Saturday, Apr. 26, 2008

Election 2008

Grapevine City Council

Click here to see our coverage of the GCISD School Board Elections.

Editor’s Note: The Courier sent all Grapevine City Council candidates in contested races five questions pertaining to local issues. Each answer was limited to no more than a 50-word reply. The candidates are listed in the order in which they appear on the ballot. This year, because no Colleyville City Council races were contested, the city did not require a city election.

Phil Lang, 42, is an account rep for a printing company in Dallas. He is married to Dee Dee Lang a registered nurse with the Texas Department of Human Services. They have two children who attend GCISD schools.

Question: Many residents and other property owners, including the school district, churches and individual owners, are entering into contracts with natural gas exploration companies. Some of the contract terms vary considerably. The city has updated its ordinance to regulate local gas exploration, but the ordinance will not address every aspect of the disruption created by the drilling so close to this community. What would you do to ensure the protection of the city’s environment and quality of life?

Answer: If elected to City Council, I would review the ordinance, do my best to make appropriate changes if needed and rely on our city employees. I have seen what happens to asphalt roads around drilling sites. I am not against drilling but many things need to be taken into consideration.

Q: Why do you think the problems have developed between the neighborhoods surrounding Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, and what do you think the city should have done differently, if anything?

A: I am happy the Gaylord Texan Resort is in Grapevine as well as the new Great Wolf Lodge. It brings in a lot of tax dollars, helps local businesses and eases the Grapevine homeowner’s tax burden. I don’t think the city should have done anything differently.

Q: Most of the land Grapevine has remaining for development is commercial. Do you think that the city should set aside some of this land to create more parks in specific areas of the city?

A: If an opportunity for a new park presents itself, it should be looked at. Grapevine already has the lake and surrounding parks, many other parks and bike trails and they need to be maintained and improved. I do not think the city should set aside any land for that purpose.

Q: Traffic in Grapevine is often very congested. What do you think the city should do to help ease this problem?

A: The city has a plan in place. If I could change anything right now it would be the connection between 114 and 121.

Q: Do you think the city and the school district could coordinate better on some issues and projects?

A: I have two children in the GCISD. They both go to exemplary schools and are on the honor roll. I have coached 10 seasons of youth sports and have attended many PTA meetings. It seems to me the same people volunteer again and again. We really need to promote volunteerism.

Becky St. John, 38, is a stay-at-home mom and an active volunteer in town and in GCISD. She and her husband John have four children. She has lived in Grapevine for seven years, has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for five of those years. Before moving to Grapevine she served two terms on the Roanoke city council where she was mayor pro tem.

Q: Many residents and other property owners, including the school district, churches and individual owners, are entering into contracts with natural gas exploration companies. Some of the contract terms vary considerably. The city has updated its ordinance to regulate local gas exploration, but the ordinance will not address every aspect of the disruption created by the drilling so close to this community. What would you do to ensure the protection of the city’s environment and quality of life?

A: As a former P&Z member, I realize no ordinance is perfect in practice. Treat drilling like all major projects that could create unforeseen disruption in Grapevine: monitor sites for potential issues, stay in contact with gas companies, maintain communication with residents and businesses and update ordinances where necessary.

Q: Why do you think the problems have developed between the neighborhoods surrounding Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, and what do you think the city should have done differently, if anything?

A: Problems resulted from lack of communication and understanding of development processes. I believe a city e-newsletter would keep residents and businesses in better contact with City Hall, increase use of the city Web site, and provide more opportunity for feedback from the community.

Q: Most of the land Grapevine has remaining for development is commercial. Do you think that the city should set aside some of this land to create more parks in specific areas of the city?

A: There may be some opportunities to create green spaces and buffer zones that not only preserve desirable old-growth tree stands, but also could be used as passive recreation areas primarily by business employees. However, I believe parks in general should be located in or accessible to residential areas.

Q: Traffic in Grapevine is often very congested. What do you think the city should do to help ease this problem?

A: Obviously, move forward with road and rail projects. I support GCISD’s possible bell changes to ease the effect of congestion and construction on bus schedules and more efficiently use the existing fleet, and would look for ways the city could do the same.

Q: Do you think the city and the school district could coordinate better on some issues and projects?

A: Yes — for example, the outdoor lightning detection system could be co-maintained as a cost-savings. With children in GCISD and as a member of the District Excellence Committee, I would continue the strong relationship between the city and district and look for ways to improve.

Traci Wilkinson, 42, is an attorney in Grapevine. She and her husband have three children and have lived here 16 years.

Q: Many residents and other property owners, including the school district, churches and individual owners, are entering into contracts with natural gas exploration companies. Some of the contract terms vary considerably. The city has updated its ordinance to regulate local gas exploration, but the ordinance will not address every aspect of the disruption created by the drilling so close to this community. What would you do to ensure the protection of the city’s environment and quality of life?

A: We should require the applicant’s strict compliance with existing City ordinances. Should we discover unforeseen events or issues that may affect our residential quality of life or have a negative impact on our environment; we should amend our ordinances to address those issues in a timely and responsive manner.

Q: Why do you think the problems have developed between the neighborhoods surrounding Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, and what do you think the city should have done differently, if anything?

A: Many homeowners moved to Grapevine when there was little commercial development. As we continue to get high quality commercial development, there’ll be times when residential quality of life is affected. I’ll look at each issue and balance the interests of homeowners with the long term interests of all Grapevine citizens.

Q: Most of the land Grapevine has remaining for development is commercial. Do you think that the city should set aside some of this land to create more parks in specific areas of the city?

A: Grapevine currently has one of the highest park acres per capita ratios in the Metroplex. It is important to maintain and improve our existing parks and, where the budget allows, add additional parks when land becomes available. Enhanced youth and senior citizen programs are essential elements for future park plans.

Q: Traffic in Grapevine is often very congested. What do you think the city should do to help ease this problem?

A: Traffic congestion impacts our residential quality of life and the ability to move people through Grapevine. Council must work with TXDOT throughout the Funnel construction to ensure adequate ingress/egress to our commercial properties; maintain existing lane capacity; and provide adequate signage for detours to keep traffic out of our neighborhoods.

Q: Do you think the city and the school district could coordinate better on some issues and projects?

A: Cooperation between government entities to save taxpayer’s dollars through vehicles such as inter-local agreements, cooperative buying programs, and cross-asset utilization is commonsense governance, if they pass constitutional muster. Grapevine and GCISD currently work together on several fronts, and I will continue to look for new avenues of cooperative savings.

Chris Coy, 41, is a district sales manager for American Airlines. He has served on the many Grapevine boards and commissions. He and his wife Traci have three children and have lived in Grapevine 19 years.

Q: Many residents and other property owners, including the school district, churches and individual owners, are entering into contracts with natural gas exploration companies. Some of the contract terms vary considerably. The city has updated its ordinance to regulate local gas exploration, but the ordinance will not address every aspect of the disruption created by the drilling so close to this community. What would you do to ensure the protection of the city’s environment and quality of life?

A: As a Planning and Zoning commissioner, I recommended updates to the gas drilling ordinance, and the City Council adopted the recommendation. Grapevine now has one of the most stringent drilling regulations that will protect residents from noise and other disruptions, while also allowing residents to benefit from royalty payments.

Q: Why do you think the problems have developed between the neighborhoods surrounding Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, and what do you think the city should have done differently, if anything?

A: The city can be a middleman to improve communication between Gaylord (as well as other commercial projects) and surrounding residents, using relationships it has with both groups. With Gaylord, there was a communication breakdown that drove residents’ frustrations, and Gaylord has taken responsibility to formalize better communications with neighbors.

Q: Most of the land Grapevine has remaining for development is commercial. Do you think that the city should set aside some of this land to create more parks in specific areas of the city?

A: Grapevine is always looking for opportunities to increase park space, and can use our Quality of Life fund to acquire undeveloped land when appropriate. Many undeveloped tracts, however, are near freeways and not neighborhoods, so new or expanded parks will likely be among smaller lots sprinkled around the city.

Q: Traffic in Grapevine is often very congested. What do you think the city should do to help ease this problem?

A: Grapevine has been judicious at upgrading major thoroughfares, but congestion is most common on freeways and roadways managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. TXDOT is just beginning the DFW Connector project to alleviate congestion, and I will work with them to ensure disruptions are minimized during construction.

Q: Do you think the city and the school district could coordinate better on some issues and projects?

A: The city and school district have a good working relationship that enables the leaders to work together, ensuring that Grapevine citizens enjoy an excellent quality of life. While there will be issues where the two groups have opposing priorities, they are generally solved in the best interests of Grapevine’s residents.