Question 1: Because Lafayette is a desirable place to live we are subject to continuing pressure to grow. What is your vision for growth in Lafayette?

To fulfill the promise of Lafayette for all our residents, we must reimagine how we engage our community, and a perfect way to demonstrate a renewed focus on engagement is through upgrading Lafayette’s General Plan. It's been 16 years since we adopted our last plan and 26 years since we started that engagement process. We just collectively envision the future we want to build together. I advocate sustainable growth and looks at our infrastructure (including transportation, schools, and open space), and builds where we have the capacity the support the development. I support the development of new housing, including adding more density within walking distance of BART, and the prioritization of affordable units, especially for public serving residents. Teachers, police, fire fighters, and nurses are public servants and community assets, and they should be able to afford to live in the community they serve. Finally, I am supportive of developers working in partnership with the city and our community to find solutions that meet market needs while enhancing and providing civic amenities. Through public-private partnerships, we can think creatively about how to design win-win-win scenarios that meet our residents’ needs, solve resource challenges for our city, and meet the return requirements necessary to make sustainable development projects viable.

 

Question 2: Because Lafayette is a transportation access point for surrounding communities, traffic congestion is worsening as these communities grow. How do you propose we address this burden?

Our circulation challenges are regional issues and cannot be addresses by Lafayette alone as growth in Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and Moraga all have an impact. In addition to working with other local governments and understanding the impact technology has on exacerbating this issue, we need to explore new solutions to take more cars off the road. I propose innovative public-private transit options, to provide opportunities to live in a semi-rural area while practicing more environmentally sustainable, quality of life enhancing, and decongesting practices. One idea is a Lamorinda Jitney that covers the first/last mile to/from BART in the morning. It's currently impossible to find parking at BART between 7:15-9:45 AM (exactly when families needs to drop kids and get to work), and it takes a half hour to drive from BART to Acalanes/Springhill during peak commute. This simple idea can be financially self-sustaining while taking hundreds of cars of our major corridors during peak commute hours. Learn more about this idea at www.DaveForLafayette.us.

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Question 3: The natural gas pipelines that run through Lafayette to supply our city are old, have no provisions for automated inspection, and have no automated shutoffs. How would you propose these hazards be addressed?

I support Save Lafayette Trees in asking our city and PG&E to mutually agree to stop the Tree Cutting Agreement from 2017, and to establish a Citizen Advisory Committee to reduce the number of pipeline safety accidents and risk to Lafayette while protecting our natural environment. I believe we need our city to set the table for a balanced community conversation where PG&E, California Public Utilities Commission, East Bay Regional Parks, and our concerned residents. This way, we can work together on jointly owned solutions that prioritize safety, our natural environment, and build trust. I specialize in structuring cross-sector partnerships to find collaborative solutions, and I support adjusting the power dynamics to allow for true stakeholder partnership. I have more information on this topic at www.DaveForLafayette.us.