Candidate for
Mayor; City of Sacramento

I believe Sacramento is many small towns or neighborhoods like Del Paso Heights, River Park or Pocket... each should be clean, safe, comfortable, with great schools and the unique points of interest that make them fun to live in.

I have been a Councilmember for the last 7 years representing the North Sacramento and Del Paso Heights, neighborhoods that have been left behind in Sacramento's prosperity. Working with neighborhood residents, we are making progress in those areas to create the prosperity that those residents deserve.

Though this has been a long campaign, it has given me the opportunity to learn about other parts of our City. That is why I am running a neighborhood grassroots campaign, walking door-to-door in all the different communities in town.

I want to work with you and your neighbors to create an agenda for your neighborhood and all the neighborhoods of Sacramento so that together, we can continue to build upon the foundation of prosperity for all the people of Sacramento, so that no one is left behind, especially the working people, the working poor and the poor.

Below is a list of what I have done in my district, the City, and the region to create this foundation of prosperity.

I thank you for your interest and I would appreciate your vote on November 7th.

Tax Increment Financing

Rob Kerth's innovative financing idea for redevelopment area bonding netted $14,032,384 in additional revenue for projects in those distressed neighborhoods. Kerth suggested that the City issue the bonds instead of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) as Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds (CIRB) for five redevelopment areas as one issue, instead of each separately issued as Tax Allocation Bonds (TABs). This created an extra $1,755,857 for Del Paso Heights, $2,377,542 for Oak Park, $4,655,359 (versus $0 under TABs) for North Sacramento, and $5,243,627 (versus $0 under TABs) for Richards Boulevard (Capitol Station District area). This extra $14 million in project funding is now being directed into various economic development, housing, commercial revitalization, infrastructure and affordable housing projects. For North Sacramento and Richard's Boulevard - this is the first significant funding ever for major revitalization projects, thanks to Rob's innovative financing solution.

Closing Problem Liquor Stores

Rob believes liquor stores must be accountable to their communities and when appropriate, Rob has help to coordinate enforcement agencies to respond to citizen complaints. These efforts have reduced the number of Alcohol & Beverage Control licenses in his district, and by being pro-active have led to many conditions on existing licenses to address resident concerns. In one case, these efforts led to the closure of Norm's Liquors in Del Paso Heights. In the late 80's a police officer was shot there, and a stray bullet from a fight at Norm's caused the loss of much loved Little League Coach Fred Lawson. Rob even led a protest march with local clergy to the store prior to closure to highlight the concerns of the community.

Pay Phone Ordinance

Noting that people deserve safe, clean and usable phones in both affluent and poor neighborhoods, Rob proposed a permit process under a Pay Phone Ordinance that was adopted by Council in 1995. The permit review ensures that placement of pay phones does not place citizens in danger, block view vehicular traffic, or hinder ADA compliance for businesses or the City. It also ensures a level playing field for pay phone providers (330 providers with 4648 pay phones in Sacramento per 1997 survey). The ordinance holds pay phone companies to reasonable standards but also gives the Police Department the authority to remove problem phones that contribute to drug dealing, blight or excessive loitering. New rules have benefited over-burdened commercial corridors like Stockton Blvd., Marysville Blvd., Franklin Blvd., Florin Road, Mack Road, and Broadway. This ordinance is now being replicated by the City of Vallejo.

Neighborhood Accountability Boards/ Truancy

Students can be successful in school if they attend every day to take advantage of the opportunity to learn. In a proactive approach through collaboration with law enforcement and the North Sacramento Elementary School District, Rob was able to help bring the first Neighborhood Accountability Board to Sacramento. Working with outreach counselors, community volunteers, and law enforcement officers, truancy and curfew sweeps were conducted. Youth offenders that are picked up (for graffiti, curfew, etc.), meet with their parents and a hearing officer. The offender (with parent approval) can agree to community service in their neighborhood in order to "seal their record" with a clean slate. Community members choose the service projects appropriate and help supervise that service. Similar to "sacred-straight" it imparts that a community cares about its youth and can identify were family counseling or other assistance may be needed. For strictly the truancy sweeps (during school hours), 433 families have been visited since 1996, and 583 children & youth have been assisted. Does it work? Individual schools showed a 60-70% decrease in absences for targeted students directly after the visits according to the District. Neighborhood Accountability Boards and Truancy programs are now being replicated throughout Sacramento County.

Del Paso Nuevo

Del Paso Nuevo is a large-scale infill and revitalization project in Del Paso Heights based on a new urbanist pedestrian friendly plan. It officially is designated as a "homeownership zone" by the Clinton Administration, one of six projects nationally to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development with $10.5 million Urban Development Economic Incentive Grant/Loan.

Located in Councilman Kerth's district, under his leadership, this project is planned to provide 300 new housing units in an infill area, along with a new park, open space amenities and an expansion of the Robertson Community Center. A good part of the initial work on Del Paso Nuevo has been to "widen the net" of involved and represented groups. This coalition building has the aims of making sure that everyone who will be affected by urban infill development and redevelopment has a chance to have his/her concerns addressed and of fostering broad-ranging buy-in and ownership of the concept and strategy. The 300 new homes will be nestled in among 200 existing units for a new community of 500 units. This project is an exciting effort, and has become a citywide priority to show sustainable and viable infill development as an alternative to greenfield development.

Strawberry/Terrace Manor Flood Protection

In 1986, the Strawberry Manor/Terrace Manor neighborhoods were the only neighborhoods to flood and suffer significant losses. In 1992, when Rob was elected to Council, they still did not have flood adequate protection. After meeting with residents, Rob asked Mayor Serna to appoint him to the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) to work to get adequate flood protection for the Manor. By 1995, the Manor had 100-year flood protection in place, with new pumps, taller levees and better street drainage.

Highway 70/99 Solution

Helping communities even when they are not your own, separates managers from leaders. Rob as the Mayor's representative for the City of Sacramento to the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) showed leadership to intervene when Marysville and Yuba City threatened to hold up the regional transportation plan over a disagreement on priorities for Highway 70 and Highway 99 improvements. Rob worked with both cities and SACOG to find ways to assure each that their issues would be heard and worked out a funding solution that allowed both projects to move forward.

Lightrail Expansions Lead Nation

The ability to travel in the Sacramento area in order to reach jobs, housing, shopping, childcare, and schools is limited by transportation choices. Transit can make us more mobile, and in particular Light Rail can have the greatest impact on relieving our traffic congestion. Rob has been integral part of Regional Transit's efforts to fund light rail expansions in Sacramento. Currently there is an extension towards Folsom out Highway 50 under construction and a second extension to the south area towards Elk Grove. Both projects are approximately $350 Million. Rob has personally lobbied in Washington DC each of the last eight years to help secure federal matching funds to make these projects a reality. As Chairman of Regional Transit in 1996, Rob and Mayor Joe Serna secured from the Clinton Administration a full funding agreement for the first phase of south area light rail extension Phase I (to Meadowview). A project that cost $200 million. Sacramento is the only City in America to simultaneously build two light rail extensions at once!

American River Flood Protection

The Sacramento Bee notes, "as a member of the flood control board, he (Rob) played an important and responsible role in beginning the issues and developing a regional flood control consensus." In his seven years on the Sacramento Area Flood Control Board, Rob has gained 100-year flood protection for most of his district, Natomas, Arden-Fair Area, and gained improvements on the American River and at Folsom Dam benefiting all of Sacramento. As an Engineer by profession, Rob has been invaluable as a policy maker and advisor to his colleagues in our region's flood control struggle. Rob has lobbied in Washington D.C. and to the State Reclamation Board on Sacramento's behalf to have adequate flood control. With the recent passage of the assessment for flood control, Sacramento voters have funded the solutions to the American River, Sacramento River, and the important south Streams group that Rob has been a chief architect of over the last several years. These consensus improvements will ensure that everyone in Sacramento will enjoy at least 100-year flood protection, see their flood insurance rates lowered, and ensure that Sacramento's economy will continue to grow.

CNG Buses/Electric Cars

An Engineer by training, Rob has been an advocate for alternative fuels in the Sacramento Region. As a boardmember on Regional Transit in 1993, Rob was part of the board majority that voted to convert the Regional Transit Fleet of diesel buses to clean burning compressed natural gas (CNG). The commitment made was to convert the entire fleet by 2001 and in 1998, the district reported 136 CNG buses operating. CNG bus emissions are 50% below state and federal emission standards - good news for Sacramento's bad air. Regional Transit's ridership has grown 20% in the last three years! Rob also was the father of city policy to allow electric vehicles access to free re-charging stations in public parking garages as an incentive to drive electric.

Capitol Corridor JPA Founder

Rob was a founding director on the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (JPA), which operates the daily Amtrak trains to the bay area. The Authority is unique in that it privatized the train operations and management to a JPA of local transit agencies and cities. It has gained in popularity since it's beginning, with State funding assistance; daily trains are now up to 8 with plans to expand service even more. The Capitol Corridor Train service is an important part of the region's multi-modal approach to reducing traffic congestion and improving our air quality.

Citywide Standards for Infrastructure

Rob believes everyone in the City deserves the same base level of service from it's municipal government, and he has lead the Council to establish citywide standards for infrastructure to guide the priorities and spending in the City. Neighborhoods that rely on septic systems, ditches for drainage, or have their streets flood annually were not acceptable. Through his efforts, the City Utilities Department has set a standard for investing a dollar in infrastructure improvements in neighborhoods for every dollar it invests in the downtown combined sewer system. Every neighborhood is held to the same street flooding tolerance, no more than once every ten years. Areas without sidewalks, curbs and gutters have been identified and there is more funding directed to those areas with higher needs. Streetlights are not present in 1/3 of the City, and Rob believes that overtime, they should have the option of streetlights.

Grant Blue Ribbon Commission

Schools are an important part of our community's infrastructure, and say a great deal about a City and it's people. Embarrassed and frustrated with scandals and front-page blunders of the Grant Joint Unified School District, Rob Kerth and County Supervisor Roger Dickinson co-formed a Blue Ribbon Commission of business and community leaders in 1998 to make recommendations on how the Grant District could restore trust in the community and begin putting "Education First" again. After six months, public meetings and site visits, the Commission lead by Bernard Bowler of IBM, issued its report of suggested reforms for the District. The report was presented to the Board but received little attention. Rob and Roger then worked to recruit and assist a new majority to be elected to the School Board in November of 1998, and after a large community effort, all three candidates won. Since the new board took control, test scores have improved, a $54 million dollar school retrofit program to repair failing roofs, upgrade wiring and provide internet access, and add air conditioning to classrooms. The Board brought in a new Superintendent and slowing is reengineering the organization with an eye on keeping "Education First." Rob and Roger are again working with community leaders to identify good candidates for this November's election for two Board seats to keep the reform moving positively.

Detention Basin Policy

Sacramento being a floodplain, the City is always striving to provide better flood protection, and that includes street flooding. Rob, as an engineer by training, has been a lead advocate of the creation of detention basins to mitigate flooding while at the same time providing community oriented parks and open space. In a likely flood event these basins (low areas) will fill with water to ease pressure on the drainage and pump systems, while in dry times they are baseball diamonds, picnic areas, soccer fields, or open space. Detention Basins also save taxpayer money as they provide parkland and flood control facilities for the same investment. This innovative solution can be seen citywide, but particular examples are at Reichmuth Park, John Mackey Park, East Portal Park, and Hiram Johnson Football Field.

Lifeguard Training Academy

Many children drown in Sacramento's rivers and creeks because they don't have good swimming skills. In poor communities to get those skills, youth depend on community swimming pools. Rob Kerth was told that the community pool at Grant High School was not open as often as other City pools because Lifeguards were afraid to work there. Rob suggested that the City hire lifeguards from the neighborhood. He was told they didn't have the swimming skills or life-saving skills to be lifeguards. Sometimes "no" can't be the answer, and for Rob it was not. Working with other community folks, Rob Kerth put together a lifeguard-training program with the assistance of City Staff, CSU Sacramento, and Grant High School staff. For the past three years over 20 youth have gone through this program, learning to swim and supervise others, gaining valuable CPR certification, and most importantly - more than half employed with the City as lifeguards and pool attendants. This year the program was expanded Citywide with program still at Grant High School, but also at Sacramento High School and Burbank High School. Not willing to take "excuses as an answer," Rob Kerth's solution has become a major job and lifeskill training program giving inner city youth pride, skills, and a paycheck. Rob often reminds folks that our current City Manager started his career, as a lifeguard, and that you can never undervalue the opportunities of open doors for people.

City Commits to Low Emission Vehicles

We all know we have bad air quality in our region. Rob Kerth thought the City should lead by example. Rob was a key leader in the City and County of Sacramento agreeing in 1999 to be model large vehicle fleet owners by showing how to aggressively incorporate low emission vehicles into their heavy-duty vehicle fleet. A commitment of converting 20% of the vehicles the City uses to low emission by 2001, and an impressive 50% low emission by 2004. This commitment is now leading other commercial fleet operators in the region to look at NOx reduction in their fleets. It helps to implement the regions air quality plan by reducing the nitrogen (NOx) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles and to the meet the year 2005 standard for ozone for better air quality. Sacramento is walking the walk for air quality, and now the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District is looking for incentives for school districts, and private companies to follow the City and County's lead.

Economic Development Treatment Capacity Bank

Rob has twice served on the Sacramento County Sanitation District Board of Directors. This special district handles all the wastewater (sewer) treatment in Sacramento County. The district sewer impact fee for a new business or use is one of the largest fee's any business pays (especially restaurants), and it is a flat rate regardless of how far away from the treatment plant you are. Rob has argued that this is a sprawl inducing incentive, and was one of the key leaders involved in the District's formation of an Economic Development Treatment Capacity Bank. The "bank" bought back unused excess credits (equivalent to 16,000 single-family home hookups) from large industrial and commercial customers. These credits are now available for the City and County to reduce the sewer impact fees paid by all new or expanding businesses.

SRCSD Credits w/Land (reduces Sprawl)

Rob has twice served on the Sacramento County Sanitation District Board of Directors. This special district handles all the wastewater (sewer) treatment in Sacramento County. The district sewer impact fee for a new residential home is one of the largest fee's any homeowner pays, and it is a flat rate regardless of how far away from the treatment plant you are. Rob has argued that this is a sprawl inducing incentive, and led the district to form a community advisory committee to examine district fees. In particular, properties that had a home (which paid the impact fee) and later the home was lost to fire or demolition used to loose their "connection" after 5 years, resulting in the owner paying the sewer impact fee again. Rob got this policy changed so that the connection goes with the property, and once it's paid, the property owner doesn't have to pay it again. Additionally, if an owner has multiple properties, he or she can move their owned credits between parcels they own. This solution, championed by Rob Kerth, has saved property owners thousands of dollars on building new infill homes, or rebuilding a burned home, where a home used to be in many of Sacramento's older distressed neighborhoods.

Streetscape Plans & Financing

Representing the district with least amount of landscaped medians in the City, Rob has led the Council effort to reinvest and beautify city neighborhoods and commercial district with streetscape financing and funding. In the last three years the City has increased allocations to this program from zero funding to near $3 million this past year. Streetscape plans look at the medians, landscape, street, trashcans, streetlights, and really all the infrastructure sidewalk to sidewalk, and are an important method of creating a theme and image for our City's older commercial corridors to encourage private investment. Recently Florin Road's streetscape was completed. Others in various stages of planning or construction are, Broadway, Northgate, Del Paso Boulevard, Marysville Boulevard, and Stockton Boulevard. Neighborhood gateways are a new emerging beautification concept, like in Woodlake, where Rob worked with Neighbors to help plant and landscape with a welcome to the neighborhood sign a traffic island that was filled with asphalt. These projects provide visual enhancement as well as important symbolic public investment back into our neighborhoods to make them clean, safe and comfortable.

Investing in Youth & Schools

Rob has been a vocal advocate for new school-based partnerships that reinvolve neighborhoods, adults and youth. Most notable, Rob was a founding supporter and board member of the Title V Community that Cares Collaborative, a program that received national recognition in 1998 in addition to a statewide award for it's innovative and comprehensive after school enrichment and mentoring programs. The three-year, $1.5 million grant provided direct programs and family support at 11 elementary schools, 1 Junior High, and 1 High School. Valuable components of this program were incorporated into the better promoted, City START Program which Rob also helped start.

Recognizing you can't have a successful city if you have failing schools, Rob co-chaired and effort with Supervisor Roger Dickinson to appoint a blue ribbon commission on the Grant Joint Union School District, which lead to the election of a new majority to their School Board and the current turn-around occurring at the District. Rob Kerth also was alongside Mayor Serna and the late Sam Pannell in their effort to turn around the Sacramento City Unified School District, and actively campaigned to elect a new majority to their Board. Rob and his wife Tracy were recognized by the North Sacramento School District as community Volunteers of the Year in 1999.

Rob has actively supported school bond campaigns for North Sacramento Elementary School District (1996), Robla Elementary School District (1992), the Grant Joint Union High School District (1999), and Sacramento City Unified School District (all Three!) as well as being the first Councilmember in City history to invest redevelopment funds directly into schools - all in an effort to ensure our children have the best learning environment possible.

Rob was the first elected official in Sacramento County to join the Safe Kids Coalition, is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Sacramento Children's Receiving Home, and involved with two Sierra Health Foundation collaboratives centered on healthy children.

Public Safety

The first responsibility of any City is to protect its citizens. Elected in 1992 with the very active support of City Police Officers and Fire Fighters, Rob has been a leading advocate for reinvestment in our public safety departments. In his seven years on the Council, Rob worked to protect from budget cuts essential Fire & Police services, in fact each department has grown since he took office in 1992. He oversaw the design and opening of the William J. Kinney Police Station, the second community police station for the City. He encouraged community oriented policing as a philosophy not just a title within the Police Department, including in his district, offering 30 hour training to all community members, and other agency staff willing to enroll in the course. This placed the all participants as equal partners in a real community oriented effort and partnership centered on lowering crime in the community.

Rob was burned as a youth and deeply appreciates the risk Firefighters face daily. He was a key supporter and advocate with the late Councilmember Sam Pannell and Mayor Joe Serna Jr. to offer EMS services within the City as primary responders through the fire department -- a win/win that has saved those needing care money, while increasing department revenues. Most recently, it was Rob who brokered the proposal to bring back a fire truck company to the south area of Sacramento, and put money in the budget to replace Fire Station 5 and 20 with modern stations. Rob is also a member of the Pioneer Hook & Ladder Society and a member of the community advisory committee for the Pacific Burn Institute.

Rob with his philosophical priority on children and youth, has also realized that the future of our public safety starts with today's youth. He has been an enthusiastic supporter, speaker and proponent of the City's criminal justice academy programs # active at Kennedy High School, Luther Burbank, and Grant High School, which Rob help to establish. Many of these graduates are pursuing a career with the City's police department due to their experience, education and training gained through these valuable academies.

Del Paso Boulevard Makeover

In 1992, when Rob Kerth was first elected to City Council, Del Paso Boulevard had a 35% vacancy rate and as a business district was facing challenges of crime, blight, and prostitution. Rob has worked hard to redevelop Del Paso Boulevard using Arts Related development - directing $1,715,589 in redevelopment financing to make the following projects a reality: Sacramento Musician's Hall (includes a spring board floor for Ballet and acoustical room for symphony and musician practice), The Himovitz Gallery (including Actor's Workshop Theatre), LIMN Furniture Gallery, SurrealEstates Ink (to provide 11 detached Artist Live/Work units designed for individual ownership), 1001 Del Paso Works (providing 13 artist studios - including Sol Ceramica), Artisan Square (3 artist studios, and 6 low income lofts). Important projects to revitalization of the community, this public investment leveraged $6 Million in private funding for the area.

Other uses have chosen to relocate to Del Paso Boulevard (Uptown District): The Doiron Gallery, Woodson Photography Studio, Austin's Uptown Studio, Beyond the Proscenium Productions (Theatre Company), MatrixARTS, and the Center for Contemporary Art, City Offices, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), Enotria Wine Bar & Café, Pegase Restaurant, Omega Jewelry, Rhino Design, Uptown Café, Kragen Auto Parts, Rite-Aid and a new Blockbuster Video (expected Fall 2000). The City built the Arden-Garden Connector to open the area up and connect Natomas and Point West. Second Saturday "Phantom Galleries" brought out crowds over 1000 to the Boulevard every second Saturday for art shows. The area now has less than 15% vacancies, land values are up, and crime is down. The renaissance of what is now called the Uptown District is an inspiration for commercial corridors throughout the City now.

Firehouse Community Center

Once a boarded-up and abandoned former City Fire Station, the Firehouse Community Center is now the vibrant activity and volunteer center in Del Paso Heights. In 1993, Rob Kerth and a small group of community leaders thought it would be nice to fix up the old fire station building and make it into a community center or activity center for kids. With the help of seed money from Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency, and the assistance City Parks & Recreation Staff, some talented volunteers and community members the building was remodeled and reopened with a classroom, community volunteer offices, information board, community gathering space, a kitchen, and an outdoor seating area, beautified with a wonderful youth mural. The center in it's sixth year now is home to ESL classes, the Youth Village grant program, Police Service Volunteers, central depository for job & training information and many cultural organizations. Annually, it is the site for the Unity Festival, which draws over 1500 participants each year. Seeing opportunity is what was a community eyesore, Rob Kerth helped to create a community resource that has brought interest back to the heart of Del Paso Heights, and given the community a place to gather that is their own.

Code Enforcement Re-engineered

Back in 1994, Rob empowered a group of residents and neighborhood association members by establishing a "nuisance property task force" to track and establishes priorities for handling of substandard boarded-up blighted buildings in the district. This citizen group meets monthly with Housing & Dangerous Building Division Staff and Code Enforcement Staff to monitor progress on neighborhood cases. Over the next four years this was so successful that District Two led the City in demolitions of these crime infested dangerous properties. When Rob proposed that the City Re-Engineer it's Code Enforcement process and strengthen its efforts in 1998, his staff was included in the process to provide suggestions. The results were four geographic teams citywide called the Neighborhood Response Teams (NRT's) modeled after Rob's nuisance property task force, and an augmentation of nearly $700,000 to Code Enforcement to add a Code Action Team to expedite problemsome cases that blighted neighborhoods and became attractive nuisances in neighborhoods. This reduced the case backlog citywide by 50%, making safer communities for neighbors and ensuring clean and safe housing for residents.

Neighborhood Strike Forces

Along with then colleague Sam Pannell, Rob helped bring the concept of Neighborhood Strikeforces or concentrated weekend collaborations of neighbors and staff focusing on a neighborhood challenged with crime and blight. This intensive effort made a direct impact with outreach, education (including through media attention) and enforcement sweeps. To kick-off the beefed up Code Enforcement Division in 1998, a series of 12 strikeforces citywide were held to improve public safety and neighborhood health. These are now being replicated as solutions to what can seem overwhelming problem areas in other California Valley cities like Modesto, Stockton, Vallejo, and Redding. The multi-disciplinary approach of bringing in many services (City, County and other Agencies) all in one comprehensive effort brings collaboration, partnering and attention to these struggling neighborhoods.

Cell Phone Tower Policy

Back in 1995, Rob Kerth sparked what would later be adopted as a citywide policy of charging Cellular Phone providers a lease fee for co-locating cell towers or antennas on existing towers within city-owned parkland. The first of these leases in 1995 was at Johnston Community Center, and the income from this lease is directly put back into improvements, programs, and service enhancements at the park and community center. The Council adopted this as a citywide policy in 1998 as a way to provide better service to cellular customers and provide improved programs and facilities at community parks.

Arden-Garden Connector

A project that has "been on the books" for longer than Rob has been alive, it was his promise in 1992 to get the Arden-Garden Connector built, despite moans that "it can't be done." After six years of community work for approvals and cobbling together $22 million in funding (including funds from Congress as a federal demonstration project) the Arden-Garden Connector opened to the community in mid 1999. The roadway is the first bridge in 30 years to be built in Sacramento, and includes sidewalks, biketrails, levee access, and significant landscape improvements linking the North Sacramento and Gardenland communities. Regionally it links Natomas basin to the Point West Business Area (including Cal Expo), and in 1999 was recognized by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments as "Regional Project of the Year," and received a design award from the Western Regional Council of Engineers. This project has brought new hope to the revitalization of Northgate Boulevard and Del Paso Boulevard, in addition to relieving congestion on El Camino Avenue, improved Fire Department response times to Gardenland, and brought service route improvements to Regional Transit's bus connections.

Environmental Leader

Sacramento is known as the City of Trees and Rob has labored hard to protect that heritage. He authored the City's Heritage Tree ordinance, and holds the City record of planting the single largest tree as well the largest number of trees (over 800) for an Arbor Day observance. Additionally, Rob sponsored the historic Magpie Creek Design guidelines - the first City effort to integrate a creek into the design of future subdivision projects as an open space asset, a principal now incorporated into "smart growth." In 1993, Rob acquired 12 acres of natural oak savanna (the largest left within Sacramento) to save it from an apartment development - it is now preserved as City parkland. This was the first acquisition using the Sacramento Valley Open Space Conservancy as an intermediary. Rob has acquired or improved 67 acres of parkland and open space in just seven years on the Council, in addition to the restoration of the Sacramento Northern Railroad right of way into a 40-acre, 6.25 mile parkway and biketrail with a $1.2 million dollar federal grant.

Regionally, Rob helped in the purchase of the Valensine Ranch open space south of Sacramento. Rob was also responsible for the City providing free parking with charging stations for electric vehicles in all City Parking Garages # an effort that gained some national recognition by clean air advocates. As a boardmember of The Regional Transit District, Rob pushed for the conversion of the entire bus fleet from diesel engines to clean burning CNG (compressed natural gas).

Rob's leadership in pushing for infill incentives at the City has also been the most practical solution proposed to start to mitigate the negative impacts of sprawl, and increased infrastructure costs that sprawl burdens taxpayers with. Rob is an active sponsor and supporter of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, Point West Transportation Management Association, Sacramento Valley Open Space Conservancy, and the American River Parkway.

Infill Development

As the Councilmember providing leadership for the Del Paso Nuevo project, the largest-scale infill and revitalization project in this region, Rob has provided the vision for infill development in the City. Del Paso Nuevo is planned to provide 300 new housing units in a redevelopment area, along with a new park, open space amenities and an expansion of the Robertson Community Center. Knowing that the revitalization of existing neighborhoods is a core component of "smart growth" and that reuse of abandoned and underutilized sites and reinvestment in our older commercial corridors will help to reduce the pressure from growth on the urban boundary while creating opportunities for inner city residents and neighborhoods who have been left behind by sprawl # Rob has been a strong voice for infill development opportunities.

Rob has asked the City to develop an Urban Infill Development and Redevelopment policy, and has presented the results of a six month study of the issue his office prepared to spur interest and action by City Planners. The policy can be an important piece of the answer to slowing the negative effects our region's growth and the demands that growth places on our infrastructure (schools, utilities, roads, and parks to name a few). As stewards of our environment this type of land recycling can play a vital role in rebuilding challenged neighborhoods, keeping taxpayer costs down for infrastructure, and offers opportunities to increase the supply of housing types which meet the needs and purchasing power of today's households. This can be a policy that goes beyond just piecemeal development of individual lots, but encourages the completion of the community fabric # filling in the gaps in the neighborhood with a healthy mix of uses that adds to the vitality and convenience for residents. We can't just continue to throw our older neighborhoods away, we need to revitalize them, recycle them to ensure that each of "small towns" are safe, clean and comfortable with unique points of interest. Rob has advocated that 15-25% of the Cities growth could be accommodated on these vacant lots throughout the City and within the City's older commercial corridors, a unique opportunity as 544,000 new residents are expected in the region within the next ten years.

Exposition Extension

A long overdue project, the extension of Exposition Boulevard from the Capitol City Freeway to Highway 160, not only improved access and reduced congestion, it also opened up 40 acres for economic development. The project took four years of meetings with stakeholders and a financing plan of $8 million to bring it to reality. That improvement has attracted REI, Costco, John Davis Co, Radiological Associates, and a newly planned expansion of the Radisson Hotel Sacramento # investments exceeding $50 million # all within an infill area of the City within 5 minutes of downtown Sacramento. The connection has also brought added bus service from the Cal Expo area into the business park as a service to those employees.

A Friend of Pet Owners

Rob has pushed a number of ordinance changes to benefit pet owners in Sacramento. In working with local veternarian's in Sacramento, Rob was successful in getting animal control services to offer the AVID chip for pets, and more importantly for the pound to check for the chip in the animal to reunite pet owners with their lost pet before those animals were put to "sleep." Rob also pushed for the dog license fee to be waived for guide dog, signal dog, or service dogs, realizing the value these animals bring to the disabled. Rob is a supporter of adding dedicated Dog Parks to our community park system and has advocated for public capital funding for the proposed new SPCA building based on it's benefit (and savings) to the City's animal control division.

Neighborhoods Gain Voice

Rob's interest in City policies began as an active board member on both the Woodlake Improvement Club and of the North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. He carried his commitment to community and neighborhood involvement into office, helping to lead the way to the formation of the City's Neighborhood Services Department with decentralized and responsive area managers. He also organized the City's first Congress of Neighborhoods to network all neighborhood associations in North Sacramento to have a stronger voice at City Hall. Using the support of his office and the City, he expanded the representation in his district from 9 neighborhood associations to 18, as well as fostering new non-profit organizations to lead on issues like welfare reform, health, housing, and other community issues. Rob believes that the greater the participation, the better the solutions, and that community level involvement is key to making a better City.

Rob also organized the first neighborhood bus tour with Mayor Joe Serna Jr., held appropriately in North Sacramento in recognition of Rob's efforts. That tour was so successful, it was replicated in several other districts citywide and has helped to pull Sacramento together as a community.

Bringing and Expanding Business

Representing an underserved district with the lowest median income in the City per capita, Rob has been a staunch supporter of promoting employment opportunities, and training programs. He has sponsored Lifeguard Training programs, pre-apprenticeship programs, and a youth build program for construction trades. He was there to fight for McClellan AFB, getting Packard Bell, and helped negotiate for new downtown hotels. In District, Rob has attracted REI, Costco, LIMN Furniture, Fry's Electronic's, SavMax Supermarket, The Vic Fazio Workforce Development Center (Urban League), Marmon Keystone, John Davis Company, Screenprint Connection, and several of Sacramento's leading art galleries to invest. He has also actively supported expansion of Ebarra Technologies, Composite Engineering, United Rentals, Crystal Water Co., and Harley-Davidson.

Policy wise, Rob pushed to create a streamlined over the counter design review option available, has prompted improvements in permitting, advocated for uniform enforcement of building codes within the region, revamping of the City's zoning ordinance, and successfully lobbied to create a Zoning Administrator. Rob is currently advocating for the City's first infill development policy with incentives and to begin e permitting for plan check and building permits via the web for Sacramento's development community.

Arts

Nationally, the non-profit arts industry employs 1.3 million people in full-time jobs, and has an overall economic impact of $37 billion according to Americans for the Arts (1994). Sacramento is the hub of a regional arts movement, both visually and performing. Rob supports promoting the arts as an economic asset and to increase support for community and regional local arts, culture and humanities organizations.

From 1996 data, Sacramento only spends $.43 per person on the arts, compared to other cities like San Francisco ($1.45 per person), San Diego ($1.84 per person) and Portland, OR ($1.63 per person) this is barely subsistence funding. Rob has proposed to ask citizen's to approve an enhancement to retiree's benefits and the creation of an Arts & Youth Endowment from overfunded Sacramento City Retirement Funds.

Rob has lead investment of redevelopment funds in excess of $1,700,000 for arts related uses on Del Paso Boulevard # the new Uptown District. Rob was also a founding member and volunteer of the Second Saturday Phantom Galleries on Del Paso Boulevard # featured in Sacramento and Comstocks Magazine. Recently, Rob announced the relocation of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission staff and offices to Del Paso Boulevard. Rob Kerth serves as the Mayor's designee to the Crocker Art Museum Association Board and on the Board of the Beyond the Proscenium Productions Theater Company. He has financially supported and fundraised for many local visual and performing arts organizations.

Dixieanne Strategic Plan

How do you create change in a neighborhood area with no organization and many challenges? In late 1998, Councilman Kerth initiated to date, the City's most comprehensive intervention effort to step into a neighborhood, engage residents and create a strategic plan for that neighborhood. As a first step, staff assisted in developing the most essential ingredient # a neighborhood association. Simultaneously, six focus groups of made of staff, public agencies and residents were formed to examine issues of: Crime, Code Enforcement, Beautification, Infrastructure, Recreation & Education, and Neighborhood Involvement. This effort resulted in a published neighborhood workbook including goals, projects and timelines. The neighborhood has secured funding for their first neighborhood streetlights, a newly planned tot lot park, and has seen improvements in neighborhood beautification. The association celebrated its one-year anniversary and community involvement is improving as it the neighborhood visually.

Fixing Problem Housing

Sometimes neighborhoods have challenges that are exacerbated by poor planning. Western Avenue in the Terrace Manor neighborhood was such a place, with aging 40 duplexes against the levee. The units had been under several owners as rentals and had been the source of many police calls for service. Beginning in 1996, Rob lead an intervention strategy that put two Neighborhood Police Officers into the neighborhood, and had the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency into a partnership with Rural California Housing Corporation to purchase and convert 21 of the duplex units into 4 bedroom family units for first-time homebuyers. This was complete in 1999 and has made a dramatic change in the community, crime is down, units look good, and the neighborhood is pleased with the results.

Community Garden Policy

Rob Kerth has been a vocal advocate and proponent of the City providing financial and infrastructure assistance to community gardens throughout Sacramento. His office issued a lengthy report in June that examined the value community gardens provide to neighborhoods and the important role they take in building community. That report has prompted the City to look at the issue and report back to Council in a public workshop scheduled for mid-September. Rob also hosted an all-morning tour of five exemplary community garden sites (Grant High School, Fred Lawson Memorial Garden, Hmong Community Farm, Mercy Housing Garden, and Woodlake Elementary School) on August 19th to raise awareness of community gardens and their value to the Sacramento community. Rob is advocating for a policy that puts tools and money directly into the hands of gardens, ideally with their own umbrella organization to foster new and support existing gardens.