Black Diamond City Council debate | Brian Weber and Craig Goodwin

Editor’s note:

Black Diamond City Council Position 4 candidates, incumbent Craig Goodwin and challenger Brian Weber, answered three questions this week prepared by The Reporter editorial staff.

The candidates for Position 5, Ron Taylor and Pat Pepper, did not respond by the deadline.

Ballots for the general election must be postmarked by Nov. 3.

Question 1

What is the No. 1 problem facing the residents of Black Diamond over the next four to 10 years? What is your proposed solution? What will your solution cost the public and how or where will the funds be found?

Brian Weber

YarrowBay’s proposed development will unfortunately dominate the city’s agenda for years to come.

Every public service and the environment will be negatively affected. The tax impact on existing residents and businesses will be extreme.

The best available option is for the public and the city to have a steadfast determination to apply every legal authority and policy to control and manage this development. There are literally hundreds of permits and decisions yet to be made, so YarrowBay’s development is far from a “done deal”.

Claims that this development will enhance the city’s budget are shortsighted and uninformed by trends in municipal finance. Spending may increase, but so will debt and taxes. Any investment in services will be more than swallowed up by increases in demand from new residents.

A better approach would be reasonable, balanced, incremental growth that is compatible with our neighborhoods, existing businesses and infrastructure.

Craig Goodwin

Providing necessary traffic mitigation while maintaining our city’s fiscal health represents our No. 1 challenge. Solutions:

1. Establish a city traffic committee, including members of the public, to review and recommend priority traffic mitigation measures (underway).

2. Insure that traffic mitigation measures required in the MPD (master planned development) development agreements are implemented as required.

3. Enact a city traffic concurrency ordinance and traffic impact fees to ensure that new development proceeds consistent with implementation of required mitigation measures (now before City Council).

4. Enact formation of a city transportation benefit district (done). This will add $20 to car tab fees for city residents beginning mid-2016 and provide needed funding for maintenance of city streets.

5. Budget and manage costs and staffing conservatively, assuming that no new development occurs until it actually happens. As a result, we expect a 2015 budget surplus in excess of $250,000 and adequate if not growing reserves over the next 5 years without new development or new taxes.

6. Bank and set aside all one-time revenues that might accrue from new development such as sales taxes from construction. Utilize these reserves to fund priority traffic improvements and meet grant matching requirements.

7. Team with Covington, Maple Valley and Enumclaw to seek state funding for priority traffic improvements throughout the region with special focus on state Route 169 (underway).

8. Continue seeking grants for traffic improvements within the city. This year, our city has been successful in obtaining grants totaling $1.4 million for improvements to Roberts Drive.

9. Continue to seek better long-term traffic alternatives and solutions as we update our city’s comprehensive plan (underway).

10. Recruit and encourage new businesses – essential to our city’s long-term fiscal health.

Question 2

Why are you the better candidate for Black Diamond City Council over your opponent? Describe what experience or expertise makes you the best candidate.

Craig Goodwin

Longtime residents of Black Diamond, Judy and I moved to Lake Sawyer in 1981 and fell in love with our community’s natural beauty, rich history and wonderful people. Our challenges today are big – how to maintain our city’s essential character in the face of YarrowBay’s MPDs and continued regional growth. Seeking to make a difference, I was elected to the City Council in 2010 – 2013 and following our son’s successful fight with cancer, was reappointed to the council earlier this year. My record of community involvement and environmental activism is extensive, including the Middle Green River Coalition, Regional Water Quality Committee, Sound Cities Association and Puget Sound Partnership.

Why me?

1. As a former vice president with Weyerhaeuser Company and co-founder of two startup companies, I understand what it takes to be successful in business and solve problems that are large and complex.

2. Having served on the City Council during the MPD “war years” of 2010 – 2011, I understand the MPD’s perhaps as well as anyone.

3. My experience in working with city finances is extensive, including being the architect of our city’s current five year budgeting process.

4. My experience in the water and wastewater business makes me uniquely qualified to address water quality issues.

5. My track record of opening up city government to broadened public involvement and participation is extensive – first with personally sponsored open public forums and then town hall meetings.

6. I have an established track record of open communication with all segments of our community.

7. I have sponsored and council passed significant legislation designed to better manage growth within our city.

8. I provide the experience, skills and knowledge our city desperately needs in these uncertain times.

9. Openness and transparency – read my blog at www.blackdiamondnow.net

Brian Weber

My opponent voted in favor of YarrowBay’s massive development when he was on the council five years ago. He continues to defend that vote and supports the MPD. I actively opposed that proposal years ago, and I do not accept excuses for inaction today. My experience on the Planning Commission, in the private sector and in our armed forces will serve the citizens of Black Diamond well. My wife and I are active in our local schools, scouting and other activities. We are raising three sons in town and are dedicated to a better future for all families.

Question 3

Describe your ideas, plans and/or proposals concerning how the City Council and city will need to deal with the two YarrowBay master planned developments, The Villages and Lawson Hills. Is there a concern of the city facing litigation regarding the development and City Council action?

Brian Weber

The public is demanding that their City Hall not cave in to YarrowBay’s legal threats. The risk to the public in every respect is far greater than any risk of litigation that City Hall may take to defend the public interest. When compared to the huge increase in taxes that the public faces, legal costs to stand up to YarrowBay are minor. When compared to the likely traffic jams and crowded schools that will be caused by this development, the attention and courage needed to properly apply the law and policies is well justified.

City Hall has effectively transferred millions of dollars in costs and fees to the public and ratepayers instead of following through and enforcing the development agreement. For example, the failure to enact a government facilities charge as authorized in the development agreement represents a $20-36 million dollar windfall for YarrowBay Corporation and a commensurate increase in future taxes for residents.

There are many examples of lost opportunities, variances and concessions that have undermined our ability to hold Yarrow Bay accountable for their massive negative impacts. I am committed to changing the trajectory of that pattern.

City Hall needs new energy and a steadfast commitment to defending our quality of life.

Craig Goodwin

In our city’s strong mayor form of government, the City Council establishes policy and the mayor implements that policy. Accordingly, Mayor (Carol) Benson has responsibility for managing staff and consultants related to the MPD’s and the process for reviewing and issuing permits. Several issues such as traffic mitigation often require action on the part of both the city and developer – the developer to meet development agreement conditions and the city to fund a part of the total mitigation needed outside the scope of the MPD’s. In this, prioritization and funding are the responsibility of the council. It is always best when the mayor and council can act as a team and we do today. That is why the mayor and the four members of council up for re-election all endorse each other. We have a city that is now working following the unfortunate tenure of the former mayor.

Regarding litigation, cities are always at some risk. Successful businesses and cities are neither afraid of litigation nor do they seek it out. Recent city action to assume water service rights to a disputed 98 acre area is a good example – standing firm against legal action by the Covington Water District while being willing to talk. I believe our city action will bear fruit.

On the other hand, we have an outside consultant advising a group of local citizens to adopt a “death by a thousand cuts” strategy in opposition to the MPD’s. Such strategy would “invite” legal action by YarrowBay through purposeful delay of permits, staff turnover or other city action/inaction. Not only would this be unethical, illegal and irresponsible, it would be just plain stupid and potentially bankrupt the city.