[The following was sent out to all six candidates for City Council on 8/18/06]:

Roseville Citizens League

Questionnaire for 2006 Roseville Council & Mayoral Candidates
(8/18/06)

The Roseville Citizens League has developed this questionnaire to allow all six candidates for City Council the opportunity to make their positions on a variety of subjects known to the community.  Questions were solicited from our general membership.  Please forward your answers via e-mail to Dick Lambert at dicklambert@rosevillecl.org by 11:59 PM, Saturday, September 2, 2006.  Your answers will be posted on the RCL website (www.rosevillecl.org) under the 2006 elections link. 

The request for an electronic reply via e-mail is to minimize chances of misquoting and to expedite putting the answers on the website.

Replies not sent electronically can be mailed to Dick Lambert at 800 Brenner Avenue, Roseville, MN 55113-1904 (651-483-9871).  Non-electronic replies will be scanned again to minimize chances of misquoting and to expedite putting the answers on the website.  Anyone going to our website then would simply see a picture of the actual document received.

1.   List what you would attempt to accomplish if elected.  Be explicit, for example, don’t say, “improve neighborhoods,” tell us exactly how you would do so.

2.  If elected, how can we expect you to behave towards a fellow council member who disagrees with you on something you feel very passionate about?

3.  In view of the recent court ruling regarding Twin Lakes, there seem to be a variety of options (amend the comprehensive plan to line up with the development scheme, change the development scheme to comply with the current comprehensive plan, do the environmental work before doing anything more on the project, appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, scrap the whole thing and start over, or …..).  ?  If elected, what would you do?

4.  Do you support the Roseville Planning Commissions process for up dating the City's Comprehensive Plan?

5.  Which sites in Roseville are you aware of that would benefit from re-development?

6.  Roseville has a significant number a vacant retail stores. Is this an indication of a saturated retail market? How should the city respond?

7.  Should Roseville require new commercial and industrial construction to use environmentally responsible construction techniques; such as pervious pavement, green roofs, solar power, energy conservation, storm water controls, etc.?

8.  What is your position on global warming and if you think it is a problem what ideas do you have relative to any solutions that could be considered on a city level?

9.  What would you do to reduce redundancy in government?  How would you produce money saving cooperation among layers of government?

10.  In light of the 17% average increase in Roseville homeowner property tax this year, would you reduce, freeze, or increase homeowner property taxes next year?

11.  How much should Roseville subsidize the operating budget for the John Rose Guidant Oval?

12.  Are the current reserve funds for Roseville too large, too small, or just right?

13.  Are you in favor of building a new community center?  If so, describe the process you would insist upon to determine first, whether the majority of the community agrees, second, what the majority wants in it, and third, how much the community is willing to pay.

14.  What do you think of having Public Comment at the beginning of the Council meeting only?

15.  How would you describe the role of the city council compared to that of the city manager?

16.  Our council meetings typically run three, or more, hours in length.  Given that most council members have full time jobs do you feel this is reasonable?  If not, what would you propose to do about it?

17.  Do you believe the Council should follow a standard procedure to select and appoint people to the various advisory commissions?  If so, describe the procedure you would recommend.

18.  If elected, would you encourage the expansion of Highway 36 between 35W and 35E and, if so what would you do?

19.  What would you do to prevent deterioration of Roseville’s housing stock (including multi-family) and how soon after election would you attempt to initiate action?

20.  Considering new scientific evidence linking pesticide exposure with human diseases, should Roseville license commercial lawn chemical applicators in the same manner it currently licenses lawn fertilizer applicators?  Should the license requirements include the notification of adjacent property owners and effective signage when lawns are treated?