Sustainable Saratoga is a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable practices and the protection of natural resources through education, advocacy and action, for the benefit of current and future generations in the Saratoga Springs area. The November 5, 2019 election offers an opportunity to raise and discuss pressing issues relating to sustainability in this region.
Our supporters are interested in knowing the candidates’ plans for addressing key sustainability issues confronting our community, and this questionnaire provides each candidate an opportunity to discuss these issues. We sent each candidate the same five questions. Below you will find their responses, verbatim and without any comments. Click on the name to see the responses for that candidate. There is a link to a pdf version of the responses at the bottom of each candidate’s response.
It is important to stress that as a 501(c)(3), Sustainable Saratoga does not, and will not, endorse any particular candidate for an elected office.
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF SARATOGA SPRINGS
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
The Comprehensive Plan is a valuable tool in planning for the future. Most important is the narrative that accompanies the map. This reflects the intentions of the residents, and the spirit of the city. There should be a dynamic process of checking the progress of development with adherence to the intentions of the residents.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
A good measure of sustainable is acceptance by residents.There are measures that include economic resilience and a healthy social matrix as well as environmental. Saratoga Springs is a moderately sized city with just 30,000 residents, with the benefit of a high level of ‘destination dollars’. There is a healthy trend of residential stock for part-year residency. ‘Affordable’ housing is a concept in development and it will be important to learn from the models currently under construction. An important factor of sustainability will be the occupants’ success continuing or finding fulfilled lives in Saratoga Springs.
The successful models should be learned from and emulated.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
The starting point is to learn best practices as practiced in similar municipalities, and to develop according to what is found to work.
In the development prognosis for the city as seen in the Comprehensive Plan, there can and should be provision for smart traffic design, and allowance for roadway improvements that will preclude the creation of traffic patterns that choke healthy movement. Public transportation options should be developed as practicable, with metrics that truly show effectiveness.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
Parking solutions should be designed to facilitate convenience for residents as well as to stimulate use of the downtown core. The recent move of oversight for the proposed parking garage to the City Center is a step forward. Yet to be defined is a plan to support operations of the garage. The viability of this facility will tie in with downtown parking availability and accessibility. There should be a plan for coordination of parking space terms of use and publicity that ties together downtown and the parking garages. Such a plan is in preparation, to be discussed with leaders of the downtown business community along with City Center leadership and residents.
Mobility and accessibility solutions should be included in all deliberations concerning parking locations and features.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
I support protection of the Greenbelt. It is more than a conceptual region. It is an expression of city design identifying concentrations of development. This should be a reliable indicator to residents current and future of what to seek and what to expect in predictable density and uses. Densities should be clear, and maintained.
The watershed for Saratoga Lake is challenging to protect due the breadth of the region. Here, planning can be effective. With precipitation predicted to be equal or greater in coming years, I recommend dynamic mapping to show wetland and watershed perimeters, available to planners, developers and residents. As available from NOAA or the city’s Sustainability
Coordinator. Planning and zoning should keep up to protect the water bodies and resources.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
As Mayor I would undertake to form consensus of the governing body. Beyond specific wording in the Charter, the Mayor and Council adopts laws, codes and ordinances. In coming years the importance of environmental considerations will grow. It appears there is good opportunity for members of the Council to recognize important initiatives to include. I believe the responsibility belongs to the entire governing body and would appreciate the opportunity to lead in these initiatives as necessary.
Similarly, as Mayor I would take a strong interest in representing the city to other levels of government as well as nongovernmental agencies beneficial in achieving sustainable goals.
Sustainable Saratoga and like organizations are vital components of citizen action in the city. Sustainable Saratoga should continue to contribute its valuable insight and recommendations to the city. There are a number of ways in which this can be done. As Mayor I would add members to planning bodies who bring the longer and deeper perspectives often found in Sustainable Saratoga viewpoints, along with other members of the community who share a vision for sustainability in the city’s future.
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
My administration has taken substantial action toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing, and will continue to do so. We have supported at least four large initiatives: Promenade, NPR, Stonequist, SoBro, making way for hundreds of new homes of varying costs and styles. I will continue to provide my support by way of staff, funding resources, establishing partnerships, and working with the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority. In addition, it is possible to consider legal requirements to allocate new housing resources towards divers housing growth.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
The Paris Climate Change Agreement is a document that must be implemented on every level, from international down to the individual. Municipalities help individuals realize goals, and the City of Saratoga Springs is ready willing and able to step up under my administration. The City, with my backing and leadership, has supported and will continue to support projects such as solar, utility options, recycling, multi-modal transportation options, lower emission vehicles, green building growth, dedicated open space, and NYS laws in the best interest of climate change issues. My department is responsible for the City’s full-time employee dedicated to sustainability issues — with our encouragement, she has surpassed all expectations for productively, initiative, and just plain passion for the issues.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
I am committed to a unified and efficient parking plan. This means a variety of options and payment plans. Let it be said: there is no such thing as free parking – the cost of parking is borne by either the property owner via taxes or the user via user fees. This City, like every city of its stature and success, should have user paid and unpaid, on street, off street, parking deck, valet, and multi-modal transportation options, to name a few. We have had numerous parking studies completed and have plenty of information to consider – with reasonable updates, it is time to organize and implement a plan. While this matter is under the jurisdiction of the Department f Public Safety, I stand fully prepared to support any action towards a unified and efficient parking plan.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
Not only am I am required by law to stand by our 2015 Comprehensive Plan, I support by action and performance all provisions for the promotion of the greenbelt, open space, and encouragement/ incentives for affordable and diverse housing. The Comprehensive Plan clearly outlines respectable policy objectives for density limitations, and I will defend all Zoning Ordinance provisions which are in compliance with these requirements. Moreover, if required to modify the Comprehensive Plan (which must be done very, very thoughtfully), I would limit any modifications to retain the quality and character of the Greenbelt, one of our defining characteristics that has environmental importance, quality of life, invaluable aesthetic, and economic value to the City of Saratoga Springs.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
This question is one for the experts in the Department of Public Works (DPW), Risk and Safety, and the Water department. That said, I will continue support all actions taken to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the effects of development. I have provided 100 % approval for all measures taken by DPW and encouraged by the Saratoga Lake Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District (SLIPD). The watershed is not limited to the Saratoga lake, and while our geographic “ownership” of the Lake may be limited, it does not keep our City from negotiating high standards.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
These issues require collective action of all departments; it is appropriate that the responsibility is distributed across departments. We all know that it may not be accomplished overnight, but I am committed to take direct action on those issues under the jurisdiction of my department: Planning and Economic Development, Community Development, Building, Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation, and Sustainability, Mayors Office, Communications and Mail, Human Resources, and more. I include them all because there are actions that can be taken on every level.
Further, as Mayor I have and will continue to press and support all departments to make sustainable options a number one priority. I will support a budget that demands no less and continue to find ways to make all City programs and initiatives sustainable.
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- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
I pledge to assume responsibility for all areas that are within my direct jurisdiction. I pledge to support and encourage all areas that are within the jurisdiction of other departments. This has been my course since the beginning of my tenure, and will continue to be until its end.
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- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
Non-profits like Sustainable Saratoga are critical for information, advocacy, representation, critic, and support. The City could not progress without the voice of its collective citizens, and what they bring to our table with integrity and expertise. Both our agreements and disagreements inform the process, and we could not do the good work we accomplish with your participation.
CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
I will continue what I’ve been doing for the last 8 years. For example, I spurred the development of three affordable homes on what was once city owned property to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. I assigned funding to assist with receiving tax credits for developers to build affordable homes with the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority, and the South Broadway project – I expect they will request project funding again this year and our financial incentives will be available. I have worked closely with the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, and three mayors on sustainable economic development issues. This is a very important issue to the long-term financial health of the city. We must have sustainable economic development to ensure that we can manage through any decrease in the revenues driven by SPAC, the Track, Skidmore, the Hospital, and the City Center.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
I was the City Council member to bring forward the successful Climate Change Agreement modeled after the Paris Agreement, but our agreement was actually stronger than the Paris Agreement and more accurately reflected the Governor Cuomo’s Revising the Energy Vision (REV) program. As you know, I worked with Sustainable Saratoga to make the dream of one of your members a reality by spearheading the construction of the Spa City Solar Park on the Weibel Avenue landfill, along with NYSERDA and the Governors NY Sun Program, which greatly reduced the city’s carbon footprint. I’ve been working to make Saratoga Springs a regional leader on these issues, beginning with establishing the Smart City Commission. I have been working with Public Safety and Public Works on issues like smart street lights and traffic lights, Community Choice Aggregation, and public space recycling.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
I’ve recommended, and funded, the City’s Public Safety Department hire of a part-time parking project manager to help move forward a parking plan for the city of Saratoga Springs. This person has been hired and will begin to meet with various stakeholders throughout the city, including Sustainable Saratoga, the Chamber, City Council, residents, etc. to determine a good plan leading to a next phase RFP for a full parking management plan for the City. I have offered several smart parking presentations to the New York State Parking Authority and will do so again this October 9th.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
The Comprehensive Plan and how it is to be updated is outlined in the City of Saratoga Spring’s Charter. I support the City Charter and its process for the updating of our Comprehensive Plan.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
The City has long been purchasing land surrounding our watershed and Loughberry Lake (our primary drinking water source) to support protecting these lands from development. I support this initiative and will support this going forward.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
I have been working with Commissioner Scirocco to address recycling and waste reduction, and hope to continue to do so. As mentioned earlier, when a former Mayor decided not to lead the development of affordable housing on what was then city owned property, as proposed by the city’s Planning and Economic Development Department, I took the lead and made that proposal a reality. I’ve already worked with Sustainable Saratoga on issues like the Spa Solar Park and hope to do so again on other issues in the future. Every year I support through the city budget an annual appropriation for tree-toga to support new tree plantings throughout the city. This year I will ensure we have adequate funding to support trail maintenance.
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
A sustainable economic development plan in our City should begin with a framework that identifies our specific needs, untapped resources and defines in numerical terms our goals and objectives.
Our plan should have clear quantifiable objectives that focus on participation, equity, and growth to reduce energy usage, expand public transit options, conserve green space, create energy efficient buildings (public/private), and at the same time establish a more diverse and affordable housing opportunities.
One of the biggest issues facing our City today has to do with affordability when is comes to housing. If we are going to be a sustainable city, we need to create opportunities for affordable residences within the City limits that includes homeownership in addition to rentals. Today it is becoming more difficult for individuals who work in the City to reside in the City.
We need to look at having an inclusionary zoning policy to require a production of affordable housing for rental and purchase that are available to low and moderate income residents.
I will work with the City Council along with national, state and local agencies to implement policies that align with our annual goals and require us to be accountable on a quarterly review basis.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
I am pleased our city has adopted a resolution recognizing the need to align with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Cities generate a majority of our climate emissions and local government needs to play a role in reducing emissions and making our City resilient to climate change.
As the next Commissioner of Finance, I will lead a determined effort to focus on developing a program with solutions and alternatives that reduce the heavy commercial truck traffic along Broadway and our residential streets. I will work directly with the Governor’s office and State Department of Transportation to come up with new approaches to solve this unsustainable problem and issue. Currently we have truck traffic that is routed from Route 50/Ballston Avenue onto Adelphi Street in order to access South Broadway/Route 9 South. This traffic should not be routed into the City as the path to exit the City.
The City has proposed a Code Blue shelter located at Finley and Adelphi Street which is on this truck traffic route. Having a high traffic, truck route is unsustainable for many reasons including safety and quality of life especially for our most vulnerable.
I also advocate for alternative forms of transportation and complete streets. Our City has had a complete streets policy since 2012, with very small, incremental advancements with this initiative. I’d work to advance initiatives that support this policy.
I’d like to implement electricity reduction policies via use of LED lighting, and work with DPW and DPS to ensure capital and equipment purchases are energy efficient.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
Understanding Sustainable Saratoga could not provide a copy of the 2016 City Council recommendation I was able to review the March 2018 RFP for Smart Parking Management Strategy and Implementation Plan. This is a well written request for proposal and I’d like to understand the submissions received and next steps. The goal should be to find solutions that mitigate parking concerns, use our space more constructively and create alternative transportation options such as bikes and public transit.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
I support the current zoning rules and regulations protecting the City’s outer district, and will champion efforts to preserve this space against runaway development. I also advocate for the renewing of an open space bond act that will allow the City to secure properties important to the Cities Open Space Plan.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
One of the areas where I’m most concerned has to do with the environmental health of our primary water supply source at Loughberry Lake. It appears to be undergoing a slow degradation as a result of climate change and urban development impacts, however we have not done any environmental study updates in decades that pertain to the water quality and quantity issues related to this primary water supply source. First and foremost, we need to commission a study updating the quality and quantity issues for our water supply. Based on this comprehensive water study update we can then properly determine short-term and long-term solutions.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
Under this form of government we are limited to assigning full responsibility because each member at the council table is one of five votes. However, what I will commit to do is use my voice as an advocate and sponsor City policy and procedure for the following areas: affordable housing and other environmental and quality of life issues facing the city as identified in this questionnaire.
Additionally, as the Commissioner who oversees the City’s IT department, I will sponsor efforts to continue and expand a “smart city” approach that monitors and analyzes data to allow better decision making and thus more efficient use of resources.
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- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- affordable housing
- energy conservation
- open greenspace
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- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
I believe it is both in the interest of the City and feasible for the City to promote Sustainable Saratoga and other non-profits that have a direct impact on quality of life and longer-term planning, including helping encourage events and participation in such events. As a city council member, I would solicit input from such non-profits on a regular basis for promising initiatives, and as Commissioner of Finance direct my department to work directly with such organizations on conducting appropriate cost benefit analysis and fiscal analysis of proposals to allow open discussion on continuing Saratoga Springs’ leadership in sustainable policy
CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
I believe diverse and affordable housing is critical to the growth of our city including mixed income development projects, comprised of housing units with differing levels of affordability, some at market rate and some reserved for lower income residents. I am a strong supporter of the current affordable housing projects recently approved by the city and look forward to seeing them come to fruition.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
I believe we need to continue to work towards the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement as a city and as individual residents. Continuing to push for green building growth, solar energy projects, and hybrid/electric vehicles for our city as well as supporting and expanding initiatives like Saratoga Recycles Day all help move us towards becoming a more environmentally healthy community.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
We seem to have spent an incredible amount of time researching and studying Saratoga’s unique parking challenges and I think it is time to take the information we have and take action. I 100% support the implementation of a unified parking plan. The answer is not a one size fits all solution however, creative and different methods of parking need to be utilized to adequately address our city’s needs.
I believe we also need to address the connectivity and accessibility of our city sidewalks, such that all pedestrians, especially those with mobility challenges, are able to comprehensively enjoy our walkable city. The Mayor’s office recently did an incredible job securing a grant to help us achieve that goal and I look forward to working with the city council to implement more measures in the same spirit.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
I support the Comprehensive Plan passed by the city in 2015 and am committed to maintaining Saratoga Spring’s city in the country status. The Comprehensive Plan clearly outlines the allowable densities and increases/decreases in the Greenbelt and should be supported as written.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
I am open to any and all measures that will help protect the integrity of Saratoga Lake.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
For any progress to be made in Saratoga, you need the collective action of the city council. I am a leader who will listen to the public, bring ideas and initiatives forward and then collaborate and work together with the city council towards decisive action.
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- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
I believe all of the aforementioned areas are crucial to the future viability of our city and would be happy to assume responsibility for any if needed.
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- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
ABSOLUTELY. I think Sustainable Saratoga is an incredible resource for our city and communication and collaboration with your organization is an absolute necessity for our health and success.
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
Economic development and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive. In fact, developing our community in an environmentally sustainable manner can spur economic activity and draw people here to live. Nurturing a cleaner and healthier environment will result in people wanting to root their lives in our community, and when people root themselves here, they support our local economy. I am strongly committed to building a healthy and sustainable Saratoga Springs, and I am strongly committed to the development of our local economy — I believe these two ideas can work cooperatively to continue to improve the quality of life here and to ensure our community is a place people want to visit and live.
Affordable housing is becoming an ever-greater challenge to a wider range of people in our city, as well as across the nation. As we turn our attention to a “Housing First” model in meeting the challenge of Homelessness here in Saratoga, we will have the opportunity to revisit more inclusive ways of addressing these rising costs. The integrated youth housing units in the new “Intrada” building off of West Avenue is just one example of this paradigm shift. There are, in fact, many creative approaches to housing being used around our country – I am committed to researching and applying the best practices that other communities have been implementing with success!
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
I completely agree with this action and with aligning Saratoga Springs with the Paris Climate Change Agreement! Seeking an aggressive reduction in greenhouse gasses is an obvious, practical first step. I also plan to champion a more walkable, bikeable Saratoga, which will foster greater accessibility of our city while lessening the consumption of fossil fuels. I will work to expand our sidewalk & trail systems, bringing an important focus to user safety and access.
I strongly support the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and will vigorously seek to put regular action behind these, including augmenting the education of our citizens about the possible and probable impacts that we will experience in our region due to climate change. I have much to learn about what is unfolding, as we all do, and I will continue to seek insight into possible local actions, as well as ways to mobilize our communities, perhaps by drawing upon national expertise, such as that of Dr. Peter Fiekowsky of the Foundation for Climate Restoration.
Saratoga Springs is already engaged with Urban Reforestation, which will continue to help offset our carbon footprint, as well as mitigate some of the impact of more severe rainfalls and flooding – all results of the intensification of weather systems. Speaking of water, I would also like to bring greater focus to basic water conservation, along with broadened protection of our waterways and our extraordinary water shed that starts high in the Adirondacks.
On a final note, it is my understanding that Saratoga Springs signed on as a Cool City a decade ago and that we have been seeking to become fully certified under NYS’s Climate Smart Communities program –- I will do my best to move areas forward that are or may be still “pending” or in “process” in support of this valuable redirect for our city and for our “livable” future.
To be clear, Climate Change is the ultimate Public Safety issue!!
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
Saratoga is challenged with seasonal and event traffic congestion, as well as a lack of viable parking -– much is a reflection of the dynamic popularity of our city to visitors and businesses! THAT is a good thing! However, our infrastructure has not been able to keep pace with the increase of people and vehicles that travel through our communities. I believe we need to draw on best practices that we’ve seen developed in other towns and communities around us, including the possible introduction of “roundabouts” to help to ease traffic flow in appropriate, practical locations.
With regard to the current parking management plan, I will need to spend more time understanding what the City has agreed to and what the goals and intentions are before I can address this specific topic. Of course, I would want to consider the impact, as well, on the various stakeholders of Saratoga Springs.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
This is another example of the need for third party research to determine the viability of desired changes and whether said changes will be in the best interest of the majority of our citizens, their communities, and of preserving the resources of Saratoga Springs. For instance, there needs to be a task force created around the proposed Hospital Expansion to investigate the impact on the surrounding community and that task force needs to include citizens from that surrounding community. Any change to the plan to make more provisions for one entity over another must be considered strongly in light of the impact on the greater good of those who live and work in that region.
I believe that providing an environmentally desirable and sound residence for our citizens is critical to the overall health and wellbeing of all of our people, and contributes directly, therefore, to their sense of safety and the protection of our community, as a whole. I support our city making informed decisions to provide an excellent way of life for our community for many, many years.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
Zoning considerations must accommodate defending the integrity of the lake and our watershed from overuse. One consideration may be limiting new construction permits that compromise the environment, which includes monitoring water runoff from jobsites. Another would be capturing and managing storm water and agricultural runoff, as well as landscaping pollutants. Critical to climate change resiliency is developing measures to protect our drinking and waste management facilities. We must enter into any and all new development with a forward-minded plan that considers the city we leave for our future generations.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
I plan to engage with all of the stakeholders of Saratoga Springs in developing and implementing a “Housing First” policy for the Homeless and for those who may be in imminent peril of becoming homeless. Furthermore, I will support the #311 plan to activate supportive services outreach to engage with the homeless first, rather than our police force.
I have a strong personal interest in continuing the expansion of our trails and sidewalks, bringing more focus to the safety of pedestrians and cyclists through more sidewalks, improved surfaces, better lighting, and increased officer patrolling by bicycle and/or horse.
Furthermore, I would support assigning these areas of interest to specific commissions or task groups in order to focus them in the forefront of our city management and council action, rather than relegating them to afterthoughts.
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- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
I believe that it would make good sense to bring parking, trails, and multi- modal transportation under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Public Safety. I would also appreciate being a secondary support to developing affordable housing.
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- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
YES!! Sustainable Saratoga already brings unique insights to these specific interests that will serve our community well into the future. Being secure in our resources is a big part of making Saratoga Springs a residence of choice … Sustainable Saratoga is already leading the charge as a guardian of those resources, as well as a local educator, and as a vital community organizer and catalyst. THANK YOU!
CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
Within the role of Commissioner of Public Works, the term sustainability can have several definitions. At it’s fundamental level, I need to ensure that I am being a steward for the cities infrastructure. We currently do not have a proactive plan for addressing and replacing infrastructure. I will be bringing forward a 5, 10 and 20 year infrastructure plan such that we can project, budget, and address our in fracture in a sustainable and affordable way. On our current path, we will run headlong into uncontrollable tax increases when a major system component fails. I will also be introducing a program in our water billing directed towards low wage residents.
As far as housing is concerned, I am very concerned for the lack of truly affordable housing for our working class citizens and retirees on fixed income. The current “affordable” or “work force housing” seems to be aimed at a more affluent group than the men and women who work in our restaurants, stores, etc. That said, there are several projects currently under construction and I want to see the impact of those opening before advocating for a specific plan or program.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
I fully support the directive of the Paris Climate Accord. Unfortunately a lot of the DPW fleet is not appropriate for conversion to current EV technologies, but the personal vehicles that are, I will convert them to EVs. We need to do a thorough audit of all of our buildings to identify and address and deficiencies in energy efficiency and I will authorize that to happen. Lastly, we currently cannot account for 30% of the water that we produce. That is extremely costly and results in excess usage of energy, chemicals and could be causing potential environmental harm (erosion, etc). I will be finding and fixing those leaks so our system losses approach those considered as benchmarks (10% loss goal, 5% is considered best in class)
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
The results of that plan have not been published to my knowledge, so I would start with getting those and releasing them to the community. I do not support the current lot that was recently approved for the city center. The previous iteration showed a $400K annual operational loss, which also stated that paid on street parking was “Necessary” to support that number. We cannot implement plans we know are financial losers, that also support a dying mode of transport. I am a solid supporter of the Complete Streets Program and will be the leader of that effort on the council. I will be focusing on ensuring safe and walkable sidewalks at all times of the year and the implementation of the authorized bike lanes.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
I do not support changes to our comprehensive plan that would allow for higher concentration housing, commercial or industrial purposes in residential areas. We need to make significant and MAJOR investments into our water infrastructure. The Dam is failing and protection from potential traffic accidents needs to be implemented in addition to further protect this asset. Loughberry resides in several towns and it will take a participatory/collaborative approach between our neighboring communities. I will make that effort. We are currently not taking any funds out of our development process for investment in our infrastructure. I will be implementing connection fees as a revenue stream for direct investment in out water system. If we do not protect our existing system, the need for alternate source waters is inevitable.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
As Commissioner of Public works, I have responsibility for all of our municipal buildings. I will take ownership of their evaluation and making improvements to their energy efficiency. The city recycling program was eliminated by the current commissioner is violation of NYS law. I will be reimplenting that immediately. Additionally, I own the grounds and parks and will be banning the use of Glyphosate on city property and by city workers my first act in office. I have witnessed the State DOT spraying it on the shores of our reservoir, that practice will also be stopped. Lastly, I will be making a big push to reverse the loss of our Urban Forrest and will look to Sustainable Saratoga as a key partner in identifying areas for planting efforts. I want to see us get to 1000 tress planted by the end of my first term.
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
Developers have already started working on affordable housing projects in the city and I’ve been supportive at the council table of their efforts. In situations where grant funding, and available funding sources that required council action, I voted in favor of these projects and will continue to do so.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
I’ve been supportive of City efforts to reduce reliance on greenhouse gas emissions by promoting multimodal transportation through complete streets, increased trails, and climate smart cities. As Commissioner of Public Works, responsible for city buildings, I’ve implemented LED light conversions at the City Garage, included conversions in the City Hall renovation project, and have a planned project for the City Ice Rinks. We’ve also purchased electric zamboni’s at the ice rinks, and installed electric car charging stations at the Woodlawn Avenue and Spring Street parking garages.
In addition, the GPS fleet management program was installed in 2018 and it includes an idle time monitor and alert system that DPW is currently benchmarking to reduce idle times for city vehicles.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
The promotion of multimodal forms of transportation such as safe trails, pedestrian, and bike lanes, is necessary to reduce congestion downtown. I’ve supported every trail that has come before the council including Railroad Run, Spring Run, the Greenbelt Trail, and the Geyser Road trail to reduce the reliance on vehicular transportation throughout our city.
Parking management requires improved identification of available spaces, such as through better signage and/or the utilization of mobile apps that provide information on open parking spaces. Because of the city’s growing needs, an engineering firm should be engaged to conduct a comprehensive parking management study, and then make recommendations on current and future parking needs. Of significant importance is the financial impact, maintenance requirements, and the future parking needs in consideration of the potential for a reduced reliance on cars as the primary transportation mode.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
I do not support any adjustments to increase densities in the Greenbelt.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
The city should partner with the Saratoga Lake Improvement and Protection District (SLIPD) to monitor and identify any harmful development activity around Saratoga Lake. While the City only has a small portion of the watershed of the lake, the land use boards should be aware of any potential deleterious development projects. This information should also be shared with surrounding municipalities and everyone should adhere to watershed regulations.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
It’s true that policies around affordable housing, parking, and multimodal transportation do not have a specific “home” in the charter, but as outlined above I’ve taken actions to support both and will continue to do so.
But the remaining items on the abovementioned list do have an assignment, and it’s the Department of Public Works. During my tenure as DPW Commissioner I’ve accepted responsibility and worked on a number of initiatives related to these items.
Trails: I’ve currently requested funding for a trails crew in the 2020 budget due to the expanding trails program (Geyser Road, Greenbelt). This will provide the maintenance resource necessary to maintain and expand trails when possible and promote the continued usage of City trails by residents and visitors. Previously DPW has worked to build portions of the Railroad Run trail, and the Doug Haller Railroad Run Connector. While council action is needed to apply for grant funding and typically contractors are utilized to build trails, DPW has been actively involved in maintaining and in some instances, expanding, the trails system with city resources.
Environmental Protection: DPW is constantly working to ensure adherence to DEC regulations in many areas including stormwater management, watershed protection, stream maintenance, and compost operations. I also proposed (and passed) at the council table reducing the project size to one tenth of an acre to adhere to stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) practices. This threshold is less than the DEC requirement of an acre.
In addition, DPW works on a number of initiatives to ensure environmental protection practices including mowing patterns to protect the Kerner Blue Butterfly at the Weibel Avenue Landfill, and the hiring of the City’s first Arborist to maintain the urban forest.
Recycling and Waste Reduction: DPW hosts a bi-annual household hazardous waste collection day to provide an opportunity for city residents to dispose of this material. This year, we will be cross-promoting this event with Sustainable Saratoga’s Recycling Day with a proclamation declaring October 26, 2019 as Community Recycling Day in the City of Saratoga Springs. DPW also maintains the ongoing recycling operation at the Weibel Ave landfill, and a composting program to recycle yard waste.
In prior years under my leadership DPW attempted a public recycling effort downtown that was ultimately unsuccessful as many people disposed of trash in the recycling containers. Currently however, there have been conversations with Sustainable Saratoga and Waste Connections on how to provide education and recycling containers that can reduce this contamination.
I’m going to prioritize this initiative moving forward and hope the partnership with Sustainable Saratoga can continue and grow on making this a reality downtown.
YES, Sustainable Saratoga has already been a great partner in promoting and supporting a number of initiatives on these items and many more and I look forward to the opportunity to continue working with many great people who care about our city.
CANDIDATE FOR COMMISSIONER OF ACCOUNTS
NO RESPONSE RECEIVED
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
It is important to note that I am running for a position at the County level, with limited control and impact on the development and policies on the City level. Therefore, my answers will primarily focus on the County level and how it may impact Saratoga Springs.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
One of the first steps necessary at the County level is to consolidate economic development funding and reduce redundancy in funding and personnel. This will streamline decision-making and oversight and potentially release some County funding for other priorities. Additionally, I continue to encourage the development of a technology committee on the Board of Supervisors, which will set and oversee priorities in the County to attract more tech-oriented and small and remote businesses with a focus on long-term integration into our community. One of my first steps as Supervisor was to push the nomination of a second Saratoga County representative to the Capital District Transportation Authority in order to improve and increase public transportation and decrease reliance on cars. I am focused on a Housing First model for the County to assist the housing unstable, and working within state and national committees to learn more how to best develop County-level development policies that focus on resiliency and municipal density while preserving open space.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
My first step will be to continue pushing for a county-wide climate plan focused on both mitigation and adaptation. This plan would look at what the county is and can do to reduce impact on the environment, including increasing use of solar for county energy needs; building additional technologies into the planned biosolids facility with Albany County, including bio-char; and adding additional methods of re-using and re-cycling County supplies. It would also review the County’s ability to respond to climate change, including development within the County and the preservation of green space; emergency management planning and scenarios; and infrastructure and municipal cooperation planning. Currently, I sit on the leadership team of the Energy, Environment, and Land Use Committee of the National Association of Counties, as well as on the membership of state and national level resilient counties committees, in order to learn best practices for application within Saratoga County.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
I believe that a comprehensive and unified review of parking within the City of Saratoga Springs is an excellent idea and, similarly, a review of transportation through Saratoga County is necessary. A primary transportation issue within the County as a whole is the need for increased public transportation, especially given the planned movement and distribution of County services outside of the existing public transportation structure. Additionally, working with neighboring counties through CDTA, we may be able to develop commuter-oriented services along the Northway which would increase employment opportunities for Saratoga County residents. To this end, during my first year on the Board of Supervisors, I pushed for a resolution for a second representative from Saratoga County on the CDTA Board; while the resolution currently rests in the hands of Governor Cuomo (who makes the official appointment), the position had previously been vacant for years.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
The Greenbelt should be preserved and the City and County should review the potential impacts on the watershed of all development actions, with a primary focus of preserving water security and health. This should be a major consideration in the climate mitigation plans and affect the use of chemicals, particularly in law enforcement, at the county airport, and in agricultural use.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
As Supervisor, my role is to focus on County-level sustainability issues, and I pledge to continue the push for a county-wide climate mitigation plan as described above, either through a standing committee or a separate ad hoc group. I will also seek federal and state funding that will allow Saratoga County to take actions resulting from the plan to minimize the impact on the County budget while preparing for the future. I will continue to work with Sustainable Saratoga and other non-profits to assist in obtaining resources and connections to move Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County into a healthy and prosperous future.
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
This is a very challenging need for our community. High property values, high housing demand, high household incomes, vs. affordable housing options are natural conflicts. I think we need to realize that affordable housing is not going to happen on its own. We also need to realize that affordable housing is not going to be developed in the city core. We need to identify land owners outside of the city core that may be willing to develop their land for more affordable housing.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
While this falls outside the direct impact of the County Supervisor role, I fully support common sense approaches to climate change as well as the City Council resolution, and that of other nations, to remain consistent with the Paris Agreement. Extreme suggestions to limit air travel or natural gas of cattle are simply absurd.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
Urban communities like ours rely heavily on automobile transportation. The vast majority of vehicles entering and exiting I87, or vehicles entering the city between 7am-9am are occupied by just the driver. This requires parking. It also requires ADA compliant streets and sidewalks, which remain dysfunctional all across the city.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
Current zoning is in place, and property owners/buyers should be aware of the zoning in their back yards. All residents should be concerned with any deviation to the Comprehensive Plan, and any proposed deviation should have review, approval, and conscience by multiple boards where the public has had ample opportunity to be part of the process.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
Many of these issues are the responsibility of the City Council, Boards, and Commissions. As a representative of the City to the County, I would certainly respect requests and needs of the city representatives for county assistance.
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- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
Of course!
The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saratoga Springs, adopted in 2015, is a unified set of policies that will guide the future development of the city. The Plan consists of nearly 250 recommended actions and a Future Land Use map that indicates the desired location, uses, and intensity of development. Key elements of the vision of the Comprehensive Plan include the “City in the Country” concept, and the importance of sustainability in all aspects of city management and development.
- What steps will you take toward achieving sustainable economic development in the City, including diverse and affordable housing (both rental and ownership)?
The current Comprehensive Plan continues the ‘City in the Country’ concept for Saratoga Springs, keeping the inner district more densely developed than the outer areas of the City. This concept, while sustainable for the long term, has perhaps unintentionally caused real estate values to rise to a level that has made it difficult for those of modest means to either rent or own in Saratoga Springs. I support the Comprehensive Plan’s goals and ideals. While the County Supervisor does not have any direct input into the City’s planning, I would be supportive of any affordable housing initiatives, such as the new developments near West Avenue, which give those of moderate incomes the ability to reside within the City limits. I would say that any Zoning plan that may attempt to provide for mixed-income or other subsidy for apartment rent or home purchase, be carefully considered before it is voted on or implemented. These types of plans artificially create price points outside of market forces and should be used as a means for people to achieve market-rate units for the long term. I do believe the next challenge for the City of Saratoga Springs is the ‘outer downtown’ districts such as South Broadway and Excelsior Avenue, and out toward West Avenue and the railroad station. Those areas are a great opportunity for the city both economically, but also for smart development. Those areas need to grow in a complementary way to Downtown and provide a gradual transition to the ‘country’ areas of the City.
- The City Council recently adopted a resolution with a unanimous vote to support policies consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. What policies and programs will you implement to improve the environmental health and resiliency of our community, including any policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with this resolution?
The County Board of Supervisors recently passed a resolution that gives companies or individuals a Payment-in-lieu-of-Taxes arrangement in order to incentivize Solar installations on large tracts of land within Saratoga County. Some of the towns have looked to the lead of Saratoga Springs in seeking Solar installations on Town land. My hope is that my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors continue with initiatives in their towns to promote alternative energy. I also support the efforts of the City in moving forward with looking at alternative energy generation that does not rely on fossil fuels, such as the Spa Solar Park. Additionally, I would support initiatives at both the City and County level that move our gas fleet to electric or hybrid vehicles where we can in order to save on gas costs and promote fuel efficiency in our fleet. There are also may things such as driver routing technology that could allow for more efficient routing of our DPW trucks or snowplows, to efficiently drive their routes and save fuel.
- In 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation that calls for the creation of a unified and efficient parking management plan and policy for downtown. What steps do you think should be taken to implement or amend that plan, and what are the other major transportation and mobility issues you think should be addressed?
As a County Supervisor, I am not very familiar with the plan and its recommendations, so I am not sure if it should be amended. I do believe that it has not yet been implemented, and I would advocate for the City to begin the process of implementing the recommendations. In terms of mobility and transportation issues, I think the City needs to look at ways to make the CDTA bus service more available and efficient. There are many residents that need this service, and with limited routes within the City, it becomes difficult for those who need to get to places such as jobs and services to get there We should continue and accelerate our implementation of the Greenbelt Trail as funds become available. There is increasing use of alternative transportation such as bicycling, and the City needs to be ready to accommodate these modes of transport within our community.
- The Greenbelt is the outlying rural area around the City’s urban core.
- Do you support adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan that would change allowable uses or increase or decrease allowable densities in the Greenbelt?
Saratoga Springs has done the right thing over the years by creating a Zoning plan that concentrates development within the urban core and has less dense development in the Greenbelt. It has made our City a desirable place to live, to work, and to raise a family. I think the boundaries of the Greenbelt are fine as they are. I do not believe that the City should change overall zoning to increase or decrease allowable density in the Greenbelt. I do believe though that individual projects should be weighed on their merits, and any allowances for variation from the zoning should be used sparingly with review from the City’s Land-Use boards, on a case by case basis. I would be against a total prohibition of all potential projects that do not fit zoning in the greenbelt area.
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- What kind of actions, if any, do you think the City should take to protect the watershed and Saratoga Lake from the deleterious effects of development?
Saratoga Springs has the option to take various actions to protect the Saratoga Lake Watershed. It has already set aside land for the Waterfront Park, and I believe the City should take advantage of any available Open Space funding to purchase land around the Lake and protect it, much like the City has been doing by purchasing land surrounding Loughberry Lake, both within the City Limits, and in the Town of Wilton. There may be other options such as examining the zoning density allowed surrounding Saratoga lake, and the potential for working with the surrounding towns around the lake to work together in limiting the effects of development on the lake.
- The Comprehensive Plan calls for action on key sustainability issues facing our community, including affordable housing, parking, trails, energy conservation, environmental protection, recycling and waste reduction, and multimodal transportation. However, the City Charter does not assign responsibility for these issues to any specific City department.
- What actions will you take to establish leadership and make progress in these areas?
I believe that throughout my tenure as a Supervisor, I have worked to assist the City, and lead at the County Board of Supervisors, on these types of issues. Back in 2009, I chaired a ‘Green Committee’ of Supervisors that studied various ways we could be more sustainable and our recommendations to the County were passed unanimously. I have been a primary advocate for Open Space, and especially Trails at the County, proposing and chairing the first County Board Trails Committee, and initiating our Trails funding back in 2015, which the County has annually funded since then. As Chairman of the City’s Open Space committee in 2016 and 2017, we recommended the City’s purchase of several parcels of land and worked with the City during the initial purchase phase of the Pitney Farm. We also reviewed and provided input on the Conservation Easement that exists over the Pitney Farm. I continue to support the County’s recycling program, and I encourage all residents to take advantage of our Recycling Center on Weibel Avenue. I will continue to support efforts to add Bike lanes to our City’s streets where they are appropriate, and to study what the most efficient routes should be for bikes through our City. I have proposed a County bike route system that is awaiting review at the County, which will hopefully give those wishing to bike outside the City safe and appropriate route options to get from place to place in our County.
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- For which of these specific areas will you pledge to assume responsibility, if no other council member has already assumed responsibility?
As County Supervisor, I will take responsibility for those things I can do at the County level, but I do not have a direct role to play at the City Council regarding this question.
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- Could a non-profit like Sustainable Saratoga play a role in achieving your agenda?
I believe that Sustainable Saratoga has done great work as an organization, advocating for our City to become more sustainable in all aspects of its operation. The group has spoken in support of several of the various initiatives that either me or Council members have proposed, and that support is appreciated. I do think that Sustainable Saratoga, through speaking out at City meetings (and also County meetings, if appropriate) does help to shape policy and steer the conversation among our Citizens, so I do believe that Sustainable Saratoga can play a role in achieving our shared goals.