I Have Achieved These Goals:
Questions to Michael T. Bennett from The Santa Barbara News Press August 22, 2010
SBNP: Do you believe there should be development on the Bishop Ranch?
MTB: The Answer to that question is not a simple one. There is currently a pending lawsuit against the City by the owner of the property. The developer filed a request for an “Initiation” for a General Plan change two years ago this last July. He tried to pull the request at the last minute but the Council went ahead with the hearing taking public testimony both pro and con. The City staff report recommended denial of the request. Even though the Council could not take a formal vote on the proposal, I voiced that I could not support the proposed General Plan change.
On August 10, this last Tuesday the developer presented a proposal to the City Council to gather facts regarding the property and a possible project. The developer will pay for the costs of such an investigation of facts for both staff time and a consultant picked by the City. I am supporting this approach by the developer because it does not include a request for an “Initiation” of a General Plan change. This request will hopefully answer questions regarding water availability, agricultural viability, etc. that has not been adequately answered in the past but this time can be hopefully achieved in a non-biased atmosphere. This will then allow any future Council to make an informed decision based on facts as opposed to speculation.
SBNP: What is one action that the current city council has taken that you agree with, and one that you don't?
MTB: I strongly supported the retaining of the Detective position within the Sheriff contract. However I made it clear that when the County enters into negotiations this fall with the Deputy Sheriffs Association it must reduce personnel costs so that the City can afford to continue the level of service it now has.
I have worked with my fellow Council members to try to bring our budget into line with our available revenues. We have been forced to use minimal reserves up to this time. The City is close to closing the gap but not quite there yet. I proposed as a part of that solution that the City employees begin to pay their employee retirement contribution that the City now pays. So far I have been unable to persuade a majority of the Council to vote for this approach.
SBNP: Should Goleta support Measure S, the public safety half-cent sales tax?
MTB: I believe that the City and it residents should support measure “S”. The issue of jail overcrowding is not new. It was first identified in the 1980’s and has yet to be resolved. This is a serious matter that cannot be accomplished by simply making cuts in other County programs. There is just not enough revenue to accomplish all of the demands put on the County general fund. This measure will also help to maintain and enhance our frontline Sheriff Deputies and County Fire Fighters.
SBNP: Given the sometimes-large disparity between salaries for people in the public sector and their counterparts in the private sector, what would you do, if anything to even out the gap?
MTB: In order for me to answer this question I would need a whole lot of facts so that I could determine if there is a “large disparity between salaries for people in the public sector and their counterparts in the private sector”. I am not convinced that there is a large gap between salaries. I can tell you that the City of Goleta employees have forgone any annual increases for the last 2 years and that they took furloughs last year and are taking voluntary furloughs for this budget year.
SBNP: What would you do, suggest or pursue (if anything) to change the city's fiscal condition?
MTB: I think there are very limited areas available to our City. The City already contracts for many of its services with both public and private entities. For example our parks and open spaces are maintained by private companies as well as our traffic signals and street stripping along with street sweeping and tree maintenance. We contract for library and animal services as examples with other public agencies rather than hiring our own employees. I think we have a highly efficient City with less than 50 core employees providing all of the services normally found in a city of 30,000 residents. The one area that we are frequently asked to provide service for is Recreation. The current and previous City Councils have forgone the creation of a Recreation Department because of the lack of available funding.
The City will receive a onetime increase in its funding base beginning in budget year 2012-2013 (July 1, 2012) because the “Revenue Neutrality Agreement” with the County will adjust in the 10th year of City Incorporation. There will also be a potential revenue increase as a result of three new Hotels that have been approved but not yet built. The original Council made these Hotels possible back in October 2006 when they approved the General Plan providing for future Hotel sites.
Keeping control of our employee and contract costs are crucial in keeping our City in line with the available revenues and maintaining prudent cash reserves for times of emergency.
SBNP: Are there any longstanding Goleta issues that you would like to see addressed, or resolved in a different manner?
MTB: I truly believe that the last two years of this Council may gone down as the most productive and congenial since the City was formed 8 ½ years ago. We have had many meaning-full discussions and debates on issues of importance to the residents of the City. We are not afraid to make tough decisions and we often have split votes but always come back together to debate the next issue which may turn out with a whole different vote outcome. We all truly love this City and want to preserve its greatness for future generations to come.
Improved The 2006 General Plan
Maintained Public Safety
Improved Transportation Infrastructure
Continued Revitalization of "Old Town"
Ensured Fiscal Responsibility
Continued Gaviota Coast Preservation
Continued Open Space Preservation
Improved Bicycle Paths
Continued To Provide More Parks
Increased Recreational Opportunities
Created A More Rational Approach To Home Remodeling
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