Core Services & Public Safety

Core Services & Public Safety

Vancouver has the obligation under law to provide for the health and safety of its residents. In the last four years we have seen the closure of a firehouse which resulted in massive work on the parts of some citizens to regain services by getting federal grant monies to reopen the fire station in their neighborhood. It remains to be seen how long this station will remain open.

Currently the police department has undergone such severe cuts that our newest precinct office on the east side has been closed. Office hours for assistance has been reduced to Monday-Friday from 8 to 5 p.m. at the West precinct office only so anyone wishing to conduct business had better be able to meet that demand on their time schedule. With a reduction in the police force the current services are short 13 officers who have handled over 61,000 911 calls in 2012 alone. Their own website has this statement on its front page:

 Staffing at VPD facilities will remain limited until the budget crisis is resolved so the VPD website is an excellent resource for information.

The following is a breakdown of the calls and services which were performed at the East precinct prior to it closing:

 

NRT East

This unit works out of the VPD East Precinct and includes 1 Sergeant, 3 Detectives that work cases involving Burglary, Fraud, Auto Theft, Street Level Narcotics, Serial Thefts, Robbery, Pawn/ Second Hand Stores, and Unlawful Firearms Possession and 1Detective that works Juvenile Gangs including assaults, robberies, harassment / intimidation, firearms possession, gang graffiti. This Detective works hand in hand with Ju-venile Probation.

2012 Statistics

Arrests - 198

Charges/crimes on arrests - 377

Other charges/crimes referred on non-custodial arrests - 200

Arrest warrants cleared  -165

Search Warrants written  - 32

Firearms recovered (July-Dec)  -12

Grams of heroin recovered (July-Dec) - 70

Grams of methamphetamine recovered (July-Dec) - 19.4

 

As a city councilman I would work hard to find ways to reinstate the core services needed for residents safety within our police and fire departments.

Land Infill

Land Infill

I am completely not in favor of the current land use zoning for low density  housing a value of R9.  That is way to dense to sustain a sensible enjoyable way of life.  There are plenty of areas for high density and apartment and condo living.  Homes need room for peace and quiet.  R9 = 43,560 square feet divided by 9 = 4840 sf per lot.  A small lot used to be 7260 square feet R6.

Transportation

Transportation

I strongly believe that sound transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of our city. That being said, I am also a strong proponent of a balanced and analytical approach to planning, budgeting, and expenditures for transportation projects. I’m also firm in my stance that Vancouver is not nor should it be a subsidiary, servant, or subject of Portland. We are our own unique community with our own unique needs. When it comes to major transportation projects that require any type of financial burden on the city, taxpayers, or business community, I will always advocate for a public vote first.

●       Light Rail – I am not in favor of light rail because it has proven to be a structure for debt.  We need to focus on transportation that is sustainable, but also flexible for the majority, not the few.  Additionally it will never be able to take people exactly to where they want to be.  We have plenty of parking and plenty of space for roads and bridges.  I like my American dream of owning a home, having a car, and a lawn for the children to play. Light rail would never in 100 years be available for convenient access to me or my family or my neighbors.  The voters have said it, no light rail at this time.  Take it to the trainstation If thre is the necessity, they are forecasting high-speed rail from Seattle to Eugene.  A recent Vancouver City Council approved land swap has details of expansion.

●       Tolls – NO plain and simple.  If the state would quit using gas taxes for items not included in roads and bridge maintenance this would not be an issue worthy of discussion.

●       CRC – Here is something I am completely dumbfounded on.  170 Million dollars were spent and there is not one 3D scale model rendition to give anyone a real visual of appeal and vote on. Everyone wants a bridge, why could there not of been options to choose from?  The CRC board suggested the LPA could not be changed and still qualify for Federal money.  That seems unreasonable and is not factual. What will it look like coming into I-5.  Also, What happens at Delta Park, non-one has suggested any improvements to that section of Oregon I-5.  I strongly believe we need to use the same principles Power and Gas Utilities use when they need to grow and create more access, They create diverse routes and spread the traffic away from congestion, not force more right down the middle.  Vancouver must have a bridge to Hwy 30 as an option to by pass Portland and on to Beaverton.  A scenic route today through the under utilized industrial districts.

●       CTRAN – There are many boards that council members sit on in the process of serving the city. This board is just one of them but an integral one which has a direct impact on the long range plans for the economy, housing and mass transit needs of our community. This board has allowed our city council to vote as a block veto group of three voting to stop and overturn the votes of the entire C-Tran district board, which impacts our whole county. I believe that the city of Vancouver needs to have a strong position for the issues on this board but I do not believe that the council should be able to override the entire county’s ability to equally voice their control over their services and community as well. Under this system how Vancouver votes so goes the health and vitality of the entire county. The best option we have to solve the absolute disaster that the power hold of the city has on our ability to thrive is to replace our council members who insist on abusing their power.

   

●       RTC - The regional transportation council has the responsibility to provide and plan for future needs with regards to freight and commuters. It is their job to work with the different boards and assess the long range plans for our roads, highways and bridges based on development. This group consists of persons who work for Oregon’s Metro Service District, Tri-Met, and more. Our local development has been under the control of Director Dean Lookingbill who handed the lead role for long range development plans over to Oregon’s Metro last year in a “memorandum of understanding” or in other words a contract of “Interlocal Governmental Agreement”.  Our very choices on where housing is built and what kind of housing it is as well as parks, roads, business and economic development are being controlled by an agency we do not elect nor have any authority over. As a city council person I would work to make sure that all “IGA’s” or MOU’S would be approved by the local elected officials before any such authority is handed off to some entity in another state.

City Budget

City Budget

Understanding where the City of Vancouver allocates its budget is going to be my biggest target.  The standard response has been that there is no budget to do what the citizens want and need, however there seems to be plenty of budget to build a new website, or purchase new land for more parks, approve the Hotel renovation after 8 years in operation.  If the budget falls shy on taking care of parks, how can there be money to purchase more land for parks?  The City recently spent over $50,000 for a new website and logo, when the old one worked just fine.  In fact the new site is not organized as well, nor does it incorporate ways to give neighborhood associations, the NTSA tools to be successful.  

Why is the City blindly approving Hilton Hotel renovations on one side, and cutting fire and police jobs on the other?

I feel the city should be able to take advantage of local resources more effectively.  We have an organization called the NTSA (Neighborhood Traffic Safety Alliance) which has been using ¼ of 1% of REET and Federal grant money to effectively prioritize safety and ADA projects to enhance streets and access City wide.  What I don’t understand is the City does not dedicate any of the annual budget to this well organized group.  The city is using staff and resources to do surveys for potential and some future projects, however the NTSA is so well organized they could take on that responsibility quite effectively.  I feel that all traffic calming, restoration and enhancements should have a direct influence of the local residents in each area.  The NTSA is the organized body to streamline that effort and make sure local residents get the most out of any projects being managed in their area.  I have a couple examples in my blog if you are interested in reading more.

Local Economy

Local Economy

I had the opportunity to meet Jerry Oliver one of the Port of Vancouver Commissioners, and he confirmed what I already knew, there are currently NO facilities with 100,000 square feet of space available for lease inside the city.  To increase available high paying jobs, we need space for larger business to move into.  Instead the focus has been residential land infill and light industrial retail space to be developed.   Higher paying jobs are in corporations with call centers distribution channels, not checkout isles or stocking shelves.  I believe in the build it and they will come approach.  If the City wants to focus on infill, how many jobs could be created constructing corporate centers, and then long term jobs to fill them.  Washington has great tax laws, and Vancouver should be able to easily show even Oregon corporations that moving north offers a 10% pay raise.

The Port has a 108 acre project being developed, but only one company that is taking aim to develop one of the 5 spaces.  I understand the Port of Vancouver gets 10 Million dollars per year from Clark County Property tax, but they have all the space in the world to build corporate centers and be profitable on their own.  In my opinion those 5 spaces making up the 108 acres should already be spoken for and being developed.  But that is me wearing my optimistic sales hat.  Current national economic conditions might suggest otherwise, but promoting Washington tax laws to big businesses who want to be on the west coast should raise attention.

Vancouver seems to have a lower standard of living than the rest of Washington.  Lower income per capita by 6.6% than the Washington average and about equal to the National average.  Unemployment tops 8%, and probably much higher if all factors like those that stopped claiming benefits or those that are taking advantage of the system and handouts available from Medicare and Disability.  I only say that because I have had the misfortune to meet a couple people taking advantage of the system, collecting disability due to Asthma, but bowling 6 nights per week.   Interesting right, they should be able to handle a desk job…

Vancouver City Council June 3rd 2013

Tonight was very interesting to me.  For the first time ever I was there to just listen, and listen all the way through.

I have some questions.

BNSF land swap with City of Vancouver, Lincoln Ave between 11^th and 12^th.  Property intended to be used to expand the railroad with direct access for high-speed rail from Seattle to Eugene.

The question was asked if reasonable compensation was exchanged with the City, yet no one asked to see exactly what that was.  Is it prudent to see the bill of goods sold?  What I heard was the use of High-speed rail expansion.  Just one more reason that if light rail were ever to come to Vancouver It should go to the Train Station and that could have been part of the deal.  Private Money working with Public.  Also who is paying for all the proposed improvements that were noted.  Does the City pick up that entire bill?

Part of the motion to refinance the Hilton hotel the City owns, also passed to make renovations.  Where is the entire budget break down?  How much in renovation are they making after 8 years of use? He mentioned everything, from the Restaurant to Rooms and even Lobby but what is a reasonable maintenance restoration budget each year,  or life of original product?  Or is this a complete overhaul?

In the End the council was discussing the every 4 year Clark County/C-Tran review meeting next Tuesday at 5:00 (I need a better note taking method).  Bart stated the numbers of Representation of Vancouver money that is used, versus voting power at this meeting.  For some reason at this every 4 year meeting the City of Vancouver only gets the vote of one person.  Interesting because the City used their Power of Veto to deny passing a motion in the last C-Tran Board Meeting.  This motion was to ensure the people were able to VOTE on the proposed CRC and light rail project.  The City Council members where then told by the City Lawyer or the City Manager that the only exit strategy might be to remove itself from the organization..?  Jeanne Stewart asked what would be the adverse effects the City feels it has with C-Tran beyond the proposed  light rail addition to the LPA of the CRC project.  She asked the Mayor exactly what differences they would have with this organization, yet he did not speak.  She thought the Mayor should be the one to represent, however I thought the Mayor is removed from Voting because his company has a contract with Tri-met…?

Smart Cities

I like to read and watch news around technology.  If you have time watch this video and listen to what they say about light rail.   I personally want to see Vancouver building smart buildings and complexes, with move in ready environments for large businesses.  These building and complexes would not only be green, have secure data center space, room for call centers, programable lighting,  HVAC, Video, and so much more.  Lets find out what large businesses want and promote the great tax laws of Washington State.  No income tax goes a long way.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/20/keen-on-peter-hirshberg-why-smart-entrepreneurs-should-care-about-smart-cities/