What do you think are the major challenges facing businesses in West Sacramento and how do you plan to address them? What type of business recruitment and retention programs should the city have?
Jim Cahill
Email: jim@jimcahill.org
Website: www.jimcahill.org
Phone: (916) 531-6264
Concerns expressed to me by West Sacramento businesses include:
Crime
Blight
Vandalism
Oppressive City Codes/Fees
In some cases, business location plays a defining role in which concerns rate highest. Meetings with West Capitol Avenue business owners have indicated that crime and blight continue to present their greatest challenges. Businesses located in industrial parks have noted that vandalism and trespassing reflect insufficient police patrols. Home-based business owners report difficulty in dealing with City codes and fees, sometimes amid a sea of red tape.
In each case, business owners with whom I have met share a concern that the City Council does not understand what it takes to be a successful business owner. I have successfully served clients, met a payroll and built a business myself. I understand that, while process is important, results matter most.
In order to provide a more business-friendly atmosphere, I will:
Meet regularly with West Capitol business owners to coordinate responses to crimes such as vagrancy, trespass, prostitution and vandalism.
Direct Measure K funds towards the hiring or more police and code enforcement officers.
Work to eliminate blight through continued support of focused redevelopment efforts along West Capitol Avenue, the Riverfront and Triangle areas.
Be a voice of reason on the Council, providing a business perspective to the decisions regarding policies and fees that inhibit business productivity and success.
While Business Recruitment and Retention does already receive support from The City of West Sacramento in the form of its’ “BERT” program, more than just a program response is called for.
As a Council Member, my efforts to enhance business recruitment and retention will focus on:
Developing new interest in business opportunities within the City
Supporting the development of a school system with a more positive reputation
Supporting development of affordable, but desirable neighborhoods
Advancing regional infrastructure improvement to ease commutes to and from the City
Elected leaders need to serve as “rainmakers”, advocates for the general business community, acting to develop new interest in business opportunities here in West Sacramento.
A strong school system promotes a healthy atmosphere for employees to locate near their place of work. Promoting the positive aspects of WUSD’s efforts to reform, together with a more focused effort to finally build a modern Library in West Sacramento will attract good employees who see the value of a good public school system
Affordable homes are important, but desirable and safe neighborhoods are equally important in providing the quality of life necessary to attract and keep good employees. I will insure that good development decisions are made so that a balance between affordability and quality is maintained.
West Sacramento continues to be a job center regionally. With so many more employees coming here from outside the City, the urgency for another bridge across the Sacramento River is greater than ever. I will continue my strong advocacy for building a new bridge.
Mark Johannessen
Email: mark@markjohannessen.com
Website: www.markjohannessen.com
Phone: (916) 371-0661
As the only candidate in this city council race who is not only an active West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce member, but a board member for the last 4 years and the past chair of the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee, the most influential committee of the Chamber, I am well aware of the problems faced by the business community either doing business or seeking to do business in West Sacramento. The major challenges the business community faces include 1) competitive development fees and costs and costs of doing business, 2) having a realistic and dynamic permitting process that encourages development, and 3) having city economic policies that attract the businesses and development we want to see come to our city.
The city presently has a business recruitment program. However, as a City Councilman I would be available to assist in recruitment efforts wherever possible, whether in or out of West Sacramento, and will actively participate in recruitment efforts.
With regard to retention efforts, the city has a business retention program in loose cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce where Chamber members accompany city staff to businesses that may be considering leaving West Sacramento. I would like to see that program continue and possibly expanded to include the Chamber in a more significant and formal way, and that recognizes that the Chamber is an excellent source of intelligence on the pulse of businesses operating in West Sacramento.
Email: info@chrisledesma.com
Website: www.chrisledesma.com
Phone: (916) 203-6925
As we continue to grow, it will be imperative that West Sacramento stay focused on maintaining an environment where businesses can also grow. While fees and taxes often come to mind as key elements to keeping our city a competitive place to do business, how the city conducts its business and the ease in doing business with our city are equally important. We need to make sure we provide the leadership in setting the right environment for business, one that lets the business community know that we are a good place to do business, and that we will do all we can to bring quality business to West Sacramento, and quality jobs for working families. We also need to make our retention program a priority, and plan my experience in developing loan programs for small businesses to help develop our own strategies, tools and programs in keeping our own small businesses expanding and growing.
Mary Lasell
Email: eyeonwsac@hotmail.com
Phone: (916) 372-8121
Our City needs to lure more visitors to West Sacramento to stimulate our economy. We want people to stay in our City for a day or two. We need to promote our motels. We need restaurants.
We need to use our greatest asset—our river front. We need to involve our entire community to accomplish this effort of building it and the businesses that will be along it.
We have IKEA. People shop there and then go home. We want them to spend more money throughout the city, but we have to offer them the businesses and restaurants to visit.
We have Raley Field. After people leave the ball field; they go home or go to Old Sac. We have lost a lot of business since Raley Field opened because there is no place in West Sacramento for people to go to afterward.
We need a parking structure to accommodate Raley Field, and with businesses in place we would not lose people to Old Sac. And our local people would go to these businesses too.
Wes Beers
Email: wesbeers@gowes.org
Website: www.gowes.org
Phone: (916) 372-0130
West Sacramento has a variety of businesses from a small, yet growing retail component, emerging biotech industry, motels, light industrial, warehouse, good movement (trucking) and related services. Some of these businesses are small and some are growing. Some are in older developed areas, some are in areas being primed for redevelopment and some are in newer areas of the City.
The challenges within the control of the City are ensuring that infrastructure is in place, services are provided, the cost of doing business—City fees/charges are appropriate and that City regulations are not burdensome and are applied fairly to the previously described diverse business community. Additionally, the City can play a role in developing a quality work force to meet the needs of employers.
From the standpoint of business retention and recruitment, in addition to surveys and work training programs, I would see the City improving our strategic economic communication with the business community. I think there is a lot of information on the direction the City is taking that could assist businesses in planning for change that is currently not adequately communicated with the business community. The most obvious area is the Port. With the City now firmly in control of the future of the Port, we need to open up a larger dialogue on how to take advantage of this huge resource in the middle of our City. What are the possibilities and how can our existing businesses take advantage and help direct the port’s future?