At a Crossroads?

I want to earn your vote! You and I have the great pleasure to live in Healdsburg where, for over 150 years, people have built a great community, come to each other’s aid when required, and looked forward to an ongoing future of growth and prosperity. I believe we are now at a crossroads. One where your future city leaders will decide whether we can afford to do all the great things we want to do.
As a 15-year resident and  owner of a small business based in Healdsburg, I see where the future can be. And it is a fantastic picture. One where we continue to have our small-town feel, but also appeal to the sophisticated visitor upon whom we depend for much of our jobs and growth.
This future vision will NOT happen unless we show leadership and get our City house in order. We are facing a $26 million unfunded pension liability, as detailed by a recent Stanford University study. In addition, we have a current $800,000 deficit in the City’s budget.
Many members on the current City Council have been congratulating themselves on recent changes enacted to lower the costs of pension benefits to the City. The reality is only two small changes have been made to try and control these costs. The first is to require City workers to contribute the EMPLOYEE required portion of their pension benefits. That’s right, employees have NOT been paying the portion they should have been required to pay–You the taxpayer have! The other change is the so-called “second-tier” benefit formula for new employees. Under this plan only new employees will earn benefits at a lower level in the future.
My 20 years of experience as a former Partner at an international pension & benefits consulting firm makes me the best qualified candidate to address and solve this issue. Neither of the changes enacted by the current Council will resolve the pension deficit. The impact is very minor and still leaves us in a negative funding position for the next 15 to 20 years!
We CAN move our great City forward by attracting and retaining clean and appropriate businesses. As the only candidate to own and run a business in the City, I understand the unnecessary regulations, zoning, and building restrictions and permitting red tape we put businesses through. I will work to reduce the burden while still maintaining public health and safety. I also believe the proposed sales tax increase (Measure V) put on the ballot by the current City Council will drive business away, especially for the single biggest generator of sales tax for the City —our three automobile dealerships. I am encouraged that the Press Democrat came out last Sunday to agree with me opposing this new tax.
The loss of Redevelopment monies to the State means we may not be able to rebuild the Memorial Bridge, construct affordable housing, or build out the Central Healdsburg Avenue area. Again I am the only candidate that has challenged the Council to stop wasting the taxpayers time and money pursuing what is basically a lost cause. I will work diligently to seek Federal funds and grants, as well as create public/private partnerships to get these things done.
I will work hard to bring transportation issues to the Council’s agenda. To effectively live and work in Healdsburg, we must address transportation for our residents, especially those who don’t have or can’t afford a car. Whether or not you support the SMART Train, we are being taxed for this service that will NOT go beyond Santa Rosa. I will move this up on the City agenda to find funding (Federal/State) to bring this valuable resource to our community. This will become even more critical with the loss of Redevelopment monies to refurbish the Memorial Bridge and our current lack of a bicycle-friendly environment.
My wife, Anne, and I are long-term residents and business owners in Healdsburg. Our children graduated from St. John elementary school. I hold a graduate business degree in Finance and Transportation Administration from Northwestern University. Give me your support and you’ll get a voice of determined leadership and fiscal responsibility.
Tim Meinken is a Healdsburg resident and is running for a seat on the Healdsburg City Council. Election Day is Tuesday,    Nov. 6.