SF.Elections.RebeccaWurzburger

Rebecca Wurzburger Candidate for City Council, District 2 For the purposes of this forum, sponsored by Voices of Santa Fe, candidates were requested to focus on the three core issues they believe are facing Santa Fe. Further core issues and additional comments sent by the candidate on their background, motivation, etc. are found after the section on Core Issues. Core issues: Growth and Water Tying growth to water availability both currently available and projected is central to the sustainability of Santa Fe as a community. Some form of a regional water budget which matches water need and supply must be developed. With aggressive conservation, aggressive purchasing of water rights for the region for at least 50 years, and through protection of the watershed, Santa Fe can proceed to grow as a community while balancing development and water availability. Proper long-term regional planning for growth and water supply will negate the pressures of no growth. State -of- the-art water conservation techniques on all proposed new development should be required. I propose three strategic actions: Conserve, Buy more rights, Protect what we have Short-term: the San Juan Chama diversion project must be implemented immediately in cooperation with the County and Las Campanas…with a sound financing plan. Plans originally proposed in the CTSI report including the retrofit program should be fully funded & implemented in both the City & the County. Thin the watershed. Long-term: A Regional Water Authority should be created to purchase long-term stable water rights. The Sustainability Committee should continue efforts to operationally define what Santa Fe can become over the next 50 years. Economic Development I have been actively involved in diversifying Santa Fe’s economic base as Chair of Santa Fe Economic Development Committee and the City’s representative to the Regional Economic Development Committee (RDC). Further actions to take: *Fully fund and implement our Economic Development Plan *Expand resources of SFEDI’s effective “economic gardening” *Recapture the $8 million of City economic development money from the Railyard. *Encourage affordable mixed- use commercial space projects *Have an over the Counter approval process for business license & construction permits *Implement a Council-led Santa Fe Welcomes Business Campaign *Regionally market small business with the RDC *Expand current Community College workforce development projects Railyard and The Sweeny Center My social vision is that the Community Plan of an ALIVE LOCAL PLACE comes to fruition… a space where ALL Santa Feans want to be …day & night… to meet, greet, enjoy, gossip, shop, eat with one another and to experience the diverse art & nonprofit activity the Railyard has nurtured. My fiscal vision is one of financial soundness…that it does provide a long-awaited & needed return of the economic development resources assigned to the Railyard. To do so, we must immediately develop a strong Railyard management contract to ensure that timelines and financial projections, including only limited City support, are met. Plans for a state-of-the art Civic Center Sweeney expansion must be expedited to sustain the attraction of business to Santa Fe. The plan should include the concept of “wrap-around” mixed -use elements, which maintain evening vitality and ensure fiscal viability of the center. If designed appropriately, operational costs can be self-sustaining. In addition, fees for service and establishing a Downtown Business District assessment should be researched to cover operations. Success of the public /private funding of the Lensic could be emulated. Options for funding construction costs include capital improvement bonds, New Mexico Loan funds, state & federal economic development funds. Further Comments by the Candidate Vision for Santa Fe: A Vision of Possibilities I foresee a City and County Region emerging from a coordinated plan that has resulted in sustainable neighborhoods with affordable housing, a stable long-term water supply, smart growth and a vibrant, diverse economy. Sprawl has been contained. Regional transit systems are operational. Traditional land use patterns encourage integration, not segregation. Open space, blue skies, and starry nights have been protected. The governing bodies of the City and the County focus upon long-range policies that have met the common good of all Santa Feans. Respect for the effectiveness and efficiency of Council decision-making is high. Background Information Experience that Works! Rebecca Wurzburger for City Council 982-6351 rebeccawrz@aol.com “ I am running for City Council because I believe we need representation with decisive thinking and experience that works. I have over thirty years experience in strategic planning and organization development. While running a small consulting business, I have raised two children in Santa Fe and become a proven leader in community service. My work with Santa Fe’s Habitat for Humanity helped build affordable housing for those who need it most. Through the Santa Fe Economic Development Committee I have implemented policies promoting long- term “smart” economic growth which sustains local business. As President of the Community College Foundation, I have helped create scholarships for 60 local high school graduates. When representing you as District 2 Councilor I will bring fiscally and socially responsible leadership to city government, a commitment to community and a deep respect for the history and tradition of the city. I will work hard to ensure a long-term water supply and get our local economy moving forward for all our citizens. ” ~Rebecca “Trained and prepared to Serve” Small Business Owner-Construction Management Consultant Master Degree- In social Welfare from Washington University, St. Louis Doctorate in Public Administration and Planning from the University of Southern California Chair – Santa Fe Economic Development Commission President – Santa Fe Community College Foundation Member – Regional Economic Development Commission Vice-President – Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity Member -New Mexico Women’s Forum Project Manager – Habitat for Humanity’s project, Casas de Escadero Member – New Mexico Women’s Forum Fellow – Community Building Institute Executive Board Member – Las Adelitas “Community Activities” Muchas Gracias Award from the City of Santa Fe Founding Member – New Mexico BUDDY Awards Founding Board Member – Cornerstones Community Partnership Chair – Plaza Celebration for the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival’s 25th anniversary Vice President – Santa Fe Prep Parents Association We will continue to update our information on the candidates, and plan to sponsor additional dialog, and possibly interviews for this election. If you would like to assist in keeping these pages updated, organize candidate meetings, or have other ideas for supporting democracy in our local community, please contact The Global Dialog Project at valor@global-dialog.org