PLATFORM FOR GARDEN CITY
“CULTIVATING OUR FUTURE, PRESERVING OUR ROOTS”
Encouraging Smart Growth
I voted for code modifications to align policies with long-term community goals. I have supported transit-oriented development through cooperative initiatives with our sister cities and public transportation agencies, I support impact fees that are balanced to distribute the cost burden of growth and ensure new development bears a proportionate share of infrastructure costs.
Garden City’s longstanding neighborhoods and established recreational spaces should not be sacrificed for growth. I voted to strike the correct balance between individual property rights and developers’ property rights when building high-demand inventory on land that was properly zoned and suitable for new construction and infill projects.
Preserving What Works
I voted to approve budgets that fully funded the needs of the Garden City Police. I have encouraged the promotion of the best candidates within the ranks, incentivizing departmental loyalty and longevity. I support public safety salaries that remain competitive with the marketplace to retain the best and recruit the brightest from transferring agencies.
Supporting Public Safety
Following the vision of Garden City Mayor John Evans, I voted to support his conservative spending initiatives, including lean and efficient operations and saving our healthy fund balance for the rainy days ahead.
Affordable Housing
I support the development of mixed-income housing that integrates affordable units with market-rate units, promoting socioeconomic diversity and reducing the stigma sometimes associated with affordable housing. I will vote to continue the success of Garden City’s public-private housing initiatives. At this time, I do not support Tiny Houses on Wheels, citing the experiences of other cities reporting accelerated market depreciation in that category, low build quality, and price per square foot value much higher than traditional affordable housing built on cement foundations.
Small Business
I voted to approve applications for exciting new small businesses. When necessary, I opened lines of communication for entrepreneurs struggling to meet the standards required by the Garden City code and comprehensive plan. While administrative procedures can be frustrating, I am committed to supporting initiatives that reduce red tape and streamline the permitting processes for small businesses. I have championed initiatives to connect small businesses with available resources that promote a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Garden City.
Government Transparency
I will continue Garden City’s tradition of hosting open meetings, providing easy-to-understand context for policy decisions, and accounting for every budget dollar. I support a city website that provides access to policies, applications, development proposals, information, notices, and past meeting minutes in an easy-to-navigate format.
Common Sense Leadership
I believe in management decisions that avoid exposing the city to liabilities. My focus for Garden City is on advancing our public safety initiatives, sustaining our award-winning library, funding our responsive public works department, and supporting the development services department with the necessary resources. Common sense leadership means following best practices that ensure Garden City is equipped to provide the services its residents rely on.
Integrity
Leading with integrity means being honest, ethical, and transparent in governance. It means putting the welfare of the community before personal gain. It means fostering an environment of trust and accountability, such that citizens look to their leaders to do what is right, even when it’s not easy. When city leaders have integrity, they inspire confidence in the community and avoid exposing the city to unnecessary liabilities.
Social Platforms
Social issues are important to each of us. Voters will not agree on all social perspectives. Informed voters should use the ballot box to elect State and National leaders who align broadly with their personal values and beliefs. In contrast, the scope of a non-partisan city councilperson’s platform is necessarily narrow. Garden City strives to provide responsive police, reliable public works, robust library resources, and an efficient development services department.
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My campaign platform fully aligns with Garden City’s operational mission and I look forward to earning your vote on November 7, 2023