Commitment to Financial Responsibility

As mayor, I will make sure Farmers Branch does business in a fiscally responsible way. This city cannot afford the extravagant, wasteful expenditures made by the current city council under the leadership of my opponent.

This council:

• Continues to spend more than the City makes, even with a 10% tax increase this year.
• Ended the fiscal year in September with a deficit of $4 million.
• Voted to take money from our hard-earned, emergency savings to cover that deficit. That action reduced our savings from $13 million to just $9 million.  At that spending rate, the city will have no savings in just three (3) more years.
• Continues to borrow more and more money - The city is borrowing $7.75 million this year. The city pays 11% of its property tax revenue for debt service. 
• Voted to borrow money as Certificate of Obligations (CO) which does not require a public vote as do bond issues 

Can our wonderful city afford three more years of this financial abuse?

Restore Citizen Representation 

As mayor, I will stop the council from making decisions behind closed doors and restore citizen participation in the decisions that affect all of us.  

Were you asked about these huge expenditures?

Council voted to spend an estimated $960,000 over 3 yrs for a new city logo. Budgeted $1 million for rebates to rich homebuyers and revitalization marketing. At $1,100 apiece, the city will spend $110,000 for 100 signs and $1.3M for all signs in the City. Budgeted $350,000 for a park on I-35 where no one lives. Paid $160,000 for house at Valley View and Webb Chapel and then another $15,000 to have it moved.  Can it really be a city park?

Aren’t there more important things on which to spend our money?

Plus, the city has two (2) lawsuits filed against it charging the council with violating the State’s Open Meeting laws.

My opponent stated in the Town Hall meeting at the Senior Center on November 1, 2007 that, “citizens need to come to the council study sessions, that’s where all the decisions are made.”  These meetings start at 4 PM.  Are you available then?

Can the city afford these extravagant expenditures when it’s spending its savings and borrowing? 

Return City to Its Financially Conservative Roots 

Return the City to long-term planning and strict budget controls.

Prioritize beautification, revitalization and capital building projects as part of a comprehensive plan. Within 60 days of becoming Mayor, appoint a task force of citizens to develop a Capital Project Plan that outlines future projects like the following:Maintain top police and fire departments and city services. Fund timely infrastructure and maintenance projects. Plan for library expansion and/or replacement Plan replacement of pool and expansion of a water park at Don Showman Park Implement Four Corners redevelopment Fund developer incentives for AFFORDABLE Senior Housing Provide for moving fire station #1 Tackle the aging City Service Center Hold the line on taxes and borrowing and maintain prudent cash savings for a potential economic downturn.

Restore Taxpayer Representation and Represent ALL Citizens   

As Mayor, I will involve the taxpayers in all major decisions and will be a voice for all citizens of Farmers Branch.  I will be the Mayor for everyone that lives or works in Farmers Branch, not just the rich, not just homebuilders, but also our poorer citizens, our older citizens and our Hispanic citizens.

Return Citizen Participation time to Council meetings.

Council study sessions will be moved to council chamber and televised so all citizens can watch their council at work and be informed about potential actions.

Hold at least 2 town hall meetings per year for citizens Q&A.

Continue the tradition started by Mayor Bob Phelps of “Tell It to the Mayor.” This is a specific time each week where citizens can set an appointment to meet individually with the Mayor to discuss any issue of importance to you.

Farmers Branch by valuing and including all its citizens and businesses in city council decisions.  Within 60 days after being elected, I will appoint a task force of citizens, business leaders and others to make recommendations to the City Council on ways to bring the city together and move it forward as a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-age city.

Our City Will Be a Safe Place to Live and Work 

Continue to maintain the lowest crime rate possible.

Provide sufficient funds to reward our police officers and firefighters for their excellence. 

Our police and fire departments are only as strong as their people, so I support compensations plans for our firepersons and police officers that include loyalty and performance incentives.

Continue to support strong action against illegal immigration. US must secure its borders and we must know who is in our country.  Period!

Implement a full 24/7 CAP like Irving has used to deport 2,100 illegal immigrants since ’06 and 287G.

Enhance Crime Watch and Citizens on Patrol programs.

Revitalization, Redevelopment and Beautification of Farmers Branch 

Promote redevelopment that will provide a better quality of life for all our citizens and not burden our poorest and oldest citizens. 

Create an environment where developers and businesses can profit from being part of our city.

Stay strongly committed to the Four Corners area redevelopment and West-side development, both of which are critical to the city’s future.

Our Seniors are an Important Part of Our Community   

Make senior-friendly, affordable housing a priority. Appoint a taskforce of developers, senior citizens and financial experts to evaluate senior housing opportunities in Farmers Branch withinn the first 60 days after I am elected. This taskforce of developers, senior citizens and financial experts will evaluate senior housing opportunities in Farmers Branch.  Among things to consider – locations, types – single or multi story flats, use of city land, a city ordinance mandating a certain percent of “senior-friendly housing” in every development and city incentives to help seniors afford to move.

Recognize that the most affordable senior housing is where they currently live.  I will create a city, need-based “Fix-up Fund” that will provide financial assistance to citizens and other groups to help those living on fixed-incomes repair, clean up and live in their existing homes.

Implement Senior Watch Program where any citizen can ask for an officer to stop by their home periodically or upon return alone if they have special safety concerns.

Stop the tax squeeze redevelopment causes on our citizens that live on fixed income.  As redevelopment continues in Farmers Branch there will be an increasing tax squeeze on more and more citizens that live on fixed income.  Property taxes will go up, as they did this year by an average of 10%, but the actual sales value of the average single-family house went down by 4%.  This squeeze between tax increases and lower sales values will really hurt our older and poorer citizens.  I will freeze the city taxes of all our citizens over 65.

Code Enforcement 

I am a strong advocate of strict code enforcement.  The City must assure that its standards are met and that all codes are enforced uniformly.  However, City must allow its Code Enforcement officers some latitude in dealing with individuals. The objective of the Code Enforcement Officer should be to get citizens to comply with City Codes, not just to write thousands of tickets.  Citizen education, grant programs and volunteer assistance should all be part of the elements at the disposal of our fine Code Enforcement Officers.

Today our beefed up Code Enforcement staff are writing tickets at a rate of 10,000 per year. Tickets are written with brute force without regard to individual situations.  I favor aggressive code enforcement, but I also want to add ways that the city can be sensitive to our older and poorer citizens.  It does not make Farmers Branch a better city when we throw 82 year old women in jail for having a security light in her back yard.

On street parking of multiple vehicles is still a major problem in some neighborhoods.  It also becomes a safety issue when Emergency Vehicles cannot get down some streets.  I will propose that Farmers Branch issue free parking permits for parking up to two cars on public streets after midnight.

Arts & Culture 

The City and its citizens should solicit donations for public art and community events, but we first need a policy to guide us.  I propose we form a task force of artists, art educators, residents and businessmen to formulate this policy. It is important that all segments of our community be represented as our community is multicultural.  Once the Task force proposes the guidelines for selecting, placing and acquiring public art and holding events; they will hold a community meeting to get reaction to their proposal.  After the community meeting, the Task Force will make its final recommendations to the Council.  The Council will hold a public hearing before voting on the adoption of the policy. 

Although this seems like a long process, I believe it is important to follow it.  First, the policy will clearly state what the city is looking for and how much it will cost.   The process will generate ideas and build community support for the policy.  It will identify the best volunteers to contact potential donors depending on what type of gift we are looking for.  Potential donors will realize that their contribution will be recognized and appreciated by the Farmers Branch community as a whole.  This realization will make them more likely to contribute.

Furthermore, going through this open grassroots process will build appreciation for the different points of view and cultures in Farmers Branch.  As we get to know each other better, we will build a better, more unified Farmers Branch. 

Work with adjoining cities to construct a Performing Arts Center.  This is a cost effective way to house our Metrocrest Arts groups. It will take a Mayor who can work with and have the respect of the other cities involved.

Have a competition in the Farmers Branch schools to produce 4 pieces of art for the new Animal pond.  One from the elementary schools, the junior high & high schools, Brookhaven College and private schools.  It could be painting, sculpture, video etc.  The winning pieces would be displayed for one year in the new Animal Shelter.  This could work for all new city buildings.

Our Children, Our Future 

We have wonderful public and private schools in Farmers Branch and we must strengthen the cooperation between the schools and the city to continue to improve our schools.

The City of Farmers Branch must allow the CFBISD, DISD and the private schools do what they do best – educate our children.  The City must never use public school information about students living in Farmers Branch to promote immigration reform.

Support Our Public Schools So Every Child Can Realize His Or Her Highest Potential.

Look for opportunities to partner with the CFBISD, DISD and private schools in our city.Promote volunteerism in our schools.Let all children living in our community participate in city programs.

Green Activities 

I want to move our City to a more environmentally friendly position.  I will explore business and builder incentives and rewards for “green” operations.  I will explore restarting curbside recycling and I will promote the use of compact flourescent bulbs in city facilities.