Why I'm Running for City Council

By Chad Vander Veen

Let's make Folsom a smarter city

I believe Folsom has been, by and large, a well-run city for a long time. However, what I've begun to see is that while city leadership has done an admirable job of maintaining Folsom's status quo, it lacks a clear vision for the future of Folsom. I think this is due to the fact so many council members have been in office for so long. Case in point is the forthcoming development of the area known as South of 50.

South of 50 as it is currently designed represents a failure to understand the challenges posed by future population growth and drought. I fear we're on a course to repeat the same mistakes our predecessors made in failing to adequately prepare for tomorrow. I'm not against development. But I am against this sort of uninspired and unsustainable suburban sprawl, the designs for which were conceived decades ago. This kind of development perpetuates mid-20th century solutions to 21st century challenges. While the plans certainly look pleasant, is this what we want for our community? More houses on postage stamp-sized lots and row after row of strip malls? How is this great city supposed to fold in more than 10,000 new homes and their occupants without a more viable strategy for coping with the massive amount of increased traffic and the terrible burden it will place on our resources - chief among them water?

The South of 50 plan originally called for the development to find its own water supply. Today that plan now claims as its water supply the water savings that have accumulated through conservation efforts. With the extreme drought our state is facing such a "plan" is, in my assessment, very short-sighted and potentially disastrous for Folsom.

It seems Folsom leadership is stuck in a rut that is a decade or more old. It reminds me of the poor planning that lead to Interstate 5 severing Sacramento from the river, to the mess that is the Natomas development and to the fact that we're utterly dependent on a fragile water source.

We can do better.

If you elect me as your city councilman, I will work to ensure the following takes place:

- We need to re-examine the South of 50 project and deliver an actual new water supply to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water. One source of water, Folsom Lake, is not enough. And claiming conservation efforts as a new supply is dishonest at best.

- I will work to see that South of 50 - and eventually all of Folsom - is built out intelligently with energy, water and waste technology that keeps our city strong, safe and beautiful.

- South of 50 developers must help craft multiple solutions to better alleviate traffic congestion. Related to that, I would push for a light rail spur that brings mass transit to the doorstep of the development.

- I will work with Sacramento Regional Transit to bring express light rail service to Folsom. There is no reason that light rail needs to make 20+ stops during commuting hours. Having worked in downtown and taken light rail many times, I can say confidently that many of the stops are totally unnecessary. I'm certain that a better strategy can be created that maximizes the utility of light rail.

- I will work to take advantage of the existing rail within the city. I believe a privately-funded trolley operating between Folsom's two premier destinations, Old Town and the Palladio, would help alleviate traffic and draw tourism dollars. Plus, I believe Folsom can do more to promote its deep roots in railroad history.

- I will ramp up efforts to convert city lighting to cost-efficient LEDs and utilize solar power.

- I will push for better energy and water technology to be incorporated throughout the city. Specifically, I envision Folsom as a renewable energy leader as well as a water-recycling leader. Presently we have one water source, which if disaster strikes will leave us out to dry. We need to diversify our water sources and invest in water-recycling technology. Orange County and San Jose are doing this. San Diego County has eight water sources. We should be doing it too. And instead of shipping our solid waste to a landfill, I see for Folsom a future that includes waste-to-energy facilities that transform our waste into a renewable source of energy. This technology exists now.

- I believe Folsom ought to be the next silicon valley - but one of green and renewable technology. I will work to make our city a technology powerhouse that creates thousands of new jobs.

- I will work to preserve, promote and protect Folsom's historic areas.

- I will serve no more than two terms. As you are no doubt aware, our city council rarely experiences turnover. I believe this is detrimental to the city. We can not keep electing the same people and expect different results.

I do not and will not promise to fix everything. What I will promise to do is to work as hard as I can to make Folsom a better place to live by focusing on five key areas: Water, Energy, Waste, Transportation and our Built Environment. These are the five pillars on which cities are built. For too long city leadership has stood idly by, satisfied with the solutions from decades past. Cities are the centerpiece of American prosperity and will be more so in the years to come. Folsom, like many cities, is at a crossroads - we can let the same people do the same things they always do or we can make a change to ensure Folsom continues to thrive and prosper, come what may.

I have a vision for the future of this great city. I hope you will help me make it a reality.