Voter survey would seek citizens’ views

Eron Ben-Yehuda

With voters possibly deciding the future of the controversial Wal-Mart

project, one councilman at Tuesday’s council meeting saw an opportunity

to get their opinion on other hot button issues.

City Councilman Dave Garofalo proposed to survey the public at the voting

booth on issues such as how to pay for the city’s infrastructure and

library needs as well as people’s interest in creating an “urban forest.”

“It would help us govern better,” he said.

The city already plans to fund an election to decide whether to rezone

the area on Talbert Ave. by Beach Blvd. from commercial back to

residential. The change may jeopardize Wal-Mart’s plans to build a

150,000 square-foot retail complex at the closed Crest View school site.

The election is planned for either January or March.

Since we’re already spending the money, why not “take the pulse of the

people” at the same time, Garofalo asked.

“It’s a free ride,” he said.

Infrastructure weighs heavily on the minds of city officials who estimate

fixing the sewers, sidewalks and streets, among other things, would cost

more than $1 billion over the next 20 years. While some funds have been

set aside, about $600 million remain unaccounted for, he said.

“How do you feel about a $600 million tax over 20 years?,” he suggests as

one possible question to pose to voters. He also wonders whether people

would be willing to pay $5 annually for an admission card to help pay for

running the library. Then there’s the proposal to build a forest at

Central Park, although the amount of money required remains undetermined,

he said.

But Wal-Mart’s critics saw Garofalo’s suggestions as a ploy to distract

voters from the rezoning issue.

“Do not try to muddy the waters,” resident Debbie Josephson said.

The council didn’t vote on the proposal.