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Candidate Response for Rob Krupicka
Rob Krupicka
City Council
Democrat
2308 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Suite 757
Alexandria, VA 22301
703-838-0280 phone
703-852-7027 fax
krobk@aol.com
www.krupicka.com
1) Please provide a detailed bio, including your educational background,
employment history and civic involvement.
Rob Krupicka is executive vice president for corporate development and
strategy at Priva Technologies, a technology company in Northern Virginia.
He is currently president of the Del Ray Citizens Association, as well as a
board member of the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau. In the past he has served
as Vice Chair of the Community Services Board and of the Youth Services
Commission. He also served as Del Ray Citizen Association president from
1997 to 1998.
Rob is married to Lisa Guernsey Krupicka. They have an eight-month-old
daughter Janelle. The Krupickas share their house in Del Ray with their two
cats, Chesa and Peake, and with their faithful dog, Bay
Professional Experience
After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1993 with a major in
economics and minor in history, Rob served as a senior analyst for Signet
Bank’s Educational Funding Unit in Baltimore. At Signet, Rob developed,
planned and built one of the first transactional banking web sites and
directed planning, strategy, direct mail and customer service activities for
a $2 million student loan direct marketing program.
In 1995, Rob moved to America Online, where he helped develop AOL’s first
online banking and mutual fund applications as an account manager with AOL
Account Services (1995 - 1996). He then served as manager of business
strategy for AOL’s Personal Finance Channel (1996 - 1999) and as executive
director of AOL Business Affairs (1997 - 2000). In the latter position, Rob
coordinated cross-department teams that negotiated advertising, licensing,
marketing and equity transactions with leading media and financial services
companies.
After leaving AOL, Rob did a stint as director of business development for
12 Entrepreneuring, a venture capital and business incubator, where he
reviewed business plans and developed relationships with entrepreneurs to
identify new partner companies. Rob then managed electronic campaign
activities for Mark Green’s campaign for Mayor of New York City in 2001.
Rob presently serves as Executive Vice President for Corporate Development &
Strategy for Priva Technologies, Inc, a security technology company located
in Arlington, Virginia. At Priva, Rob focuses on long-term strategic
planning, business development and product planning.
Community Service
President, Del Ray Citizens Association (Alexandria, VA, June 2002 -
Present).
Board Member, Alexandria Volunteer Bureau (Alexandria, VA, September
2002-Present).
Board Member, Care for the Homeless (New York, NY, February 2001-December
2001).
President, Del Ray Citizens Association (Alexandria, VA, 1997-1998): Worked
closely with government, citizens and business leaders on land use,
development and community outreach activities for community association of
over 500 families. Actively participated in planning, consensus building and
community organizing activities related to Potomac Yard development project,
one of the largest land development projects on the mid-Atlantic coast.
Vice Chair, Community Services Board (Alexandria, VA, 1995-1998): Served on
Substance Abuse and Executive committees. I worked closely with the
community through the oversight and successful placement of a group home for
recovering substance abusers in Del Ray. I helped set policy for mental
health, substance abuse and mental retardation services.
Vice Chair, Alexandria Youth Services Commission (Alexandria, VA,
1994-1995): Helped to coordinate policy for Alexandria’s youth-focused job
development, summer programs, education programs and family services. Vice
Chair for Character Counts initiative.
2) Please identify the major planks of your platform as a city council or
mayoral candidate.
· Building a more livable city.
· Improving opportunities for Alexandria’s children.
· Strengthening Alexandria’s economy.
* Building a More Livable City
To build a more livable city, we should focus on three core concerns:
· Planning that supports vibrant commercial districts and strengthens
neighborhoods,
· Transportation that moves residents efficiently among the places they
visit most, and
· Health and safety services that meet the needs of all Alexandrians.
Development
To build a more livable Alexandria, the City must encourage vibrant
development that maintains Alexandria’s unique historical style and urban
setting, protects neighborhoods, and creates open space. I understand the
importance of involving communities in planning. Twice Del Ray Citizens
Association president during development of Potomac Yard, I have worked in
the trenches to re-shape a development’s design to maintain the quality of
life in adjacent neighborhoods.
Transportation
We must make Alexandria more accessible to its own residents. We must
integrate mass transit, roads, and pedestrian and bicycle access to move
Alexandria residents more efficiently among the destinations that they visit
most. If we do, we can save everyone time and reduce pollution. Transit,
walking and biking must become convenient enough to be viable alternatives
to driving a car.
I also believe that we can strengthen our neighborhoods with better
transportation planning. We should build roads for Alexandria, not highways
for adjoining jurisdictions. We must take traffic calming seriously and
minimize spillover that undermines neighborhood quality of life.
Health and Safety
I want Alexandrians to help address the City’s social service needs. I also
support greater cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions in providing
services to help stretch tax dollars.
Community cooperation can help us increase our own security. Being next to
the nation’s capital, Alexandria should be a model for emergency
preparedness. The City should help residents prepare. Everyone should have a
plan to locate family and friends. We cannot allow lesser economic means to
be a bar to having basic emergency supplies. This is about neighbors helping
neighbors and is what Alexandria does best.
* Improving Opportunities for Alexandria’s Children
By many measures, Alexandria’s schools have improved in the past year, but
we can do even more to create greater opportunities for Alexandria’s
children. Our children deserve no less than the total commitment of
Alexandria’s extraordinary talent and resources. City Council can and must
strengthen its support for our schools. Our schools must have the financial
resources that they need to serve our children. City Council members
themselves also need to be involved in the schools and to support programs
that will get others involved.
For the last six months, Del Ray has been working with every school and PTA
that touches Del Ray to create a State of the Schools program and
information package for parents, parents-to-be and anybody else interested
in the performance of our schools.
Del Ray’s State of the Schools meeting started with a simple idea. If
parents with children that attend or could attend public schools committed
to working together, our collective energy, actions and support of each
other would have an enormous impact on our schools. The first step toward
this goal is to make sure that we all have information about our schools.
Nothing sugarcoated; just the facts. The second step is for neighbors to
agree to give the schools a chance, to spend some time in the schools and
with the teachers and to encourage other parents to do the same. The third
step is to keep talking, identifying and solving problems. We support each
other by supporting our schools.
If parents commit to each other and to our schools, we can have a greater
impact than money, uniforms or standardized tests. This is a neighborhood
effort. This means looking for parents who need some help with babysitting
so they can have time to meet with teachers. This means sharing information
through e-mail, newsletters, phone trees and web sites. This means helping
the schools before, during and after your kids attend them. This is the
most important work we can do as a community.
If we do all of this, not only will our schools get better, but our
community will be stronger. We will know each other. We will be better
able to help each other. And, most importantly, our kids will see what
happens when people work together. As a member of city council, I will
continue to work to encourage every Alexandria neighborhood to help our
schools.
* Strengthening Alexandria’s Economy
Improving job and business opportunities close to the homes of Alexandrians
also must be a priority. The key to this is the development and expansion of
the technology and small business sectors of Alexandria’s economy.
Alexandria is in a strong position to attract environmentally friendly
businesses. Already we have over 450 technology firms that provide more than
ten percent of Alexandria’s jobs. First-hand knowledge on City Council about
the technology industry would help the council to create a favorable climate
to grow this sector within Alexandria’s city limits.
The other great growth opportunity for Alexandria is its small businesses.
We have a strong community of small businesses in the retail, services,
tourism, and technology sectors, but we can make it easier for small
businesses to work in Alexandria and make contributions to our local
economy. We need to encourage their growth.
I also support increased City involvement in promoting green initiatives for
businesses and others that will save businesses money and protect the
environment. We can do much more to educate and help businesses adopt green
building design, energy conservation practices, and better waste management.
They will improve their bottom lines, and all of us will benefit.
3) Please comment on ASG’s Vision for Alexandria. Also, please state whether
you agree or disagree with each ASG goal and related strategies. Briefly
explain your disagreements.
I share ASG’s desire for a pedestrian friendly, less car-intensive city, and
I think ASG’s strategies are thoughtful and warrant careful review. I
believe that we can move Alexandria away from its dependence on automobiles
through careful consensus building that takes into account and respects
differing opinions. In Del Ray we use a thorough review process for all
development projects that provides residents three distinct opportunities to
voice their views. The City and neighborhood groups should strive to ensure
the same kind of opportunities for citizen input on development projects.
Alexandria has the opportunity to be a city that wins the smart growth
awards of Arlington and also distinguishes itself with historic and
architectural uniqueness.
Transportation, affordable housing and other important social goals are
increasingly challenged due to our fiscal constraints. The next city
council will have to work carefully to maintain its fiscal soundness, to
make the best use of limited funds, to manage growth in a way that supports
our desire for greater and more convenient mass transportation while
protecting neighborhoods. To do this, we will have to identify new
solutions to our challenges. My background in the technology industry gives
me a different perspective that I will use to challenge our city to be
better than it has ever been.
Goal No. 1: To develop a comprehensive vision and plan for Alexandria’s
future--the Alexandria 2025 Plan.
I agree that Alexandria should have regular 5-year, 10-year and longer term
plans. My campaign slogan is “Planning For Tomorrow.” I believe Alexandria
must work together as a community and plan for the challenges and
opportunities that we face. The City should actively consider the ASG
proposed strategies to address this goal.
4) If supportive of creating an Alexandria 2025 Plan, what steps would you
propose to develop it?
My family came together in Alexandria, and we are committed to the City for
the long term. Over nine years ago my wife Lisa and I met in the Old Town
Safeway and our daughter Janelle was born at Alexandria Hospital last April.
Lisa and I believe that we should do all we can to ensure Janelle grows up
in a safe, diverse and thoughtful community. Long-term planning is critical
to making that goal a reality.
The Plan for Planning process has been a good model for the review and
modification of the master and small area plans for the city. Those plans
are over ten years old and in need of careful review. We need to ensure
that the Master Plan takes a macro view of the entire city. We also need to
make certain that our decisions on each development project do not tear down
the plans and visions that we have worked together to create.
We should strengthen our planning effort by implementing a process through
which every neighborhood can work with city staff to develop its own
historic, retail, transportation, residential, business and design vision,
much like is already done in Arlington. These plans should then be rolled-up
into a citywide vision process and master plan.
5) What do you think are the major strengths and deficiencies of the current
Master Plan. And, would you want the City Code amended to mandate that every
land-use decision complies with the Master Plan? If not, why not?
The current master plan was created after a lengthy citizen input process.
It should be reviewed to make sure it adequately reflects the
transportation, residential and commercial development that has taken place
and will take place in Alexandria. In some cases the plan lacks a
sufficiently detailed vision to provide the guidance we need for
transportation, density, aesthetics and more. As a result, regulation of
development is often a reactive rather than proactive process, and approval
of development plans is inefficient for both developers and citizens.
Our Master Plan should include a new transportation plan and new incentives
for development to support public transportation. It should include design
guidelines that give developers the confidence that their property will be
located next to equally appealing structures and so that Alexandria can be a
model for both intelligent planning and architectural excellence.
Our plans should encourage rather than stifle intelligent, creative
development ideas.
We should strive to develop greater incentives for the construction of
affordable housing. Rather than just growing our housing trust fund, we
should continue to shift the balance of incentives offered developers to
encourage the actual building of affordable, family-friendly housing.
We should use the Plan for Planning process or a process similar to it that
focuses resources on specific areas of the city and include significant
citizen input.
Requiring every decision to comply with the Master Plan is the appropriate
goal. Before approving an exception to the Master Plan, City Council should
have to make a formal finding that the party seeking the exception has
demonstrated a compelling public need exists for the exception. However,
before mandating a code change and turning planning guidelines into law, we
should complete the necessary adjustments to the Master Plan through the
process noted above. Until such adjustments are made, City Council should
follow its existing rules and guidelines and those seeking exception still
should bear the burden of proof.
6) ASG supports strengthening diverse neighborhoods and more affordable
housing. In addition to the voluntary contribution developers provide to the
Housing Trust Fund, what other measures would you propose to ensure that
Alexandria continues to house low-income wage earners and their families?
We need to continue to rebalance the incentives developers face in choosing
between contributing to the Housing Trust Fund and constructing affordable
housing to encourage them to do more of the latter. When they do build, we
need to encourage the creation of family housing, not just one-room
apartments.
We then must find ways to encourage middle- and upper-income neighborhoods
to welcome lower income housing. Consultation with citizen associations is
the right place to start.
We also need to help middle- and lower-income families get into the housing
that can be available to them. We should collaborate with local real estate
firms to train real estate agents about affordable housing programs and
encourage them to help potential homeowners to take advantage of them. We
should look for additional ways to reduce the property tax burden on those
among us with the lowest incomes.
Finally, our comprehensive transportation plans must prioritize access by
low-income people to public transportation that provides them convenient
access to city services.
7) Do you believe that preserving and improving the quality of life in
existing neighborhoods should be given the highest priority for every
land-use decision. If not, why not? In this regard, what three (3) policy
initiatives would you propose to preserve and improve existing
neighborhoods?
All development in Alexandria should strive to make our city better, more
convenient and livable. I would prioritize children, public health, public
safety and support for a diverse community over minor changes to
neighborhoods. When citywide concerns are not factors, we should give a high
degree of deference to the neighborhoods most affected by the decisions.
When two neighborhoods have differing perspectives, we have to work
carefully to find as much common ground as possible and then make a decision
based on what is best for the city at large.
Alexandria should start a process through which every neighborhood in the
city can work with city staff to develop its own historic, retail,
transportation, residential, business and design vision, much like is
already done in Arlington. The city needs to ensure that this process
incorporates guidelines for the protection of the following elements:
Pedestrian friendly criteria
Architectural criteria
Transportation criteria
Open Space criteria
We should develop a comprehensive transportation plan that includes a vision
for how we make Alexandria more accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and
those taking transit.
We also should regularly review the traffic calming process to make sure all
reasonable needs are being met. To maximize the number of projects that can
be undertaken each year, we should identify funding for programs on an
annual, not biennial basis.
8) There appears to be subtle and not-so-subtle changes to the role of the
Board of Architectural Review (BAR). Several recent developments do not fit
with the character of the historic district, to wit: the Saul Center on N.
Washington Street and the Small Mall on King Street. What three (3) measures
would you propose to bring BAR’s role back in line with its mission, which
is to permit only appropriate architecture in the historic
district?
Alexandria’s history is critical to its success as a tourist and convention
destination. It is one of the reasons my family chose to live here. We
should do all we can to preserve our history.
City Council should strive to follow the historic preservation standards
that it has established for the City and should listen carefully to the
advice of historic preservation and planning experts when it makes its
decisions.
As with exceptions to the Master Plan, City Council should have to make a
formal finding that any party seeking an exception to historic preservation
standards has demonstrated that a compelling public need exists for the
exception.
Any new construction in a historic district also must be carefully
considered so that the architecture follows the law and complements the
historic buildings located near them.
City Council also should ensure that the Director of Zoning and Preservation
advises City Council on how to make permitting decisions that are in keeping
with Alexandria’s history.
We should review the standards we currently use for development in historic
areas to make sure they are clear and properly represent our community
needs.
Goal No. 2. Transportation: To support policies and programs that increase
the usage of metro, bus, bicycle and pedestrian transportation modes and
decrease auto traffic and its impact on residential neighborhoods and
schools.
I agree with this goal. We should actively consider the ASG strategies
proposed to address it. Mass transportation, new sidewalks, bike paths and
traffic calming all require significant resources. We have to work to
identify federal, state and local funding sources, and also have to work
with developers so that new development includes the needed infrastructure
enhancements. Development near metros that reduces the need for cars should
be encouraged.
9) In order to mitigate traffic impacts from new developments,
Transportation Management Plans (TMP) are required. What three (3) measures,
if any, would you want implemented to ensure these plans are effective?
Would you support the recreation of the Transportation Management Committee
and give it oversight of TMPs?
TMPs should strive to limit car use and increase the use of mass transit. To
do so effectively, developers and the City must work together to identify
the mass transit scenarios that work best for each new development and to
find creative ways to achieve those goals. TMPs should take into
consideration TMP’s for other developments and to increase accountability
should include a regular review process. TMP’s should be developed along
side development projects, not separately.
Mass transit hubs such as our Metros offer us the best opportunities for
creative traffic management. In these areas we should limit parking spaces
at office complexes built near Metro stations. For office complexes further
away, developers should be given incentives that they provide van service to
and from Metro stations during peak commuting hours. Where possible the City
should build or support the building of shared parking garages and
discourage construction of garages in every building. With shared garages,
the City can oversee parking capacity, monitor TMP effectiveness and
encourage drivers to walk on city streets to further encourage them to use
storefront retail.
There should be a process by which TMPs undergo formal regular reviews. TMPs
should be designed to evolve over time to account for changes in traffic and
mass transit usage opportunities.
TMPs should be developed as part of rather than separate from the planning
process and should follow clear guidelines spelled out by the cities
transportation staff and committee. We need a good process of TMP
development and review that does not add unneeded complexity to the
development process. A Transportation Management Committee or a designated
staff person who can work with developers and citizens on developing and
reviewing TMPs should be considered.
10) A major concern throughout the city is traffic: increased cut-through
onto neighborhood streets, pedestrian safety, and traffic back-ups that will
grow exponentially with the build-out of the PTO, Potomac Yard, and
Eisenhower Valley. What three (3) measures would you propose to decrease the
use of autos and increase the use of transit, bicycles and walking? Do you
think that we need a parking policy to govern the number of spaces available
at Metro Stations in Alexandria? If not, why not?
I take the metro to work every day, but getting around Alexandria by Mass
transit is inconvenient and requires significantly more time than driving.
The City should develop a comprehensive traffic and parking plan that will
reduce reliance on cars in favor of mass transit and walking. Such a plan
should identify specific opportunities to make metro, busses, light rail,
walking and bicycling more convenient that driving; to create new bicycle
paths and connect existing ones; and to make sidewalks safer. To this end,
it should preserve our opportunity for new Metro stops at Potomac Yard and
in Eisenhower Valley.
As we look at mass transit, we need to understand the true capacity of our
current system compared to our current needs and should understand how
future development will impact those needs.
We should limit parking spaces at office complexes built near Metro
stations. For office complexes further away, developers should be given
incentives so that they provide van service to and from Metro stations
during peak commuting hours. Where possible the City should build parking
garages and discourage construction of garages in every building. With City
garages, the we can oversee parking capacity, monitor TMP effectiveness and
encourage drivers to walk on city streets to further encourage them to use
storefront retail.
Alexandria also should press the State legislature to give pedestrians the
right of way as soon as they enter crosswalks and seek funding for the
recently proposed bus rapid transit line from the Braddock Road Metro
station through Potomac Yard to Arlington.
As recently proposed in the Alexandria Open Space Plan, we should fully
integrate the City’s multiuse trail system into our transportation planning
process, expand the multiuse trail system itself, and develop a network of
pedestrian-friendly streets.
We also should plan generally for traffic calming, traffic lights, sidewalks
and stop signs that make streets safer for pedestrians and bike riders.
11) Do you support building new roads connecting Duke Street and Eisenhower
Avenue? If so, where, what size and why?
I would not support four- or six-lane roads connecting Duke Street to
Eisenhower Avenue. If the current West Eisenhower planning process concludes
that an integrated two lane, neighborhood grid system between Duke and
Eisenhower can increase public safety, support pedestrian access and mass
transit access, cut down on Alexandria citizen drive time and also protect
neighborhoods, then I would be willing to consider it. If a neighborhood
grid does not benefit Alexandria neighborhoods, then I would not support it.
Our traffic planning should focus on making it easy for Alexandrians to
access Alexandria services, to reduce the time Alexandrians spend in their
cars as they move around the city, to make mass transit more convenient and
also to minimize cut-through traffic in our neighborhoods.
Goal No. 3 Open Space: To preserve, increase and upgrade open space in
Alexandria.
I agree with this goal and believe we should actively consider all of the
ASG strategies proposed to achieve this goal.
12) Since there is overwhelming support among residents for more open space
and recreational facilities, would you favor creating an Open Space Fund?
Please discuss operation and funding sources. What policies do we need to
put in place to get more open space?
The relatively little open space that we have left in the city is
disappearing rapidly, and the cost of acquiring land for public open space
use is becoming increasingly expensive and may become prohibitive. Thus,
acquisition of open space must become a top city priority during the next
few years.
The City Council should charter the Alexandria Open Space Conservancy
recommended by the Alexandria Open Space Plan and provide its initial
funding, including hiring of a full-time professional grants writer to
pursue private sector and non-City public funding. The Open Space Plan has
additional good suggestions for funding that should be pursued. The only way
that the city can raise a relatively large amount of money in a relatively
short time is through general obligation bonds, an initiative I would
support.
As suggested in the Open Space Plan, we should not treat all green space the
same. We should focus on concentrated, usable open space that is appropriate
for each area of the city: parking lots and parcels not large enough for a
bike trail or swing set should not count. Effectively used linear green
space should: an integrated trail system in Alexandria would not only be
attractive to residents, but help Alexandria businesses attract and retain
talented workers.
In addition to green space, we should consider creating programs to
encourage voluntary environmental reviews of new and existing construction
to evaluate uses of environmentally friendly materials, energy efficient
mechanical systems, water management systems and open space. We should
identify incentives that we can provide to developers and consider using the
re-development of T.C. Williams High School as a model. The green building
policy proposed by the environmental policy commission should be supported
by city council.
Goal No. 4 Small Area Plans: In conjunction with the Alexandria 2025 Plan,
continue the existing small area planning projects and initiate small area
planning processes for Eisenhower West, the Old Town waterfront and other
neighborhoods.
I agree that we should continue the existing small area planning projects,
initiate Eisenhower West, and Old Town waterfront planning, and identify new
areas to follow them. This approach is a good one to focus resources, create
a vision and adjust the master plan. The challenge is to make sure we step
back and look at the whole city as well, so that a transportation plan or
density plan in one small area interlocks with the whole city.
13) The Washington Street Guidelines were created to protect the
redevelopment of Washington Street. Would you support the adoption of
Waterfront Guidelines for the same purpose? If not, why not? If so, what
three (3) critical elements would you suggest be included.
The idea of waterfront guidelines is a good one. We should work to make sure
our waterfront is useful to the greatest number of residents, provides
unobstructed access and continues to be useful to both public and private
interests.
14) Assuming you support creating a vision for Eisenhower West, how do you
propose the City create such a vision and land-use plan? What do you think
are the critical components of this vision? In your opinion, does a
connector fit into this vision and plan?
The Eisenhower West planning process should follow closely the Eisenhower
East process. Extensive study, citizen input, collaboration and openness
must be encouraged. Eisenhower East should integrate into the fabric of the
city. Its retail, residential and commercial offerings should be convenient
for all Alexandrians and development should be focused around existing as
well as an expanded public transportation infrastructure. We should study
whether a two-lane neighborhood grid system can reduce traffic on Duke
Street and Eisenhower Avenue, decrease Alexandrians’ travel time to
Eisenhower services, facilitate public transportation and pedestrian access
without increases in neighborhood cut-through traffic.
Goal No. 5: Public Participation: To encourage meaningful public
participation in the vision and planning process and implementation of City
policies.
I agree with this goal and believe we should actively consider the ASG
strategies proposed to address it.
15) A recurring complaint among civic associations and residents is the lack
of meaningful public participation. How do you feel about these complaints?
What three (3) initiatives would you promote to make the decision-making
process more inclusive?
The City is blessed with extraordinary citizen talent that City Council
should make every effort to tap into. We have had some instances in which
the benefits of citizen participation have been diminished by unclear
process. Alexandria should follow a consistent process for planning, task
forces and development. Consistency, even with an imperfect process, enables
us to maintain integrity. Significant advance public notice must be provided
for any exceptions or changes to the process.
The City should consider the recommendations in the Phipps Group’s
Development Review Process and Policies report presented on January 22,
2002. This report calls for additional opportunities for citizen
participation throughout the development review process, including more
formalized citizen participation before the submission of formal
applications and during application review by City staff, as well as easier
access to information throughout the process.
When a proposal for a development project that would require an exception to
the Master Plan is considered, we must put the burden on the requesting
party to prove its case and make certain extensive public input is received
before making a permit decision. When City Council wishes to change a
proposal after it has been through a lengthy staff review or public comment
process, it should not take any votes on the proposal until after proper
public discussion on the proposed changes has occurred.
We also should consider providing every City Council member a full time aide
instead of a part-time aid. This extra time would enable aides to provide
more analysis and community input for a council member and assist her or him
in reviewing and overseeing projects. It could also improve Council’s
ability to provide oversight of city government activities.
The City also should consider providing regular training to citizen groups
and associations, perhaps in conjunction with the Federation of Civic
Associations, so that they can better understand City planning processes.
This cooperation with the Federation could also help foster the development
citizen groups that review development plans and then propose
recommendations to their neighborhoods.
In order to eliminate any opportunity for large contributions and public
actions to coincide, we should require local elected officials to report
contributions quarterly and to report large contributions or cumulative
contributions over $1000 within a few days of receipt. Delegate Garner has
proposed a bill that addresses this issue. I encourage every candidate and
elected official to support this effort. As a candidate, I pledge that I
will make such reports whether the law is changed or not.
16) Alexandria often relies on task forces to assess potentially contentious
issues and make recommendations to Council. Do you think this is
appropriate? If not, why not? Please provide your ideas on how to reform the
use of task forces or alternative processes you think would be more
appropriate and effective.
Task forces with focused goals and objectives to review and advise city
council is a good way to utilize the talents of Alexandrian’s citizens. The
availability of this resource enables us be judicious in our use of paid
consultants and outside advisors and helps the city evaluate complex issues.
The Washington Street Task Force is a good example of a Task Force that
worked well.
We also should consider providing every City Council member a full time aide
instead of a part-time aid. This extra time would enable aides to provide
more analysis and community input for a council member and assist her or him
in reviewing and overseeing projects.
Goal No. 6. Legislative Remedies: To empower Alexandria’s communities to
exercise greater control over land-use issues, such as requiring financial,
environmental and neighborhood impact statements that accurately assess the
costs and benefits of development projects, requiring developers to pay for
certain infrastructure costs and reviewing current provisions in State law
available to local governments for controlling development.
I agree with this goal and believe we actively consider all of the ASG
strategies proposed to address this goal. Given the make-up of the General
Assembly, we should also realize that some of these objectives will take a
long time to implement and as such, we should look for local alternatives
whenever possible. Blaming Richmond is not acceptable to me. We have to work
with our neighboring jurisdictions to work to the best of our ability with
what we have.
17) What three (3) initiatives would you propose that would lead to
Alexandria being better able to control local decision-making, especially
policies related to land-use, developments, transportation, taxes and
education?
The ASG strategies are a good place to start. However, leadership is key.
Which City Council candidates have experience negotiating with and bringing
together different interests? Which candidates have the ability and patience
to work through a complicated legislative consensus process? Which
candidates have been in professional and public leadership positions?
Putting together a list of needs and sending it to Richmond is just the
beginning. To apply the needed pressure, the delivery of the list needs to
be followed by active and aggressive collaboration with jurisdictions
throughout the state. I have the capability to carry such a process forward.
“Local control” should be the loudest call by our elected officials in
Northern Virginia. This is as critical to our region as any thing else we
can do. This is not about creating new regional committees, this is about
re-thinking how our region works.
Increasing our service delivery collaboration with other jurisdictions in
our region can help lay the ground work for regional cooperation and can set
a precedent that may encourage Richmond to increase regional control.
In addition, Council should pass a resolution that it will do everything in
its legal authority to support the Department of Planning and Zoning’s
efforts to preserve the character of neighborhoods through the development
and implementation of Conservation Overlay Districts.
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