Candidate Questions & Where I Stand

I have loved how much public involvement there has been of late and how engaged South Weber citizens are.  I am glad to get many questions - it means people are doing their due diligence in learning more about the candidates before they vote.  I am happy to answer some questions that come up often.

1.  Are you the face of the South Weber United Facebook Group? Did they ask you to be a candidate?

The South Weber Citizen's United group was created in July by 4 concerned citizens who were worried about proposed development they learned was coming into their neighborhood.  I don't actually remember how I was added to the group but I remember learning for the first time about The Lofts project and the concerns with it.  I knew the general plan was underway, and having heard about the concerns that comes with mixed use in other communities, I started commenting and asking questions.  The SWCU grew exponentially over then next 6 weeks, going from under 30 when I joined to over 900 in 6 short weeks.   In that time period I became a frequent poster and began learning more and more about many happenings going on in the city.  I started attending all the meetings and telling others how it went.  

No one in the facebook group had ever talked to me about running for office.  I was toying with the idea of doing a write-in for a few days, but knowing how difficult it would be to not be on the ballot- and the extra work I would have to do to catch up and get my name out there, I wasn't sure about it.   One morning I woke up and realized that if I didn't do anything, I would regret it.  Simply put, I could not not try.  I went to city office that morning, took a deep breath, and filled out the paperwork.  

My plans were to not tell anyone until after the long weekend (Labor Day).  However word got out much quicker than I anticipated.  I told a few members of the group the following day, and more members of the group later that night.  It was news to all of them and I honestly didn't know if I would have their support or not.  Choosing to run for office was my decision alone and no one in the South Weber Citizen's United Group had anything to do with it in any form.

2.  Why are you a moderator of the SWCU Facebook group?
This decision came about when the number of the group climaxed very quickly.  At the time only one moderator was available and learned that it wasn't going to be possible to keep up on everything.  Because I was active on the page and often checking in, I was asked to be a moderator.  If I make it into office however, I will be removed as moderator and someone else will take my place. 

3. If you get into office, will you be the leader of the SWCU Facebook group?

I think this question comes because a lot of my initial support for office did come from this Facebook group.  However, the SWCU Facebook group is not a collective whole.  There are few, if any, things every single person agrees with in the group.  The SWCU is simply a place where citizens can come to get information about the doings and going ons of South Weber City and ask questions.  Currently it has 1,000 members.  You would be hard pressed to find something everyone agrees on in a group that big!  

It is a great asset in gaining the voice of people who were previously untapped - particularly that of younger families who because of family responsibilities and/or careers are not able to attend every meeting, but still want to be involve and included in public matters.  This has been a great thing for our city! We have unprecedented numbers and comments at our meetings in large part because of the Facebook group.  If I make it into office, I still plan to continue getting information to this Facebook group about things coming up in the city and reach out to as many citizens as possible.  My goal has always been to get correct and factual based information to the residents so they can make informed comments and suggestions back to city officials.  I plan to continue that avenue.  But it certainly won't be the only one.  I have met face to face many, many residents.  I have been invited into homes with groups of people to answer questions.  I have also met a great deal of residents at events the SWPCA has put on and hope to continue to reach out in that format.  It is also why I created this blog.  I understand a lot of people aren't on Facebook, and don't want to be.  I wanted them to have the ability to get the same information as well.  If I am elected, I hope to branch out the way we are currently reaching out to our residents so we can get more people involved and informed.  

4.  What is your stance on development within South Weber, especially high-density housing?

I understand we can't stop development, and we must always honor a property owner's right to develop their land if they wish.  But we also have a responsibility to take into consideration those of the neighbors and residents of that property that will be directly impacted by development.  We can be wise with our growth.  I personally don't feel we should add any more high-density zones to our general plan and have opposed every HDH zone on our proposed general plan.  While offering different types of housing and diversity is important, I feel we already have it.  We have townhomes, condos, apartments, and single family homes.  South Weber is a small town, and I want to keep it that way.  I believe moving forward we need to be very wise about the developments that will be coming into our city.  We need to seriously consider the impacts it will have on all aspects of our city, not just the parcel of land it sits on.  We need to consider the rising costs developments will have to our public safety, roads and utlities.  I would like to revisit our city codes, namely are units per acre in each zone, development agreements and conditional use permits and form based code.  We can do better to make sure we are attracting the type of development we want, vs. seeing what a developer will bring to us.  

5. What do you think about South Bench Drive? 

When I very first began studying our general plan in June and heard about a connection to Layton I like the idea of the convenience.  However, after hours upon hours upon hours of research, I have decided that convenience is a rotten apple, South Bench Drive being possibly the most rotten possible.  This road is intended to be a major corridor through our city.  The amount of traffic this will bring to our city is phenomenal, and it will not be local traffic only.   The more I learned about the proposed South Bench Drive, the more concerned I became.  I have worked tirelessly to get that information out to the citizens so everyone can be fully aware of the impact this road will have on our city.  

But what about other local road options to Layton?  I will be honest, currently I'm not convinced.  Every option we have of a connection, comes with serious risks and concerns; slope stability, contamination and costs just being a few.  Even connecting at 1900 E seems like the cost is too great.  It is a north facing road.  The plowing and snow removal of that road will fall to the property tax of the residents.  It is very steep.  Also a developer won't pay to do this road, so it will be on tax payers dime,  At this time, I haven't seen a good option where the concerns of this connection do not heavily outweigh the costs.

6. How can the city be more transparent? 

I think there are lots of avenues the city staff and elected officials can use that are currently not being utilized.  The city facebook, website, email list and the newsletter are just a few of these.  I would like to see live videos, a youtube channel, monthly or weekly checkins from city council members and mayor on a public site all used.  I praise the city for their recent efforts on this.  I would also like to see more citizens on committees to help offer suggestions and learn about processes and issues the public isn't usually aware of.  I think the time of expecting people to be involved solely by coming to the meetings has passed.vvIn an age where we have so many viable options of sharing information, we should be utilizing every avenue we can.  It is inexpensive and not terribly time consuming.  I think surveys and polls are great options, but only if the residents know they even exist.  We need to do better to communicate with the residents on every front we have available.

7.  Does it count if I write you in?  How accurate does it need to be?

Yes! Writing me in WILL count! I am the only offical and registered write-in candidate.  Because of that, it means any time your write anything in that line it will be compared to my name.  So as long as it is close and legible, it will count.  I have been asked if 'sassy blond chick' will work, and I'm not sure that one will - but maybe 'Hayley Alberts - the sassy blond chick' will.  :-)   

I am 3 months late to this race, and my name is not on the ballot.  Believe me, no one realizes this disadvantage more than me!  I hope my hard work thus far shows how willing and able I am to serve this city.  I feel I can bring a lot to the table and I feel I can help make sure our future vision of South Weber City is realized.  I am dedicated to it!  I have been a candidate for 42 days.  In that time I have done 45 posts, helped put on 3 events with the SWPCA - The Park-n-Protest, The Town Hall Style Meeting with Mayor Jo and The South Bench Drive Viewing Party.  I have attended every single Planning Commission Meeting and City Council Meeting since July and done recaps for citizens who weren't able to make it.  I have done many live videos, my most popular being the one who helped citizens fill out the general plan survey and have met with many people in their homes.   I have countless emails to the current city council, mayor and staff learning and understanding things better and many more from residents.  I love this city, and I want to protect it and serve it.  I would love your vote and your support.

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Another set of questions asked of all the candidates by T.G. Terry

1.  What is your motivation or reason for running for City Council?

I started getting heavily involved with things going on in the city in late July.  I witnessed firsthand a few people getting involved, which led to more and more and then even more.  By the end of August it was clear to me the citizens needed a voice at the table.  I knew I could go in as a "write-in" candidate, but hesitated because of the increased difficulties of getting into office being a write-in.   I disregarded and argued with the thought many times, but it kept coming back, more insistently each time.  I realized that I just could not NOT do it, I felt the pull so much.  The more citizens I saw getting involved, the more I desired to represent them. 

2.  Do you support Minimizing our population growth of the City by zoning more Low Density Housing, or do you support Maximizing our population by zoning more Moderate Density and High Density Housing and why?

I believe that South Weber is something special.  We need to be very careful and wise about our decisions when it comes to zoning.  We need to realize and consider the impact certain zones will have on our community.  I feel currently we have a good ratio of housing opportunities.  We have townhomes and condos, apartments, single family homes and patio homes.  We have increased our growth significantly in the past 3 years.  I feel that now would be a good time to determine what percentage ratios of HDH to MDH to LDH we would like to see for our city and adjust accordingly.   Property owners have a right to sell their land and I believe we need to make space for that when we are determining zoning, but the residents who will be directly impacted by that zoning also have a perspective to consider as well.  

3.  Do you Support or Oppose a connection road from South Weber City to Layton City and why?

While I can understand the appealing reasons of connecting a road to Layton, currently I have not seen a good option for doing so.  Our slopes are unstable and contamination is a concern.   1900 E is still very steep and is a residential road that already has a steep bluff that has speeding concerns.  I don't believe a developer will pay for this road as there is no development that should be going on those slopes.  If this is the case, the costs of this very expensive road will lie on the responsibility of South Weber tax payers.  I feel that this would be an unwise fiscal decision.  Additionally, I haven't met with many residents who would like the road to Layton.  I don't believe the risks and costs are worth the benefit as it is currently proposed.     

4.  If elected, will you support the voice of the people (even if it is not what you believe) on issues, or do you believe that if elected as a representative that we have given you our trust to act on your best judgment?

I joined this race because I felt that the people needed to be better represented.  I have worked very hard to get information out to the people so they can make informed decision and comments back to their city representatives.  I strive to keep the information I am sharing factual and without bias so that I am able to get feedback from all citizens, not just those that share my personal opinion as well.  I believe the best way to make any decision in life is to look at both sides of the coin and understand potential consequences, rather for good or bad.  If we are only hearing one voice, or if our own personal biases are too strong to hear other opinions, we are doing a disservice to making the best choice.  My goal of integrating with the public is to help them see both sides of the coin and comment back, and I fully intend to keep the public engaged on the doings of our city by numerous means and ways.  

5.  If elected, how do you plan to keep us, the citizens informed and included in the doings of the city?

In this day of information, we should be utilizing every avenue we can.  When first decided to put my name into the race I did a live video and included some of the things I wanted to implement to bring about more public involvement.  I am happy to see that the city is currently implementing many of those suggestions; live videos, email lists, text messaging services, online surveys, polls, youtube channels and social media interaction.  I have helped put on 2 major events for the public, our Park-n-Protest and our Town Hall Stye Meeting with Mayor Jo and David Larsen and am excited to help with our upcoming event, South Bench Drive viewing party.  All of these events helped me connect with residents who are not on social media but still have a great desire to be involved in city doings.  I want to see more of these events take place, as well as speaking to residents one-on-one.  

6.  What else would you like us to know about you?

I'm a lyrical genius.  I drink way too much coke and I cuss a little.  I have lived in South Weber for 7 years and have loved every moment of it.  My husband grew up here and my in-laws still live here.  I am immensely grateful for this community.  I have four beautiful children who have been given an incredible childhood in part to the amazing street I live on and the people we are surrounded by. 

My husband is business owner/entrepreneur.  As part owner, I am in charge of the financial responsibility.  I oversee the budgets, the books, and all financial resources and decisions.  I also oversee everyday office maintenance and employee benefits.