WHERE I STAND ON THE ISSUES

By Thomas K. Arnold

Sustainability. That's what this election is all about. How can we make sure Carlsbad remains as vibrant as it is now 30 years into the future? Here are some of the key issues facing our city, and where I stand:

It may sound incongruous, given Carlsbad's success, but the No. 1 issue facing our city is its finances. In the past Carlsbad has been insulated from having to make tough choices thanks to strong development and a vibrant local economy. We won't have that luxury in the future. Now is the time to begin laying the financial framework to ensure Carlsbad can meet the real needs of its citizens in coming years, lest we end up like the city of San Diego.

• No more wasteful spending, such as the golf course and the Farmers Insurance Building.
• Fair and balanced approach to developers and public unions.
• Focus on replenishing the city's financial reserves, which once stood in excess of $100 million and are now nearly depleted.

There has been too much talk and not enough action regarding the economic development of one of the city's key assets, Carlsbad Village. Let's do something! The problem is not one of planning and standards; we have plenty of those. What Carlsbad is lacking is the political will to implement. That needs to change. The Village should be THE major draw in North County for both locals and tourists, but the hodge-podge mix we have today does not provide the critical mass to achieve this. Only a concerted effort backed by residents, business, and city government will accomplish this goal.

• Incentivize the right mix of business--more restaurants, less auto shops. Work respectfully with the businesses involved to achieve a "win-win" solution.
• Encourage mixed-use development--it works!
• Provide more parking--has anyone considered a parking garage at the north end of town?

Carlsbad's voters have made it clear how they feel about these lands through Propositions C and D. Your city government needs to be faithful to that intent. Open space does not mean the parking lots in a business park, a golf course or open water in lagoons. We need sustainable, community-oriented open space, as well a fair amount of acreage dedicated to highlighting the major role agriculture has played in Carlsbad's history. Six years after voters approved Proposition C, which allows some of the city's reserve funds to be spent on open space, we've spent millions of dollars on a golf course, a training facility and an empty building--but not a dime on open space.

• Real open space, not lip service--meaning respect the voters' wishes and implement Proposition C!
• The flower fields have become a world-class tourist attraction. Can't we do the same with a portion of our strawberry fields?
• Ensure the viability of agriculture on the Cannon Road lands for as long as possible.

Development here (the lands just east of Old Highway 101 on the southwestern edge of Carlsbad) is inevitable, but I will work to ensure the Ponto Vision Plan adopted by the city council in November 2007 is faithfully adhered to.

• A mixture of hospitality, recreation, residential and commercial use is a winning formula!
• Ponto Beach is the Southern gateway to Carlsbad. Let's create something we can all be proud of!

No one wants to see a second power plant on the coast, and I support the City Council's opposition to this project. But the reality is that we will most likely have to accept it. By no means, however does this mean that Carlsbad should not have a voice in how the project is realized.

• We need to continue to try to get NRG West and the California Energy Commission to move the second power plant away from our precious coast.
• Tear down the old plant!

Carlsbad is a city of quadrants, each with its unique identity. We need to become a city, not a confederation of communities, and we can start by binding the city together through visionary projects that borrow liberally from success stories elsewhere in the country.

• Why not take Old Highway 101 and use it to brand Carlsbad with its own identity? From signage to a pedestrian promenade--let's stamp "Carlsbad" on the coastal strip from La Costa to Oceanside!
• Infrastructure is only the beginning--let's have more citywide events like the summer concert series. We need to think big!