Government Affairs
2008 Election Candidates and Candidate Survey Responses back to main Candidate page
CITY COUNCIL Candidate
Karla Brewster
Karla has lived in Flagstaff for ten years. Karla has a BA in education from ASU and a masters in education from Northern Colorado University. Karla currently serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies at NAU.
Candidate Survey Responses – On The Issues
1. Please list and briefly describe the three most important issues you intend to address if elected in May.
1. Economic development- business retention and expansion of our present businesses. Continuing funding for the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies which is seeking start up companies that are sustainable and “green”. Continue with the advisory board (Northern Arizona Economic Development Advisory Committee) to review what is being done and what needs to be done.
2. Affordable housing- continue the city land trust program and partnerships with BOTHANDS, Habitat for Humanity and other non-profits and profits. It will take a multi-faceted approach to help solve this issue. We need denser housing, multistory structures using infill where we can. Negotiations with developers to incorporate affordable housing in their developments (paying some impact fees, waiving some regulations, fast-tracking the permit process) might be some of the negotiations.
3. Transportation- passing the propositions on the bus transportation is critical to Flagstaff (to pass all of them). Citizens need to know its importance to our city, even if they don’t ride the bus and how it, potentially, will impact our traffic situation. Seeking another airline and the expansion of the runway is a giant step in the right direction for Flagstaff expansion. Related are roads, highways and interchange issues.
2. Describe your commitment to solutions related to the growing homeless problem in Flagstaff.
Flagstaff should already have had a homeless shelter, so I am committed to seeing one being completed- ideally, with the organization who is seeking to do this, with funding help from the city. Other agencies should be located near or in this facility (mental health, counseling, rehab, etc.) to best help this population as many are needing a hand up, not a hand out and are temporary residents.
3. Outline your opinion of the Flagstaff housing market and what role you feel local government should play in attempting to influence that market. How specifically would you use local government to affect our housing market?
Our housing market is overpriced due to market driven economics on second homes, the lack of land, the desirability of living in a mountain community that offers a lot and willingness of those who can afford to pay premium prices. Local government should be responsive to local needs, which, to me, means doing what they can to ameliorate the workforce housing situation and housing for professionals that live here or want to live here. Even though the city has the land trust program (which I endorse) which attempts to influence the market through taking the price of the land out of the mix, the market will still drive prices of homes not in this program and drive prices of designated affordable homes unless there are regulations put in place to keep those homes affordable. If Flagstaff becomes like an Aspen or Vail, we will have no middle class or service workers left in this town. Is that what the citizens want here?
4. What is your position regarding Development or “Impact” Fees in Flagstaff?
I am for them- BUT, that should not impact the cost of the designated affordable homes as this should be a negotiated item for developers to implement a certain percentage or number of affordable homes into their developments and have the city or other funding source pay those fees for those homes so they are not passed on to the consumer. Impact fees on a half-million or million dollar home would be less than the amount the realtor would get. I also would not include parks or roads as part of the impact fees as those items are available to every one in the community.
5. The City of Flagstaff’s Historic Overlay Zoning District has generated a high profile lawsuit on behalf of citizens who seek to improve their properties, but are not restricted by the Overlay Zoning. What is your opinion of the Overlay Zoning? Would you have voted for/against this zoning change?
I would have voted in favor of it as 60% of that community wanted the historic district which is a majority. There is also an appeal process that those citizens could have tried before they sued (but didn’t try) where there may have been exceptions made for height restrictions. They wanted this to be a test case of the state wide proposition passed on potential devaluing of property by governmental agencies. Cities should have an interest in preserving historic areas for future generations with overlay zoning of these areas, particularly, if the citizens of those areas want it done.
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6. What role do you feel the City of Flagstaff should play with respect to economic development? Specifically, what should local government do or not do to influence economic development?
I believe their biggest role in economic development is in partnering with other agencies, such as with the non-profit Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies which will operate the Northern Arizona Science, Technology and Clean Energy Center facility which partners with NACOG. Local government also has a definite role in the retention and expansion of existing businesses by making it possible for them to grow and remain viable here through the judicious interpretation of codes and policies. The city has some programs in place that are focused on economic development- the Business Attraction Program, targeting medical devices and clean energy businesses, and a potential new program, University to Business, partnering professors with students who will help existing businesses to grow. The city has a vested interest in seeing that these programs succeed and help our economic situation. Other cities have hands-on economic programs and have been successful and I don’t see problems with the city negotiating with companies that are looking to relocate in Flagstaff or in pursuing companies to locate here.
7. Do you support/oppose the adopted Downtown Management Plan? Why or Why not?
Yes, as it is a comprehensive package, not just a parking meter issue. Even though downtown businesses are about 50-50 on the issue, the intent is to move those in parking spaces more rapidly than is currently being done (so you can’t park all day in a spot). The number of spaces is not increased but the turn over rate is increased making more spots available. Crucial to this plan is the parking lot for business owners and employees to be completed across Rt. 66 on the other side of the tracks, making the possibility of them parking in residential areas less (thus the need for residential parking districts). Then to have a shuttle to get employees to the downtown area is necessary. The multi-level parking garage will need to be a reality maybe sooner rather than later, which will help the overall parking space issue. A feasibility study which is part of the existing management plan will help determine the parking garage issues. Incorporation of retail in the parking garage lower level would help to make it more financially doable. Although parking meters have been tried before, the downtown situation was very different then as compared to now with the upgrading of the whole downtown area. One of the pluses that I see in the plan is the ambassadors who will do a lot for tourists’ feelings of safety and the dissemination of information. Part of the overall agenda for the downtown management plan is to get people to start thinking of alternative forms of transportation other than their car.
8. Describe your level of commitment to our City’s airport and its needed improvements beyond the airport runway extension.
The runway was critical for Flagstaff’s future development and retention of some of our present businesses, along with an option of another airline. I am committed to the improvement needs of the airport which includes added security, better check-in services, better personnel amenities, such as more seating, bigger lobby, a restaurant, etc. Flagstaff has to get out of the idea that they are still a small rural town and be able to compete on more of a state and national level. The airport is so important to our future development, particularly, if we are looking at the biosciences, health professions and businesses that the NACET will help develop so that the people connected with these companies have accessibility to other parts of the state, nation and international connections without driving to Phoenix.
9. What opinion do you have of the City’s approved plan to end train horn noise downtown and mitigate noise on the east side of town?
The city did what it thought it could afford at the time. Although east side residents were upset at not being “equal,” it was not economically feasible to rid those two eastside crossings of the noise totally with the installation of the very expensive pedestrian gates. So, they did the next best with the wayside horns, which are quieter than the train whistle. Putting the more expensive pedestrian gates on these two crossings and then, later, deciding to close one or both of these crossings would not have been a wise financial decision. Then only other option might have been to use wayside horns at all of the crossings until it was determined what to do about the two eastside crossings, then install the pedestrian gates all at once. But, that would have been putting money on a temporary solution, knowing that later that the city would still be installing the pedestrian gates. Ridding the downtown area of the horns should be a great improvement, particularly, with tourists and businesses who are so close to the tracks.
10. Would you support/oppose the City offering financial incentives, including infrastructure improvements that may assist in attracting new employers to Flagstaff? Why or Why not?
Yes, I would support this incentive, as long as the business would agree to some stipulations that the city might have such as agreeing to remain in Flagstaff a certain length of time or committing to the employer assistance housing program or other needed issue. In committing to financial incentives, the state should help in this area too as part of business development. This would also be a great opportunity to implement the “green” codes making the business more sustainable and energy efficient helping with their cost of operations.
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11. What are your priorities to improve transportation in, around, to, and from Flagstaff?
In and around Flagstaff transportation priorities need to include the bus, biking and any other forms of alternative transportation which will help the overall traffic congestion and carbon footprint. It is essential that the bus propositions pass to make this a viable alternative. The city needs to explore the option of rapid busses which are like light rail cars with rubber tires and a separate lane to transport people. The new developments of walking neighborhoods (or biking) should help reduce the need for cars to go to retail and grocery stores as much as the older neighborhoods, thus reducing the carbon footprint some. Park and ride areas need to be designated to make the bus more feasible. Flagstaff needs to take a stance on getting people out of their cars as much as possible. We need to study the possibility of more overpasses to get across town more easily and an interchange from I-40 to Lone Tree. To and from Flagstaff is a tougher decision as ADOT will be involved. If Flagstaff is considering a bypass, then how will that affect businesses in our area? Adding more lanes to I-17 needs to be done before gridlock occurs, so planning needs to be already on-going to accomplish this as that process is very slow.
12. What is your position regarding the City’s new energy-efficient building codes? Specifically, do you understand the codes? Do you feel they are overreaching and unnecessary or a necessity for development in our community?
I am for the new energy-efficient codes. Yes, I believe that I do understand them as I am most of the council and study sessions. I don’t feel that they are overreaching and unnecessary. In fact, they are not as comprehensive as the county energy codes of the International community. They might not be a “necessity” for development but are progressive for the homeowner who will start to see the benefits as soon as the occupation of their home. What they will save in energy costs could be put toward their mortgage. Will you want a non-energy efficient house 15 years from now and pay the huge energy costs that will come with it?
13. What is your opinion of local government competing with local, state or national businesses for services in our community?
What services do you have in mind? I don’t have an answer as I can’t think of what competition you might have in mind. Generally, I would say that different agencies should cooperate in a venture and not duplicate efforts. Just because businesses are private enterprises doesn’t necessarily make them more efficient.
14. Do you have an opinion on storage boxes and their use in our community?
If you are asking about using them on your private residential property, there should be a limit on days that they could remain on a private residential property so as not to be an eye sore for neighbors. For commercial purposes, that period might be extended. There are so many more important issues the city is facing other than storage boxes, in my opinion.
15. What are your specific thoughts about residential and commercial development in Flagstaff?
I am for both residential and commercial development, both in a sustainable way. In order to compete with other cities (sales tax revenue) Flagstaff must have tourism and more sustainable economic development in order to fund basic services. Residential development needs to be planned, smart growth that reduces the carbon footprint as much as possible, such as the traditional neighborhood districts being planned and implemented. Neighborhoods need to have character to them, not just haphazard growth. Commercially, we need to have businesses that don’t suck us dry of our natural resources, and are energy efficient which will help their bottom line of expenses. The incubator on the USGS mesa should be a great force in helping start-up innovative businesses.
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16. How would you address commercial redevelopment opportunities in areas like Fourth Street/Sunnyside and Southside/Downtown?
Look into the feasibility of using CDBG and possibly some HUD funding to revitalize those areas. We should be concerned particularly, about the neighborhoods close to the conference center/hotel as tourists will be walking through this area and first impressions need to be positive.
17. Are you committed to maintaining the Arizona Cardinals summer training camp in Flagstaff? Do you view the partnership with the Chamber and NAU on this issue as a priority or not a priority?
Yes, I am committee to keeping the Cardinals here in Flagstaff. They bring in a lot of $$$ to Flagstaff. Because of the dollar, tourist and local interest in the training camp, it should be a priority to keep this partnership with NAU as both entities benefit.
18. Do you support the City’s contract with the Arizona Snowbowl to sell Snowbowl reclaimed water for snowmaking? Why or why not?
I am neutral on this issue as I see both sides- the economic side of attracting more skiers and also the Native American issue of the peaks being sacred. I do have a concern about the pharmaceuticals that reach the aquifer in the reclaimed water. This is a court issue now and not in the hands of the council for decision making.
19. What are your specific thoughts on the City’s Public Works yard? How would you work to improve the current Public Works yard? Do you support relocating the yard?
I would support moving the yard to someplace less intrusive to the neighborhood. As men and machines sometimes have to get out early with snow plows and other loud equipment, somewhere where residents aren’t so close would be better. The yard needs to have covered shelter for the equipment to increase the longevity of the equipment.
20. What major capital projects does our City need? How would you propose funding these projects?
In addition to moving (or at lease improving) the city’s public works yard, Flagstaff needs to start the Rio de Flag project- most of funding from the feds; Lake Mary widening is a city priority as is Forest Health (small diameter wood utilization) – both with grant funding from the federal government. Passing NAIPTA is also a priority, funding coming mostly from the federal government with a small increase in the city tax rate.
21. How do you feel about the size of Flagstaff’s government? Do we need more employees/departments? Less employees/departments? Just right? What do you feel we need to add/subtract?
Not being an employee or “on the inside” this question is hard to evaluate. As of now, I would say the number of employees and departments seems to be just right. As any city grows and progresses, departments can transform or shift their emphasis; employees, can be moved to best fit the needs of the departments and skills of the employee. Possibly, even departments could be eliminated and others added due to the needs of the city.
22. Would you support/oppose adopting the attached “Small Business Bill of Rights” three page document attached with this survey? Why or why not?
No, I can’t support the total document. Much of it I do support such as the city being overall more business friendly and open. I don’t think government exists because of business, I believe government exists because of people, regardless whether they have a business or not. Once you have a group of people, there must be some form of organization and rules, otherwise, it is chaos. |
