Madison Chamber of Commerce questions-2015

Transcription

1 Madison Chamber of Commerce questions-2015 Candidate Profile Name: Ledell Zellers Alder District: City of Madison Alder District 2 Address: 510 N. Carroll St. address: ledell.zellers@gmail.com Phone: Campaign Website: Education Miami University BA University of Michigan MLS Employment Information (Prior Employment) State of Wisconsin of Investment Board Director of Human Resources Job Responsibilities: Created systems and an environment to attract and retain highly qualified professionals who successfully managed the funds held in trust by the state. Length of Employment: 15 years Prior to working for the Investment Board, I was an Assistant VP with National Guardian Life Insurance Company. I also worked for seven years as the Director of Customer Accounting for Madison Gas & Electric Company where I supervised customer service, billing, meter reading and credit and collections. Candidate Questionnaire 1. Why are you seeking this office? My love of Madison and the near east neighborhoods and the desire to work with others who care - to help make a great place to live and a great place to work even better - is what led to my decision to run in 2013 and still motivates me to continue serving as alder for District What in your background or experiences qualifies you to understand the unique needs facing small businesses?

2 I have experience in public and private sector leadership positions. I was HR Director for the Wisconsin Investment Board for 15 years. Prior employment included positions at MGE and National Guardian Life. I was a member and past chair of the City s Downtown Coordinating Committee (DCC) where I worked with State Street Business Improvement District and the GSSBA on issues facing business owners. I continue to serve on the DCC. I advocated for a grant to help businesses on E. Johnson Street weather recent street reconstruction. I attended bi-weekly meetings between reconstruction managers and business owners to facilitate problem resolution. 3. What are the most important issues the businesses in your district face? Lack of off-street parking is an obstacle for E. Washington area businesses. The city needs to identify options for solving this problem. I sponsored a budget amendment to explore locations for/fund a parking ramp on/just off of E. Washington. I initiated extension of parking time on E. Washington to address parking needs of the new restaurants and bar. Developing a stronger identity for businesses on E. Johnson can help their success. One outcome of the grant to help small businesses on E. Johnson during the street reconstruction was a business association which will help this promotional initiative. 4. What is the city s role in growing the economy? How can the city best support the growth and retention of jobs? Recognize economic development is more than real estate development Facilitate joint marketing strategies. Provide planning assistance to businesses seeking to locate here. Have ready information about financial assistance (brownfield remediation, façade improvement grants, TIF, etc.) Make city website easily navigable with easy to use applications/keep current Maintain up-to-date inventory of buildings/sites available Support innovation-type district(s), incubators and support business spin-offs from the UW Facilitate mentoring programs Improve public transportation Build on food culture including Public Market Partner with others to develop a trailing spouse program Retain inventory of older building stock since they are places smaller businesses often are housed 5. How can Madison best attract and retain a diverse and talented young workforce?

3 People are attracted to areas with robust transit systems allowing reduced dependence on cars. Madison should implement transit enhancements including Bus Rapid Transit. Promote walkable neighborhoods with a variety of living options and associated retail and service businesses. Partner with recruitment firms/businesses to develop trailing spouse program Support vigorous cultural/arts scene. Ensure high quality schools and daycare. Enhance parks with a variety of passive and active options for use (including new sports such as slacklining, bike polo and pickle ball); keep expanding off-street bike trails. Improve water quality of our lakes. Create a welcoming environment for diverse populations. 6. The City of Madison is in the process of updating its economic development strategy. What policies or initiatives would you like to see incorporated into this plan? See responses 4&5 which have concepts which should be included in economic development strategy. Also: Quality of life. Make Madison a great place to live to attract people simply because they want to be here and which will support recruitment of people just learning about Madison. Diversity of business opportunities. Provide concentrations of businesses that support entrepreneurial efforts/innovation (like Cap East), that leverage food culture/businesses (like Public Market), etc. Support small traditional businesses. People. Support education/development of people to help with opportunity for a higher quality of life and help with thriving business community. Support businesses that provide training/career paths. 7. Last year, the council adopted a new, more flexible TIF policy. Do you support the use of TIF, and how do you believe it should be utilized moving forward? How would you rate the City s past use of TIF? (Would you describe the City s use of TIF as underutilized, over-utilized, or appropriate?) Use TIF: For projects that could not otherwise be done and which accomplish specific city and neighborhood goals. TIF should be provided fairly and with attention to ordinances and guidelines.

4 To support creation and retention of living wage jobs, stimulate additional development, enhance the desirability of surrounding properties and support improvements to public infrastructure. City staff should work with applicants to ensure all necessary information is gathered and should analyze the information. Negotiations with applicant should be handled by senior staff and the mayor s office with input of the district alder. In general the City uses TIF appropriately. 8. In recent years, the council has approved significant changes to the city s zoning code and development process. In general, what is your opinion of these changes and its overall effectiveness? In general, the changes were positive. They continue to be tweaked and a check step as to effectiveness would be appropriate. (i.e. Plan, Do, Check, Act Plan, Do, Check, Act ) The new zoning code has provided more coherent information and standards to inform those proposing new developments. This has significantly reduced the number of PUDs and has expedited the review process. Feedback received from development teams has indicated that the revised process has generally been effective. 9. What strategies do you support to enhance the city s transportation infrastructure? Transportation and development go together. Public investment in transportation infrastructure is a catalyst for new development. Multi-modal transit systems are more sustainable/support a better quality of life. The key to achieving successful Transit-Oriented-Development is investing in infrastructure. Transit infrastructure will attract and enable new infill density around it. New density without transit will attract more automobiles. The isthmus cannot afford nor survive the resulting gridlock. The city needs to move forward on the Bus Rapid Transit plan. I support balanced investment in multiple forms of transportation including transit, biking and walking. I support regional partnerships for successful transportation/transit. 10. Do you consider Madison s property taxes to be too high, too low, or appropriate? Please explain your reasoning and provide specific examples of any fiscal changes you would recommend.

5 Madison s top ranking for quality of life is due in part to the quality of city services. We must ensure our services are adequately/efficiently funded. Taxes must cover expenses. I don t support using borrowing or one time income for ongoing expenses. A balance must be struck between services some would like and the cost to fund these services through property taxes. Protecting property values must be a priority as well as looking for options to increase the tax base. Within District 2 there is opportunity for redevelopment on E. Washington which can support great neighborhoods and grow Madison s tax base. 11. If offered an endorsement from the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, would you accept it? Yes, I would welcome the endorsement of the Madison Chamber of Commerce. A vital community is a partnership of the local government, schools, the business community, and residents.