League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Los Angeles County, CA April 10, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member, City Council; City of Whittier

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Whittier and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Local Revenue, Affordable Housing Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. Revenue from the newly approved Whittier Oil Field will not flow into city coffers for several years even if the City prevails in lawsuits designed to overturn the decision. What sources of local revenue can the City pursue in order to maintain and restore services to residents? Answer from Owen Newcomer: Whittier's future is bright. Our sales tax revenue was up last year and is on track to be up again this year. Our property tax revenue is also trending higher. These sources of growing revenue, along with Whittier's history of prudent budgeting, means that Whittier will be able to provide quality services to residents while continuing to balance our budgets. Answer from Joe Vinatieri: Revenue from the newly approved Whittier Oil Field will not flow into city coffers for several years even if the City prevails in lawsuits designed to overturn the decision. What sources of local revenue can the City pursue in order to maintain and restore services to residents. The recession that began in 2008 has affected everyone in our community and the City is no exception. Our major sources of revenue, sales tax, property tax, utility user tax have declined and the City's budgeted expenditures have declined accordingly so as to balance the budget every year. And the unprecedented raids by Sacramento of our local monies have only made the situation worse. Fortunately, because Whittier has been very prudent and fiscally responsible over the years, we have been able to ride out the recessionary storm, only minimally dipping into reserves. We are only now seeing an early glimpse of possible recession hope as our property tax revenues have increased by 1.5% over the prior year and our sales tax revenue is slightly above projections. While some may advocate tax increases in a recessionary economy, I am OPPOSED as a tax increase in a recession can slow economic recovery. Many people are still unemployed or underemployed and cannot afford increased taxes. Additionally, seniors on fixed income cannot afford an increase in taxes. Whittier will weather the storm...Whittier can and will live within its means just as its citizens must. 2. The State has formally shut down Redevelopment agencies as of February 1, 2012. What resources should the City develop to encourage and promote revitalizing abandoned business properties and building housing for low and moderate income families? Answer from Owen Newcomer: Whittier has a proven track record of promoting businesses and housing. Personally, my wife owned her own business for many years in Whittier--a hair salon on Whittier Boulevard. I know the need to help businesses by avoiding unnecessary red tape, while maintaining standards. For each of the past three years, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation has named Whittier as one of the five most business friendly cities in our size category. This recognition is a result of our helping businesses improve their facades, fighting graffiti, providing city staff services to the Uptown business special events, having a full time Business Development city employee, and many more targeted programs to help businesses. We must continue and expand these programs and this level of employee attention to the needs of our local businesses. The Gables housing development is currently underway on Whittier Boulevard near 1st Avenue, and we are actively promoting housing and commercial development at the now-abandoned Nelles Correctional Facility on Whittier Boulevard at Philadelphia Street. Although changes in redevelopment funding have made it more difficult, Whittier must continue to actively pursue such development. This will require the skills of our dedicated staff with their many years of experience to work with builders to find new methods to achieving our goals. Answer from Joe Vinatieri: The State has formally shut down Redevelopment agencies as of February 1, 2012. What resources should the City develop to encourage and promote revitalizing abandoned business properties and building housing for low and moderate income families? Cities across the state of California are scrambling to determine how to "backfill" revitalization and jobs growth after the demise of redevelopment. Whittier is fortunate to have several focused opportunities to not just replace redevelopment but clearly target an enhanced vision for promoting economic development including revitalization of businesses and business properties in Whittier. The City is aggressively pursuing the "grandfathering" of our redevelopment projects and their termination by our adoption of Enforceful Obligation Payment Schedules (EOPS). For example, with the Nelles property, the City worked with its developer, Brookfield, to provide a preliminary plan for use of the 72-acre property which included financially helping with site development and affordable housing using redevelopment funds. This collaboration took place long before there was even any discussion of redevelopment termination. Our developer relied on this work in entering into an agreement with the State Department of General Services to purchase the property which was then subsequently approved by the State Public Works Board. We are currently in the EOPS process on this project as well as several others in Whittier. As part of a targeted proactive plan, Whittier can choose from various "tools" to encourage the development of quality jobs, revenue and businesses. For instance, as a fiscal tool, the City can provide incentives to a new targeted business, which will not compete with existing businesses, such as a sales tax rebate or utility user tax rebate over a specified period of time. For potential manufacturers, Whittier can establish a capital investment incentive program that provides property tax rebates for taxes paid over a stipulated value. From a non-fiscal tool standpoint, as a way to promote housing and local economic development, the City could provide a "one-stop" permitting and entitlement process which would expedite City review and planning. Last, Whittier must make economic and business development a priority by funding a specific position in the general fund for an economic development/business development coordinator/specialist. Previously, similar positions were found in the redevelopment budget. Whittier's commitment to economic revitalization and business growth must be clear by making this general fund expenditure. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.