Like the other cities of the Wood River Valley, Bellevue has no shortage of challenging issues before it.
"Water and sewer, the police and fire departments," said incumbent Councilman Steve Fairbrother, one of four candidates vying for three Bellevue City Council seats. "I could make a list that would be traumatic at best."
Fairbrother, along with Gene Ramsey, Larry Plott, and Josh Rand, were on hand to speak to and answer questions from an audience of about 25 people at the third installment of Pizza and Politics, a series of forums sponsored by the Mountain Express and moderated by Express Publisher Pam Morris.
Like Fairbrother, who served as mayor from 1999 to 2001 and is seeking re-election to his third term on the council, Plott also has past experience in Bellevue government. He was elected to a two-year council term in 1998 and unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2003.
For Ramsey, the Blaine County chief deputy sheriff, and Rand, a framing contractor, this is their first foray into local politics.
Despite these differences, the candidates agreed on a number of issues, each saying that public safety and the city's lack of adequate law enforcement were top priorities for the city. However, Rand, a Utah native who's lived in Bellevue for the last four years, added that the city needs to encourage affordable housing in order to limit the commute of valley employees.
"We need to attract a workforce that will be the backbone of this area," Rand said.
The other three had concurrent sentiments about the need for the city to provide workforce housing, but with varying reservations.
"Bellevue is part of the greater Wood River Valley community and should help provide a solution," said Ramsey, who's lived in Bellevue for the past 20 years. "However, we should not be the only answer."
Likewise, Plott said that this was a complex issue and that the current form of deed restriction utilized by the Blaine County Housing Authority might not be the best method for getting people into homes.
In addition, the candidates expressed concern when responding to a question about the use of transfer of development rights (TDRs) as a way to increase density in or around the city while preserving open space.
"We've been discussing TDRs since the 90s and have got nowhere," said Fairbrother, who's been part of a number these deliberations in the past few months. "I don't think the city can afford this program because it will drive the cost of property too high."
Plott added that the city would have to be extremely careful when deciding how much density to allow and that a wrong decision could have very long-term effects on the city. Ramsey noted the possibility of a TDR program negatively impacting growth, as it could prove a deterrent for potential developers and future annexations.
The latter point was particularly poignant in light of developer Harry Rinker's recent decision to remove his application for a 280-acre annexation proposal that would have brought nearly 600 homes into the city, in addition to much needed funds for infrastructure and municipal service improvements.
This led to a number of questions, including what the candidates plan to do without that source of revenue and what the city would do if Rinker took his project before Blaine County.
"We have plenty of people coming up here for tourism," said Plott, who was the director of the state's law enforcement training academy for 22 years. "We need to find a way to hold them here."
Fairbrother, on the other hand, pointed out that the recent implementation of an Urban Renewal District should provide some infrastructure relief in the future and that a planned cell-phone tower will become a steady source of revenue.
As for a potential conflict with the project being developed in the county, Ramsey said that if the council completes its Area of City Impact (ACI) agreement then it would be able to have some say in the county's decision.
Working with the county and other valley cities goes well beyond the ACI, however, as Ramsey explained that it would take a collective effort to find solutions for not only affordable housing, but transportation as well.
In response to a question from the public about Bellevue working with other cities, specifically in regards to economics, Plott didn't share the same enthusiasm for regional planning as Ramsey. He said that Bellevue has to come first, while Fairbrother said the council should focus on improving the city's infrastructure. Rand declined to answer.
These infrastructure improvements were highlighted when Plott asked the other candidates what their priorities would be if money weren't an issue. A new fire station topped the list. Ramsey included further developing the city's park system and Rand cited the need for a youth center.
"Unfortunately, money is always an issue," was the wry response from Fairbrother, who works as an equine veterinarian in addition to his current council duties.
Fairbrother got another laugh from the crowd when he began his closing statement with his reasons for running for re-election.
"It's that really huge paycheck," Fairbrother said, referring to the council's $100 per month salary. "Really though, we have a good council and I would like to follow through with the projects that we started."
For the final Pizza and Politics forum, the Sun Valley candidates faced off Thursday, Oct. 25, at Carol's Dollar Mountain Lodge, in Sun Valley.
Josh Rand,
Gene Ramsey,
Steve Fairbrother,
Larry Plott Photo by David N. Seelig
