ADDRESSING PACIFIC GROVE ISSUES....IN DEPTH

By Jeffrey A. Flathers

Here are Jeffrey Flathers' responses to a Chamber of Commerce candidates' survey. Please review all candidates' answers at http://www.pacificgrove.org., compare the depth of their knowledge, and vote accordingly!!!!

Phone#: (831) 375-3295

Address: 871 Bayview Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Number of years residing in Pacific Grove: 2_

Email address: flazmatic@yahoo.com

Chamber Member: Not yet

2. What is your position on Measure I prohibiting construction and limiting expansion of new buildings in the "O" zone?

I support Measure I and encourage all Pacific Grove citizens to cast a strong vote in favor of it to protect our open spaces from continued expansion. Our lovely open parks are a major draw for tourists and contribute mightily to the local economy, because those visitors pay Transient Occupancy Tax, sales tax and a large portion of the golf course fees. Hence, protected open spaces will continue to help our economy. I have read the rebuttal positions to Measure I and find them somewhat hollow. Opponents to Measure I, for example, say that if the initiative passes then PG will not be able to replace its sewage pump stations. Well, those stations were just replaced anyway, and will not need to be switched out for many years. Lands zoned "O" for open space ought to be judiciously preserved for future generations.

3. What is your position on the city's funding of the Economic Enhancement Department that is administered by the Economic Advisory Committee?

The city has allocated $115,000 in the 2004-2005 budget to the EAC. Having read completely the Economic Strategic Plan, and seen the positive suggestions for PG's development that came out of the ESP, I am very impressed with the EAC and will support it strongly in the years ahead.

4. What is the function of the Chamber of Commerce?

The CoC is the main promoter of the Pacific Grove business community to our citizens and to thousands of visitors each year. The Chamber is located across the street from the Museum in downtown Pacific Grove. It offers a plethora of pamphlets, maps, tourist information and advice to visitors. The Chamber's mixers offer members of the Chamber of Commerce a chance to get together, network, and plan events in support of our hometown. The Chamber interfaces directly with the City Council and City of Pacific Grove in many for a, chief of which is the Economic Advisory Committee, which drafted a short, medium, and long-term plan of action to improve PG's business climate.

5.How effective is the Chamber of Commerce?

On the plus side, PG's business-provided revenue to the City is strong, reflecting a vibrant business community. We are still hosting thousands of visitors each year, and enjoying many Chamber-backed community events that give tons of character to "America's Last Hometown". In short, I believe the Chamber is a very effective force for good in Pacific Grove, and will strive hard to support its efforts to continually promote Pacific Grove to the outside area. My only real criticism of the CoC is that its website offers erroneous information in several places. For instance, the City Stats section cites a population of 17,145; the city itself only claims 15,577. The area of 2.86 miles is correct, but that does not translate to 183 acres. It's actually 1,429 acres.

6. What are your economic development plans if elected?

1. Balance the city budget. All my specific development plans must be funded through rational cost savings in city departments and services.
2. Create a cross-departmental Parking Committee, to explore how we can solve a growing parking problem in our downtown business district, and in other areas. Parking meters, a municipal parking garage, and re-positioning of 4-hour, 2-hour, 1-hour and 20-minute parking signs must be issues on the table. Let's not become another Carmel in terms of the parking mess.
3. Reduce building permit and planning fees at the Community Development Department. These fees, which, in many cases doubled recently, are way out of bounds and offer unreasonable barriers to residents and businesses that wish to make reasonable remodels and upgrades to their properties.
4. I hope we can fully implement many of the suggestions of the Economic Strategic Plan to better promote all of our four business districts, and, also to get a better mix of businesses across the board. Pagrovians should not have to travel to Monterey or Salinas for many goods and services.

7. What are your top 3 priorities?

1. Balancing the Pacific Grove city budget. The city is facing a $2.1 million shortfall for fiscal year 2004-2005.
2. Infrastructure investment, particularly in Pacific Grove�fs decrepit sewer system. I would fully fund the Sewer System Asset Management Plan and replace all "F" and "D" graded sewer lines within four years.
3. Make a real commitment to PG youth through the planning and construction of a skate park (for which a committee has already been established) and also through the creation and funding of Pacific Grove Scholarships for all graduating seniors.

8. How many City Council meetings have you attended in the past 2 years?

I have attended four council meetings, seen 20 on television and read the agendas and minutes for every council meeting over the past year. I have also read the agendas and minutes for several committees and sub-committees and am familiar with how they function and under whose leadership they work. Although I have faulted the Council for a host of very bad economic and political decisions, I have seen a lot of ground-level committee work that is simply stellar. Dedicated PG residents, stepping forward to contribute to the decision-making process, greatly benefits our community.

9. What is the role of the City Council?

The City Council is the principal legislative body of the city. It sets priorities for the city, approves the budget, passes ordinances and resolutions necessary to the management of the municipality, and represents the city in a variety of manners and functions. The City Council is subservient to the people, and is charged with supervising the City Manager, who directs day-to-day city operations.

10. Have you reviewed the City budget? If yes, what is your impression?

Yes, I have reviewed the City budget in great detail, and find it lacking in many respects. This document offers strong evidence that the current city council is not minding the store. The budget, as originally published May 19, 2004, was $1.2 million out of balance. It is now $2.1 million out of balance, for the current fiscal year, due to $1 million (so far) in cost overruns and additional debt interest on the golf clubhouse. The budget allows one to analyze, department by department, how much the city is spending on personnel and operations. In a nutshell, total personnel compensation levels, topping out at over $150,000 per employee in the fire department, are generally 20-30% higher than those paid in other Peninsula cities. The current city council previously tried to buy off the public employee unions with exorbitant salaries and benefits for employees, yet the time has arrived when we must "pay the piper" and make serious personnel cuts. Such an action can be done in a collective bargaining environment. Two years ago City employees accepted a 3.5% cut, rather than face additional staffing cuts. The current savings will have to be deeper. Seaside ($2.4 million deficit), Monterey ($5.1 million) and Carmel ($682K) have all adopted plans to reduce the public rolls and save their budgets, but PG's council has thus far adopted a head-in-the-sand posture. We must face the challenge head-on, and work with department heads to get some real savings.

11. Should the enterprise funds be restricted or available to fund alternative City projects?

Enterprise funds should be available to fund alternative City projects. For example, if the golf course enterprise fund is as profitable as its proponents project, and if it is able to earn in excess of 130% of payments, as required by the rate covenant of the bond issue agreement, then the excess cash ought to be funneled into useful City projects that will benefit more than just the 5% of the populace that golfs. I would strongly advocate using excess golf profits, if any, to help fund a parking garage in a city lot, perhaps behind the movie theater, which could then be used to garner thousands of dollars per year in parking fees. In other words, let the excess of the enterprise fund, be starter capital for other types of profit-center enterprise funds that can ramp up City revenue. The only exception I would make would be the Sewer Enterprise Fund, whose monies should be limited to sewer reconstruction and repair, which will likely cost over $40 million over the next two decades.

12. Do you support the improvement of accommodation establishments in the City to meet visitors' demands?

If this question means do I support improving our hotels and inns, then the answer is yes. Some of our hotels on West Lighthouse could do with a good sprucing up. The Internet makes it so easy for visitors to find and compare accommodations online, so it is essential that our hoteliers do what they can in terms of making capital improvements, landscaping, good lighting, etc. to provide pleasurable experiences for their guests. On a policy level, though, it is essential that we not follow the ill-advised route taken by several community activists in Carmel, i.e. raising TOT from 10% to 12%. That would directly harm our hotel industry and cost jobs.

13. What's your position on transfer of commercial water to a commercial site in the interest of economic development?

This issue came to the fore when a gentleman ostensibly received permission to "donate" over two acre feet of water to the Sally Griffin Senior Center (Meals on Wheels). It turns out that he received between 30,000 and $64,000, according to various reports. In my opinion, especially given the extreme scarcity of water for new development, such transfers should be forbidden. If Anastasia's Club Fit did not need the water (as the Sizzler previously did), the water should have been donated to the City, and Pacific Grove should have keep the water credits in a special reserve used for future projects. If such projects include Meals on Wheels then so be it, but alternatives should always be explored, prior to rushed Council action. For example, my proposed parking garage, and new skate park restrooms will require water, as will other future projects.

14. What is the role of the business community in City Government and what percentage of the City's budget is generated from transient occupancy tax, sales tax, business license tax, use permit tax, commercial property tax, and commercial utility tax?

The business community provides a strong plurality of all City revenues through the Transient Occupancy Tax, sales tax, business license fees, franchise taxes, licenses and permits, property taxes, and real estate transfer taxes. Here are the numbers for FY 2004-2005: TOT = $3,303,000; Sales and Use Tax = $1,650,000; Business License Tax = $310,000; Franchise Taxes = $725,000; Real Estate Transfer Taxes = $100,000. Also, total property taxes to the city total $2,966,300, about half of which, I believe, is assessed on commercial property. It is very important for a councilmember to understand that one must always be careful to bolster and promote our business community at every turn. In PG business is literally the Goose That Lays the Golden Egg. As councilmember I will never vote to raise TOT or sales tax, as those taxes impact hurts business very directly by encouraging customers to go elsewhere.

15. How do you feel about City Management?

The current City Manager Mr. Hubbard is very smart, detail-oriented, and productive. He has considerable experience in municipal management (Moraga, CA and elsewhere) and shows dedication to his job. I do believe, however, that he has engaged in a kind of unwritten quid pro quo with the current council to make certain controversial decisions in exchange for a "golden parachute." Unfortunately, he has become almost unfirable and unaccountable for the next four years. I fear that because of this arrangement, the City Manager has not been totally candid about the real depth of the financial crisis facing Pacific Grove. For example, at the September 2, 2004 council meeting he advocated and pushed through a measure to have the city re-hire a permanent station captain at the fire department for $102,000 per year. At a time such as this, we should not be adding to the budget problem with unnecessary additional staff. Politically, though, the CM felt forced to do this, even though he seemed (to me anyway) to be holding his nose throughout the process.

16. What will you do to streamline the business permit process?

At a very limited cost to the City, I would propose that staff create a document to help new startup businesses understand how to become compliant with ADA within reasonable bounds. This could help avert money-grab lawsuits like those launched against many PG businesses, and several in Carmel. Pamphlets for local businesses, outlining ADA laws, could avert problems before they become extortionary lawsuits. The Economic Strategic Plan recommends a streamlining of City paperwork to expedite business openings, and much has been done to improve this. The idea of an "information packet" was also a good idea and I am glad it has been implemented because that will help small businesses get started.

17. What percentage of the entire City Land is zoned commercial?

6.9% of city land, or 99 out of 1,429 total acres, is zoned commercial.

18. Have you studied the following documents?

General Plan YES Local Coastal Plan YES

I have read these documents extensively. Monterey�fs General Plan is still a work in progress, but the draft version is already available. It outlines plans and goals on development, zoning, environmental protection, water procurement, highways, transportation, construction, agriculture, resources, and a host of other topics. It is a useful tool when one has broad policy questions, though the GP has more of a county-wide focus than a specific PG one.

The Local Coastal Plan offers guidance for coastal development in light of the Coastal Act (1997). Much of the land use plan for Pacific Grove is covered under the Del Monte Forest Land Use Plan, which was certified in 1984. It is important for a councilmember to become familiar with the Local Coastal Plan because it places certain restrictions and requirements on Pacific Grove by reason of our seashore location.

19. What is your position on the library's expansion?

I have heard much about the Library's planned expansion and understand that $800,000 has been donated for it. Still, as an avid reader and very frequent patron of PGL, I see no great need for the library to physically expand its space. First, PG's population has declined, from a high of 16,850 in 1995 to about 15,577 today. A shrinking population has less need for a community room, than would a growing one. Given demographic trends in PG, there will be no population explosion. When I grew up in Rochester, Minnesota, our population grew from 53,000 in 1970 to about 100,000 in 2000. Throughout my youth, we went through three new libraries in the space of about 25 years, so I am familiar, in a real sense, with library expansion. But, a community room? How about making better use of the large available rooms at the Museum, just across the street? I think that would be a much better use of available resources, without having to block a street, shift traffic patterns, upset underground sewer and utility arrangements and disrupt Jewel Park. I would much prefer to see an over-the-street walkway between the library and the Museum. This would give the buildings a connection, grant access to a joint "community room" (if there really is that much call for one), and would be architecturally appealing in a very handsome corner of town.

20. Have you read the needs assessment and recommendations for the PG Public Library study? If yes, what is your position on the study?

I understand that the study recommends the expansion of the library and that the Library Staff is very much enamored with the project. Still, the library should not be expanded. It really is adequate as is! One writer to the Herald recently suggested that, if the library purged five years of books that had not been checked out in the past five years, it could free up a lot of space. He's probably right.

21. What is your involvement in the following groups please elaborate on each.

A. Pacific Grove Unified School District My daughter has taken a couple Lyceum art closes at Robert Down School. I am a teacher at the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, and understand the financial problems faced by PGUSD. I am the faculty lead for my school's chess club, sit on the school site council, and have led students to science camp. Although I work in another district, I have donated money to PGUSD fundraisers.

B. Sally Griffin Senior Center/Meals on Wheels I am not a volunteer at MOW, however, I have helped set up regular piano concerts performed by Monterey Chinese School students, at Canterbury Woods for elderly and infirm patients there. The concerts and fellowship bring solace and comfort to elderly folks.

C. PG Chamber of Commerce I strongly support the PG business community and believe the COC provides a very valuable service in our town, which depends so heavily upon tourism and services.

D. PG Recreation Department & Youth Activities I hope to sit on the new skateboard park committee to get a new skate park built in PG. I understand this will be a costly project but believe it will benefit our youth by providing recreation and exercise opportunities.

E. PG Museum/Point Pinos Lighthouse I have led groups of fourth grade students from my school to the PG Museum, and very much support its efforts at educating our community to the wonders of the natural world.

22. What are your contributions to the City of Pacific Grove, Community Boards, Commissions, Pacific Grove non-profits, etc?

My Achilles heel, as a candidate, is my heretofore relatively limited activity in service to the city government and PG non-profits. My candidacy posits a different type of councilmember---a full-time working man, supporting a family and private business ventures. Despite my full-time commitment to my students at Del Rey Woods School and the considerable time commitment of managing family residential property, I wish to make a much fuller commitment to Pacific Grove, offering level-headedness and common sense approaches to problems, fair and open access for my constituents, and the kind of dynamic energy sadly lacking in the current council.

23. What is your environmental position and priorities that will enhance the City's environment?

The chief environmental concern in PG is occasional sewage spills caused by a dilapidated 100 year old sewer system. Its replacement is a health and welfare concern for all our citizens and I have made it my number two priority, after balancing the budget. Also, the open space initiative, Measure I, which I back without reservation, will help preserve and protect our 415 acres of open space for ours and future generations. Such protection dovetails with demands of the county General Plan as well as the Local Coastal Program. My proposal for low interest loans to seniors for the installation of dual paned, energy-efficient windows in their houses, will help make PG a more energy efficient place, and this, too, is very environmentally friendly. I strongly back PG's grease trap and grease interceptor program, which, in the space of two years, has equipped most of our restaurants with technology to keep sewer-clogging fats out of the pipes.

24. What is your position on the City's special events? Good Old Days, Triathlon, Feast of Lanterns, etc?

I have enjoyed Good Old Days, the Feast of Lanterns, the Concours D'Elegance, the Butterfly Parade, and the Fourth of July celebrations at Caledonia Park. All of these activities bring the community together and allow ourselves to get to know one another in friendly settings. I will ensure that that community-wide PG events like these will continue to receive the full backing of the council. These events directly pump visitors' money into the local economy. I will urge that PG, in summer months, come up with an equivalent of Monterey's Farmer's Market. Such county-fair type gatherings are enjoyable to all, and add to a community's special appeal.

25. Where do you conduct most of your shopping? Please name a few stores and store owners.

We shop for groceries at Knob Hill (Central) , Albertson's (Forest Hill), and Safeway (Forest). I enjoy doing business at PG Business Center and consider Jagdish Nand to be a friend. My family enjoys dining at Pagrovia, sandwiches at Pavel's Backerei, and cones at Rocky Coast Ice Cream Company. One of our good friends, Nancy Conti just opened a new store called Tres Jolie (dance supply) on Fountain next to Kidwell's. I bank at Washington Mutual and Monterey Credit Union. For home repair, I love to shop at PG Hardware and spent about $500 there last year. I particularly appreciate the high-level of service offered there!

26. What other Council Candidate would you like to see elected to serve on the Council?

Before the debates, and before hearing the other candidates' motives, it is inappropriate for me to endorse any of them publicly. Maybe I will do so, but I have noticed with a couple candidates, that my preconceptions were wrong, and I am giving them second thoughts. I want to keep an open mind and I still don't know which three I will vote for (well, I do know one of them!). I noticed that a current council member came out in support of three candidates already---this, three weeks before we've even enjoyed the candidates' forum. I would hope that all PG voters will consider what I have to say on the issues and that they will believe that I will be a fair, accessible, and reasonable representative. I will feel truly honored to serve on the Council, and, because I am courteous to all, will be an effective councilmember at getting important tasks done for the people of Pacific Grove.