Manteca Bulletin Candidate Questionaire

By Carlon Perry

Mayor Perry on "Hot Issues in our Community"

1. Question-Candidates historically indicate they want more Police Officers on the street. How would you accomplish this in terms of finding or generating the financial resources to pay for the additional Patrol Officers?

1. Answer-Historically, "more on the street Police Officers" are paid for out of the City's General Fund. I am concerned that our Council has not made neighborhood speeding a Top Priority. As each day passes and our Community builds more and more homes, complaints about neighborhood speeding have alarmingly increased. Our Council must listen to the concerns of its citizens and take action. I have asked staff for a plan that addresses neighborhood speeding only to be told, "give us more people". I voted to hire "more on the Street Police Officers", yet, 4 months later, we still do not have a plan. The Council as a whole needs to hold the City Manager and Police Chief accountable and direct that staff presents a plan that will begin to address the speeding concerns. The Plan should be comprehensive and include Staff expertise and what other cities are doing as well as the Council and Community's input.

2. Question-What is your position on the Big League Dreams partnership proposal to develop a sports complex in Manteca?

2. Answer-Although Big League Dreams may be a good concept, it was proposed at the wrong location with great financial risk to the citizens of Manteca. The current proposal would cost 30 Million Dollars including debt service over a period of 30 years. Earlier this year, I proposed that the citizens of Manteca have the opportunity to vote for Big League Dreams. The Council majority at the time (Weatherford, Macedo and Harris) voted against the people having a say at the ballot box. And in more recent times, At our last Council meeting, I proposed and Council unanimously supported: 1. Removing the Big League Dreams element from Woodward Park 2. Start an initial phase of construction for the play area and soccer fields. My goal was to satisfy the immediate needs in our community. Staff is currently looking at alternate sites for Big League Dreams. I can only support Big League Dreams if it is truly a private-public partnership in which Big League Dreams also have an equally substantial financial investment in the project.

3. Question-Any thoughts on the city's 3.9 percent growth cap for housing units that is based on sewer allocations?

3. Answer-I support the 3.9 percent growth cap.

4. Question-How should the City pay for its $7 million share of the new Manteca Library should it proceed.

4. Answer-I am very concerned that we will consider building a new Library for 20 million dollars when we are struggling to keep the Library open. The City is spending one million dollars more than it has in revenue. The fact is, our city is in deficit spending. And although it would be nice to have a new library that is unfortunately controlled by the folks in Stockton, there are other more important spending priorities. In the next few months the Council will be reviewing the possibility of water rate increases, sewer increases, and garbage rate increases. To consider another debt of 20 million dollars is fiscally irresponsible and frankly I believe our citizens have had enough of the "spend and tax antics" of our Council.

5. Question-If you can accomplish just one thing if you are elected over the next four years, what would that be and why?

5. Answer-To improve efficiency and reduce the cost of government by 10%. Taxpayers are spending more and getting less. In current economic times many private sector companies are downsizing, or requesting employees take a cut in pay to keep their jobs. Our City, in the last budget session increased City Employee salaries by over $650,000. What is disturbing is that the Employee's performance is not a factor in receiving these raises so there is no accountability. And in July-2003 the City Department Manager's salaries (9 positions) alone will tally over $900,000 plus benefits in a compensation package approved by the Council majority (Weatherford, Macedo and Harris).

6. Question-Specifically, how would you like to see the city spend $20 million made available from bond sales for municipal uses as allowed under the redevelopment agency law?

6. Answer-I would like our Redevelopment Agency Bond proceeds to be used to pay down the increased cost of Municipal Service projects for water, sewer and garbage as opposed to raising rates. I believe we can be creative in finding ways to accomplish this goal. Remember, this is the same RDA Commission that has given Cabral Motors approx. $400,000 and developers millions without them being required to pay back the debt.

7. Question-What type of amenities that Manteca currently does not have would you like to see the city work toward securing over the next 10 to 20 years of public use that would be financed with tax dollars?

7. Answer - 1. Develop Woodward Community Park that will include a man-made Pond stocked with Fish and Fowl, and botanical gardens with water conservation in mind. The Pond can also be used as a Fishing Park. I envision our children each April on opening day participating in a Fish Derby and an old fashion barbecue. The Botanical Gardens can be a showcase for the talents of our local garden club. 2. A clock tower and small landscaped park at the corner of Yosemite and Main. 3. Beautification of the entryways into our City.

8. Question-What prompted you to run for this specific office?

8. Answer-I am running for Re-Election as Mayor because we need people who can stand guard over our tax dollars and make decisions in the best interest of our community, not special interest groups.