Max for Mayor

Sierra Club Questionnaire

Austin Sierra Club Questionnaire
1997 City Council Elections

For each of the following affirmations, respond as to how strongly you agree or disagree. If you are undecided or neutral, or feel you need to qualify the statement, respond so. Briefly explain your position. A short explanation demonstrating expertise is far better than a long, rambling one or no explanation at all. If you have unique knowledge or planned initiatives, add those. Answer on separate paper.

Creating the Compact City

1. I will vote for and promote the passage of a bond election to fully fund Phase I of the light rail system as proposed by City staff.

Yes--we must move ahead with light rail now.

2. I will only appoint persons to the Board of Capital Metro who will vote to expand the mass transit system and who are supportive of the Capital Metro (MTA) sales tax.

Definitely, as I have done in the past.

3. I will oppose tax abatements for new businesses to be located in suburban or semi-rural areas rather than within the growth corridor. In order for businesses to receive tax abatements I will require that they provide complete information about any environmental impacts associated with their operations, including use of toxic chemicals, total energy consumption and total water use.

I will strongly oppose tax abatement for businesses in this boom economy; I was the only councilmember to oppose the abatement for Samsung; I support tax abatements only for Downtown housing.

4. I will actively support funding the City's nascent Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, which so far has had no budget for operations and funding for only one staff person.

I introduced and funded the bicycle coordinator position while working with the Bicycle Coalition. I introduced and funded the pedestrian coordinator, later repealed by the current council. I will very strongly continue to support these programs.

Controlling Development

5. Promptly following my election, I will sponsor and vote for an ordinance changing the Land Development Code to put expiration dates on all preliminary plans introduced after passage of the ordinance.

Yes.

6. I will earnestly work to oppose the construction of Water Treatment Plant #4 near the intersection of RM 2222 and State Highway 620.

I campaigned on this issue since 1987, and worked successfully to postpone it. I will continue to support aggressive water conservation programs to delay WTP IV further.

7. I will support necessary spending to challenge in court the constitutionality of removing land from Austin's control, including Circle C.

Definitely--we must defend our rights against unconstitutional legislation. I have done so in the past.

Water and Air

8. I will oppose the construction of the South Austin Outfall sewer line and any new server service to development in the Edwards Aquifer or its recharge zone.

Yes--in my tenure, I kept this project (SOA) from being completed, bringing its budget up for scrutiny each year, until an environmental majority could kill it.

9. I will vote to require that SOS standards be applied to all permit application filed after the date SOS first went into effect.

Yes--we must follow up our two SOS lawsuit victories aggressively.

10. I support any means possible to limit development over the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zone because I understand that limiting impervious cover is the only long-term way protect the water quality in the aquifer.

I strongly agree.

11. I will support the efforts by EPA to raise the revised National Air Quality Standards (NAQS) for ozone and support funding studies of EPA proposed particulate matter 2.5 (2.5 PM) standards. Outline the measures you consider necessary to bring the city into compliance with the proposed standards.

Yes, definitely--reduce auto emissions by building light rail, improving bus service, encouraging pedestrian and bicycle transit options, amending the bicycle helmet law (18 years and under), supporting free fares for buses, encouraging downtown housing, encouraging telecommuting, supporting mixed-use development, the compact city, plant more trees, etc.

12. I will support the creation of a routing system to prevent vehicles carrying hazardous materials from passing through areas of high population and environmentally sensitive areas.

Yes, as I have in the past, working with the Environmental Board on these proposals for MoPac.

Utilities

13. I will vote against any and all attempts to cut funding for City of Austin's conservation programs, and will vote against allowing these programs to be privatized.

Yes--I continue to strongly support conservation.

14. I will work to support cost-effective cogeneration in Austin and will instruct the Electric Utility Department to pursue it.

Yes--I will also support a rebate program for solar.

Parks and Preserves

15. I will support adequate funding to accelerate the completion of the Town Lake Comprehensive Plan, which has been ignored over the past few years.

The TLCP is 10 years old. This is the right time and the right city council to do a thorough review and update. We should reduce the amount of commercial development called for in the plan.

16. I will work to at least double funding for management of the BCP from sources other than drainage fees. (There is inadequate staffing for PARD management of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. Current funding from drainage fees supports only half the number of staff positions projected for the third year of management and these funds cannot be used directly to manage endangered species, only the land.)

Yes--I have supported increased funding for PARD in the past. We should also call on the County and the State for financial help. We can pursue ecotourism potential, especially for the use of Reicher Ranch.

Compatibility

17. I will support initiatives to resolve the incompatibility of certain industries located near residential areas, particularly those situated in East Austin. Cite examples.

Yes--recycling facilities, city garbage collection facilities, pornography and prostitution in East Austin and on South Congress. I strongly supported the city's assistance to the neighborhoods in removing the tank farm.

18. I will support establishing and improving regional relationships with surrounding and overlapping governmental entities for enhanced environmental protection. Give examples.

Yes--regional cooperation was essential in establishing the BCP Habitat Plan. Metro government would also improve services and save money. The time is right to combine city/county governments.

Essays

Do you consider yourself an environmentalist? If so, give reasons, including former activities and accomplishments, ongoing projects, future goals, memberships in organizations and lifestyle.

Yes, I have been an environmentalist since the first Earth Day in 1970... It is a way to save the planet. I believe in "living simply that others may simply live," a modern philosophy which fits with the beliefs of my Mennonite ancestors. I recycle, including using recycled autos. I walk a lot, use my bike as a transit option, and drive only as a last resort. I have been an environmental activist in Austin for 18 years, with a lengthy record of accomplishment. Through my eight city council/mayoral campaigns, I have helped to educate Austin citizens on environmental issues.

What strategies will you initiated and actively promote to increase the use of alternative means of transportation, i.e., bicycling, mass transit and walking? Consider also related issues like connecting trail system, Lamar Street pedestrian walkway, no parking along bike lanes, bus riding incentives, Waller Creek revitalization, etc.

I support improving the Lamar Bridge for bicycles and pedestrians only. I pushed for expanded hike and bike trails, funded bicycle and pedestrian staff positions, and put people on the Capital Metro Board who implemented free fares. I acted on a citizen's suggestion and changed the congested "Trail of Lights" into a pedestrian event. I am an avid walker and biker (until the helmet law passed) and frequent the hike and bike trails. I choose to live in a mixed-use area where I can walk to many services. I will amend/repeal the anti-biking helmet law.

Do support mixed-use development? If so, what would you do to encourage such development downtown, in East Austin, and at the Mueller Airport site? Have have you supported the activities of the Citizen's Planning Committee?

Yes--I choose to live in a mixed-use area so I'm not auto-dependent. As chair of the Downtown Committee of City Council, I initiated tax abatements for downtown housing, which has sparked several projects. I voted to fund the creation of the citizen's planning committee and its activities. I support careful planning for the redevelopment of the Mueller Airport site so that it will be the model for urban mixed use development.

Arguments have been made that extending roadways and utility infrastructure into areas outside Austin compromise efforts to create a compact city. Specifically, what is your position on supporting or providing these extensions, and what will you do to discourage, limit or regulate them, whichever may apply? Consider mainly wastewater connections vis a vis septic systems and roadways such as the Southwest Parkway, US 290 West, US 130 and the Outer Loop.

Extending roads and utilities into outlying areas contributes to sprawl. I like the compact city approach, and will champion ways to revitalize the core city while pursuing strategies that minimize sprawl. I do not and will not support the Outer Loop or U.S. 290 West; I do support State Highway 130 on the east side. I will not vote to close part of the SW Parkway. I will not support wastewater connection to Davenport Ranch or other extensions to serve FM Properties. I battled the South Austin Outfall Project until a council majority could kill it.

Postscript

After the famous June 7-8, 1990 council meeting about Freeport Properties, I conceived and passed through council a three-part plan: (1) Adopt a non-degradation policy, (2) Direct staff to develop an ordinance to carry out this policy, (3) Enact a moratorium on development until adoption of such an ordinance. These actions lead to the SOS movement and adoption of the SOS ordinance in 1992. In 1983 my efforts shot down the lignite plant; 1984 I campaigned against the idea to buy land to build four coal plants on it; I helped to kill the trash burner and implement city-wide recycling; I put on the agenda the first local endangered species initiative which resulted in a bond election to acquire habitat; etc. I have a long record of effective leadership in Austin.

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