Douglas Reeves Answers to Plano Star Courier Questionnaire:
1. Plano is experiencing increased infrastructure demands as North Texas continues growing. What specific strategies do you propose to address these challenges and ensure sustainable development?
I support moving Plano’s wastewater treatment plant further down the line, outside of the city limits. The current facility is a nuisance to the residents in East Plano, and is not equipped at its present footprint to handle the increasing need for water processing.
Plano traffic has increased in the last decade, and the explosion of high-density apartments has exponentially grown our population and contributed to the increased traffic congestion. We can mitigate the increase to future traffic by limiting rezoning of high-density apartments. A negative result of this constant traffic from residents of Plano and thru traffic from other cities (along with the heavy DART buses), is wear and tear on our already aging roads. This creates the need for ongoing road repairs. Road construction and repair must be staggered, so there are not too many projects going on at the same time, causing traffic jams and long commutes. Road conditions are listed in stages “A—F”, with category “A” being a new road, and “F” being a “total tear-up and start-over stage”. Ongoing maintenance prevents roads from reaching the “F” stage, because then repairs take longer, and are more expensive. I support the continued use of asphalt overlays, because they are less expensive, and last longer than concrete.
2. With the city considering a $649 million bond referendum, including funding for a new police headquarters and training center, how do you plan to balance public safety needs with fiscal responsibility?
When balancing the need for public safety and the need to keep taxes low for our citizens, it is important to evaluate through the lens of the core functions of government. Keeping residents safe is the most basic of those core functions of government! I would prioritize providing for public safety in any budget that I would pass. When seconds count in response time to an emergency, we must supply our first responders with all they need to be as efficient as possible. This includes competitive salaries, up to date facilities, education, and training opportunities.
3. What initiatives do you plan to implement to enhance transparency and encourage greater involvement from Plano residents in city decision-making processes?
Transparency is essential in our form of government that is by, and for the people. My mission is to be a bridge between the city and the citizens. I will use emails and frequent video postings to inform constituents, and hold town hall meetings to ask for their input on various issues. I will encourage the city to also hold workshops and town hall meetings when important issues affecting our future come up.
4. Plano’s economic landscape is evolving. What measures will you take to attract new businesses, support existing ones, and ensure equitable economic opportunities for all residents?
By preserving remaining undeveloped land for business development, rather than rezoning for high-density residential development, we can attract new businesses, support existing ones, and ease the tax burden for our homeowners. This is because corporations use less city services in a day than residents do, so increasing our commercial tax base, rather than increasing our population, will supply the funds needed to maintain our infrastructure and excellent city services.
Corporations seeking to relocate here are attracted to Plano’s excellent schools, because they want highly educated workers, and their employees want their children to be well educated. Our City and School district need to work together to create a desirable community that attracts talented employees. High density development hurts some schools through overcrowding and increased student turnover, so the City Council needs to protect schools from overly dense zoning. I would vote for land use that supports what the schools are doing. Single room apartments don’t contribute students for schools, which affects their enrollment dollars.
5. Maintaining and improving the quality of life is essential. How do you plan to address issues such as affordable housing, parks and recreation, and environmental sustainability to enhance the well-being of Plano’s residents?
To make housing affordable for our senior residents who would like to downsize, I have proposed that the city allow a one-time transfer of their current over-65-tax-freeze, which would apply their current tax amount to the purchase of a different home. This would also free up much needed housing stock for incoming young families to buy. As for housing for other Plano residents, the city has always met its quotas for affordable housing as imposed by HUD, and incompliance with the city’s continued acceptance of HUD grants. See more about this topic on my website SavePlanoNOW.com
Plano has a Parks and Recreation board that has kept our parks top rated and award winning.
Plano should continue its recycling program, and work to ensure that there are buyers to purchase the collected materials to turn them into recycled end products.
Community Impact by Candidate questionnaire
Name: Douglas Reeves
Occupation & relevant experience:
Small Business owner and operator 31 years offering job training, counseling, and other assistance.
Phone number: 214-796-7606
Website: SavePlanoNOW.com
Question 1: Why are you running for Plano City Council?
To bring greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the city, and to be a bridge between the city and the citizens. Plano government has been replaced with a regional framework causing the city to cede over large swathes of its governing authority to the federal government. Citizens deserve better transparency.
Question 2: What are the biggest challenges Plano is facing?
Aging infrastructure and lack of housing options. Seniors are being taxed out of their homes and taxed into staying in homes they have outgrown. The rent to homeownership ratio is unhealthily high, and there are too many high-density apartments.
Question 3: How do you plan to address these issues?
Promote single family home ownership over high density zoning. New developments need to be postponed until our infrastructure catches up. Allow the over 65 housing lower tax rate to follow seniors to their new abode to free up larger homes for young growing families.
Question 4: What would your top priorities be if you are elected?
Encouraging the city to be transparent with the citizens regarding the AFFH rule that has fundamentally transformed—urbanized our once suburban city. Entering smart negotiations with DART. The city could save at a minimum 26 million dollars per year by utilizing better negotiating practices.