Chamber of Commerce

Here are the responses I gave to the questionnaire from the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce:

1. What is your experience interacting with city employees to start or expand a business (have you ever applied for a permit?). If so, could that process be improved?

I operate a small business in Kalamazoo and have sought various permits from the city. However, my primary interaction with city staff is through my years of serving as the commission’s liaison to our Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

The city has worked hard to create a “one-stop shop” for assisting businesses as efficiently as possible. This is working well to my knowledge, but we should always seek to improve our services. One way to do this is make sure that commissioners hear directly about how well this is running. I will propose this to the City Manager.

2. In your opinion what is the overall perception of customer service within the City?

I think the perception of our customer service is good, overall. One thing that might improve our services in various departments would be to always seek to provide accurate timelines on how long processes and projects are going to take. For example, the South Street/W. Michigan/Oakland intersection sewer improvements caused road closures, but our engineering department gave an end date for the construction and held to it. An “Open Door” dialogue and communication policy between business and government is the key to building relationships.

3. What policies would you enact to improve customer service and foster improved government/business relationships?

The message needs to go out from the Commission and resonate through every level of the organization that we are here to serve the people of this community. I think we should have a system for tracking complaints so that if someone with a legitimate issue has made multiple calls on the same problem, the issue is automatically flagged and moved to the front of the line.

4. Under what circumstances would you definitely support tax abatements?

Any employer who creates good jobs for the people of this community should be eligible for tax abatements under the existing guidelines. Likewise, tax abatements should be used as a tool for retention and attraction of good jobs.

5. Under what circumstances would you definitely oppose tax abatements?

An employer who fails to meet the terms of their existing tax abatement agreement should not receive another (or have it revoked) until they have rectified the situation. If jobs are promised, they must be delivered. I also would not support tax abatements to employers who clearly do not demonstrate how they will add substantial value to the local economy through their workers wages and benefits.

6. What economic development tools does the city have that are ‘essential services’ on par with tools the police department has to ensure citizen safety?

It is difficult to point to any city service that is not, at this juncture, an essential service that contributes to the ability of the city to promote economic development. Many of our most basic services have been reduced too far as it is. Street repair is chronically behind, however we are catching up as the gateway roads into the city are looking much better today than in the past, and it is challenging to properly maintain important amenities that the city provides (parks, cemeteries, etc.). A safe, enjoyable community is a critical economic development tool.

7. What economic development tools are luxuries that we are lucky to be able to afford, but may have to do without some day?

Due to consistent city commission support over the years, funds have been annually budgeted to promote and support critical economic development activities. These take the form of loans and financing assistance, tax abatements, Brownfield redevelopment credits, and forgivable loans. It would be short-sighted to eliminate the budgeting of these funds and I remain committed to these allocations due to their ability to leverage jobs and investment in Kalamazoo. It is very difficult to identify any luxuries that might be removed from the budget after many years of shrinking city budgets.

8. What parts of city government have been cut far enough, and/or too far, and should be considered for additional resource allocations?

We have many infrastructure needs, some of which will be crucial to fund if we are to continue providing a decent level of service to, and investment in, the community. For example, there is a great, ongoing need to replace our sewer and water lines. As well, most people would agree that we can’t reduce funding for street maintenance any further. It is always a challenge to balance limited resources among the many important needs of the community.

9. What parts of city government can be looked at to provide more efficiencies?

We should always be examining and evaluating the operations of local units of government to see where we can reduce redundancies and provide better services to the community at the current cost level (or lower). Intergovernmental cooperation provides the best opportunity to discover new ways to become more efficient and there are many areas where this is currently being explored and pursued. For example, “back office” administrative operations and public safety operations hold good potential. Local units of government might consider summits or quarterly round table meetings to give greater attention to the need to cooperate.

10. Understanding that Stryker and Pfizer are the marquis job providers in the area, what role as a city leader would you play to maximize their investment in the community?

We must continue to make it clear to the corporate leaders of all major employers that we value their presence in our community and want to ensure their employees have a good quality of life. We must remain responsive and aggressive in ensuring that these employers are able to operate here. Further, we must cooperate with organizations such as the Chamber, Southwest Michigan First, and Downtown development entities are all working in partnership to realize the most supportive community possible.

11. What opportunities do you see for fostering greater cooperation between the Cities of Kalamazoo and Portage and other local units of government?

Our recent success toward implementing county-wide transit represents an excellent step, but needs continued support to be fully realized. Another good example of cooperation is our county-wide first-responder agreements for fire and EMS, although there remains room to do more. Other cooperation may be feasible by fusing administrative functions among governments (potentially saving tax dollars). County-wide land-use planning would help control sprawl and reduce infrastructure costs. An inclusionary housing compact would enhance county-wide housing affordability.

12. As a City leader what will you do to grow enrollment in WMU and other local higher educational institutions?.

We must continuue to improve the brand of our community outside the immediate area and promote these institutions within the community. High school graduates in Southwest Michigan should find the choices in their own back yard as attractive as schools in other cities and states. Also important, parents must know their son or daughter will be safe in our neighborhoods and our community when they consider entrusting their child to our care. The city must partner with educational institutions to provide the best experience possible for all those attending school to advance themselves—and enjoy Kalamazoo in the process.

13. What single issue, above all others, drives you to run for this office?

Improving our neighborhoods and the quality of life they provide for our citizens. Economic development, supporting The Promise, street maintenance, snow removal, water quality, youth programs are but some of the parts that help the whole objective: to cultivate and sustain a place people want to call their home.