Republican Forum
1. Comprehensive Plan & 2016 City Charter The feedback from over 1,000 residents has come in to help guide the remaining steps of developing the new City of Fredericksburg Comprehensive Plan. Have you assessed the responses contained in the March 7th City Council Agenda Package? How would you change or improve the remaining steps and where would your emphasis be? The City Charter of 2016 is out of date - what updates are needed?
A Comprehensive plan is great to have. For the most part, this plan will be in a dusty binder on a shelf in our City Manager's Office. Plans like these are tools to be able to ‘show’ someone did the work, but then our leaders go ahead doing what has always been done. Neglecting documents like these, as has been done since I moved to Fredericksburg, is not our City Staff’s issue, it is the leaders we elect again and again who do not prioritize our residents' needs. Needs today, not tomorrow or next year. Today.
2. Water The 2023 Water Supply and Future Weather Outlook was presented on February 21, 2023 to the City Council. Given that the development of final water restrictions for Stage 4 will be in place by the time you would take office, what are the measurable objectives you would set for water consumption? What communities should the city partner with to restore the water in the aquifers that the city relies on? How could this be done?
These are problems our leaders expect to be solved by technology, when they are long gone. Green lawns are an 80 Billion dollar industry in the USA, that our town needs to no longer invest in. Whether you realize it or not, we live in a desert climate and in 2023, it is no longer responsible to perpetuate the white picket fence and green lawn way of life. Plenty of green lawns in the plains of Dallas. Dallas bought water in our region decades ago. If you want to water your Bermuda, in the desert, you need rain collection on your property. You need to ship in your water, because City water is being preserved for human need, not want of a dream that doesn’t equate to our reality.
3. Small Town Uniqueness & Neighborhoods A majority of respondents to the Survey seem to fear that Fredericksburg may lose its “charm” if we increase tourism and lose resident families. What do you think they mean by “small town” uniqueness and better “neighborhoods?” What 3 things do you think are key to preserving what we have here?
We are not a “small town.” Our charm is in the residents and the communities they create. Our City needs to be run like a city, not a small town. We are growing exponentially and have done nothing to really plan for the impacts of development in the next 10 years. Preservation will never be a reality, but if we collaborated with the County and begin to buy every piece of land we can……maybe we would have a chance. However, we know this will never happen and it is too late. Or is it? Land Trusts are a reality we should be investing our time in creating. Working with the State and even the Federal level, could help preserve the land, in turn preserving any form of “Small Town.” Otherwise, here comes the concrete and development.
4. Housing & STRs The STR Task Force explained their findings at the March 7th City Council Meeting and essentially turned their work over to the city to pursue new updates to the STR Ordinance and Enforcement methods. Perhaps the new ordinance will be put in place by the time you would take office. How would you want to measure the effectiveness of the ordinance and its enforcement?
Our current Mayor admits that he and other leaders (including current candidates) did not anticipate the future of STRs. To think that these new ordinances will do anything to ’curb’ the STR industry is an illusion led by the fear mongering of groups like “The Neighborhood Coalition,’ of which our Mayor is an active member. Our residents are the key to any enforcement. Our residents will create the communities they desire, without the City overstepping and trying to control something that is already ‘out of control.’ Are STRs ‘out of control?’ No they are not. Anybody who says they are, is only upset they aren’t getting the benefits. Money talks. Our City needs to own more property in order to ‘stay in the game.’ Private investors will never be able to achieve what the City could if we built the communities that raise the quality of life for our residents, not our customers.
5. Business Balance Many residents are concerned about the limited scope of businesses (e.g. alcohol, tourism) in our city and surrounding area. What is your opinion on this subject? How would you like to influence the future business climate here as a city councilmember?
Follow through with the Comprehensive Plan. Show improvement in every goal of the plan within two years. The business will come. Improve all aspects of our City life and the value will be represented in the types of business that invest in our community. Our City and community need to model the life we want others to benefit from, but need much more infrastructure and investment in the full time residents of the City and Gillespie County.
6. Budget: Priorities from the current council will be turned in by March 10th to the City Manager. From there, many months of deliberation will take place over “puts and takes” from the budget. Are you aware of the current city budget? What are your 5 highest budget priorities?
The one line item I am most interested in is how much money we have in the bank. Our budget requires an additional 33% of the yearly budget to serve as back-up funds. Our City wins awards at achieving these goals, but are we satisfied with being awarded for doing the minimum? Why does our City not have 200% of the yearly budget in the bank? 300%? Why does the City not have more money for Parks, Clean Water, land purchasing? Why is our City not making more money and investing? The City needs the purchasing power of those private investors who can afford to buy our town, one building at a time.
7. Councilmember Roles and Qualities (See attached validated list) Roles – Which are you the most qualified for? Which are you least qualified? Why? Qualities – Which 3 are you strongest in? Which 3 are your weakest areas? Why? Do you have time to do this job well, with all the other things you have to do?
I am keen on oversight and a dynamic ambassador that will hold our budget accountable for the future of our residents for years to come.
I believe I would be the most approachable and accessible member of the council. I am a quick thinker and fast learner who knows how to listen and whisper to be heard.
8. Community Voice and City Participation Gaps The Hospital, Schools and County do not have representation on their boards from the city, however each have many areas where cooperation, partnering and information sharing with the city are important. What are some of those areas and how would you propose to increase city and community involvement?
I am the only candidate that, if elected, represents greater representation. A vote for me, is the best chance for greater representation, future cooperation, partnering and information sharing. I will not take my election lightly and can guarantee being a dynamic, cooperative council member and the key component to involving more of the next generation in planning the future of the City.
9. Government Over Reach – Constitutional Rights – Declaration of Disaster The City of Fredericksburg Disaster Declaration for COVID19 was kept in place until about this time last year – apparently waiting for the Governor to rescind his monthly declaration. There was regional “After Action” Report for the COVID Disaster, however it has not been done for our city. Have you made yourself aware of the regional report? Would you advocate that the city/county prepare an “After Action” report of its own? How do you think we should react differently if another pandemic occurs?
We should gather and form all the information we can in order to be better prepared for as many scenarios as possible. There will be another pandemic. There will be another ice storm. There will be drought and hardship. Our City needs more money in the bank and more resources to take care of our community. Our City needs to not just be prepared for dramatic events like these, but needs to be a leader in our State, not a follower.
10. Government Over Reach – Constitutional Rights – ARPA $ & Executive Orders, The San Antonio Methodist Hospital system claimed that they had returned $6B in ARPA funds. Are you aware of the requirements and consequences of non-compliance associated with accepting the ARPA money the city received from the Fed? Would you make it a priority to ensure the city was complying? Would you do it again? Are you concerned about Government overreach into the people’s rights under the US and Texas Constitution?
Just like enforcement issues in our City, our Federal government will never be able to enforce compliance. The courts will fight it out. Just like STR legislation now. If for some reason we are not compliant, and I doubt that will ever be, I’m happy to give the money back. Our leaders during the pandemic were not prepared. The Covid Task force was another example of saying: “We are doing something.” (And nothing gets done.) ARPA payback only distracts from creating the productive policy our City needs for future large scale events, such as a pandemic. I am always concerned with government overreach. That is why you should vote for me. Electing the same leaders and expecting a different result……do you want to be that kind of voter?
Bonus (Optional) Your Issues: Please clarify any issues not covered in the previous questions at your discretion.
These questions and format are thoughtful, thorough and modeled by Mr. Studor as an example of how, based on his experience, a more productive council and City can operate. However, when it comes to the format and structure of ‘forums’ like these, I do not believe they help create a democratic voice for the benefit of the whole. We need forums that allow for discourse between candidates and give room the ‘good bad and ugly,’ not just well worded ’veiled’ answers that will never come to pass.