Debbie Peterson, Grover Beach Mayor - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Debbie Peterson, Grover Beach Mayor

Party/Affiliation: n/a
Current Job: Real Estate Broker, Peterson Team Realty/Grover Beach City Council Member

Top 3 Priorities if Elected:

GET THE GROVER BEACH LODGE AND CONFERENCE CENTER THROUGH THE COASTAL COMMISSION AND START CONSTRUCTION 

I have asked leaders from neighboring cities to join us in December when the Coastal Commission considers the City's application. I will also attend. The Lodge and Conference Center will benefit not only Grover Beach, but the broader community, as it will be the largest conference center between Santa Barbara and Monterrey and was identified in the 2010 Economic Vitality Corporation Tourism Report that indicated that this is the number one tourism need in the county. It has been part of the City's general plan for almost 40 years and was identified in the 2004 city-wide visioning workshops as a key priority. I will work diligently to ensure that the project moves forward as quickly as possible. In addition I have been the Council representative to the Economic Vitality Corporation, the Visitor and Conference Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce so that I can lay the groundwork for promoting the Lodge and Conference Center as it progresses. I plan to convene meetings with the tourism stakeholders in the County and the hotel operator, Pacifica to determine how best we can all work together to maximize the benefits and income that the Lodge will bring.

IMPLEMENT THE FIBER OPTIC VIRTUAL PORT PLAN 

I have introduced two potential funders for the project. I will work with staff to market the project through the appropriate media and press and continue to work with the Economic Vitality Corporation to apply for grant funding. I will continue to ensure that the city lays fiber optic conduit whenever undergrounding occurs, especially in new housing developments and at the Beach Front Lodge.

WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DETERMINE HOW BEST TO FUND RESIDENTIAL STREET REPAIRS, IF AT ALL

Streets have been an ongoing concern for Grover Beach, and many other communities. City revenues simply cannot stretch to cover the scope of the street work needed. Originally Grover residential streets were sand tracks that the County laid oil on and then asphalted. A proper foundation was never laid, which is why the streets deteriorate so quickly. Unfortunately there is no grant funding available for residential streets. The cost to properly lay a foundation and bring residential streets up to date is about $200,000 per block. Fixing all the residential streets has been estimated at $30-44,000,000. Our general fund of just under $7,000,000 has to cover police, fire, parks and other city services and there simply is not enough revenue to do the necessary upgrading. Charter Measure I-12, if voted in on November 6, 2012, could generate savings of up to 20% on the cost of repairing local streets. I am actively campaigning for a ‘yes' vote on the Charter. In addition, if city property owners are willing to spend an additional $20 a month each, the Council could work with residents to initiate a bond measure that would provide the $40,000,000 needed to repair the streets. It could go before the voters in 2014. If the voters approve it repairs could begin in 2015. I will actively work to ensure that this is agendized so the community can begin to work together to determine if this is something it wants to move forward with.