For the past month, The Herald has solicited questions from readers for City Council candidates, both online and in the newspaper. The most-popular ones appear here, along with questions from reporters:
1. What is your stance on the new sign ordinance that the City Council passed in May?
Karen Guzak: Signage standards create a more attractive city – more curb appeal on our public rights-of-way. However, the new law doesn’t meet some of the needs of smaller businesses.
R.C. “Swede” Johnson: If elected, I would request a repeal of the sign law, and work with the business community and come up with a business-friendly compromise.
Rebecca Loveless: Council needs to readdress it so we can find a better balance between the needs of small businesses and the need for an attractive streetscape.
Randy Hamlin: We must modify the ordinance to support the diverse needs of our businesses outside the historic district, including schools, churches and nonprofit community organizations.
Liz Loomis: The ordinance, developed by businesses and residents, creates a level playing field for businesses. It keeps big businesses from overwhelming small ones in a race for the biggest flashing sign.
Doug Thorndike: I voted against the ordinance as overly restrictive, especially for small businesses. Reasonable rule revisions on appearance, size and location will let the little guys get their messages out better.
Dean Randall: We need sign regulations, but the council was too strict on small portable signs. Many small businesses need to use small A-frame signs to help customers find them.
Chris Harper: I don’t believe one size fits all. Should Safeway and an antique dealer downtown be forced to advertise the same way? Businesses are capable to make their own advertising decisions.
2. What do you think of the new design standards for residential and retail development outside the city’s historic district?
Guzak: Just like building codes, the new standards are designed to protect property values in our city. Our town is special, we need to keep it that way.
Johnson: Design standards should be functional for both residential and retail development. Every development should have the flexibility to blend into its neighborhood and surroundings.
Loveless: I support the design standards, which ensure quality development, protect property values and attract quality businesses. Without them, we could end up looking like one of our less-fortunate neighbors.
Hamlin: I support the design standards within and outside the historic district to maintain our town’s character. We must encourage new business development while maintaining our greenbelts and vegetation barriers.
Loomis: Design standards are important to create a quality community. Our design standards will prevent Bickford Avenue from developing into another Highway 99 or Aurora Avenue.
Thorndike: Attractive, safe and functional projects should be encouraged with more flexible standards and guidelines outside the historic district. Projects must meet performance and functional standards with more flexible criteria.
Randall: I support the design standards, which will help to promote quality development in the area outside the historic district and will increase property values throughout the community.
Harper: The historic district should be preserved through different design standards while the rest of the city could modernize with growth and development.
3. Explain your position on whether the Harvey Field area, which is in a floodplain, should be in the city’s urban growth area?
Guzak: I believe the area south of the Snohomish River should not be developed further. More landfill will exacerbate and magnify flood damage. Hurricane Katrina shows what flooding can do.
Johnson: Harvey Airfield, in operation for more than 60 years, should be in the UGA, as long as it is environmentally sound for flooding regulations and safely operated.
Loveless: Citizens and salmon would be the ultimate losers if further filling and development took place in the floodplain. It’s not appropriate for this area to be part of the UGA.
Hamlin: The Snohomish River is the city’s natural southern boundary. Increased density and commercial growth within the floodplain would pose risks to taxpayers beyond the benefits of such growth.
Loomis: I don’t support dense development in a floodplain. I am concerned the County Council majority would allow such development. We have more control if it remains in our UGA.
Thorndike: Owners and investors have made commitments anticipating future urban services. Specific proposals should be evaluated with objective science, rules and regulations to protect public safety.
Randall: I don’t support the inclusion of Harvey Field into the city’s urban growth area. I have lived in Snohomish since 1983 and have seen several floods occur.
Harper: It’s up to the County Council to decide whether it’s in the UGA. If it does remain, we should take a common-sense approach to development of Harvey Airfield.
4. What specific plans do you have to improve roads and sidewalks, including how to pay for them?
Guzak: Priorities are in completing and maintaining streets and sidewalks for safety. Funding will come from tax base increases through more business, grants and requiring developments to pay their share.
Johnson: Street and sidewalk improvements have always been a concern in Snohomish. With encouragement for new business and an increased sales tax base, the existing process can improve.
Loveless: I voted to approve traffic mitigation fees for new development and for funding street improvements. I would also encourage the city to seek grants for such projects.
Hamlin: I would focus on road and sidewalk improvements for public safety. Supporting our existing businesses and encouraging business growth will bring in sales tax revenue to pay for such improvements.
Loomis: Attracting new businesses and increasing sales tax revenue is part of this formula. We need to make sure developers pay their share and go after grant opportunities.
Thorndike: After major street projects, little is left for neighborhood upgrades or sidewalk construction and repair. An improved business base will retain sales tax dollars to fund neighborhood programs.
Randall: Additional retail development on Bickford Avenue will increase sales tax revenue and part of this revenue coupled with grant monies should be dedicated to these improvements.
Harper: I plan to work with the public works director and staff to secure funding for streets and sidewalks. There are federal and state grants available which I would support utilizing.
5. What is your stance on allowing big-box stores, such as Home Depot, at a proposed retail development along Bickford Avenue?
Guzak: I support development along the Bickford corridor, but not at the expense of local businesses. The council should work to protect longstanding local small businesses.
Johnson: The only location for a large commercial development is on the Bickford corridor. I have supported local businesses. I look forward to new jobs and increased tax revenues.
Loveless: Big-box stores export profits and are not as locally involved as our existing small businesses. Our small businesses are the heart and soul of Snohomish and should be protected.
Hamlin: I agree with the council’s recent approval of a developer’s agreement for a proposed Home Depot. With planning and a public-private partnership, this business can benefit our community.
Loomis: I support long-time local businesses. I fought to prevent Wal-Mart from coming and have brought marketing experts to give local businesses the tools they need to compete and succeed.
Thorndike: We cherish our hometown Snohomish, and modern retailers will help restore community-based shopping that has been siphoned away from town for years. Jobs and tax revenues will benefit everyone.
Randall: I am in favor of allowing retail development along Bickford Avenue. Successful retail developments need an anchor tenant, such as Home Depot, to draw people.
Harper: I’m not in favor of big-box stores, but I realize that without this type of business, Snohomish will continue to lose tax revenue to neighboring communities.
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