Positions on Local Environmental Issues

By Roger J. Evans

I am enclosing my background, my political agenda for the Santa Maria City Council position and answers to the questions you provided in the mail.

1. What is your position on the concept of Urban Limit Line as a land use planning tool? Is there a problem with conflicts between agricultural and other land uses in these areas? If so, what can be done about it?

I think the Urban Limit Line as a land use planning tool is a practical way to approach urban growth and sprawl. Cities can be overcome very quickly by new citizens without such controls in place. However, for the approach to work the concept needs to involve citizens from both the agricultural and business communities. Sprawl occurs outside of the city limits, so this needs to be taken into consideration. An example is Boulder, Colorado, which purchased a band of agricultural land around their City. The land was leased back to the farmers for agricultural use. This plan kept the sprawl controlled in this area, but it was evident beyond the agricultural boundary set up by the Boulder community. This means the County must be involved in the process as well. When sprawl occurs it is usually about profit. People sell property for home construction because the price is right.

2. What effort, if any, do you envision as appropriate to address the use of pesticides within the Santa Maria Valley?

Pesticides are an important problem in our valley. They are a necessity to ensure crop success, but they also contribute adversely to our quality of life on the Central Coast. I do believe that as we get smarter on the impact pesticides on human beings, we can't continue to use them just because they may get rid of a certain bug or fungus. We have to look at alternatives to pesticides. Do anything less is irresponsible.

3. Which one present member of the City Council do you most identify with? Why?

I don't relate to anyone on the present Santa Maria City Council. I don't believe they are doing a good job for the citizens of Santa Maria. They have no creative ideas for this community. I don't see them independently taking stands on issues, but rather they seem to come to a "good old boy" agreement. This is not how you solve problems. Toru Miyoshi is closest to the kind of City Councilmember I believe we need to solve problems. At least he takes a stand. I don't agree with Mr. Miyoshi on some issues, but at least he speaks his mind.

4. The County of Santa Barbara is currently in non-compliance with state and federal standards for ozone pollution. Do you support additional air quality controls on mobile and stationary sources in Santa Barbara County? How do you feel those controls should be paid for?

We need to be in compliance with standard emission guidelines. Yes, we need to establish tighter controls on mobile and stationary sources to comply with the state and federal ozone emissions. If we neglect environmental we are compromising our environment and our health. Additionally, we could also be jeopardizing access to state and federal funds. We have to do what is right for the future of our community. If we put on the appropriate controls, technology will find a way to comply. If we ignore the problem, we just lose. While we protect the environment with regulations, technology developments to solve emission problems helps create jobs. So, by doing the right thing we win. It is the transition of getting compliance and developing technology to comply that it becomes hard. The County and the groups with the emission sources can work together to solve these problems. The County can help provide funds to reward those who work to comply. Stiff fines work for those who wish to ignore the emission standards.

5. What do you intend to emphasize in your campaign for election to the City Council? Please indicate the level of relative importance to your campaign.

See attached information sheet (Campaign Themes and Platform - Position paper #1).

6. Please explain and rank the three most urgent environmental issues in the City of Santa Maria. Where do you stand on these issues and how do you expect to contribute to addressing them.

The three most important environmental issues in Santa Maria are: (1) pesticide use, (2) water conservation, and (3) land conservation.

(1) Pesticide use: see number 2 above.

(2) Water conservation: Santa Maria, like other Southern California cities, must conserve water resources. Water is needed for everything we do, from agriculture to drinking water and from hotels and restaurants to yard care. The different groups involved in water issues must work together to solve water problems. We can exchange ideas on water conservation, and cooperate on differences. For instance, Santa Maria wants to "bank" excess State water in the underground reservoir. This creates a problem for how to measure what is banked, and even if the banking is feasible.

(3) Land Conservation: While this land conservation considers the protection of agricultural land, the expansion of landfill facilities is also a land conservation issue. Urban Limit Lines and cooperation between City, County, and landowners can help ensure protection of our agricultural resources. Landfills will continue to be a problem as more waste is produced. Recycling is part of the solution, but does not eliminate the problem. We must continue to look for other solutions to growing landfills. I believe creative ideas and technology will help find solutions.

The enclosed paper also gives you more insight into my approach if I am elected to City Council in November. Santa Maria is a nice place to live, but there are many things that need to be fixed to make Santa Maria a special place to live. We can make Santa Maria better.