Below are responses submitted by candidates running to fit the unexpired term of the Kyle City Council District 3 At-Large seat up for grabs May 4. Candidates are Robert Rizo, Cody DeSalvo, Stuart Kirkwood and Michelle Carey. Rizo did not submit responses prior to press time.
Michelle R. Carey
Has Kyle managed its growth effectively? What would you do differently?
I think Kyle has done a pretty job managing its’ growth, but we need to slow down. I know we can achieve great balance between attracting new businesses while serving the citizens of Kyle. We have done an excellent job increasing our commercial footprint which helps create revenue, but we do need solid infrastructure complete to ease the burden on our water use, high traffic areas and dense occupancy areas of the city. One different approach I suggest is hosting Town Hall events before our next Comprehensive Plan is finalized to gather citizen input.
What is your vision for downtown Kyle and how would you make that happen?
I think preserving the historical look and feel of Kyle is the most important vision for downtown. I think we can slowly add to the existing businesses in the areas near I-35 but we cannot lose that park and original lay out of our town square. The many historical buildings in that area of Kyle are part of who we are as a city and that cannot be lost as the city grows. It is possible to grow but not lose sight of our deep roots here in central TX.
What do you feel is the proper amount Kyle City Council members should be paid and why?
I did not know a stipend of any kind was offered to Council Members when I put my name on the ballot and it was not part of my motivation to run for office. I do think that from a logical perspective the principle of “you get what you pay for” is true and that is why I agree there should be some compensation City Council members. I strongly oppose health insurance to be offered to the City Council members. I do think an average of $300 a week is acceptable provided that the Council Member can prove 18-25 hours were spent weekly working on behalf of the city.
What is one issue that’s not being talked about that should be?
I think 2 issues were not being talked about. The first one is the disconnect between a portion of Kyle citizens and the local government, however that was recently brought to the forefront during the recent Council meetings. I look forward to increased discussions that will arise from our new Comprehensive Plan. Secondly, I think there is a group of Kyle citizens that we are missing the potential of and that is of our young people, older teens: 17-23. I would love to see some programs that advocate for this group to connect with one another and their city. Some of the school programs can create a bridge from that age group to the elderly and through those relationship and connections we can find answers to what the future of Kyle will look like in 20-30 years.
What was the last movie or film you saw in theaters?
Aquaman was the last movie I saw, we are huge Super Hero movie fans!
Cody DeSalvo
Has Kyle managed its growth effectively? What would you do differently?
When a city grows as quickly as Kyle it’s very difficult to manage its growth. I do think there are areas of improvement for growth management. The current approach for the city is to wait for development then build out infrastructure. There are good reasons for this but I think in some areas an upfront investment in transportation, water, and park infrastructure is really important to managing growth in our high growth areas. In addition, our comprehensive plan must be a document that sets forth the long term vision for growth in Kyle.
What is your vision for downtown Kyle and how would you make that happen?
If elected I would push to include a Downtown Master Plan into the Comprehensive Plan and establish a Downtown Commission that includes residents and business to help guide the development of downtown. When I visit the downtown in cities similar to Kyle you see quite a bit of local restaurants, shops, and commercial activity. In Kyle, our downtown is residential. People live there and have lived there for a long time. The city’s approach has been to develop Uptown, the area at Kohlers Crossing and Kyle Parkway areas. Developing up there results in less push back but it does a disservice to our downtown residents. They need new roads, maintenance, and amenities too, and under the current model, they’re only going to get that if development comes downtown.
What do you feel is the proper amount Kyle City Council members should be paid and why?
I believe in looking at industry standards to help guide these kinds of decisions. What are our neighbors in Buda, San Marcos, New Braunfels, and Bastrop doing? What do cities of similar size and demographics do across the state? If you’re getting into elected public service for the money you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, first and foremost. The job is service and that job takes a lot of time out of peoples lives, including their work hours so I think we should approach this question rationally and scientifically to see what’s best long term for our city government. Buda pays about $100 for every meeting, San Marcos pays $1450 each month. Kyle sits in the middle of both of those as far as growth so our approach should do the same.
What is one issue that’s not being talked about that should be?
Affordable housing and cost of living. The cost of living in Kyle has changed a lot since when I first moved here 15 years ago. When we talk about affordable housing, we must decide what the city’s approach is going to be. Tax incentives are one way to attract low-cost housing to a city. Another is to permit more multifamily housing units in attractive economic areas. Balancing the housing stock with both single family and multi-family is the only reasonable way that doesn’t spend taxpayer dollars to encourage affordable housing to come online in Kyle.
What was the last movie or film you saw in theaters?
Shazam! It was a great funny movie that captured the joy of reading comic books. I recommend it to anyone who just wants a good time at the movies.
Stuart Kirkwood
Has Kyle managed its growth effectively? What would you do differently?
Given the accelerated rate of growth, there have been times of effective management as well as opportunities missed. Managing effectively involves making the right decisions at the right time and for the right reason. The only expectation of the council is to make decisions based on facts and in the best interest of entire city. Personal feelings should only be used as a guideline. If elected I will collaborate with citizens, city staff, and council members to ensure I can make the most effective and informed decisions.
What is your vision for downtown Kyle and how would you make that happen?
I would like to see the downtown area be bustling with up-scale restaurants, shops and boutiques. With the recent disagreement in the zoning changes in the downtown area, it is evident there needs to be collaborative meetings with Kyle citizens and downtown businesses to understand what the vision for downtown should be in the next 5-10 years. Currently the downtown area has room for improvement. I would like to see the Chamber of Commerce champion this project and help us create a vision for downtown that works for all.
What do you feel is the proper amount Kyle City Council members should be paid and why?
I have researched this topic and have found various results. Some cities do not pay the council or mayor for their civic duty, while others pay more than the proposed package. While on the council in 1998 we were not paid until after the city charter was enacted, setting the $100 a month stipend. I believe $500 a month for council members and $800 for the mayor is an appropriate first step. While relatively a small amount, it will provide a little more compensation for their time.
What is one issue that’s not being talked about that should be?
The one issue not being talked about today is the lack of staffing in the Kyle Police Department. The national average is 2 officers per 1000, with Kyle being just over 1 per 1000. I believe being at 1.5 per thousand puts Kyle in a position to maintain the safety of our citizens. Given our low staffing numbers today, I believe KPD is doing a very good job. If elected, I will work with council to improve the ratio and join them in their prior commitment to address the police department’s facility needs.
What was the last movie or film you saw in theaters?
Pepper Mint / Bohemian Rhapsody
