Our Des Moines City Council Online Candidate Forum Position #3: Melissa Ponder vs Carmen Scott

This is the second in our online Des Moines City Council Candidates Forum series, today featuring the two candidates vying for Position #3: challenger Melissa Ponder vs incumbent Carmen Scott.

As before, we have made no alterations to their text, so the words used are purely theirs, including any typos or other errors.

Each candidate is identified by their names and headshots, then initials:

1. What is the primary objective you hope to accomplish for Des Moines if you are elected to the council? What qualifies you to lead this effort?

MELISSA PONDER: We need to improve our financial situation in order to be able to provide services citizens say they want.  In order to accomplish this, we need a council that will act more collaboratively.  Unanimous agreement is not always necessary, but a healthy goal oriented working environment is critical to serving the people of Des Moines. An example of my ability to listen, work collaboratively, and work towards solutions is demonstrated by the fact that I was nominated by and elected by fellow Commissioners on the King County Civil Rights Commission to serve as Chairperson for two terms.  These skills are going to be required in these tough economic times in order to find broadly supported solutions to the city’s problems.

As Program Coordinator of the REACH Diabetes Program at International Community Health Services, I was responsible for supervision of the $130,000 budget, as well as for the community based research data collection, evaluation, and reporting involved with the project.

I also have an understanding of the small business person as I have the benefit of running my own photography business which means I have to negotiate the landscape of taxes, licenses, etc. that all businesses must travel. I am a quick learner, hard worker, and strongly believe that community as a whole can make a great impact. I genuinely believe the City Council should be representative of and accountable to the people of Des Moines.

CARMEN SCOTT: My primary objective is to hasten our city’s recovery from this economic recession, and put us on a sound financial footing.  To identify and make use of the most accurate and effective methods of understanding and resolving each of our most urgent issues.  This means communication, cooperation, reaching out and listening, resolving differences, and working cohesively towards achievable goals.

I have been a very successful business woman for three decades, particularly skilled in analyzing property values, and understanding the factors that affect the desirability of homes, neighborhoods and communities. Starting in 1978, I served 10 years on the Des Moines Planning Commission. In 1988, My work was instrumental in securing a State Historical designation for Covenant Beach Historic District.  I am  a board member of the Des Moines Legacy Foundation, which raises funds to sustain critical programs and activities benefitting at-risk youth, family and seniors.  I am a city historian, and board member of the Des Moines Historical Society.  As an effective member of  the current Des Moines City Council, I have earned respect, and a reputation for doing my homework, and arriving at sound logical conclusions.  I am proud to be endorsed by those who have served beside me and know me well, including our current Mayor, two former Mayors, and the majority of our current council.

2. Des Moines tax revenue is down sharply, as reflected in the budget-cutting process for 2010. What will you do to increase revenue for the city without negatively impacting city residents and businesses?

MP: Des Moines tax revenue is down sharply, as reflected in the budget-cutting process for 2010. What will you do to increase revenue for the city without negatively impacting city residents and businesses?

One of the few things that all council members and candidates seem to agree upon is that the best opportunity for revenue is the Des Moines Creek Business Park area (which has already been zoned as such). We need to pursue possible state tax incentives that will not also require us to give up needed city tax revenues, in order to get developers and businesses back to the table.  We need to actively seek input from community members and our neighbor cities about what kinds of businesses they would like to attract (or avoid). While proceeding with that measure, the council may need to have a retreat or two early in 2010 specifically aimed at strategic planning, so that we can hear everyone’s ideas.  Budget issues need to be a yearlong process right now, not just a couple of months in the fall.

CS: I am going to cover my ideas for new revenue in the three topics that follow this one.   Increased revenue sources usually take months to start accumulating, and even longer To actually be available for use.   In the meantime, we need to hold off on any expenditures that are not urgently needed.

I am scheduled to meet at Highline College, to discuss greater cooperative efforts between the city and the college.  It may be that a way can be found for students to gain college credit for real-world work experience with the city, in an area related to the degree they are pursuing.    Other organizations and individuals can be approached, to help build, repair, replace or adopt small parks or playgrounds or facilities, even If only to keep them clean, mowed and open.

3. Business activity downtown remains sluggish. What will you do to position the city to encourage increased business activity and development downtown?

MP: Business activity across the country is sluggish and we are not immune to national/global economic problems.  It will help to get the Des Moines Creek Business Park up and running as that will also be one of, if not our most, significant employment centers and all those workers may want to come down to the waterfront area for lunch or a break.  The city can make sure that infrastructure is in place for new projects downtown.  While the Business Park could become our primary new revenue generator, I see the downtown as providing locals and visitors with services including restaurants, legal, medical, food shopping, specialty shops, businesses that might provide a place for youth/teens to hang out, etc.  It seems unlikely that the downtown will ever look exactly like or serve all the same functions as it did decades ago and it is time to re-think the contemporary function of a downtown in a small city that is part of a larger metropolitan area.

CS: Downtown Des Moines  has enormous potential.  The first and easiest way to increase business development downtown  is to extend to 2011, the reduced parking requirements for new businesses, (which expires at the end of 2009).  The next easy step is to put signage on the roads leading to downtown, so that people know they can use 7th avenue too.  Another help would be to have walking maps available in stores and restaurants, the marina, and in kiosks at each end of downtown. (Rotary has plans for kiosks).  Larger improvements would include water main replacements, bringing pressure up to fire flow requirements. Lack of adequate fire flow has halted new buildings that would have been built before the recession began.  A major limitation for growth on Marine View Drive is its designation as  State Highway 509.  The rules for State Highways create major problems for using it as a main business street.

Council must make it a priority to find a way to reach agreement on concepts for downtown planning and building heights.

4. Should Des Moines promote itself as a tourist destination? If yes, what should the city do (e.g., encourage development of bed-and-breakfasts, Puget Sound tour boat cruises from the Marina, summer salmon bakes)? If no, why not?

MP: Most towns have something that would interest tourists.  Des Moines has the Marina and Des Moines Creek Beach Park (which will soon sport a great fully paved walking/biking trail), Redondo Boardwalk, and Saltwater State Park.  The Field House is also a well known historic structure which the city has wisely maintained.  The Beach Park will have fully refurbished structures which can be a center for both civic activity and tourism.  Who wouldn’t want to spend a day in such a beautiful location?  I think our city is in a good situation to promote these amenities as they come on line.

CS: A modest investment in marketing could bring a very real and very fast return on investment.  Our town has been the “BAD” example used in Economic Development &Tourism seminars ever since Booth Gardner was governor.(1988)   “ Fantastic Views, rugged mountains, a wonderful walkable marina and fishing pier, a great variety of restaurants, a historic beach park, easy access from an interstate freeway, International Airport and 6000+ hotel rooms within 15 minutes by car.”  And they don’t bring those spendable dollars into Des Moines.  They don’t even know Des Moines is there. Many of my clients (business travelers) have stayed in local hotels over the years, and will ask “where can I buy a good bottle of wine and flowers for dinner at my new bosses house”  or “steaks for his barbecue”   or  “ Really? A marina! Can I jog there? Saltwater? Rugged Mountains?  Restaurant overlooking it all? Really?  Where is it?  I didn’t see a brochure at the hotel.”

A Tourist, today, is more likely to say “We planned our trip on the Washington State Tourism website.  Saw lots of neat waterfront towns, didn’t notice Des Moines”  (That’s because Des Moines has never made it a priority to develop its State Tourism site).      And don’t forget we could also promote  Redondo, Salty’s, The MaST Aquarium, fishing pier, boardwalk.

People who think we have nothing to offer, don’t know what they are talking about!    I have been promoting Des Moines for years in Note Cards, Calendars, and  in tourism magazines.  We need to get our act together and put our town on the map.

5. Do you support development of Waterview Crossing and Des Moines Creek Business Park? If yes, what will you do to position the city to help these projects move forward? If no, why not?

MP: Just as the Business Park has a primary role for revenue generation and the downtown has a primary role for providing services to the locals, the Pacific Ridge area has been zoned as a location for the density increases required under the Growth Management Act.  Light rail and employment centers will themselves increase the viability of residential projects in Pacific Ridge. I understand that developing the Pacific Ridge area for density will have the least disruption to the rest of the city and is ideally situated near transportation services, including future light rail, as well as employment opportunities at the proposed Business Park. I struggle with the idea of displacing current residents, not having available and comparable alternatives within Des Moines to which they might relocate. Currently, the city is not required to provide relocation assistance to those residents. I would like to see that the city finds ways to provide assistance to the residents. The timing of these projects is more dependent on factors not under the control of any local government.  I believe that our current focus should be on the Business Park for revenue generation which may then spur interest in the residential development on Pacific Ridge, just at the time that the light rail planning process focuses on South King County.

CS: I support redevelopment of both Pacific Ridge (a blighted & crime ridden area) and the Des Moines Creek Business Park, as well as any other well-thought-out endeavor that would create a sustained increase in city revenue and the overall betterment of Des Moines.

If or when Waterview Crossing is built, it is likely to be the first large redevelopment project within Pacific Ridge` It is currently a mobile home park of about 90 households on about 6 acres, with frontage on the east side of Highway 99.  Sunway Services, represented by Matthew Chan entered into a negotiated development agreement with the city of Des Moines on November 15th 2007. This agreement was passed by a unanimous vote of the council.  Sunway Services undoubtedly will determine When the economy will support starting the first phase of  their project. The residents of the mobile home park are entitled by law, to one year’s notice to vacate.  Council has not received any information to indicate that such notice has been implemented.

The Des Moines Creek 89 acre Business Park was slated to begin development the summer of 2009.  The developer withdrew in 2008 after the economy became worse than anticipated, and the Port was not willing to discuss contract renegotiations.  Our City Manager has indicated that some Port commissioners seem to be more willing to listen now, and it may be feasible to reopen discussion.

I have requested that all due diligence be put into talks with both parties, and see if the project can be revitalized.  If the developer is not interested, it is pertinent to determine exactly why, and to see if the decision can be turned around. If not, then it would seem worthwhile to ask the port to check back with the ten developers who were not previously selected, and see if any of them retains an interest in the project.  If all possible efforts fail to stimulate any interest, if it becomes likely that several years will pass before supply and demand correct themselves, then I would question the wisdom of prioritizing money into road improvements for that project any sooner than is warranted.

Coming up next, the candidates for Position #7: Dave Kaplan vs Susan White.