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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Visionaries-<br>
<br>
Here are my answers to Joan’s questions.<br>
<br>
1) Would you support a two-year moratorium on any elected official doing
business and/or bidding on a contract with the city after he or she has left
office?<br>
<font color="#993366"><span style='color:#993366'>No. this implies that
business of former city council members get special treatment. I expect that
there are many businesses that get special treatment and that the ones
associated with the three council members who step down every two years are not
the worst offenders. <br>
<br>
My preference would be to set up a set of policies and practices that made
special treatment, either making things easier by cutting requirements or
making things harder by adding unnecessary requirements, of anyone impossible
or at least illegal.<br>
</span></font><br>
2) Would you enforce existing city code even if such enforcement were painful,
uncomfortable, or not politically expedient?<br>
<font color="#993366"><span style='color:#993366'>No. I understand that this
question is about zoning city codes, but the question asks to enforce all city codes.
It is easy to find a number of existing city codes that cannot or should not be
enforced because they are silly, petty, or difficult to convict in court. In
Moscow it is illegal to throw or catch anything in the street (like balls or Frisbees).
It is illegal to spit on the sidewalk. It is illegal for women to wear clothes
that reveal certain edges of their breasts. It is illegal for anyone to let
their dog loose in public so that a dog catching a Frisbee in a park is
illegal. Most of these are misdemeanors. So it would be possible to be arrested
and taken away for these offenses. So no, I don’t think we should enforce
all our city codes. At least not until we have cleansed the code of those items
that would embarrass all of us to enforce.<br>
<br>
I do think that zoning codes should be thoroughly understood by city staff so
that correct information can be distributed to all inquires and I also believe that
violations should be dealt with in a timely manner. Someone who builds a 20
unit apartment complex in their backyard on a 20,000 square foot R-1 lot should
be dealt with. I wouldn’t expect the apartment complex to remain.<br>
</span></font><br>
3) What is your position on the Third Street Bridge project?<br>
<font color="#993366"><span style='color:#993366'>I favor connectedness of our
neighborhoods. We have subdivision statues that specify a maximum block length.
Connectivity enhances not just vehicular traffic, but all forms of
transportation including bicycles and walking.<br>
<br>
On this specific proposal, I have stated at public meetings that I favor building
the Third Street bridge. One or more community meetings are planned. I keep an
open mind going into these meetings because I enjoy learning about the
challenges and possibilities of major projects such as this. They are complex.
Traffic flow on a new Third Street bridge would depend on how Mountain View was
structured. For example, if a traffic light were installed at F and Mountain
View, I would expect that fewer people would leave McDonald school at 3:00 pm
using D Street – waiting and waiting to get onto Mountain View –
because the light on F Street would guarantee predictable access.<br>
<br>
It is complex and I hear much opposition to the project and few residents in
favor of it. I don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.<br>
</span></font><br>
4) What do you believe are the most difficult issues facing ethnic and racial
minorities in our community? Also, what are the most challenging issues faced
by women, gays and lesbians, and the economically disenfranchised?<br>
<font color="#993366"><span style='color:#993366'>A sense of belonging is being
lost and I find that the most discouraging aspect of our community right now. I
love the diversity that the University of Idaho brings to this area –
international students and students from all around our country with hundreds
of different life styles and value systems. Human dignity is critical for any
of us to live and work and play at peace. Each of us needs to embrace and
encourage all members of our community and stand up proud and strong with every
man, woman and child who is worried about their acceptance here. All good
people who come to this fine city should be trusted with our hospitality.<br>
<br>
The economically disenfranchised have so much competition from the students for
jobs. The immediate care of the economically disenfranchised is the role of the
county. But the city can encourage hiring policies that provide equal access to
steady jobs. This is a difficult problem.<br>
</span></font><br>
5) What are Moscow's three greatest opportunities in the next five years?<br>
<font color="#993366"><span style='color:#993366'>Our greatest opportunities
are:<br>
a – Creating a thriving downtown business community that fills all
of us with pride.<br>
b – Filling the new Alturas lots with businesses that enhance our
economic well being as they contribute to the environmental quality of life
that will keep our children healthy as they grow and raise their families.<br>
c – Cooperating with the University of Idaho in new ways so that
as the university returns to greatness, the city will be an integrated partner.<br>
<br>
Joan, thanks for asking.</span></font><br>
<br>
<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy'>John Dickinson<br>
Moscow City Council<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Joan Opyr<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, September 26, 2005
8:27 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Vision2020 Moscow<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Vision2020] Election
questions, redux</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dear
Visionaries:<br>
<br>
I asked these questions a few days ago of all candidates now running for city
office, but Linda Pall wisely suggests that I ask them of everyone who is now
sitting on city council. So, I do. Here they are again. Candidates for city
office and Linda, John Dickinson, JoAnn Mack, Jon Kimberling, and Mayor
Comstock, please feel free to offer your answers. I look forward to reading
them.<br>
<br>
1) Would you support a two-year moratorium on any elected official doing
business and/or bidding on a contract with the city after he or she has left
office?<br>
2) Would you enforce existing city code even if such enforcement were painful,
uncomfortable, or not politically expedient?<br>
3) What is your position on the Third Street Bridge project?<br>
4) What do you believe are the most difficult issues facing ethnic and racial
minorities in our community? Also, what are the most challenging issues faced
by women, gays and lesbians, and the economically disenfranchised?<br>
5) What are Moscow's three greatest opportunities in the next five years?<br>
<br>
Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment<br>
www.auntie-establishment.com<b><?fontfamily><?param Helvetica><span
style='font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
<br>
</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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