What would be the first three things I would do if elected :

1. Immediately begin discussions with the City Council, City Manager, and Redevelopment Director on the ways to implement a specific program for economic development within the city.  This would entail hiring a new economic development director, re-evaluating land use to maximize retail sales tax dollars, and targeting specific users that we want in our community.  This would also entail working closely with existing developers of the Mall and other projects to assure that we get the tenants that we want in the city.

2.  The second thing I would do is to discuss with the Council and City Manager ways to annex the donut hole or portions of it.  This will take a careful calculated step by step process.  We could potentially gain 3 to 5 million dollars per year in the next few years from this annexation.  I have already talked to owners within the donut hole and some are receptive to the idea of becoming part of city now rather than later.

3.  The third thing that I would do is to have each Commission in the City conduct extensive workshops with each department on ways to save money within their departments.  This would include analyzing the results of the studies being done on police and fire.  The City Manager has already asked each department for cost savings suggestions and the list included dozens of potential solutions.  We need to begin working on these right away.  We don't use our commissions to the degree I believe we should.  I also believe we should create a reward program for employees who come up with the most achievable ways to save money while providing high levels of service.

There are actually other important things that I would work on that include:

Establishing a five year, year by year infrastructure plan for the city.

Working with DRBA to create a real marketing program for local merchants

Have Redlands join the Enterprise Zone which currently provides tax savings for new industries in Loma Linda and San Bernardino.

Investigate Public Facilities Districts or Benefit Assessment Districts for the maintenance and improvement of streets and the maintenance and replacement of street trees in our city owned right of ways.

Have the city begin a very focused grant writing program for major projects such as street improvements, public facilities (such as garages for downtown and police and fire stations).  Other cities in the Inland Empire have received these grants and we should too.

Work closely with the groups within the city that are promoting for and planning the Orange Blossom Trail, the Santa Ana River Trail, and the other citywide trails and open space acquisition programs.

Help to create a one stop permit program for Redlands.  Create an online small permit application process, and let counter staff approve minor permit applications to minimize the time it takes to get things done in Redlands.

Continue to work with youth groups in the community to have them aware of their opportunities and responsibilities to assure that they become leaders who will keep Redlands special and unique, and that they understand the meaning of family and community and how unique Redlands is in supporting those values.