Q & A

1. What is the most important issue in Shoreline?

Our community faces challenges in all areas: budget constraints, addressing the need for quality education, economic development, citizen safety and traffic congestion.

Depending on where you live, your most important issue may be one or more of the following: the proposed Point Wells Development, the State owned property at Fircrest Master Planning process, the possible citing of a Regional Jail in Shoreline, plus Christa and Shoreline Community College Master Plans for long range development. All are important issues - there are too many to list.

To face these challenges, we must come together as a community. Leadership from all across Shoreline must be willing to work together to find answers and create solutions together.

2. How do you envision managing the city's budget deficit without putting the financial burden on your constituents?

Today, more than ever, the City of Shoreline finds itself with increased budget constraints caused by falling tax revenues and increased operational costs. In 2010 we will be facing a $1.8 million deficit. We must look for new ways to generate revenue so that we may continue to improve the quality of services we provide. Our city must operate within its means; the council and staff must create a responsible budget. We need a strong economic growth plan that encourages partnerships, a business friendly climate that provides new revenue resources, adds value to our community and brings jobs, goods and services we need.

On the council, I'll put our budget on a diet, streamline, cut overhead and implement performance measures. To stretch every tax dollar, I'll look at the cost of providing services, their value and benefit to taxpayers and ensure we spend and invest wisely, matching our priorities and values while avoiding unnecessary expenses.

3. How will you help the city to support developing a sound economy?

To strengthen our economy we must find ways to encourage commerce that generates tax dollars that will stay in our community. I'll work to:

Through our investments in the Aurora corridor improvements, we have set a new standard for the State. The infrastructure is ready to make money for Shoreline. By maximizing our investments, we can bring quality businesses to Shoreline. Currently, 14,000 people leave Shoreline every day. They spend an average of $105 a day outside the city of Shoreline. By strengthening our commercial core, we have the potential to provide head of house hold jobs, and recapture lost sales tax revenue, while providing the consumer goods and services that meet the needs of residents here at home in Shoreline.

4. How will you address ethics, accountability and transparency in city government?

Government must be citizen-focused and service-oriented. Public confidence depends on open government at all levels. Council must adhere to the Open Public Meetings Act, limit executive sessions and do the business of the people in an open, clear process in front of and accessible by all people. Citizens must feel free to express their opinions.

Public service is service to society. That role comes with profound responsibilities and a duty to put the public's needs over personal agendas. On the council, I pledge to be responsive and treat fellow council members, the public and staff with honor, respect and professional courtesy.

5. How will you foster and deepen regional, city and community communications?

Without a local newspaper, the city must strengthen its communication role, encouraging as many points of contact as possible with citizens, neighborhood groups and businesses through a dynamic, interactive process with best use of technology, printed media, open forums and timely notice of public meetings, including agendas. Citizens must feel their input is valued and that all are heard, not just the most vocal.

I have developed long-term working relationships with leaders from across Shoreline through 14 years on the Council of Neighborhoods. I'll use the skills I've developed to ensure an effective strategy for our regional and state partners.

6. How should Shoreline react to a Point Wells development?

Shoreline City Council has already reacted. A letter was sent to the Snohomish County Council stating that they are opposed to the "Urban Center" designation which would zone for 3,500 units.

This will be a very long and drawn out process, possibly taking years before anything can even be built. It is vital that the City of Shoreline, its' citizens, staff, elected officials and service providers work together with Snohomish County and the cities of Edmonds and Woodway to craft the best solution possible.

Only by working together, we can create a win-win solution that adds value to our community. Competent and skilled professional staff from the City of Shoreline are already identifying and working on issues, even though the project may be 10 or more years away.

Shoreline can benefit from this project by getting a neighboring environmental mess cleaned up. There is the potential of millions of dollars in mitigation money, which can be spent on new curbs, sidewalks, gutters and addressing drainage issues on Richmond Beach Road. Only by being a partner in the process can we be part of a great solution.

I encourage you to be involved.

Having already approved Paramount's proposal to change the area designation of Point Wells from Urban Industrial to Urban Center, the Snohomish County Council is now in the process of adopting the specific development regulations that would influence the size and scope of any development at Point Wells.

For information about Point Wells, Public meetings and next steps - please visit the City of Shoreline's web site:

http://www.cityofshoreline.com/index.aspx?page=176