158 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

I hope we'd all agree that Folsom is a great place to live, work and play, with no glaring problems other than those affecting the rest of the region.

The South of 50 thing keeps coming up, and if I asked, I'd say that I'd rather it not be developed, but that if it is to be developed, that Folsom be in control.

Maybe if I think hard enough, I can come up with other issues, but can't think of any right now.

As for the candidates, they get to take credit for the good and have to take blame for the bad. So, what's the good and bad?

What do you want to see done differently, moving forward?

I don't know much about any of the challengers, and I know all of the incumbents who are up for re-election. I think all of them have done a good job and have Folsom's interests at heart.

What do you think?

[LWoodward]

I am currently running, and I wonder to myself as a dad, how many new activities or parks have been opened recently? Ya, the candidates running for re-election have done a good job in the past(they have been on city council since the 90's!) when the economy was going great and money was there to be spent, but what have they done recently? Built the new Palladio, which has only a movie theater so far, talk about S. Of 50 development, seems to me like they may be development happy....what about the areas of Folsom that are empty or run down? Why not spend money there?

[Redone]

"Coming Soon -- Regional Mall" sign was up when Jack Kipp was Mayor in the 80's.

Park - fyi , there is a new one being constructed off Golf Links.

[old soldier]

i read in the paper some city around here was proposing term limits for council folks...sounds like a great idea, something that old EDF could get his teeth into as could a new candidate who wanted to get some notice around town.

[Darth Lefty]

I'm not opposed to conquering S50. Folsom will take better care of it than any of the other burgs around here.

[Kerri Howell]

As a point of clarification, the City is not building Palladio. Elliott Homes is building Palladio. The City approved the project several years ago. Park facilities are planned when neighborhoods are being planned, and the construction of the parks is paid by predominantly by development fees. Folsom has the most park land and the largest trail system of anywhere in this region, and, arguably, Northern California. All of those facilities require planning - they don't happen over night (at least not normally). The planning and recent publishing of the enivironmental document for the SOI has been ongoing for about 20 years. Approval was obtained from LAFCO (Local Area Formation Commission) about 8 years ago, if memory serves me correctly. Again, the development of 3,600 acres does not happen over night, it requires significant planning. I am sure many of you attended some of the public meetings on that subject years ago. All of this work is required, prior to the annexation of the property to the City, from Sacramento County. Also as a point of clarification, the planning of the area, and the preparation of the environmental document and many other tasks associated with the annexation are being paid for by the landowners, including City Staff time. Given the economy and the housing market, I do not envision construction activity in the SOI for a while - but better that Folsom control it than Sac County. Also for the record, this annexation will be about the 10th time that Folsom has annexed property from the County. With regard to empty retail spaces in Folsom, though we are doing lots of behind the scenes work to encourage new business, attract businesses locating here and retaining existing businesses, together with FEDCORP and the Chamber, the City does not lease the spaces, the property owners do. We are also about to start looking at the East Bidwell Corridor as the next target for redevelopment, which will take place in the next few years, once we complete the work in the Historic District. The website is up for my campaign www.votekerrihowell.com and you should all feel free to email me directly or call me - number is in the phone book.

[Bill Z]

As a point of clarification, the City is not building Palladio. Elliott Homes is building Palladio. The City approved the project several years ago. Park facilities are planned when neighborhoods are being planned, and the construction of the parks is paid by predominantly by development fees. Folsom has the most park land and the largest trail system of anywhere in this region, and, arguably, Northern California. All of those facilities require planning - they don't happen over night (at least not normally). The planning and recent publishing of the enivironmental document for the SOI has been ongoing for about 20 years. Approval was obtained from LAFCO (Local Area Formation Commission) about 8 years ago, if memory serves me correctly. Again, the development of 3,600 acres does not happen over night, it requires significant planning. I am sure many of you attended some of the public meetings on that subject years ago. All of this work is required, prior to the annexation of the property to the City, from Sacramento County. Also as a point of clarification, the planning of the area, and the preparation of the environmental document and many other tasks associated with the annexation are being paid for by the landowners, including City Staff time. Given the economy and the housing market, I do not envision construction activity in the SOI for a while - but better that Folsom control it than Sac County. Also for the record, this annexation will be about the 10th time that Folsom has annexed property from the County. With regard to empty retail spaces in Folsom, though we are doing lots of behind the scenes work to encourage new business, attract businesses locating here and retaining existing businesses, together with FEDCORP and the Chamber, the City does not lease the spaces, the property owners do. We are also about to start looking at the East Bidwell Corridor as the next target for redevelopment, which will take place in the next few years, once we complete the work in the Historic District. The website is up for my campaign www.votekerrihowell.com and you should all feel free to email me directly or call me - number is in the phone book.

Just making it a hyperlink for you

www.votekerrihowell.com

[Chad Vander Veen]

I am currently running, and I wonder to myself as a dad, how many new activities or parks have been opened recently? Ya, the candidates running for re-election have done a good job in the past(they have been on city council since the 90's!) when the economy was going great and money was there to be spent, but what have they done recently? Built the new Palladio, which has only a movie theater so far, talk about S. Of 50 development, seems to me like they may be development happy....what about the areas of Folsom that are empty or run down? Why not spend money there?

Just a tip - as a candidate you should be careful to make sure your grammar is correct when posting. Ya is spelled "yeah."

[Bill Z]

Just a tip - as a candidate you should be careful to make sure your grammar is correct when posting. Ya is spelled "yeah."

Interesting,

I've always known Ya to spelled Ya, yeah is pronounced differently, albeit, has roughly the same meaning.

ya
interjection (S. African) yes, yeah (informal), sure, okay, aye (Scot. informal), affirmative (formal), uh-huh (slang), yebo (S. African informal) 'Are you coming now?' 'Ya.'

[LWoodward]

Just a tip - as a candidate you should be careful to make sure your grammar is correct when posting. Ya is spelled "yeah."

Just wanted to make sure that you judge both of us equally and as Kerri wrote, "The planning and recent publishing of the enivironmental document for the SOI has been ongoing for about 20 years.", you should let Kerri know that she spelled "environmental" wrong, she should watch her grammar as well I suppose...not that I care much, (she probably got ahead of herself typing) but I guess some people do.

[Redone]

It would be nice if everyone were able to stick with Steve's original post.

[ducky]

It would be nice if everyone were able to stick with Steve's original post.

I'll try.

I agree with Steve that I would like to see Folsom in charge of what goes on south of 50 if and when it happens because I know it will affect the part of Folsom that exists north of 50 today. My concern is that the council and others then twist that kind of statement into "Residents want development South of 50 now."

Kerri points out that all planning is being paid for by the developers, including city staff time, but that doesn't address my concern that becoming bigger will most certainly make it more expensive for the rest of us in the long run for services such as police, fire, garbage, sewer, & street maintenance as some examples. We used to have regular street sweep service, especially in the fall, before Folsom development started spreading like wildfire out to 50. Not anymore. Are we having trouble staffing our two libraries? Do we have any unfinished parks?

Kerri points out that private individuals own all the empty storefronts we see and not the city. While this is very true, I wouldn't want the city council to ignore that rapidly approving development might actually cause blight in another part of their city.

[old soldier]

Just wanted to make sure that you judge both of us equally and as Kerri wrote, "The planning and recent publishing of the enivironmental document for the SOI has been ongoing for about 20 years.", you should let Kerri know that she spelled "environmental" wrong, she should watch her grammar as well I suppose...not that I care much, (she probably got ahead of herself typing) but I guess some people do.

I wouldn't be messing with old feisty Kerri on something like spelling...she is liable to give you a whooping

[ducky]

I wouldn't be messing with old feisty Kerri on something like spelling...she is liable to give you a whooping

She's an engineer. Math is more likely her strong suit.
I'd rather judge my city council candidates on their vision for our city rather than their typos.

[john]

Kerri points out that private individuals own all the empty storefronts we see and not the city. While this is very true, I wouldn't want the city council to ignore that rapidly approving development might actually cause blight in another part of their city.

totally agree. I don't want this place to look like Elk Grove. Nothing against EG, they just overdeveloped far too quickly. Now it's biting them bigtime. We have so many empty storefronts (some have never had occupants) that I'd like to see full before we have any more devlopment in this city. I don't care who owns the storefronts, the city should take ownership of making sure they get filled.