Amy Cearnal, Candidate for Mayor
1. Protection of Taxpayers' Dollars – please respond by March 2, 2023
How much of a priority should be placed on protecting taxpayers' dollars? If we are granting dollars for “economic development” should the company be vetted? Should an “economic development” grant require an actual application? Why or why not?
Protecting taxpayers’ dollars is of the utmost importance. Not just looking at rate, but overall receipts & spend with debt utilization. Considering the long term strategic plan is important as well so that we don’t end up feeling good about an insignificant reduction that still results in more dollars out of pocket for most citizens.
Dollars already committed for economic development need to be spent but in a strategic and vetted way. We need focus on local ownership and creative ways to utilize those dollars across the entire city. Leaving dollars in the account waiting for big projects is not what I believe the intention was of the voters when it was approved. We have some real opportunities to attract development as we take care of our own.
2. Density – please respond by March 9, 2023
How do you feel about changing commercially zoned properties to multi-family zoned properties? What if the area already contains many, many apartments such as southeast Arlington in the Hwy 360 corridor? How do you feel about RMU (Regional Mixed Use) zoning and its potential 100 units/acre? Why?
We have major needs on the zoning side across the city. I participated on the Residential Infill Task Force through the city last year and we talked through many solutions to utilize land well without a move to multi-family or the mixed use categories that we’ve seen originally zoned for and then changing scope mid-project. Unfortunately the communication that came out of that committee from staff, in my opinion, did not reflect the findings of the committee, so we definitely need to go back to the drawing board and look at a whole city perspective and then a granular parcel level to create highest & best use for the land we have remaining. I talk with developers regularly, hearing consistently that Arlington is too hard to work with because of the cumbersome & unknown PD zoning process.
3. Transportation – please respond by March 16, 2023
VIA's current funding has taxpayers paying about 60% and federal grants paying 40%. What are your thoughts on how much is coming from the general fund and why?
I’m a fan of sustainability. We’ve got to figure out a way to get more market driven on this piece otherwise, we’re still in a similar situation as we were considering further partnership with DART.
4. Corporate Welfare – please respond by March 23, 2023
The City Council has given away millions of dollars and/or potential revenues to companies to encourage development. At what point has there been enough “encouragement” and the taxpayers-- and lowering tax rates-- should become a higher priority than development? Why?
Economic development as a tool can encourage development but overreaching to grab projects when there is not market demand for utilization is a lose for all parties. We need market driven projects from quality local developers.
5. Communications – please respond by March 30, 2023
If you receive an e-mail from a constituent similar to the top of this webpage
[ http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html ], will you respond to the constituent? Why or why not? What actions will you take?
I cannot imagine a time when I would not respond to a constituent. There’s always an opportunity for dialogue and understanding even if the result is that the constituent didn’t agree with the outcome. I appreciate any of our citizens giving their time and talents to draw out items in need of consideration and this specific email is a great one to consider as we work through a time of policy setting for our economic development processes.
6. Issues – please respond by April 6, 2023
Other than public safety what is the most important issue the city council is currently facing? Why? What are your suggestions for addressing this issue?
We need to take Arlington to the next level outside of the entertainment district. We’re blessed to have a great space in the entertainment district that is working as a market driven destination but we want to make sure that we’re not leaving out other areas within our 99 square miles. We need to look for resources to foster strong neighborhoods many of which need encouragement to get better together. Commercial coordidor improvements are also needed to spur that growth & organic econcomic development. Let’s get creative with the resouces we have – the biggest being the ideas & energy of the people of Arlington.