Issues
Below is the text of the questionnaire for the Sierra Club endorsement, which I received. It covers some of the key issues and my positions. Check back soon for expanded issues and positions.
Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Sierra Club?
Sierra Club endorses candidates that have the best understanding and thoughtfulness around issues including climate change, water conservation, waste, housing, transportation, and the true conservation and preservation of the natural elements in and surrounding our community. These are the issues that are most dear to me and I am committed to finding ways to bring them to the Town of Fairfax.
What are your ideas regarding meeting the challenge of your city's ability to meet its ABAG numbers for affordable housing? Do you support raising densities, height & story limits to meet ABAG goals?
Fairfax has very few buildable new lots. The lowest impact solutions for affordable housing in Fairfax will need to be small and smart. My guiding principle is that development in Fairfax must be done without changing density, height and story limits.
Do you believe your city should participate in the BERST (Green Building, Energy, Retrofit and Solar Transformation) multi-jurisdictional effort to study and pursue policy and model program options for green building, energy, retrofit and solar transformation? Might a program like this benefit your city?
This could be a great program for Fairfax and it's residents. I would need more time to fully evaluate how it works with the Marin Energy Authority and Build It Green initiatives. Sometimes broad brush strokes that reach bigger audiences have more accommodations to get broad approval. Currently, Fairfax does not have a great Green Building program so it is likely that something is better than nothing. I have had many discussions with Augie Venezia at Fairfax Lumber and Hardware about Build it Green and it incorporates a full spectrum of the green building inside and outside homes. It seems to be a simple system in which to require all remodels to reach a certain level of Green points.
Based on the publicly available information that several responses to the Marin Clean Energy RFP are financially solid and meet the dual criteria of doubling to 25% (compared to PG&E) the percentage of clean energy at no added cost (compared to PG&E) to Marin electricity ratepayers and also providing an option to ratepayers for 100% green energy at no more than 10% premium over PG&E rates, then would you support Marin Clean Energy moving ahead? What is your position on the PG&E ballot measure?
As the Executive of Sustainable Fairfax, I have been working with the Community Choice Law and it's implementation for 5 years and have worked closely with Paul Fenn, author of the law and Rebekah Collins, founder of Sustainable Fairfax and an early activist who brought CCA to the Town of Fairfax and the County. I whole heartedly support Marin Energy Authority moving forward. I will push for further utilization of the law to seek funding for local power generation and conservation programs for all towns and cities of Marin. I oppose PG&E bringing this as a ballot measure. There are many opportunities for communities as a whole and individuals to opt out. It is a waste of time and taxpayer/ratepayer money to fight this battle when it is not being forced on anyone.
How can your city participate in assisting its residents to reduce its use of water? Do you believe desalination is an appropriate way to obtain additional water for future consumption?
Acting as a model always helps. The Town of Fairfax should audit and curtail water use wherever it is able and seek to implement all existing MMWD conservation measures both technical and behavioral and demonstrate and embrace cutting edge greywater and rainwater usage. I support programs like the MMWD's 'How Far Can We Go?' taking the current average of 106 gallons per day per person in Fairfax and bring it lower by aggressively rolling out both hardware and education to bring our water demand down. MMWD's numbers for projected need are based on pre-recession growth patterns. Marin is no longer growing at that rate. Desalination should not be considered as a reasonable solution until numbers are adjusted to current levels of growth, all conservation efforts have been fully exhausted, and all increased impact on electricity generation negated.
What are your thoughts on a Redevelopment Agency for Fairfax?
Redevelopment agencies are challenging because of the combination of Fairfax's small town and active citizenry who want a real say in any development. However, given the town's limited resources, a Redevelopment Agency could bring funding and organization to the right project. Some Redevelopment Agencies are able to find nonprofit funding and could assist Fairfax in creating affordable, workforce and senior housing. Very specific agreements would have to be made to maintain local control, develop specific green building mandates, and involve the community in planning.
What is your vision for the Marin Town & Country Club? Should the commercial recreation zoning be retained?
The first challenge is that this is a private piece of property. Furthermore, since it was zoned by initiative, only a ballot measure can change the zoning. Attempts to change this have failed several times. And it is a great opportunity to receive Transient Occupancy Tax for the town. Any potential development of this space should be in keeping with the small town character of Fairfax. One possible vision is a combination of affordable housing, a small green hotel or resort inn, and a nice restaurant fed by an on site organic farm. This would bring the town needed tax revenues.
