Candidates: McIlhaney Answers Progressive Questions

Question 1
In 2008, College Station signed the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement to become part of the Cool Cities program. In doing so, we pledged that the community and local government will take action to reduce global warming. Do you agree with our commitment to become a Cool City? If no, please elaborate. If yes, what further actions do you propose to continue our progress towards meeting our Cool Cities Commitment?

The city is in the process of looking for a staff person to co-ordinate the Green City program. We are looking at using hybrid cars where applicable, energy efficient buildings as we have capital projects, improving our hike and bike trails, recycling programs, a street tree planting program, water conservation, our commitment to the wind watts program, continued support of our parkland dedication program, and our hazardous waste collection program resulting in the safe disposal of over 200,000 pounds of electronic and hazardous materials.

Question 2
Do you believe that pedestrians, bicyclists, and wheel chair users should have complete and safe access to all places of residence, commerce and employment within the city? If this is to be achieved, a number of measures would need to be taken to improve connectivity in College Station, such as creating more dedicated bike lanes and crosswalks and enforcing traffic laws that ensure the safety of these users of our roads.

We are addressing the connectivity through our transportation plan as part of the new Comprehensive Plan and our Greenways Plan. We are putting an emphasis on multi-modal transportation for pedestrians, bikers, public transit, etc. In our bond packages, we are including programs to improve and build projects. We are working with our TX-DOT partners to address pedestrian traffic and bike lanes on our state roadways.

Question 3
College Station has a successful curbside recycling program in place, but there is still a great deal of recyclable material going into our landfill. Do you believe the city should be promoting further actions to reduce waste and encourage reuse and recycling?

Our staff is currently working to identify additional programs that can be implemented to encourage recycling. We have tried apartment recycling in the past, without much success, so we want to make sure that any additional programs can be cost effective and achieve our stated goals of reducing waste to the landfill.

Question 4
Farmers’ Markets can reduce transportation impacts of food, support local farmers, create community connection, increase the viability of surrounding businesses, and project our community character. Do you support funding for a permanent farmer’s market in a visible, central location?

I support a local Farmer’s Market and am willing to look at locations that city owns that we can work with the private sector and local farmers, but I do not support tax payers buying land, building a building, etc to do so. I think a public/private partnership would be worth exploring, along with creating a community garden.

Question 5
Our community is sprawling to the south while more than 40% of the developable land within the city limits remains undeveloped. Urban sprawl drives up tax rates by increasing the cost of infrastructure and community services such as police, fire and ambulances. It also diminishes aesthetic appeal and increases traffic. Many cities have recognized the advantages of “Smart Growth” and taken measures to curb sprawl. Do you believe the city should take a proactive role in addressing this issue?

As we review existing ordinances, we should do so in light of encouraging re-development within the existing city limits, in-fill development, zoning, building standards and pedestrian friendly infrastructure. Creating a sense of place, attention to character of area being developed or re-developed, and looking at options for developers so they can offer those development opportunities.

Question 6
While we recognize that City Hall needs to be expanded, the citizens of College Station voted last May against rebuilding at a site on Kranek Tap Road. Expansion at the current location could meet the city’s needs while also taking a positive step toward increasing building density in College Station, thereby decreasing the pressure for sprawl. Do you support the expansion of City Hall at its present location?

Let me state that in the short term, we will have to look at options regarding some expansion at the existing site or rent spaces elsewhere for some staff; however, this is not the best course for the long term. The council began looking at space needs, efficient service delivery, a more central location that is pedestrian and bike friendly, land that is not as valuable for tax purposes. Krenek Tap was chosen since we already have several city departments located there, it is more central, the land value is less and it provides a more efficient use of staff time, and service delivery. The current site has already been through several expansions and still does not address the fact that fuel and time of staff are being spent driving to and from the different locations to do their daily jobs. It does not give us the space needed for future growth, it is not centrally located for our citizens and the cost to re-locate rather than renovate is a better investment for our citizens in the long term.

Question 7
The first Paragraph of the fourteenth amendment reads:
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Do you agree?

Yes.

Question 8
Locally owned, independent businesses can provide economic stimulus, develop human resources, reflect community character and encourage tourism. Yet College Station has encouraged large retail development by national chains by giving out financial incentives, thus creating unfair competition for locally owned businesses. Other communities have taken measures to level the playing field, including stopping the provision of incentives to outside competition and putting restrictions on the size of retail outlets that can be developed. Would you support these or other types of initiatives to promote local, independent businesses?

I support a policy that clearly states we do not offer incentives for retail development. I do think there should be a level playing field. The local, independent businesses should work with our Economic Development office to identify issues that might need to be addressed by a change or adoption of an ordinance, whether for new development or re-development purposes.