Ripon and my role as City Council Member

By Carolyn S. Jensen

My philosophy of my role as council member, I will address what are Ripon's strengths and weaknesses, most postive program I developed, my views on our growth management plan. What would I do if faced with a $1 million deficit.

The role of the City Council member is to make policy decisions regarding the direction of the city in providing needed services and facilities to their citizens. Utilities, such as, water, sewer, garbage, storm drains, sidewalks and streets are basic infrastructure provided by the city. Safety and security of the community are provided by the police department. The city also provides community facilities such as, community centers, senior and youth facilities, child care facilities, sport facilities, parks and recreation programs. The city is the steward for all the cultural and historical resources that are within their domain. In Ripon, some services are provided by special districts such as, the School District and Fire District. San Joaquin County also provides services such as the library and street lights. My philosophy as a city council member is to see that the needs of the community are met in all of these areas. Planning for future growth and economic development and adequate revenue to provide and maintain all the needed services, facilities and infrastructure I feel is a major responsibility of each Council Member. My personal goal is to see that the needs of the community are met in all areas.

The most positive program I have seen in the City of Ripon in the past two years is the Give Ever Child a Chance program which is offered in our schools this year. This program provides volunteer tutors from the community for all students that have a D or an F in one or more classes. Bringing this program to Ripon was by the efforts of the Family and Youth Commission established by the Ripon City Council in 2001. The commission worked with the school district to get their approval for the program to be offered in Ripon Schools. They facilitated meetings between the GECC program directors and the schools. The commission partnered with Heartland's Community Youth Center to provide a location to offer the program. They contacted and presented the program to local service organizations recruiting the first group of volunteers. Their next efforts are to have more counseling services and educational workshops available for teenagers, such as, life skills and anger management for our high school students. The South County Crisis and Education Center is developing this program in collaboration with University of Pacific, Stanislaus State University and Delta College.

Ripon greatest weakness in services offered to the community is in the area of available facilities for services, such as, childcare, and before and after school programs for youth. The library is too small to serve the community. Facilities are needed for indoor sports, such as, basketball and volleyball, and fine arts programs, such as, dance, music, theater. There is not adequate downtown parking because of the huge success of the downtown business district. The city is addressing many of these needs. This year we purchased Schempers Hardware and adjacent buildings to house the future expanded Library and Youth Club to be managed by the newly formed Ripon Police Activities League (PAL) for after school programs. The city has purchased additional 20 acres to expand the Mistlin Sports Park, which I hope will include a state of the art indoor sports facility in the expansion plan. We still have much to accomplish and find the means to do them.

Ripon has many strengths in city management and services. The current city council is well balanced with each council member bringing to the table different qualities that benefit all in Ripon. Each represent a different viewpoint and are willing to negotiate and make decisions that are in the best interest of the entire Ripon Community. As a result Ripon residents are seeing the benefits of good policy decisions with many added services, programs, infrastructure and facilities, that many other cities do not enjoy. Leon Compton, the city manager for over 16 years runs a tight ship, always looking for opportunities for more efficient operation and lower expenses. Police Chief Dick Bull has revolutionized the police department, from communication via an outstanding user friendly website; to expanded police services to include drug and gang prevention, resource officers for our schools and the newly formed Police Activities League for our youth. Ripon offers one of the best youth sports recreation programs which include soccer, basketball and softball. With the opening of the Mistlin Sports Park there is no lack of soccer fields for all age groups. Baseball and softball fields are in the next phase of park development which is currently underway.

If I am in office in January 2005 and the city is faced with a $1million budget deficit I would have to examine city plans for expansion of facilities and services funded out of the General Fund. Services such as, water, sewer, garbage which are self supporting will not be impacted by a budget deficit. First, capital expenditures for new parks and facilities would have to be suspended until additional funds were acquired. I feel that we need to maintain our current level of service to the community. Each year the city budget includes plans for expansion of city services and facilities. In addition, programs that could be impacted are recreation programs that will require higher fees to cover costs currently included in the budget. The annual fireworks show would have to find a sponsor or be suspended. In the short run because the city maintains a $3 million cash reserve a budget deficit is highly unlikely to impact the quality of life we currently enjoy in Ripon.

Ripon's current growth management program is 3% per year which equates to abut 150 new homes. There is an additional 1% that can be used to address special needs in our community such as, rental apartments or town homes which Ripon currently lacks for our residents that cannot afford to own a home. For example, young married couple just starting out, students going to college, seniors on a limited income cannot find availability in Ripon. I was the first council member that stepped forward to address the issue reducing Ripon's residential growth from 6% to 3% by requesting a moratorium on building permits until we had a reduced growth plan in place. It is important to maintain growth control because it impacts city services, fire district services and school classrooms that are needed. Three percent growth allows for new homes to be built for current Ripon residents that are in their first home to move up to their dream home and remain in our community. Growth generates funds for new parks and schools and services. More importantly we want new residents to integrate slowly into our unique Ripon culture and not have whole new large neighborhoods changing the character of Ripon.