More Sierra Club Survey Questions/Answers

Here are questions 2, 3, and 4 (of 8) from the Sierra Club Candidate Survey with my responses. I hope you will consider your own personal position on each of these issues - and share it with city council by email, letter, phone, or by commenting at an upcoming council meeting. Council needs to know where the community stands on these important community issues. Here is where I stand on the issues of improving local transportation, marketing locally produced foods, and promoting energy efficient building construction.

I will post the other four questions with my answers in the next several days. So, be sure to bookmark this site and visit again. Some of these issues will be addressed at the upcoming candidate forum at city hall at 7:00 pm on Oct. 3. Perhaps you can share your thoughts on some of these issues with council candidates then.

2) Do you have any proposals for the improvement of transportation in the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County and University of Virginia?

Yes. Below are several proposals I have been promoting over the past several years and will promote if I am elected to city council.

2.1 I am a strong advocate for expansion of pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation opportunities throughout our region. I believe that the concept of an expanded trolley system connecting Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia should be explored in greater detail along with expanded bus service throughout our region.

2.2 I also have advocated for establishment of a true regional transportation authority that includes not only Charlottesville and Albemarle County as currently being proposed, but also including the surrounding counties (Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson) that are part of our planning district. These jurisdictions contribute many vehicle trips to and from the Charlottesville and Albemarle County urbanized area that need to be considered in our regional transportation planning.

2.3 I propose expanded development of pedestrian and bicycle paths that connect residential, shopping, and employment centers in our area. Some of these types of facilities have been recently constructed and I will support continued – if not expanded – development of pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

3) The City of Charlottesville has sought to promote local marketing of locally produced foods. Are there any steps you believe the City should take to support local production and sale of healthful foods?

Yes, I believe that a permanent home for our city market needs to be established. I prefer that one market location be in the Charlottesville downtown area accessible to potential pedestrian and bicycle travelers. Additional market areas in other locations, and on different market days will also enhance marketing of local foods and provide added benefits to our environment, community health and our local economy.

4) Solar building design provides a means of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the City. Are there any steps you would like to see the City take to further promote energy-efficient building design?

Yes. I believe that the city should promote use of solar building technology in all of its own buildings and explore use of these technologies when new buildings are designed and when building reconstruction and renovation projects are done. I also will promote establishment of energy reduction incentives to encourage private builders to use solar or other greenhouse gas reducing technologies in non-governmental buildings. These incentives could be included as guidelines for planned urban developments that require planning commission and city council approvals before necessary rezoning decisions.