League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA February 2, 2010 Election
	Jeff Wieler Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Piedmont

The questions were prepared by the LWV Piedmont and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. Discuss the current process of utilities undergrounding project development in Piedmont and how to make it more effective.

Obviously the Piedmont Hills undergrounding fiasco could have been adverted if the City had known the subsurface geology before accepting bids. If utility undergrounding is ever done again, preliminary geotech work is essential. Second, proponents money should remain "at risk" until the project is completed. In the case of Piedmont Hills, this would have meant an additional $286,000 in reserve.

I expect that the Council Audit Committee's report on the Piedmont Hills project will provide additional insight and will identify areas for improvement.

2. What role do you think the citizen commissions should play in the city government decision-making process?

Citizen commissions already play a key role, with many delegated powers and responsibilities. The Council should, and does, give great deference to commission recommendations and decisions.

However, commissions are appointed by, and subordinate to the Council. Commission actions should always be subject to Council review and, where appropriate, reversal. We elect Council members to make decisions; the Council cannot relinquish that responsibility.

3. The Blair Park Sports Center is a controversial project that is under consideration by the City Council. Please address the decision making process, including public input, regarding Blair Park.

In a small, built-out city like Piedmont, almost any land use project is likely to be controversial. The Blair Park proposal has far to go before decisions can be made. The Environmental Impact Report has to be completed, and the EIR is very likely to necessitate project modifications. Second, outside funding has to be found, because the City can't possibly afford a project of this magnitude.

There already has been considerable public input to the decision-making process to the EIR consultants and the Council. Before this project moves forward, the Parks, Planning, and Recreation Commissions each will need to consider the proposal, followed by extensive public input to the Council.

However, provided EIR issues can be resolved, and provided that non-City funding can be found, I support the concept of a sports field or fields in Blair Park. The need is clear.

4. Piedmont faces serious challenges to its budget with reductions in revenues and continual increases in expenses. Discuss possible cost containment and revenue accrual measures that would keep the budget balanced in the years to come.

Piedmont's budget would be in rough balance, were it not for unanticipated one-time legal and construction costs from undergrounding. We're also fortunate that previous Councils were fiscally prudent and built a hefty General Fund reserve, in addition to reducing taxes when possible. Finally, recent police and fire contracts allowed suspending pay increases if transfer tax revenues declined below $1.8 million.

Assuming continued fiscal responsibility -- which I pledge to work for -- we can maintain current service levels and maintain infrastructure without needing tax increases or "revenue enhancements." However, until the economic situation improves, we need to defer significant enhancements like the 801 Magnolia rebuild and the swim facility upgrade.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits for answers are 400 words for all 4 questions. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: January 19, 2010 08:12
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