Archive for the ‘Accomplishments’ Category

  1. Leadership that creates results.

 

I am your 60 hour a week Mayor with over 11,000 hours serving Lompoc. I am only a cell phone call away for every resident and business that needs help. I have lead the council and staff in changing theatmosphere of the City to providing outstanding customer service and becoming the most business friendly city in Santa Barbara County. Workshops at the beginning of each council term provide council members a place to bring in resident’s ideas to improve Lompoc. Thanks to everyone who brought their ideas to me.

 

  1. Economic Development that creates jobs.

 

Each day 6,000 workers leave Lompoc. Workers who commute lose valuable time with their families and time to be part of our community. Many commuters often shop where they work depriving the city of sales tax revenue for essential services. I have worked continuously to facilitate the creation of new local businesses and the expansion of existing local businesses. The results are over 1,100 new jobs. I am particularly proud that my direct assistance helped Grocery Outlet, DenMat and Chrysler Corporation open in Lompoc. The result of new local jobs and stores shows 12 consecutive quarters of sales tax increases since the second the quarter of 2011. The City Of Lompoc sales tax revenues now exceed the previous best year in 2007. Increased sales tax revenue has provided substantial funds for City services such as Police, Fire and Parks and Recreation.

 

  1. Budget changes that reduce costs.

 

In each of the two year budget cycles I have made specific recommendations that have resulted in substantial savings. These savings have allowed us to maintain our Police and Fire services during the economic downturn.

 

  1. Government that includes citizens.

 

The 10 day council advance agenda I proposed now allows residents time to review and intelligently comment on items before and at the council meeting. II have never had a ‘small group of advisors’. Instead I have reached out to knowledgeable individuals in the community on each subject including many of you.

 

  1. Accountability for council and staff.

 

First, as the City Council Chairman, I extended Oral Communications to 5 minutes so that all residents could provide their detailed input. Second, I opposed and continue to oppose putting items residents need to know about and understand on the Consent Calendar. Third, I frequently challenge Staff to take customer service to the next level.

 

       6. Adequate Police and Fire Services.

 

The City has been successful in receiving grants that have returned our police to full staffing. Fire grants have added an additional 6 fire fighters. The $65,000 raised by the Fire Foundation allowed the City to add Rescue 1, a multi-purpose quick response unit. Now the City will have THREE response units on duty. This has reduced response time and is saving lives in Lompoc now and for the future.

 

Future financial challenges.

 

Review of the 2015/2017 budget cycle in early 2012 made it very clear that the City would have a 4 to 5 million dollar shortfall. I knew the City needed to have a plan. The causes of the anticipated budget deficits are the rapidly escalating pension costs from the state fund, the council’s decision to end furloughs using one time reserves funds, and the expiration of the police and fire staff funding grants. Today the shortfall is estimated at 4.2 million dollars.

 

The long range plan I formulated in 2012 to increase city revenues includes:

 

  1. Increasing sales tax by adding stores and creating jobs in Lompoc so workers shop in Lompoc. To date we have added 7 large retailers along with many smaller ones.
  2. Establishing a Hotel Improvement District that is now taxing room stays. The revenues generated are then used for advertising and promotion of Lompoc. The goal is to provide additional bed tax and sales tax revenues. The District was formed and already has collected over $110,000 to promote Tourism in Lompoc.
  3. Assist local Vintners with the establishment of an upscale hotel in the Wine Ghetto. Council Member Holmdahl and I have worked with the Ayers Hotels for almost a year. I recently provided ideas to City Staff that solved the last two remaining issues which will allow the hotel to proceed.
  4. The establishment of a Four Star Hotel in Lompoc so that upscale customers who visit Lompoc and work in our area will stay in Lompoc rather than in Santa Maria or Buellton. Plans for this hotel are now proceeding.
  5. It became clear in early 2012 that available vacant industrial buildings were becoming very scarce. I then began a two year effort to assist the owners of the forty acre parcel at Central and V Street to re-start their project. They had tried to start the project in 2005 but stopped as a result of City actions. The owners of the industrial project have now submitted their plans for City approval which include about 800,000 square feet of buildings that will accommodate 500 to 2,000 jobs.
  6. The Economic Development Committee identified the need for a gathering place, such as a brew pub for locals and attendees at the Hancock College Public Safety Training Center. Working on a referral from the Mayor of Solvang I assisted a new restaurant-brewery in coming to the forever vacant Beattie Ford buildings at Chestnut and H. Street.
  7. Joe Lazaer and I envisioned and founded the Lompoc Valley Parks Recreation and Pool Foundation in 2008. Since inception the Foundation has completed the dog park, operates a radio controlled car track, is near completion on the River Bend BMX bicycle park and plans are now ready for submission and environmental review on the Motor Sports Park at the Lompoc Airport. Design work is also nearly complete for the Fallen Warriors Committee memorial to all those that have served and died in the United States Armed Forces. The facilities created by the Foundation will increase tourism dramatically.
  8. Other projects are in the works including over 44 acres of new industrial space in the Bailey Corridor project. This industrial space will ultimately provide over 2 million square feet of buildings to provide more jobs and bring more of our 6000 commuting workers home.