Vanguard Candidates Forum

The Vanguard is proposing an on-line, reader’s choice candidates forum for the city council candidates. The readers of the Vanguard are invited to post their questions to the candidates in the comment section of this blog entry. The Vanguard will then select from those questions and send them to the candidates. The candidates will be given a certain amount of time to respond to the questions and the answers will be posted verbatim on the Vanguard at a future point in time.

So please post your questions. You will have until midnight Friday night to do so.

Author

  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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Categories:

Elections

112 comments

  1. The City of Davis uses massive amounts of pesticides to maintain to a “dead zone” aesthetic many areas of town. What do you think of this aesthetic? Do you approve of pesticide use, if so why, if not why not? If elected to the City Council will you promise to work on eliminating or at least greatly reducing the use to only extreme situations?

  2. The City of Davis uses massive amounts of pesticides to maintain to a “dead zone” aesthetic many areas of town. What do you think of this aesthetic? Do you approve of pesticide use, if so why, if not why not? If elected to the City Council will you promise to work on eliminating or at least greatly reducing the use to only extreme situations?

  3. The City of Davis uses massive amounts of pesticides to maintain to a “dead zone” aesthetic many areas of town. What do you think of this aesthetic? Do you approve of pesticide use, if so why, if not why not? If elected to the City Council will you promise to work on eliminating or at least greatly reducing the use to only extreme situations?

  4. The City of Davis uses massive amounts of pesticides to maintain to a “dead zone” aesthetic many areas of town. What do you think of this aesthetic? Do you approve of pesticide use, if so why, if not why not? If elected to the City Council will you promise to work on eliminating or at least greatly reducing the use to only extreme situations?

  5. At a recent City Council Meeting, a considerable amount of time was spent discussing the possible solar panels to be installed as part of a church’s remodel project. Is this the role of the City Council? Or should the City Council be making broad policy decisions, and then allowing the building and planning divisions?

  6. At a recent City Council Meeting, a considerable amount of time was spent discussing the possible solar panels to be installed as part of a church’s remodel project. Is this the role of the City Council? Or should the City Council be making broad policy decisions, and then allowing the building and planning divisions?

  7. At a recent City Council Meeting, a considerable amount of time was spent discussing the possible solar panels to be installed as part of a church’s remodel project. Is this the role of the City Council? Or should the City Council be making broad policy decisions, and then allowing the building and planning divisions?

  8. At a recent City Council Meeting, a considerable amount of time was spent discussing the possible solar panels to be installed as part of a church’s remodel project. Is this the role of the City Council? Or should the City Council be making broad policy decisions, and then allowing the building and planning divisions?

  9. Is the value of the GEM cars…
    a) at this point mostly symbolic
    b) a real benefit to the community
    c) behind us because of newer, more efficient vehicles on the market that are not limited by speed to certain areas of town
    d) what are GEM cars?

  10. Is the value of the GEM cars…
    a) at this point mostly symbolic
    b) a real benefit to the community
    c) behind us because of newer, more efficient vehicles on the market that are not limited by speed to certain areas of town
    d) what are GEM cars?

  11. Is the value of the GEM cars…
    a) at this point mostly symbolic
    b) a real benefit to the community
    c) behind us because of newer, more efficient vehicles on the market that are not limited by speed to certain areas of town
    d) what are GEM cars?

  12. Is the value of the GEM cars…
    a) at this point mostly symbolic
    b) a real benefit to the community
    c) behind us because of newer, more efficient vehicles on the market that are not limited by speed to certain areas of town
    d) what are GEM cars?

  13. So many questions, so little time!!!

    1. Is there any relationship between decisions made by the City Council, and decisions made by the School Board? What can the City Council do to encourage better schools in Davis?

    2. Do you see housing decisions made as developer driven? Why or why not? In what way should developers have input in housing decisions?

    3. Are we in need of more senior housing; affordable housing; housing for middle income folks? Why or why not?

    4. Should we be addressing the housing needs of Davisites, or folks outside Davis, when making decisions about housing?

    5. How should we, as a city, address the growing problem of increased budget costs, but decreasing or insufficient tax revenue to pay for those costs?

    6. How do you feel about the incivility that occurs at City Council meetings, and its effect on decision making?

    7. What effect does circumvention of process and violations of the Brown Act (CA sunshine laws) have on decisionmaking at the City Council level?

    8. Is it appropriate for the City Council to have its meetings continue from sunset into the wee hours of the morning? Why or why not?

    9. How can the City of Davis improve its image as an anti-business municipality?

    10. To what extent is city staff making decisions for our city, rather than the City Council? What is city staff’s rightful place in the heirarchy of the decisionmaking process?

    11. How do you feel about the level of compensation we are giving to city employees? Can we afford it? Is it giving us the quality employees desired?

    12. How do you plan to cope with the sales tax leakage out of Davis to Woodland and the surrounding area?

    13. How much of the city’s budget should be spent on making our town environmentally friendly?

    14. Should we have a solar panel ordinance for any new housing/building additions? Why or why not?

    15. To what extent should the City Council be discussing issues that are not local, e.g. war in Iraq?

    16. How do you view the role of city commissions? Should their number be decreased/increased? Should they be more policy or project oriented, or both? What is the public’s perception of commissions and what they do?

    17. How can we forge a better relationship with UCD? Yolo County?

    18. How do you feel about tax increases? What type of taxes should be instituted, if any? What taxes should be done away with, if any?

    19. How do you feel about the increase in water and sewer fees? What should be done to address the proposed increases?

    20. Are any of you seeking higher office beyond the City Council? How does that effect your decisionmaking at the city council level?

    21. Can any city programs be cut, in order to save money? Are there programs that need to be added? If additional programs are added, how will they be paid for?

    22. How do you feel about development on the periphery of Davis, and its potential impact on the city’s budget.

    23. How do you feel about the city’s involvement in sister city relationships? Is it appropriate; desirable; how many should there be; is it costing the city anything?

    24. Can the City Council particpate in any sort of outreach effort to its citizens, so they can become more engaged in the process?

    25. Is the city prepared for emergencies? Why or why not? What should be done for the city to be better prepared? To what extent should private facilities take responsibility?

    26. What is your definition of big box retail? Are there acceptable versions of big box retail? What makes it acceptable? Is it appropriate for Davis? Why or why not? What are its advantages and disadvantage?

  14. So many questions, so little time!!!

    1. Is there any relationship between decisions made by the City Council, and decisions made by the School Board? What can the City Council do to encourage better schools in Davis?

    2. Do you see housing decisions made as developer driven? Why or why not? In what way should developers have input in housing decisions?

    3. Are we in need of more senior housing; affordable housing; housing for middle income folks? Why or why not?

    4. Should we be addressing the housing needs of Davisites, or folks outside Davis, when making decisions about housing?

    5. How should we, as a city, address the growing problem of increased budget costs, but decreasing or insufficient tax revenue to pay for those costs?

    6. How do you feel about the incivility that occurs at City Council meetings, and its effect on decision making?

    7. What effect does circumvention of process and violations of the Brown Act (CA sunshine laws) have on decisionmaking at the City Council level?

    8. Is it appropriate for the City Council to have its meetings continue from sunset into the wee hours of the morning? Why or why not?

    9. How can the City of Davis improve its image as an anti-business municipality?

    10. To what extent is city staff making decisions for our city, rather than the City Council? What is city staff’s rightful place in the heirarchy of the decisionmaking process?

    11. How do you feel about the level of compensation we are giving to city employees? Can we afford it? Is it giving us the quality employees desired?

    12. How do you plan to cope with the sales tax leakage out of Davis to Woodland and the surrounding area?

    13. How much of the city’s budget should be spent on making our town environmentally friendly?

    14. Should we have a solar panel ordinance for any new housing/building additions? Why or why not?

    15. To what extent should the City Council be discussing issues that are not local, e.g. war in Iraq?

    16. How do you view the role of city commissions? Should their number be decreased/increased? Should they be more policy or project oriented, or both? What is the public’s perception of commissions and what they do?

    17. How can we forge a better relationship with UCD? Yolo County?

    18. How do you feel about tax increases? What type of taxes should be instituted, if any? What taxes should be done away with, if any?

    19. How do you feel about the increase in water and sewer fees? What should be done to address the proposed increases?

    20. Are any of you seeking higher office beyond the City Council? How does that effect your decisionmaking at the city council level?

    21. Can any city programs be cut, in order to save money? Are there programs that need to be added? If additional programs are added, how will they be paid for?

    22. How do you feel about development on the periphery of Davis, and its potential impact on the city’s budget.

    23. How do you feel about the city’s involvement in sister city relationships? Is it appropriate; desirable; how many should there be; is it costing the city anything?

    24. Can the City Council particpate in any sort of outreach effort to its citizens, so they can become more engaged in the process?

    25. Is the city prepared for emergencies? Why or why not? What should be done for the city to be better prepared? To what extent should private facilities take responsibility?

    26. What is your definition of big box retail? Are there acceptable versions of big box retail? What makes it acceptable? Is it appropriate for Davis? Why or why not? What are its advantages and disadvantage?

  15. So many questions, so little time!!!

    1. Is there any relationship between decisions made by the City Council, and decisions made by the School Board? What can the City Council do to encourage better schools in Davis?

    2. Do you see housing decisions made as developer driven? Why or why not? In what way should developers have input in housing decisions?

    3. Are we in need of more senior housing; affordable housing; housing for middle income folks? Why or why not?

    4. Should we be addressing the housing needs of Davisites, or folks outside Davis, when making decisions about housing?

    5. How should we, as a city, address the growing problem of increased budget costs, but decreasing or insufficient tax revenue to pay for those costs?

    6. How do you feel about the incivility that occurs at City Council meetings, and its effect on decision making?

    7. What effect does circumvention of process and violations of the Brown Act (CA sunshine laws) have on decisionmaking at the City Council level?

    8. Is it appropriate for the City Council to have its meetings continue from sunset into the wee hours of the morning? Why or why not?

    9. How can the City of Davis improve its image as an anti-business municipality?

    10. To what extent is city staff making decisions for our city, rather than the City Council? What is city staff’s rightful place in the heirarchy of the decisionmaking process?

    11. How do you feel about the level of compensation we are giving to city employees? Can we afford it? Is it giving us the quality employees desired?

    12. How do you plan to cope with the sales tax leakage out of Davis to Woodland and the surrounding area?

    13. How much of the city’s budget should be spent on making our town environmentally friendly?

    14. Should we have a solar panel ordinance for any new housing/building additions? Why or why not?

    15. To what extent should the City Council be discussing issues that are not local, e.g. war in Iraq?

    16. How do you view the role of city commissions? Should their number be decreased/increased? Should they be more policy or project oriented, or both? What is the public’s perception of commissions and what they do?

    17. How can we forge a better relationship with UCD? Yolo County?

    18. How do you feel about tax increases? What type of taxes should be instituted, if any? What taxes should be done away with, if any?

    19. How do you feel about the increase in water and sewer fees? What should be done to address the proposed increases?

    20. Are any of you seeking higher office beyond the City Council? How does that effect your decisionmaking at the city council level?

    21. Can any city programs be cut, in order to save money? Are there programs that need to be added? If additional programs are added, how will they be paid for?

    22. How do you feel about development on the periphery of Davis, and its potential impact on the city’s budget.

    23. How do you feel about the city’s involvement in sister city relationships? Is it appropriate; desirable; how many should there be; is it costing the city anything?

    24. Can the City Council particpate in any sort of outreach effort to its citizens, so they can become more engaged in the process?

    25. Is the city prepared for emergencies? Why or why not? What should be done for the city to be better prepared? To what extent should private facilities take responsibility?

    26. What is your definition of big box retail? Are there acceptable versions of big box retail? What makes it acceptable? Is it appropriate for Davis? Why or why not? What are its advantages and disadvantage?