 So welcome to everybody. Thank you very much for coming. I'm sure that we'll learn a lot this evening My name is Chris Mann. I work for Granite Rock in Watsonville, and I'm also the 2012 chair of the Santa Cruz County Business Council And a special thank you now to our volunteer moderators Brian King president of Cabrillo College and member of the Business Council and Chairman-elect of the Chamber Board of Directors. This is Brian here on Candidates right And then Jess Brown executive director of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and the current chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors In the middle and I will now turn it over to you gentlemen. Thank you. Okay, we will start again There are three questions for each candidate on all the same questions, and you have two minutes to answer the question So the first question and we'll start Gary with you and then we'll go down the line What should the role of a county supervisor be in supporting business and job growth? Best in one is this working for everybody I think it's to streamline the regulations and get out of the way on April 10th. For instance, there was a Law pass this looks like the enabling act at 62 pages of systems and procedures that Invites stakeholders it takes power away from the various county supervisors All kinds of harassment for all kinds of businesses In every place in every form the county is making it harder for business They passed another law just recently in which people that help their neighbors if they they bring the groceries They take the bedpan out these people for a neighbor or friend or relative They're requiring they're asking to require licensing for these people in addition to that we've got the Santa Cruz Board of Relatures working with California forward to Exempt themselves from a 4% service check tax It's going to affect everybody in this county that that's a barber at mose lawns or any that type of stuff but the real estate association is Connected with California forward they're going to get rid of half a proposition 13 So the taxes going up on the smaller businesses are they're going to get a whammed at and then in addition all those people Are going to be headed a 4% tax on top of the sales tax that the rest of us are getting This is anti free enterprise and it's anti-commerce and I would be the one in five voting against what this Political machine has been voting for a year after year endorsed by the real estate association by the Santa Cruz Sentinel And they endorse each other you'll see look on the back of their brochures And these are all the same ones that are receiving the pensions patting each other else on the back If you want to find out you'll find more information on my website It's man against the machine and you'll get more information there than you will in Six months of reading the Santa Cruz Sentinel which is owned partly by Bank of America and the Bill Gates Foundation Good evening, I want to thank the Chamber and the Business Council for holding tonight's forum And putting us through our paces with their 23-page questionnaire. I hope everybody gets a chance to read all those questions County supervisors don't really create a lot of jobs It in the end our job should be thinking about good planning for our county Trying to remove the hurdles that exists for businesses Balancing the interest between the residential neighborhoods in our commercial sectors invest appropriately in infrastructure so So businesses don't need to work about worry about that and as well as seek input on various pieces of legislation or policy As a supervisor, I've tried to do all those things We tried to create a financing district that would bring in 60 million dollars of funds to help do energy efficiency improvements It's passed unanimously by the board But Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac decided that we shouldn't be able to allow those kind of improvements So we're looking for new ways to do it when we recently did a major policy reform around non-conforming structures Which would help the business community for those that are in non-conforming structures We went out and we and we surveyed and did focus group with business owners environmentalists neighborhood associations to get input and we passed something at the board that made sense and and was a major structural change We are working hard to invest in the infrastructure in the county and make sure that our major arterials are something that people can get around on and We've seen that in the 25 years of the county redevelopment agency that it fulfilled its mandate of Improving a community that was in desperate need of services as it became urbanized But we also saw that that investment paid off because it had the fastest growing property tax value Increase of any place in the county So these are things I think county government can do and some that we're doing well and it's something We always need to strive for. Thanks for having me here tonight Nice, thank you for having us again. My name is Charles Paul then My sense as a supervisor is as I've worked for many years Trying to work with this with the county and the supervisors to create a good place to live Somebody who's worked 40 years in the private sector I think the supervisors need to facilitate local jobs for local people to build our local economy That builds the taxes upon which our county government depends for much of its budget By providing opportunities for growth that preserves our brand as an arts, education, echo, and agro-tourism location We can build the background of our economy. These are the foundations of our economy By providing opportunities for mixed-use infill on our transportation Corridors as I've been proposing for years around the Dominican Hospital 41st quadrant along the freeway and Soquel Drive We can have opportunities to reinforce our Image as a good place to live do business and for people to come visit a Model for the rest of road rather than trying to race the bottom as a less desirable Cheap place to do business. We can move to the higher value choice that provides true value rather than poor quality A place where people want to be visit rather than just a cut rate option So by working together local people local businesses Preserving the best of what we are we can all thrive together And so we also have a tax base that stays within the community the multiplier effect ten times by doing local business with local people So by providing these services facilitating these services Working with local people helping them streamline and not just sell ourselves out to somebody who's going to take all our money offshore I think we can all thrive together and be in a place. We want to live. Thank you Well, I want to thank the Chamber for putting on this event tonight. I'm Daniel Beckett as you all see running for the second Anyway, my my view on this is Government really isn't here to help business nor is it here to hinder business There's a lot of potential business owners who would like to do business in this county who've been discouraged Because of all the regulations and all the problems they have to go through I think a good example would be this plastic bag band I was talking to a business owner in the county and when he got the letter from the county talking about the plastic bag Band they mentioned that in order to make sure there's compliance There would be so-called secret shoppers going around to the different stores Making sure that the business owners were in compliance now. This sounds a little bit like the Gestapo to me I mean small business has enough problems, you know without having to worry about this problem In the first Fine, I believe it was a hundred dollars and it went up from there So it's just I don't I don't people in business really don't want to do business here because it's so difficult And so again, I feel the role of business is not not really to help business, but to not hinder them So that's my view on it evening I'm rich McKinnis. I'm running for the second district. I believe the role of the county supervisor should be that of an advocate to businesses in the county by Minimizing or our county government's role in over regulating and overtaxing our small businesses Unfortunately, this wasn't the experience. I had with my county supervisor when I bought the sea breeze back in 2005 I Spend a year restoring the building. I was ready to reopen the business when the county stopped the ABC That's the alcohol beverage control from issuing my liquor license and inform me that I had no right to use the building They the county threatened to red tag the building if I opened a business or even lived upstairs Even though I bought the building from the county via probate and they never disclosed this county ordinance to me Now I should mention that before buying the sea breeze my realtor and I met with all the county departments And my supervisor in person to make sure there were no surprises down the road I then after this issue came to light I then met again with my county supervisor for the second district and the planning department in person and was told I Needed to go through a level five permit process to get the right to use back I was told the process would take three months. It actually took ten months and cost me a hundred and seventy seven thousand dollars While the last pre-recession summer of 2007 passed On Labor Day 2007 after summer was over and the beaches were empty I was allowed to open with no money left to buy inventory higher employees or advertise This revenue trap caused me to file bankruptcy to stop for closure while I worked on a loan mod. I Was then cited by the fire marshal and decided to run for supervisor when I got sued by the planning department a second time About a month before the deadline to file Fortunately for me that the judge agreed with my testimony and the facts and and issued the judgment my favor on April 20th. This is not how I will treat small businesses or persons who invest two million dollars in our county by buying a blighted property with their own money and then restore it and Reopen it to the county. Thank you Well, good evening. My name is Zach friend I'm running for a second district County supervisor I'd like to thank the chamber also the business council and all of you for being here tonight Yeah, I really think that the most important thing that a supervisor can do is really just change the tone in the climate by Which we have economic development within the county And I think that you can do that through three ways the first thing is is through infrastructure improvements and infrastructure means different things But quite frankly infrastructure is the backbone of what economic development is the roads the highway and moving forward Actually a high-speed data network within our county. I mean if you think about a hundred and fifty years ago We started the railway system in the 1950s We built the interstate highway system and now we're moving toward a situation where you're going to need to have Broadband access for a future business moving forward. The second thing is just the tone I think a lot of what we hear is is that there's sort of a a negative tone and anti-business feeling Within local government and within the county And I think that that's something that that needs to change just from the supervisorial level as opposed to you need To what we need to recognize the economic development is what pays for the services that we use it pays for public safety It pays for parks it pays for health and human services So you need to have to change the overall tone The last thing is is I really believe that the county has been guilty of an either or mentality and a lot of things meaning You can either have economic development or you can have environmental protections Or you can either widen the highway or take care of local roads and the reality of the situation is you need a balanced approach To a number of these things that we live here for a very specific reason We're very fortunate to live here for the natural environment that we have We also need to respect that how do you maintain that you maintain that by being able to provide services that come through Economic development and economic development comes from small businesses that share the values and vision of number of us in the county Thank you My name is an Antonio Rivas and running for second district County Supervisor First also, I would like to thank the chamber for holding this forum One of the things that is very important like everybody's to be able to have a sustainable Really sustainable economic development within our county Something something that we have done it You know in the city of Watsonville is to to make sure that we take care of the other business One of the things that we have done in the city of Watsonville is that we walk through the business and be able to make sure What do they need what that they want what they need support? So we'd be able to streamline the some of the regulations and hurdles that the business, you know need Another thing that's very important is to really to provide a tax a sustainable tax base in providing centers Not only for the business community, but also for the act community, which is one of the Biggest thing in the second district, you know, especially the very the very farm The very is one of the strongest Economic development within in our city and something we have to continue that the other one is the airport We need to continue to provide and support the airport because they bring a lot of business At the same thing we have business within within the airport It's very important for us to to continue to to provide this infrastructure I think then we need to To look at the infrastructure of the county so we can be able to provide better Ways and and to support our business One of things that probably all like to do is to is to is to call for a economic development summit In which we can include not only the county, but but the cities and the local government so we can be able to To come out with a plan that is be able to support the business community and that's very important to do Because we haven't done that here in the county I think the county can be the leader to do that summit the other important thing is to to include the educational Institutions because they provide a lot of training and a lot of support for the jobs that we're going to provide in the future And that's you know, and that's something that we need to do that the institutions the education institutions to do that Thank you. My name is Eric Hammer. I'd like to thank the chamber for having this event tonight I look at the role of a supervisor as a bridge builder somebody who brings everybody to the table to discuss economic development to discuss Local business whether it be small or large and the direction in which we want to head and if we put it into business terms You have to start with the business plan and we call that in government, you know a general plan and Business we take a look at that as a strategic plan We need to set some goals and we need to set some short-term and medium-term goals And we need all the stakeholders at the table and I see the supervisor being a person that can help bring Those stakeholders to the table. We're lucky here in Santa Cruz County. We have some extremely smart business people That are multi-generational. We have agriculture. We have education. We have tourism We have small business. We had more large business. We've lost some of it. We've had tech business We need to pull our resources together Some call it a summit. I think I'd call it, you know a brainstorming session and I also think that we need to bring our young college leaders and our entrepreneurs to the table and Discuss what is Santa Cruz going to look like? What's going to work here? And I think as a supervisor it's important to listen and to moderate the discussion That's put forth and then to help with the action plan that is put together by the professionals whether it be to set policy to make it happen if it's if it's if we're taking a look at transportation being the issue or the Need for Services we need to get that information from the business community and then set policy again to make that happen. Thank you Hello, I'm Bruce McPherson candidate for the fifth district supervisor and welcome to the Museum of Art and History It kind of feels like a second home, but I want to thank the business council in the Chamber of Commerce for having this Forum the what third and three days and we've got one more coming tomorrow, but I As a supervisor we need to change our attitude Santa Cruz County government is the only one in the region that does not have a strategy or personnel dedicated to creating jobs and It needs to get there and they used to work with the business council's needs to work with the Chambers of Commerce to make that Happen, and I'm not just saying that because you're sponsoring this this forum tonight. That's a fact We aren't doing that and we're not building on the assets we have and that's what we really need to do more than ever We've got to protect our agricultural land as a supervisor our land use Decisions are key that is probably the most singular important thing that we do as a county supervisor But to draw good businesses here We need to have some kind of a an openness and cooperate cooperation With the business community to let business Owners let those who would love to be employed here know what's available to to build a business here and We have some resources that are unmatched we we are the right over the hill from the technology center of the world We have the premier agricultural lands in the nation And we have an education community here that's just absolutely outstanding and to brought the people here to move businesses to this county We are going to have to assure them that we have adequate public safety to provide Just public safety for our citizens. We're going to have to show them that we have a transportation network That isn't you know Doesn't stop traffic instead of making it move on occasion and then we have a premier excellent education system And we want to improve on it. So we have to work with education business and And the and just the medical community as well throughout this county. I appreciate you coming tonight. Thank you Hello, I'm Bill Smallman and I have to say that it's been difficult being kind of an outsider from public sector trying to run for office and Basically I got interviewed by the Sentinel and they said You know, basically a lot of candidates that didn't have any experience name recognition or endorsements or money, you know We don't care if you're the Einstein Supervisors we're not going to listen to your ideas basically. So I said, please listen to my ideas and So a lot of my campaign is in this subject I wanted to recreate a board of economic development and I got the idea from Sonoma County and I actually felt that you know, this is government severely lacking from people that with business experience and So basically the whole entire board would consider consist of you know, a diverse crowd of business Professionals and also I decided that I believe it should also include two super acting supervisors And basically if I do make the runoff I will meet try to meet with County Sonoma Supervisor to find out how the resolutions that created this board and and make one specifically for Santa Cruz County and So anyway, I really believe this this board would be helpful for businesses, especially mr. McKinnes's business You know, I want to hear more about that to to also to help business grow with you know I don't want to talk more about that But also also to increase the county has a big involvement with vocational training I have a friend that owns a winery and he actually said that there's a culinary culinary School at Cabrillo College. It does this wonderful event every year and they're actually going to get cut And I you know So I think the county has involvement with education So I think it could very helpful support with vocational training in school and in the round the county and also be a research team Bell also signals it's time for the second question and Each candidate will have an opportunity to answer up to two minutes to the second question And here it is what are three things you will do to address the county's projected budget deficit? And might these include increased tax and or fee revenues? So starting I think it'd be fine to work from east to west now No, my campaign is the anti-tax and pro economic development There you know, there might be some Situation, you know, but after not after a real hard study, you know I'm definitely in favor of Trying to promote economic development to increase revenue and also look to the state for any type of help in that regard and Basically, that's it. Thank you One thing that I think we should look at it's been discussed recently is an increase in the vehicle license fee I am not totally against Increases, but you have to look at a situation and what the facts are before you We have an abominable Road situation in this county and is just terrible up in the San Lorenzo Valley We're not going to address this and get to it with the six six hundred miles of roadway in the county Immediately when it's there's hundreds of millions of dollars worth of need The county service area tax the road repair tax. It's on the in their unincorporated tax roll The tax roll of unant people living in the unincorporated area of six fifty six dollars and forty cents a year Provides less than about three million dollars We have hundreds of millions of dollars of need and if we wait longer, it's going to get worse We increase a vehicle license fee Fee by ten dollars that's going to provide with two hundred and thirty thousand vehicles in this county about two point three million dollars So it's not going to get us there In a hurry, but we need to start somewhere and I think this is one of the fallacies or the shortcomings that we've had in this county Addressing our infrastructure needs overall and I think we need to take a quicker a better look at that and how to resolve it it's not going to come free and I don't I can't tell you where I would take it away from another piece of budget because everything's been cut substantially over the last few years also, I think this Not an economic development department, but we need to get something so people can come to this county and say This is what's available and this is where I can work and also we need to Coordinate our activities with the education systems that we have here the research Facilities that we have at UCSC are phenomenal and what Cabrera college offers us is terrific We ought to work closer with our education community to see what the needs are for our county I think one of the first things that I would take a look at doing is Looking out to what other counties are doing We're not the only county that is having budgetary problems right now, and it's been making cuts I think that we need to take an approach that reaches out and finds Counties like ours that and look at what type of ingenuity that they've done to be able to work through budgets What you know, it's not reinventing the wheel. I mean it's bringing more people to the table I'm not saying this isn't being done Presently in fact Santa Cruz County. I believe Known throughout the state of having innovative ideas, but still I think we need to look out with what's already being done the road structure that was just talked about the infrastructure is a huge issue and I know that the RTC is taking a look at and has done some studies to see if a $10 Tax would be acceptable to the community to third's vote and right now It's looking to depending upon how it's written anywhere from 57 to 67 percent, you know Approval rating with John Presley has also talked about a half-scent sales tax to help with roads I think we need to really look more at a critical thinking approach bringing people together talking about solutions and Then making a game plan and following those. Thank you One of the things that after the state has Took all the money for and redevelopment agencies. I think you know a lot of the cities have Not able to to get any more of the projects But I think you know one of the things that is very important when I was in the transportation commission I think we we talked about I Haven't a tax initiative to be able to you know to maintain the streets the roads and in different area the sidewalks of the Era so now they're going into the process. I know that did a study like you say to get a $10.00 BRF tax increase for So we can be able to provide those services I think it's something that we can look into it as accounting and I know has the county has the redevelopment agency has Caught through all the cities. I think the kind of will be taking the leadership of Our an agency that will be able to talk about how those money will come back to from the state Hopefully the other thing that's very important to do is that You know, I think you know like power line if I school is really thinking about a bond issue Something that we can support education. I hope cover you probably college will probably need to do another Bond issues to be able to support a lot of the a lot of the programs that they have now because they have a lot of big cuts now And I think the students increase that the fees as students is beginning to become very a problem As well as the UC system and the state system So I think it is important that we can look at the local level What can we do to be able to provide those and to support ourselves? And I think we have to look into into taxes What taxes that our communities are willing to pay and willing to support and something that we have to look into it has a county supervisor we have to Gather everybody the business community the education community and the business community so we can be able to see okay What can we support and the community can support and that's what I will do as a county supervisor Well, what three things would I do to address the deficit? Well, I mean the number one thing is obviously you need economic development There's no question at all about that and and I think the three things that you could do to do that The first thing is you need to the better level it read leverage Private and public partnerships, but the city of Santa Cruz I worked very closely to bring code for America into the city which is going to streamline the business permitting process Which is something if you go down to the county right now trying to open up a business It's nearly impossible and one of the things that the city of Santa Cruz is working to do through this code for America Partnership is to make it online make it transparent and make it easy to do the second thing is that our investments in infrastructure As I had mentioned earlier that it really is the backbone for economic development be it through data networks be it through roads Be it through the highway and the third thing is is an investment in human capital We have over 20,000 people a day 20,000 people a day that take the trip over highway 17 to work out of town They work in San Jose they work at Apple they work at Cisco They're spending a lot of their money over there a lot of their time over there They're not engaged in the PTAs are not coming to meetings like this and not coming to city councils or board of supervisors meetings There's a lot of money that could be spent here that isn't spent here because we don't have the economic development here That brings the jobs here that keeps the money here I think that that is the first step before you look for outside fee sources or tax sort sources You actually look internally first. Are we doing everything that we can? Internally to create a business environment that raises revenue before you look toward the outside outside services. Thanks I'm I'm very confident that I would not vote for any fee increases on businesses since I believe that the county has already extracted too much money from me with very little or no return Instead I would take the approach that a rising tide raises all boats and instead of placing the burden of a bloated Government payroll on the backs of our business owners I would force the government the county government to fix its budget problems internally Just as small business owners like me were forced to do and I would also find ways to increase the sales tax revenue Collected by our businesses by helping them to be more successful So they hire more employees and those employees spend their income and further drive our local economy I personally wasn't able to hire any employees because of the situation. I was put in by the county So my number one thing would be to repeal the right to use ordinance because here We are five years later and that ordinance is still on the books Well, I don't know but I'm pretty sure that since the beginning of time no buildings ever been built by humans for the For any other reason other than to use for either to live in or to run a business and in the sea breezes case for both And my biggest concern with this ordinance is that because of the recession We have a lot of empty commercial buildings out there that have lost their right to use and any dreamer that wants to start A small business is going to get trapped in the same ordinance That that I was trapped in my second Thing I would do is I was eliminated additional fees charge the homeowners and businesses If they're red tagged by the county because this will remove the incentive for county workers to red tag unless It's absolutely necessary over the last five years I've had dozens and dozens of homeowners and business owners come in and talk about the red tag process That I was put through and they were put through and it seems like it's it's a revenue generator for the county And then my third one would be to implement a foreclosure moratorium and make a Mediation mandatory between the homeowner and the bank because an empty home in our county is a tragedy And it doesn't do anything for our businesses. Those people don't spend any money at our local businesses. Thank you Well, first of all, I would never ask the people of this county for more money more fees more taxes I know many people in this county and there's people in this room who've lost their homes. They're under great stress And I've actually been in a great financial stress in the last few years And I pay six thousand dollars a year in property tax and I really don't know what I'm paying all that money for So I would never ask the people for more money I think it really has to start someone has to step up and start with leadership And I'm the only candidate who's offered to take when I'm elected a 25% pay cut None of the other candidates have offered 25% and I want to put that money in a road repair fund And I realize, you know, it's not going to solve everything But it'll start and this is a start and it you know start filling potholes And I would ask the other three council members or the board of supervisors the members Mr. Caput has already done it to follow suit and I would also ask the other high-paid The other high-paid Staff in the county to also take a pay reduction and you know, we're going to go a long ways toward getting the potholes fixed I think that's very important and That's about it I just think that we have to start the county should start and this this is a good start I will take a 25% pay reduction. So hi Charles Pauldin I agree with mr. Hammer that we need to look at the critical thinker Using a systems analysis approach to have a synergy of uses We need to look where our taxes are being spent. What are we? What are we supporting? I see a lot of backfilling For people that are working at exploited wages that can't afford education Healthcare housing food. I think we have to really be serious about a living wage ordinance We should not allow people to be exploited That we would have a stable workforce instead of creating Bringing more and more people the same things happens. We see in LA It seems to be we have these big governments that need their pensions paid So they'll bring in any tax base in a short term without looking at the full cost So we need to support local businesses for a stable workforce The sales tax multiplier of a local business is the same as buying locally They say it's ten times say we got the same tax ten times Buying from ourselves or that sales tax once by buying from an external corporation that takes our money and leaves All businesses are not local Local businesses are much more important than those that are extracting resources from our county a Greater number of small family run businesses will have and farms will have a greater Synergetic effect for a sustainable and vibrant local economy The question again there seems to be an ideology that we have to widen the freeway By spending twenty million dollars of our local road fund on a state highway So somebody can come from here to work over the hill does not make sense to me to take eighty eight million dollars and focus it on one mile between Shana Claire and I mean between Bromer and Capitol Road 17 the Capitol Road doesn't make sense eighty eight million dollars could be more distributed through our area Thank you very much When you ask what the three things I would do to address the deficit. I have a good deal of experience I served on the Cabrillo College Board for eight years and during that time There were ebbs and flows and it gave me good experience and it taught me that during the good time You have to put the money away and during the time I was there We doubled the size of the reserve but also make difficult choices Since I've been a county supervisor We've never had a budget where we've had good times. I think we've cut 60 million dollars out of the budget Over successive years of cuts and it looks that in the near term that we're looking another 15 million dollars this year And I'm not sure what the out years are but there are three things that you do one is you have to manage cost Two is you have to deal with structural issues budget issues and three is you have to figure out a way to increase revenue and In managing costs at the county since I've been there the first month I was there I turned down a pay raise that had been voted on by previous a board the board did that unanimously the second year We well in that first budget year we instituted furloughs So we could keep the county government operating and providing services the next year we cut a Promised increase to executive management. They were due for a two and a half percent increase. We cancelled that We also Facing difficult times merged departments together. So we don't have an expensive six-figured salary Director running the parks department. That's now been merged in with the public works department People care about the parks, but we don't have the money to run two separate departments. We merged into one We've also dealt with structural issues and we've Renegotiated all of our employee contracts. We developed a two-tier pension system. We Did something about Retiree health benefits and I guess in the interest of time I'll just say that increasing revenue is there's two parts of that one is providing a system where you have a good Strong tax base and the other is if there are reasons to raise taxes You have to go out to the people and you have to ask them if they want to invest Gary Richard Arnold I Think we have to treat this as if we are going into bankruptcy. We're in a depression by design and I really don't believe that the we should be moving into public-private partnerships It's just another name for for fascism and cronyism One of the big problems is we adopted a Agenda a final draft. It's called agenda 21 Our our county has a contract with ickly, which is a front for the World Bank And they've adopted European Union protocol and we're suffering the same bad economic results that Europe is Realizing because of these protocols that put this economy in a straitjacket Also, I'm for cutting those Employees that are earning over $80,000 by 15% and I think the Board of Supervisors should double that as Their emphasis on this going into the we really have to strip back We are in a crisis at this particular time We should also consider cutting our membership with am bag which is the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments If you've ever gone to one of those meetings the lousy sentinel newspaper will never report anything that goes on there by the way And the adoptions that of policy and the stakeholders They voted to put people on there that that aren't elected to any office and they make policy that controls us It's like the tail wagging the dog and the 60 page Insult is absolutely incredible. It's a it's a climate action strategy And it does the same things and the person that's in charge of this by the way has to Leopold signs on his front lawn But if you look at this stuff, you can look it up and it'll make you cry In addition to that the Board of Supervisors voted a five to nothing to release felons into the community That means higher insurance rates more problems with the hospital higher taxes, etc Look up the Arnold man against machine Gary Richard Arnold and you'll find a lot of hard data Okay, this is the last question that will be answered for all the candidates. It's the same Why should the business community have confidence that you that you will make a positive difference on the issues impacting our economy and Gary will start with you Well, I think what's really important and you'll you should look in every newspaper And on the yard signs that you see everywhere and take a look at how the endorsements crisscross The people that have brought us to the position we're in today are the same ones that are endorsing each other You look at the mayor of Watsonville who put in the fluoride into that community that the community itself voted against it It's a Malthusian political machine. They're doing things that injure your health. We've had operation clover leaf that's run from Fort Ord and camp Roberts. You can go talk to the employees there some will talk and some won't certainly won't talk on camera They know this is going on We've got two members on the board of supervisors that are on the air resources board yet This was front-page USA today last May and they said it's the worst-case scenario Those people that are treating people health wise whether it's vulnerable people that are old or young babies That's a consistent problem we look at The other people that do the endorsements Zack friend for instance is ahead of the Democratic Central Committee He gets one of his supporters is Sean Smith. He recruits for the World Bank These guys are wedded to the World Bank. No policy here in this county comes from this committee from this county It is rubber stamped and it's brought in by Ickley Agenda 21 and outside sources and then what little Real policy they exercise they run off to am bag and these other regional agencies and dispense with that authority They're giving away your authority You've invested in them and they're not treating you right. They abolish the Santa Cruz board of appeals For the planning departments outrageous and then they assume the authority and then when they need an expert They go to the planning department who they pay for it's outrageous and they're bringing in a type of fascism and world governance They they harm they've been changing the laws. They call it harmonization That's in preparation for a North American Union These people are not looking out for you and the damn Sentinel newspaper won't tell you about it When I came into office, we were already suffering from this lesser depression that that the entire nation and maybe the world is Suffering from and so as I led a planning process in the live oak and soquel communities where 500 people got involved They identified economic vitality as a key issue Part of that process is I reached out to the business community to make sure that their voice got heard as part of that as well as everyone else and and Brought a county administration to be part of that discussion as well. We got some good information from that I also asked that our board do study sessions on economic development and we had two Sessions and I reached out to the business council and the chambers to get involved with that discussion It was an interesting discussion. It was not fully participated by all the members of the board But it we we got some good information That laid the groundwork for us adding economic development staff I was surprised that when I came to the board of supervisors that they're that although the county Works with the unincorporated area. That's over 50% of the population There wasn't one person who thought about economic development and the economic lives of our community every day all day I worked to change that and got the first economic development staff hired We've also tried to reach out and include the business community and decisions as I mentioned earlier around non-conforming structures We did special focus groups our new planning director went out as she started her tenure to find out what the issues were I've been pushing at the economic development study session I was pushing that we need to do a serious business permit reform because I hear from Business owners in my district regularly how difficult it is to open up a business in a commercially zoned area in an existing building With a permitted use and I've worked to clear those hurdles But they shouldn't have to depend on just the intervention of a supervisor we should have a system that works well and We won't be getting to that until the fall, but it's a priority for me to get this done. I think we can do it Hi Charles Paul then again As a local business person with a fifth-generation California and a 40-year resident Who has a landscape contractor's license of business and also works as an independent contractor in the fitness and health industry? I am one of the people like most of the taxpayers that are creating the true Economy of our area there. I really respect our government workers yet We are the ones that are actually creating the base I Can relate to the problems and the concerns of people in the trades and businesses. I know very many of them I have worked in most of the trades and businesses in this county and through direct experience understand our concerns and needs When I work I need to stay on budget I Have to give good value for my services While many of us have seen our real wages go down to weight due to wave inflation and pressures of People are using exploitable labor Not playing by the rules The rest of us are Income the people who really are paying the taxes and playing by the rules that goes down. So we have less taxes to support the the government When I was working in the pleasure point plan to started that and trying to preserve a community center and a cultural center Pleasure point to build around the surf industry, which is a four hundred million dollar Income to this county Rivaling egg. I was suggesting that we have a surf museum now Ten years later or so It's been recognized we have a surf reserve, but we do not have a place to meet in my community. I Think that eighty eight million dollars and RDA money could be better spent should be sent back To the state to provide us with funding. It should not be just special Interest getting special treatment for a very few. Thank you Well, I would say as being a small business owner in this county for 17 years I understand the difficulties of being a small business owner in the past I've had employees. I've had to do payroll. I've had to do work in scomp. It's a big hassle. We all know how it is in business I'm a firm believer in private property. I'm a firm believer in free enterprise and I think that's very important and You know, I've been through the whole process. I've built houses in the past not my company But I've worked for people other contractors build houses So I have a pretty good grasp on business and I think that would qualify me I Believe as a small business person struggling in in a difficult economy the business community Knows that I'm in the same boat as they are And I will work tirelessly to reduce or better yet eliminate our burdensome government regulations and taxes as well as promote our County to visitors outside our county that drive our local economy as part of my duties as supervisor I will personally walk my district and meet with every business owner and get to know their business needs at least those ones that haven't come into my business already and Start a business task force of the second district to find out what these hurt what the hurdles are for all the different industries We have within Santa Cruz County and then work to lower or eliminate those redundant or unnecessary ordinances that are passed To catch businesses in these revenue traps Unfortunately, these ordinances make it impossible for anyone to start a small business unless unless they have deep pockets And our small businesses are really the backbone of our economy They they hire our kids they collect our sales tax and they advertise in our local newspapers And they provide us with locally made products and services that make Santa Cruz unique or you know, you could say weird and if you've ever been to the Sea Breeze Tavern, you know that I'm a big fan of unique or weird and That's what I believe why people come to Santa Cruz County And I and I think they come from all over the world because of the county we have but The businesses need your support and they need a better regulatory environment in order to survive. Thank you Well first I'd just like to say that I wish I was half as cool as Gary Richard Arnold makes me sound So thanks Gary for that And you know, I think fundamentally the Ultimately the way that you have the confidence in this issue is through In any relationship is through trust and it didn't occur to me to start reaching out to the business community The minute that I started running for office and I've had a relationship with the business community ever since I've been here I've got a proven track record of it working for the Santa Cruz Police Department over the last decade where I've reached out to neighborhood groups nonprofits business community and and and Others in order to develop these relationships The thing is is that I think that you can approach this situation with with the negativity that I've been hearing a lot up here You can you can actually try and turn it around we recognize there are problems We can complain about them or we can actually try and address them I'd like to hear a little bit more solution oriented a little bit more optimism associated with it because the reality is local businesses Are starting to hire the reality is is that things could be getting better and we recognize that there are issues that we can overcome Look at what's happened with next space with cruzio Look at what happened when Jack O'Neill started a business here or Martin ellies There is a history here of success in business What you need are boards of supervisors members that help change that tone that bring that kind of hope toward this situation And I think that that is something that I can do for this situation I already have the the relationships established with the local business community and I hope to continue that on the board of supervisors. Thank you Okay, I think you know one of the things that being a two-term mayor and Being the city council for a year's prepare me to to deal with this gun We have done it in city of Watsonville. I have very close relations with all the business Especially the small businesses like we have started the incubator in our city of Watsonville The other things that we have done for the act community is that to stop this selling solution We we able to have money for to to develop the the new recycle plant Because that's very important for the act community. So it continues or the selling interesting doesn't continue So it's very important for the business community. I don't think that we have done is that we develop a is the strawberry The strawberry industrial park in which the new concept was is to They they be able to set up their business at the same time they can be able to own this That's something that we have about 30 bits and That area that will was developed on their mind and under my leadership And and also the city council were part of it and the fast shocks one of the one of the test scores that we have In our city in which they had three ships and they and they provide, you know, globally The part they throughout the world the other one the CSC which do the lenses same thing I said, you know the community that we have we had developed very strong the Martin Ellis It's the other ones that they have been very successful within the city And I think other ones the act community has always been very successful in different ways And we have to continue that and support the the small business I think like, you know, they said the county of Santa Cruz are very creative innovative And I think we have to do that continue to provide opportunities so that they can be creative. I think the new The new they you the youth that is coming into this place I think they they want to start business they want to be created they want to be part of this community So we have to giving that opportunity to them as something that we have to continue to the the They look at your institution is very is another thing that we continue I'm a small business owner. I have a construction company up in the San Lorenzo Valley and as the economic times have Have hit us all my company has changed I used to do project management. I've built a multi-million dollar building up in San Francisco that employed over 250 people on every given day I managed a budget of about forty two million dollars and coordinated all the sub subcontractors County architects you name it what it takes to build a facility like that in the heart of the city and Parking a bit difficult with that many people. I changed the focus of my business My guys at work for me. I haven't missed a day of work in the downturn today I've got seven jobs lined up and I have that because I have a great reputation I'm a hard worker and I make an impact in the community in which I serve And that's done through a lot of partnerships sitting on the board of Boulder Creek Parks and Rec We were able to build a three hundred fifty thousand dollar park utilizing local business Local contractors that donated their time and in doing that you get out you you're marketing yourself Through Mountain Community Resource Center. We were able to create a sustainable Program through merging with community bridges again when any any time Mountain Community Resource Center needs something done You know, they can call me and I can go out into that community and I'll get it done I got a call from the school at Boulder Creek Elementary They needed a greenhouse built for the kids so that they could learn about nutritious nutritious foods and farming You know what I didn't have the time or necessarily the resources But I stepped right up and my guys we built that greenhouse. It was out there a week later I get things done and that's why I'm running and you ask Why should you invest in me? Because everybody in my community invests in me they turn to me when something needs to get done and I fulfill that Thank you I'd answer it in two three tiered ways First experience that I've had both in the private and public sector Secondly the knowledge that I have of the issues both as Newspaper person who wrote stories about this county and knows the issues and editorial opinions for ten years and personal contacts which are vitally important on every level of government to make sure and to see that The Fifth District in Santa Cruz County gets its fair share of resources Adwindling as they may be from the state But I think that experience is really very critical and what we're talking about and what we need to have happened in this county I've seen some things that have worked and I've seen some things that have failed in this county And I think that I would be a I've when I was in the legislature I was known as the most independent vote in the legislature a problem Problem-solver and a consensus builder and the other three part part of my answer is that I've I've Experienced what it means to live within your means Which we have to do at the county and I wish the state and federal government had to do the same but as the private sector as One of the owners of the newspaper that was successful has been successful that I left in a 1991 Secondly with the charitable organizations too numerous to name To really go after some very ambitious projects that really required Community input not the least of what is which is this museum that we're sitting in tonight But Cabrillo College and the 50th anniversary scholarship fund land trust of Santa Cruz County, which is great The Marine Center that's at the entrance of the wharf and certainly government itself. I Am known as I said is the most independent vote in the legislature I know how to get things done I've lived within my means in the private the public and the charitable sector that which I've served this great county of Santa Cruz Thank you If you if you would have googled Economic development about three or four years ago You would have been led to the redevelopment agency for the Santa Cruz County and yeah, I believe leave Mr. Leopold deserves credit for hiring some people that are full-time I believe that his name is Mr. David Dobson that's working on economic development and So anyway, and I always felt that the career politicians have had Problems conflicting with each other basically trying to keep their jobs and and playing these political games and not And when it really works is when and this includes the board of supervisors of Santa Cruz County To have supervisors that come up with some good ideas Bring them to the table and then once they are on the table to brainstorm them them and refine them into something That really works and helps the helps the public my idea is this economic development board Which I know Sonoma County has Monterey County has So also has a full-time staff But I believe that you know this can be restructured so that it would be really beneficial And it would consist entirely of business professionals a diverse We don't want all restaurant owners. We want we want you know business builders and we want you know try to get a diverse economic account to review Expand businesses that are actually involved to have a relationship with the county, but also The second half is really to make the county more efficient to be more customer friendly and oriented because the county Has a huge direct involvement with the economy. They are the I believe the second most Largest employer of the county behind UCSC so and then also that particularly the planning department and the building department have Direct involvement with the economy We can keep Santa Cruz where but now we can start making it smart bow for Bill small man. Thank you As the microphone is passed to the other end of the table our next phase of questions are specific to each candidate There are two questions that were developed by a committee and I want to emphasize again that my friend Jess Brown and I are reading the questions. We didn't write them So if you love them, we don't get credit if you don't like them, please think kindly about us And the first question is to mr. Arnold Your response to the question What role would you play as a county supervisor in improving water security in Santa Cruz County? Was that you would reintroduce reservoirs and cisterns? Where would those reservoirs and cisterns be located and if on private property? Who would pay for their construction and how would you cause enough people to place them on their property? To have a significant impact on water supply Well, I have not studied that and I I don't know but I know throughout the state that there's been a progressive plan of Blowing up dams and reducing water for access for food supply Part of it's referred to as rural cleansing We have a California so-called connectivity project which our planning department is involved with and if people Saw from ten years ago that the United States Senate voted 99 to nothing to NICs the so-called wildlands project the access to private property and the Attempt to put in the water meter some years ago was met in force At the county. I think it's important. I think the governor of Colorado said that Private property and access to water. It has to be either purchased It should not be taken and he said that these this particular issue is so important that it may reach the point to where it Is such a crisis it would match that of the Civil War But as far as the specifics. I don't have the specifics To a question about how you would change the current allocation of county resources to be more Effective in addressing public safety You responded that you would allow retired police officers and military to have concealed weapon permits as well as Designated owners or officers of bank jewelry stores and other high crime targets in general Do you believe that local government should provide fewer services and that the responsibilities of those services should be transferred to? Residents if so which public services if any would you choose not to transfer to residents? Well, obviously when it comes to prosecution Items such as that I really believe that the first part of that statement we find in states where there is carry permits It's a safety expands Quite quite radically and I think initially that the businesses do need to be able to protect themselves that would benefit both the the police the people they're living in there and Create a widespread safety, and I think that could be I'd like to see that expanded till it becomes universal I Think some of the some of the streets throughout the county I believe the individuals from Various communities and neighborhoods could take care of that by going out with merely a broom we've got a path over where I live by a live oak by the Moran Lagoon and Most of the work is done there in fact the county's been pulling back Trash barrels and so forth and and taking them out of the community and the people are stepping up and taking care of tasks such as that Anyway, I think I think there's a lot of ways in which people can participate and Save the government some money and be a good neighbor Next question is for for mr. Leopold you indicated in your written answers that you were not a fan of contracting out services Currently performed by the public sector. You said we should expect the same entrepreneurial spirit out of public sector employees As those in the private sector What do you think are the key elements of the entrepreneurial spirit? And what does the county do to encourage them in its employees? Well, it does give you an example. We're working on right now the simpkins swim center, which is a great resource in Live oak, but is available to the entire county and well love is not open enough hours So there's been a suggestion that we contract that out But if you look at what it what it would take to contract out the services there You would study what has been successful in other places you would figure out where where your strategic niche is and what you could pool from the success of another pool and You would look to institute that Hopefully not just on the backs of the people who work there by paying them less money But by being more successful in marketing your product so I pulled together the the parks and public works administration as well as the Constituent unions to take a look at that box. What is the budget of the of the pool? How do we increase the number of hours and days that it's open? And what can we pull from the from successes in Menlo Park and other places to replicate here? Not everything's the same, but in the business you don't just start off and say we're not going to look at what other people Do we're going to try to figure out what's successful other places? And enact it here. I think that we should expect that our public sector employees be creative strategic and entrepreneurial and Do the research and be creative and work outside the box and we shouldn't just assume that they won't be able to do that Second question you indicated you supported the implementation of the agreement between the UCSC the city of Santa Cruz The county and other settling lawsuits however You introduced a resolution at Lafkoe that would dissolve key elements requiring UCSC to develop student housing to reduce the student housing impact on neighborhoods and Remove the obligation of the university to many other elements of the agreement related to Transportation water and contribution to city impacts. How do you reconcile these positions? I disagree with the frame of the question. I actually made a resolution to approve The water going to the university and allow them to expand into 240 acres to build 3 million square feet of New development the city and university agreed to go to Lafkoe. Lafkoe didn't choose that the In doing that in preparation for that our board came up with a set of water policies that had a had a simple message Do you have an adequate reliable and sustainable water supply that was a unanimously approved by our by our commission? including this supervisor community and the mayor of Santa Cruz Don Lane, so when this proposal comes before us the question is What is an adequate reliable and sustainable water supply the city has significant? outstanding unanswered questions about whether the Department of Fish and Game and NOAA Fisheries is going to require them to leave a Large amount of water in the streams that they will not be able to access that has a tremendous impact on our on the availability of water And before we promise a hundred and fifty million gallons to one user We should make sure that we have enough for our current for our current customers And so I don't think that's breaking the agreement. I think that is respecting the agreement also respecting the community and It they would to think that you could go to Lafkoe and not have any conditions placed on you Would it was an unrealistic expectation? These are reasonable expectations that were supported by a majority of the of the Commission Next question is for mr. Paulden in response to a question regarding streamlining processes reducing costs and reducing uncertainty and land-use decision-making You answered probably not you were the only candidate to do so saying I think it is too easy to bypass the feedback from the Community that creates high-quality communities Please give us an example of a land-use decision that you felt too easily bypass the feedback from the community and Indicate how you would have changed the processes to make the decision better too bad you didn't Give me my strong points that as a member of the Sierra Club executive committee I believe that sequel is a very important document and should not be Thrown out the window. I think that our communities have the right to have a say the high-quality communities Pass a tempo depot hill Carmel Monterey Montecito the places that people there's a high-quality place to live you have a lot of feedback from the people I Believe that we should protect our wild lands. We should protect our open spaces We should look at the general plan that says we should step back from our streams and make them places for groundwater recharge when I led one of the charges to have the Atherton Place Development which is sitting uncompleted as part of a nice into the sea trail to New Brighton Beach with a bridge over the Freeway that would take people from the rail trail to Cabrillo College I was told by the supervisors that There was no other place to do urban infill. I have a place to do urban infill the Dominican to 41st quadrant to put a high-quality Urban core like San Luis Obispo like Santana row like Stanford Park these are the places we can build a high-quality Community high value Build our brand build our tax bases do things efficiently with our people local jobs local people preserve protect and advance No You were the only candidate who didn't support the agreement between UCSC the city the county and Neighborhood organizations settling a number of lawsuits and disputes related to housing Transportation water and other areas of shared interest you responded by saying that we need to stop the growth at UCSC In Santa Cruz in this constricted and environmentally since that sensitive area Do you believe that it would be in the best interest of the county to abandon this agreement and Reinstitute the lawsuits attempting to limit UCSC growth in Santa Cruz What also what duty if any do you believe Santa Cruz City in the county have to the state of California? To support the delivery of higher education to residents of this state When UCSC was brought to Santa Cruz Fort Ord was not available Fort Ord would be a perfect place the University of Fort Ord UFO we can have a little Otters and spaceships they have the infrastructure. They have the space. They have the roads. They have empty buildings UCSC When I first came here it was a great place. It helped us to save Lighthouse field It helped us to save North Coast it helped us in all the environmental things that make this place the wonderful place We are today Wilder Ranch is not an extension of Orange County UCSC is now wants to grow into its most environmentally sensitive area the forest behind them We do not have the access to that place and building the access will decrease the value of our community So what we could do we could as I said we could they have satellite places in Cupertino Why not in Watsonville? Why does it all go on a hill in a constricted area? We do not have the water and the other thing the one benefit of putting the University as a doughnut hole Was that we were providing housing and getting all the money from those students now? We're told they were not going to make that money that the students are going to stay on the upper campus where they cut down the trees So yes, I do not think that's a good critical thinking Analysis I don't think it's good urban planning and I do stand by my statements First question from the committee for mr. Becket You indicated in your answers that Lafko and the coastal commission should not be involved in local land use decisions You also indicate that you would favor reducing local regulation of businesses The majority of the county board has obviously not shared your opinion over the past several decades How would you be effective as a supervisor in reducing the county's role in regulating business if a majority of the board did not support this goal? Well, I guess I would have to try to influence the board to see it my way more I believe these decisions should be made on the local level as local as possible Like I say, I'm not a big proponent of Lafko and these other outside organizations making our decisions here locally So I guess I would just have to try to use my influence as best as possible second question You indicated that you would probably not support the county's continuing effort to achieve the goals of the climate action Compact to which it subscribed with the city and ucsc ucsc in 2007 you were one of only two candidates who indicated they were not inclined to support the can't count counties continued Participation in this agreement to reduce greenhouse gases Do you believe that government agencies like the county should take action to reduce greenhouse gases and other causes of global warm Warming and if not why not Well global warming has never really been proved. It's a theory. In fact, there are 91,000 scientists Many of these people are PhDs who've signed a document a part of it's 31,000 I believe who signed a document that say they don't believe that global warming is happening You have I forget the number but it's far far less people have signed another agreement who say they believe that global warming is occurring But they're really not professionals. They're not scientists So I don't think the issue of global warming has been Has been made and so therefore I would not support anything in regards to pursuing global warming Mr. McKinnis you indicated that you would remove the county red tape and revenue traps that drive businesses away The committee notes that this sounds very good to every business person But the devil is as always in the details What process would you propose to systematically evaluate and modify rules and regulations? And what would you do to overcome the resistance of staff and other board members to these changes? Well, I mentioned earlier. I'd immediately go out and meet with everybody in my district business by business and Find out what issues and regulations are currently Strapping them either from expanding or hiring more employees and and I've heard some ridiculous issues that have come up and put that task force together by by industry so that way you have people from the restaurant business such as me and maybe somebody from manufacturing somebody from There's several other industries that we have here in the county I'm sorry. I can't think right now But I'd put that I'd put that task force together and I'd go through with them and figure out What are those issues that are impacting them and that at that time? I would take that to the board and work through it with the board as far as how do we reduce or eliminate these these red tags or these Regulations that are hurting business so that they can hire more more people in the county and put people back to work That that would be my my process Question you supported the proposal for an additional ten dollar per vehicle license fee to support street and road maintenance Are there other tax or fee measures you would support to address particular? Issues within the county and if so which issues would you address and with what additional revenue sources? I Wouldn't I don't I believe there's probably no the fees that I would support and I said probably yes I didn't say definitely yes on that and I because in my the only reason is because every hearing that I have attended There's always talk about the roads and unfortunately the roads in our county are potted and They need to be repaired and the only reason I would support some sort of a tax like that is if We had complete control of that that increase those funds and they went specifically to our roads and the board of Supervisors or whatever agencies that's controlling that money can't reapply it to some other fund or Fee or some other project that they won't they decide they want to move that fund money that money to so I Say probably yes, but I'm not really sure depending on exactly how that money would be managed and whether or not it would Exactly go to roads or not. Thank you Next question is the first question for mr. Friend you answered probably no to the creation of a second tier employment Contract that would reduce pension benefits for new employees. You said I don't believe it is The two-tier system that will create long-term sustainability In a recent county-wide poll of businesses two-thirds of the respondents favored further cuts and public pensions It is likely that this reflects public anger at the public sector's defined benefit plans These have been virtually unheard of in the private sector for more than a quarter century What do you say to the private sector employees managers and owners who have only their own savings or at best a defined Contribution plan that lost value over the past few years and are angry about this disparity The average PERS employee in PERS is the is the retirement system earns $20,500 a year in retirement, which I would argue is not exactly a lavish sum When you create a two-tier system, we generally don't see savings for anywhere between 13 and 20 years to the organization That creates the two-tier system I think it's important and in my own personal union I voted in favor of it because it sends a message about economic and fiscal stability But the reality is is that what's bankrupting cities and counties is actually on the benefit side The second part of my answer focused on the benefit side that there needs to be some sort of mitigations for those costs On average the city and the county have experienced 25 to 27 percent increases in health care costs over the last five years As have private sector businesses. I think that the public pension system The two-tier system isn't how you create the long-term fiscal stability. It's actually in in Capping these the growth in the in the health care and the other benefit costs So I think the greater focus should be on the benefit concessions over the specific two-tier system Second question responding to the question regarding the economic impact of traffic on highway one you recounted several examples of how Significant that economic impact is on residents in the mid and southern portion of the county several other candidates disagree Recognizing the significant cost and political challenge of this issue What would you expect to do a supervisor to reduce this economic impact? Traffic issues have a disproportionate impact on the second district I mean anybody that's had to sit in that traffic would understand that and I think also the fourth district as well I mean I've the stories. I was telling those stories. I've heard as I've been meeting voters I'm at a single mother who lives in Watsonville works in Santa Cruz here in 1350 an hour She commutes during the regular hours and told me that it's an extra hour of daycare that she can't afford because of the highway I mean I've talked to business owners such as granite rock that talks about the inability for them to know when their delivery times will be and I think part of the problem is is that you can't have a general plan process that forces development toward the mid and south county and Not have any kind of mitigations for transportation Which is exactly what happened it creates a wild amount of Externalities think about the impacts of the power of our unified school district the city of Watsonville hasn't been able to hire additional police or fire All that is our land use decisions that the county supervisor makes one of the most in fact Probably the most important thing that a county supervisor does is land use decisions And we've made as in the county board has made decisions over the last 30 years It's disproportionately impacted the southern portion of the county and I think that infrastructure and traffic improvements need to be mitigated Next question is the first question for mr. Rivas you indicated that you did not support changes indeed restrictions on the manabee owl property or the annexation of the Agricultural land bordering Beach Street near Watsonville Some past and some current members of the Watsonville City Council argue that this is necessary to alleviate Watsonville's chronic unemployment Problem, what would you do as a county supervisor to significantly reduce chronic unemployment in South County? I Think one of the things that when I was in the City Council and mayor I think we I make the decision that we're going to support the contract the way it was the manabee owl Industrial Park is very important to to promise that though we have Negotiated at the beginning. I know that the current City Council members have Do some changes, but I'll continue to support what I have decided in the past In regards to Mitigating India in regards to unemployment that was very high to to our city of Watsonville It's to continue to to develop the entrepreneurship into our city of Watsonville also doing to develop more industrial parks That be able to be able to provide like we did the strawberry industrial park in which Business can be able to own their property and also conducts business at the same time like we did, you know Also, the other thing is be able to Sustain the health care systems is very important that we continue to support the health care systems within our city The other thing that is very important the incubators that we have developed in which One of things that has been done in the city of Watsonville is to be able to bring a building and then at the same time Business can be able to provide You know the training at the same time they can be able to help business throughout the community and that's something that's going on in the community The incubators have been a very successful way of Helping and develop business within with our city You indicated that you would provide tax incentives for our local business and agricultural industry What taxes would you reduce or rebate as incentives? And what would businesses and agriculture have to do to earn those incentives? What what it is is very important that the ad community continued to be successful in our city of Watsonville And one of things that I will do is to meet with the business community in the ad community to be able to say What is the things that you really need so be able to support? We have a great enterprise song This is something that we had in city Watsonville that would provide a lot of incentives and to hire people and reduce the cost So so they can be able to hire locally employees I think the enterprise sounds I think something that we could we can we can use that concept within their city and also in the county and If we can be followed that model that would be great for for a county as well as our city First question for mr. Hammer you selected the option choose not to answer to the question should the county significantly simplify and streamline its discretionary land use permit process You further indicated that the process needs to be simplified, but that environmental safeguards should not be lifted If the natural elements of the environment such as flora fauna water geology and archaeology could be protected through good planning and enforcement Would you be willing to reduce or eliminate the rights of NIMBY neighbors to delay? Drive up the cost and in many cases effectively vetoed the development rights of property owners who otherwise meet the county's planning and zoning requirements I got an answer for that. I Think I deal with this every day in my in my current position I Think what you're looking at is on a discretionary permit the amount of time That's it that you have to go through and the implications that the NIMBY isn't that you're talking about play into that You could put two years and a lot of times you're putting two years worth of time energy and money into the research of a project and The process in which the neighbors can slow a project down by it goes through Zoning administrator then goes from the zoning administrator to the planning department from the planning department to the board of supervisors And then at that point, you know, I believe it's not unless you want to go with a further lawsuit each time you have to spend money I think that You've got a lot of projects that are good projects They can bring jobs and you've spent a ton of money Because you have the developers have to Supply all the information the soils that you're talking about the geo that you're talking about the structural and Architectural plans, you know, there needs to be a process in which that can be simplified before you have to put all that money out So you can get a yes or no answer on a project before you develop that you saw that happen in Santa Cruz recently There was millions of dollars invested in a project and then it got overturned if you know going into that that project Has a high likelihood of being overturned. You're not going to spend those resources You suggested that to improve the county's fiscal integrity and sustainability You would involve the community in the decision-making process The county's budget process is months long resulting in a budget book That is inches thick based upon the developmental work of many dozens if not hundreds of work groups within the county government What process do you propose to effectively engage the community and how do you believe? That they will that will improve the integrity and sustainability of county government. I Think you have to include the public in all the decisions that you're making so that they have ownership in the decisions that are happening good or bad And I think you have to do that by educating him and putting it out there You're seeing that happening right now in the building department as Mr. Leopold stated the new planning directors reached out to the community had Meetings in every section of this community put out wide mailers to business owners Architects in the community out of those meetings focus meetings She was able to identify people that wanted to continue that process and that and once they continue that process They were able to take a look at each piece of not conforming Changes to to to the policy and they have ownership in it I think that we have to do the same thing with the budgetary process Do I think that everybody's gonna understand it or everybody's gonna want to be part of it? No, but there's gonna be a certain amount of people that want to and then they can stand up in their own Community to say hey, I took part in that they reached out. This is the decisions that were made You know, there is no easy solution to our budget if there was you know, nobody would be unhappy I mean, it's a very difficult process and there's you there's gonna be jobs are lost You're gonna see departments being merged You're gonna see a lot of creativity on how to sustain the programs that we have you're gonna see some of those programs You know diminish I guarantee there's not one worker there that is enjoying the furlough right now The furloughs that they're taking but they're taking it because they want to make a difference They believe in this community and they believe in the county First question for mr. McPherson you propose to improve county government's fiscal integrity and sustainability through performance-based budgeting You recognize the complexity of the county services its role as an implementation tool of state policy with many activities dictated by the legislature and they already stretched personnel resources of the county Who do you think should establish these performance expectations and how should they be measured? I think we we should do it ourselves with the help of others and there's a lot of examples that I've been associated with Who have? Suggested some other budgeting processes that I think we should follow and put in place One one is I think a two-year budgeting cycle It's difficult enough with one and it's hard to project for two years I understand that but I think it would give everybody a sense of where our priorities are in the budgeting process Because the budget is the roadmap to where the county's priorities are made or where they are and where they're going to go in the future I think also an Absolute necessity is a pay-as-you-go mentality That if you're going to create a new program or reduce something else or give something Somebody else a break. How are you going to fill that in the projected revenue source that you have and your county budget? We have to really be serious and get down To the nitty-gritty so to speak about how much new programs are going to cost if we should be able to to get them or to be changing them in the process Performance-based budgeting is something that many local governments and the state government I think is going to get into and I think that is a key element of a new budgeting process You can have matrixes to say I'm going to give you a million dollars to say how much you're going to do to this For this roads or the prison system or whatever and then you show me the results after a year or two And if you haven't reached them, then we change the the performance-based budgeting and get some more standards in place We don't have those measurements now Second question you indicated that the county should take an active role in the development of Measures to stop the intrusion of salt water in the Pajaro Valley aquifers Under what authority do you believe the county should act in what role should it take in resolving? What to date has proven to be an intractable problem? This is a big problem and the water problem that we have Matches the infrastructure problems that we have in transportation and the sewage system But water is the critical the basis of all of it. We as a county Need to do what we can do maybe to have new sources where we can retain water to replenish our aquifers and to promote Agreements between different water agencies so they can have tie-ins to one another So when one is having more of an abundance of water than the other it can it can Help that other water district out and replenish its aquifers. We have a big problem right now That's just waiting to happen in Lompeco in the Santa Rosa Valley There's a lot of talk about Santa Rosa Valley water district and the Lompeco water district of making that tie-in And it should be made I believe but that's up to the districts We can promote that and and say that this is what you should do or try to be an Intermediary if you will to make that happen I think that an inner time between the other The various agencies is critical and at a time We need to replenish the aquifers when we have water in abundance because if we get salt water intrusion That source is gone forever and it's going to be critically important that we have those aquifers available For our water systems and the agricultural community that is so important to our economy First question for mr. Smallman in responding to a question about the sufficiency of water supply in santa cruz county and sokel creek water districts You argue against desalination Attribute the overdrafting of the sokel creek water districts aquifers to bury production And challenge the questions assertions regarding past analyses of water supply with the question whose analyses These positions are all contrary to the studies of external Experts and the professional staffs of the two water districts As a county supervisor, what do you believe the role of staff and experts should be in advising you in the county board regarding complex technical matters such as water supply Well, I believe the study that you know, um, I do believe that that we're used in too much water in the south county And I believe in the salt water intrusion is happening Um, you know, I believe that we need to talk to the agriculture Industry in the south county possibly look into changing There may be some other lucrative crops that use less water And maybe ways to grow berries using less water These things have not been, you know, brought to the table And I I do believe in in in regard to the desalination plant Um, it costs, you know, oh four to five times more Costs to to to to produce this water And you know, a lot of people have said oh well Santa Cruz the city of Santa Cruz has won awards in water conservation But that's basically, you know from, you know, low flow toilets and water residential use But they they haven't implemented any reclaimed water Usage or storm drain design or or building of water storage facilities, which 120 million dollars would go a long ways Which I'd like to I'd like to look into besides using the desalination plant So I publicly have announced that I am against the desalination plant and I would I promote Water conservation methods methods over that. Thank you Any question in response to the question, what would What would you prioritize in efforts to support the economic vitality in commercial agriculture in Santa Cruz county? You responded find a product which uses less water and makes more money How would you go about finding that product? I I think you're referring to I think I mentioned about, you know, in south county about the berry production I would like to you know to talk to the agriculture Industry down there to possibly look into you know, you know, I know your long-term people that lived here The that used to be apple orchards, which there's still some apple orchards, but possibly looking into I'm not saying that's actually absolutely viable to put looking into another agriculture product that Or possibly even growing berries, but using less water Because it's a big problem and and the studies have shown that actually the desalination plant is not isn't really going to solve it those the berry growers If you listen to mr. Deitch But uses a for you know a lot of Too much water. So That was my point with that response. Thank you Final question and we'll start uh on that we can stay on that end Each candidate will answer this final question You will be relieved to know and I'm relieved to read. There are only seven words to this question Why should business people vote for you? Um, like I said, you know, it's been tough To not to to not be a career politician and um get into you know, uh, like the the unions They want they sent no wants to vote or endorse the person that's going to win But I do believe that career politicians the problem really is this the conflict and trying to keep your job and And how it really works and how we'll we'll we'll work with the the board of supervisors to house the board of supervisors That doesn't conflict comes to agreement But brings to the table really good ideas And that those good ideas that that board brainstorms together as would a successful company You know like say apple computer or something that the people get together My big my my most proudest idea is really I believe the addition of the board of economic development Is needed here. There's other counties that have it and like we said, we only just have a couple people That had just got hired a full-time staff for Economic development and it's really kind of new to this county Santa Cruz County really is like sort of a follower. We're very lucky where we live. It's a beautiful area So we survived on tourism, etc But we've really been just sort of a follower. Um, you know, we and we believe by example But let's become a leader like I said, you know, I don't care. Keep Santa Cruz weird Let's let's let's start making it smart And um, and I believe I really believe that this, you know, I want to it consists like it's lacking To have people with business talent and experience in the county And so I want this board to consist entirely of a diverse crowd of business talent and experience And it also include two supervisors that are concerned about this issue as well in that board And if I make the runoff I believe that, you know, I can We have the time to develop some specific rail solutions. Thank you Thank you. I I think basically uh through my experience that I've had the knowledge of the issues that I have And the personal context that I have in all levels throughout government and with the business community and the community at large The non-profit charitable community as well, which is vitally important in our whole economic structure here in Santa Cruz county They have expressed confidence in me before I think that this experience that I have and how to run budgets In my in the private sector Over as chair of numerous non charitable activities as well as in the legislature I I think that I have proven that I can be reasonable Uh, I can be independent and I'm open and I want to listen to the people in the county before we come to a decision Uh the The land use and is is as we said before is a critical element of what a county supervisor does And we have what we we ought to build on what we have our real assets here And that's the agricultural community the tourism community the education community We're one out of four of our neighbors in this county are involved in education one way or the other That is critical and high technology Those are our pluses let's build on them and let's get something in the county That can help those business interests know what's available here and make that decision Do I want to come in here and really be part of this? Sure? They do they love the natural resources we have and as a matter of fact I truly believe and I've shown through the legislation that I've promoted in the editorials that I've written That literally jobs in the environment can work together Because they have to in this county with agriculture Education and and the high tech interest and tourism being a real critical parts of our economy I I think that we can make this a more job friendly County and I will work toward that end When I become silent county supervisor and I ask for your vote on june 5th. Thank you First off. I'd like to thank the Chamber for having this mixer today. I mean this forum tonight and giving me the opportunity to speak I think the business people should vote for me because I'm a strong Voice for the business association for business owners I own a construction company a successful construction company in a time that most construction companies have disappeared I've a huge advocate Within the fifth district in the community that I'm going to represent I sit on a multitude of local nonprofits within the fifth district I sit on I have sat on the Volta Creek parks and rec and made a huge Change to a dysfunctional organization and turn it into By its peers voted the best small district in the state I feel that I can bring that those same qualities To the board of supervisors I've been able to and continue to build partnerships within my own community and I'm beginning to Establish a multitude of connections outside of the fifth district because it's equally important to have an understanding of the entire county And the county's needs so you can make decisions that are going to affect land use You talk about one in five being one one in 25 You know 25 percent of the people out there are doing good things There's also a 25 unemployment rate in the San Lorenzo Valley That's one of the things that I really want to look at and being a business owner I feel that I can help with that. I'm helping with that every day as president of the business association I've been working with the Felton business association the local chamber with the marketing plan and strategic planning So that we can promote small business in the San Lorenzo Valley and more importantly We're taking a look as as as zack friend had mentioned earlier bringing Local Owners and local residents to shop locally because we are a bedroom community and we're making stripes to fix that Thank you I just want to uh You know has been at the mayor and and also in the city council for eight years has prepared me to To be your county supervisor my experience and my In my actions that I have taken in those eight years and besides being a Part of the elected official being 35 years in public education by being you know And working at a high school middle school and elementary school One of the things that is very important to to me that For the business community the business community knows me And I always have the ability to go through the business community and be able to support them whatever the needs are We have done a lot of activity and allowed the development for the business in the city of wassenville And I will like to continue that At the county level the act community is so I always have support the act community because a very important Uh business in in our city of wassenville besides you know providing employment beside you know They know all over the world Especially to the the berries and the strawberries That's one of the key elements of our economy in our city And I think we have to continue to support that that's why we developed the recycle plan So we continue to stop the recycling uh the recycling plan so we can stop the solid instruction And it will do more to be able to help that the act community One of the things that you can the business community can be able to ensure is that I'm a person that's very innovative creative person that will work with the Uh the public institution career college will now they're going to have a group building to provide training and And hopefully jobs here when we develop them and now we're out industrial park And at the same time, you know career college has been part of the business adult education will sell the Part of the land now with adult education provides some training English language citizen Classes so we have very key in education along with the business commuter So it's very important to to to work with my experience that I have when my eight years and also his educational Leader, thank you Well, I'd like to thank the chamber But I'd also like to thank you guys for completing survivor chamber forum edition I've only saw one person pass out. I see you in the back During the course of this You know what we've seen over the last few years have been major cuts to vital services and the vital services are what Really such as infrastructure public safety and even some of the land use threats for agriculture prime agricultural land Parks and open spaces that provides the backbone for economic development And when you vote for somebody local elections really do matter I mean, it's not like the state and federal government are succeeding in anything they're doing right now And so the local government is where these decisions are going to be made And who you elect for these positions really do matter I believe that I'm a pragmatic and effective and responsive voice and will be for the second district And the effective component really does matter Because you only get one vote in this situation and the person that you choose to represent You don't want somebody to be somebody that is going to be an outlier Not going to be able to work with other members of the board Not going to be able to work with outside institutions from the water boards the educational facilities Or you name it and I think that I bring that broad base of not just support But also that effective and responsive and responsible component To to the board of supervisors. So thanks for surviving. Thanks for only one person passing out and I'd be honored to have your support Thanks everybody for showing up tonight I think business owners should vote for me because I bought the Boarded up Historic Series Tavern in 2005 with my my retirement savings To live and retire here Not to fix it up and sell it Not to run for office and then move on to another political office Down the road I bought it. I'm running for political office because I've seen What I believe to be the worst that our county government has to offer And with each fire marshal citation and planning department lawsuit I fought back without an attorney and won in court on my own Mainly because I didn't have the money to pay an attorney, but I still won But just think what I can do for homeowners and businesses out there that are either trapped In the same processes that I'm current that I got out of or about to be trapped and What I can do if I'm on the inside if I'm on the inside I can force change within this county government I can work with the other board members to highlight some of these problems that they're not aware of until they bubble up I went to the county supervisor when I first had my problem And I still got trapped in this revenue trap and I think it's it's more of educating our board that this is not the way business is done I've had businesses over in santa claire county. I've run a computer business. I've had an internet company I never had the red tape that I had here in santa cruz county and all i'm running is a restaurant and bar here So I think I can do what the local businesses need someone on the inside to do which is Fix this so that it's easy to open a business We want small businesses in santa cruz county that are run by families and not big corporations But the money they extracted for me is not the kind of money that a small family business starts with So anyway, I just want to say that if you have Time come by the sea breeze tavern in real domar beach and uh, we're open friday saturday and sunday after six o'clock Let me know how the county's treating you. Thanks. Thanks for your vote Well, I want to thank everyone for hanging in here tonight. It's been kind of a long evening. Um I think the reason that small business should support me is because i'm a small business owner And I think a big part of it comes down to trust I've lived in this county for almost 50 years And my father he moved here with his family in the early 1920s about 90 years ago I'm not a johnny come lately I don't plan to go anywhere. I'm not planning to build a political career on the backs of the people in the second district I simply want to represent the people in my hometown second district And that's why I would ask for your vote on june 5th. Thank you Charles paulton, um As a fifth generation california whose family has been in agriculture and had Many businesses and and were on the forefront of many of the things that created california as a 40 year resident of california Of of santa cruz who came here to get away from the decay of unplanned growth I'm not somebody who left decaying eastern city to come here I actually went to hawaii to try to find that natural place that most of us are here for I did not feel like it was right for me to impose myself and make their place worse So I came back here to keep this place better And if everybody who doesn't value santa cruz would go back and fix whatever they left I think would all be much better off. I've studied urban planning. I've studied the water cycle I've studied organic gardening if we would work together For the good for local people and local jobs Respecting our environment doing things in the right place making a high quality brand You know, we have so much we can do here by going We've talked about big ag that is creating desal I mean the and also saltwater intrusion because they're over drafting If we would give that we would do farming they used to call farming biointensive organic gardening No, that's what they call it now. My grandparents called it farming We have but we have the agri ecology program up at ucse We say we want to use our education if we're supplementing people to bring low wage jobs Exploiting people so we have to pay taxes to backfill their healthcare their housing their food That comes out of the people when our jobs are going down our taxes are going down Because we don't we're not making as much money. So we have to look as creative thinkers in a systems analysis We've got to look at good urban planning. I would suggest a pattern language by Christopher alexander Many of these ideas are already out there. It's not outside the box. Let's do it now Thank you for the chamber for inviting me tonight and thank you for everyone here and those watching on tv We're taking the time to learn about where we stand on positions Local government is the most effective form of government and what you know really makes a difference Business people should vote for me and a lot of the same reasons that the whole community should vote for me I have a broad base of experience that has been useful as In my job as county supervisor I've done everything from community organizing Your own bill tisling hired me to run a startup I've run a nonprofit and I've worked on uh economic labor and health policy at a state and federal level I also served on the cabrio college board for eight years and saw the cycles that went through and As three years on the county board of supervisors. I've been able to do a good job about building effective policy including people in decision making and adding to the county's tax base in a way that That doesn't add any new development. No new traffic and no new taxes I think it's vitally important that we engage our community whether it be on economic development issues or other urban planning issues In the decisions that affect them I have worked hard to bring hundreds of people out on issues around redevelopment criminal justice And economic development. I will continue to do that as a member of the board of supervisors I'm proud to have the support Of many elected officials from the board of supervisors the santa crews and capitol city councils members of the school boards Throughout the district and the fire board I'm proud to have the support of the neighborhood association leaders The business leaders in the first district As well as a host of organizations Like the sierra club the labor council the democratic women's club I want to encourage you to find out more about me by visiting my website at friends of john leopold.com And I look forward to your support on june 5th. Please vote for john leopold. Thank you Gary richard arnold In the past I've managed apartment stores and drugstore chains I've roared three different real estate offices in southern california and manhattan beach and westwood and west l.a Um I believe that uh, we were just heard that the local government is really important and in no way is our government local Uh, it is contracted with ickley. It's adopted the united nations agenda 21 That was sam far who wrote that particular Forward to that draft zack friend worked for sam far In in addition every one of us candidates we swore to uphold the constitution And I think this is really important No county exists without Every county is a extension of the state. There'd be no state in the union. No state join the union until they had their bill of rights We have seen within the last four or five months where americans can be black bagged Where the president says he can assassinate any american any place on earth They recently passed a law called, uh, 347 which puts you in jail If you happen to protest the wrong, uh, federal official We have a big problem in this country and it exists in this county. We're an extension of a un Roll out if you look at the back side of that dvd on the council on foreign relations You'll find that that the council on foreign relations formed in 1921 their objective was a north american union The harmonizing of local laws here is exactly do that and these people are as guilty as sin this this uh 62 pages Of absolute bunk that ties down every every business is this thing is absolutely outrageous And the people should find out what's going wrong in this county and vote for somebody that's not afraid of the political machine Look up gerry richard arnold the man against the machine Chamber commerce and the santa cruz uh business council. Thank you to the candidates for participating in our forum Also a special. Thank you to the uh museum of art and history santa cruz community television And the committee that helped put together this uh forum. Thank you again and good evening