League of Women Voters of California
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2003 Election
	Christopher Friendly "Chris" Nicholson Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Los Altos

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mtn. View Area and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Do you feel that our community needs a high-caliber, public swim complex and if so, how should the city accomplish this?

I feel that a high-caliber public swim complex would be a valuable asset to the Los Altos community, and I am for it, if it is reserved as an asset for the Los Altos community. Los Altos should have a swimming pool; it is an important asset for any community to have, but it should be paid for by the community, and should fit the needs of the community. I believe a three pool complex is too extravagant for the needs of Los Altos, and that a more moderate design comparative to the old Covington pool would be better suited to, and more affordable for, Los Altos citizens.

2. What would you propose to solve parking availability in downtown?

I think the phrase "solve parking availability" implies a problem I do not believe exists. In the eighteen years I lived in Los Altos, I have always seen large amounts of available parking in downtown. Parking is not always available right in front of locations customers want to frequent, but that is an issue that cannot be resolved without a level of bureaucracy I believe would be more harmful than helpful. If residents want more parking in downtown, we should work to provide more off- site longer-term parking in the form of a small unobtrusive parking structure, and lower the time limit on popular parking spaces.

3. What do you see as the City Council's role in helping to preserve and enhance the vitality of our creeks and riparian corridors and their function for conveying storm water runoff?

I believe the city council has an important role to play in setting the environmental policy of Los Altos. It is the shape of that role that will determine the shape of our environment in years to come. The city council should be deeply committed to preserving our wonderful surroundings, especially our creeks. By being diligent with concerns about storm water runoff and other environmental issues, the city council can better ensure a beautiful Los Altos for many years to come.