| All candidates are in alphabetical order |
Land Use Policy - Affordable Housing |
||
| Cristina Medina Dirksen | Gail Morton | |
| What is your position on affordable housing? Please be specific with regards to policies you support or oppose. | When we say affordable housing - what do we mean? Affordable for an unsheltered person living in a tent behind REI, a family living in a home with four other families, a public safety officer starting her career or farm worker or restaurant workers? There must be room for all of these situations. I support a comprehensive plan for all of these needs. We start with having the staff capacity within our city, with expertise on creative models, working with nonprofit partners that build themselves or using sweat equity. Know that at this moment, the City of Marina has 2 planners. We do not have the capacity to move on any major project at this time. - I support requiring builders build a percentage of below and market value homes FIRST. - I support creating a first time home buyers program. - I support creating work force and employee housing. - I support creative ideas such as tiny home - Most importantly, I will and have advocated for fast tracking permits for building any of the above mentioned needs. - Cities like San Francisco have adopted policies giving nonprofits the right of first refusal for purchase of properties to increase [response ended here because it exceeded the 200 word count limit] |
With 83% of Marina's school-age children qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and 22.8% of Marina's MPUSD students being homeless, we need to immediately and significantly increase our affordable housing supply. Marina needs both Affordable Housing and housing that is affordable by design. Waiting for the economics of a housing supply that exceeds the demand to drive down home prices and rents is simply unrealistic in Marina and our Peninsula. Housing affordable to our residents is simply not being built. Governmental planning and incentives to expedite building affordable homes and a diverse mix of home types have to be envisioned and employed to expeditiously increase our housing inventory. Our General Plan and specific plans must provide for higher density, smaller units, mixed use and infill. Review and modification of city zoning ordinances for inclusionary housing and density bonuses higher than the state minimums must be given serious consideration and implemented where appropriate, such as in our downtown corridor. Deferring payment of impact fees and stream-lining approval processes for affordable housing projects will reduce the developer's carrying costs and within the purview of solutions. Hiring, training, and retaining competent planning staff to guide and oversee city approval processes is equally critical. |
| Do you support modifying city policies or regulations to make it easier and cheaper to build housing? If so, what specific policy changes do you support? | I support modifying the permitting process to fast track permits that will increase housing stock, with an emphasis on urban in-fill. | Yes, I support modifying city policies to make it easier and cheaper to build housing. Marina's Regional Housing Needs Assessment required us to plan for 1,806 new homes in this cycle. Due to the housing cap on the number of units and water limitations on the former Fort Ord, Marina is planning for the addition of these units in Central Marina and especially in the downtown corridors of Del Monte and Reservation Roads. I sit on the Downtown Vitalization Committee which is working through the specific plan procedures and city policies with the goal of getting these housing units built. This requires us to identify and correct any impediments to so doing. |
| Do you support requiring developers to actually build inclusionary units instead of paying an "in lieu" fee? | Absolutely, yes. | I oppose in lieu fees. Marina has experienced the financial hardship of accepting a developer's responsibility to build low and very low income housing within its project boundary. The Marina Heights development of 1,050 new homes was relieved of its responsibility. Marina agreed to shift the project's responsibility for providing the low and very low homes to the city owned Abrams Park, which abuts the development site. This resulted in financially over-burdening our Abrams Park property and greater profits for the developer. Concentrating low and very low income housing units in one area rather than interspersed throughout a development and a community is bad city planning and should be avoided. In lieu fees tends to favor this bad planning practice. |
| Do you support requiring that "inclusionary housing" units be made permanently affordable, even upon resale? If not, please explain. | Taking a look at Rancho Moro Cojo in Castroville, built with sweat equity with restricted deed covenants. Owners, while enjoying the pride of ownership, are never able to accumulate return on investment to move to the next step, and begin the process of generational wealth and upward mobility possible with real estate investment. I believe a percentage of profit increase is fair upon resale. I also think we can keep a certain number of homes in the stock to remain perpetually fixed. | Inclusionary housing units need to remain inclusionary for the duration of the covenant, even upon resale. If transferred within the inclusionary period, we should consider if it is a better practice to reset the clock. By restarting the clock from year 0, we will maintain our inclusionary housing inventory. |
| Do you support requiring developers of hospitality, commercial and industrial projects that significantly increase demand for already scarce housing resources to also build workforce housing? | Looking at what Tanimura and Antle did in Spreckles, this was a good intent. However, I don't support businesses with no experience as landlords to be required to provide housing. I have been in talks with Joby Aviation. They are planning a full-scale development in Marina and already face the very-real problem of not enough housing and its impacts of its employees buying up homes in Marina. My neighbors, Joby employees have purchased 2 homes in town. They are wonderful people and a great addition to Marina, but we will see/ and have seen a change in who is buying homes in Marina. I have spoken with the developers of Sea Haven and discussed what would work force housing for Joby and others, such as hospitality, look like. I am open to having these conversations. I am in a unique position to be able to have open and honest conversations with the builders, the business community and unions, having gained their endorsements and trust. | We should all learn from successful employer endeavors to provide housing for the purpose of attracting and retaining employees. Tanimura & Antle successfully proposed and developed a 100-unit employee housing project in the agriculture industry. California State University at Monterey Bay implemented a successful housing model for its employees by renovating military housing near campus. As a city we imposed an obligation for a percentage of two housing projects on former Fort Ord, which together will add 2800 homes to our city, to be workforce housing. Sadly, not a single workforce unit has been built as of this date. Municipalities, school districts, agri-business, and sectors need to work cooperatively to address the issue. Our region's middle class is fast disappearing as the cost of living is too high. Minimally monetary contributions are needed from developers of hospitality, commercial and industrial, non housing projects to a public trust or impacted municipality. Requiring workforce housing units be incorporated into a commercial or industrial development project is another means to achieve increased housing for its workforce. |
| What other housing policies do you support or oppose? | [Left blank] | Extension of the Urban Growth Boundary for 20 more years, from 2020 to 2040, is impactful to increasing Marina's needed housing inventory. Without enabling urban sprawl to the north, Marina has the potential to build nearly 6,000 additional dwelling units within its city limits. Restricting development on the agriculture land to the north of town fosters in-fill in our downtown and build out of previously entitled projects. In-fill in downtown is where Marina has the greatest potential to see a diverse mix of housing inventory in the near future. |
Water Supplies |
||
| Cristina Medina Dirksen | GAIL MORTON | |
| What specific proposals do you support to ensure your community can meet its water demands without increasing the overdraft of the County's groundwater aquifers or violating the SWRCB's Cease and Desist Order regarding taking water from the Carmel River? | I am in favor of the expansion of Pure Water Monterey and have been actively working to defeat Cal Am's desalination plant. My family - myself and my triplet girls - aged 11, spoke before the Coastal Commission, are signed up to speak at the upcoming Sept. decision meeting and we have been spending our Sunday's at the Marina Farmer's Market COVID-respectfully educating our community. My 11 year-old Viv can tell you all about the desalination process and my other daughter, Mariessa, can tell you all about Snowy Plover habitat. I am extremely proud that this fight has been a family educational effort! | Protection of Marina's water from unnecessary, irreparable harm is a paramount focus. We need to cooperate regionally to assure an adequate and affordable water supply for both the Monterey Peninsula and Marina Coast Water District's service areas of Marina and former Fort Ord. Expansion of Pure Water Monterey, when combined with conservation and other water management strategies is the viable and affordable solution. Marina seeks to be the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the protection of its groundwater today and for the future. |
| Do you support expansion of Pure Water Monterey as an alternative to building a desalination plant? | Yes. I have toured it. | The Pure Water Monterey Expansion project is feasible; doesn't have the negative impact to Marina's groundwater and coast; is environmentally and economically just; and can be online well before any desalination project. |
Sprawl Reduction |
||
| Cristina Medina Dirksen | GAIL MORTON | |
| Do you support the creation of "urban growth boundaries" or expansion of the existing boundary as a way to prevent urban sprawl, and to insure that future growth is compact, efficient, and protective of the environment? If not, what measures would you support to prevent urban sprawl? If yes, will you sponsor an urban growth boundary in the upcoming year, and make it one of your top three priorities? | Yes. I have signed on as endorser and shared on my website www.cristina4marinacitycouncil.com as well as my social media Facebook campaign page cristina4marina (with a 4k weekly reach). | Yes, I am an advocate for extending the term of Marina's Urban Growth Boundary to the year 2040. |
Transportation |
||
| Cristina Medina Dirksen | GAIL MORTON | |
| Poorly planned, non-infill commercial developments and hotels create more trips and additional vehicle miles traveled on already overcrowded roads and highways. Both residents and visitors pay the price of delay and increased pollution. What specific traffic congestion relief solutions do you support? | Back on Nov. 2019 I spoke with Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado and Councilman Adam Urrieta about possible ballot measures. Each morning getting my children to school in upper Seaside from Marina takes up to 40 minutes (assuming no accidents). That ride normally takes not more than 20 minutes. I asked about pursuing high speed internet infrastructure, as a means to allow more (who can like our carpool family who head to San Jose after their-turn drops offs) to telecommute. COVID hit and now internet needs and working from home area reality for many. I want to work for a regional approach to moving on this - less traffic because people will have the capacity to work from home. I also support carpooling, my children and I have envisioned a van for their school taking Marina kids to school. They like that idea. I see CHOMP vans doing that, why not expand to other industries with incentives for using the service. | Plans implemented on the former Fort Ord followed planning models of the mid twentieth-century. Marina should not repeat its mistakes. Avoid car-centric projects like that at the Dunes. The relocation of the multimodal corridor off of 9th Street and Intergarrison to 2nd Avenue and Imjin Parkway provides a transit corridor that connects Marina's neighborhoods with employment centers, shopping, health facilities, colleges and schools encourages use of public transportation. Complete streets policies make it easier for residents to rely on walking or bicycling, reducing our carbon footprint. Building of the FORTAG Trail as a transportation route traversing the expanse of Fort Ord north to south and east to west in conjunction with the Coastal Trail is a priority. An integrated public transportation system has to include a means for commuters to conveniently travel that last half-mile between a transit center and their place of employment or home, such as rental bikes. Widening of Imjin Parkway to four lanes and use of roundabouts are intended to reduce congestion. Marina is working on plan approvals for the intersection of Imjin Parkway and Highway 1 to alleviate traffic and circulation impacts of development. Unfortunately planning to realization is projected to take years. |
| Do you support roundabouts on Highway 68 and other roads? What other transportation policies or practices have you seen that local governments should incorporate? | Yes. I attended a Marina City Council meeting where roundabouts were shown to ease traffic congestion and pollution while keeping the flow of traffic moving.I am in favor. As far as other practices, I think crosswalks, like in Oakland's Chinatown or in cities in Holland where there pedestrian crosswalks are in the pattern of an x can get many more people moving in a more efficient way. | Yes. Marina has incorporated roundabouts in many of its streets as a best practice. |
Leadership |
||
| Cristina Medina Dirksen | GAIL MORTON | |
| If you are elected, what will be your top three priorities? | 1 - Giving Marina street-level attention to fixing roads, sidewalks, bike and walking trails 2 - Equipping fire and public safety for a modern and diverse (gender) workforce 3- Giving our parks attention - know that NO park in Marina has bathrooms that are open, but for special occasions. 4- Strengthening Marina's response to resident and business needs as a result of COVID-19 economic impacts 5 - Action on urgent need for transparency & communication government. COVID has shown us WE CAN ATTEND BY ZOOM! I have been critical of the lack of information coming out of our city in key, major decisions, like redistricting. 6- Safeguarding water, natural resources & open space/recreational opportunities at the on the former Fort Ord. 7. Working collaboratively and respectfully with fellow council members, staff, constituents and stakeholders in Marina's future. 8- Bridging the cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic divide and including ALL residents in actions and study of where Marina can do better in addressing systemic policies that hamper progress. 9 - Fixing the cell and internet dead spots on the Former Fort Ord and Highway 1 corridor! |
Protection of Marina's water is a paramount focus. At the forefront of goals is meeting the challenges of unavailable and unaffordable housing; and increasing quality employment opportunities. Housing that is affordable is a must. High housing costs are problematic for our residents and Marina's economy. Addressing this problem is multi-faceted. Our General Plan and Specific Plans must be written or amended to favor homes that are affordable by design (smaller, located about commercial, and the like). We must continue to manage our city-owned properties to sustain Affordable Housing for Marina. Equally important is securing a greater number of employment opportunities for well-paying jobs within our city. Marina's airport enjoys the preferential tax treatment of an "economic opportunity zone" and now has an approved Specific Plan for development in combination with lands owned by the University of California. Focusing on attracting high tech, innovative businesses to this location and others within Marina is necessary for local employment opportunities and a jobs-housing balance in our city. |
| What land use policies would you champion for the community? | Just outside my door, the Marina Station development is planned and approved. I will champion smart growth and making sure all promises are kept. Most importantly, I will ensure my neighbors are informed and have their opinions shared and respected. | Preservation of our open space and build on the blight first. |
| What accomplishments in your career or public service are you most proud of? | A blog on my website tells my story of getting a crosswalk to my local park. While I have many things to be proud of in my volunteering universe (rallying more than 200 volunteers for booksales, opening an all-volunteer run bookstore and raising in excess of 100k for our library) my story of that cross walk makes me proud every time my family crosses the street to go to Windy Hill Park. This link is: https://www.cristina4marinacitycouncil.com/news/get-out-there-llcxc The story is as follows: Triple jogger, thx, you got us a crosswalk & a councilwoman (in the running)! Written By Cristina Medina Dirksen May 2020 A single person can make a difference. But a single person pushing around a triplet stroller can get a crosswalk! That would be me. That would be about 10 years ago. Growing our family in Marina has been about making it better. Trying to get to Windy Hill Park safely ended up transforming my neighborhood and so much more, leading me to run for a seat on the Marina City Council in 2020. The crosswalk Well, I was the crazy lady running around Marina pushing a triple jogger stroller in my quest to get out of the house [response ended here because it exceeded the 200 word count limit] |
The dissolution of Fort Ord Reuse Authority restored self-governance and millions of dollars to Marina and neighboring jurisdictions. It enable tax dollars to be used for blight removal. |
Background |
||
| Cristina Medina Dirksen | GAIL MORTON | |
| Occupation | Communications Coordinator, Community Foundation for Monterey County | Attorney |
| Years Lived in Area | 20 | 20 |
| Education | Attended Fresno State University; Monterey College of Law | JD McGeorge School of Law University of Pacific; BA Santa Clara University |
| Experience | Can you elaborate - experience in what area? I will paste my resume: Jan. 2016-Present Communications Coordinator, Community Foundation for Monterey County, Monterey, CA. Write, produce, edit materials highlighting the work of a nonprofit community foundation focused on inspiring philanthropy and creating healthy, safe, communities throughout Monterey County. Responsibilities include social media content planning, generation and analytics. Media relations, pitching content and working to direct messaging and branding central to my duties." 2013- June 2020 PRESIDENT, board member, volunteer, The Friends of the Marina Library, Marina ca. Increase visibility, community engagement, funding, social and traditional media outreach for Marina-based not for profit organization dedicated to supporting our county library branch. Brought innovative and inclusive programming. Successfully planned, launched a micro-enterprise all-volunteer-run bookstore. In two years of operation, community bookstore has made in excess of $100,000 with nearly 65 percent going to support library programs (the remainder to meet operational expenses). " Sept. 2017 - PRESENT Volunteer BOARD member, marina Youth Arts, Marina Ca. Secure funding, support and develop programming for a free after-school arts program. Seek, apply for grants to support the mission of providing access and exposure to all forms of art, from theater to jewelry making and [response ended here because it exceeded the 200 word count limit] |
Elected to Marina CIty Council in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. Served on Fort Ord Reuse Authority Board 2013-2020 |
| Leslie Martin did not respond. |