Question
1. What is
the most pressing consequence of the economic downturn on your community
and how would you address that while in office?
|
Ed
Iago |
Vacant
housing with shrinking home values, budget and tax considerations
all would be addressed quickly and thoroughly by using every federal
and local means available to us in a clearly thought-out plan using
council, staff and citizen input. |
John
Zanmiller (i) |
The
foreclosure situation and the softened real estate market have left
us with a number of vacant homes. To address this problem we instituted
a rental licensing to stem the expansion of rental housing, stepped
up inspections on vacant homes, and I am developing a program to lure
young families to purchase homes in the city. |
Question
2. What is your position on light-rail development along Robert Street
or Highway 52?
|
Ed
Iago |
Light
rail will not come up South Robert Street, and if it is proposed for
Highway 52 and meets the needs and benefits West St. Paul citizens,
then I would support it. |
John
Zanmiller (i) |
I
supported the RSTS and participated in its process. I believed that
transit in our area was lacking, which was confirmed with the study's
outcome. Sadly the numbers would not support a light rail line, making
it ineligible for federal funding. But I am encouraged by the findings
over existing transit, which will help us get the Met Council to meet
our transportation needs. |
Question
3. How should the city prioritize parks and recreation versus other
spending priorities?
|
Ed
Iago |
Park
and Rec needs are important, but spending must come after the mandatory
needs of citizens have been met. |
John
Zanmiller (i) |
The
city's spending priorities are three fold, public safety infrastructure,
and quality of life. To rank them would compromise them. If spending
is made in one area at the expense of another, it could result in
adverse impacts in other areas. we could have 100 police officers,
but if the roads, sewers, housing stock, and parks are abysmal, where
is the added value? |
Question
4. What can city officials do to address the effects of rising energy
costs?
|
Ed
Iago |
We
need to think outside the box and formulate, copy, plagiarize and
implement every good idea we can find. |
John
Zanmiller (i) |
I
supported the creation of an Environmental Committee that will help
our city live and work greener and cheaper. A few years ago I initiated
a study on the possibility of adding wind generation in the city.
Though current technology would not support this endeavor, there is
optimism with future technology, including incorporating zero carbon
footprint municipal buildings, the use of geothermal heat in our new
maintenance facility, and changes in street lighting. |
Question
5. What are your views on the city's enforcement of housing codes?
How can the city improve?
|
Ed
Iago |
We
have good housing codes and need sufficient staff to strongly enforce
those codes to insure our housing stock stays stable and we as a Ccity
do not permit vacant or blighted homes to have a negative effect on
home values. |
John
Zanmiller (i) |
The
city needs to remain fair, friendly and understanding in its continued
inspections. By maintaining our housing stock we create the opportunity
for new families to look at our neighborhoods and say "this is
where we'll raise our children." I believe that we can find additional
resources and forge cooperative relationships with other agencies
to assist homeowners with their improvements. We just have to be willing
to look outside the borders of the old school of thought. We also
need to re-examine our permitting costs as a means to encourage redevelopment
of properties. |