(Editor’s note: For the upcoming November 4 Woodcreek election in which voters will select a mayor and two city council members, the Wimberley View asked candidates the following questions. Here are mayoral candidate Debra Hines’ responses. Next week look for the responses from the three city council candidates.)
Question: As you see it, what are Woodcreek’s top priorities?
Answer: The top five priorities for Woodcreek at this point in time are 1) finalizing a city-wide drainage improvement program including a financing plan that attempts to keep the taxes as low as possible while we pursue the inevitable debt issuance to tackle this massive project 2) continue to pursue water conservation efforts and incentivizing green infrastructure and building improvements while simultaneously holding Aqua accountable to their customers 3) utilize the bond money entrusted to us by the taxpayers to finalize the last portion of Woodcreek drive, finding other worthwhile uses for this remaining public fund, and settling on a maintenance plan for all our newly improved streets 4) continue with our Comprehensive Plan update so that we can learn directly from our citizens about their current interests and concerns as we have accomplished most of the previous set of goals outlined in our first plan 5) maintain healthy reserves, and seek grant funds to supplement, so we can achieve goals such as pedestrian mobility, additional traffic calming and safety efforts, ADA compliance, and continue with community enrichment efforts such as public events and beautification projects.
Q: Politics in Woodcreek have been divisive for many years. What do you think of that situation and what can you do that will allow residents to find a more unified vision of the city’s direction?
A: I think that there was a change in leadership starting about 4 years ago, and that change is hard for people to accept. It’s always difficult to balance the multitude of interests in decision making and with the evolving dynamics of the community it has meant there has been a shift in public interests and values. I believe it is important to engage citizens in a variety of forums and remain available to them so they can feel heard and seen. It is important to me that I stick to the facts above all else and I try to remain as calm and neutral as possible. I want citizens to know I work hard to keep them informed and ensure we have a transparent government. I continue to invite people of all ages, backgrounds, and viewpoints to join advisory boards and seek their input on sub committees. I think we heal the division by focusing on what our Comprehensive Plan tells us the majority of citizens want rather than letting a small minority sway decisions. We must keep our meetings open to public comment, and encourage dialogue with intelligent compromise. I think it’s very important to stay curious and be willing to consider another’s perspective with genuine interest.
Q: Over the last several years, Woodcreek had added new pocket parks and other similar projects. In terms of long-term development, would you support those kinds of initiatives, and if not, why? What would you support?
A: Absolutely! Greenspaces and public parks are fundamental for the health and wellbeing of our community on a multitude of levels. Leaving land green helps with drainage issues, it reduces warming effects, improves air quality, protects wildlife habitats and is proven to help humans to experience more satisfaction out of life. I’ve been instrumental in bringing these improvements to our city and I want to continue this work while remaining fiscally responsible and mindful of our tax base limitations.
Q: The method of enforcing code violations in Woodcreek has changed multiple times over the years. What do you think is the appropriate way to handle this issue?
A: All cities struggle with these issues and the legal solutions can be very costly for our taxpayers. We prefer to avoid those costs and take a more pragmatic approach. Right now we have an employee who focuses on this effort for a majority of their work hours. We have gone to great lengths to get expert advice in this field and I think we have reasonable solutions in place. Most of our citizens want to be in compliance with code. More often than not it takes a letter or two and we have compliance. We do have some homeowners that face monetary and fiscal challenges to maintain their properties. We are working on partnerships with local charitable organizations to get assistance to those in need. And if it comes to pursuing legal action for those who will not comply we have an allocated budget line item for the handful of cases that may arise in a year. The truth is we seek education and voluntary compliance first. We think the world of our citizens and want to deal with these sensitive situations with respect and dignity.
