Palm Springs City Council Candidate Michael Gallardo Answers Questions
On September 26th a list was posted titled "26 Questions for Palm Springs City Council Candidates". Copies were emailed to eight of the eleven candidates. One reply has been received.
Candidate Michael Gallardo provided responses to all questions and has graciously assented to publication of his views.
City Council Candidate Michael Gallardo responds to questions.
1. Have you seen the latest City budget and, if so, what, if anything, stands out or otherwise leaves you with unanswered questions or concerns?
2. Are you familiar with the Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC) and, if so, is your own neighborhood one that's currently represented?
3. The proposed new Palm Springs Animal Shelter facility, on city-owned land, is expected to cost $5,000,000 dollars to construct. The 19,000 sq. ft. facility is planned for 75 dogs and 75 cats. That's $263.16 per sq. ft. and $33,333.33 per individual animal cage. In your opinion, is the City building an expensive animal palace or do you consider the five million dollar cost reasonable?
4. Should the City sell its Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Desert Water Agency and, if so, for what purpose should the money from the sale be used?
5. The City Redevelopment Agency board consists of the City Council. Should the council members be replaced or the board expanded to include non-council members?
6. It's often said that Palm Springs is unfriendly to businesses. If you believe that to be true, how should the causes be identified and processes followed to address the problems now and on a continuing basis?
7. Should the City implement an ongoing outreach program to recruit underrepresented community segments for the various board,committee and commission appointments?
8. Do you support and, if so, would you actively seek a fundraising cap on campaigns for city council seats?
9. Do you support and, if so, would you actively seek establishment of a new City Audit/Budget/Finance Commission of appointed citizens?
10. Should the City enter into negotiations with the O'Donnell Golf Club for purchase of the remaining 30+ years in their 99 year lease, so the property can be made available for public purposes?
11. Should the City install parking meters on all business streets?
12. Should the City encourage community clubs and volunteer groups by offering a large meeting facility of spaces for reserved daily rental at modest fees?
13. Should the City paint all crosswalks in commercial districts and on streets with speed limits above 35 mph?
14. Should the City have a uniform maximum speed limit of less than 50 mph and, if so, what should it be?
15. Do you support any form of district elections for Palm Springs city council members and, if so, which type (i.e. one council member must live in each district, and (a) voting is restricted to district residents, or (b) voting is city wide)?
16. The position of Mayor is a four year term. Would you support term limits for the position?
17. The position of City Council member is a four year term. Would you support term limits for the position?
18. If elected, how many hours per week, on average, do you plan on devoting to discharging the responsibilities of the position?
19. If you are currently employed, how many hours per week, on average, are needed to fulfill the responsibilities of your present position?
20. Have you or are you considering a career in politics and, if so, when and what other offices interest you?
21. Relations between the City's officials and Desert Water Agency have sometimes been described as "wet" or "frosty". What steps should be taken to establish a cooperative and, hopefully, friendly relationship between the two agencies?
22. The City Council has placed a new Cell Phone Utility Tax on the ballot. If passed it would place a 4.5% tax on monthly cell phone bills, automatically apply the 4.5% tax to similar new technology developments, and automatically increase the existing emergency response utility tax each year based on inflation. What is your position with respect to the ballot measure and its three components?
23. Los Angeles station KABC-TV recently recognized Palm Desert as a community deserving of the "Extreme Green - Finding eco-friendly solutions in hostile places" title. That city has long been recognized as the valley's energy and water conservation leader. Palm Desert is one of two California cities with a "a direct loan program" that provides residents with loans to finance alternative power systems, such as solar rooftop panels. What steps would you recommend Palm Springs take to achieve equal footing with Palm Desert as an "Extreme Green" city?
24. Palm Springs is not touted as a pedestrian or golf cart friendly city - that "friendly" designation belongs to Palm Desert. Do you consider pedestrian or golf cart transport issues an important component for a city like Palm Springs and, if so, what steps should be taken to address the concerns?
25. Are you familiar with the Palm Springs 2007 General Plan, including its nine components (Administration, Land Use Element, Housing Element, Circulation Element, Recreation - Open Space & Conservation Element, Safety Element, Air Quality Element, Noise Element, Community Design Element)? If so, are there any portions of the plan that you question or have concerns about?
26. The Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort (formerly the Palm Springs Municipal Golf Course) is a money-losing operation that's listed in the General Plan as park land. Do you support its continuation as a subsidized benefit for the golfing interests in the community?
Candidate Michael Gallardo provided responses to all questions and has graciously assented to publication of his views.
City Council Candidate Michael Gallardo responds to questions.
1. Have you seen the latest City budget and, if so, what, if anything, stands out or otherwise leaves you with unanswered questions or concerns?
- The shuffling of funds and no serious thought to spending.
2. Are you familiar with the Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC) and, if so, is your own neighborhood one that's currently represented?
- Yes and Yes
3. The proposed new Palm Springs Animal Shelter facility, on city-owned land, is expected to cost $5,000,000 dollars to construct. The 19,000 sq. ft. facility is planned for 75 dogs and 75 cats. That's $263.16 per sq. ft. and $33,333.33 per individual animal cage. In your opinion, is the City building an expensive animal palace or do you consider the five million dollar cost reasonable?
- Considering the state of the current animal shelter, I believe that this is a viable facility that the city is in need of although quite costly to house only 150 animals.
4. Should the City sell its Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Desert Water Agency and, if so, for what purpose should the money from the sale be used?
- Yes, the money should be set a side for future reconstruction and growth in the city.
5. The City Redevelopment Agency board consists of the City Council. Should the council members be replaced or the board expanded to include non-council members?
- Yes, State law says that the City Council must sit on the agency, however I believe we should also have residents as well as business owners sit on the RDA and vote on some of the reckless spending that goes on with the RDA.
6. It's often said that Palm Springs is unfriendly to businesses. If you believe that to be true, how should the causes be identified and processes followed to address the problems now and on a continuing basis?
- I have been visiting business owners over the last four years on a daily basis, I know their concerns and the I believe there is way to much red tape that they make business owners and new business go through just to get their business opened. The city should assemble packets for the different types of businesses. This would help to fast track the opening of businesses. The packet would include every bit of information needed to open the business in a fast and smooth manner.
7. Should the City implement an ongoing outreach program to recruit underrepresented community segments for the various board,committee and commission appointments?
- Yes, there should be fair representation for all segments of the community.
8. Do you support and, if so, would you actively seek a fundraising cap on campaigns for city council seats?
- Absolutely, I believe that any citizen should be able to represent the city, however those that have so much revenue I feel have the advantage.
9. Do you support and, if so, would you actively seek establishment of a new City Audit/Budget/Finance Commission of appointed citizens?
- Yes, this would help curve reckless spending.
10. Should the City enter into negotiations with the O'Donnell Golf Club for purchase of the remaining 30+ years in their 99 year lease, so the property can be made available for public purposes?
- Yes
11. Should the City install parking meters on all business streets?
- Yes, although the initial invest would be costly in the long run it will be ongoing revenue for the city.
12. Should the City encourage community clubs and volunteer groups by offering a large meeting facility of spaces for reserved daily rental at modest fees?
- Yes, again this too would create revenue.
13. Should the City paint all crosswalks in commercial districts and on streets with speed limits above 35 mph?
- I believe that should be left up to the residents to vote on.
14. Should the City have a uniform maximum speed limit of less than 50 mph and, if so, what should it be?
- Seeing how most of our HWY 111 runs through the city limits, a lower speed limit is needed. We are a small city and it doesn't take much to get from point A to point B, I feel that 45mph is a safe speed limit.
15. Do you support any form of district elections for Palm Springs city council members and, if so, which type (i.e. one council member must live in each district, and (a) voting is restricted to district residents, or (b) voting is city wide)?
- I feel that we need to split the city up into district so that all are represented fair and equally.
16. The position of Mayor is a four year term. Would you support term limits for the position?
- Yes.
17. The position of City Council member is a four year term. Would you support term limits for the position?
- Yes
18. If elected, how many hours per week, on average, do you plan on devoting to discharging the responsibilities of the position?
- Considering the state our city is in, this would have to be almost a full time job for sometime.
19. If you are currently employed, how many hours per week, on average, are needed to fulfill the responsibilities of your present position?
- 20-25 although it can be quite flexible, the magazine can run itself with my competent staff.
20. Have you or are you considering a career in politics and, if so, when and what other offices interest you?
- No, I would be interested in the Mayor's position down the road.
21. Relations between the City's officials and Desert Water Agency have sometimes been described as "wet" or "frosty". What steps should be taken to establish a cooperative and, hopefully, friendly relationship between the two agencies?
- Communication
22. The City Council has placed a new Cell Phone Utility Tax on the ballot. If passed it would place a 4.5% tax on monthly cell phone bills, automatically apply the 4.5% tax to similar new technology developments, and automatically increase the existing emergency response utility tax each year based on inflation. What is your position with respect to the ballot measure and its three components?
- Anything that says tax can only have a hidden agenda down the road.
23. Los Angeles station KABC-TV recently recognized Palm Desert as a community deserving of the "Extreme Green - Finding eco-friendly solutions in hostile places" title. That city has long been recognized as the valley's energy and water conservation leader. Palm Desert is one of two California cities with a "a direct loan program" that provides residents with loans to finance alternative power systems, such as solar rooftop panels. What steps would you recommend Palm Springs take to achieve equal footing with Palm Desert as an "Extreme Green" city?
- We as a city are so far behind on sustainability, which I believe we need to look into the programs that are currently in place down valley and work with their sustainability committee and government agencies so that we can fast track our program here in Palm Springs.
24. Palm Springs is not touted as a pedestrian or golf cart friendly city - that "friendly" designation belongs to Palm Desert. Do you consider pedestrian or golf cart transport issues an important component for a city like Palm Springs and, if so, what steps should be taken to address the concerns?
- No.
25. Are you familiar with the Palm Springs 2007 General Plan, including its nine components (Administration, Land Use Element, Housing Element, Circulation Element, Recreation - Open Space & Conservation Element, Safety Element, Air Quality Element, Noise Element, Community Design Element)? If so, are there any portions of the plan that you question or have concerns about?
- Yes, the part that says to make Palm Springs the number one place to bring new business, however we are not the easiest city to set up new business.
26. The Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort (formerly the Palm Springs Municipal Golf Course) is a money-losing operation that's listed in the General Plan as park land. Do you support its continuation as a subsidized benefit for the golfing interests in the community?
- We used to be known as the place to play and golf, this has moved to the cities down valley. To make this viable revenue for the city, we need to promote the golf courses that we have left in our city, give a reason, promo why Palm Springs golf courses stand apart from the other cities.
Posted by Administrator at 10/9/2009 6:51 PM 
Categories: City Council
Tags: Palm Springs City Council
Categories: City Council
Tags: Palm Springs City Council
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