LIFE center to relocate.
- Developed a 16th Street Lighting and Landscaping Plan, with the first $45,000 going towards street lighting around Memorial Auditorium.
- Replaced the old K Street shuttle with the new Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) connecting Midtown to Old Sacramento.
- Obtained federal transportation (TEA-21) funding for conversion of L, N, P and Q Streets from one-way to two-way streets.

- Completed construction of the 20th Street Bicycle crossing.
- Helped fund a study to form a new Midtown Business Improvement District.
- Targeted code enforcement of biggest problem properties and property owners.
- Installed angled parking in Midtown Business District.
- Opposed the developer proposal to tear down six homes next to the old Newton Booth School.

CAMPUS COMMONS/SIERRA OAKS
- Secured funding to construct storm drainage improvements in Campus Commons and city portion of Sierra Oaks.

- Brokered a major agreement between neighbors and Sacramento Country Day School to preserve the existing greenbelt and ensure the school's expansion will be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood, and worked with Country Day School to ensure continued compliance with permit conditions.

- Supported formation of the new Sierra Oaks Neighborhood Association.

- Worked with all neighborhood associations in the area on improving safety and increasing flood protection and preparedness.

- Brought Pops in the Park to University Park and CSUS.

- Directed staff to offer a smaller garbage can and lower garbage service rate to residents in Campus Commons.

- Worked with neighbors to help Police track down burglars in Campus Commons.
- Worked with Campus Commons residents to develop common sense solutions to traffic problems.

SWANSTON ESTATES/CAL EXPO/POINT WEST
- Worked with neighbors to develop the first major street lighting program in the City in decades for Swanston Estates.

- Negotiated with Arden Fair and directed staff to fund and install a new traffic light on Ethan Way at the back exit from Arden Fair (J.C. Penneys).

- Negotiated a settlement with Kaiser Permanente to approve their new medical facility on Exposition Blvd. conditioned on Kaiser's commitment to pay $95,000 for a portable classroom for an after school program and Swanston Estates meeting room at Babcock School, install lighting around Babcock Park, install a traffic signal at Challenge Way and Response Road, work with other Point West businesses to fund additional security and join the Point West Area Transportation Management Authority, and add new turn lanes at several intersections.

- Worked with the Point West Area Business Association to make better use of City Police, Cal Expo security, and private security in the area.

- Opened the Expo/160 Connector.

- Finalized traffic mitigation plans for Swanston Estates, including speed humps, stop signs, and other traffic calming devices.
- Used Pops, L&L and volunteer funds to install new playground and purchase new soccer goals at Babcock School and Park.
- Worked with neighbors and school to use new school portable as community meeting room.

2. Enhancing Public Safety

- City's crime rate is down significantly over last 4 years, and for first time in 6 years, every category of the crime index is down in double digits citywide.
- Led Council to establish a more aggressive program to fight graffiti and vandalism, including a parental responsibility ordinance, a portable Graffiti Paint Wagon, neighborhood strike forces to remove graffiti, and increased arrests and prosecutions.

- Helped establish the Neighborhood Accountability Board to allow citizen participation in alternative sentencing for youth offenders.

- Voted to receive federal grants to fund 23 new neighborhood officers and hire 33 civilians to perform crime scene investigation and lab work.
- Developed a comprehensive strategy to fight crime in Midtown, including: improving crime surveillance, increasing graffiti enforcement, and improving communications between Police and the community, and NPOs devoted exclusively to Midtown.
- Worked with NPOs, CADA and the Fremont Park Neighborhood Association to open a Neighborhood Police Service center at 16th and Capitol.

- Voted to reinstate the Police Department's Traffic Division and increase fines for red light violations.

- Voted to establish the City's award-winning Neighborhood Traffic Management Program to reduce traffic speeds and volumes and truck traffic through neighborhood streets.
- Voted to adopt an anti-camping ordinance to allow police to more effectively control transients in our neighborhoods.

- Voted to establish a 911 intergovernmental emergency communication system.

- As SAFCA Board member, helped secure federal authorization and funding for two-phase program to raise the City's level of protection from 80 to 140-year level through construction of a levee slurry wall along the American River(to be completed in 2000) and modifying Folsom Dam.

- Helped to establish emergency flood response plans for all City neighborhoods and activated them for the 1995 and 1997 Floods.

3. Improving Public Schools

- Helped elect the new Sacramento City Unified School District School Board which has made great strides in improving student performance under the leadership of Board President Jay Schenirer and Superintendent Jim Sweeney.
- Helped the School District and the Area Congregations Together (ACT) coalition to pass the recent School Bond with over 80 percent of the vote.
- Developed a strong partnership with all of the schools in District 3, including those in the North Sacramento and San Juan Districts to work on the START after school program and other neighborhood, youth and recreational issues.
- Raised money to fund new little league baseball and soccer facilities.

- Helped raise private matching funds for the City's Late Night Sacramento and START (Students Today Achieving Results for Tomorrow) programs.
- Supported a successful bond measure for North Sac School District.
- Supported youth employment programs.

4. Developing a More Balanced Transportation Network

- As STA Chair, crafted a compromise to allocate over $70 million in federal TEA-21 funds, including 45 percent to rail/transit projects, 41 percent to roadway projects, and the remainder to bikeway, parkway and landscaping projects, such as the CSUS Access project and the Tower Bridge project to better link Old Sac with the new riverfront ballpark in West Sacramento, and several projects to beautify aging business corridors, such as Fulton, Watt, Marconi, Stockton, Northgate, and Folsom Blvd.
- As STA Chair, I promoted a program to offer free RT rail and bus passes on smoggy "Spare the Air" days.  Significantly increased maintenance and repairs of City streets.
- As Chair of the Capitol Corridor Rail Board, led negotiations to have Amtrak run a sixth daily train between the Bay Area and Sacramento, reduced the travel time to 2 hours, and increased ridership to record levels.
- As Vice Chair this year and Chair of Sacramento Transportation Authority, worked to obtained funding for the South Light Rail line to Meadowview, which began construction in November 2000.

- Sponsored Council effort to expand the Downtown Shuttle to Midtown and Point West Area hotels.

- Voted to adopt the Master Bikeway Plan and the Sacramento River Parkway and Bikeway plan.

- Sponsored a resolution and testified before California High-Speed Rail Authority to support a high-speed rail connection to Sacramento.

5. Protecting the Urban and Natural Environment

- Leading advocate on Council (and as past Chair of Sacramento Solid Waste Authority) to attain 42% diversion rate, one of the highest in the country, by expanding the City's recycling programs to include all types of paper products, including junk mail and cardboard, and by partnering with BLT to construct a new transfer station and recycling center to lessen need for more landfill space and decrease disposal costs.

- As the leading advocate on the Council for rail, transit, bicycle and other alternative transportation modes, worked to obtained fund for the South Light Rail line and other alternative mode projects.

- Voted to adopt the Master Bikeway Plan and the Sacramento River Parkway and Bikeway plan.

- Voted to upgrade the City's lighting and mechanical systems, resulting in thousands of dollars in energy savings and a prestigious award in conservation.

6. Promoting Economic Opportunity and Jobs

- Worked closely with Metro Chamber of Commerce, SACTO, Valley Vision, Midtown Business Association, East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Point West Area Business Association and city staff to improve the business climate in Sacramento in general and the Central City in particular.
- Helped retain Blue Diamond and its 1,100 employees, which has had its corporate headquarters in Midtown since 1910.
- Strongly and consistently supported all Downtown revitalization efforts, including the Downtown Partnership, the Sacramento Riverfront Master Plan, the Public Market in Old Sacramento, the Hard Rock Café, the skating rink and, the IMAX theater on K Street, the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel, the Embassy Suites Waterfront Hotel, and the restoration of the Crest Theater and Memorial Auditorium.

- As member of Welfare to Work Board and Council, developed a new structure to put former welfare recipients to work and supported homeless, social services, and welfare reform policies which reward individual responsibility and community service and relieve the strain on overburdened Central City.
- Supported 60 Quinn cottages for transitional housing and the Midtown Gardens project to employ formerly homeless.

7. Reestablishing the City's parks and recreational opportunities

- Established the Pops in the Park summer evening series to include five to six concerts in neighborhood parks attended by thousands of residents, and raising thousands of dollars for District 3 park improvement projects.
- Established partnerships with schools, labor unions, little leagues, community groups and the State to complete numerous park and playground projects throughout District 3, including:
- the resurfaced tennis courts, panhandle jogging trail, enhanced wading pool, playground, and duck pond in McKinley Park;
- the new wading pool and fountain at Bertha Henschel Park;
- the renovated pond at Sutter's Fort;
- the new snack bar, backstops, landscaping, and girls' softball field at the Old Sacramento Little League fields at Phoebe Hearst School;
- the field work at the River Park Bambino League baseball diamond at Ciavarella Field;
- the completion of the new Dan McAuliffe Memorial Baseball Park on City utility property near CSUS;
- the soccer goals at most of the East Sacramento Youth Soccer League's fields including Kit Carson Middle School;
- the new playground under construction at East Portal Park;
- and the kindergarten and regular playgrounds at Caleb Greenwood School; and drinking fountains at parks throughout the District.
- Adopt a revised Master Park Plan, including new baseball and soccer fields, and one or more permanent parks for skateboarders, in-line skaters and bicyclists, and the use of Sutter's Landing Park (next to the old City landfill on 28th Street, north of the UPRR tracks).
- Pushed Council to set aside $1.4 million in funding for new parks acquisition, including acquisition of property along the American River to complete the parkway.
- Improved park maintenance with the Lighting & Landscape Fund, which received more than 70% voter approval to continue the program.

8. Promoting Arts and Cultural Attractions

- Consistently led the Council's support of the Crocker Art Museum, the Sacramento Symphony, Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento Opera, and other arts groups.
- As Past Chair of the Library Authority, worked with volunteer community groups to establish and carry out a plan, approved by more than 60% of City voters, to substantially increase library hours and book collections; and more recently to install Internet computer terminals in all City libraries, and to open the Central Downtown Library two evenings a week.
- Arranged for Sac State basketball games to be played at Memorial Auditorium.
- Consistent supporter of the Sacramento Sports Commission's efforts to bring sports to the area, including the Olympic Trials in 2000.

9. Holding Local Government More Accountable

- As only Councilmember with utility experience, I led the Council to adopt practices similar to SMUD, voting for no City residential utility rate increase for three years in a row (1996-98), holding average rate increases to under 3 percent during 5 years on Council compared to double digit increases the preceding 5 years, and establishing electronic utility bill payments.
- Reduced city's commercial garbage collection rates by 25%, while also pushing for more competition among waste haulers and disposal sites.

- As member of Council's Technology Committee, pushed to establish the 24-hour City Operator program (264-5011) which handles 35,000 non-emergency calls a year and the development of a City internet website (http://WWW.cityofsacramento.org).
- Conducted public meetings and sidewalk hours throughout District 3 neighborhoods.

- Served on the City Council committee that negotiated the deal to sell the City's interest in the Hyatt Hotel for a gain of $8 million.

- Supported variable garbage can sizes and rates so residents can save on their utility bills by using smaller cans.

- Opposed the City Council's $73 million loan to the Kings and asked that it be put to a vote of City residents.

10. Promoting Unity and Tolerance of Sacramento's Diverse Population

- Joined with Mayor Serna and Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg to co-found the Capital Unity Council, a broad-based coalition of area leaders devoted to fighting hate crime and establishing a new Unity Center.
- Leading advocate of a new City program to contract with small and emerging businesses on a non-discriminatory basis and to continue outreach into the minority communities in the post-Prop. 9 environment that prohibits many affirmative action programs.
- Member of the Hate Crimes Task Force to respond quickly to hate crimes.

STEVE COHN'S 2000+ PLATFORM

Vision: To shape Sacramento's development as the most livable city in America, with excellent schools, abundant well-maintained parks and libraries, vibrant arts, sports and cultural attractions, and safe, quality, tree-lined neighborhoods within walking distance or a transit stop from Downtown and other thriving business and entertainment districts, and tied to the rest of our region and the world through world-class rail, freeway, airport, internet and telecommunications connections.

1. Preserving neighborhoods.

- Ensure new development is compatible with existing neighborhoods.
- Expand central city Neighborhood Alliance citywide to advise Mayor/Council.
- Install street lighting throughout the City in neighborhoods without lights.
- Require social service providers to abide by good neighbor conditions and work with the County locate more social services outside the City.
- Continue expansion of code enforcement program.
- Continue to promote Downtown as the business, entertainment, government and cultural hub of the region.
- Partner with West Sacramento to develop Sacramento River waterfront as the urban equivalent of the American River Parkway.
- Continue to promote Midtown as the City's foremost sidewalk café district and urban village through street lighting, angled parking, design review, zoning and housing policies that encourage mixed uses and discourage large office buildings, etc.

2. Improving public safety.

- Dedicate more police to hate crimes and domestic violence cases.
- Support state legislation to dedicate $5 million for prosecution of hate crime cases.
- Develop a local counterpart to Senator Feinstein's gun registration bill
- Develop a KC/ Boston-style gun confiscation program in the City targeting high-crime areas.
- Expand the Neighborhood Accountability Board program.
- Enforce a "Zero tolerance" misdemeanor policy and implement the "broken windows" theory by attacking crime at the outset in a neighborhood.
- Improve fire and ambulance response.
- Increase flood protection beyond the 140-year level authorized by Congress.

3. Improving public schools.

- Focus on improved student performance in middle and high schools.
- Carry out the SCUSD School Bond as cost effectively as possible.
- Pass the Grant School Bond in the future.
- Pass statewide initiative to reduce school bond passage to majority vote.
- Continue Mayor Serna's commitment to make education top City priority.
- Adopt a "no excuses" policy that our children should be performing at the highest levels in the state.
- Build better connections between CSUS and the surrounding community, including a college district and transit village around 65th Street/University light rail station.

4. Building a more balanced transportation network.

- Develop plan to expand light rail to Folsom, Elk Grove, Roseville, Airport, and Davis, and to develop a neighborhood shuttle system linking to light rail backbone and intercity rail service.
- Reduce traffic volumes and speeds on neighborhood streets.
- Increase maintenance of City streets.
- As part of the Transportation and Air Quality Forum next year, set aside money from the half cent Measure A sales tax and other state and federal funds to expand our light rail system so that it seamlessly and conveniently connects to the Airport, and the major destination points throughout the region, as well as to the Amtrak rail system and all our neighborhoods.
- Reduce car trips during summer smog season by encouraging more carpooling, transit, bicycling and telecommuting, e.g., by offering free RT rail and bus passes on smoggy "Spare the Air" days.

5. Promoting economic opportunity and jobs.

- Develop an infill development policy that will reward development of the Downtown and other older neighborhoods and business districts.
- Promote small businesses, particularly in aging business districts and corridors.
- Resurrect Mayor's Council of Economic Advisers.
- Work with Central Labor Council to ensure that City's working families share in region's prosperity.
- Develop a targeted economic development or program for particular enterprise zones of the City.

6. Protecting the urban and natural environment.

- Develop a comprehensive infill incentive program to reduce or waive fees and streamline permitting process for projects proposed in the City's urban core.
- Promote development projects located next to transit and charge transit surcharge fees to projects located away from transit.
- City should partner with SMUD to make Sacramento a Solar City # worldwide leader in renewable energy, electric/hybrid vehicles and energy efficient buildings.
- Expand recycling program to have recycling at all public meeting spaces and to accelerate the more convenient rolling cans, rather than bins.

7. Reestablishing the City's parks and recreational opportunities .

- Expand Pops in the Park concept to fund needed improvements to City parks.
- Buy Urrutia and other properties left in American River Parkway to complette the parkway.
- Build more youth soccer and baseball fields.
- Build stronger community base for Sac State sports and culture programs.

8. Promoting the City's arts and cultural attractions.

- Establish a regional arts council to leverage private and public money into an enhanced arts scene, resulting in the restoration of the Symphony, and top quality arts and entertainment.

9. Holding local government accountable.

- Adopt campaign reform ordinance.
- Put all new taxes and major sports arena/stadium and loan proposals to a vote of the people.
- Establish expanded sidewalk hours, e.g., Second Saturdays in Midtown and Del Paso Blvd. and "City Hall in the Mall" hours at Arden Fair and other malls.

10. Promoting unity amidst the City's great diversity.

- Establish a Capital Unity Center to promote unity and tolerance among Sacramento's diverse people and to combat hate crimes and prejudice in three ways: 1) an educational program to promote tolerance and understanding among California's diverse races, ethnic groups, religions, cultures, etc.; 2) a museum with exhibits showing the good, bad and ugly of California's history of race and ethnic relations and prejudices; and 3) a research and investigation arm to assist law enforcement in tracking hate groups.
- Work to create outreach programs that will continue to promote diversity in City hiring and contracting programs without violating Proposition 209.