The Zilker Neighborhood Association is excited to host a Mayoral candidate forum at our next quarterly membership meeting. The candidates will address several key issues that face our neighborhood. Each of the three candidates -- Mayor Leffingwell, Brigid Shea, and Clay Dafoe -- will have 2 minutes to respond to pre-submitted questions. In addition, each candidate will have the opportunity to lead off with the question they think is most important, after which a moderator will direct the discussion.

PRE-SUBMITTED TOPICS

1. The Vertical Mixed Use (VMU) ordinance is bringing substantial development to transit corridors. The Zilker area alone will add 1,700 dwelling units by 2013, with many more in the works. VMU is bringing density, but the units will be very expensive and every development will be "over-parked" with more traffic and cars coming to crowded roads. Do these developments match your vision for our transit corridors, and what changes would you make to improve future VMU projects?
2. If we expect people to get out of their cars, there have to be alternatives in place for them to get around. Capital Metro has reduced its service through the Zilker neighborhood. Last year a bicyclist was killed on S. Lamar. The intersection of Bluebonnet and S. Lamar was recently identified as one of the riskiest pedestrian crossings in the city. What transportation options do you propose for close-in neighborhoods, and how will these fit in among existing or proposed projects?
3. Property tax payments have risen sharply in the last 10 years, and have continued to rise in the South Central neighborhoods. How will you be a good steward of our taxes, and ensure that services and infrastructure in older neighborhoods keep pace with their higher cost of living?
4. The Heritage Tree Ordinance reflects the importance of green space and ecology to Austinites. Yet we consistently see exceptions to the ordinance, allowing for the removal of desirable trees or construction into the critical root zones. How will you address our urban tree canopy in the face of an ongoing drought and development pressure?
5. Zilker Park is the crown jewel in our city's park system as a place to gather, explore, and play. It is also highly sought after as a concert venue, athletic field, and commercial area. At what point does the park begin to lose value for the public in favor of private interests, and where do you draw that line?
6. A year ago, Zilker Elementary and several other urban schools were identified for closure. That process has passed, but there will continue to be annual facility reviews looking at this option. Meanwhile, AISD continues to explore building more facilities in less urban locations. Should the city encourage families and schools to invest in urban neighborhoods, and if so, how?
7. S. Lamar is caught in between being a highway for downtown access and an increasingly urban road with residential and retail uses. How do transit corridors like S. Lamar provide the greatest value to Austin, as a highway or as a mixed-use city street? Can they serve both purposes?
8. The Imagine Austin plan is coming. Public voting identified affordability, education, transit, and several other factors as most important, while rewriting the land development code was dead last. Yet the emphasis of implementation seems to be focused solely on rewriting the code. How will you ensure that the public priorities are followed so that Imagine Austin will meet the goals that Austinites have identified?
9. The debate over Short-Term Rentals (STRs) has highlighted a distinction between traditional residential and commercial uses in neighborhoods. Is is appropriate for residential zoning to be used for something other than residential dwellings?
10. Property values continue to rise, making South Central residences increasingly unaffordable. At the same time, the City's budget for Affordable Housing projects is dwindling. What solutions do you propose to keep neighborhoods in reach for people at all income levels?

If you have any other topics to direct to the candidates, there will be audience Q&A that follows the pre-submitted topics.

Zilker NA Quarterly Membership Meeting
Zilker Elementary School Cafeteria (1900 Bluebonnet Ln.)
6:30 Social
7:00 Neighborhood Business
7:30 Mayoral Candidate Forum
8:45 Meeting Adjourned