Responses from Dennis Howland, candidate for City Council At Large Seat C
An immediate need is to recognize that business and open space have all the alternatives to co-exist. I believe that a percentage of development must include the setting aside of open space, the consideration of type of business to assure clean air and less pollution of our groundwaters and rivers. This is all workable as long as all parites are willing to set and co-plan, listen to the community and place a total Ogden as priority.
2. The UTA and the Wasatch Front Regional Council have proposed a streetcar or bus rapid transit system for Ogden, which would connect downtown with WSU and McKay-Dee Hospital via Harrison Blvd. The present administration favors instead a gondola line over a similar route. The administration has also proposed streetcar routes in other parts of Ogden and neighboring cities. What are your views on these competing proposals?
I personally have not been totally convinced that the gondola is the right direction to take. At the same time I am not convinced that it is entirely the wrong direction. I believe a solution to our transportation needs is needed now. I favor a street car system as a tourist and local resident attraction, less impact on the requirements of clean air and still answer the needs of a system that serves all of Ogden. This leaves the possibility of further study of alternative transportation means and still takes care of a inner-city transportation system that is needed right away. It would allow those for or against the gondola system to study, present and prove their case while answering a more immediate need.
3. If elected, would you favor or oppose the sale of any city-owned open space along the benches for private development? Please explain.
My first impression is to oppose the lessening of open space along our benches. I believe the community should first pursue ideas of city business development and promotion of existing land usage. To pursue businesses of recreation that would not encroach on our open space.
4. Should you be elected, do you plan to recommend changes in the way Ogden deals with waste, recyclables, water conservation, and/or protecting our aquifers and watershed areas? If so, what changes will you recommend, and why?
More concentration on restrictions of materials dumped in our waterways and increased emphasis on recycling versus landfills. I also believe a study of landfills needs to look at the proximity of our dump sites to our natural resources.
5. The current administration supports rewriting Ogden's Sensitive Area Overlay Zone ordinance in such a way as to eliminate the current ban on construction on land sloped at 30 percent or more, and to increase the density of development that is permitted on other steeply sloped lands. What are your views on these proposed changes?
I believe our slopes of 30 percent or more are too fragile for developing anything other than perhaps trails and recreational activities. To develop these areas with heavy or concentrated construction and population attractors could cause devastation to these areas and serious erosion of our valley slopes.
6. Ogden's urban and foothill trails are a valuable recreational asset for residents and an important factor in drawing visitors and businesses to Ogden. If elected, what changes (if any) would you propose to the city's trail system?
Increased expansion and improvement of the trail systems and complete the present system as planned. This requires input to a plan from those community groups that use these trail systems. I believe there is enough interest in this type of outdoor activity to warrant promotion of these activities to increase tourism and competitors from outside the city and state.
7. Do you favor designating a portion of the National Forest lands above Ogden as federally protected wilderness? Why or why not?
Absolutely. It assures that the community will not encroach on protected areas, wildlife and natural resources. It offers a better assurance of protection of open spaces along our benches.
8. The current administration has recently reduced the city's energy and carbon footprint by buying renewable energy credits and hybrid vehicles and by initiating the Fresh Air Fridays program. Do you support these programs? Would you favor expanding them? Why or why not?
I fully support these programs with the desire to put a plan in place for expansion. A goal should be to make Ogden City owned vehicles 100 percent hybrid or some other type of pollution-free transportation program. This might seem a bit far fetched or impossible but I believe our City should be the example setter.
9. What other environmental issues would you address if elected?
I would address the issue of serious listening to environmental groups and weigh their input. I am not sure the current City Council does that. Such input should be welcome by our elected officials. Priorities should be placed on cleaning up and maintaining a clean state of our rivers, reinforce restrictions on "dirty" industries, upgrade our infrastructure to include our water and sewer facilities. I would like to see us catch and retain more fresh water in the Ogden and Weber Rivers as they flow through Ogden. I would like to see the elected officials seriously accept input from groups who focus on our environment and then make conscionable decisions based on intelligent understanding of the future business needs and the future environment needs of our community. A kind of an "ask and listen to the experts" program. I believe Ogden is in a rare and coveted position to attract and develop new business, with a partnership and vision that includes protection and planning for our resources open space. There should not be a fear of this valley losing its natural beauty and marvelous resources.