Candidate for
Member, City Council; Town of Los Altos Hills

JIM'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE

"My vision for Los Altos Hills as we enter the new millennium is a town enriched by ethnic diversity and united in friendship and community spirit. It is a community that appreciates its open spaces and recreational pathways. It contains a minimum of fences, preserving our aura of un-crowded openness. It accommodates the larger houses wanted today without destroying the neighbor's ambience. It is a town in which differing viewpoints can be frankly and civilly discussed and amicably resolved. It is a town we are all proud to call home. I will work hard to make this vision come true."

My position on several key issues facing Los Altos Hills are given below:

1. GOVERNMENTAL INTEGRITY FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WITH CLEAR, STREAMLINED ORDINANCES & PLANS

"I want to bring high standards and integrity back to our town government. Our town government has lost its reputation for honesty and integrity. The actions of our elected and appointed officials are creating the appearance that you are better off ignoring the planning ordinances and guidelines than following them. How can we expect to enforce ordinances when there is the perception that our officials don't? Who will obey the ordinances if you can get more by ignoring them? The ordinances and guidelines are there to protect everyone. I will ensure that they will be enforced for everyone or changed for everyone."

2. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES & OPPORTUNITIES

The past decade has seen a dramatic change in Los Altos Hills. Once a town of "empty nesters", our town has recently been blessed by the addition of many young families with children. These young families reinvigorate our community and create a wonderful challenge for us to grow into the future. One way to grow as a community is to provide recreational opportunities that we can all share. I would like to see Summer Day Camp opportunities at Westwind Barn, horseback riding opportunities at Westwind, and picnic areas in Bryne Preserve to mention but a few possibilities. Great interest has been expressed by many community members in expanding our recreation programs. I will support these efforts and will work to make them happen.

3. PROPERTY RIGHTS

"I will balance the property rights of owner-builders and existing neighbors. I am a strong proponent of property rights, but the recent trend towards applying these rights principally only to the owner-builder is insensitive to existing community standards. If only builders have property rights, the rest of us do not and there is no planning protection for existing homeowners. Both sides must be heard. I have a proven track record in the community for resolving issues and developing acceptable solutions."

4. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

"I will ensure that strong fiscal management is applied in planning for all future programs. Los Altos Hills is fiscally sound due to strong and conservative financial management supported by the Finance Committee. Efforts have been made to spend our fiscal reserves without regard to impact of replenishment. Based on my tenure as Chairman of the Finance Committee for six years, I am the right person to ensure continued conservative fiscal management."

5. PLANNING FOR THE 21st CENTURY

"I will call for a citizens "blue ribbon" committee to review all town planning and zoning ordinances and make recommendations for their revision. Our town is struggling with the transition from the small country-rural community of the 1950's to the suburban-rural community of today. I will propose changes to make LAH more youth and children friendly. To that end, we need to review our recreation areas, parks and trails. We need to review traffic safety and public transportation needs. Our community vision, our community demographics, and our needs are changing, but the building codes haven't kept up. A Town wide survey will take place this Spring to sample the diverse public opinion on these issues. I will work to obtain a community consensus on the building guidelines that the Town's people need and want today."