Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Bellevue City Council



 

Sara Burns

Age: 34

Occupation: Implementation manager at WideOrbit, Inc.

Government experience: appointed to Bellevue City Council on Aug. 26, 2010.

Education: graduated from Kentridge High School (Kent, Wash.) in 1994. Attended Washington State University, 1994-1998, studied broadcasting.

Why are you running?

Through my involvement in the community, I have met so many amazing Bellevue residents and my desire to be involved has just grown. When I was approached about appointment to the council this summer, I was honored and now that my feet are just wet, I want to continue serving.

What will you do to bring revenue to the city?

I support a change at the state Legislature level that would allow an additional liquor license here. I also support the addition of a transit center that has the potential to bring revenue to Bellevue. And the obvious answer is attracting more retail business and my personal passion—more events.

What kind of businesses would you like to see come to Bellevue?

I'd like to see a hotel/motel. We should also be able to attract professional firms, like a lawyer or dentist office, as well as a fitness center. I'd like to see whatever business can succeed, provide jobs and fit in with the values and aesthetics of our city.

What events would you work to bring to Bellevue?

I am already working on several events, including a Hispanic festival and a summer concert series. I'd also like to see the farmers market expand to include Bellevue. There are also some existing events that I'd like to see thrive, like ski-joring and the Big Wood Folk Music Festival.

What role does Bellevue play in the overall Wood River Valley economy?

Currently we are a "gateway" where people live to work, but we should also be a destination. I'd really like to see a year-round event center, something like the Visual Arts Collective in Boise. As the "worker bees" we also need to enjoy our hometown.

Should the city try to bring down sewer and water rates? If so, how?

My understanding is that the only way to bring down rates would be more users. But it's a Catch-22 as that involves more residential development, which is also costly to the city in other ways.

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Maria Anta

Age: 27

Occupation: I own my own cleaning businesses and I work for a local company doing housekeeping services.

Government experience: I worked on Jerome's Health Department.

Education: I completed grade 11 in Gooding High School. I started online classes last year to complete high school.

Why are you running?

There not has not been a Hispanic on the City Council before—that is why I'm running, to inform our Hispanic community.

What will you do to bring revenue to the city?

I help the U.S. government turn this economy in the right direction that will help our country to be prosperous again.

What kind of businesses wold you bring to Bellevue?

The city needs a local art gallery to inspire locals to reveal their talent in art work.

What events would you work to bring to Bellevue?

More Hispanic community events.

What role does Bellevue play in the overall Wood River Valley economy?

I need to get more information.

Should the city try to bring down sewer and water rates? If so, how?

The only way to be fair for everyone is to be in meters.

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Nola Kacalek

Age: 84

Occupation: Bellevue postmaster, retired.

Government experience: 20 years as the Bellevue postmaster.

Education: post high school—many years of life experiences.

Why are you running?

To give back to the community; participate in making decisions that are beneficial to the Bellevue community has a whole and to provide a senior's perspective on issues.

What will you do to bring revenue to the city?

Promote and patronize Bellevue's businesses and encourage revenue-generating events. Utilize Bellevue's Urban Renewal Agency to entice new business ventures, which would provide incentives to encourage new development in the city. Promote Bellevue's nearness to the best fly fishing in the world; plan and prepare to capture the new vehicle/pedestrian traffic from the proposed relocation of the airport south of Bellevue. Resurrect the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce to promote economic diversity and market our city.

What kind of businesses would you like to see come to Bellevue?

Businesses that would provide employment for our residents and are a fit for our community. Retail stores that provide the citizens' day-to-day needs such as a pharmacy, a hardware store, dry goods (furniture, linens, etc.), tire store and perhaps a satellite medical facility

What events would you work to bring to Bellevue?

Expand existing activities such as the Haunted Forest and bring life and participation back into the Labor Day Parade. We need to have winter events, like ice sculptures, sledding on the recreation trail, annual fly-fishing tournament sponsored by Bellevue, and Big Wood River events on Bellevue's portion of the river when water flow allows, such as kayaking.

What role does Bellevue play in the overall Wood River Valley economy?

Affordable housing and we can provide the available workforce. We are also the gateway to Sun Valley and the Sawtooths.

Should the city try to bring down sewer and water rates? If so, how?

The existing rates today barely cover the cost of debt and maintenance. The city should encourage growth, provide enticements where possible to increase the users to the water and sewer facilities who then would share in future cost increases.

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Randy Leighton

Age: 47

Occupation: Electrical contractor.

Government experience: None.

Education: High school graduate, some college, some trade classes.

Why are you running?

I just want to give something back and participate in what happens in my town of Bellevue. I've lived in the valley for 21 years, and in Bellevue the past 10 years.

What will you do to bring revenue to the city?

Main Street development and expanding retail business can certainly add to the tax base, as well as provide much-needed services to Bellevue.

What kind of businesses would you like to see come to Bellevue?

I would like to see more retail—small businesses that locals would support by being able to purchase goods that are needed at the right price, rather than need to go south for everyday items. I am opposed to large retailers, as I'm in favor of the small-town charm we now have. I am opposed to too many large buildings as has been the norm as of late in towns to the north. I wouldn't want to see a three-story bank, for example.

What events would you work to bring to Bellevue?

The Labor Day Parade and activities at the park were a large success. I'd like to see more functions such as that.

What role does Bellevue play in the overall Wood River Valley economy?

Bellevue is the home of a large portion of the workforce. We are the "entryway" to the valley as folks head north. We are their first impression, in a way.

Should the city try to bring down sewer and water rates? If so, how?

Rates can be lowered through conservation, which will be helped by metering, in a pay-for-what-you-use method.

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Larry Plott

Age: Unanswered

Occupation: Public service for the last 50 years, from local law enforcement to executive director of POST academy. Served with Department of Justice for three and a half years as senior police advisor in building and refurbishing police academies in Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia; instructor on top-level management for law enforcement personnel in Poland and Sri Lanka, and ambassador for police in Russia.

Education: Graduated from Twin Falls High School and from San Francisco City College with AA degree and certificate in criminology, with ongoing training courses from Idaho State University and Boise State University.

Government experience: 50 years of public police service and training; five and a half years on the Bellevue City Council (not consecutive). Worked as consultant with WRICOPS evaluating police departments in the Western Region United States.

Why are you running?

I have the experience in dealing with tight budgets and have prior council experience to know the citizens of Bellevue and the sound, common-sense decisions that the majority of the citizens would make themselves.

What will you do to bring revenue to the city?

Attempt to get more variety of businesses to meet the citizens' needs; reestablish and expand the chamber of commerce to work with the local businesses; piggy-back on the antiques events in the upper valley and finalize it into an auction in Bellevue; expand on the successful Labor Day Parade, and the Toys for Tots motorcycle run with a public barbecue in Memorial Park.

What kind of businesses would you like to see come to Bellevue?

You name it! All kinds of multiple types, businesses that will meet the needs of the local citizens, endeavoring to keep our money local.

What events would you work to bring to Bellevue?

Answered in previous question regarding revenue.

What role does Bellevue play in the overall Wood River Valley economy?

It plays a vital role now as the gateway to the valley with the existing businesses we already have. And it will play an increasing role as people continue to move south and the area expands. Moving south is the trend as it is the only way for expansion. With the relocation of the airport, Bellevue will be the first welcoming city into the Sawtooths and this needs to be capitalized on.

Should the city try to bring down water and sewer rates? If so, how?

The city should always be looking at ways to reduce and keep the lowest rates possible for our citizens. Unfortunately, the present system does not allow for decrease or stabilization, unless more growth, residential and commercial, takes place.

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Barb Patterson did not respond to the request from the Idaho Mountain Express.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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