Sierra Club & League of Conservation Voters (LCV)
City Council Candidate Questionnaire
Due by August 21 to [email address redacted]

Candidate Information

Name:
Office being sought:
Campaign manager &
Office Address:
FPPC ID:
Phone:
Website:

Please send a JPEG photo of yourself to [email address redacted].  Please do not embed the photo into the email as our layout person can not copy it with the resolution needed for publication.

In answering these questions, please remember that most of our endorsement decision is based upon your environmental accomplishments.

Please provide explanations with your answer and please include the original question with your response.    Your response must be returned in the text of an e-mail, and as an attached file.  The file must include your name in it.

Palo Alto Specific Questions
A. Given the attached map's description of potential future impacts to Palo Alto, and given the growing political awareness of sea-level-rise as an issue needing attention, what do you believe Palo Alto should be doing now in anticipation of this inevitability? 

B. Assuming that the Measure D results reasonably reflected Palo Alto public opinion at that time, do you think recent policy changes by the City Council are a sufficient response?  If not, please tell us what further steps you believe the Council and Staff should take?

C. What role, if any, do you believe the City of Palo Alto should take to preserve the 126 affordable housing units in Buena Vista mobile home park?

General Questions
1.     We consider your past record as the best indicator of your future action for the environment. What have you done to protect natural resources and the environment?

2.     What do you regard as the major environmental and conservation issues facing Palo Alto and the Bay Area as a whole? 

3.     What are the principal areas of the environment that you will work on if elected?  How will you deal with them?

4.     Are you a Sierra Club member? Membership is not required for endorsement.

Climate Change
5.     What else should Palo Alto do to reduce greenhouse gas generation? 

6.     What do you do as an individual to reduce your GHG generation?

Green Building
7.     What more can be done to ensure that all new construction and remodeling incorporate green building principles?

8.     What types of projects would you support to provide people with an alternative to the private auto?

9.     Where would you include affordable housing?

Open Space & Urban Recreation – Access to Nature
10.  How will you ensure that residents in Palo Alto will have access to safe and enjoyable parks and open space? 

Water Conservation & Recycling, Rivers & Creeks
11.  California will continue to face increasing droughts, what is the most important water-related issue for Palo Alto and what policies or actions would you advocate for your city to address this issue?

12.  What is your position on stream setback requirements for development? Do you believe current requirements are too strict, too lax, or just right?

Wildlife
13.  What would you do to help preserve wildlife habitat, wildlife corridors, and in the face of pressures from the growing human population?

14.  Would you support the development of a bird safe buildings ordinance?

Zero Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility
15.  Where do the yard-waste and food-waste collected in Palo Alto go, and how effective is this program in Palo Alto?

16.   Many waste management companies use organics as daily cover at landfills. This causes methane release.  Will you support a statewide ban of organics from landfills and from any form of high temperature energy generation facilities like gasification or incineration of mixed waste? 

17.  Will you push Palo Alto and Santa Clara County to adopt an ordinance requiring drug manufacturers to pay for programs to collect unused and expired medications similar to the one recently adopted by Alameda County?

Campaign Reform
18.  Will you support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United?

Campaign Readiness –
Tell us about your campaign readiness, including funding, volunteers, and organization.  Please bring examples of your prior and current campaign literature. 

    1. Please list your endorsements.  If they are on your website – please just insert your URL.
    2. Please include below an exact copy of your ballot statement as submitted at filing.