League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of Fremont

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark, and Union City and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Warm Springs BART Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. Should Fremont require community benefits from developers in the Warm Springs BART area? Why or why not? Answer from Rick Jones: In our Warm Springs Innovation District, several of the project's major developers have made an agreement with the Fremont Unified School District to provide a brand new elementary school. They will also be providing much needed upgrades to Walters Junior High School and Kennedy High School. We need to develop new strategies that will give future developers an incentive follow that example. Having worked as the School Resource Officer at Washington High School for 9 years, as well as my children having attended Fremont schools, I am well aware of the issues that our school district faces. We are in desperate need of new facilities, as well as updates to existing facilities. Our schools are at their maximum limits and new residents have to travel long distances for available class space. I would also like to offer developers the opportunity to become more invested in our community by providing open spaces, improving street systems around the developments, and offering incentives to first time buyers. With this area employing upwards of ten thousand new employees, an incentive to "live where you work" would beneficial to the community. Answer from David Paul Bonaccorsi: I was privileged to be able to respond to this question at the televised League of Women Voters candidate forum on Friday, September 19. And I would encourage Fremont voters to see a rebroadcast of this forum on Comcast 27. Fremont has already obtained community benefits from the developers in the Warm Springs BART area. If entitlements are approved, Valley Oak Partners, Lennar, and Toll Brothers, among others, have committed to building a new elementary school. But I am calling for a new City District liaison committee with representatives from the City and the School District to address matters of common concern not only in the Warms Springs area but Citywide. Recently, on Planning Commission, on July 1, 2014, I also strengthened our public arts ordinance for the Warm Springs BART area to ensure that large commercial developers will keep their promise to install or pay their fair share for public art. For a webcast of the Planning Commission, please visit my website at http://www.bonaccorsi4fremont.com/impact_on_fremont. Answer from Raj Salwan: Absolutely, we should require community benefits from developers. In the case of the development around the new Warm Springs BART station, Fremont has already obtained significant community benefits from the developers involved. It's an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to making further progress on the Innovation District in Warm Springs while serving another term on the City Council. I am also proud of the good work that our City Council has done to tell developers that we must work with the school district to address the need for new schools whenever new developments are underway. As a former student of Fremont public schools and father of three kids who attend our Fremont public schools, I know the importance of this issue first-hand. Getting developers to do their fair share is just part of my commitment to ensure the City Council works closely with our school district and ensures we have top-notch schools wherever our residents live. Today we have unprecedented collaboration between the Fremont City Council and the Fremont Unified School District. We currently conduct joint City Council-School board meetings quarterly, and we also have a joint City Council-School Board committee that meets to address school issues. But community benefits should not stop at schools. I would also like to see other benefits including creating jobs, providing art at the developments or paying into an art program, hiring local workers, improving transportation options, investing in streets, roads and parks, and providing affordable housing. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.