City Council Interview -- Prepared Statement

By Nancy F. McEnroe

The first is the future of the Civic Center Area. How will the City interact with the School District and other residents of the Civic Center to plan and create a good future for the Civic Center Area? As a member of the Civic Center Advisory Committee, and as a resident of the outer Civic Center area, I believe I have special experience I can bring to bear on this subject. In addition, I have been a member of the Havens Parents Club board responsible for garden and grounds. I have delved into a number of issues, over the past year and a half, involving the schools grounds and the difficulty in trying to balance the need for additional staffing with the realities of an educational institution's budget. I have tried to negotiate with District officials as well as parents who do not want their donations spent on non-educational items. I am also a realist who picks up the discarded Icee cup and pulls weeds.

Second, what will be the effect of the slowing regional economy on the City's budget--and its ability to continue to provide those services that Piedmonters have come to expect? This City almost certainly has some tough choices ahead of it. I have experience in budgeting in the private sector. And from my work on the City Tax and Sewer Committee and the CIP Committee, I also have a basic understanding of the "nuts and bolts" operations of this City. My experience with the CIP committee as taught me that some items in the City's budget are desirable but discretionary. Such items may need to be put off for a few years to allow the public safety items to remain fully funded. The CIP committee, Civic Center and life in general has taught me that is important to listen, and listen well, to what other people have to say.

Third, what will we need to do to retain the small town feel and beauty of Piedmont? We are by many measures quite literally a small town. But we are in a large, urban area, and we face some big city issues like traffic and parking problems. Retaining the small town feel and beauty of Piedmont is a priority for me.

The Fourth of July parade is a community building wonder to behold. Susan Hill and Bill Drum and many others have done a wonderful job building the new Community tradition of the Harvest Festival. The elementary schools have joined the City in sponsoring the Festival with a school fund-raising Carnival. These traditions bring a wonderful sense of small town togetherness for all citizens. I would strongly encourage the continuation of these types of activities.

I don't pretend to have all the answers. I expect that, at times, there will be people who will disagree with me. But I have a great deal of respect for the intelligence of the people of this City. And I believe that people who have differing views will best accept a decision if they feel it was arrived at fairly. The Council has a great tradition of letting people have their say on any given issue. I plan to continue that tradition.

And while I certainly don't have all the answers, I believe that I have experience as a consensus builder. I try to listen to differing viewpoints and apply my experience and my common sense to the problem at hand. I have worked with a number of city committees and worked with a number of people with vastly different viewpoints. If I am selected for this position, I can promise that I will continue to listen carefully and with an open mind.