League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Jeff Cambra Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Alameda

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Alameda and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. (Most pressing problem) What is the single most pressing problem facing the City in the next 24 months and how would you work with your elected colleagues to solve it?

The slow recovery of the economy and state raids on money that normally would flow to the city coupled with rising costs will challenge the city's ability to continue to provide the full complement of services residents currently enjoy while maintaining a cash reserve.

In order to pay for the increased cost of services, I would work with the city staff to continue their present program of aggresively marketing and attracting new business to the city. The sales tax generated from these businesses will help cover rising costs. Property values continue to rise generating additional property tax revenue as well. Additionally, the City will need to look at creative ways to deliver services through the use of technology, seeking alternate funding sources like grants, establishing public private partnerships (like the animal shelter), and volunteerism.

How the City balances its budget will require a transparent public engagement process that allows all Alameda residents to have input on what they prioritize as essential services. The cornerstone of my campaign is collaboration. As a professional community mediator, I have extensive experience with bringing stakeholders together, and facilitating civil and respectful negotiations aimed at resolving issues in a manner that takes into account the interests of all the stakeholders.

As a councilmember, I am part of a team of professionals consisting of city staff, the city manager, three councilmembers, and the mayor. I come to the council with no agenda other than to clearly understand the issues, listen with an open mind to all the proposed solutions from any source, reflect the views of residents, and work to reach consensus with my council counterparts.

2. (Growth and development) What is your vision of Alameda ten years from now as it relates to residential growth and business development?

Alameda Point provides the City with the best opportunity to create a variety of housing alternatives including multifamily, work force, senior resident cohousing, live/work space, and single family housing. I envision residential housing, especially the multifamily configuration clustered around a ferry based transit hub with free shuttles to take area residents to the terminal. This would provide an alternative to driving through the Posey tube each workday morning for those residents working off island. Ideally, I would like to have jobs available so that Point residents would not have a reason to leave the island.

In regards to business development, I have proposed that the City focus on renting out the existing structures on Alameda Point to light industry to increase rental income. Retail businesses to support Alameda Point residents should be located on Webster Street to facilitate the continued upgrading of that area. To date, the city staff has aggresively marketed Alameda bringing in VF Outdoors to Harbor Bay and renting out two of the large hangars at the Point. As the regional economy continues to improve, Alameda Point will be in high demand.

3. (Partnership of city with schools) Good schools are important for a city's economic growth and well-being. What is the most effective way the City can partner with the school district to improve the academic performance and perception of our schools?

The City presently has a sub-committee made up of two members of the school district board of trustees and two members of the city council that meet to discuss ways to work together for greater efficiency and cost savings. I strongly support this type of collaboration as the best way to identify opportunities that benefit all concerned.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are presented as submitted. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 16, 2012 16:39
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