Ashbaugh Response to Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire

By John B. Ashbaugh

On September 4, John Ashbaugh submitted is written responses to four questions posed by the SLO Chamber of Commerce. These questions and Ashbaugh's responses are provided below for the entire community to see.

This is a pivotal moment for San Luis Obispo. The greatest challenge is embracing change. Leaders must listen to the business community, particularly as we respond to these three challenges:

o Difficult budget choices - maintaining essential services while keeping city taxes/fees/rates as low as possible.

o Managing natural resources and growth - launching an update of our general plan that protects environmental quality while strengthening our economic base; and o Protecting our historic role as the "center of the Central Coast" + enhancing our airport and keeping SLO the center for business and for cultural events.

2. What specifically would you do to encourage the development of more head of household jobs?

As the economy turns from its dependence on oil to alternative fuels, we need to retrofit homes, businesses, and transportation. Many small businesses here provide those services; their growth will power our economic future. Additionally, I'll support these specific goals:

o Working with the Economic Development Office to encourage entrepreneurs to locate here or to expand locally. o Develop Cal Poly's California Central Coast Research Partnership

3. What should the City's role be in encouraging the type of business that is good for the community?

City services create the foundation for economic growth; the city's primary role is to provide excellent public services at a reasonable cost: police and fire protection, streets and highways, drainage, drinking water, wastewater treatment, and parks and open space.

We must also:

o Protect vitality of our historic downtown, even as we provide space to meet the demands of business tenants throughout the city.

o Pursue an aggressive annexation strategy for South Higuera and Tank Farm Road areas where haphazard development has occurred in the County.

4. Do you think that all older buildings in the city should be preserved or only those with significant historical value?

City staff will soon propose a historic preservation ordinance, updating our list of historical and "contributing" structures. We must pursue historic preservation, but respond creatively where full preservation of a historic building is truly infeasible. Historic preservation becomes part of our economic development strategy: Design that respects history will also preserve jobs, businesses, and economic vitality for the future.