A6 PORTSMOUTH HERALD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2013

WWW.SEACOASTONLINE.COM

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL RACE

Candidates at a glance
The 23 residents running for the Portsmouth City Council answered a series of questions provided by the Portsmouth Herald for prole stories. As an additional help to readers, their answers (some reduced to t this space) will be detailed in this format this week. For their complete answers, visit www.seacoastonline.com.

Gibson Mike Kennedy

Address: 267 Marcy St. Age: 64
Data from consultants indicate Portsmouth should build a downtown garage. Garages can be built to hide the cars and beautify the city. The obvious location is at city-owned surface lots (Worth, Parrott Avenue, City Hall). Surface lots are ine cient and opposite to sustainability best practices, which say, build up for more density, not out. Best practices indicate we should raise parking rates to drive good parking behavior. Parking garages pay for themselves they dont cost the taxpayer; they cost the person that parks in the space.

Tristan Law
Address: 55 Atkinson St. Age: 29
I think that what we really have here is a congestion problem. Theres too much tra c downtown. That said, there is no easy or quick solution to the situation were in. I dont believe building a new downtown garage is any sort of solution, its a Band-Aid really, which would add to the existing tra c problem. What we need to look at is developing satellite lot(s) outside of downtown, where residents and employees can park for reduced rates, and the hotels can valet there. We need to up our trolly system to e ectively serve these lots and downtown. Sure, its not the most convenient option, but you dont go to Disney World and get to park right at Space Mountain. Public transit all the way. I sure as heck do. We are in a unique position in that we live in this gorgeous historic community that still has much to grow. It is our obligation to protect historic neighborhoods and buildings, and use common sense and imagination in our new developments. Slapping some brick on a facade does not a historic town make. As we build and redevelop, we need to reect upon the historic nature of the city as well as its modern artistic culture.

Robert Bob Lister

Address: 69 Diamond Drive Age: 64
Focus on transportation, not just a garage, using surface lots that exist, develop private/ public partnerships and work toward parking outside the downtown to keep tra c out of the downtown. Use the WayFinder Program and the parking Web site to inform drivers where parking exists across the city. At a recent work session on the use of area surface lots, a number of parking spaces were identied for parking and I will be proposing the present City Council make recommendations to address the parking issue at a meeting within the next month. I am looking forward to the implementation of form-based zoning as a way of promoting smart development, supporting businesses downtown while maintaining the historical character of Portsmouth. As the concept takes shape for the downtown, we can decide how this concept may be utilized in other areas of the city in some form with the Planning (Department) and Historic District Commission and hold the city accountable for a comprehensive vision. We need to plan for the needs of all residents, continue investigating potential shuttles, encourage biking and walking and support the taxi services available. COAST has been very open to thinking forward with needs in the community with the trolleys and buses. Given the resources available (school buses, senior vans, etc.), are there ways to use resources more e ciently?

Bradley M. Lown
Address: 45 Brackett Road Age: 55
Portsmouth has a parking shortage that is becoming more acute every year. I base that on comments of many downtown business owners, on parking studies commissioned by the city and by the fact the parking garage is full more than twice as frequently as last year. I voted in favor of asking the city manager to investigate the use of the Worth lot for a garage. The lot is not a perfect location, but it is the best and most feasible. There are other solutions, but none as economically viable and that would provide a substantial number of new spaces downtown. Yes. The debate about responsible development in the city has been largely prompted by the erection of the monolithic buildings in the Northern Tier. Many people feel if building heights are not more tightly regulated, our city will lose its character. While I do not share that view, I do feel some height restrictions should be in place until the city can address, and I hope adopt, form-based zoning. Formbased zoning would address the height, setbacks, size and design of new buildings downtown to preserve the character of each block. COAST has extensive routes all over the Seacoast. The city budgeted $365,000 this year for both COAST and Wentworth. COAST has about 169,000 riders per year. Since 2009, ridership has increased 32 percent. COAST fares provide 10 percent of operating cost and if fares go up, ridership drops. The question is not whether we are providing enough, but whether we can reasonably a ord to provide more. The most important thing the City Council does is to raise the necessary revenue, and no more, to provide services the citizens need and deserve. If the council doesnt tax (and spend) adequately, it will not be able to provide the basic services the citizens demand. My priority has always been and will be high-quality public schools. Quality schools will keep our property values high as new residents seek the best for their children.

What is your solution to the current parking shortage in downtown?

Do you support the concepts of form-based zoning as a way to encourage responsible development?

I support form-based zoning as a means to encourage a harmonious, though not cookiecutter architectural feel to our downtown. The graphic guides that it generates give the landowner a clear picture of what will be deemed acceptable by the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Coupled with the style guides the Historic District Commission is seeking, everyone will know whats OK and whats not. If nothing else, the HDCs work session and public comment processes will be shortened. Except for too few taxis in the late evenings, current public transportation is underutilized. There has been much discussion of public shuttles to remote parking lots, yet tra c congestion will slow these shuttles. The best way to ease congestion is to direct people to a fairly priced garage near the downtown that people will know is likely to have open space. People want to get close to downtown; lets let them do that, but get them o the streets and into a garage as quickly as possible. Residents who have lived elsewhere tell me they think Portsmouth is a bargain. We spend roughly half (54 percent) of our $71 million operating budget on education and one quarter on public safety. These proportions are correct and demonstrate our commitment to education. As an executive, I managed a $400 million information technology budget. My philosophy was to spend only as much as necessary to serve our employees well. We monitored costs and outcomes against industry benchmarks much like the School Department does here.

Do you feel the city has enough public transportation?

Public transportation only really works when people use it, so right now I reckon underutilized is the word for it. In the future, I think we need to rely more upon it, in conjunction with satellite lots and garages to get people downtown. Can you imagine a trolley loop around town? How practical! How quaint!

Give us your philosophy on the budget and what your priorities are when it comes to funding education and public safety.

Obviously we want a tight, controlled spending philosophy that doesnt hurt our residents, but at the same time, you want the new schools, you want well paid police and re departments, and smart kids. How can you not walk into the library, or middle school and not be proud of this town? They are shining accomplishments. Im happy to live in a place where our teachers, our schools and our re and police departments are a priority.

I have been involved in 11 municipal budgets as a superintendent of schools and city councilor. I have experience developing the budget, assessing needs in education, public safety and municipal services, and I am always very proud to say that with the present tax rate, our residents enjoy a host of quality services. Given the most recent nancial atmosphere, we have adopted a sense of what do we need? as opposed to what do we want, which allows us to prioritize quality services yet be sensitive to the taxpayers. I support quality education and public safety services; however, like my budget at home, there is only so much money and my family has to decide what we need to spend it on. No. This would require additional public safety services, and I am concerned about any potential negative activity in the early-morning hours, and I feel strongly there are many positive dining and community activities available to residents and visitors during the present operating hours that do not require the hours in bars to be extended. Last week, the committee toured the Doble Center, which at this point is one option. I am very pleased with the progress and the support from the community to address the needs of our senior citizens. There is some discussion about designating this as a senior/community center promoting intergenerational opportunities. Some overtime wages cannot be avoided. I would like to work very closely with the police and re chiefs and commissions to minimize this, if possible, and continue the discussion of the di erence of additional sta or paying overtime.

Do you support extending last call for bars in Portsmouth until 2 a.m.?

I dont, and, from what I hear, no bar owners want this either. Tourism, including nightlife entertainment, drives our economy, but I see no reason to encourage the kind of late-night carousing that has led to brawling and, in a recent notable case, homicide. I am aware the Senior Committee is exploring several options for location of a new senior center, and in particular is looking into the feasibility of using the former Doble Army Reserve Center. However, until all the data are in (including input from neighbors, seniors themselves, and tra c impact), I will reserve judgment. Im convinced we need to do this expeditiously. Paying overtime is usually less costly than hiring full-time employees. The reason has to do with benets costs, which are often more than half an employees salary. If elected, I would take the time to evaluate the facts as they relate to our work force and the citys budget. I understand overtime is used in pension calculations for our employees and that may shift the balance. This is another area where a benchmarking study can be helpful. We should have two goals in contract negotiations: 1) compensate our employees fairly for the work they perform and the risks they take on our behalf; and 2) stability and predictability in the citys expense and our tax rates. The council and city manager have done an outstanding job keeping our tax rate escalation at or below ination levels.

Right now, I dont think its necessary. I think it would put an undue strain on the police. That being said, if people were able to gradually leave the bars, instead of a ooding the street at 1 a.m., you may see fewer problems.

No. I dont think the downtown residents want it, the police dont want it, and the bars probably dont want it, either.

Where do you think the city should build a senior center and why?

Id look at the Doble Center rst. While not downtown, it is the most readily equipped to transition to an e ective senior center. Parking!

A senior center would be a great thing a single place where seniors may gather. The issues are location and cost. The city and private entities currently o er about 13 events each day at several di erent locations in the city. The city has about 3,300 seniors. Before we commit to building or locating a senior center, we need to address what the city already does and the cost of doing substantially more. For two years, I have led an e ort to reasonably and moderately reduce overtime in the police and re budgets. This year, only two other councilors voted with me on my motion to reduce the public safety budgets by less than 1 percent, since the council has no direct power to control overtime. The Police and Fire departments pay enormous amounts of overtime (more than $1 million this year). Overtime wages cost taxpayers a 50 percent premium, with no attendant increase in public safety. My hope is that the re and police contracts can be revised to allow for cost-saving measures that do not diminish public safety. These would include, for example, the necessity of having a re o cer on duty at all times in each station and permitting the shift replacement to be done without having to pay as much in overtime wages. I also hope all unions will look at new health insurance options that could result in substantial savings to the taxpayers. As it is, every council meeting is an opportunity for anyone to say anything on any topic for three minutes. Any citizen can speak for any length of time on any proposed ordinance change. Portsmouth Listens is an alternative way to include citizens in studying particular issues and making recommendations to the council. Each councilors phone number and e-mail are on the city Web site, along with council packets, minutes of all council and board meetings, consultant reports and budget materials. One issue is how to work with or pressure the U.S. General Services Administration to nd a new home for the McIntyre Building tenants so the building can be transferred to the city. Redevelopment of that lot would be the biggest positive change in the city in over 50 years. At the very least, Id work toward an agreement that might permit the city to construct a garage on the north side of the building. Id also like to see the concrete median from the salt piles to Route 95 on Market Street landscaped. We could fairly easily make this main gateway entrance beautiful and inviting.

What is your overall position on overtime wages?

While we obviously need to make sure there is no abuse of the system, I think paying extra for the longer is still more cost-e ective than bringing on new sta . Perhaps by extending a volunteer system, we could curb some of the hours.

With many union contracts expected to expire in 2014, what do you hope the city achieves through the collective bargaining process?

That we continue to have a strong municipal department and an education system we can brag about. I have to be honest here, this is one of the areas Im a little green in, but I think if we have a fair and open bargaining process, the city and its employees can only gain.

Because we want to recruit, train and retain the best municipal employees, we need to collectively negotiate and o er fair wages and benets for those who have the education and experience required to meet the expectations of the community. It would be helpful for all the unions contracts to be on the same schedule for review, if possible.

In what ways can the city bolster public participation and input?

As we embark on an update to our master plan, we have a great opportunity to escalate citizen input. If we educate the public as to the impact the current plan has had, they will be more likely to want to have a say in this one. In my experience with employee input programs, well see a urry of activity when it begins and participation will wane over time. The answer lies in showing people the positive results of their e orts. If we use Internet technology, we must be mindful that some older citizens may not use computers. The Planning Department has done good work with state and federal agencies in dening the impact of sea-level rise; we need to develop concrete plans and actions including funding to prepare for this inevitability. We should also look carefully at what drives our economy and prosperity today and develop a strategy for diversifying that in the future.

I think that the city does a great job of being open to public input. Sure, some areas could use improvement, but overall, the public needs to take it upon themselves to get involved.

Encourage residents to explore the city Web site. Channel 22 also provides airing of meetings and although it would be great to have an audience present at all meetings, I understand residents have access to most meetings online or through other formats of media in the comfort of their homes so they can be with their families.

Identify an issue not mentioned above that you feel should be a priority in the coming years.

There are a lot of younger people who live, work, or work and want to live in Portsmouth, who just see this town getting too expensive for them. These are our artists, our musicians. The future parents and taxpayers. We need nd ways to keep this city a ordable for those who depend on tips to live.

I encourage residents to get involved in their neighborhood. Getting to know your neighbors, thinking about crime watch strategies and maintaining the quality of life are all very important for me to think about in the coming years and illustrate what living in Portsmouth is really about.