Sustainability Survey of Political Candidates - 2003

Part of the Mission of Sustainable Fairfax is to educate the residents and merchants of Fairfax about sustainability and to increase public access to government. Our organization does not support any specific candidate in any election, and we are not tying our name to any specific candidate in this current election. However, we did want to produce a voter guide to educate the public on the candidates' positions on the issues of sustainability.

We decided that the best way to collect this information would be to publish the candidates' responses to a survey about sustainability. The eight topics selected for the survey are: Housing, Watershed Quality, Global Warming, Local Self-Reliance, Public Health, Building Community, Public Paricipation in Government, and Transportation. Use the links below to compare the candidate positions:

Questionnaires were distributed to all candidates, and were written to avoid suggesting our position on the issue. We did our best to ensure that the format of the survey and the presentation of the results do not give one candidate prominence or otherwise create an appearance that one or more candidates is acceptable or unacceptable to our organization. For example, the order in which responses for each topic are listed is randomly assigned. These results will also be publicly posted in front of our evolving Sustainability Center at 141 Bolinas Rd. in Fairfax as well as at other locations throughout town. Please contact us at 459-3768 if you are interested in receiving a copy.

Bragman

Over the last three years I redesigned and replanted the land surrounding my home using mostly recycled materials and plants. The formerly arid and ivy covered area has been sculpted, terraced and replanted with fruit trees and native plants that do not require large amounts of water.   We recently added a drip irrigation system to complete the project which has reduced actual water usage while increasing the health of the plants and the microclimate that is slowly evolving.   The project was largely designed and implemented by an artist friend who has lived on the property.   The work/live arrangement that evolved with this project has allowed the tenant to reside in Fairfax where he is a regular contributor to the arts community. I also recently helped arrange financing for an affordable condominium unit for another individual. Again, this housing will allow a very talented individual to remain in the community who otherwise would be effectively priced out. On a more mundane level, I also helped design and build a major fence project on my property which used all cedar construction to avoid any use of redwood or other such materials.

Weinsoff

I have no record of actions taken over the past 3 years to promote sustainability in this area.

Looking forward, the Town, in collaboration with nonprofit housing organizations, should create affordable housing for our teachers, fire and police officers, and town staff. The recently completed Housing Element of the General Plan Update identified a number of appropriate housing sites. When I was growing up, police officers, firefighters and teachers (including my parents) were among the most respected members of the community. Professional salaries, however, have not kept pace with the cost of housing in Marin forcing many of our public employees to commute considerable distances into Fairfax. Addressing their housing need brings them back to the community, enriching all of us.

Hailer

As a Planning Commissioner, I have been active in developing our Housing Element, which stresses the need for affordable housing. Also, we've placed limits on home sizes by creating the Floor Area Ratio ordinance, which encourages green building techniques. I grew up in small Ross Valley homes, including one on Dominga where I lived as a teenager. In renovating our own home, my husband and I are do-it-yourselfers and have assisted, and been assisted by, other neighbors in renovating their homes.

My vision for the town regarding housing is to provide more affordable housing in the community. We do need to get illegal second units up to code for the safety of the inhabitants. However, legalizing existing illegal second units alone will not result in an actual increase in the affordable housing stock. Because of our high land costs, density changes are regrettably necessary to accommodate new building of affordable housing. The only place where I will support a change in density would be in this case and with input from the community that will be impacted. I will foster relationships with non-profit and government groups that can be partners in developing such housing.

Tremaine

The Fairfax Council recently passed its new housing element and I introduced and insisted upon the following provisions: A. That the element provide that all 64 new units called for by the State of California be affordable units under HUD's definition. And B. That the Housing element contain strong language calling for transit based housing that will be developed using every creative tool available to minimize traffic. I also supported the inclusion of language that encouraged the use of green building techniques and recycled materials. I cast the deciding vote to pass an ordinance that set floor area ratio limits based on lot size and set a 5,000 square foot limit on the size of homes.

Prum

Affordable housing is a subject that has come up a lot recently, whether discussing second units, housing size limits, or the ABAG requirements for 64 new units in Fairfax. As a younger person who does not have any family in Marin who can pass along property that was purchased during the pre-boom era, affordable housing is a well-known issue to me. The current housing prices, coupled with the high property tax rates, mean that no one who makes under $130,000/yr can afford to purchase a home in Fairfax. And those kinds of prices create a tremendous problem with the sustainability of our unique community. Fairfax is made up of a large number of people who came here and know that this was where they belong. However, without a solution to rising housing prices, our community can only end up like a majority of Marin towns, which are completely unaffordable to those people who also provide essential local services.

I feel that a lot can be done to ease the situation. Our new governor has already stated that Proposition 13 should be reviewed, an action that may scare many residents, but could allow our community to thrive with new, young blood, rather than continue to sell only to the highest bidder, regardless of their possible indifference in our community. We can also work to make the many second units in town legal, while still maintaining safety and limiting traffic. Reviewing second units in a common sense manner, rather than by strict building codes, we can create more affordable homes for those who don't mind living in cramped situations, or having to walk in the rain to get into the main house to use the bathroom.