502 replies to this topic

[maestro]

PS  If you want to hear about our history (I'll through in a little about Sacramento, too) come to my fundraiser on Saturday at my home at 121 Kennar Way, September 20th. I will give a 20 minute presentation on Folsom's historic gems, answer questions, and there will be a fountain of chocolate! For your convenience there will be two time slots: between 2:30 and 4 pm or between 5 and 6:30 pm. The cost is $40 per person or $70 a couple. Please respond by letting me know which time slot you are interested in attending. Look forward to seeing you there!  Details are on my facebook page at Sandra Lunceford for City Council, or you can contact me at LuncefordforCityCouncil@gmail.com.  

 

 

Sandra,

 

A hearty welcome back  to public service.     People should know how much you contributed in the past.  

I believe you want this city to be livable for families and good to small business people.    

Good luck with the open houses.

 

 

As for Sutter St.:   it is a disaster and it is NO PLACE to invite alcohol-drinking crowds from out of town.   

You cannot even get an ambulance into the tiny lanes -- which will be full of drinking partiers.    

 

It used to be a revenue generator because it was gentile, full of specialty shops that brought in the "carriage trade" from all over.     They spent money and did not tax our understaffed fire and police departments.   Remember the near-riot when a band brought its Oakland Cru here?

[Sandra Lunceford]

Thank you All Star.  I appreciate the kind words.  I've never left public service.  There are lots of things to do without recognition.

[Steve Heard]

Thank you for the warning....However, that is why I emphasize family-friendly, history related businesses that attract not only locals, but tourists.  Family-friendly, history related businesses usually close around 9 or 10 p.m.  It would be nice to be able to bring our families and visitors to Sutter Street to experience Folsom's arts, recreation, and history after 4 p.m.  We have lots of empty space across from the Lake Natoma Inn that has been sitting empty for a LONG time.  

 

Sutter Street is family friendly, but I guess it depends on one's definition. I'd define 'family friendly' as being safe, clean and having dining, shopping and recreational opportunities for adults with kids. We have those elements, albeit limited ones.

 

Some would think of family friendly as meaning 'free from alcoholic beverages and dancing'. 

 

The antiques, art galleries, and gift shops that closed did so for a variety of reasons. Some were poorly run, some weren't offering the products or services the consumers wanted and some owners retired. 

 

If consumers were flocking to the galleries and buying truckloads of antiques, the art and antique dealers would be buying and renting every available space. 

 

Tourists to historic areas do seem to like nostalgia, history and antiques to a degree, and it's good to have shops geared to that sort of thing, but you can't force shops to carry that stuff, can't force new shop owners to open up and can't ban shops that don't sell those things.

 

Visitors also like to eat and drink and buy other items not related to arts or history. When they open, many of them do well.

 

I spend a lot of time and Sutter and see lots of families there. You say there isn't much happening after 4pm for families? I'd say there isn't much BEFORE 4pm either. If you have kids, you bring them to Snook's and maybe to Starlight Starbright, or for a pizza at Classico or Chicago Fire, maybe to Pioneer Village, but that's about it. 

 

I was a frequent Folsom visitor from about 1989 until I moved here in 2001. Before I moved here, I used to take my kids to Snook's, Betty's House of Turquoise (they'd buy stones and bracelets) and Dorothea's whenever I visited Sutter. There wasn't much else for kids. They aren't into antiques or fine art galleries, and have limited interest home decor or historic photos. 

 

The sidewalks seemed to roll up at 3 or 4pm back then and the district didn't have the bars and entertainment it does today.

 

As for the building across from Lake Natoma in, it is in a bad location. The bike shop and Karen's have thrived because they are supported by the cyclists who ride up on the trail, spend some money at Karen's and maybe get something they need at the bike shop. 

 

Chevy's, Grebitus Jewelers, a jazz club, the Thai joint, a Triathlete shop and more have come and gone from that location. No one knows they are there.

 

I would encourage you to encourage some sort of outreach to business owners who have the kinds of shops you are seeking, in other communities. See if we can get them some marketing and/or incentives to get them to locate here.

 

If a business person wants to take the chance of opening an historic-themed shop, I am all for it and will buy there if they have something of interest.

[Rich_T]

Be careful not to be a "one-topic" candidate (tourism).  That's sort of a "nice to have" agenda item, as opposed to a "I'm a for-real candidate who can play ball with hard-nosed politicians" portrayal.  (But you have my vote regardless.)

[Sandra Lunceford]

Thank you for your suggestions.  May plan includes doing outreach to businesses that may have interest on Sutter Street.  If we show we are trying to help generate business for them, they may be more interested.  

 

The second plank of my platform is to use potential revenue from sales and/or TOT to develop incentives for water-conservation companies, their jobs, products, and processes to move to Folsom.  The goal would be to develop a suite of options that residents may opt into to develop a model water-conservation city.  While not everyone will want to opt into incentives to incorporate water conservation into their homes, there may be many who will.  I believe we can create a water conservation standard that will increase awareness of water use in others that use water from our lake.  I facilitated meetings for CalFed, the former water transfer system throughout California.  I don't see why we can't be a strong voice at any and all meetings so that we can ensure that if we are under restriction, that others are aware and are judicious with their use, too.

[ducky]

Thank you for your suggestions.  May plan includes doing outreach to businesses that may have interest on Sutter Street.  If we show we are trying to help generate business for them, they may be more interested.  

 

The second plank of my platform is to use potential revenue from sales and/or TOT to develop incentives for water-conservation companies, their jobs, products, and processes to move to Folsom.  The goal would be to develop a suite of options that residents may opt into to develop a model water-conservation city.  While not everyone will want to opt into incentives to incorporate water conservation into their homes, there may be many who will.  I believe we can create a water conservation standard that will increase awareness of water use in others that use water from our lake.  I facilitated meetings for CalFed, the former water transfer system throughout California.  I don't see why we can't be a strong voice at any and all meetings so that we can ensure that if we are under restriction, that others are aware and are judicious with their use, too.

 You mention residences, but not the city.  I think a good place to start for use of the TOT for water conservation would be the city landscaping, shopping centers, L & D districts.

There is a clean slate out S50 that is being built.  Your site says that there is enough water for that building because the city has conserved over 5,000 acre feet by fixing their leaks.  IMHO that is the place to develop a model water conservation city.  Older residences can make use of the mPOWER program if they want to change their landscaping.

 

Do you really think the TOT would raise enough to not only support tourism itself?  I'm sincerely asking.  If it could, I'd like to see the money used to finish parks or incorporate cutting-edge water conservation options in public spaces rather than asking residents to expend more money on their landscaping, again, using mPOWER.   Better yet, build a new park that is more trees, meandering paths, ponds, gardens, and picnic spots than it is sports fields.  If you do it Central Park west-coast style, it might even attract more tourists.  Just my two cents.    

[Sandra Lunceford]

Generating revenue takes time...enough time for the public to weigh in on how to use it. I'd just hope we can develop a water conservation standard in any number of ways... I'm not advocating the residents having to buy in on anything, either.  They are given options.

[supermom]

Marin County does not specify what the TOT can be used for.  Please check out http://www.marincoun...sient-occupancy 

 

I checked Sacramento County's TOT use, and it is .11% of the budget.  I believe our whole region can more effectively market their history, including Sacramento.  While we are not Marin, we certainly have assets that can creatively market.

 

Another facet of focusing on our history is to more aggressively attract family-friendly businesses to the Historic District, such as folk art and art stores, hands on history opportunities, railroad centered business, etc.  My goal would be to keep the Historic District open longer to families.  My experience from knocking door to door is that families don't feel comfortable going to Sutter Street after 4 p.m.  If we can keep the doors open longer, perhaps we can even add to our sales tax revenue.  

 

Good conversation.

Are you supporting the building of more hotels in Folsom? I thought Folsom residents voted down such measures as they were trying to build on the last few places we have set aside for swamp land protections of local fowl habitats and bike paths? 

[Sandra Lunceford]

I advocate creatively packaging Folsom's unique set of historical assets with the arts and recreational opportunities to make Folsom a destination for tourists.   That involves reaching out to stores that compliment our history so they will open their doors in the historic district.  The benefits are:  1) more transient occupancy tax, 2) more sales tax, and 3) economic development in the historic district. The taxes would supplement the needs our our city and reduce the pressure to use property tax and the subsequent need to develop.

 

If we attract more folks to our historic district and maintain its historic nature, we may be able to fill the shops near the Natoma Inn and include that area and all its potential.  It has been empty for too long.

[Howdy]

 I was checking out the city budget last night and noticed that we rely very heavily on property and sales tax to cover our city's expenses. ..... When tourists stay overnight, they leave behind TOT revenue.  This revenue stimulation can be used to reduce the pressure on using property tax and subsequent development to cover our city's expenses.  What we need is to develop other sources of revenue to reduce our reliance on property tax and development.  

What do you mean by "reduce the pressure"?  Is the property tax and development income at a break even point with the city expenses and we are close to not having enough income to cover the expenditures? So the TOT would help bridge the gap or pad the general fund for a rainy day?

 

You mention in another post you want to use the part of TOT money to give incentives to "water-conservation companies, their jobs, products, and processes to move to Folsom." Then there was mention of residents to get "incentives to incorporate water conservation into their homes." Are the residential incentives also going to come from the TOT funding or the "under pressure" property tax and development income? What jumps out at me is your statement that you " facilitated meetings for CalFed, the former water transfer system throughout California.". That could be telling me you have a lot of contacts in the water industry. I know in life we all pull from our experiences, but with your water platform along with the incentive talk for water companies and selling their products to residents puts up a red flag for me. 

 

Right now to me incentives or kickbacks are a dirty word. We have a city council full of incumbents that are playing that game and I think most of us firmly believe their time is done and would like to see them go. I won't be voting for any incumbents, but I sure as heck don't want to be putting the next generation of the "good ole boys network" in its place.

[Steve Heard]

I advocate creatively packaging Folsom's unique set of historical assets with the arts and recreational opportunities to make Folsom a destination for tourists.   That involves reaching out to stores that compliment our history so they will open their doors in the historic district.  The benefits are:  1) more transient occupancy tax, 2) more sales tax, and 3) economic development in the historic district. The taxes would supplement the needs our our city and reduce the pressure to use property tax and the subsequent need to develop.

 

If we attract more folks to our historic district and maintain its historic nature, we may be able to fill the shops near the Natoma Inn and include that area and all its potential.  It has been empty for too long.

 

Sounds good to me.

[supermom]

I advocate creatively packaging Folsom's unique set of historical assets with the arts and recreational opportunities to make Folsom a destination for tourists.   That involves reaching out to stores that compliment our history so they will open their doors in the historic district.  The benefits are:  1) more transient occupancy tax, 2) more sales tax, and 3) economic development in the historic district. The taxes would supplement the needs our our city and reduce the pressure to use property tax and the subsequent need to develop.

 

If we attract more folks to our historic district and maintain its historic nature, we may be able to fill the shops near the Natoma Inn and include that area and all its potential.  It has been empty for too long.

Im sensing you may have evaded my question: intentionally or otherwise. I specifically want to know if you are supporting the building of more hotels in the region and where in Folsom you may feel there are acceptable places for them to be placed? 

 

As for more taxes, I have to wonder: why? Are the taxes in Folsom that much lower than nearby Sacramento? And I wonder what the impact of those taxes will be; both financially for the city and against the local establishments? 

 

Finally, I get mad when I see the city council is scheming to bring in new businesses by giving them perks that costs the city tax payers money- and no one has made them aware of it. An example is the City transportation deal that is costing the city quite a bit of money. For the benefit of employees of one company. And, they arent even using the service. Meanwhile, that same bus is no longer running for a constant set of users that were paying for tickets. 

Anyway, I do agree that a few of the shops near Natoma Inn have been empty for too long. I would love to see some river friendly sporting shops in that local. 

[caligirlz]

 

Several landowners and small businesses have informed me that they've been warned not support any one besides the incumbents or they will make they're lives a living hell with future projects. One directly from the Chamber CEO himself. I have five 4x8 signs gone now. Elliot Homes advised they will only allow the incumbents to post signs, so much for the democratic process.

 

I guess i'll just keep wrapping the cars with graphics.... harder to steal. LOL

That's crazy, rotten!

 

I saw a couple of your signs today. In front of the tire shop on Riley, and in that woodsy area between Natomas & Sutter St.

 

I'd be willing to put signs from all the challengers in my front yard. Granted, I don't live on a heavily traveled road, but it is a main thoroughfare in the neighborhood.

[caligirlz]

If we attract more folks to our historic district and maintain its historic nature, we may be able to fill the shops near the Natoma Inn and include that area and all its potential.  It has been empty for too long.

My understanding of that building, is that the landlord is notoriously cheap & difficult to work with.

[camay2327]

I would suggest that seeing only signs for  incumbents, can be posted at the corner of

Oak Avenue Parkway and Iron Point: Someone park their truck or car on Iron Point, in front

of the incumbents signs.  Put your sign on the car and stay there an wave and great everyone

going by.  Block out the other signs and Wave and Smile.....

 

Better yet, get a bus and plaster signs all over it and park it along the road.