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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mtn. View Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Housing,
Emissions,
Health
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What strategies would you use to try to meet the fair share housing needs allocated to Mountain View for the new Housing Element currently under development, particularly the 571 units to be affordable to those earning less than 50% of area median income ("AMI")* and the 388 units to be affordable to those earning less than 80% of AMI? Please prioritize these strategies according to which you think would be most effective for Mountain View. *AMI is $106,100 for a family of four, so 50% of AMI for a family of four is $53,050 and 80% is $84,880.
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Answer from Mike Kasperzak:
First, we must find a more efficient way to use the Housing Funds the City has accumulated through the BMR Ordinance. The process is too slow and the value of funds is being sapped by inflation.
Second, we must make the fee that housing developers pay instead of building an affordable unit more consistent with the actual cost of building a unit. Currently, paying the fee is a "better deal" for the developer than building an affordable unit. This needs to change.
Finally, as we have witnessed, ownership housing has become so expensive that it is virtually impossible to create affordable ownership homes. The only alternative - building rental housing. Even a market rate rental development must make 10% of the apartment units available at affordable rents. But there has been almost no new rental development in Mountain View, so we must find ways to encourage the development of quality apartments. Given that Mountain View is virtually "built out", new rental development will have to come from the re-development of older, inefficient and often seismically unsafe existing apartment complexes. This won't happen over night, but the City must begin to identify and implement incentives that will encourage this type of construction.
Answer from John Inks:
Strategies to fulfill mandated units of housing for various income levels will be explored in the Housing Element update now underway. Realistically however, the city will only be able to provide opportunities for such housing through zoning and regulation. Actually fulfilling these needs would require land dedications and enormous subsidies. I will focus on minimizing administrative burden, expense and time to provide affordable housing.
Answer from Laura Macias:
I think that Mountain View is a model for other cities in building homes close to transit and travel points. Our city density exceeds by a significant per cent that of neighboring cities who also are situated along the same rail, bus and expressway routes. Mountain View stands as a leader in building both residential and commercial projects. After serving on the City Council and the Environmental Planning Commission, I can look at what affordable housing strategies have not worked and what can work going forward.
I think that we need to fast track Affordable Housing and so called "Attainable Housing" projects so that those can move ahead rather than waiting for housing projects to come in the right order, which they never will.
In the past 13 years, as Commissioner and Councilmember/Mayor, I have seen mostly one price range of housing go through. We need to encourage affordable housing projects by the process of fast tracking.
Answer from John R. McAlister:
Mountain View has one of the largest supply of affordable housing in the county.
First, the city needs to identify areas where projects can be built.
Second , the city needs to partner up with non-profits to develop affordable housing projects
Third ,the city should use Below Market Rates fees and buy land and then lease or sale the land to non-profits.
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2. AB32 requires substantial cuts in GHG emissions by the city and by the residents of the city. What initiatives do you think the city can take to meet these mandates?
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Answer from John Inks:
Top two:
1. More widespread publicity to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Reduced auto emissions support AB32 requirements and leverages air quality, congestion and economy.
2. Reduced electricity consumption with modern lighting such as CFLs and electrical appliances.
Answer from John R. McAlister:
Have a shuttle service that runs from El Camino up Rengstorff, El Camino up Shoreline , and San Antiono to Castro.
The city could convert it fleet of cars and trucks to hydregon or Hybirds.
Increase the bike lanes in the City.
The city could use more solar power, like they do now from the solar panels installed on top of the parking structure on Bryant.
Partner up with the school district to offer some form of shared busing.
Answer from Laura Macias:
Green House Gas Emissions can be reduced by any number of programs with incentives that encourage the city infrastructure itself, the residents and businesses to do more pro-actively.
Answer from Mike Kasperzak:
We all know we live in a world of finite resources, be it land, water, or fossil fuels. In its efforts towards greater sustainability, Mountain View has undertaken many innovative solutions. During the power crisis earlier this decade, we stopped "flaring" methane gas from the Shoreline landfill, and turned it into electricity for the City and sold the excess to the private sector for use in their corporate campus. The new parking garage has solar panels, a new reclaimed water pipeline is being built from the Palo Alto water treatment plant that will be used to irrigate the North Bayshore and keep "polluting" fresh water out of the Bay and the City has invested in hybrid vehicles.
I fully support these efforts. More importantly, the City must continue its efforts based upon the results of the Environmental Sustainability Task Force. Additional efforts can be made in transit oriented developments where the City grants higher office densities if the project is near mass transit. Currently these developments must provide employee incentives such as Eco Passes, but they also get to build all the parking they need. Such developments should limit parking thereby discouraging the use of cars.
There is much that can be done by the City and its residents. Decisions affecting all aspects of our community can impact our environment, and this fact must be remembered at all times.
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3. What city resources do you think should be applied to improve the health of Mountain View citizens? For instance, describe how zoning can be used to improve the built environment and how recreation can be used to improve physical and mental fitness. Discuss other city services that relate to citizen health.
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Answer from John Inks:
City resources are used to promote a number health and safety benefits. More can be done for pedestrian safety and convenience with access and design to better protect pedestrians from vehicle traffic. Mountain View's water quality is very high and the cost of that water is going much higher. We can better publicize the need for conservation to help maintain the supply of high quality water.
Answer from Laura Macias:
The city has long advocated the trail and park system and recreation services. Being part of the Parks Commission and as Councilmember/Mayor, I have encouraged a specific park to people ratio. Thirteen years ago, in the Parks and Open Space plan I introduced the concept of 3 acres per 1000 residents as a city goal. We are still trying to meet that goal.
I also have supported and continue to do so, recreation program services that are accessbile as possible to all residents, keeping costs lower.
Answer from John R. McAlister:
Parks, trail, and sports facilites can be use to improve the health of Mountain View citizens,
Support youth and adult sports leagues
Have rec department offer programs that help improve health.
Design neighborhoods so that they encourage walking or biking can be done.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or
corrected by the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
