Candidates share similar views
Victoria Fernandez and Magda Padilla compete for Woodland's District 4 seat
What steps should Woodland take to reduce carbon emissions from industrial, residential and commercials buildings both in the short term and long term?
The Daily Democrat, working with the Woodland League of Women Voters, is hosting a series of questions posed to candidates for the Woodland City Council. This format was taken for the Nov. 3 general election instead of the League’s usual “inperson” forums due to concerns about spreading the coronavirus. This is the second of three stories and will feature candidates Victoria Fernandez and Magda Padilla, who are seeking the District 4 position on the council. Both are answering the same six questions.
Victoria Fernandez: Woodland must act sustainably by doing the following: Promote sustainable and active transportation, e.g., bike-sharing, micro-transit, and mass transit; pursue smart growth to avoid suburban sprawl; promote energy efficiency and infill development for housing; strengthening the urban forest; cut energy waste to achieve carbon neutrality; educate residents on Woodland’s Climate Action Plan; connect people to the outdoors to promote environmentalism via Woodland’s Regional
Park; provide tax incentives for green businesses; provide cooling places and shelter for people escaping heatwaves and fires; and protect Woodland’s access to water.
Magda Padilla: We need to embrace a more walkable/bikeable community — bike lanes are limited, and some too narrow and unsafe. Require new construction to accommodate bike lanes. Encourage mixed-use housing where small businesses can enjoy spaces on ground floor levels to encourage walkability; incentivize solar panels for businesses, new homes and new construction; ensure recycling programs are user friendly and partner with education leaders and students to promote zero waste educational programs. We should implement micro transit services within our city and collaborate with business owners and the agricultural community to reach zero-emission goals. Work with state legislators to support green policies.
Discuss Woodland’s General Plan including acres still to be developed, the number of affordable and multiplefamily dwellings required and plans to maintain necessary infrastructure.
Fernandez: To must meet the objectives of the General Plan Woodland must: Incentivize smart and sustainable growth; ensure most of the 7,000 housing units are high-density, infill units; stop suburban sprawl; densify; avoid overburdening infrastructure and facilities; encourage infill development; historic preservation; and mixeduse neighborhoods for local land use; incentivize the building of affordable for-sale and rental housing units; promote a healthy
Woodland; support small businesses; invest in parks, greenbelts, and access to open spaces as well as other amenities; and reduce response times by police and fire departments as well as provide proper training and resources.
Padilla: Woodland’s 2035 General Plan speaks to the long-term goals of the city on land usage, economic policies, water/sewer/utilities and transportation. The plan also focuses on enhancing residents’ quality of life. On housing we have in-fill development and the buildout of Spring Lake — which anticipated 688 acres designated for housing (4,179 units) and today under 800 single-family homes and close to 700 multi-family homes remain to be built. Additionally, just over 1600 housing units are planned for the Research and Technology Park. The challenge we have is the limited amount of affordable housing. “The Cleveland Suites” project would help with the shortage, but single-family homes are expensive for our Woodland folks. First-time homebuyers, single-parent homes and low-income families struggle to make homeownership a reality.
What can the City do to assist local individuals and businesses who have suffered economically from the pandemic while balancing the budget?
Fernandez: COVID-19 is a challenge we must address as a community. This includes: prevent residential and commercial evictions to stop homelessness and business failure with an eviction moratorium; continue water service to every property; provide mental health services for those struggling to cope with the stresses and challenges of the pandemic; Woodland must prudently manage its finances to continue providing services and ensure fiscal responsibility and maintaining its budget reserves. Woodland could use some of its budget reserves to provide small business loans to spur economic development. It should also connect the Yolo Food Bank with food producers to prevent food waste and food insecurity.
Padilla: The City is collaborating with the Yolo Community Foundation who provide substantial COVID-19 relief to businesses providing essential services to Woodland/Yolo County. The City can partner with service providers to prevent interruption of basic services for businesses and individuals (utilities, water, and waste management). We need to protect renters from eviction, enforce the moratorium and open direct channels of communication for those who need immediate assistance. Information needs to continuously be updated on the City’s COVID info website and on city social media pages. The City has made cuts to each department through furloughs, which will help with cost savings and a balanced budget, but only time will tell how long this can be sustained. The budget needs to be revisited to assess and evaluate unnecessary department expenses.
What do you identify as underlying issues leading to juvenile probation referrals of Woodland youth, and how can you as a council member address those issues?
Fernandez: I believe educational, athletic, and employment opportunities would provide our youth with positive alternatives to criminal activities. It is crucial that we collaborate with WJUSD to focus on early literacy for all our children to succeed in our community. Additionally, we must promote art, P.E., and music programs as a creative outlet to help children cope with stress. We must address mental health issues early in the lives of children. Finding internship/apprenticeship programs that provide vocational training and employment opportunities is key. I believe in investing in prevention and intervention programs and in developing a youth master plan.
Padilla: We need to push for culturally competent supportive services for our youth and training for service providers. Our community is very diverse and our youth come from different backgrounds. When correlated with probation referrals, we find life experience traumas and a disconnect from the community. Socioeconomic factors play a large role here too. Prevention and intervention are key. The City should continue working on their Youth Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Project program; maintain open communication with the District Attorney’s Office and actively collaborate on their restorative programs (Neighborhood Court and Steps to Success). I would seek community input and push for parks and recreation programs’ effective promotion of services to our youth in need. I would encourage a student Youth Council where high school students could participate in the policymaking process. I would collaborate with education leaders to ensure essential life skills courses are not taken away from students due to lack of funding — youth need to visualize their future and know they are equipped with the work skills. Finally, we need to continue to encourage youth support groups that focus on enrichment and encompass our quality of life.
Woodland currently has eight vacancies among the nine Boards and Commissions that support the City Council. What will you do to actively recruit new members?
Fernandez: First, the public should be informed of existing openings through various media outlets. I would address our need to fill vacancies by contacting local non-profit organizations, Woodland Chamber of Commerce, and our Senior Center and request that they inform their members. During our City Council meetings we could publicly announce the board vacancies or allow the Board Chairperson to invite the public. I would also invite residents who I know have an interest in serving our community and have a background in that specific Board vacancy.
Padilla: To actively recruit candidates, we need an aggressive outreach program. We need to: Implement a recruiting timeline (>60 days), to allow time to promote an application period and selection committee (council and public) reviews; promote positions on the City website, partner websites (chamber/school district/library/WCC) and social media pages; recruit WCC students and community members who are active leaders in town: i.e. rotary members, PTA parents, coaches, parent volunteers, etc. As a member of the council, I will work diligently to recruit individuals who have the skill set and passion for public service.
What would you propose as the process for filling a City Council seat by appointment to ensure transparency and allow community participation in the process?
Fernandez: The voters should elect their representatives through a special election to allow community participation and transparency. However, if the city council decides adopt an appointment process, the public should guide the process. Some appointment options to consider a citizen committee should conduct interviews of applicants — not the council. Those interviewed could either be people who apply for the vacancy on their own or those who are nominated by others. The citizen committee would make a recommendation to the council; and the public should be allowed to submit questions to the city council and to the citizen committee.
Padilla: The appointment process has its challenges in that it does not incorporate a collective voice from a respective voting district. Should the city council choose to appoint a member to the upcoming vacancy in District 3, a selection committee should be formed and include at least two members of the public. Diversity of a selection panel also needs to be considered. A partnership with the League of Women Voters to help screen finalists (5 to 10 candidates) would ensure more transparency to the public. It is imperative that the current council implement a process soon, to prevent a gap in representation for District 3. As the ultimate form of transparency, the community might be best served by voting in a special election.