Petaluma Tomorrow
City Council Candidate's Questionnaire

Candidate: Janice Cader-Thompson
Date: August 28, 2002

  1. Should the City's new software Traffic Model be applied to development projects that are currently in the pipeline, e.g. Redwood Office Center, Outlet mall expansion, Southgate, etc., and all future developments?

Yes, the city should utilize our new Traffic Model to determine traffic impacts of large developments.

  1. Would you vote to support a development, without having the Traffic Model data?

It depends on the size of the development and where the proposed development is located.

  1. How would you propose that Petaluma pay the $140,000,000 cost of bringing Petaluma's city streets up to modern standards?

It will take many funding sources to upgrade our city streets. Revenue sources are: citywide sales tax specifically for existing streets; assessment districts; Mello Roos assessments on new commercial development projects; if legal, increase our gas tax for the maintenance and reconstruction of existing arterials and streets.

  1. What do you believe Petaluma's current position should be with regard to Lafferty Park? Do you believe full public access is important?

Lafferty Ranch should be open for full public access. Lafferty has been in the County General Plan since 1962 designated as a Park and the County should support the City of Petaluma to create more outdoor opportunities for all citizens.

  1. What is your view regarding development projects in the Petaluma River Flood Plain?

I don't support development in the Corona Reach flood plain.

  1. Do you have any proposals for minimizing the damage from future fiooding that will occur in Petaluma?

Continue dredging the turning basin and don't develop upstream in the Corona Reach.

  1. It has been shown that Petaluma is not in compliance with its current General Plan, as regards the number of acres oflocal parks per 1, 000 residents. Do you see this as a significant planning issue? If your answer is affirmative, do you have any solutions to propose?

The City of Petaluma needs to identify potential parklands and create ways of funding these projects. We need local control over how our open space dollars are spent.

  1. Do you support the current Petaluma law on campaign financing?

I support parts of the current Petaluma Campaign Finance Ordinance. I strongly support that all donors are listed and that the literature is to be deposited with the City Clerk before campaign mailers are mailed to the voters. I also support a campaign limit.

  1. Do you view wastewater as an asset or a liability?

Wastewater is an asset and we should look at it as GOLD.

  1. "Tunnel Vision Development" is a situation in which projects are evaluated on an individual basis, without adequate regard to "total cumulative impacts." Please comment on this concept as it relates to the current General Plan and the pending new General Plan.

The current General Plan is outdated and our new General Plan needs to address the cumulative impacts of projects.

  1. Many communities in Northern California have adopted solar ordinances that require all new construction (both municipal and private) to devote some portion of the project to solar energy. Would you support a Petaluma solar energy construction ordinance?

I would support a Petaluma solar energy construction ordinance.

  1. Do you support Petaluma's Wetlands Park adjunct to the new Wastewater Plant?

Yes, I strongly support the POLISHING WETLANDS as a necessary component to our new wastewater facility. The polishing wetlands protects the ratepayer from future cost due to State and Federal water quality regulations.

  1. Do you believe that the reviewprocess for any development, at either the Planning Commission or City Council, may weigh "Quality of Life" issues as determined by the project's share of cumulative impacts?

Yes, all projects should weigh our community's quality of life. Development affects all of us one way or another.

  1. If the answer to question #13 is affirmative, would you support placing development projects in Interim Study Districts, if cumulative impact data / tools are not yet available, but will be forthcoming in the new General Plan?

Yes.

  1. To which developments would you give greater priority, support and resources: (a) developments concentrated in downtown and within the boundaries of the Petaluma Central Specific Plan, or (b) developments around the periphery of the City, that may require annexations and/or changes in the General Plan?

The Petaluma Central Specific Plan is my top priority.