Let’s ask the right questions

During the next year or so, the City of Healdsburg will make important decisions about our future as a community. We see this period as an exciting opportunity, as well as a challenge to get those decisions “right.” And we must start by asking the right questions.
Ahead are at least four significant decision points for Healdsburg’s future. One is completion of Healdsburg’s Strategic Plan, which is our collective vision for the next five years. Second is the City’s 2015 Water Plan, which reports on whether water supplies are available to meet existing and future water demands. Third is the city’s plan to loosen our ordinance regulating the pace of residential growth (see Mayor Wood’s recent commentary “Let’s Get It Right the First Time”) And lastly is the fate of the City’s Hotel Study, in which the consultant found a need in the near future for 500 additional hotel rooms.
First, the Strategic Plan must implement citizens’ top goals. How does the City plan to diversify the economy and achieve a balance between residents and tourists? Will the city continue to direct $600,000 to the Chamber of Commerce for tourism promotion? What are other cities doing to increase availability/diversity of housing? Is the city exploring public/private partnerships to obtain subsidies to incentivize building of market rate housing? How will the city answer citizens’ pleas for participation and open government?  
Second, our mandated water plan is five years overdue. Shouldn’t we have an updated plan before the City approves expansion/development plans? How will the plan address additional building, housing and tourism demands on our already stretched and limited water supply? We know other cities have “show me the water” ordinances. How will the plan address our largest project ever (Saggio) expected to start next year? Are hotels and visitor-related businesses exempt from water reduction requirements?
Third, what is behind the City’s plan to loosen the housing ordinance? Are real estate interests driving the decision-making about our community’s housing future? Is the affordability “crisis” caused mainly by tourism and second home buyers? How will loosening the ordinance create more middle class housing or rental units? Or will second and third home buyers continue to dominate Healdsburg’s housing market? We question whether the city’s plan will actually produce middle class housing. A recently-approved larger development (Midtowne) will not!  
Fourth, we ask what the City intends to do with its Hotel Study. The Study identified specific parcels for hotel rooms, and no doubt those owners will quietly press the City to implement the Study. Will the City do so? More broadly, is there a planning process and timeline associated with planning for future hotels? Will the City make sure the public is fully involved in the hotel issue? Will the City conduct an opinion poll on the Hotel Study?
We encourage citizens to weigh in on this important conversation. There will be two new members on the City Council next year. Let’s make sure we ask council members and council candidates the right questions.
 
Denise Hunt and Merrilyn Joyce are Healdsburg residents and steering committee members for Healdsburg Citizens for Sustainable Solutions.