League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Butte County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Andrew Coolidge Answers Questions Candidate for Member City Council; City of Chico

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Butte County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. In July 2012 the State Budget Act (SA 1464) suspended some sections of the 1953 Brown Act. To assure transparency in local city government, do you support a resolution reaffirming adherence to the "Brown Act" as it was prior to these suspensions?

Yes. The Brown Act is essential to maintaining an open and accountable government.

2. How can we maintain the essential safety employees (both police & fire), meet their negotiated retirement/health benefits, and protect our city from bankruptcy? What is your solution to this problem which faces so many California cities?

Future contracts must be negioatated with the best interest of the people. Reductions may be necessary in existing retirement and health benefits to keep the city from financial collaspe. While it is important to honor our promises to our hardworking employees it should not be done at the expense of commonsense.

The City of Chico has numerous ways to save money and reprioritize our budget, many of which have not been discussed by the current Council. Currently both vehicles and equipment are left idle for great lengths of the year. Many other California cities have sold such under-used and financially draining equipment (due to maintenance, storage, up keep, etc.) and used the revenue to close their budget gaps.

We must also focus the Council on the task of keeping our local businesses successful as many are leaving for Oroville, Paradise and Corning (and other surrounding cities) as the city has failed to meet their needs.

3. What is your position on maintaining the green belt around Chico?

Agriculture is an essential economic element in Chico. While I support the "greenline" even Jane Dolan, the creator of the idea of the "greenline" made a change to it. Minor changes should be done when prudent and necessary.

4. What is your position on in-fill building within the city limits of Chico?

I am certain all candidates would support in-fill building as logical. In-fill building which lends itself to poor planning or harms local neighborhoods should be avoided.

5. Butte County has become a haven for the arts and music. How can, and should, the City Council help promote this asset?

While regionally it has become haven, we have much more work to do to properly support the arts. I believe our promotion of the city should include both music and art, however I think many of the greatest opportunities will come from the private sector as they find success within this industry.

As a private promoter of the Recycled Art Compeition (one of the largest art competitions in Butte County and a Artoberfest event) I believe with the help of local businesses we can continue to promote and grow our thriving art and music assets.

6. . With the demise of redevelopment funding, how can the City address future development needs, especially in blighted areas of the community?

Redevelopment funds from the State will return in some form in the future. Until this happens we must start planning and addressing the needs of our failing infrastructure now.

General funds must be allocated to road, sidewalk and drainage improvements. We must avoid the failings of redevelopment funds and how they were handled as often "favorite" projects were chosen over senisible updates to the entire community. We should no longer have a system which allows ornate metal sculptures on small bridges costing thousands of dollars while many children in Chico do not have safe routes to schools.

---

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

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

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 29, 2012 20:21
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.