League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 3, 2009 Election
	James R. "Jim" Griffith Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Sunnyvale; Seat 3

The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Cupertino/Sunnyvale and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council?

I've served on the Sunnyvale Board of Library Trustees for six years, five as Board Chair. As Board Chair, I represent the Board's position and directly advise the City Council on library-related issues, including creation of a branch library, creation of a new main library, installation of the new RFID-tracking and automated check-in system, and future use of the Raynor facilities. Having done this for five years, I have extensive experience with City Staff and the City Council. I know what works well, and what doesn't.

I also serve as Vice-Chair of the Silicon Valley Library System Advisory Board, one of only three private Sunnyvale citizens to represent Sunnyvale on inter-governmental relations boards. I served on the 2008 City Manager Selection Committee (resident panel) which resulted in the hiring of Gary Luebbers as our new City Manager, as well as the 2009 Library Director Selection Committee.

In the past several years, I have spoken before Council and Commissions many times on behalf of issues involving open and transparent government practices, the environment, improving our library and children's education services, parking in the Heritage District and Morse Park, funding the Morse Avenue Park, and the proposed 49er stadium and its impact on Sunnyvale residents. I've worked hard to serve Sunnyvale's residents and be a positive voice for change in Sunnyvale.

2. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them?

The primary challenges facing Sunnyvale are the City's $13 million structural deficit and the completion of the Downtown development. All other issues will take a back seat to these two priorities over the next few years. The deficit forces us to reconsider how Sunnyvale provides every service to its residents, and we need thoughtful and experienced leaders to make the decisions that will provide the best and most services for the lowest cost to the residents of Sunnyvale.

Towards that end, I championed the purchase and installation of the Sunnyvale Library's new RFID-based check-in and automated sorting system, which will pay for itself, additionally save the city more than $1 million over the equipment's lifetime, and dramatically improve services and availability of books for library patrons. We need to look for other opportunities to leverage technology and reduce costs.

However, the City Manager made it clear that 86% of the City's operating budget goes to employee salaries and benefits, and that this level is not maintainable. We need to work with Sunnyvale's labor units to create a sustainable model for providing city services.

Beyond this, we need to improve public safety response time throughout the City, which has increased in the past few years to an unacceptable level. We have a library that does not meet residents needs, and we must solve this by expanding or replacing the current library, and by eventually building a branch in the North. Water is the next great challenge facing California cities, and Sunnyvale must be proactive, by replacing the treatment plant (as planned) with new technology to better recycle waste water, and by expanding the scope of the recycled water pipe system. We face challenges increasing park space since Sunnyvale is completely built out, and we need to protect and maintain the park land Sunnyvale already owns. And we need to take local responsibility for the global environmental challenge and work to make Sunnyvale a more sustainable city.

But most of all, Sunnyvale need to do a better job of informing and engaging residents, and it must do more to make residents a part of the solution to the problems we face.

3. What solutions do you propose to complete the Downtown Project?

With $280 million in construction already done, I do not believe a radically new plan should be considered. Throwing away that much effort, plus the completed parking structure, is short-sighted. I believe we need to continue to go forward with the basic plan in place, with some changes.

The problem with Downtown construction is the funder, RREEF, which failed to live up to its contractual obligations. That problem is being resolved as we speak, as RREEF transfers ownership of the project to Wachovia Bank in what's being called a "friendly foreclosure". Wachovia has already started the work of weatherizing the buildings until the project can be restarted.

The City is working with Wachovia to see if they will take on financing the project themselves in its entirety. But the City hasn't had much luck finding one entity to finance the whole $750 million. If Wachovia isn't interested, the City should pursue financing the Downtown with multiple smaller investors in $50-100 million individual blocks. I certainly prefer using one investor than using ten, if possible. But I prefer using ten investors to having the project die yet again. Sunnyvale must have the Downtown open, vibrant, and successful, and all options, short of committing additional City dollars, should be on the table to make this happen.

And the first priority should be the completion of the planned movie theater. Sunnyvale is the second largest city in the County, yet it doesn't have its own theater. A theater will draw people to the Downtown, which will revitalize the local stores and restaurants, since people going to the movies will also want to eat and shop nearby. That plus the reopening of Target will bring in needed revenue, demonstrate the Downtown's commercial potential, and encourage investors to fund the rest of the Downtown.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 31, 2009 13:48
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