I will post my views on the key issues facing Pacific Grove on this
page. Click on the links to call up the documents. So
this page will be an on-going work in progress.
The Need for Renewal -
this paper describes my views on the very essential quest
to maintain the beauty and character of our city.
Measure U Opening
Remarks - I spoke at the Forum hosted by the Home Town Bulletin as a
voice For Measure U, a 1% local sales tax. I'm including my opening comments from that
Forum on May 8, because I believe the issues are still relevant.
It is very clear that our citizens expect, and
should expect, that the council makes good use of the funds.
The CalPERS Question - Pacific
Grove is exploring alternatives to the current employee defined-benefit
plan provided under CalPERS. The alternative defined-contribution
approach has the potential to make city benefit costs more predictable
and eventually lower than today's costs. I support the exploration
of a defined contribution approach, with the condition that we honor our
obligations to existing employees and retirees who have earned benefits
under CalPERS.
Downtown Business Revitalization
- A visit to our downtown has become an unsettling experience as we
watch stores go out of business and For Rent signs go up in empty
storefronts. It's time for the city to exert leadership, and there
are practical ways to do that.
Survey Results - 52 citizens have
provided inputs to rank the importance of 16 topics in Pacific Grove.
These results indicate priorities and how our City can act on the
topics.