CONTRACT WITH YORBA LINDA™

By Thomas H. Lindsey

The Land of Gracious Living - 2010

I believe elected representatives and government employees work for and are responsible to the People. When elected as your representative, I will always remember to put the People's interest before my own desires and ambitions, as I believe government is of, by, and for the People. I will be available to all the People. I will communicate by answering phone calls, letters and e-mails that request a response and by periodic events involving public participation. I will never forget that tax and fee monies belong to the People and not the City Council members and will be a good steward of the People's money.

I believe the residents of Yorba Linda deserve Council members who are willing to comprehensively set forth their plans and promises and not simply advance catchy, but hollow slogans. Our community deserves more than politicians who merely promise "change," or to be "an independent voice" or a "consensus builder." Yorba Linda residents want Council members who will represent their best interests. They want to know specifically where the candidates stand on the issues and what they will strive to do if elected.

Ethics

I strongly support Measure Y + The Yorba Linda Ethics Ordinance. It is critical that City Council members and city public officials serve the public's interest - not their own self-interest - in an open and transparent manner. <u?Measure Y includes a series of rules designed to ensure that the highest level of ethics are practiced by all elected and appointed officials and staff that serve the City of Yorba Linda. Government ethics rules don't make people ethical, but rather require them to do or not to do certain things, so that they act in the public's interest rather than in their own personal interest. A YES vote on Measure Y:

• Restricts council members from voting to favor their major contributors;
• Prohibits council members from soliciting endorsements and campaign assistance from their appointed commissioners or city staff members or from coercing or accepting campaign contributions from city labor associations or city contractors. This so-called "pay to play" aspect of government has no place in Yorba Linda;
• Requires the council adopt a whistleblower statute and a city officials' code of conduct;
• Mandates biannual ethics training for all city officials;
• Outlaws closed-door, backroom, ad hoc committee meetings with secret deliberations and decisions and requires tape recordings of all official closed session council meetings. Recordings protect against improper deliberations and secret decision making; and,
• Makes Yorba Linda a more ethical place to live and work.

I believe that we are living in a new economic reality of decreasing tax revenues and extended recession. Yorba Linda businesses account for much of our tax base for critical municipal services. In times of economic recession it is imperative to resist the temptation to further encumber already overburdened businesses with new taxes and fees. I will oppose all new taxes or fees on business that are meant as revenue enhancers and are debilitating to continued local business vitality.

I believe it is imperative to work closely with the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce with the aim of assisting ALL businesses in Yorba Linda. It is cost effective to contract with the Chamber to promote the city, facilitate better business + city relationships, and understand the needs of our merchants. I will seek to contract with qualified investment consultants to attend national retailer trade shows to help recruit and retain businesses in Yorba Linda, to market the fact that we have one of the highest average household incomes in the country, and to survey businesses and residents to determine how the city could more effectively promote a healthy business climate. I strongly support local shopping programs. I also will use redevelopment money to fund projects that ensure the continued economic viability of our existing business centers.

Eminent Domain

I strongly oppose the use of eminent domain by the Yorba Linda City Council and the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency for economic development. Eminent domain should NEVER be used to take a private property or business and then give or sell that property or business to another private party for the purpose of a different economic use.

I fully support the vote of the residents of Yorba Linda on Measure BB + on the November 4, 2008 ballot in which nearly 80% of the voters enacted Measure BB which prohibits the use of eminent domain for economic gain throughout all of Yorba Linda. I will vigorously oppose any challenge to Measure BB.

A Low-density Yorba Linda

I strongly believe in a semi-rural, "low-density" Yorba Linda. I will carefully examine all residential and commercial development decisions in light of my strong adherence to our zoning and General Plan and I will remain true to our Yorba Linda motto, "The Land of Gracious Living." I believe that "in-fill" development projects must be consistent with housing densities and the appearance of existing and surrounding neighborhoods. I also pledge to work in all legal and ethically appropriate ways against County approval of unacceptable "high-density" developments in County land that will likely become part of the City of Yorba Linda through annexation.

Traffic & Congestion

I believe in and support maintaining the lowest possible levels of traffic throughout our community. I will be responsive to our residents and their driving needs and concerns, as they relate to traffic flow, intersection movement, pedestrian & equestrian crosswalks, as well as other traffic patterns. I shall ensure that all such decisions will be based upon the highest level of safety for our drivers, passengers and pedestrians. I further believe that the Traffic Commission should become more proactive in identifying and resolving emerging traffic issues related to school zones and future major development projects. While this responsibility is in the Traffic Commission's duties rarely do such items reach the Commission.

Public Safety

I believe in, support, and will advance an agenda which promotes the highest level of security and public safety within Yorba Linda. I will work closely with our contracted police department and the fire authority to obtain and maintain the best affordable public safety services available and will seek to expand further services, procedures and programs that are consistent with our City's growth to prevent further increases in crime and maximize fire safety.

Police

I support the recent independently conducted Police Services Study as an appropriate expenditure of public funds considering the last such study was done more than 16 years ago and the police services budget is more than $10 million or a third of our operating budget. The study was an independent validation that our relationship with the Brea Police Department is cost effective and provides a high level of police services. I favor the recommendations of more citizen involvement in crime prevention programs, a revamped Neighborhood Watch program, and more proactive crime suppression efforts. I will oppose the reduction of the number of officers assigned to our city as that will result in lower levels of police protection.

Orange County Fire Authority

I favor continuing with the Orange County Fire Authority as a cost effective source of fire services. The Freeway Complex Fire demonstrated the need for greater fire readiness. I continue to support the streamlining of the rebuilding approval process for fire victims. I will also demand enhanced water supplies to the areas hardest hit by the fire. I fully support and would like to expand the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Ready, Set, Go program. Finally, I fully support the OCFA's Air Operations Program's use of night-vision goggles allowing for air fire support after dark. We cannot afford another fire without the full use of our helicopter resources.

Landscape & Lighting Maintenance Fees

I fully support the direction given by Yorba Linda property owners in the Landscape and Lighting Special Assessment District Election in early 2008 where the proposed increase in Arterial Lighting District was opposed by nearly 75% of those who voted. I disagree with the direction of some on the Council that the simple solution to fiscal inefficiency is to increase fees and taxes. I will vigorously pursue extensive cost saving measures, seek various landscape alternatives, and examine and demand competitive maintenance contracts. I pledge that no tax (or fee) increase will be sought before all cost saving measures have been examined, explored and exhausted and a completed, comprehensive cost savings plan is offered to the voters.

City Employee Compensation and Retirement

I believe that government service is a noble vocation and that all of our city employees should be appreciated and compensated fairly. Government service, however, is public service and salaries should be commensurate with what the taxpayers can afford. The recent elimination and consolidation of a number of city positions was, budget-wise, necessary and should continue. On a long range basis we also need to deal with the growing problem of out of control public employee pension benefits and unfunded pension liability. We must rethink our current pension system of defined benefits and consider replacing it with defined contribution plans allowing employees to invest their own retirement money in 401K types of accounts.

City Budget Reserves

It is imperative given the current economic times that the city maintains a reserve of at least 50% of its operating budget. Reserves should only be used as a last and interim resort to balance the budget.

Cultural Arts Facility

A 2004 City Needs Assessment Survey, conducted by the Fairfax Research Group, determined that the need for a Cultural Arts Facility was second behind the need for a Yorba Linda Public High School. The third and fourth priorities were an Eastside Branch to the Public Library and more athletic fields, respectively. Tax dollars from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District built the new Yorba Linda High School. Moreover, NO city funds were used in building the High School.

I believe it is time the City investigate the economic feasibility of a Cultural Arts facility that would include much needed theatrical, rehearsal and exhibit space at a cost Yorba Linda residents can afford. We should invite proposals from interested parties for possible private funding and construction of such a facility with the city providing the location and infrastructure improvements.

Equestrian Facility

I fully support recreational facilities that benefit our entire community, including a Yorba Linda Equestrian Facility. The addition of an equestrian facility is consistent with Yorba Linda's semi-rural nature and character. It is an avenue to expand equestrian opportunities for our community's residents, schools and organizations and an appropriate use of Parks & Recreation funding. I will move forward by identifying appropriate locations and exploring the economic feasibility of a public / private development and operating partnership.

General Plan Update

The General Plan is the blueprint for all future development in our City for the next decade. Over the next years, Yorba Linda will be updating its General Plan as required by State law. I support a General Plan update reflective of the low-density nature and character of our City.

Council Decorum Policy

I believe it is healthy for the Council members to disagree and have thorough debate on issues. Council members come from all walks of life and have diverse viewpoints. Spirited discussion can bring about consensus. However, healthy discussion should remain on point and be factual. Unfortunately, the behavior on the council can be unbecoming at times. While it is appropriate and even good for council members to disagree, it is not alright to behave unprofessionally and resort to inappropriate name calling. I support the adoption of a meaningful Council Decorum Policy that will spell out the expected behaviors of council members in dealing with each other, city staff, and the public.

Developer, Special Interest & City Contractor Contributions

I will not intentionally seek or accept endorsements or contributions from developers, city contractors, city commissioners, city employees, or special interest groups outside of Yorba Linda. I also will not accept contributions from City employee associations of such contractors and I support amending the City code to prohibit such contributions. I also support prohibiting Council members from voting on issues that impact their "major" contributors.

State Mandated Low-Cost Housing & Green Mandates

I promise to fight against unreasonable, State mandated quotas for low-cost housing developments in Yorba Linda inconsistent with our low-density character. I oppose over burdening any part of the city with "in-fill," high density affordable housing projects out of character with the existing neighborhoods.

I also oppose Sacramento's unfunded mandates requiring that new development must be higher in density, super energy efficient, built around public transportation hubs, and meet certain green building green building material requirements. Now is the wrong time for "do-gooder" green requirements to be imposed on the residential construction industry, when housing starts are at an all time low!

Measure B - the Yorba Linda Right to Vote Amendment

I support Measure B - the Yorba Linda Right to Vote Amendment as the law of Yorba Linda as enacted by a ballot measure in 2006. I will seek out the best legal representation to preserve and defend the Right to Vote Amendment and its principle of protecting our Land of Gracious Living. I will also support when appropriate amendments to Measure B to allow for reasonable development like the proposed Measure Z project in the SAVI Ranch commercial area.

Attestation

My signature below is your guarantee I will fully and completely seek to fulfill all of the above during my term in office as your City Councilmember. I will work tirelessly in moving forward on this agenda seeking the necessary Council votes to enact all of the above.

/s/Tom Lindsey
Businessman
Candidate for Council
August 25, 2010