PRIORITIES

Shon Harris has some specific goals and broad priorities that guide his work as mayor of Yuba City. In his own words:

Goals: “I try to work a little every day toward making Yuba City as best as it can be by setting an example and working toward laying the foundation for a productive and happy life for my children, grandchildren, and disadvantaged children/youth in our community.

Priorities: As a member of the Yuba City City Council, and as mayor, we have several priorities because our responsibilities are so broad. The things that take up most of our time lately are public safety, homelessness, development, and quality of life.

“Public safety concerns should always be number one. Our challenges lie in recruitment and retention of some public safety personnel while simultaneously managing our budget, taking all other employees into consideration, and addressing the unfunded liability as much as practically possible.

“Without a doubt, homelessness (especially homeless children is a priority. The epidemic is the source of so much understandable frustration for many residents . ... What some folks seem to not understand is that the solution is not easy. There are as many reasons for being homeless as there are homeless people . ... To fix the problem, we need to do our best to nip these social issues (and many others) in the bud. At the same time we have a responsibility to work toward helping those who need it, want it, and are willing to work for it. The so-called “bandaid” approach does have a role, but it won’t necessarily cure the problem ... Enforcement, when possible, or a night in an emergency shelter won’t fix it any more than issuing a speeding ticket prevents that driver from ever speeding again.

“Our approach should be nimble and even perhaps specific to each person’s situation. This is why case workers, mentors, and timely follow-up are all critical components to the solution in my opinion.

“Conversely, I also call on our homeless population to do their part. No matter how disadvantaged you are, clean up after yourself, respect private property, seek help, and be a good neighbor . ...

“Development is a big challenge in YC. The department has been facing many challenges lately and the staff has done a good job trying to stay on top of things. We are working on revamping our impact development fee structure and possibly the general fee structure. We want to streamline processes as much as possible with the goal of improving/personalizing the experience for developers, residents, and our employees. Development will be the topic of one of the first conversations I will be having with our new city manager.

“Quality of life here in Yuba City is more than public safety. We strive to provide events, activities, art in public places, and recreational opportunities. The recent Fourth of July festivities including a return of the community fireworks show, the many recreational programs, and the painting of utility boxes are a few examples. There are several more projects in the works and we would love to hear ideas from the community as well!” Business hours: Monday-friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed for lunch: Noon-1 p.m. Main number .................... Steve Miller ......................

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