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last update: Wednesday, October 11, 2006

DAVE TROTTER
RESPONSE TO CONTRA COSTA TIMES QUESTIONNAIRE

Watch Video Excerpts From CCTV Town Council Candidate Forum

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1.

Why did you decide to run for Town Council?

My family and I moved to Moraga 18 years ago for its excellent public schools, its semi-rural feeling, its spectacular open space, and its exceptional quality of life.  My desire to preserve and enhance these mainstream values, to serve the Moraga community and the broader public interest, and to make a difference in addressing the important questions facing the Town, motivates and energizes me to seek a seat on the Town Council.

2.

What is the most pressing issue for Moraga?

There are two most pressing issues facing the Town of Moraga today:
First, completing and implementing the Specific Plan process to guide future business, residential and recreational facility development in and around the Moraga Center and Rheem Park shopping centers.  See response to Questions 3 and 4 below. 
Second, protecting Moraga’s magnificent ridgelines and remaining open space areas from inappropriate development.  See response to Question 5 below.

3.

What would you do to revitalize the commercial centers of town?

As my past voting record on the Planning Commission shows, I support local businesses.  They are integral to our community and the backbone of our Town’s economy.  I will work with established and new businesses to bring vitality back to our commercial centers.  I will use the ongoing Specific Plan process to provide additional pedestrian-friendly residential and active senior housing around our shopping centers, especially in the undeveloped areas adjacent to the Moraga Center. 

4.

Is the Palos Colorados housing proposal a good fit for the community?  Why or why not?  If not, what conditions would you place on it to make it so?

I support the elimination of the golf course because it substantially reduces impacts on traffic and wildlife habitat. The property owner has offered $14 million for replacement recreational facilities to compensate for loss of the golf course.  These funds should go toward a community gym, multi-generational activity center, and improvements to playfields. The Town’s ability to change the project further is limited by the 1999 litigation settlement agreement, with which the Town must comply.

5.

What would you do to protect views and open space?

We can and must do more.  I would:

Strictly enforce the Moraga General Plan’s directive to “Protect ridgelines from development,” and disapprove development proposals that don’t meet this standard, such as the current Rancho Laguna proposal to build 21 homes on a prominent ridgeline.

Uphold the Moraga Open Space Ordinance, and support efforts to extend its protections to other open space areas.

Adopt new ordinances that fully implement General Plan restrictions on ridgeline and hillside development. 

6.

Is there a need for road repairs?  How would you finance them?

The need is substantial.  The Town has a $35 million maintenance backlog.  Keeping our roads in good repair is a high priority part of the Town’s basic public safety obligations.  As a Council member, I will work to find viable budget solutions for financing needed infrastructure repairs and maintenance in a timely manner.  We cannot wait until after roads collapse, as occurred last winter in the Rheem Center, to fix problems that exist today.