Foster City CA: Questions For Council Candidates

Peter Carey forwarded the following:

From: Foster City Residence for Responsible Development <phyllisjanemoore@att.net>
Date: September 18, 2015 at 2:54:27 PM PDT
Subject: ALERT: Questions to ask Foster City Council Candidates
Reply-To: Foster City Residence for Responsible Development <phyllisjanemoore@att.net>

QUESTIONS FOR FOSTER CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

City Council candidates are now walking our neighborhoods, knocking on doors. Here is a list of issues and specific questions that have come up for Foster City residents in the past year. Read through these, pick one or two that are of particular interest to you to be prepared when you next see one of the candidates. You can also pose these questions to them by email or phone or at their Facebook pages. To access their contact info, see: http://facebook.us11.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4d5066c8a8824c9d4f75cf6a6&id=1860607cb1&e=2f71cd5470

Issue 1. The Foster City Residents for Responsible Development have an online petition which reads: “We oppose any additional high-density residential units until all previously approved construction projects are completed and we can evaluate their impact on Foster City’s overcrowded schools, traffic congestion and potable water resources.” See:http://facebook.us11.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4d5066c8a8824c9d4f75cf6a6&id=de3b630288&e=2f71cd5470

Question 1-a: Will you agree that, if elected, you will not vote for additional, proposed high-density residential housing units?

Question 1-b: Over 2,000 residents have signed the on-line petition and many have left their names along with their comments. Have you looked at all the comments? Will you summarize for us what these comments are telling you?

Issue 2. Many Foster City residents are angry now that they see the Pilgrim Triton construction rising to the sky behind the Chevron station at the corner of Hillsdale and Foster City Blvd’s.

Question: 2-a: If elected, what would you do to mitigate the impacts of the Pilgrim Triton master plan?

Question: 2-b: Will you oppose or support similar construction anywhere in the City?

Issue 3. Sares Regis proposes to substitute housing for previously approved office-retail space at Triton, Phase C.

Question 3-a: If you had been on the Council during the recent Gatekeeper meeting would you have encouraged or discouraged this proposal?

Question 3-b: Would you vote for the current Sares Regis proposal if the Planning Commission recommends you approve it?

Issue 4. In January 2015, on a split 3-2vote, the City Council approved an update of the Housing Element of the General Plan.

Question: 4-a: If you had been on the Council at that time would you have approved the Housing Element Update?

Question: 4-b: If you had been on the Council at that time would you have approved the Statement of Negative Environmental Impact?

Question 4-c: If elected, would you move to amend the approved Housing Element: If so how and why?

Issue 5. Our roads and related infrastructure seem to be at or beyond capacity. Our City infrastructure is being overwhelmed.

Question 5-a: Do you believe the city is “built out” or “over-built” or is there room for more?

Question 5-b: What specific actions or solutions would you work toward to better manage traffic congestion within the City?

Question 5-c: What specific actions or solutions would you work toward to better manage traffic created by the proposed additional employees from Gilead, BioMed, Illumina, etc.?

Question 5-d: Would you support an additional traffic route in and out of Foster City? If so, where should it be?

Issue 6. Our schools are overcrowded. People who move here no longer have assurances that their children will be able to attend schools in Foster City?

Question 6-a: Do you believe the City has a responsibility to deal with school overcrowding? If so, what are those responsibilities and what would you do to make sure the City meets them?

Question 6-b: Do you support Measure X, the school bond issue?

Question 6-c: Do you believe Measure X will solve our school crowding? If not, what specific additional steps would you initiate to address the problem?

Issue 7. Edgewater Shopping Center and Charter Square are being allowed to deteriorate.

Question 7-a: What can/should the City do to keep these two sites from being allowed to deteriorate?

Issue 8. Citizens are concerned about the bickering and lack of decorum among City Council members.

Question 8-a: How would you manage this problem?

Question 8-b: Do you believe this has led to departure of key staff?

Question 8-c: How do you think staff morale and retention can be improved?

Issue 9. The Chamber of Commerce has advanced an Economic Strategic Planning process

Question 9-a: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the plan?

Question 9-b: Do you believe the City should contract with the Chamber to execute this plan?

Question 9-c: How does this plan fit into a City wide comprehensive strategic plan for the City?

Question 9-d: What can/should be done to improve economic conditions for small businesses here?

Issue 10. The residents are concerned about pedestrian safety due to speeding traffic.

Question 10-a: Do you see this as a problem and if yes, what would you do about it?

Question 10-b: How would you define a “safe” speed limit on residential streets?

Issue 11: The Council struggled to implement a compromise No Smoking Ordinance.

Question 11-a: Would you support changing the ordinance in any way?

Question 11-b: How do you reconcile the public health benefits of the no smoking ordinance with the rights of property owners?

Issue 12: Homeowner difficulty with approvals from the City?

Question: 12-a: What would you do to make it easier for property owners to work with the City?

Foster City Residents for Responsible Development is a community-based, citizens group, formed following the proposal to repurpose the Edgewater Shopping Center into housing. We have a Facebook page with approximately 200 members: http://facebook.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4d5066c8a8824c9d4f75cf6a6&id=a27bfc7e9f&e=2f71cd5470 , an on-line petition, signed by over 3000 people http://facebook.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4d5066c8a8824c9d4f75cf6a6&id=f5846ae656&e=2f71cd5470 and an e-mail distribution list of over 2500 residents who have requested they be kept informed about housing issues in Foster City.
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Robert Riechel

robertriechel@att.net

For San Bruno Patch

Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives

Source Credit: Provided by Peter Carey

http://SanBrunoPatch.com

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