There are now only two candidates for Ogden City Council At-Large Seat B: Bart Blair and David Phipps. I have decided that since Mr. Blair has so far expressed ideas and feelings about running for city council that are more similar to mine than Mr. Phipps, I will support Mr. Blair in the post-primary race.
I am posting here his Sierra Club Questionnaire response:
Ogden Sierra Club City 2009 Council Candidate Questionnaire
Responses from Bart Blair (At-Large Seat B)
1. Please briefly describe your qualifications and why you are running for Ogden City Council.
Life Long Resident of Ogden City; Graduate of Ogden High School; Bachelors Degree – Weber State University; Lamar Advertising; Financial Technology Consultant; 3-generation family business located in Ogden City - Blair’s Chevron; I intend to raise my three girls in Ogden and for this reason I care about how we develop our community.
2. If you were to propose changes in Ogden's zoning ordinances to improve the quality of life and business in Ogden, what changes would you propose (if any), and why?
I would do more to protect the natural assets that we have in Ogden. People are relocating to Ogden not because of any knew development but because of our trials, mountains, rivers and people.
3. Ogden City, UTA, and other stakeholders are currently studying alternatives for a major transit investment in Ogden to connect downtown with the WSU area. Do you support this project and if so, what are your views on the various alternatives being considered?
I would like to wait and review the final proposal however; I am not in favor of a gondola as a mass transit solution. Bus rapid transit, streetcar or light rail would be the only three projects I would consider for the connection from the inter-modal hub to the campus of Weber State University.
4. The Ogden City administration has proposed a major redesign of the Mt. Ogden Golf Course, which would include building a hotel and condominiums on city property above the top of 36th Street. Do you support this proposal? Why or why not?
I do not support the Ogden City administrations proposal. As a life long golfer I believe that Mt. Ogden Golf Course is one of the most beautiful courses in the State. As a businessperson I question the development model of building more hotels and condominiums when we have not filled the ones we currently have in the city.
5. In general, should the City Council do more to encourage or discourage further development of Ogden’s foothills and other open space? Please explain.
The City Council should do everything possible to protect our open space in Ogden’s foothills. The only development that should be encouraged along the foothills is to build a world-class trail system. Ogden already has many areas in the downtown where businesses can be built.
6. Should you be elected, do you plan to recommend changes in the way Ogden deals with waste, recyclables, water conservation, and/or protecting our aquifers and watershed areas? If so, what changes will you recommend, and why?
I am a proponent of recycling and water conservation and will work to protect our water aquifers.
7. Do you favor designating a portion of the National Forest lands above Ogden as federally protected wilderness? Why or why not?
As an Ogden City Councilman I do not have the power to designate wilderness areas. I will do every thing in my power to protect our foothills and the access we enjoy in these pristine areas.
8. What other environmental issues would you address if elected?
I would put a greater emphasis on keeping our city clean this includes our waterways and our trails and parks. We should use our elementary schools as a place to educate our children about the beautiful area we live and the effects that waste and litter can have on our community.
And his Standard Examiner Response:
Bart E. Blair
Age: 36
Occupation: Financial manager of family business (Blair’s Chevron & Service Center)
Qualifications: Between raising my family and having a business in Ogden I am very concerned about how we develop our community.
•What is your top priority if you are elected to the council?
1. I believe the city should get back to the basics. Our tax dollars should be used responsibly. We should have a city government we can afford focusing on a safe community, fire and police protection, streets free of potholes and parks that are clean and safe. Keeping taxes low is the greatest economic development tool the city has. When businesses are looking to relocate the first question they ask is how much will I have to pay in taxes. By keeping our taxes low we can attract new businesses from across the country to employ our educated work force.
•Is the city moving in the right direction regarding downtown revitalization, promotion of Ogden as a high-adventure hub or should it take a more hands-off approach.
2. I believe the city is moving in the right direction as a high adventure hub. Our natural resources are world class. I believe that Ogden city should promote itself as a great place to live, work and raise a family. Economic incentives should only be used for companies that meet strict criteria of providing high paying quality jobs.
•Given the recent dispute between the city council and the administration over the Marshall White Center, what is your opinion regarding the relationship between the two bodies and what would you do to improve that relationship?
3. The focus shouldn’t be on the council and the mayor, the focus needs to be on our city and all the positive things that are being accomplished. There certainly needs to be a greater respect for each of the bodies and the vital roles they have. The council is the legislative body of the city, and the mayor should be respectful of that role. Council members must also respect the mayor and his important role. If the mayor does not agree with the council that does not mean the two can’t agree to disagree and continue working for the common good of our community. I would like to create a more positive working dialogue with the administration while holding firm to the separation of power that should exist.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A Hearty Thanks to All
I want to thank everyone for everything in this, my fledgeling election campaign endeavor. Thank you for advice. Thank you for suggestions. Thank you for giving me courage and confidence. Thank you for your votes. Thank you for your kindness and sharpness. Thank you for your tolerance. Thank you for YOUR confidence -- at times I think it was greater than my own. Thank you for your encouragement to do something daring and telling me how brave I am. Thank you for telling me what a stupid thing it is to get involved in politics. Thank you for renewing friendships and for allowing new ones to be made - I hope they last.
Even though I did not get enough votes to participate in the general election, I want you all to know if you have any questions, feel free to ask - because I don't intend to completely drop out of sight.
Thank you, all of you, from my heart.
Jennifer Neil
Even though I did not get enough votes to participate in the general election, I want you all to know if you have any questions, feel free to ask - because I don't intend to completely drop out of sight.
Thank you, all of you, from my heart.
Jennifer Neil
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
My Sierra Club Questions ...
1. [for other candidates] Please briefly describe your qualifications and why you are running for Ogden City Council. 1. Longtime resident of Ogden; 2. B.S. in Economics/Applied Math (WSU); 3. High interest in restoring citizen confidence and trust in city government; 4. High interest in restoring a proactive government-citizen relationship for the city; 5. Interested in addressing infrastructure issues and re-prioritizing on some items that the city needs
2. If you were to propose changes in Ogden's zoning ordinances to improve the quality of life and business in Ogden, what changes would you propose (if any), and why? First of all, I would need time to research all zoning requirements, distribution of particular zoning in regards to neighborhoods and business districts. Then I would probably need to work with or establish a solid line of communication with the Planning Commission(s) involved - and make informed decisions from there. As far as proposing zoning changes out of the blue, I don't believe that would fall on my shoulders, as I would be a contributing member of the Council as a team.
3. Ogden City, UTA, and other stakeholders are currently studying alternatives for a major transit investment in Ogden, to connect downtown with the WSU area. Do you support this project and if so, what are your views on the various alternatives being considered? Considering parking issues on campus, and rising cost of commuting, I would support public transportation as it stands (so long as it is sufficient for the needs of the students). As far as alternative MAJOR transit investment, I personally don't see an advantage of a totally new system, possibly adding and changing a couple bus routes to frequent the campus on a reliable and regular basis for the needs of both day and night students. My personal experience as a student says this: I was a non-traditional student, with a child that needed to go to school, and I needed to get to class at a certain time -- I drove to Dee Events & took advantage of the shuttle. I can hardly visualize any student (traditional or otherwise) wanting to use a transit method that would require driving to a particular place downtown, waiting for the car, bus, or box, and then sitting for 30-50 minutes while it winds its way up to campus -- especially if the student lives outside of Ogden, which many of them do. Students are more likely than not to be in a rush to get to school - the only thing that could conceivably work, besides actually driving and catching the shuttle, would be to have more frequent UTA busses that just go straight to campus and drop students at the centralized locations they currently use.
4. The Ogden City administration has proposed a major redesign of the Mt. Ogden Golf Course, which would include building a hotel and condominiums on city property above the top of 36th Street. Do you support this proposal? Why or why not? I don't golf. I have heard from people that do golf that Mt Ogden Golf Course is awesome, and comparable with some more well known courses. I don't think the city can afford to totally revamp the course - they claim they cannot afford the $250,000 per year in the red current operating costs. Why should the city foot the bill for hotels and housing? Is the land atop 36th suitable for such high density development? I don't think so. Keep going up the mountain, especially in a fault zone, you will have buildings and houses slipping and sliding away -- check out Davis County. If the city develops that, there are lawsuits just waiting in the wings for the first crack in a foundation because of slippage. Besides, there is the water issue -- not enough to go around after so much development, especially if Powder Mountain has their way (only I expect they won't be able to get the water rights away from Ogden City -- unless someone has a fat enough checkbook for the Commission in charge of the water). Money would be better spent on infrastructure - with more permanent repairs and upgrades rather than yearly or twice yearly band-aids to fix a more than occasional leaky water main, and necessary repairs to public safety equipment/buildings.
5. In general, should the City Council do more to encourage or discourage further development of Ogden's foothills and other open space? Please explain. See answer to above question. In addition, if we have open space, already developed with trails for biking, hiking and outdoor activities - they should stay that way. Isn't this supposed to an Outdoor Mecca? If we develop over the trails, where's the draw?
6. Should you be elected, do you plan to recommend changes in the way Ogden deals with waste, recyclables, water conservation, and/or protecting our aquifers and watershed areas? If so, what changes will you recommend, and why? Not completely in the know about water restrictions for Ogden City, but working from a logical standpoint -- we should conserve and protect the watersheds in the area - water is essential to all life, and should be protected. Some recent years have seen an abundance of water, but this is a desert area and how quickly we forget, but we just came out of a drought that lasted many years. Some of the ordinances seemed to be out of whack with the situation for a while -- get a ticket for not having a green lawn or for xeriscaping and growing things besides grass, get a ticket for watering on even numbered day. There should be regulations that would fit the situation, and be readily adoptable by policy-makers and administration and enforcement alike. And the public needs to be made aware -- the water bill includes a nice little newsletter that gives much information, but if you are a renter you don't get it, because the water bills go to the homeowners.
7. Do you favor designating a portion of the National Forest lands above Ogden as federally protected wilderness? Why or why not? How far above Ogden are we talking? and would this fall under the purview of the city council? I like being able to camp in the Nat'l Forest lands - if the Feds want to change it to protected wilderness, again it begs the question: why consider Ogden an outdoor mecca if they take it away?
8. What other environmental issues would you address if elected? Keeping the city clean - that includes property in the hands of developers that is left to decay, waiting on the developer to do something. The happy homeowners in Ogden do not get the luxury of waiting until they want to do something, enforcement comes down on them, and they must comply immediately (or within a specified reasonable timeframe) - yet the developers are afforded much more leeway. I think the enforcement for developers should be stricter than for homeowners, because they (the developers) should have the means to take action in a timely manner. If a resident is unable for various reasons (other than refusal to comply), such as physically challenged, financially challenged, elderly - then consideration should be given on an individual basis and a reasonable solution should and could conceivably be reached.
Note: These questions were forwarded to me a few weeks ago; if readers would like me to expound on any of them or if you have any other questions ... please use the comment section at the end of this post, and I will respond.
2. If you were to propose changes in Ogden's zoning ordinances to improve the quality of life and business in Ogden, what changes would you propose (if any), and why? First of all, I would need time to research all zoning requirements, distribution of particular zoning in regards to neighborhoods and business districts. Then I would probably need to work with or establish a solid line of communication with the Planning Commission(s) involved - and make informed decisions from there. As far as proposing zoning changes out of the blue, I don't believe that would fall on my shoulders, as I would be a contributing member of the Council as a team.
3. Ogden City, UTA, and other stakeholders are currently studying alternatives for a major transit investment in Ogden, to connect downtown with the WSU area. Do you support this project and if so, what are your views on the various alternatives being considered? Considering parking issues on campus, and rising cost of commuting, I would support public transportation as it stands (so long as it is sufficient for the needs of the students). As far as alternative MAJOR transit investment, I personally don't see an advantage of a totally new system, possibly adding and changing a couple bus routes to frequent the campus on a reliable and regular basis for the needs of both day and night students. My personal experience as a student says this: I was a non-traditional student, with a child that needed to go to school, and I needed to get to class at a certain time -- I drove to Dee Events & took advantage of the shuttle. I can hardly visualize any student (traditional or otherwise) wanting to use a transit method that would require driving to a particular place downtown, waiting for the car, bus, or box, and then sitting for 30-50 minutes while it winds its way up to campus -- especially if the student lives outside of Ogden, which many of them do. Students are more likely than not to be in a rush to get to school - the only thing that could conceivably work, besides actually driving and catching the shuttle, would be to have more frequent UTA busses that just go straight to campus and drop students at the centralized locations they currently use.
4. The Ogden City administration has proposed a major redesign of the Mt. Ogden Golf Course, which would include building a hotel and condominiums on city property above the top of 36th Street. Do you support this proposal? Why or why not? I don't golf. I have heard from people that do golf that Mt Ogden Golf Course is awesome, and comparable with some more well known courses. I don't think the city can afford to totally revamp the course - they claim they cannot afford the $250,000 per year in the red current operating costs. Why should the city foot the bill for hotels and housing? Is the land atop 36th suitable for such high density development? I don't think so. Keep going up the mountain, especially in a fault zone, you will have buildings and houses slipping and sliding away -- check out Davis County. If the city develops that, there are lawsuits just waiting in the wings for the first crack in a foundation because of slippage. Besides, there is the water issue -- not enough to go around after so much development, especially if Powder Mountain has their way (only I expect they won't be able to get the water rights away from Ogden City -- unless someone has a fat enough checkbook for the Commission in charge of the water). Money would be better spent on infrastructure - with more permanent repairs and upgrades rather than yearly or twice yearly band-aids to fix a more than occasional leaky water main, and necessary repairs to public safety equipment/buildings.
5. In general, should the City Council do more to encourage or discourage further development of Ogden's foothills and other open space? Please explain. See answer to above question. In addition, if we have open space, already developed with trails for biking, hiking and outdoor activities - they should stay that way. Isn't this supposed to an Outdoor Mecca? If we develop over the trails, where's the draw?
6. Should you be elected, do you plan to recommend changes in the way Ogden deals with waste, recyclables, water conservation, and/or protecting our aquifers and watershed areas? If so, what changes will you recommend, and why? Not completely in the know about water restrictions for Ogden City, but working from a logical standpoint -- we should conserve and protect the watersheds in the area - water is essential to all life, and should be protected. Some recent years have seen an abundance of water, but this is a desert area and how quickly we forget, but we just came out of a drought that lasted many years. Some of the ordinances seemed to be out of whack with the situation for a while -- get a ticket for not having a green lawn or for xeriscaping and growing things besides grass, get a ticket for watering on even numbered day. There should be regulations that would fit the situation, and be readily adoptable by policy-makers and administration and enforcement alike. And the public needs to be made aware -- the water bill includes a nice little newsletter that gives much information, but if you are a renter you don't get it, because the water bills go to the homeowners.
7. Do you favor designating a portion of the National Forest lands above Ogden as federally protected wilderness? Why or why not? How far above Ogden are we talking? and would this fall under the purview of the city council? I like being able to camp in the Nat'l Forest lands - if the Feds want to change it to protected wilderness, again it begs the question: why consider Ogden an outdoor mecca if they take it away?
8. What other environmental issues would you address if elected? Keeping the city clean - that includes property in the hands of developers that is left to decay, waiting on the developer to do something. The happy homeowners in Ogden do not get the luxury of waiting until they want to do something, enforcement comes down on them, and they must comply immediately (or within a specified reasonable timeframe) - yet the developers are afforded much more leeway. I think the enforcement for developers should be stricter than for homeowners, because they (the developers) should have the means to take action in a timely manner. If a resident is unable for various reasons (other than refusal to comply), such as physically challenged, financially challenged, elderly - then consideration should be given on an individual basis and a reasonable solution should and could conceivably be reached.
Note: These questions were forwarded to me a few weeks ago; if readers would like me to expound on any of them or if you have any other questions ... please use the comment section at the end of this post, and I will respond.
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