AUDIO:
Sultan
Primary Election Candidate Debate
Wednesday,
July 18, 2007
NOTES on our recording and digital audio. Click here if you would like to receive our infrequent email updates.
This debate was organized and co-sponsored by KSER-FM 90.7 Radio and the Livable Snohomish County Coalition. It was broadcast on KSER at 4:30 PM Monday, July 23, 2007.
Moderator: Karim Medji
Audio File A - Introduction, Debate Guidelines and Introduction of Candidates (3:36 min.)
Audio File B - Candidates' Opening Statements & Rebuttals (9:36 min.)
Audio file C - Question #1: Regarding the traffic and safety issues on U. S. 2, do you think additional growth in Sultan prior to resolving the issues with U. S. 2 is a wise idea? And what role should Sultan play to help resolve the issues? (8:03 min.)
Audio File D - The City, during the County's 10-year Comprehensive Plan update, revised its initial projection of population capacity by increasing it. With all of the new forecast of growth, do you think the City of Sultan has done a good job at long-term planning and do you think the city is growing well? What would you do differently or the same? (7:57 min.)
Audio File E - As you're aware, the City has a major budget problem, a budget deficit of of between $350,000 and $450,000 in the general fund. Add to this the challenge of paying for additional services and infrastructure to support the growth we've been talking about. How would you work to solve these opposing financial pressures, what services and expenses would you cut, and what services do you feel need to be added? And how would you increase that need to support added expense? (7:52 min.)
Audio File F - What is your opinion of the Growth Management Act? Do you think it is helping or hurting Sultan? (6:58 min.)
[5-minute BREAK]
Audio File G - Protecting our critical areas is an important criteria of the GMA, and important to residents of this county. Do you think that Sultan is doing a good job of that? And if not, what would you do to help balance development with protections? (9:06 min.)
Audio File H (Question from the Public) - Will a building/residential development moratorium be good to allow Sultan to stabilize its situation? (3:27 min.)
Audio File I (Question from the Public) - In community meetings, businesses and residents were united in not having a theme to draw people. How would you overcome this to encourage locals to shop local, and people traveling through, to stop and shop? (7:26 min.)
Audio File J (Question from Public) - How would you rate the current Sultan council, and what would you have done differently? (2:09 min.)
Audio File K - Developers are often assessed mitigation fees to help cover the costs of new parks, schools and roads that are needed. Do you agree with the use of mitigation fees? Are they currently adequate? And what other methods can be employed to raise revenue? (6:15 min.)
Audio File L - Should the City of Sultan continue to be a bedroom community, or is it possible to transform Sultan into a city that provides living wage jobs? What is your long-term vision for the City of Sultan? (7:36 min.)
Audio File M (Question from Public) - Are there any ways to revenue-share with Monroe, especially Big Box stores in Monroe? (1:53 min.)
Audio File N - CLOSING REMARKS & Close of Debate (4:15 min)
NOTES ON OUR DIGITAL RECORDING AND FILES:
- This audio is accurate and complete. However, we urge that people contact the City directly to obtain the final agenda, and certified minutes, ordinances, resolutions or other documents: City Clerk Laura Koenig 360-793-2231. If you receive the automated message, you can bypass it and go directly to her voicemail by pressing "2" and then the pound (#) sign.
- As of the October 26, 2006 council meeting, the city began recording meetings using a Morantz MP3 digital recorder, which has records directly from the microphones to the recorder, thus, clearly than the audio we present here, with is captured from "room" sound from a microphone located near the podium. If you wish to secure a copy of the City's audio, contact Clerk Koenig.
- All of our digital audio files are in MP3 format, playable on Windows Mediaplayer or other MP3-compatible digital device