District 5 candidates vary in views
Mayra Vega and Joe Romero have some different philosophies about government
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 third of three stories and will feature candidates Joe Romero and Mayra Vega, who are seeking the District 5 position on the council. Both are answering the same six questions.
Joe Romero: I led Woodland’s successful PG&E energy efficiency campaign to reduce Woodland’s energy usage by 5%. As a former member of the Woodland Sustainability
Advisory Committee, I learned Woodland adopted a resolution to reduce our emissions in 2050 by 80%. To meet this goal, we need to implement strong enforcement programs. Implementing programs that provide industry, commerce, and residents the incentives and rebates to cut emissions. Also, through effective outreach campaigns that encourages the city to become more active participants in our city’s emission reduction. We must plant more trees with the Woodland Tree Foundation to grow our urban tree canopy.
Mayra Vega: The City of Woodland must support the Sustainability Advisory Committee and implement a comprehensive long-term Climate Action Plan with specific details and measurable goals. This should also include developing new opportunities and infrastructure for active, non-motorized transportation. In the short-term, we should identify, leverage, and pursue current state and federal grant programs to support greenhouse gas reduction, the adoption of renewable energy, and promote local energy conservation.
Discuss Woodland’s General Plan including acres still to be developed, the number of affordable and multiple-family dwellings required and plans to maintain necessary infrastructure.
Romero: The new Springlake development on the southeast side of Woodland must complete the 7,500 planned homes before any future development. Empty lots that are zoned for commercial business in Springlake need actual businesses built on them. I will work with developers to identify smaller development to infill empty lots with homes and businesses. I will advocate for building a new Fire Station in Springlake for better fire protection. City infrastructure in old downtown Woodland must be replaced, new infrastructure must be maintained with the mindset to last 100 years. Increase city services in District 5 to maintain quality of life.
Vega: The general plan focuses on infill development and allows for new growth areas for a maximum of 7,000 units. As of July, there were 52 units built citywide and 706 units built in Spring Lake. Woodland’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocation through 2021 is 3,087 units of which 34% have to be low or very low-income units. Our water, sewer, and wastewater systems were designed to accommodate the projected growth. New projects must develop and/or fund public facilities and service elements (Public Safety & Park Systems) to ensure adequate service levels are provided to existing neighborhoods and new development.
What can the city do to assist local individuals and businesses who have suffered economically from the pandemic while balancing the budget?
Romero: Work with county officials to carefully
re-open Yolo County. If Woodland is in compliance with COVID-19 state regulations, then the city should not hold back businesses. A lot of local businesses have been negatively impacted and many smaller businesses are going out of business. The city of Woodland must support our small businesses. Offer city grants or partner with Woodland banks to increase accessibility of small loans to business and residents. Woodland can save taxpayers revenue by tightening wasteful budget spending in areas that are not vital, let’s focus on the needs of the city first.
Vega: The pandemic had an immediate impact and will continue to threaten the livelihood of many members of our community for the foreseeable future. Small business owners are the most adversely affected. The city should commit to using funding from economic relief packages to create a local small business grant program to support our business community. It is also important to develop a strategic longterm local recovery plan with input from stakeholders that represent the interests of individuals and families, nonprofits, and all sectors of our local economy.
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?
Romero: As your councilmember, I will advocate for troubled youth to be identified and put in to the Police Athletic Program or Woodland Boxing Club to reduce the amount of youth that end up in gangs. Some of our youth in Woodland end up in juvenile hall because they are in gangs, to help reduce gangs and crime in Woodland, we first have to partner with 20 local companies or ag farms, place them to work to gain the much-needed work experience, and give our youth a shot at working under an apprenticeship program sponsored by the city of Woodland.
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?
Romero: As a former Parks & Recreation Commissioner for eight years, it was the most rewarding responsibility I have ever taken. There should be no vacancies on our boards or commissions. It is super important that we have Woodland
residents in full participation on our boards and commissions so that these bodies can function properly, give the best advice to the City Council and have broader perspectives when tough decisions need to be made. The city of Woodland can promote these vacancies in The Daily Democrat, announce vacancies on the Woodland Facebook or send out a newsletter with the vacancies.
Vega: 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? Having a diversity of perspectives and active citizen participation is essential to building effective local governance. The city needs to develop and deploy a recruiting strategy that would include efforts to inform the public as to why these roles are essential to our community. This would include advertising across various platforms (social media, website, and local paper) accompanied by outreach to local service clubs and the business community. The city should also reconsider the roles of the boards and commissions in order to make citizen participation more attractive.
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?
Romero: I want there to be an open election, hold a vote of the people to decide who will be our next councilmember in District 3. I am not for an appointment process even though, if elected I would be able to vote on who is replaced in District 3. I do not live in District 3 or do the other councilmembers, so for fairness and transparency, District 3 residents must be able to vote on their representative in January and not the Council.
Vega: It’s important that the city provides an adequate period of time for filing applications from interested candidates. Direct citizen input is important. The City Council should create a community committee to conduct the initial review of applications and recommend candidates for further review. The interviews should be held in a public forum format that includes committee members, the City Council, and Woodland residents. Although the City Council would hold final decisionmaking authority over the appointment, the committee members would make a recommendation for the appointment after the public forum interviews