This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/scl/ for current information. |
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Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of Los Altos | |||||
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The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Experience,
Important Concerns,
Balancing Interests
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
Answer from Megan Satterlee:
Answer from Jeannie Bruins:
I will bring fresh ideas, a willingness to listen, and an ability to make decisions is a fair and open way. Answer from Jan Pepper:
I have two degrees from Stanford: a bachelors in civil engineering and an MBA from the business school. I'm a registered professional engineer in the state of California. I bring my 30-plus years of business experience to our city, and here are some of the things I've accomplished. I've been fortunate to pursue my passion in my professional career, and that is to create a sustainable energy future. I started at PG&E and negotiated contracts to purchase power from the wind developers in the Altamont Pass. When my kids arrived, I started my own home-based energy consulting firm here in Los Altos. I was one of the founders of APX in 1996, a company started here in Los Altos Hills, where I pioneered an innovative product for trading renewable energy, called renewable energy credits, which is now the standard throughout the world. In 2000 I started another company, Clean Power Markets, and created a new market-based program for valuing solar energy. In 2007, I started a solar financing company and received commitments from banks to install $60 million of home solar systems.
A couple years ago, I joined Silicon Valley Power, the municipal utility for Santa Clara, and manage the 200-million dollar bond portfolio for the utility. I also taught a course at Stanford on our energy future. Throughout my career, I've been active in setting energy policy in California, and know how to collaborate and bring diverse viewpoints together to reach innovative solutions. I plan to apply those skills here in Los Altos.
I've been a leader in my work life, and also in my volunteer activities. I was an early volunteer with Green Town and helped get the Mayor's climate initiative passed here in Los Altos. I volunteer with Los Altos Forward. And I'm very proud of being a leader in the League of Women Voters, where I just stepped down as president.
I promote transparency, integrity and listening to all viewpoints. I will emphasize these qualities as a council member and represent everyone in our town. Answer from Jon Baer:
Answer from Anabel Pelham:
I have 25 years of direct experience in administration and management as a department head at San Francisco State University. I have skills in budgeting, personnel and staffing, strategic planning and program assessment. I have served for several years as the chair of corporate strategic planning for a mid-size, not-for-profit California corporation and in that role worked with the board and consultants to guide the mission of eight housing communities and six community-based agencies. I have extensive experience in grant writing and management. I have served as the Project Director or Principal Investigator on at least 20 grants and contracts with budgets ranging from a few thousand dollars to $420,000.
As a Social Scientist, I have studied extensively and contributed to the literature on the characteristics of economically vital and socially vibrant cities. In 2010, I published a book: Promoting Health and Wellness in Underserved Communities, A. Pelham and E. Sills, Stylus. There is a growing and significant literature on how to create better cities in terms of health and wellness, transportation, housing, outdoor spaces, civic engagement, sustainability and intergenerational participation. I have studied and contributed to this research for the past 12 years and I wish to bring this know-how to Los Altos.
Finally, I have developed curriculum and taught graduate courses on leadership. I have in-depth knowledge of the call to leadership as values-driven SERVICE and the essential element of trust in that equation. In order to absolutely assure trust, one must assure transparency. I am committed to unqualified transparency in city governance.
Answer from Megan Satterlee:
Congestion around schools remains a concern. This can be alleviated by making additional improvements that allow more parents to feel confident about allowing their child to walk or ride a bike to school. Projects have been identified around both Blach and Eagan. They need to be prioritized and then completed in a timely fashion.
We need to maintain momentum downtown by completing the parking management study and making decisions about what needs to be done to ensure parking supports the types of businesses we want to see downtown. Answer from Jeannie Bruins:
Vibrant Business Districts - Economic vitality is important in all our districts and, for some, social vibrancy is equally important. Our downtown serves as the heart of our community. We need a vision and master plan that includes our downtown, community center, and civic center. I support a community-wide planning process that allows us to define and protect our village character, enable economic vitality and social vibrancy -- a process that enables us to envision the possibilities and develop a roadmap to achieve the outcome we want.
Safe, Convenient Streets - We need transportation solutions that serve multiple generations and all modes of transportation. I am committed to a neighborhood-focused approach that involves stakeholders early, from problem definition through to solution identification.
Fiscal Accountability - Prudent financial management is required to balance needs and desires as well as immediate and long-term priorities, all while ensuring a balanced budget. Quality of public service for residents, maintenance of community assets and infrastructure, investments in our future, protection from economic downturns, must all be considered. Answer from Anabel Pelham:
Regarding Economic Vitality, I think we need to address the following issues: An authentic master plan that integrates the downtown core with the civic center; safe crossings for Foothill Blvd and San Antonio Road; public/private partnerships that make Hillview community center a priority; a parking management plan that includes underground and in lieu parking public benefit as options in the mix; zoning policies that are based on analytics and predictable; car park solutions for cyclists at Foothill Crossings; citizen-led revitalization of Loyola Corners; and a long-term plan to address the fiscal impact of city pensions.
Regarding Social Vibrancy, I think we need a downtown core plan that prioritizes pedestrians, cycling, public transport and automobiles in that order; more and attractive bike racks; a variety of "parklets"; a public/private partnership for a mini fixed-route shuttle bus; a creative engagement strategy to link Foothill college faculty, staff and students to downtown; and a public/private partnership to Wifi downtown. Many citizens have expressed the wish for a warm water pool to be located in a hoped-for community center in the future.
Regarding stewardship, I think that leadership on the City Council must come from a place of inclusion, transparency and respect. We need to promote a sense of trust in city government and the surest way to that is absolute transparency. I suggest "Study Sessions" be held in the neighborhoods effected, and two term limits (8 years) on all council members. I would publish the City Council agenda in the Town Crier in advance and make sure that all City Council business is conducted in public places and announced in advance in print and multi social media. Answer from Jon Baer:
Answer from Jan Pepper:
Vibrant Commercial Areas
We must create commercial areas that reflect community values and provide economic vitality for businesses, easy walking and biking, safe traffic, parking, sustainable development, public spaces, and beauty.
Our downtown is revitalizing. New stores are opening and properties are improving. Residents want greater vibrancy, including more restaurants and unique stores for browsing and shopping.
I support a community-wide planning process, which considers the downtown triangle and the Civic Center together, to develop a vision and strategy to maintain a unique "village" feel and support downtown economic vitality. We need community input to validate the existing Downtown Urban Design Plan (from 1992), the General Plan (from 2002), the Bicycle Transportation Plan (from 2012), and the Parking Management Study, which is currently underway. After we have either validated these plans, or modified them to reflect the town's current outlook, we need to set consistent guidelines so that the city and developers can implement this vision to reflect our community values.
Loyola Corners is a unique opportunity to better use vacant properties and solve traffic problems. We need to gather input from nearby residents to reach consensus on how to meet the needs of this part of town.
Fiscal Responsibility
The money our city spends is our responsibility and must be allocated efficiently and wisely. The First Street project had a cost overrun of almost 50%, with 38 change orders.
I have experience developing contracts and evaluating financial statements. I will ask hard questions to ensure engineering plans are complete and contracts are written to protect the city.
Neighborhoods/Traffic
Each neighborhood is special and we must preserve their uniqueness. Each has concerns about traffic whether they involve traffic calming or school safety. As neighborhood changes arise, I will encourage active resident participation and input so views are heard and good decisions can be made.
Los Altos School District / Bullis Charter School
Although the school site issue is the jurisdiction of the Los Altos School District, this is an concern for everyone who values our excellent schools.
Another school campus may be needed in Los Altos (or Mountain View) from growing enrollment in District schools, including Bullis Charter School, which draw from neighboring cities. This must become a shared concern with the other cities in the District: Mountain View, Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills. Our neighboring communities must join us in solving this problem. It may be appropriate to form an ad hoc working group of city and school representatives across these jurisdictions.
Answer from Jeannie Bruins:
Answer from Jon Baer:
I have seen firsthand the difficult tradeoffs that are made between keeping things the way they are and helping the city evolve as new residents and businesses come to town and our needs change. I have worked effectively with City staff and the City Council as well as the community to help effect changes while respecting the values and sensibilities that make Los Altos special. Answer from Jan Pepper:
Answer from Anabel Pelham:
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page. |