Pam Keller Last on the Ballot, First for Fullerton!

I believe in building Fullerton's future. I will bring people together, listen, generate new ideas, and work hard for you. The only 'special interest' I intend to represent is you, your family and your neighbors. You can count on me to PLAN, PROTECT, PROVIDE and PRESERVE Fullerton!

Together, we will PLAN. Fullerton is a city in crisis - do we become an urban jungle like L.A. or Santa Ana? We must carefully plan our city where all of us - and future generations - can live in a safe, healthy, peaceful environment surrounded by first-class educational and cultural institutions.
I will PROTECT Fullerton from special interest developers that want to influence our future. I have not and will not accept developer contributions to get elected. I support vision and growth that is driven by the residents of Fullerton.
I will PROVIDE increased methods for public input to the council. I will be available by phone and e-mail and will work to prevent further reduction of public comments at council meetings. You can count on me to be approachable and listen at all times.
I will PRESERVE our high quality of life by supporting plans that solve our parking, traffic, pavement-management and other infrastructure problems but ensure that we maintain a fiscally responsible city government.

(Not in any order of importance)

On Coyote Hills/OPEN SPACE:
The hallmark of my campaign has been to seek input from—and listen to—the residents of Fullerton on important issues facing the City. I have met with those on all sides of the Coyote Hills Project and understand that this is a very divisive and emotional issue for many. Saving as much open space as possible for our community to enjoy, while respecting private property rights, is an important issue for me.

I promise to continue seeking input from the community and work to provide the best solution for the citizens of Fullerton. Many have asked why the City has not actively sought funding for buying the property. I promise that—when elected—I will find out why and will do my utmost to bring all parties together; direct lobbyists and others to research ALL possibilities; and encourage collaboration of other cities, the county and state in an effort to find the best solution for Fullerton.

On “Backroom” Deals:
The California “Brown Act” strictly prohibits meetings of the City Council from being conducted in secret and provides for criminal penalties if the Act is violated. I am a staunch advocate of community input on Council decisions and believe in transparency in government decision-making. As the 8th woman elected and newest City Councilperson, I will work diligently to dispel any perception that “backroom” deal making occurs and will impress upon my colleagues the absolute necessity to do the same.

On Affordable Housing:
Affordable housing is a serious problem and an extreme challenge in Orange County, with median home values exceeding $600,000. Only 11% of all Orange County residents would currently qualify to purchase a median-priced home. I would like to see the City take a proactive approach and work with non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity, which will be building several homes in the Richman area of Fullerton in the near future. I believe the City should also work cooperatively with other non-profits such as the Cal State Fullerton Foundation,which works to provide workforce housing for CSUF’s faculty and staff, and expand this program to include other professionals in our community (teachers, police and fire). As a Councilperson, providing workforce housing would be a high priority.

On The Fox Theatre:
Restoration of the Theater has wide support within the community. I believe the City can play a role in assisting the non-profit Fullerton Historic Theater Foundation to take the project from a dream to a reality. The Foundation has developed a financially feasible plan that will allow this historic gem be restored and run as a self-sustaining cultural center in downtown Fullerton without burdening Fullerton’s taxpayers. As a City Councilperson I would work to bring this project to fruition.

On Re-Development Funds:
The Redevelopment Zones in Fullerton encompass four areas: 1) Commercial area around Harbor/Orangethorpe, 2) Downtown, 3) Area around CSUF, and 4) Six different commercial areas scattered throughout the city. Currently the FUNDS FROM REDEVELOPMENT CAN ONLY BE USED IN THESE SPECIFIC AREAS. The agency is currently working on merging the redevelopment zones in order to have a more flexible use of the funds. Once the projects in the Richman/Valencia neighborhood and other areas are complete, one area not in the redevelopment zone area–that I would like to see a greater focus placed–is the Southwest side of Fullerton. It has been sorely neglected and is in need of City assistance to rebuild neighborhoods and encourage homeowner improvements. I recommend that we offer residents a Home Improvement Holiday, a waiver of the permit fees and amnesty for un-permitted structures for a limited time. This would encourage existing un-permitted structures to get permitted and encourage resident remodeling of the area. I also support partnerships with groups like Habitat for Humanity for the development of affordable housing in Fullerton.

The Most Important Issue Facing Fullerton in the Future?
There are a number of important issues facing the City. With the State of California still involved in a financial crisis, the City feels the effect of diminished financial support from the State; therefore, necessary work on an ongoing basis is needed to provide improvements within the infrastructure. We are also a City in the midst of change. We have 33 major development projects currently underway in the City; they have the potential to change the face of Fullerton forever. As a member of the City Council, I will address Both of these concerns as priority issues.

On Building Heights in Fullerton:
Certainly some height limits must exist. The tallest building currently in the downtown area is the historic Chapman building at 65 feet. Certainly the 83-year-old Chapman building has set a defacto standard of sorts for the maximum height limit. The issue I believe is to determine if it is possible to construct buildings that would exceed this height while retaining the aesthetic, cultural and historic elements of the downtown area.

On improving Communications with Citizens:
I believe in a government that respects and listens to its people, and that taking steps to prevent any further reduction in community input at the City Council meetings is vitally important. I would support a city-wide survey via mail and the internet with a focus on understanding the all-important needs of the citizens in Fullerton. Additionally, I would work to increase the number of community forums to talk about specific city projects and city-wide updates. We might want to consider utilizing the media at the Colleges to assist with a weekly radio program or our cable company for a TV broadcast of community forums.

On Undergrounding Utilities:
Everywhere we look across the city of Fullerton, we see unsightly utility poles and power lines. Yet, there is no plan to underground them. I have been told that it will never happen, that there is not enough money to deal with this issue. I disagree. We simply need to place an importance on getting this completed in our general plan, even if it takes 30 to 50 years.

On Small Businesses:
As the wife of a small business owner, I understand how small businesses are the backbone of our community. Fullerton needs to continually strengthen its business community to ensure continued economic growth. I would like to see a partnership between businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, labor organizations, and the City to develop a plan to attract and retain new businesses to Fullerton. We need to bring back neighborhood shopping to all parts of our town. I support using redevelopment funds to help improve shopping centers and provide better access for residents.

On Taxes:
A healthy and safe community is my first priority for Fullerton. I agree with the current standards Fullerton has for assessments, and feel that increases should only be made with the consent of the residents – and to insure the health, safety and future of the community.

On Property Rights:
I oppose government using eminent domain to benefit private enterprise.

On New Developments:
I believe we should ensure that new development is planned and implemented for the benefit of all Fullerton residents. I support limiting the amount that developers can contribute to political campaigns. I will ask that the Planning Commission and other Council members address the cumulative impact of each new development in the terms of traffic, pollution, and the environment. Some method must be devised to look at what Fullerton wants to look like in 5, 10 or 25 years. For example, look at Amerige Court. Do we really want a 9-story building in the heart of historic downtown Fullerton?

On Commissions:
Our Commissions are an important part of our policy making process and I believe we must take politics out of the process. Our Commissioners should represent the diversity that exists in our community. I believe that the Council should respect and consider the recommendations placed before them by the various Commissions. Important issues should be brought to the Commissions for review, instead of side-stepping the process and going directly to the Council.

I welcome the opportunity to get to know you and I am very interested in hearing your concerns, ideas and questions.

Email me at pam@pamkeller.com or Call me at 714.336.6910