Friday, September 21, 2012

Candidates Questionnaire: What innovations would you propose to increase our business base?



The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce submitted 12 questions to each of the candidates for Pacifica City Council. Every week we will be posting two questions, and the answers from each of the candidates.


Question 4. What
innovations would you propose to increase our business base?


Karen Ervin - 4 Year Seat

In order to streamline the business permitting process the city needs to continue to develop a “one stop planning and permitting” system, where all information is accessible and readily available.  Provide incentives such as a tax rebate to new businesses that move into vacant sites or invest in property.  As funds can be invested into economic development offer short-term financial assistance to new restaurants, shops, retailers, entertainment or office space that improve their sites and construction/renovation incentives for new or existing commercial buildings.  There are many potential opportunities to increase our business base, which should be thoroughly explored by City Council and the Pacifica Planning and Economic Development Department.


Mary Ann Nihart - 4 Year Seat

Our Economic Development Committee has begun a major effort to move businesses from homes into storefronts via an incubator business model.  Victor Spano and Mary Brown have been instrumental in this work. While the dedicated volunteers on the EDC have done an excellent job, but I believe we need a City staff member who specializes in economic development.  We also need an ongoing strategy to recruit new businesses to town.  Finally, I support improved resources for new businesses via the city website and a supportive permitting process.


Susan Vellone - 4 Year Seat

Open dialogue with the Corporations that own the larger retail areas and identify the people who are able to enact change. Find solutions for a win-win situation for our City, businesses, and those entities by the continuation of streamlining the planning dept process. Adjust fees when possible to entice smaller businesses, and be receptive to new ideas.

 
Victor Spano - 2 Year Seat

On the Economic Development Committee we have been working on a Small Business Incubator and High Tech Workspace. The idea with the Incubator is to grow currently Home Based Retail businesses with low-cost shared storefront space and services, technical assitance from mentors, Chamber of Commerce, lenders, and volunteer groups such as the Service Corps of Retired Executives, so that within one year they have the velocity and wherewithal to 'graduate" from the Incubator into a currently vacant storefront.....creating jobs, and producing Sales Tax Revenue. 

The "High Tech Workspace" is modeled on "Co-Working" trend which is growing in popularity and practice. Popular with programmers, salespersons, and other solo practitioners, this is the new way to work....you will find a lot of these people at Starbucks. There is a place for them in our Incubator too, they can benefit by the services the Incubator will offer, such as reception, conference room and other amenities.  If anyone out there reading this is interested in participating in our Incubator / High Tech Workspace as a user, please contact me.


Gary Mondfrans -2 Year Seat

A climate of leadership needs to be created in order to counter the present reputation that Pacifica is not business friendly, by streamlining the application and approval process at City Hall, and by outreaching and promoting Pacifica and our city's position as the Gateway to the San Mateo south coast. The opening of the Devil's Slide Tunnel Bypass will present tremendous opportunities to discover Pacifica and to drive coastal Devil's Slide for the last time before the old roadway is closed open and that open even more opportunity in the future for so many more to safely explore our south coast after the bypass tunnel is open.

Pacifica city staff has already been given direction to find ways to make the permit and application process more expedited and streamlined and that needs to be followed through from the top down.


Mike O'Neill - 2 Year Seat

Outreach to business, commercial brokers, and franchise operators.  Depending on cost look at setting up booths at trade shows.  We need to do outreach and share our demographics 65% are between the ages of 25 to 54, 63% have a household income of $75,000 or higher, 81% regularly dine out.

I think we need to pay attention to the needs of business and will talk to individual businesses to hear the concerns.  I will also be willing to visit and chat with usurious landlords.  I will be willing to make the tough calls that need to be done.


Rich Campbell - 2 Year Seat

            -Promote establishment of a sprint triatholon in Pacifica to capture recreational sports market.

28 comments:

Hutch said...

Judging by his one line answers it seems Campbell's heart is not in this.

Or is it that he knows he won't get the Chambers endorsement so he figures why try?

Or is he hiding his true environmental agenda?

Anonymous said...

Tired old ideas and, trendy but unrealistic, new ones. Not one word about saving money through outsourcing, city payroll costs, or the pension bomb. I can understand an incumbent not wanting to go there but how does that serve the public? Tougher questions next time?

Anonymous said...

Guess Campbell thinks since he won't get a Chamber endorsement he won't put forth much effort in a public forum. That strikes me as arrogant and somewhat adversarial. How smart is that?

Anonymous said...

Wonder how Starbucks feels about this?

Anonymous said...

Get a target or trader's or home depot in here instead of all this mickey mouse stuff spano and nihart are blathering about. Plenty of people here and over the slide to shop. Why not big retail in Pacifica? Why do we always
settle for less? And less, and less?

Fact Check Freddie said...

Here's your answer to Campbell.
His endorsement list. See any familiar names?

Jessica Anthony
Emily and Joel Bernardo
Mike Brown, Pacifica Planning Commission
Mary Ellen Carroll
Tom Clifford, Pacifica Planning Commission
Greg Cochran
Anthony George
Josh Gordon, Pacifica Planning Commission
Michele Husak
Cynthia Kaufman, President, Pacifica School District Board
Kim and Clint Jones
Kayla Louis
Andrew Mayo
Andy and Margo Meiman
Dinah Verby
Jay and Jody Webster
George Yatrakisendorsement

Lionel Emde said...

I can't wait for a new city council, who fires the city manager and city attorney, and starts to seriously explore some of these fine ideas proffered here by candidates.

A clean sweep is always best, and next, someone could start preparing to put the solid waste collection contract out to bid in 2016.

People mewl endlessly about how business is bad here, and how we should encourage it, and then overlook such egregious corruption as the no-bid Recology contract, which locked in the highest rates for garbage collection in two counties.

Try looking closer to home if you want to see corruption on its face.

Anonymous said...

Lionel you're such a meanie. In these situations Council always apologizes so sincerely. Of course then they make with the buzz words, preach togetherness, launch a couple warm fuzzies, wind up the same old volunteers, do anything and everything to cover the fact that they are dangerously inept and a couple of them are really very conniving. You know, Lionel, I think you're right. Clean house! Big hugs.

Anonymous said...

Anon 721said "Not one word about saving money through outsourcing, city payroll costs, or the pension bomb."

They are all too smart to say that in public. Or chicken.

Don't you know though , all our budget problem are solved from the cuts last year?

Anonymous said...

Jessica Anthony
Emily and Joel Bernardo
Mike Brown, Pacifica Planning Commission
Mary Ellen Carroll
Tom Clifford, Pacifica Planning Commission
Greg Cochran
Anthony George
Josh Gordon, Pacifica Planning Commission
Michele Husak
Cynthia Kaufman, President, Pacifica School District Board
Kim and Clint Jones
Kayla Louis
Andrew Mayo
Andy and Margo Meiman
Dinah Verby
Jay and Jody Webster
George Yatrakisendorsement

Hippies, nobies, and made up names!

The same people who bankrupted the city.

Anonymous said...

Of course, of course anon 1001. I sometimes forget what the real problem in Pacifica actually is... we keep electing people who can't do the job. Actual problem solving is unheard of but we're big on psycho-babble and gimmicks. Latest gimmick? Fill the empty storefronts with businesses that were home-based or better yet based in Starbucks. People that work at home want to work at home. It "works" for them and their business. They are already contributing to this city's economy and it costs the city nothing. This so-called solution solves nothing and wastes money, but it sure has curb appeal, doesn't it? It's the equivalent of candidates kissing babies. How about going after business that would change our city? Bigger retail and more senior care provide more bang for the buck, lots of jobs, ancillary spending, revenue revenue revenue. And with the hot market for apts, why aren't any being built in Pacifica?Too tough for you Ms/Mr. City Councilmember or candidate? Clueless as to how to proceed? Obstacles too big for ya? Stop scamming us with these lame substitutes for progress and get out of the way!

Anonymous said...

yawn

Anonymous said...

anon1001 I didn't know that. What a relief.

Anonymous said...

tyawn yawn yawn

zzzz

Anonymous said...

@1217 YESYESYES!! The yawn was for the list @1122. Timing is everything. What's up w/that list stuff?

Anonymous said...

1122 We're not bankrupt. Of course this is election season and the creative juices are flowing...

Anonymous said...

@1217 can you see that bunch kissing babies?

Anonymous said...

wake up you slackers

Chris Porter said...

For all you new readers of this blog site, Lionel knows the previous owner (Coastside Scavenger) sold the franchise agreement to Recology with the approval of the City Council. The City then took the opportunity to request programs that City of Pacifica residents had requested and the contract was extended. Please recheck the rate schedules of other cities before continuting to state we are the highest. I explained previously that some of the other cities that are covered by the SBWMA (including San Mateo, Belmont, Burlingame, Foster City, Menlo Park and others) were artifically keeping their rates low by not paying the full amount of the dump fees and taking a "loan" from Allied Waste on the unpaid funds. Those cities paid the dump fee as part of the previous agreement with SBWMA. Now that Recology won those agreements, there is nothing like that in place and some of the cities are still paying back Allied Waste for the monies still owed on the delayed dump fees payment. As far as the Pacifica rates go, as I stated over 50% of our customers are now using the 20 gallon cart because so many new programs have been established to reduce what is put in the trash that they only need a small cart. Since less than 800 people were previously using the "mini can" a significant amount of customers have been able to reduce down from their previous can size and now are saving money. I think paying 16% less is a good thing in 5 years but I don't live in your world. Again, as I say every year, this will be my last post because trying to reinvent the truth to fit their personal criteria is not a game I chose to play with Lionel and Todd. Enjoy this sunny Pacifica day.

Anonymous said...

I have no complaints about Recology's service and I'm one of the people who down-sized mostly because the household shrunk. However, it does sound like it was a no-bid contract and that's an issue that will never die.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
1122 We're not bankrupt. Of course this is election season and the creative juices are flowing...

September 22, 2012 1:06 PM

We are not bankrupt. Cause Mayor Pete, said so. We can all sleep better at night now.

It is just the liabilities are higher then assets. Oh and the sewage system in town needs to be rebuilt, oh and we need a new sewer plant, oh and we need a new manor fire station, oh and city hall is falling apart.

Anonymous said...

New Manor fire station? Why? I'd let that shopping center burn. What a dump and helluva intro to Pacifica as you come down the hiway.

Anonymous said...

Manor fire station serves everything North of Vallemar to the Daly City, South San Francisco and San Bruno borders.

Anonymous said...

So far so good without it. Why spend the money.

Anonymous said...

Yah, until your house burns down from slow response. As for the rest of the mal-contents.....If you don't like what you see running for Coucil, grow a pair and get up there yourselves. You have such "great ideas", maybe you should be running the show.

Larry said...

It's amazing how well Pacifica does while Petey is mayor.

how can pete "balance" the budget for 12/13 when it was a half year budget!
sneaky pete at it again?! and our reserves went up?

pacificaindex.com

"Beginning with the good, the Mayor pointed to the City's balanced 2012/13 General Budget.

In fact, the City has not only balanced the budget, but has also realized greater revenues and lower expenditures than planned, resulting in a surplus for the budget cycle of $410,000. This brings current City reserves up to $1.11 million"

Anonymous said...

"malcontents" ^ Pete ^

Anonymous said...

It's cause of you you you people Pete, couldn't balance the budget.

Wasting his high time and sleep time on stupid recalls.