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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
city salaries benefits,
budget,
economic growth
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What is your position on employee salaries and benefits? If you would like to see a change, please explain.
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Answer from Karen Nau:
I support a two-tier pension for new hires in the city.
Answer from Raymond H "Ray" Johnson:
The current budget as proven by the current $5,000 in reserves is unsustainable. The reason for this is a total lack of revenue growth maintained by our City Council. However I intend to focus on attracting sustainable, viable jobs and enhance the current revenue stream. In the meantime we must look at the current pension system and create a 2 tiered pension much like the privaye sector has adopted for years. As far as the salaries once elected I would analyze the budget for any interim adjustments that would allow us to survive the lack of revenue
Answer from Wyatt C. Bunker:
The existing government rewards program is simply unsustainable. Last year, salaries and benefits consumed 80% of the city's general fund. During the fiscal year ending 2009, the average salary of the Petaluma fire department was $109,992 per person, and the average benefit cost was $45,121 per person. In addition, many of the city's employees are eligible to retire at age 50 and draw a pension equal to 3% of their highest salary times the number of years employed. The plan also includes lifetime health care benefits. This lavish program is not the fault of the employees, but of a broken system. We need council members with the courage to reduce salaries and to seek true retirement reform if we wish to stave off bankruptcy.
Answer from Chris Albertson:
Employee's salaries and benefits are established through the negotiations process at the bargaining table. As a past public employee with over 38 years of experience, I have participated in these employee negotiations several times, sitting on both sides of the table.
From Management's perspective, you need to ask: Do we have good employees? Do we, as employers, value these employees? Do we want to retain these employees? The employee bargaining group asks similar questions: Do I enjoy my employment? Is my employer fair in dealing with me and my representatives? Would I be happier, or is the grass perceivd to be greener, elsewhere? Open and honest dialog takes place and through mutual negotiations, an agreement is reached. Most recenly, Petaluma's bargaining groups areed to a 3.1% pay reduction, accompanied by employee furloughs, because it was in the best interest of all parties.
These labor/management negotiations cover salaries and benefits. "Benefits" ususally include employee medical and dental costs, life insurance coverage, and of course retirement costs. In some local governments, the employer pays both the employer's and the employee's costs toward the employee's retirement. This is NOT the case in Petaluma. In Petaluma, the employee pays their own retirement contribution. Also, in some municipal and county governments, the employers pay completely for the employee's retirement medical plan. This is NOT the case in Petaluma. In Petaluma, the employee is responsible for obtaining their own medial insurance during their retirement.
I was in the fire service for 38 years. I retired as a Fire Chief here in Petaluma. My department was a $10 million a year municipal organization with 58 employees, 51 of whom were often placed in harm's way. My salary at that time was commensurate to the marketplace for like size jurisdictions. The percentage of my retirment reached its maximum at 30 years but I worked anther 8 years because I enjoyed the job, the people I worked with, and the people I served. I want to continue to serve the City of Petaluma .... as a member of the City Council.
I have long stated (and it is documented on my web page: www.electalbertson.com)that I believe the state's retirement system needs to be adjusted. I do not believe that the current system in place, is sustainable over time. It is my opinion that all new employees, those employees hired "tomorrow", need to be hired under a second tier retirement system that is more affordable and sustainable over time. I have shared this opinion with the city' major labor groups and they have endorsed my candidacy. Long term retirement expense is an issue that Petaluma needs to address but it is not Petaluma's problem to correct by itself. All local governments that participate in the state's retirement plan must also review their retirement policies for their future employees and bring the statewide costs under control. Why not cut the retirement costs for existing employees? Because this benefit was negotiated for and represents a contractual agreement between the City and labor which needs to be honored both ethically and legally.
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2. What are your priorities in developing the annual budget?
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Answer from Wyatt C. Bunker:
We need to bring costs under control, and we do this by revisiting the city's employment contracts. In times of high unemployment, it is foolish to lay off workers when simple reductions in compensation and meaningful pension reform will suffice. Critics argue that this will increase turnover, but increased turnover is a healthy alternative to staff reductions. In addition, many other cities have been laying off staff, so I am sure there is no shortage of qualified men and women waiting to fill open positions in Petaluma. Our city is also legally required to maintain a minim number of public safety officers, which is another reason I am against staff reductions. A properly structured deal can avoid the need for layoffs. However, if negotiations in good faith fail to produce an agreement, then I am prepared to seek binding arbitration because Petaluma needs a viable long-term alternative to the current government rewards program.
Answer from Karen Nau:
Reduce expenses and increase revenues.
Answer from Chris Albertson:
As stated on my web page: http://www.electalbertson.com, I believe that it is a principle responsibility of local government to protect its citzens through professional police, fire, and ambulance services. The City of Petaluma is fortunate to have an outstanding Fire Department that provides full service fire protection and emergency paramedic ambulance service, and an excellent Police Department. I would want to see that the Police and Fire Departments have the tools, equipment and training necessary to do their jobs in the professional manner that the citizens of Petaluma have come to expect and deserve. In that chase for those limited fiscal resources, services for children and seniors would also rate high.
Developing a municipal budget requires balancing expenditures with revenue. The current city coucil has focused on only one half of that equation, cutting budgets and subsequenty, the services that those reduced expenditures impacted. They have done very little toward raising revenues, in and effort to ensure service levels. I want to promote Petaluma as being "business friendly" and attempt to bring business, both retail and commercial, into the city, creating jobs and tax revenues.
Answer from Raymond H "Ray" Johnson:
Currently the budget is in a reactive mode which is at best a moving target. We must grow the revenue stream by attracting a corporate infrastructur to fill our 40+% Commercial vacancy, add to our property/sales tax base. As we do this, we must look at the budget over 2 and 5 year analysis and make hard but necessary decisions
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3. As a council person what can you do to stimulate economic growth?
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Answer from Raymond H "Ray" Johnson:
I spent 30 years in Corporate boardrooms at every level gaining agreement on paths forward. As it stands now, no one is seeking potential Corporate entities that migh relocate or expand to Petaluma. Because of the economy all state/city bodies lacck incentives so Petaluma is competing on a level playing field. We must and I will compete for a job/tax base
Answer from Chris Albertson:
Refer to the answer above. On my web page, the tab "Jobs and the Economy", discusses this issue. Petaluma needs to promote itself in the same manner that it promotes tourism. Retail and commercial enterprises need to be informed about Petaluma and the City needs to develop a synergy between businesses, landlords, and local government that benefits all entities over time. Another item that needs review is the city's development/impact fees. IF .... these fees were lowered, would that spur more growth, equating to more/enhanced tax revenues for the city? Could these fees be delayd until the new business/building is ready to occupy its space and earn income? These are just a couple ideas that the new City Council should discuss.
Answer from Karen Nau:
Attract new and existing businesses to be successful in Petaluma, creates new jobs on all levels and stimulates the economy. Avoid lawsuits and delays so that Petaluma can increase revenue.
Answer from Wyatt C. Bunker:
The power of our city government to correct a problem which exists on a national and even global level will always be limited. However, one way to stimulate economic growth is to facilitate the planning review process. Another is to provide businesses with certainty. We must ensure that any increase in local sales tax or permit/licensing fees is completely off the table. We cannot afford to make it any harder for firms to operate in an already lean economy. The more certain a business can be of its environment, the more willing it will be to take risks in order to grow.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. Candidates may not refer to any other candidates in their answers.
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
