Recently the Daily Sun sent a questionnaire to all the mayoral candidates to help you decide who to vote for. This story contains a chart of my answers as well as clarifications of some of my answers.

All of this information and more can be found on the AZ Daily Sun Website Election Page.

Clarifications:

Question #1: The Council-approved Meet and Confer ordinance (2009)

Background: The Council decided to implement union-style collective bargaining for city of Flagstaff employees late last year. In previous years city employees have rejected the process, better known as Meet and Confer, in part because of concerns organized unions like the local firefighters would be able to get better benefits that other less-organized employee groups. Currently all city employees are represented by the employee advisory group.

A citizen group has successfully referred the issue to the voters on the May 2010 ballot.

Question #2: Approval of the Catholic Church rezoning on McMillan Mesa

Background: The local Catholic parish, which owns 107 acres on McMillan Mesa, asked the Council in 2009 to rezone 28 acres in order to build a 1,500-seat church, a two-story school, a 375-space parking lot and playing fields.

Some local residents opposed the rezoning, arguing the construction would destroy one of Flagstaff’s last undeveloped areas within the city limits.

The Council unanimously approved the rezoning.

Question #3   The amended anti-camping ordinance

Background: Once earning the city the label of one of the 10 “meanest” cities in the country, the Council amended the anti-camping ordinance in 2009.

Under the revised law, those found camping could avoid arrest by citing a threat of imminent injury, known as the “necessity” defense.

Advocates for the homeless have contended such a defense is needed when the shelters are full on a bitterly cold night or an abusive spouse has forced someone to temporarily sleep in their car.

Question #4 Gay Civil Rights ordinance proposed by Equality Arizona

Background: A local group of activists asked the Council to consider adopting a gay civil rights ordinance that would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of civil rights that are protected in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and education in Flagstaff. A draft submitted to the Council called for a commission that would review possible violations if the law was enacted.

The city held three public meetings on the proposal, which attracted large crowds and lengthy debates between the local LGBT and religious communities.

The Council eventually adopted a non-binding resolution of inclusiveness for the civil rights. One result of the resolution was for the city to place signs at the city limits proclaiming that the city is an inclusive community.

Kara Kelty: Undecided. “In general, it is poor public policy to adopt an ordinance from another City directly without adjusting the language to meet our community’s needs.  I support the purpose and intent of the ordinance which stipulates that it will safeguard the right for all persons to be free from discrimination.  However, the ordinance as presented is inconsistent with the nature and structure of city commissions because it delegates authority and enforcement rights to an unelected commission. Under the City’s Charter, the City Council does not have the authority to delegate these rights.  Other troubling language in the ordinance for me includes the provision that “The parties are not bound by the Arizona rules of Evidence” a lack of an appeal process, and a lack of confidentiality provisions during investigation.”

Question #5 Flagstaff Unified School District budget override

Background: Flagstaff Unified School District  will conduct an override election to exceed its revenue control limit by 15 percent on March 9. If the override passes, it will allow the school district to raise up to $8 million annually.

FUSD attempted a 10 percent budget override renewal last November, but it failed by a 52-48 margin.

The Flagstaff City Council has no role in the override but it is an important community issue.

Kara Kelty: Yes. “Flagstaff’s economic development efforts are directly impacted by the quality of education in our community.  While serving as a City Councilmember I heard repeatedly from large employers such as Flagstaff Medical Center, W.L. Gore and Associates and Nestle-Purina that finding employees with a critical skill set was difficult and these vacancies were detrimental to their ability to be successful.  I have two children in the public school system and the budget cuts being made at the state legislature will have an adverse impact on the quality of education.  That having been said, Flagstaff Unified School District has a responsibility to the voters to demonstrate proper fiscal oversight and management of all over rides, past and proposed.  There must be improved transparency and oversight of the budget operations if FUSD is to retain and improve parent confidence and taxpayer support.”

Question #6   Extending city’s BBB and Sales taxes

Background: The legal authority for the city’s sales and Bed, Beverage and Board expires in a few years, so the city is seeking voter approval to extend (not increase) the taxes. The city is heavily dependent on the two taxes to fund city services including the police and fire departments.

Question #7 The proposed property maintenance ordinance

Background: Neighborhood activists in Sunnyside, Southside and the Plaza Vieja neighborhoods have been pushing for property maintenance ordinance for more than a decade. They hope a PMO would make landlords accountable for dilapidated and abandoned buildings, false advertising on rental properties, junked vehicles and problems that would pose health issues for the surrounding community, like raw sewage.

The Council said in 2009 that just drafting an ordinance for the Council to consider would take at least another year due to staffing issues.

Question #8 A temporary one-cent sales tax hike (statewide)

Background: Gov. Jan Brewer and some members of the state legislature are seeking a temporary one-cent increase in the state sales tax. The tax would generate roughly $1 billion in much needed revenue for the state – which is facing a $1.4 billion deficit this fiscal year and $3.2 billion for the next fiscal year that starts on July 1.

Kara Kelty: No. “I oppose the version of the temporary one-cent sales tax proposed by Governor Brewer because the gains in revenue that will be made by the increased sales tax would be offset by an immediate repeal of the state property tax and future tax cuts for business.  The plan that has been unveiled to date is neither effective nor sustainable.  Additionally, low consumer confidence means spending is down and the projections for the sales tax gain are not realistic. Relying on the temporary sales to fix the budget deficit seems similar to the Legislature’s approval of photo radar as a revenue generator that didn’t meet expectations.”

Question #9  Sale of water from the San Francisco Peaks to a water bottling company.

Backgound: Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water had approached the city about pumping 55 million gallons of spring water annually out of the aquifer, but it was rejected by City Manager Kevin Burke.

Question #10 Downtown Management Plan (with parking meters)

Backgound: The Flagstaff City Council has seen several iterations of the Downtown Management Plan over the last few years. The complex plan has been controversial for many reasons but downtown business have been largely at odds nearby homeowners who oppose plans that would allow temporary parking for downtown employees in front of homes. Others opposed to the reintroduction of parking meters downtown when plans for parking garages are several years away.

Kara Kelty: Undecided. “I have been supportive of efforts to alleviate the shortage of on-street downtown parking that allows easy customer access to businesses, shops and restaurants.  As part of this effort I supported the paving of the lot on Phoenix Avenue for downtown employees to have access to all day parking.  However, there are still large gaps in this plan such as the cost of a downtown parking garage and how it will be funded.”

Question #11  Pawn shop fee

Background: The Council approved a $2 transaction fee for pawn shops in 2008 to help pay for a property crimes detective. The fee was heavily criticized as being regressive – charging a tax on Flagstaff’s working poor.

Question #12 Establishment of the Townsite historic district

Background: Residents in the Townsite Historic District successfully petitioned the Council in 2007 to impose building restrictions on properties in an attempt to preserve the historic character of the neighborhood. This sparked a lawsuit against the city by several homeowners who argue the new limits have devalued their property.

Question #13 Tax deal for Aspen Place at The Sawmill

Background: The Council approved $19 million in bonds for the privately backed retail project to help pay for its internal infrastructure: Streets, sewers and water lines.  The city-backed bonds were supposed to be repaid by the developer over a 25-year period. The Council approved the bonds in part because the 40-acre development met many of the Council’s stated goals: Brownfields clean-up, urban infill, a mix of commercial and residential development, realignment of the Lone Tree Corridor and donated land to be used for affordable housing.

Kara Kelty: Yes. “I am on record as opposing government funding of private retail investments.  I supported and continue to support the public/private partnership at Sawmill because this development provided three critical benefits to the taxpayers of Flagstaff: 1) it cleaned up a polluted site, creating an infill development; 2) increased revenue for the City by adding new businesses not in Flagstaff and allowed for the expansion of an existing business; 3) Added to the City’s affordable housing stock because the developer donated lots to the City’s Land Trust Program.”

Question #14  End train horn noise in Flagstaff (with wayside horns in East Flagstaff)

Background: Two different Councils have decided to move forward with identical plans on how to silence train horns in Flagstaff.

The controversial decision has been critcized by eastside residents, who dislike the placement of directional electronic equipment known as wayside horns at the Steves Boulevard and Fanning Drive crossings. The three other at-grade crossings are getting a different treatment that does not include wayside horns and therefore will be much quieter at the intersection. (Sound from the wayside horns are expected to dissipate fairly quickly and will not echo like the train-mounted horns.)

Both Councils noted that the decision was largely made due to financial reasons. Of note, the citizen-run bond committee is considering bonding to convert the two eastside crossing to true quiet zones that will not have wayside horns.

Question #15  New Public Works Yard

Background: City officials have the asked the Council to consider bonding to build a new public works yard for approximately $20 million. The city has largely outgrown the current public works yard, forcing expensive equipment to be stored outdoors and at some repairs to be made outside of the current garage facilities. One city report suggested their are safety issues at the current yard.

A leading proposal would relocate the new public works yard to west Flagstaff near the Clay Avenue Detention Basin.

The project topped a Council list of bond priorities but the Bond Advisory Task Force has not made a decision on what projects to bring to the voters.

Kara Kelty: Undecided. “There is not enough information available on costs and return on investment to make an educated decision on the proposed bond items… A Public Works facility that provides City workers with decent working conditions is necessary, however, are there existing options or facilities that could be upgraded before embarking on building a new facility?”

Question #16 Lone Tree Railroad overpass

Background: City officials have the asked the Council to consider bonding for  a railroad overpass connecting Lone Tree Road to East Route 66 east of downtown for $45 million. The project is believed to significantly reduce traffic along Milton.

The project topped a Council list of bond priorities but the Bond Advisory Task Force has not made a decision on what projects to bring to the voters.

Kara Kelty: Undecided. “There is not enough information available on costs and return on investment to make an educated decision on the proposed bond items.  While I was on the City Council I saw preliminary drafts for the Lone Tree Corridor Study.  I still have unanswered questions about how the Lone Tree Overpass without improvements to the Lone Tree Corridor will alleviate traffic on Milton Road.”