Steve Tate responds to questions

The Morgan Hill Times gave each mayoral candidate a slate of 12
questions. Here are Steve Tate’s answers. Also, view a video of
Tate at http://blip.tv/file/4176890.
The Morgan Hill Times gave each mayoral candidate a slate of 12 questions. Here are Steve Tate’s answers. Also, view a video of Tate at http://blip.tv/file/4176890.

1. What leadership qualities can you bring to the dais if elected?

Listening, consensus building, collaboration, innovation, accountability, accessibility, enthusiasm, integrity and a wealth of experience.

1. What are your top priorities?

Survive the recession, build the economic base, stay safe, implement the downtown specific plan, finalize planning for the southeast quadrant, build regional credibility and partnerships, implement flood control, maintain the small-town feel and improve quality of life.

1. What programs and/or services would you cut or save to balance the budget and how would you pay for them?

We have to continue to adhere to our Sustainable Budget Strategy, using frequent five year income projection updates to monitor and, if necessary, adjust our budgeted spending. Hopefully, further spending cuts will not be needed but if they are, it should be done based on what the Council consensus is on service priorities.

My input to the prioritization process would start with looking to our employee groups to partner with us in finding ways to reduce overall compensation costs. I would do everything possible to maintain our robust recreation services as they provide a high measure of safety as well as enjoyment for very little subsidized cost since our recovery rate is so high.

1. Explain your approach to negotiating with employee unions?

Mayor and Council do not and should not participate in negotiations, but do set the parameters for staff’s negotiation. The approach is one of partnership and collaboration, making them aware of exactly what our financial situation is and what options are available to us. We really value all our employees and their willingness to work in partnership with us on contract negotiations and, when necessary, renegotiations.

1. Do you support a two-tier retirement system?

Yes.

1. How do you feel about RDA-financed downtown development plans, including the fate of the vacant Granada Theater building?

Good. We have a comprehensive specific plan in place and are well on our way in its implementation. We have a great partner in Barry Swenson Builder to do a fabulous job on the A and B sites. The Monterey streetscape finalization is a critical factor in shaping the future character and ambiance of downtown and we really need public input, and Callendar is doing that now. On the Granada, it is not worth saving the building, but we should recreate the ambiance as much as possible, definitely moving the marquee/sign but also recreating some of the ambiance of the murals, snack bar, etc.

1. How should the city address planning and developing in other parts of the city, such as the Southeast Quad?

For the Southeast Quadrant, as we are – striving to maximize the amount of open space and agricultural preservation by encouraging recreational uses and using agricultural easements, etc. We should avoid having it develop as “mini-mansions” like much of San Martin is now and keep a more open, rural feel. The other parts of the city are addressed well already on our General Plan, but we do need to initiate an update of it within the next two years.

1. What is the city’s role, if any, in working with the school district?

Highest priority is student/campus safety. We also have the joint corporation yard to manage and determine where it will be going in the future as the city hopes to eventually expand Community Park into that space. Opportunities for joint projects have been pursued in the past, and with the new District Administration, we are optimistic that more will actually be implemented, things like joint scheduling/management of recreation facilities and development of excess property at the Britton site, etc.

1. In light of the Cinco de Mayo incident at LOHS, what steps would you take, if any, to improve race relations?

I have been meeting with various interested groups, primarily faith-based and Hispanic, to determine the best way to address this. The School District is working with the students on it already, but they are also on board to work with us on the broader community issue, which it definitely is – not just a Live Oak or MHUSD issue. There is not total agreement that a town hall-type community meeting is needed or would help, but there is universal support for doing something to recognize and address it, we’ll work hard to make sure there is follow-up, but the campaign is definitely impacting my ability right now.

1. What are your plans, if any, to attract new businesses to Morgan Hill?

The city is doing a lot already, and we have some very notable successes. In this economic environment, the competition in this area is very heavy, we have to really work at it but it is so very crucial to our future financial well being in this community that has shown great reluctance to any new funding sources. Our advertising campaign in the San Jose Business Journal has been going for well over a year now and we have hosted several broker gatherings to tout are openness to and help for new or expanded business. Our recent successes with firms such as Lin Engineering, Flextronics, Del Monaco Foods and Pinnacle Manufacturing have given us an opportunity to use their executives as advocates to attract others. We are also looking into events that would target specific types of “green” businesses as well as their suppliers and customers. And we still have plans to draw more auto dealers, though that probably will have to wait until we’re well out of the recession.

1. What prompted you to run?

Here is the answer from my website:

It is an honor to serve as Mayor. I enjoy it and believe that I am very good at it. My accomplishments and experience as mayor, Council member and businessman; my knowledge of Morgan Hill; and my interpersonal skills give me the confidence to expect that Morgan Hill will continue to benefit from my leadership; that we can make our great community even better.

1. Do you think changes are needed to the city’s speaker policy and council meetings, and if so what changes would you make?

No, but the recent questions about it have been beneficial in helping us clean up our documentation and being more specific in laying out the ground rules. I had a recent conversation with frequent Council meeting attendee Frank Manocchio and we agreed that in the future, unless I announce at the opening of the public input that speaker cards must be turned in then, we would accept additional speaker cards after the start of the comment period. This will formalize what has been our practice in the past where I use my judgment on when this may be required to control the length or demeanor of the public comment period.