Almaden Resident

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Reed, Chavez discuss Coyote Valley, secondary units, 911 fee at debate

By Monica Heger

San Jose mayoral candidates Chuck Reed and Cindy Chavez went face to face over Coyote Valley, secondary units, spending decisions and ethics during an Oct 11 debate co-sponsored by the Almaden Valley Community Association and the VEP Community Association at Gunderson High School.

Reed, who has delivered a consistent message of ethics and fiscal responsibility throughout his campaign, stayed the course. He lambasted the current city council for "wasting taxpayers' dollars." He said the $8 million Tropicana lawsuit, the $4 million Grand Prix subsidy, the $500 million city hall and the $22 million lawsuit with the county over a proposed development at the fairgrounds were all a waste of money that he voted against.

Chavez has defended her votes on the Grand Prix and redevelopment of the Tropicana center in East San Jose in particular. She said the only thing she would have done differently on the Grand Prix vote was to have waited another week so the public had time to give input. She said the Grand Prix subsidy was a good investment for the city, and the Tropicana lawsuit ended with the shopping center being cleaned up.

Coyote Valley

Chavez and Reed supported keeping the triggers for development in place for the mega-community planned for Coyote Valley, although both said the criteria is going to be studied when the city updates its General Plan in January.

Chavez went a step further, saying the next council should look at whether any triggers needed to be added, such as a Caltrain station in Coyote Valley, before the 25,000-home development could proceed.

"We put in place the triggers to ensure that when Coyote Valley was developed it would be at a time that did not injure the city," Reed said. "We have to be very cautious how we go and when we go."

Chavez said she supported the planning process for Coyote Valley because it promotes smart growth as opposed to sprawl.

"Coyote Valley should be job-driven," Chavez added.

Secondary units

The two candidates differed when it came to secondary units and the pilot program the city launched in January to streamline the permit process for secondary units. Chavez said she does not support secondary units and did not support the pilot program because there are too many unsafe and illegal secondary units currently in the downtown area. She said the city needs to work better with code enforcement to bring the illegal units up to code and deal with issues such as parking and safety.

Reed supported the pilot program for secondary units. There are many houses in San Jose that have large enough lots and ample parking for secondary units, he said. He said the reason the pilot program has received little attention is because there are still too many city restrictions on obtaining permits for such units.

Emergency fees

Reed does not support the extension of the emergency 911 fee. He says the issue should have gone to the voters to decide. When the council instituted the fee, it was scheduled to end in 2006, he added. Reed said the sunset date should have been honored; instead, the council extended the fee in this year's budget cycle.

Chavez supported the 911 fee, which she says will bring $20 million to the city.