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DAVE TROTTER
RESPONSE TO MORAGA CITIZEN’S NETWORK QUESTIONNAIRE

How open and accessible should Town government be?  What steps would you take to improve the public’s involvement in the Town’s decision-making?

The answer is:  As open and accessible as possible.  As a former Planning Commissioner and community volunteer, I have a track record of supporting the public’s right to speak and be heard.
Citizens must have full, timely access to public information.  The Rancho Laguna DEIR recently posted on Town’s website did not include many of the plans and maps.  A technical fix to this shortcoming is needed.
The Town needs to make staff reports available on-line sooner, so that public has time for meaningful review. 

I support use of temporary roadside signs to alert folks about important, upcoming Town meetings. 

The General Plan states that the Town should utilize “a minimum number of permanent service employees”.  What are your views on Moraga’s minimum government philosophy?

It is a good place to start, but not a complete answer to the challenges and issues facing Moraga today.  The same General Plan policy quoted above also acknowledges the desire of our citizens for government capable of “responding to community needs and priorities.”  We must ensure that the size of Town government reflects our citizen’s priorities and expectations.

With at least $35 million required to repair the roads in Moraga, what is your strategy for the most efficient way to address this issue?

The Town has a basic public safety obligation to keep our roads and other public infrastructure improvements in good repair.  This is a fundamental priority of municipal government.   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 crumble and collapse, as occurred last winter in the Rheem Center, to fix problems that exist today. 

What are your thoughts about land usage in Moraga including:  Rancho Laguna, Bollinger Canyon and Indian Valley?

We must do more to protect ridgelines, open space and views from inappropriate development.  If elected, I will: 

Strictly enforce our General Plan’s directive to “Protect ridgelines from development”, and disapprove developments, such as Rancho Laguna (which currently proposes 21 ridgeline homes), that don’t meet this Town policy;

Uphold Moraga Open Space Ordinance, and support extending its protections to other open space and ridgeline areas;

Enact ordinances that fully implement General Plan restrictions on ridgeline/hillside development; and 

Use the Specific Plan process to provide additional pedestrian-friendly residential and active senior housing around our shopping centers, especially adjacent to the Moraga Center. 

Many people in Moraga want more opportunities and facilities for recreation.  How would you support this need, both financially and conceptually?

We need more recreational facilities to serve our community, and the many young families who’ve moved here in recent years.  We should use the Specific Plan process to build a new community gymnasium and multi-generational activity center in the heart of Moraga. The owner of the Palos Colorados project has offered $14 million for replacement recreational facilities to compensate for loss of the golf course.  These funds should go toward construction of a community gym/center, and improvements to playfields.

I have advocated for new and improved recreational facilities for 10 years.  This will be a major focus if I’m elected.

Home

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My Goals

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Bio

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Candidate Statement

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Supporters

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Contact