Age:?63

Incumbent, Ward 3

Appointed to city council May 2011

Occupation: Finance manager, Keystone RV Co., Pendleton, since 2005.

Education:?Associates degree, accounting, University of Chicago

 

As part of its 2012 municipal election coverage, the East Oregonian put five questions to candidates for Pendleton City Council. First to respond is Councilman Tom Young, who is running unopposed for a second term.

 

Q. Name one change or improvement to Pendleton you would implement given the power to do so.

A. This is a very whimsical question, as you indicated I would have the power to implement but you did not indicate whether I would have an open checkbook to do the implementation. Also, my assumption of power would mean I would not have to answer to any other government entities, such as the Army Corp of Engineers. Assuming I had both, I would develop the River Front with parks, winding sidewalks, barbecue grills, picnic tables, art work and wooden decks out to the river edge to accommodate events such as music and food courts. It could become a destination place for visitors and would enhance the quality of life for the residents of northeast Oregon. I would also expand the Urban Growth Boundary to allow more affordable housing. It is difficult to do housing in-fill when you are confined to the bowl. The housing would be needed for all the families that would want to come here for new jobs and for the quality of life exemplified by the new River Front parks and relaxation areas.

 

Q. What would you have done differently, or what measure would you suggest if elected, to encourage economic development in the city of Pendleton?

A. I feel we will always be hampered for growth at the airport industrial park until we get complete infrastructure of water, sewer, gas, electricity and Internet connectivity to the building sites. What I do not know is how to pay for it before we have new businesses committed to building there. It is the old question: What comes first, the chicken or the egg? The good news is we have phase one completed, the new road. I would focus on attracting new business that can enhance and support our current industry base, such as support for agriculture or the recreational vehicle industry. For example, Lippert Components and Kinro have located here to conveniently feed Keystones production facilities. I would tend to focus on larger employers because they will create more jobs quickly that will in turn feed the downtown and area merchant expansion because of increased demands for goods and services.

 

Q. The municipal airport is proving a drain on city funds. What is your vision for improving the airport over the next five years?

A. This problem requires a tremendous amount of vision. The city was deeded the land around the airport by the federal government with a few strings attached. The first string is they gave us the land but no funding to maintain it. Secondly, they gave us the land BUT dictated that we may not sell any of it. Thirdly, they have some restrictions as to how close certain uses may be to the airport itself, such as housing. One example of this challenge is we have land available with utility infrastructure, but we have no ability to sell the land to prospective businesses. Who wants to finance a large industrial complex when you have no title to the land? If we mothballed the airport to stop the bleeding I feel we would NEVER be able to bring it back to its intended use when the growth and business climate was more conducive to its self-support. In the meantime we need to maintain the facility, clean up the blight and look for creative ways to generate revenue.

 

Q. The city manager reports that limits on property tax revenue do not keep pace with city expenses. He asked for a year of spending reserves to allow him to make proposals that will save the city money. Would you agree? Can you identify spending categories where the city can save money?

A. I concur with the challenges the city manager outlined and I also agree with his stance to take a year to work with his staff to develop a comprehensive budget for the following fiscal year. It is extremely unreasonable to expect a new manager with only four months on the job to develop ways to save the city money and solve the financial challenges for a city with the complexities we have. I am sure the city manager will put some of these things in place prior to next years budget as he develops them. In addition to that I am sure he understands that next years budget will not be eating into reserves but may be generating reserves. The city can save money by doing more electronically to save on paper costs, postage, supplies, printing and handling. This could be expanded to billings, reports, council packets and many other areas that involve forms and printed copies. In the future we will have to look at all services the city provides and determine the necessity and the depth of services we provide. We must also look at new sources of revenue in order to maintain or expand current services.

 

Q. What is your position on improvements to Main Street? What elements of the downtown improvement plan do you favor? How would you encourage businesses to open or locate downtown? Is the Rivoli Theater purchase by a nonprofit, with city assistance, a help or hindrance to your ideas?

A. It does not matter what my position is on Main Street improvements. The Downtown Plan was adopted by the city council in December 2011, so it is the plan. The elements of the plan that I am in favor of are parking lot improvements and shading, scenic overlooks on the river, expanded river access, festival plaza with shading, vendor infrastructure and the gateways. Our downtown in its current state is outstanding compared to many other towns and cities. The best way to encourage businesses to locate downtown is to provide adequate parking and to provide jobs in the greater Pendleton area. Jobs mean customers and customers mean business expansion. We have something unique to Pendleton that many other towns in America do not have. Due to our isolation from major shopping areas we have an opportunity to market almost anything in Pendleton in a very competitive manner, as the cost of traveling to higher density shopping arenas is cost-prohibitive. I perceive Pendleton downtown will evolve to a destination shopping place as many other communities have experienced. The downtown area is ripe for eateries, unique boutique shops and entertainment venues. I feel the Rivoli Theatre purchase and renovation fits well with the downtown becoming a destination place. The city has helped get that started but has contributed all that we are able to contribute. The rest will be up to the nonprofit organization.