League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA April 11, 2006 Election
	Tonja Torres Answers Questions Candidate for Member, City Council; City of Sierra Madre

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. Did you support Measure F in November 2005? If not, please discuss the adequacy of Sierra Madre's volunteer fire and EMT services.

Yes, I supported Measure F and campaigned for it because I believed then and now that daytime support for our fire department, paramedic service, capital fire equipement, enhanced fire department training and increased police compensation were vital public safety needs that deserved and required the dedicated and sustained revenue source that Measure F provided. I also believe local control over public safety services is a better option than relying on services provided by an outside agency. My support of Measure F reflected my commitment to that principle. Further, because Measure F funds -- by law -- could only have been used for public safety, and because it required an annual separate accounting of those funds, it reflected my commitment to the principles of public safety funding specifically, and prudent fiscal management in general.

2. How can Sierra Madre best achieve the goal of hillside preservation?

Other than by purchasing hillside land, something the City does not currently possess the resources to do at this time without a tax, the best means by which we can achieve the goal of hillside preservation is our Hillside Management Zone ordinance. While the HMZ ordinance is an excellent tool for regulating the development of hillside land on a lot by lot basis, we must tighten development standards that regulate the creation of subdivisions so that they provide for far lower densities than are currently allowed. Toward that end, the City Council has appointed a Hillside Management Zone Ad Hoc Committee comprised of two Council Members, a Planning Commissioner, a Tree Commissioner and four community members. The Committee, of which I am the chairperson, is tasked with addressing identified areas of concern relating to hillside development, and with tightening development standards in hillside zones in keeping with the original drafters' intent of preserving hillsides.

3. Which of the following sources of revenue would you favor to avoid a budget shortfall in Sierra Madre: parcel tax; utility tax; assessment district; leasing of water services?

Ultimately, the solution to our dual issues of maintaining a sustainable budget for City services while continuing to address decades of deferred maintenance will be some combination of revenue-enhancing measures. We are in the process of studying these various measures at special City Council meetings, and have discovered that each specific measure has different requirements and applications. Until we have completed our study and evaluation of the various means of revenue-enhancement available to us, I am keeping an open mind about the alternatives and wish to hear what residents are most likely to support in order to preserve important local services and address infrastructure needs. That being said, at this point, I view a utility tax as a more favorable alternative than a special parcel tax as a means to raise revenues for services, mainly because it does not require a 2/3 vote for passage. I am intrigued by the idea of an assessment district, but understand that its usefulness is limited by the lack of applicable assessment statutes. It might help us trim trees and finish our street improvement program, but it cannot assist us in addressing very real public safety capital needs. Thus, some other funding mechanism would be required to help us continue to meet our deferred infrastructure needs. What is certain: we must address these issues together.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 12, 2006 07:44
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