League of Women Voters Questionnaire

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Angelina Briggs
6 years ago
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1 League of Women Voters Questionnaire 1. Name: Nancy Schleicher 2. Age: Contact address: 1460 Baton Dr. Deltona, FL Contact phone number: Contact address: 6. Website, if available: 7. Office sought: Deltona City Commission, District 4 Biographical Data: 8. Educational background: Bachelor of Science in Education California State University of Pennsylvania Masters Degree in Education Stetson University 9. Occupation, training & experience : Occupation: Retired teacher 39 years (33 Years in Deltona) Experience: Current Deltona City Commissioner District 4 Former Vice Mayor, City of Deltona (2015) Member Deltona Incorporation Feasibility Study Committee Member First Deltona City Charter Committee Member First Deltona Comprehension Land Use Plan Committee Founder and Past President Deltona Citizens Action Committee Past President Deltona Civic Association Emmaus Lutheran Church Past Church Council President Budget Chairman for 23 years (Enterprise, Deltona Lakes and Discovery elementary schools) Department chairman (Enterprise and Deltona Lakes elementary) 10. Please answer these questions that are asked of all candidates running for office in municipalities. A. Describe how you will build a consensus among Volusia Municipalities and the County to solve problems such as homelessness, infrastructure needs and environmental resource protection? I feel open dialogue is very important to improving cooperation with any agency. We are fortunate that we have the League of Cities meetings and the West Volusia Roundtable as well as the Mayors Roundtable as avenues to discuss

2 issues. However, I have suggested in the past that our City Commission have no less than one joint meeting a year with our County and local State officials. While that has not happened, we have at least implemented joint meetings with several of our boards and Social Services groups. I will continue my efforts to have a joint meeting with our County and State officials at least once a year to discuss problems facing Deltona that may also affect other Cities. B. What do you see as the two most important issues currently facing Deltona and how would you deal with these issues? Economic Development Since being elected to the Commission four years ago, we have welcomed: Bethune-Cookman College, Fish Memorial Medical Park, Wal-mart neighborhood market, McDonald s, Dunkin Donuts, Race Trac gas station, Tractor Supply store and many new businesses. Recently we broke ground on the Halifax Hospital emergency facility and soon will be finishing the plans for our new Community Center. We are a City on the move, but further economic development needs to continue. We have major gateways for commercial development along Howland Blvd, and State road 415 as well as our three exits on Interstate 4. Marketing these properties need to be a priority. Continuing to improve how we look and act will influence our development. When a business comes to tour our City for possible relocation, they need to see: well -maintained green spaces, neighborhoods that are kept up, streets and sidewalks in good repair, as well as educational and medical facilities and City leaders committed to moving the City forward with a strategic plan in place to accomplish that goal. We have had a Commission that works well together as evident by the current increased commercial development. The Commission has worked diligently to ensure monies have been placed in the budget to enhance the physical look of our City. It is imperative that we continue our beautification program as well as our road resurfacing and sidewalk installation plan which will assist in attracting new businesses. We have implemented a strategic plan based on our Community Visioning sessions setting goals to assist in improving our economic development. Water Issues Clean water is the biggest issue not only for our City and County but for the entire state. For the City of Deltona as well as other Cities in Volusia the question of septic tank vs sewers is the main talking issue. If the state requires everyone to hook up to sewers, for Deltona the dollar figure is astronomical. To resolve this issue will require the State Legislature to set aside funding to offset the cost to local entities. I will continue to lobby against this potential mandate unless it is well funded. To assist Deltona, we have opened the Eastern Wastewater Facility and new businesses and housing developments will be required to hook up to the sewer system, thus helping to curb additional septic tank usage and hopefully help reduce water costs to our residents. Reclaimed

3 water availability needs to be expanded. As many use City water for irrigation driving their water bills higher, the use of reclaimed water would greatly assist our residents. I will continue to request that we add reclaimed water lines to areas being developed with the hope of extending it throughout the City as funds become available. The City needs to continue efforts in finding alternative water sources as mandated by the St. John s River Water Management. 11. Please answer the following questions as it relates to the office you are seeking. A. Many of the septic tanks in Deltona are aging out. Explain your plans to provide wastewater services to the residents of Deltona? Many of these failing systems may be located where a City sewer line is available for connection. When a resident is faced with a failing system they may opt to connect with the City service if available, or replace their system following the current state code requirements. Those residents needing financial assistance in repairing their system need to be informed that they may, if qualified, receive funds through the Owner-Occupied Home Repair Program administered by the City of Deltona through funds received by the (SHIP) State Housing Initiatives Program that can assist residents in the targeted areas in repairing or replacing these failing systems. We also have funds through (CDBG) Community Development Block Grants for residents living in the targeted area to assist with repairs. For those not meeting necessary requirements for funding we need to continue researching additional grants that may be available. B. Do you support a city policy forcing a property owner in one of these unincorporated areas to annex in order to receive the central utilities that are a requirement of development? Why or Why not? Our neighbors in Osteen and Enterprise have unique histories and quaintness that I would not like to see disappear by requiring them to annex into the City to receive our utility service. I do however, feel those outside our borders should pay a higher price for the service than those within our City borders. To be fair to our tax paying residents those outside our borders should pay a surcharge for this service.

4 C. What ideas do you have to develop a commercial base for Deltona? Please elaborate. Expansion of Commercial base- One of the biggest problems we face in expanding our Commercial Base is that most of the large parcels of land available for a business to build on are privately owned. We have recently reviewed all City owned properties for their best use and possible commercial development and have a few smaller parcels that could be used for small commercial development. We need to continue to work with Team Volusia with a broad marketing basis, our Economic Development Board and the Business Alliance to promote and market privately owned tracks of land within Deltona. We are a City on the Move and have opportunities to develop both Howland Blvd. and 415 as a Commercial hub and all efforts to market these areas need to be a priority. Implementation of the CRA-The County Council recently approved Deltona s CRA (Community Redevelopment Area). This has been a hope for Deltona for over 5 years. The CRA will greatly assist in improving the infrastructure along Deltona Blvd. and part of Saxon and Normandy Boulevards which will ultimately improve commercial development in that area. Although preliminary plans are included in the CRA application, these plans will need continuing review and monitoring. The Commission may act as the CRA board and will be involved in all phases of the CRA. There are rules on how the money earned by the CRA can be used and it will be important that the Commission keep abreast of the rules and how we are implementing the capital projects Please note: Technical difficulties do occur. We will attempt to resolve any such difficulties as we become aware of them.

Growth and Resource Management Department 123 W. Indiana Avenue, Room 200, DeLand, Florida Kelli McGee Director

Growth and Resource Management Department 123 W. Indiana Avenue, Room 200, DeLand, Florida 32720 Kelli McGee Director ECHO Grant-in-Aid Program Margaret Hodge, Program Coordinator, ext. 2009 Sedrick Harris,