Erie Election 2014

Erie Neighbors,

My husband, Andrew and I, along with Matthew (18) and Megan (16) have called Erie home for almost 16 years. We are fortunate to have gotten to know so many of you.  

Being involved in our community has always been important to us. Andrew and I have both volunteered in our neighborhood.  Andrew was Mayor of Erie for 6 years, until being term limited in 2010.   I am 2 years into my 4 year term as an Erie Trustee.

As a fiscal conservative, the last 2 years as a board member have been a considerable challenge for me.  As many who have kept up with the politics know, I have been in the minority most of the time when the topic has been about expenditures.  Many of of these I’ve written about in my blog.

This blog is to ask for your support for the candidates who I believe will help move Erie forward.

Here are the people I am asking you to support with your vote in this election:

 
Tina Harris (Mayor) 

Jennifer Kramer

Waylon Schutt

Scott Charles 

Mark Gruber 

You may ask why I am not in favor of Ronda Grassi as our next mayor.   It is not personal, it is business.  It comes down to the deciding votes she cast on the 5 major decisions listed below. These decisions compromise Erie’s livability and its fiscal health.

1.	Approved Golden Run with Ultra High Density designation which could bring in 40,000 people congest traffic and change the character of Erie from suburban to high rise urban. Annexation Agreement - Ultra High Density Golden Run Approvals Population Reference
2.	Gave subsidies of over $3M to a housing developer, shifting the burden to the taxpayers.
3.	Built the $1.2M+ skate-park against staff recommendations and borrowed to do it.
4.	Reduced gas well setbacks in a large 2200 home development at the developers request.
5.	Changed Erie’s development code to allow for Planned Developments (PD).  This means developers are able to by-pass Erie’s code and any meaningful planning process.   It is what has allowed #1 and #4 to occur.

I'm confident the candidates I endorse will work for the majority in Erie, not special interests. Their platforms focus on bringing in retail, putting needs before wants, revitalizing Old Town, re-establishing good relationships with our neighbors (Lafayette and Boulder County), advocating for a new BVSD school, and ensuring subsidies to housing developers stop.   None of these candidates are taking campaign contributions from developers.

You may have noticed I did not specifically endorse a 5th Trustee.  You are asked to vote for 5.   I believe of the other candidates, Dan Woog or Bill Gippe are good choices and are not taking money from developers.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and consider these candidates.

As a Trustee for our wonderful town, please let me know your concerns and thoughts by emailing or calling me.

Take care,

Janice

303-604-0510

Erie Airport - What Do You Think?

I first flew in a small airplane in college.  It was exhilarating.   Since that time I’ve appreciated local aviation.  My son has an even bigger love for flight and is working towards his private pilot’s license. He recently soloed for the first time.

I’m writing this blog to ask for your help.  I need to understand if I am in the minority on funding and operational decisions related to the airport.   I’d appreciate your input via a short survey.

I want the airport in Erie to be successful, and currently believe it must do so using its own funding mechanisms.

On January 14, on a 4-3 vote, Wilson-Grassi-Mahe-Woog directed staff to add to the supplemental budget certain airport expenses to be paid from the general fund.  On February 25, Trustee Woog questioned staff on if it would be a loan.  Staff said it could be, but the decision would be made at supplemental budget time.

I was shocked when the small majority of the Board, for a second time, earmarked money from the general fund to supplement the airport fund.   

This is especially frustrating at a time when we are asking voters to raise their taxes for a new police station.    It begs the question, why can’t the airport live within its means? 

With this in mind, I am providing a short survey to obtain a sense of how Erie residents generally feel about airport funding and their support to expand the airport.

I appreciate your time filling out the survey and helping me understand this topic better.

You can find the survey by clicking here.

Take Care,

Janice