Candidate for
Councilmember; City of Atascadero

The following questions and my answers are based on those originally submitted to the candidates by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, Telegram-Tribune, and from the Atascadero City Council forum on September
30. 2008.

General and master plans are an important part of city planning, but since no one can perfectly predict the future it becomes necessary to rezone or issue a variance for certain properties. Fortunately, the city has procedures and guidelines for doing this when the need arises. This should be done on a case by case basis as to the pros and cons of each proposal. The courtesy of rezoning and use of variances applies to both large and small proposals.

The mission of the Chamber is to foster a healthy business environment which

includes growing business. If elected how will you support business growth?

How will you attract business with ever rising costs to do business in

Atascadero with relation to fees?

If the key to the success of a business is location, location, and location, then the key is to show to prospective business that Atascadero is a great choice and excellent location. Fees won't be a problem if they are reasonable. Fees can be kept reasonable if the city has adequate and multiple sources of income.

Atascadero has a reputation of being difficult, not business friendly.

Whether this is true or not, what would you do help change the perception to

impress that Atascadero is open for business from the Council, Planning

Commission and staff?

Perceptions get started in a variety of ways and maybe it doesn't really matter. Perceptions are best changed through attitudes. One way of creating a new, positive attitude in the entire city; one which doesn't require a lot of work; and one which doesn't cost anything financially is character education (CE).

What is CE?

It is what we do consciously and unconsciously everyday to instill values on each other especially youth.

Outside the home, CE is the responsibility of the entire community. It brings us all together to encourage a common core set of values. This translates into a community of caring, honest, responsible people. The result is a positive attitude in the community which will overcome and replace the perception of Atascadero being difficult.

What do you see as the components needed in Atascadero to establish a strong

economic base?

An economic base needs to be diverse, so if one part of the base is a little weak at times the rest of the base will support the community. This diversity includes both private sector and public jobs. It includes all sizes of business from large to small and whether the business uses a traditional store front, an internet store front or is home based.

How important is a balanced budget to you and what changes if any would you

make to the budget in light of spending reserves?

A balanced budget is important, because we all need to be responsible, whether we're discussing government, business or personal budgets. This is why my campaign has volunteered to accept a voluntarily accept a campaign spending limit and be a role model and demonstrate responsibility rather than just talk about veing fiscally conservative.

What are the top two priorities you will bring to the city council? My two priorities will be to encourage a diversified economy so that in the future the economic base won't be reliant on any one thing in particular. In this way the city can avoid economic crisis in the future should one part of the base become weak, because there will be other areas of support.

My other priority is to bring the community together to encourage a positive attitude.

this can be done expanding our building public trust to include community wide character education. This will allow the community to select and focus on some basic core values despite our differences of opinion.

Do you believe that the division amongst the community and the city council is preventing the city from moving forward? If so, what solutions do you offer?

No, it's not preventing the community from moving forward. It is, however, affecting creating a negative and less friendly working environment. I believe the solution is to create a positive attitude by focusing our attention on a common goal. Character education is one such way.

The city is in dire need of additional revenue. What solutions will you propose?

Any solutions are going to take time to come to reality. For example, the proposed development which includes a super Wal-Mart if it is built.

Some possible ways of diversifying the local economy and helping the city's budget are:

The Veterans Memorial Building if repaired could be more useful if the museum was relocated to another downtown location freeing up the lower rotunda room for events, community band, and meetings.

A clean industry in recent television commercials is wind power, which could financially help the city and property owners. This idea needs community and voter approval.

Home based businesses are a substantial part of the economy paying income, property and sales taxes, but they are nonetheless

operating from homes without proper zoning. The key is a way to allow them to continue profitably. In some cases annual or bi-annual conditional use permits subject to health, safety and neighbors.

One way of saving the city money, expanding services, and reducing energy needs is to modify city office hours. For example, hours on Tuesday-Thursday could remain the same; Friday could be half a day; Saturday hours added for half a day; and the city weekend could be Sunday and Monday.

A business opportunity for small and home based businesses to offer services and sell goods collectively. This ides has been used by art, antique and collectible dealers, where dealers share costs and labor. Similarly, businesses too small to afford individual offices can combine such that several offices have a common reception area.

What is your position on the Wal-Mart project? The proposed project would add to the economic base of Atascadero if it's built. The project should be viewed as one part of a diversified economy and not a solution to all of our economic woes.

What is your position on Measure D-08, known as the "Shield Initiative"?

I am personally going to vote "no" on D-08.

It is up to the voters to decide as to whether the necessary zoning changes will be made, and therefore that is no longer a city council issue. My concern is to make sure everyone understands how to vote in regards to her/his beliefs and to start working towards the aftermath of the election.

Voters who are opposed to the proposed Super Wal-Mart project need to note "yes" on D-08.

The voters who want to see the proposed Super Wal-Mart built neen to vote "no" on D-08.

Our community has been faced with divisive issues. How do you suggest

To bring the community together and continue to build public trust, I will work towards a community wide character education program. In such a program the community will need to reach a concensus by selecting a few basic core values we all share despite our differences of opinions. For example, values like honesty, integrity, perserverance, dedication, love, integrity, caring and trust.

Through this process we can project a positive image amongst ourselves, to our youth, and to the surrounding communities. A positive image and atmosphere which others will want to share, visit and be a part of in Atascadero.

My time on the city council will be spent making the best use of time, Time after all once given we can never be got back, and I'm looking forward to serving my fellow citizens in Atascadero.

Thank you for your time to read this and taking the time to vote.

Bret Heinemann