Looking Ahead PRIORITIES FOR NEW CITY COUNCILMEMBER ARE VARIED
BY JEFF HARRIS CITY COUNCILMEMBER
O
ne thing I’ve learned is that running a political campaign is not for the faint of heart! It takes a lot of hard work and strategy, and a great investment of time and resources. All of the candidates who sought the District 3 council seat have my deep respect and I wish them all well in the future. In the end, my campaign involved a significant number of volunteers and supporters. It was a true grass-roots campaign: underfunded but loaded with great talent. I’m grateful that voters responded positively to our message. I have sincere gratitude for all those who brought me to success. In the end, I walked about 1,200 miles to meet the constituents. Imagine taking a stroll to Salt Lake City! I met many thoughtful and engaged people in my campaign effort. From East Sac to Northgate, South Natomas to River Park, I was able to discover the concerns of the residents about their neighborhoods and about Sacramento as a whole. As a result, I have developed a portfolio of projects that I believe will move our district and city forward. Some I have inherited from our former councilman Steve Cohn, and many I will undertake with a fresh start. I am grateful I will have the benefit of being able to call on Steve and, his former distinct director, Sue Brown for advice when I need it. I was sworn in on Dec. 9. Here are a few of the things I’m already engaged with:
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POPS IN THE PARK The concert series will continue in 2015. We are already working to line up the bands. This is a great tradition, and I look forward to keeping it alive.
HOMELESSNESS This is a great concern of mine, and I believe that we can make great strides in helping those on the streets to build better lives through rapid rehousing with supportive services, job training, counseling and placement. Sacramento Steps Forward will work to coordinate all of the available resources, and we have a new city staff person to help focus our efforts. I plan to put a lot of energy into working to end homelessness.
ZONING We are looking to clarify zoning code and design review so that setback standards, building massing and neighborhood character are clearly addressed. I am looking into getting a new fire station built in Natomas, encouraging a propertybased business improvement district on Northgate Boulevard and working with the Sacramento police department on crime issues.
PARKS Parks are my passion and so, of course, I continue to be deeply involved with seeking funds to maintain and repair our parks and to nurture our urban forest. I will continue to lead Adopt-a-Park groups where the residents are seeking help.
BUILDING PROJECTS There are current and pending building projects that need my attention. I will continue to seek a way to build an access point to McKinley Village at Alhambra Boulevard. This will be a long-range project, but I believe it could alleviate potential traffic and safety issues. Sutter Park (at the Sutter Memorial hospital site) is due to start midyear.
As the building moratorium is lifted in Natomas, we will begin to see economic activity once again north of the American River. Houses will be repaired and remodeled after a sixyear hiatus. The repurposing of Sleep Train Arena continues to be a concern and a necessary focal point, as is the need for medical facilities in Natomas. Many possibilities will open up once the moratorium is behind us. Then there are the bigger projects including the railyard development (where we hope to build a Major League Soccer stadium and land UC Davis as an anchor tenant) and the River District, which is making great strides with Township Nine and the future Powerhouse Science Center. Sacramento is at the beginning of a growth period, and I find it exciting to be on the city council at this point in time. My biggest concern, however, is maintaining the quality of life for all of our residents. This means getting our infrastructure in order, getting public safety where it needs to be and keeping our parks and recreation programs funded. Our basic qualityof-life necessities must come first. The city must also take steps to aid small business and attract larger employers as well. And our budget must remain sound. We do face challenges ahead in this regard, and this will take good management and a sharp pencil to negotiate. Then, of course, there are the council meetings. My second meeting had 930 pages of staff reports to read. I read them all. The learning curve is steep, but understanding the background material is essential.