1.        What is the single biggest challenge facing San Luis Obispo in the coming years, and if elected, what would you do now to address the issue?

The biggest challenge will be maintaining community priorities and quality of life while dealing with a shrinking budget! With state take-aways, falling revenues and budget cuts, we are challenged to protect community priorities, including conserving our resources–human, economic, natural, cultural, and historical–preserving safe streets and neighborhoods, improving infrastructure, and promoting a vibrant economy.  I am meeting this challenge with my own challenge, running for Mayor.  If elected, I will be a full time, all-in, completely devoted Mayor who is a good listener with a collaborative management style. I will give the city the high level, professional leadership it needs to power through these difficult times, keeping our 20% reserve.  I will work with the community to update our land use and circulation elements, and plan a healthy, sustainable future. I will work to stimulate economic vitality and green business, retain and increase workforce housing, contain government costs, reduce energy consumption, further regional cooperation and increase recreational opportunities. Please check out janmarx.com.

2.   What specifically would you do to encourage the development of more head-of-household jobs in the city?

I propose a green business and high tech zone, bringing the highest speed broadband internet here, working with the business community and Cal Poly to create a new incubation facility to help innovative Poly graduates stay in the area. We must keep improving our city’s quality of life, to keep attracting mid size businesses and highly productive remotely operated or home businesses to our area.

3.    What should the City’s role be in encouraging the type of business that is good for the community?

To me, a “business that is good for the community” is financially vigorous, non-polluting and owned by civic minded individuals.  The city’s role includes listening to all sides of an issue, enhancing quality of life, keeping infrastructure well maintained, improving policies to encourage existing businesses and a vital downtown, facilitating work force housing, and making city processes more “user-friendly.”

4.    Are any changes are necessary in the future pension benefit provided to San Luis Obispo city employees? If not, why not? If so, what specific changes should be made?

Pensions are a contractual employment benefit and, I believe, key to attracting and retaining our high quality city workforce.  But, pension costs must not be allowed to hold our budget hostage.  I voted to put consideration of pension options on an upcoming agenda.  I am interested in considering all options, for example employee-employer pension cost-sharing, two tier or phased pension system, or a system under which new employees would receive smaller pension benefits, or contribute more than existing employees, among other alternatives.  Since this issue will be on our agenda, I cannot commit to any specific option beforehand.  I invite you to speak up on this issue.

5.    What is your position on Measure H? Specifically, if it passes, how do you think the measure will impact the community?

I know and respect people on both sides of this initiative. In 2000 I voted against the northern alignment (as did Dave Romero) in favor of the Industrial Way alignment. We lost. Since 2000, significant planning has taken place, based on the future existence of Prado between Higuera and Broad as traffic mitigation.  If Prado simply “dead ends,” as proposed, there could well be unintended consequences for property owners’ rights, housing projects, fire and police response times and traffic congestion in the neighborhoods.  If anyone had asked me my opinion before launching Measure H, I would have counseled against it. I do not support it now.