|
This information is provided by the candidate
I pledge to focus on the following priorities:
- Create home ownership opportunities and increase affordable housing options.
Like many California communities, Arcata is faced with the challenge of providing sufficient housing opportunities. I will continue to work with local public and private partners such as the Humboldt Bay Housing and Development Corporation to define our housing needs. Through these partnerships, the City can identify state and federal resources to develop a range of options to plan for our communities future needs including replacement housing, single room occupancy housing, housing production and housing set-aside funds.
- Encourage programs and projects to support healthy activities for youth and seniors within our community.
I have outlined a three-point plan for youth and propose a similar approach to work with our senior community to address their unique issues.
1. Develop a Youth Master Plan to identify youth needs, issues and concerns; opportunities to provide healthy activities; and improve coordination of existing programs serving kids within our community. For example, we need to increase our efforts to outreach with the myriad of programs at Humboldt State. Through expanding partnerships with other youth serving agencies, the City can provide numerous educational and recreational resources that help youth connect to the community and develop good citizenship.
2. Establish a Youth Commission to advise the City Council on youth issues. This offers an avenue for the younger community members to become engaged in the democratic process and begin to nurture a sense of ownership in government. With guidance, the City can demonstrate how local government functions and show kids and their families how they can participate in City programs, services and activities.
3. Establish an "Arcata Ambassador Program to recognize community service contributions young Arcatans provide. Offer public recognition for the many wonderful things kids in our community do for us all on a daily basis.
- Preserve open space to protect Arcata's natural environment.
My background in coastal and watershed restoration provides me with a perspective on Arcata's many restoration activities from the Community Forest expansion in Sunny Brae to estuary restoration at McDaniels Slough. We are fortunate to have talented staff working hard to restore habitat and improve our local environment, however long range management needs to be addressed.
I will work with our council advisory committees to develop a proposal to evaluate the formation of a regional open space and park district. Arcata needs to take the lead in addressing how to effectively manage public lands at the local level within Humboldt County. This will allow us to provide critical recreational improvements, support local ecotourism and improve the quality of life for residents while enhancing our environment for future generations.
- Support small businesses to create living wage jobs compatible with Arcata's values.
I have seen dozens of examples of cities struggling to meet the challenges of job creation, wage increases and housing in my professional life while working on coastal protection at the state level. There isn't a single plan that will fix what is a regional problem.
The first thing the City can do to create jobs is to prevent the types of businesses we are trying to attract from leaving in the first place. We do this by adopting a less adversarial relationship between the City and the businesses that support its tax base.
The private sector requires the highest degree of certainty in pursuing development opportunities. The completion of Arcata's Land Use and Development Guide (LUDG) in the next six months to a year is critical to let businesses know exactly what is required of them in the development process. The Council's review of LUDG needs to be completed in a timely manner.
Improve and upgrade local infrastructure.
- Build, upgrade and repair our streets, water and sewer facilities.
The City's long list of deferred maintenance of vital public infrastructure requires that we build collaborative regional coalitions to secure needed state and federal funds. We have many works-in-progress and our new approach to long range capital outlay projects allows us to plan and prioritize expenditures in a logical and strategic manner.
- Provide critical public services.
I will continue supporting our police and fire departments. I have worked with both to ensure that adequate resources are available to respond to our public safety needs. We also need to focus on emergency preparedness. I have initiated efforts between the City, Chamber of Commerce and HSU on ways we can work together on an outreach event to increase public awareness and to train businesses, residents and students on how they can become better prepared.
Maximize the partnership between Humboldt State University and the City of Arcata. We need to expand the relationship between the City and Humboldt State University to maximize the mutual benefit while promoting compatible growth in our shared community.
- Develop community-based, smart growth solutions for renewable energy and alternative transportation.
Arcata needs to continue to promote how we and other communities can invest taxpayer money wisely to offer people more energy efficient housing and alternative transportation that protects and promotes a healthy environment. We should further our bike and pedestrian trails throughout the city and connecting to regional trail corridors around Humboldt Bay, and further our partnership with Humboldt Partnership for Active Living, which promotes neighborhood walkability and related issues. We should continue working with the Redwood Coast Energy Authority to establish a strategy for energy independence for Humboldt County. Thus far, Arcata has been fortunate to avoid the pressures of sprawl confronting most of California, threatening sensitive habitat and disappearing farmlands. It's incumbent upon Arcata to continue to lead on these issues.
- Expand partnerships with the county and community nonprofits seeking regional solutions for the needs of the homeless population.
My experience working on the development of the Multi-Assistance Center (MAC) convinced me that effective assistance for those in need requires a regional approach given our limited public resources.
- Work with the entire community to help create a plaza public park where everyone feels welcome.
We are fortunate to have an historic cultural hub like the Arcata Plaza in the center of our town. Many of our greatest homegrown events... Farmers Market, North Country Fair, Oyster Festival, 4th of July Celebration still call the Plaza home. Growing frustration with inappropriate activities and behaviors by some people has reduced the fun for many. The City has been developing an action plan to work with community groups, Plaza neighbors, businesses and others to address site needs, improve transportation and increase public safety. I am committed to making the Plaza a place we can all enjoy.
|
![[photo]](wheetley_m.jpg)
