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February 27, 2004/Adar 5 5764, Vol. 56, No. 23
City council candidates weigh inScottsdale mayoral and city council elections take place on March 9. Jewish News asked candidates to respond to two questions: (1) How will you address the high levels of traffic congestion on Scottsdale's main thoroughfares? (2) How will you balance rapid growth and development with the need to protect desert open space?The following are responses by the candidates for city council. STEVE CAPOBRES Traffic congestion: I will work to:
Preserving desert open space: I appreciate and respect the need to preserve open space along with our desert environment. We need to keep moving to complete the plan to preserve one-third of the entire city with open space. I believe we need to stick with the land uses identified and approved by the voters in the last city general plan. I will carefully weigh any future development decision with the following: public input; the city's general plan and design standards; the impact to the surrounding area. Steve Capobres is working as a strategic planner/management consultant for a number of state, local and nonprofit agencies. WILLIAM CRAWFORD Traffic congestion: We must do three things to relieve surface street congestion in Scottsdale.
Preserving desert open space: I pledge to protect the McDowell Mountain Preserve and work hard to complete the assemblage of properties needed to complete the open space. There are only 3,000 acres of developable land remaining. Careful consideration to existing neighborhoods, codes and compatibility should be used to provide accountability for future in-fill projects. Bill Crawford is a private businessman and former chairman of the Council Districts for Scottsdale. BETTY DRAKE Traffic congestion: I support improvements to our bus system, to dial-a-ride programs and to the implementation of Traffic Management Associations. I would propose initiation of a neighborhood-oriented program to eliminate traffic bottlenecks, gaps and potential hazards. The city should designate a staff person to act as Alternative Modes Coordinator within the Transportation Systems Department. The staff person would work toward development of bicycle and pedestrian transportation programs and coordinate transportation programs with major businesses. Preserving desert open space: Our challenge in Scottsdale will lie in managing in-fill and the development of lands zoned during the 1980s. The desert and mountains are a significant aspect of Scottsdale's character. I support completion of preserve acquisition, in part through a 0.15-cent sales tax increase for the acquisition of private properties needed to assure access to the preserve. We should take full advantage of state land reform tools and incentives to assist in the protection of the 16,600 acres of State Trust Lands still to be acquired within the preserve's boundary. We should revisit scenic guidelines and consider revisions to increase corridor width. We should also create a continuous trail system throughout Scottsdale, taking into account impacts on neighborhood, trail users and the environment. Betty Drake has served two terms on the Scottsdale Planning Commission, the Development Review Board, the Phoenix Planning Commission and the Arizona State Parks Board. MERLIN GINDLESPERGER Traffic congestion: Since there are people working for the city who both have the knowledge and resources, I would seek to find what ideas they have for the future and gain their advice as to how traffic problems are to be solved. Preserving desert open space: We have a priority to devote tax dollars to the Scottsdale Fire Department and to update the Police Department. These are public safety issues and cannot be set aside. Citizens have favored desert preservation by ballot. I believe we can also call upon many who support desert preservation by other means, such as private and corporate donations. The state legislature may be influenced to take action to help cities, perhaps by setting aside land for preservation. Merlin Gindlesperger is the past chairman of the Scottsdale Human Relations Commission. RON MCCULLAGH Traffic congestion: Traffic congestion is a result of an irregularly shaped city, poor planning and slow corrective action. The Scottsdale master transportation plan is a sound plan that will improve the flow of traffic when completed. The plan includes more traffic lanes, improved street designs and a flexible transit system. In the meantime, construction of the improvements compounds the problem. Preserving desert open space: Scottsdale must balance rapid growth and development with its desire to protect desert open space. Growth is inevitable, so it must be managed. Scottsdale's master plan illustrates how much land is left to develop and how it is to be developed. Scottsdale must adhere to that plan or face additional growing pains. Ron McCullagh holds a doctorate in business, is a former university professor and is retired from the financial services industry. TONY NELSSEN Traffic congestion: When I worked on the planning commission, I was on the forefront of requiring the city to make sure traffic infrastructure was in place before any development occurred that would negatively impact traffic flow and congestion. Mass transit is another solution that must be explored. Bus rapid transit may be a suitable solution in the short term but an effective regional system will have to be developed to provide any significant and long-term relief. Another area where improvements can be made is to coordinate road repair and construction with the installation of utilities so that we do not have to endure the seemingly endless process of tearing up roads and right of ways. Preserving desert open space: For the last 20 years, I have been active in creating and implementing ordinance level changes to Scottsdale's zoning laws that ensure meaningful open space for wildlife and people. As a member of the desert subcommittee and planning subcommittees to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, I worked to establish this amenity that is vital to our economy and quality of life. Tony Nelssen teaches computer arts at Paradise Valley Community College. JIM LANE Traffic congestion: City planning needs to include a proactive assessment of traffic patterns and respond with innovative measures to accommodate the growth of our transportation needs. Developing an attractive mass transit answer for Scottsdale Road that is efficient and can be implemented without denigrating the current traffic condition should be foremost in mind. Preserving desert open space: With the preserve initiative, we as a city have put in place a program that will protect one-third of the city's land area as virgin desert space. It is a grand plan and a worthy cause. Jim Lane is a private businessman. Henry Becker and Kevin Osterman did not respond. For information about the Scottsdale City elections, call 480-312-7657. Feb. 27 is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot. Call 480-312-7746. |
