The questions were prepared by the Los Altos - Mountain View League of Women Voters and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Long term fiscal needs, Job/housing imbalance, Important challenge

Click on a name for other candidate information.

Answer from Nancy Noe:

I am involved in lobbying efforts to address the state and federal tax structures that negatively impact City revenues. I support attraction and construction of a major hotel and policies that encourage business vitality in downtown and appropriate locations. (I will not support bad long-term land use decisions for short-term fiscal considerations). To cope with revenue losses we will have to be very prudent in our spending and will likely have to defer expanding or adding services in the near term.

Answer from Rosemary Stasek:

With the combination of prop 13 limits, ERAF diversions by the state, and declining sales tax revenue due to e-commerce, our city is facing difficult budget realities. I have been active in lobbying state and federal officials and explaining the declining revenues our city is currently seeing. The issue of fair, consistent and controllable revenue sources for local government is urgent. In the event of a budget shortfall, I would expect every department in the city to do its part to identify non-essential programs to be scaled back. I have no sacred cows. At a basic level however, I believe the services provided by police, fire and library are core city services to preserved to the greatest extent possible.

Answer from Mario Ambra:

As the Chair of the Finance Committee, I know we need to keep a strong investment portfolio. We must provide the most essential services. It is important to have more diversity in our tax base. I am on record in support of state taxation of the internet. Any new taxes or fees to raise monies should be fair. We must continue to cut waste in city government.

Answer from Greg Perry:

We need to begin saving during good times. There is no reason we should be running deficits during the strongest economic growth of the last century. By building our surplus and paying off debts while the economy is healthy, we can avoid having to cut critical services should the economy turn bad.

Answer from Matt Pear:

Mountain View needs to carefully plan and monitor its financial future so that we do not experience the disequilibria that plagued the budget forecast over the past months, which indicated a projected deficit of approximately eight million dollars. Currently the budget has been revised to reflect strong first quarter revenue growth, that if it continues for the next three quarters, will greatly enhance the City's financial position. It is difficult to forecast sales tax revenues due to a number of factors but it is essential to seek approximately two million dollars annually in revenue increases in order to cover expenditures. The forecast has recently been revised due to better than expected permitting fees and sales tax revenues for the first quarter. However, we still need to address revenues over the next four years through increased business-to-business sales in order to generate the revenues required to maintain and enhance youth programs, fire and police protection, open space and city infrastructure. The Council must take a proactive position by meeting with businesses, much as I have done as an economic development consultant on behalf of municipalities, counties, and the California Trade and Commerce Department.

Answer from Mary Lou Zoglin:

The city's tax base must be strengthened in two ways: 1) convince the state to return property taxes diverted during its budget crisis and 2) diversify the city's retail (especially downtown) and business/industrial base. Any increases in user fees (garbage, water) required by rising costs should be small so as not to strain residents' budgets. Ample reserves must be maintained, and all budgeting must be done with an eye to the future: what will the cost of this program be in five years and can we change or eliminate it without causing major public harm?

Answer from Rosemary Stasek:

Affordable Housing is the most important challenge facing Mountain View. This is an issue that will not be solved by one city alone; however I'm proud of our city's accomplishments in the last 4 years. I have supported increased density of housing along transit corridors. I voted for a Below Market Rate ordinance with priority for public safety personnel. I have supported using our affordable housing dollars to save subsidized apartment complexes from reverting to market rate. I have used my Mayoral corporate visits to urge business support of the Housing Trust Fund. I have met with local apartment owners to urge their involvement in local initiatives to ease the housing crisis for at-risk residents. I am a vocal supporter of our latest initiative to build an efficiency studio apartment in the city. I will continue to work on this issue on a local and regional level to make sure that every part of the community - government, corporate, and non-profit - are focused on looking for every possible solution to maintain housing for an economically broad community.

Answer from Nancy Noe:

We must increase overall housing supply to help address the market factors. High density housing should be located along major transportation corridors and in areas that are well served by transit, bicycle and pedestrian amenities. We need to explore ways to increase and leverage the resources we have to assist in the creation of affordable housing. I supported the below-market-rate ordinance and affordable efficiency studio housing, and will continue looking for new avenues to address this issue.

Answer from Mary Lou Zoglin:

The city must work with its neighbors to find a regional solution to this regional problem. I am working with several county and regional organizations to address affordable housing issues. Mountain View itself should step up its initiatives to preserve subsidized housing (particularly for seniors) and to leverage funds from all sources to build the very low cost housing that the private sector does not provide. Public safety and school employees should be able to live in Mountain View. Moffett Field should provide housing as part of its new development strategy. New building should be located near public transit and shopping and services to minimize added traffic.

Answer from Greg Perry:

We need to build more homes and apartments.

Over the past 5 years we have added over 14,000 jobs, but only 1240 housing units. Together with other cities, our planning decisions have created the housing shortage. As long as we have more jobs than homes, someone will be unable to find an affordable place to live.

Possible places to put housing are the old Emporium site, next to major employers, above downtown buildings, and denser development near train stations. I heard many of these ideas first from local residents, and believe that a thorough public input process can lead to more good solutions.

Answer from Matt Pear:

We need to encourage a mix of housing in an environmentally sensitive manner, especially at higher densities (up to four-stories), when the sites are at transportation nodes and are supported by the appropriate infrastructure. The Environmental Planning Commission and Community Development should work with neighborhoods in order to listen to concerns and openly discuss the impacts and how best to mitigate these impacts. This process would shorten the time in which to receive entitlements, which would presumably lower the costs. We need to consider using former school sites and city and county surplus properties. Since housing will continue to be provided by the private sector for the foreseeable future, incentives are necessary to spur housing development. Incentives include accelerated depreciation schedules, reduction in city permitting fees, the underwriting of tax-free bonds, etc., policies that directly benefit all concerned parties.

Answer from Mario Ambra:

The city of Mountain View already has worked hard in providing Below Market Rate units. We use our CDBG money to support efficiency studios. We have endorsed a voluntary program to help teachers with deposits on rental units. I also would like to see high density housing close to corporations included in the Moffett/NASA development.

Answer from Matt Pear:

The most important challenge facing the city is it's fiscal stability followed by affordable housing and traffic congestion. My position on the first two is recited above, with traffic congestion being resolved through regional cooperation by alternative forms of transportation (e.g. bike boulevards) and the electrification, triple tracking, grade separation, etc. of the CalTrain right-of-way along with improved bus service to these transportation nodes, all designed to increase the frequency and range of public transportation.

Answer from Nancy Noe:

The most important challenge is the lack of affordable housing. This impacts the individual lives of our residents, relationships within families, and the ability of businesses, government and nonprofits to hire and to provide services. I will look for ways to support creation of new housing and will encourage property owners to voluntarily limit cost increases that are damaging the cultural diversity and economic health of our community.

Answer from Rosemary Stasek:

(see above answer on affordable housing)

Answer from Mario Ambra:

It may suprise you, but Moffett/NASA development is what I see as our most important challenge. Four years ago, I fought against noisy air cargo at Moffett. I have kept my eyes on Moffett and will continue to do so. I believe many wonderful things can be accomplished with development -- education, research, student campus, wetlands, and affordable housing are a few to choose from.

Answer from Greg Perry:

Housing is the most important challenge we face.

Answer from Mary Lou Zoglin:

The challenge for Mountain View is to respond to the population pressure caused by the Valley's economic success while preserving the quality of life and respecting the environmental values that make people want to live here. To maintain the proper balance, the Council must assure that all voices are heard at City Hall, through neighborhood meetings and associations, outreach workers contacting residents directly, working with local organizations, and using telephone, e-mail, and other electronic means. We must plan for the future by helping young people use out-of-school hours for homework, recreation, and community work rather than gangs, drugs, and violent and illegal activities.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.