League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Councilmember At-Large; City of Oakland

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Public Input, Records Management, City/School District Cooperation Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. Since the biweekly schedule for council and council committee meetings often significantly limits the time available for public input, what changes would you make to give the public real opportunities to give input and to feel that their input is valued? Answer from Rebecca D. Kaplan: There are two major changes we need to make. One is to deal with the frequency and schedule of meetings, to make sure enough time is provided so that important decisions are not made in a rush, and so that there is ample time to hear, and consider, public input. I will work with the other council members and community members to change the Council meeting schedule, to provide sufficient meeting time to handle the extensive and important issues that our local government must deal with. Second, we need other improved methods, beyond the meetings themselves, for public input to be taken into consideration. I will personally hold regular public meetings in our neighborhoods to ensure that I am accessible to the public. I will take public input ahead of time, so that it can genuinely shape policy proposals, instead of being left to complain with the feeling that the real decisions have already been made. 2. What is your assessment of the City's present records management program and how would you change it? Answer from Rebecca D. Kaplan: The present records management program is not sufficiently easy to use for the general public, and this deserves significant improvement. For example, we should have a system in which members of the public, via internet, (as well as an in-person option) can locate documents related to any specific issue of concern to them, through a searchable data storage method. 3. How might the City work more effectively with the School District? Answer from Rebecca D. Kaplan: One of the biggest impediments to more effective city-school collaboration is the fact that the schools have been under control of a State Administrator due to being put into a state "takeover" -- and this has impeded the ability of local leaders to take effective action. I will work together with community members to help bring an effective return of local control to our schools. In addition, there is much more that the city can and should do, and that I will help to advance, to improve effective coordination with the school district. This includes working together to upkeep grounds and buildings, to collaborate on after-school programs and city-school land sharing opportunities. By pooling resources, we could increase the availability of recreational and educational opportunities for our community, both during and after school. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.