Council and School Board Candidates go on the Record
Tuesday April 6th is Election Day. Six Candidates – Paul Love, Bob McDavid, Sal Nuccio, Sean O’Day, Sid Sullivan, and Jerry Wade- are competing for the office of Mayor. Karl Skala (incumbent) and Gary Kesphol are running for Third Ward City Council seat. The Fourth Ward City Council seat is being sought by Rick Buford, Daryl Dudley, Tracy Greever-Rice, and Sarah Read. Two open seats for three year terms on the School Board are being contested by Dan Holt, Jan Mees, and James Whitt. One open seat for a one year term on the School Board is being sought by Phillip Peters and Jonathan Sessions.
To help you decide whom to vote for, we posed the candidates a series of questions, relating to PedNet's mission. Here are their responses.
- Mayoral candidate questions
- Third Ward City Council Candidates
- Fourth Ward City Council Candidates
- Columbia Public Schools Board of Education (3-year term seats)
- Columbia Public Schools Board of Education (1-year term seat)
Mayoral Candidate Questions
- Do you support PedNet's vision of a growing network of paths, trails and multimodal streets throughout Columbia, enabling and encouraging people to use healthy, active modes of transportation for some journeys?
Paul Love: Yes.
Bob McDavid: I am a long-time road and Katy Trail bicyclist. While my road biking has ceased, my wife and I enjoy biking the Katy trail and rank bicycling as our favorite pastime. Columbia's bicycle trails represent a unique and rich recreational asset of this great city. I strongly support Columbia bicycling tradition and have advocated PedNet as it develops our community's bicycling assets.
Sal Nuccio: Did not respond.
Sean O’Day: Yes, our nation suffers from an obesity epidemic. At the same time, we have seen the cost of health care skyrocket. It can only be beneficial to the city, and to the state and nation, to promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
Sid Sullivan: Yes! However, City Council must develop an integrated street policy in which the need for arterial and collector streets is coordinated with long-range land use and community facilities plans, and in which a policy for the development of local streets is adopted. We need to coordinate walkable and bike-able paths, trails and streets with everyday destinations such as an elementary school/neighborhood park, convenience store, branch library, etc.
Jerry Wade: Yes, I will continue to support PedNet’s vision. It is critical the bicycle community continue the effort to educate bicyclists and motorists on proper shared road behavior and etiquette for the enhancement of safety for all. The recent work of the bicycle community is most impressive.
- Do you support Columbia's current street design standards, enacted in 2004, which ensures that new streets are built to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users as well as cars?
Paul Love: No, the current standards add between 25-33% width to the road on collectors and arterials adding huge amounts to the cost, The roads are over designed for bicycle traffic and cost alot more. From a design and study perspective adding 5 extra ft of width to each of the sidewalks marked as bike trail would be cheaper. Bikes could still use the roads if desired under existing missouri law but would have an alternative. It would be easy to see how much traffic chose to use each providing guidance for further development.
Bob McDavid: Yes. As Chairman of the Board of the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees, Boone Hospital has incorporated PedNet into our 3 million dollar reconstruction of Williams Street. We anticipate Williams Street will be part of Columbiaıs ³bike boulevard² plan.
Sal Nuccio: Did not respond.
Sean O’Day: I believe it will be crucial for us to break our dependence on fossil fuels and developing our city in this manner ensures we can aid this cause. Regardless of the cause of climate change (i.e. anthropogenic or non), we can safely assume we should not be depleting our carbon savings account we have accrued over billions of years in the blink of an eye. I would suggest we focus upon using the vast energy income we are given each and every day. Having roadways that support all modes of transportation will be crucial to this effort, as a solution to this global problem will likely involve a combination of many different methods.
Sid Sullivan: Yes for local, neighborhood collector and minor arterial streets. The simple striping for bike paths on major arterials and expressways with cars travelling over 40 miles per hour is dangerous for both motorists and non-motorized vehicles without a physical barrier to divide the roadway from the pedway.
Jerry Wade: Yes. I have been very active in the complete street effort. As chairman of Planning and Zoning in 2004, I appointed and facilitated the stakeholders group that proposed the current standards. I then worked with the Council to get the complete street standards ordinance enacted.
- Would you support an enthusiastic application by the City of Columbia to compete for an extension of federal funding (the GetAbout Columbia project) to improve community health, reduce public expenditures on roads, and benefit the environment through the creation of a bicycle/pedestrian network, if a competitive grants program becomes available as proposed by members of the U.S. Congress?
Paul Love: Not unless significant changes were made in the attitude and organization of the system. The current pednet seems not to be so much pro walking and bike as to be anti-car. They have driven a wedge in our community not worked to bring it together, so much so we needed to pass a special ordinance to protect cyclist. We received 20+ million dollars in federal funds and I do not believe we received that much benefit. I would need to see that the money would be well spent before supporting additional requests for grants.
Bob McDavid: Yes. Federal funding of GetAbout will add to our communityıs rich network of recreational opportunities
Sal Nuccio: Did not respond.
Sean O’Day: Fundamentally, I am opposed to seeking federal and state funds to pay for projects within the city. This money is typically dispersed with very specific restrictions on its use which may or may not be in the city's best interest. However, I realize the changes that are necessary to prevent the city from having to seek these grants cannot be implemented overnight. Therefore I would support an application should funds be made available for such a grant.
Sid Sullivan: We first need to evaluate what we currently have in place. As much as I favor “complete streets” the lack of a street policy combined with a lack or sufficient right-of-way in the older part of our city has set the stage for an in-your-face-confrontation between motorist and non-motorized transportation. I strongly favor separating motorized from non-motorized whenever possible. Also, as indicated above, we should have a street policy in place so everyone is on the same page when we coordinate non-motorized traffic into our current streets.
Jerry Wade: Yes. Columbia has a good start on this network. Additional resources to continue building and maintain it are essential in this time of diminished city revenues. “...a bicycle/pedestrian network” illustrates the emphasis of the use of funds to date. I would like to see a greater understanding and use of future funds to support this network for the benefit of pedestrians and ease of mobility for the disabled.
- Will you lead an effort to seek an extension of the existing 1/8 cent sales tax for parks? Will you ensure that the Parks Tax is not used to decrease Parks and Recreation funding from the General Operating budget?
Paul Love: Yes. I would support the extension of the existing sales tax for parks. No I would not guarantee not to reduce funding from the general fund, in the tight budget years ahead. I've made no secret that we will have to be cutting the budget and I will take cuts in quality of life over essential services. I hope to preserve as much as I can and will support private fundraising to extend services but I will not promise what I do not believe I can deliver to obtain votes.
Bob McDavid: Yes. The 4 million dollars a year added to Parks and Recreation through dedicated sales tax revenue has added to our communityıs 3000 acres of parkland. The new economic reality brought on by the historic recession has decreased city revenues below city expenditures. Continued robust funding or our remarkable parks and recreational assets will depend on a return of city revenues. I will work to create the economic activity necessary to increase the tax base and sales tax revenue. When fundamental and basic city service needs are met, we must continue our commitment to our communityıs wonderful recreational trail and park system.
Sal Nuccio: Did not respond.
Sean O’Day: I could not in good conscious spearhead such an initiative, though I would be very supportive of it. Maintaining our parks is vital to having the kind of city I want to be a part of, but I feel there are other areas of our infrastructure (namely, public transportation) which could better use my assistance at this point. However, should the people be willing to pay such a sales tax, I would do my best to ensure money is not taken away in the shell game that typifies the budgeting process.
Sid Sullivan: As we all know, we are living in the aftermath of the Great 2008 Recession. Given this has been a jobless recovery supported by a federal $1 trillion stimulus package, I suspect the worst is yet to come. In ordinary times I would support this very modest sales tax. However, with additional job losses locally in private business and in state employment, I don’t see how anyone can make promises on this sales tax. Once we get back on the road to recovery, I firmly believe city growth by annexation must incorporate a way to pay for community facilities within a Community Facilities Policy. In addition to parks the Community Facility Policy should include schools, recreation, fire protection, library, major sewer and water, electrical generation, solid waste facilities, etc. In addition to identifying and coordinating these with relevant agencies and long-range land use and street plans, we must identify how we will finance them (including PedNet).
Jerry Wade: Yes. As Mayor I will lead the effort to seek an extension of the 1/8 cent sales tax for parks. The park tax revenue is to augment, not offset funding from the General Operating budget. We have difficult budget decisions before us. We’ve made substantial capital investment in development and expansion of parks and trails in recent years. These investments now require increased attention to and expenditures for maintenance. Achieving a satisfactory funding balance among the city departments, each with pressing needs vying for limited funds, will be a real challenge.
Third Ward City Council Candidates
- Do you support PedNet's vision of a growing network of paths, trails and multimodal streets throughout Columbia, enabling and encouraging people to use healthy, active modes of transportation for some journeys?
Gary Kespohl: Yes. PedNet has been the leader for the city in educating its citizens on the benefits and cooperativeness of both motorists and bikes using the city streets.
Karl Skala: I have long believed that function follows form, i.e. provide Pedways and Bike Paths and they will be used. I also believe that the pervasiveness of our automobile dominated culture is largely a function of the lack of community amenities that support the bike, walk and wheel concepts that the PedNet mission statement embodies. As a former Columbia Planning and Zoning Commissioner, I have worked closely with both Chip Cooper and Ian Thomas on several projects related to multimodal transportation, most notably the 2004 Street Design Standards Committee.
From PedNet’s inception in the spring of 2000, I have always marveled at the extraordinary resolve of your members to champion the cause of multimodal transportation. We are now beginning to see the tangible benefits of that resolve. Your members have also realized that resolve, although essential, is not sufficient. PedNet’s 2003 $200,000 Active Living by Design Grant and your role in attracting the $22 million of federal funding for Columbia’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Network Pilot Program are proof of your pragmatism. As a City Council Member I will pledge to fully support your continuing efforts.
- Do you support Columbia's current street design standards, enacted in 2004, which ensures that new streets are built to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users as well as cars?
Gary Kespohl: Yes. Just today I was looking at the new sidewalk on E Walnut street rom Short Street to College Ave. I saw a person in a wheelchair using the new sidewalk and to his and my surprise he came across a wooden light pool in the middle of the new sidewalk. His wheelchair would not fit between the pole and the wall or street on either side. He turned around, went back to a driveway accress and crosse the street in the middle of the street to use the sidewalk on the other side. This should not happen. I have contacted the city and made them aware of the situation.
Karl Skala: Complete Streets is an important tenet of the Smart Growth principles of walkable neighborhoods and transportation choices. I had the privilege of serving alongside Chip Cooper on the 2004 Street Design Standards Committee. It was a remarkable group that produced a remarkable document, later unanimously approved by the City Council. Its emphasis on multimodal transportation within the framework of recommended street standards (along with options, for flexibility and unique circumstances) provided the basis upon which nearly all of the stakeholders could achieve a workable compromise. My only regret is that one of the critical topics discussed, i.e., intersection design, was never included in the resulting ordinance, primarily because of the lack of local expertise. A design consultant was never retained. As a City Council Member, I will pledge to revisit the issue of intersection design.
- Would you support an enthusiastic application by the City of Columbia to compete for an extension of federal funding (the GetAbout Columbia project) to improve community health, reduce public expenditures on roads, and benefit the environment through the creation of a bicycle/pedestrian network, if a competitive grants program becomes available as proposed by members of the U.S. Congress?
Gary Kespohl: Yes. Columbia will need to keep working on the GetAbout project to finish it after the initial grant is used up. It seems to me that if federal funding is available we shpuld apply for it to finish this process.
Karl Skala: Because of the hard work and persistence of many PedNet members and volunteers, the City of Columbia was chosen as one of five pilot communities to receive federal funding in support of a multimodal bicycle/pedestrian network. These federal dollars can help provide the funds necessary to translate PedNet’s vision of its original "spoke and wheel" PedNet Masterplan into a reality. KUDOS.
Of course, to successfully compete for an extension of federal funding, we must demonstrate both our ability to provide completed bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure as well as provide the empirical data that shows the multi-modal behavioral shift. - Will you lead an effort to seek an extension of the existing 1/8 cent sales tax for parks? Will you ensure that the Parks Tax is not used to decrease Parks and Recreation funding from the General Operating budget?
Gary Kespohl: I currently am a member of the Columbia Parks and Recreation board. The parks tax is an important component to continuing to upgrade and develop our city parks system. Columbia's parks are an added value to our city which helps attract people to our community. The commission is alraedy planning a series of information meetings and civic club visits to garner support for this tax proposal.
Karl Skala: Yes, the 1/8 cent sales tax for parks is essential for maintaining the exceptional quality of life that Columbia has experienced over the years especially since there is growing pressure on the Parks and Recreation Services to limit its programs. We should continue to maintain the distinction between Parks capital projects and Parks maintenance issues to insure adequate funding for both, and without severely compromising either.
There has been a shift in public attitude toward caring for that which we already have, now that considerable Parks properties have been secured. Future policy determinations will have to focus on the extent to which Parks development will proceed.
Fourth Ward City Council Candidates
- Do you support PedNet's vision of a growing network of paths, trails and multimodal streets throughout Columbia, enabling and encouraging people to use healthy, active modes of transportation for some journeys?
Rick Buford: Yes.
Daryl Dudley: Yes. As a council member I will work with you to develop a system that is agreeable with all sides.
Tracy Greever-Rice: I absolutely support PedNet’s vision of growing a network of paths, trails and multimodal streets throughout Columbia that both enables and encourages people to use healthy, active modes of transportation. The operative term for me is ‘network’. It is the combination, or network, of types of access – paths, trails, streets, and public transportation – that is the key to creating authentic alternatives to private, single-destination automobile use as the norm for transportation in a community.
A non-motorized transportation network won’t necessarily follow existing roadways, yet must facilitate direct and efficient access to commercial, workplace, educational and recreational destinations. It’s necessary -- but not sufficient -- to have a bike and pedestrian grid that’s congruent to the auto grid. We also need to continue to encourage (e.g., by easements) and develop dedicated non-motorized paths, trails, and corridors. We’re still primarily serving a driving public when we build or improve auto streets to accommodate other forms of transportation. It is fine to serve the driving public, but let’s not shortchange non-motorized commuters by treating their needs as “extras”.
Sarah Read: I support the vision developed through Imagine Columbia's Future visioning process which includes the following.
Transportation (p 97): Columbia and central Missouri, a growing urban community, will have a modern transportation system, which allows its citizens to move about freely within the region using whatever means are desired – automobile, bus, bicycle, walking – and to do so safely, within a reasonable time frame, and without encountering needless congestion.
Parks, Recreation, and Greenways (p 92): A network of attractive and safe parks and recreational amenities are connected by trails and greenways that provide area residents with access to nature, recreation, and facilities for active play, both indoors and out.
Development (p 38): Columbia, Boone County and the surrounding region protect and preserve the natural environment, agricultural areas, and cultural resources; provide adequate infrastructure; include diverse, mixed use, walkable and bicycle friendly neighborhoods; and develop in ways that positively contribute to and sustain community culture, heritage, and character. Our community accomplishes these ends through an open, inclusive, transparent, predictable, and accountable planning process with fair allocation of costs.
- Do you support Columbia's current street design standards, enacted in 2004, which ensures that new streets are built to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users as well as cars?
Rick Buford: I would have preferred to design the pedways with an eye towards moving bicycle traffic off the street where possible to maximize safety. I would also like to have seen more discussion regarding the additional cost per foot of the new standards. However, in 2004, cost was really one of the last things to ever be considered.
Daryl Dudley: Yes, I will support any agreement and/or design that is agreed upon by all participants.
Tracy Greever-Rice: I do support the 2004 standards and strongly believe that all new development should not just conform to and support a multimodal environment, but should encourage non-motorized transportation. However, the 2004 street standards only apply to new development and growth on the fringe. They do not provide us with a solution to most of the existing built environment in Columbia. Thus, our challenge is to link these modernized streets to our existing neighborhoods, commercial districts, and thoroughfares in a way that not only allows non-motorized users to safely and efficiently traverse Columbia, but also preserves the fabric of older residential neighborhoods. Street widths, right-of-ways, and other features that are relatively easy to incorporate into new development, may be difficult (and cost-prohibitive) to apply to established neighborhoods, which is where the work of aligning the dedicated non-motorized routes (as I described in question 1) comes into play.
I’m pleased to see the link on the PedNet website to the Michael Ronkin essay. This is a great example of one of many ways that we can think about encouraging the transition from new development that complies with the 2004 street standards to older neighborhoods and commercial districts.
Sarah Read: Yes
- Would you support an enthusiastic application by the City of Columbia to compete for an extension of federal funding (the GetAbout Columbia project) to improve community health, reduce public expenditures on roads, and benefit the environment through the creation of a bicycle/pedestrian network, if a competitive grants program becomes available as proposed by members of the U.S. Congress?
Rick Buford: Here, our differences are highlighted a bit more. As I've stated several times, I, as a very libertarian minded person, object to the federal government handing out my tax dollars to fund experiments. But, as a pragmatist, until that behavior is changed, if the federal government is handing out our tax dollars, then I whole-heartedly support them sending that money to my community.
Daryl Dudley: Yes, on the condition that future monies are found to continue whatever programs are begun with the grant monies. The continuation of the projects must not cause a reduction in other services.
Tracy Greever-Rice: Absolutely. Despite persistent press and editorial coverage to the contrary, I believe the impact of the GetAbout Columbia initiative has been measurably positive in raising awareness of the need and desirability of an accessible, sustainable multimodal transportation system. Through this demonstration grant we have developed a series of models for street, parking and intersection design that facilitates safe multimodal use. We have added to our 'green print' through trail development. Most importantly, we have introduced a new norm or expectation for transportation in our community. For example, the Forum/Stadium and Providence/Stewart intersections were well chosen improvements, due to their volume and geography ("choke points" for non-motorized users). While initially the improved intersections may appear more complicated to drivers, increasing familiarity with the traffic patterns, markings and signalization changes will result in a safer, more efficient intersection for all users, including drivers. Certainly we still have work to do to normalize the culture of multimodal transportation in Columbia. I believe one example of a way to achieve this goal would be to focus on young drivers. I’d like to see a simple and inexpensive educational program introduced in our high schools and higher education institutions that would require students to learn the rules/laws regarding bike/pedestrian/auto rights and responsibilities as prerequisite to receiving a parking permit on school lots. Additionally, I believe we need to strengthen collaboration between existing initiatives related to land use planning within the City and the community to nurture and normalize a multimodal environment. For example, the GetAbout staff and the Bike and Pedestrian commission have an obvious role to play along with the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Comprehensive Long Range Planning Task Force in addressing the work of the growth management plan. Those representing multimodal planning and planners should also be included as we develop policies to ensure infill development is addressed in a way that adds value to existing neighborhoods and the community as a whole.
Sarah Read: Although, in general, I support applications for federal funds for community purposes, the degree of enthusiasm would depend on the actual plans provided for use of these funds. I would want to see monies used to procure actual infrastructure and documentable improvements in community health.
- Will you lead an effort to seek an extension of the existing 1/8 cent sales tax for parks? Will you ensure that the Parks Tax is not used to decrease Parks and Recreation funding from the General Operating budget?
Rick Buford: No. I believe that our very nice park system should be put into an "upkeep mode", maintained appropriately and kept beautiful. However, our current economic situation demands that we pay more attention to truly essential services, like staffing our fire houses and police stations. I would not desire a decline in our quality-of-life, which includes our great parks, but if the choice is between a park improvement or staffing a fire/police position, my choice will be to staff our essential services.
Daryl Dudley: I believe that should be left to the voters. If the voters decide to extend the tax then I will ensure that the money is used only for the parks.
Tracy Greever-Rice: I fully support an extension of the existing 1/8 cent sales tax for the development and expansion of parks. I agree with PedNet that it would be inappropriate to use revenue generated from the sales tax to replace existing Parks and Recreation general operating budget funding. The revenue generated from the sales tax should be used to fund development of park land donated by developers as part of the subdivision development process to ensure new neighborhoods have adequate outdoor recreational facilities and to ensure access and right-of-way for the development of connectors for trails and paths. I fear that this will be a very delicate and potentially contentious issue, framed in the context of sales tax generation versus user fees, rather than the sales tax used for its intended purpose versus supplanting general operating funds. I am willing to guide this process for the overall, long term good of promoting reasonable access to healthy and active lifestyles for all Columbians.
Sarah Read: Yes, I support the sales tax for parks. This has been a consistent position of mine since the beginning of the campaign.
Columbia Public Schools Board of Education
Two seats open for a three year term
- Do you support PedNet's vision of a growing network of paths, trails and multimodal streets throughout Columbia, enabling and encouraging people to use healthy, active modes of transportation for some journeys?
Dan Holt: Yes. I do have concerns with the retrofitting of some streets to accommodate foot and bike traffic. Some efforts that have been made thus far are not as safe and accommodating as I'd like to see for the coexistence of motor vehicles nor pedestrians. I think we can do better in both design and implementation to meet the common good.
Jan Mees: I do support PedNet’s vision of paths, trails and multimodal streets throughout Columbia. Our city is a trendsetter in this area. Our community’s efforts to explore new ways to fight childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles puts us in the forefront.
James Whitt: Yes.
- Do you support Columbia's current street design standards, enacted in 2004, which ensures that new streets are built to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users as well as cars?
Dan Holt: Yes. Being the parent of a wheel chair bound young adult I know first hand how important this is to his safety and quality of life to have ease of access. Most accommodations are very easily incorporated into new construction and makes pedestrian traffic easier on everyone.
Jan Mees: There has been much publicity, both pro and con, on these design standards. I applaud the effort to make personal transportation more user friendly and safe. I support the City Council’s efforts to meet the needs of all of Columbia’s constituencies.
James Whitt: Yes. - Do you support efforts to increase the numbers of children walking and biking to school and (if you do) what will you seek to do as a member of the Board of Education to support that effort?
Dan Holt: Yes. It has been one of the perplexing issues that school boundaries are often not conducive to the neighborhoods they serve. Too often the mode is to build large schools that will accommodate a broad area of attendance, which makes it less safe and accessible through walking to/from school. Particularly our elementary schools should be smaller and better placed within neighborhoods so that they are an integral part and within walking distance of the communities they serve. I intend to foster a change in thinking about where future buildings will be located and utilized throughout the district.
Jan Mees: I definitely support the efforts to increase the numbers of children walking and biking to school. When I was an elementary school student in rural New Jersey, I walked over a mile to school every day, both ways! In high school, when I lived in a college town similar to Columbia (Evanston, Illinois), I walked to and from school or took the city bus. As a member of the Board of Education, I would encourage our school personnel to arrange schedules for staff and teachers to participate in this program. I especially encourage the city to keep our sidewalks in a state of good repair. Students who live within a mile of their elementary school do not receive bus service and therefore walk or bike to school. Maintaining safe sidewalks and bikeways is critical for our students.
James Whitt: Yes. I think the physical activity associated with walking and biking will lead to much healthier life styles for Columbians. Other benefits include improved energy usage, lower healthcare cost and a refreshed frame of mind from ongoing physical activity. Also when you walk, you have a greater opportunity to meet your neighbors and to make new friends. As a School Board member, I will continue to support the Walking School Bus Program and will encourage CPS to work with our City, County and State Governments to accommodate all modes of safe travel in street design.
Columbia Public Schools Board of Education
One seat open for a one year term
- Do you support PedNet's vision of a growing network of paths, trails and multimodal streets throughout Columbia, enabling and encouraging people to use healthy, active modes of transportation for some journeys?
Phillip Peters: Yes.
Jonathan Sessions: Yes.
- Do you support Columbia's current street design standards, enacted in 2004, which ensures that new streets are built to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users as well as cars?
Phillip Peters: I don’t know enough about the City standards to give an informed reply.
Jonathan Sessions: Yes.
- Do you support efforts to increase the numbers of children walking and biking to school and (if you do) what will you seek to do as a member of the Board of Education to support that effort?
Phillip Peters: Yes, I strongly support the Walking School Bus. I would love to help expand it to more students.
Jonathan Sessions: Absolutely! I am very concerned about physical fitness and obesity among children and support the efforts of Pednet and others to encourage walking and biking to school. The "walking school bus" is a terrific program. I will encourage the Board to work with school staff and parent groups to foster non-motorized travel to and from school in areas where it is a viable option.
