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CONTRACT WITH YORBA LINDA ™ The Land of Gracious Living Preamble I believe elected representatives and government employees work for and are responsible to the People. When elected as your representative, I will always remember to put the People’s interest before my own desires and ambitions, as I believe government is of, by and for the People. I will be available to all the People. I will communicate by answering phone calls, letters and e-mails that request a response and by periodic Town Hall meetings. I will never forget tax and fee monies belong to the People and not the City Council members and will be a good steward of the People’s money. I believe the residents of Yorba Linda deserve Council members who are willing to comprehensively set forth their plans and promises and not simply advance catchy, but hollow slogans. Our community deserves more than politicians who merely promise to be “an independent voice” or a “consensus builder.” Yorba Linda residents want Council members who will represent their best interests. They want to know specifically where the candidates stand on the issues and what they will strive to do if elected. Eminent Domain I strongly oppose the use of eminent domain by the Yorba Linda City Council and the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency for economic development. Eminent domain should NEVER be used to take a private property or business and then give or sell that property or business to another private party for the purpose of a different economic use. I fully support Measure BB - on the November 4, 2008 ballot which prohibits the use of eminent domain for economic gain throughout all of Yorba Linda. Yorba Linda Town Center I fully support the development of the Yorba Linda Town Center in a manner consistent with the nature, and character of our City. During my term in office, I shall move forward in an expeditious and financially responsible manner and heed the recommendations of our residents and the Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee. It is time to complete this project! A Low-density Yorba Linda I strongly believe in a semi-rural, “low-density” Yorba Linda. I will carefully examine all residential and commercial development decisions in light of my strong adherence to our zoning and General Plan and I will remain true to our Yorba Linda motto, “The Land of Gracious Living.” I believe that “in-fill” development projects must be consistent with housing densities and the appearance of existing and surrounding neighborhoods. I also pledge to work against County approval of unacceptably “highdensity” developments in County land that will likely become part of the City of Yorba Linda through annexation. Traffic & Congestion I believe in and support maintaining the lowest possible levels of traffic throughout our community. will be responsive to our residents and their driving needs and concerns, as they relate to traffic flow, intersection movement, pedestrian & equestrian crosswalks, as well as other traffic patterns. I shall ensure that all such decisions will be based upon the highest level of safety for our drivers, passengers and pedestrians. I further believe that the Traffic Commission should become more proactive in identifying and resolving emerging traffic issues related to school zones and future major development projects. Crime I believe in, support and will advance an agenda, which promotes the highest level of security and public safety within Yorba Linda. I will work closely with our contracted police department to obtain and maintain the best affordable law enforcement service available and will seek to expand further services, procedures and programs that are consistent with our City’s growth to prevent further increases in crime. Landscape & Lighting Maintenance Fees I fully support the direction given by Yorba Linda property owners in the Landscape and Lighting Special Assessment District Election in early 2008. I will vigorously pursue extensive cost saving measures, seek various landscape alternatives, and examine and demand competitive maintenance contracts. I pledge that no tax (or fee) increase will be sought when adequate financial reserves exist and before all cost saving measures have been examined, explored and exhausted. City Manager & Assistant City Manager Compensation I believe the salary and compensation increases provided to the Yorba Linda City Manager and Assistant City Manger between December 2005 and November 2007 were excessive and unwarranted. The City Manager’s 44.5% salary and compensation increases during this period were not only excessive and unwarranted, but were irresponsible and irreconcilable with today’s economic realities. These outrageous increases are inconsistent with the financial values of Yorba Linda residents and taxpayers and must be stopped. I fully support a City Manager and Assistant City Manager Fair Compensation Ordinance that would protect against runaway, excessive and irresponsible salary and benefit increases. I will also seek support from our State officials for a Statewide statute limiting city manager pay and runaway compensation packages. Cultural Arts Facility A 2004 City Needs Assessment Survey, conducted by the Fairfax Research Group, determined that the need for a Cultural Arts Facility was second behind the need for a Yorba Linda Public High School. The third and fourth priorities were an Eastside Branch to the Public Library and more athletic fields respectively. Tax dollars from the Placentia-Yorba Linda School District are currently building the High School, which is set to open in Fall 2009. City funds are NOT building the High School. I believe it is time the City investigate the economic feasibility of a Cultural Arts facility that would include much needed theatrical, rehearsal and exhibit space at a cost Yorba Linda residents can afford. We should explore all options of private and public funding to make such a facility a reality. Equestrian Facility I fully support recreational facilities that benefit our entire community, including a Yorba Linda Equestrian Facility. The addition of an equestrian facility is consistent with Yorba Linda’s semi-rural nature and character. It’s an avenue to expand equestrian opportunities for our community’s residents, schools and organizations and an appropriate use of Parks & Recreation funding. I will move forward by identifying appropriate locations and exploring the economic feasibility of a public / private development and operating partnership. General Plan Update The General Plan is the blueprint for all future development in our City for the next decade. Over the next two years, Yorba Linda will be updating its General Plan as required by State law. I support a General Plan update reflective of the low-density nature and character of our City. Open City Government I believe in and fully support an open, transparent form of local city governance. I believe opening all forums to the public to the extent permitted by law increases the confidence the electorate have in their elected officials. I do not believe in, nor will I participate in back room deals. I shall move forward with the Open Government Ordinance to amend our City code to eliminate and prohibit any and all closed session and / or private ad hoc or other such committee meetings, to the extent they are not mandated closed by State law. I firmly believe and affirm the People’s business should be conducted in public. All meetings should be open to the public, except those required by law to be closed. Ethics Reform I promise to move forward in establishing safeguards to prevent and prohibit City Council members, City staff, City contractors and developers, working at the discretion of the City Council, from engaging in behavior designed to undermine or prevent our residents from participating in the political process in Yorba Linda, which would include initiative, referendum and recall procedures. The current City Council ethics policy is insufficient because it authorizes no penalties to elected or appointed officials should ethical violations occur. I will sponsor an ethics ordinance that will help eliminate conflicts of interest with City contractors and developers. Failed Town Center Plan Process Review I believe in and fully support a thorough review of the Failed Town Center Plan process. I believe those who ignore past failures are doomed to repeat them. I seek to fully understand the failures, shortcomings and possible inappropriate actions taken during the failed Town Center Plan to prevent a reoccurrence. Fair Political Participation Ordinance The anti-resident actions of the City Council and their chosen developers in the 2004-2006 Failed Town Center Plan were inexcusable. Government must zealously defend the right of citizens to participate in the democratic process, not seek to frustrate or defeat it. I will sponsor a Citizens Fair Political Participation Ordinance to amend the City code to prohibit official City Council attempts to frustrate the citizens free exercise of the initiative, referendum and recall political processes. Developer, Special Interest & City Contractor Contributions I will not accept contributions from developers, their spouses or special interest groups outside of Yorba Linda. I also will not accept contributions from City contractors or employee associations of such contractors and I support amending the City code to prohibit such contributions. I also support prohibiting Council members from voting on issues that impact their “major” contributors. State Mandated Low-Cost Housing I promise to fight against unreasonable, State mandated quotas for low-cost housing developments in Yorba Linda inconsistent with our low-density character. Measure B -the Yorba Linda Right to Vote Amendment I fully support Measure B - the Yorba Linda Right to Vote Amendment and the protection from overdevelopment that it places in the hands of Yorba Linda voters. I will seek out the best legal representation to preserve and vigorously defend the Right to Vote Amendment and its principle of protecting our Land of Gracious Living. Attestation My signature below is your guarantee I will fully and completely seek to fulfill all of the above during my term in office as your City Councilmember. I will work tirelessly in moving forward on this agenda seeking the necessary Council votes to enact all of the above.
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