Budget and Safety Services Dominate Candidate Forum

Editor’s Note: Millbrae Patch will be publishing a series of candidate profiles starting next week. Full recording of the forum courtesy of MCTV.

City council candidates discussed the city’s financial stability and answered citizen’s questions on funding for public services, the local business climate and civic engagement during a live forum on Wednesday sponsored by MCTV.

Six candidates, Lorrie Kalos-Gunn, Robert Gottschalk, Anne Oliva, Marc Farber, Marge Colapietro and Wayne Lee are competing for three open seats on the city council.

Following each candidate’s opening statement, MCTV host Rod Pasion asked questions from the audience and television viewers.

What do you see as the future of the Millbrae Police Department?

“We must find ways to continue the current level of service no matter what,” said Gottschalk.

“We need a long-term plan. We want a police department that’s responsive to the community and officers that we can call by their first name,” said Lee.

“I’m concerned not only for the safety of our citizens, but for the safety of our officers,” said Kalos-Gunn. “It’s been talked about that hiring a police chief would cost $400k, but if it takes losing jobs...my concern is that we’re giving up six jobs for one.”

There is an anticipated loss of revenue next year because of the closure of some businesses. How do we react to that?

“We need to leverage what we have, we’re a transportation hub, and we’re close to the airport,” said Lee. “I have experience as a small business owner in creating and saving jobs.”

“Over the last four years, our city council has taken steps to be conservative,” said Colapietro. “When positions were vacant, we eliminated them. We put a freeze on the purchase of fixed assets, we revised travel and training policy restrictions.”

“An unpopular topic might be paid parking, but it would generate a lot of revenue,” said Farber. “If you leave here and go to Burlingame or San Mateo, people have to pay for parking. I don’t think that if you live here, you’re going to drive 10 miles away and waste a half gallon of gas to save 50 cents.”

How would you increase citizen participation within our community?

“Increasing citizen participation usually takes acknowledgement,” said Oliva. “One of the greatest features of Millbrae is the volunteers. The police volunteers, the Art and Wine Festival volunteers, the Lions and Friends of the Library...I know I forgot some.”

“It’s important we utilize websites and social media,” said Gottschalk. “And events that bring people together, such as the Lunar New Year festival...and neighborhood watch groups.”

“I would implement quarterly town hall style meetings in various parts of the city, like at Mills High School or Lomita,” Farber said. “That way you could encourage folks to come out and listen and get feedback as to what they want to see as far as city services and community improvements.”

Would you support renewing the assessment to support the Fire Department?

“I actually support raising revenue for Millbrae,” Lee said. “We’re always asking our citizens to pay more in taxes. There’s no reason we can’t come up with a plan.”

“Of course we need to support it,” said Kalos-Gunn. “But we also need to look at using our money and our staff wisely.”

“I happen to co-chair both efforts for the fire assessment when they came before us,” said Colapietro. “Even though we’ll be consolidating with Burlingame, we still need to pay our own way. Initially, is there going to be an investment? Yes. But, in the long run, are we going to save some money? Yes”

Every candidate supported renewing the assessment, but Lee said it would only be a last case scenario.

Do you support the red light cameras?

“I do not support them. If safety is the reason, then I would support safety,” said Oliva. “But I don’t if the reason they’re there is to generate income.”

“I fully support them. I was mayor when the council approved them,” Gottschalk said. “The company that provides the service...observed 1,000 plus cases per day of people not stopping properly. They’re not there for monetary purposes, they’re for safety.”

“I say we keep them there, and if there are any other intersections where we’re having accidents that we put them up there as well,” said Farber.

“No, I don’t think safety is the issue,” said Lee.

Oliva and Lee do not support the cameras, Gottschalk and Farber do, and Colapietro and Kalos-Gunn think the program should be reviewed.

How do you support local schools?

“I started the Millbrae Education Foundation, which saved a lot of jobs,” said Lee. “And, I was a PTA president.”

“I’ve supported the schools as a volunteer and I’m a donor to the MEF,” said Colapietro. “I serve on CCAG, city and county association of governments, and we approved a program for safe routes to schools. And I immediately discussed the opportunities for a crossing guard with the school board.”

“I actually got to go through the school system in Millbrae,” said Oliva. “And, [as a mother] I was part of the Meadows PTA and I was scholarship chairperson for Mills High School.”

What can be done to pave more city streets before they completely fall apart?

“We need a plan. Deferred maintenance ends up costing us double or triple later on down the road,” said Kalos-Gunn.

“As monies are made available by the federal government, they’re limited to high-volume access roads, and we can’t use them for residential streets,” said Gottschalk.

“There seems to be a theme here. We have infrastructure needs, police and fire,” said Farber. “Our streets are second worst in the county, it would take about $14 million to bring them up to a satisfactory level. We currently spend $1 million. I understand about bringing in new revenue, but those things are going to take some time...we need to look at paid parking or a ballot measure, and go out to the people and ask them what they’re willing to pay.”

How do you feel about the possibility of a dog park in Millbrae? 

All candidates were in favor, but agreed that first the city would need a suitable location, and then find outside funding sources.