Candidate Name: Brandon Bowersox

Campaign Address: 506 W Florida Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

Campaign Phone/Fax: 367-3540

Campaign Email: brandon@votebowersox.org

Camnpaign Web Site: http://www.votebowersox.org/

1) What are your best environmental achievements so far?

I have been a public participant in Urbana's Downtown Strategic Plan, Urbana's Comprehensive Plan, and the county Long Range Transportation Plan. I have advocated for smart growth policies to curb sprawl and I am running for election in order to continue this work on the City Council.

2) What environmental issues will you publicly support throughout your campaign?

I support smart growth in order to preserve open space and green space. In addition, I will work to reduce our environmental footprint in many ways, such as extending Urbana recycling to stores and businesses and bringing balanced transportation to increase the share of biking, walking, and transit use.

3) Why are you interested in environmental issues?

As a kid I lived in the Southwood neighborhood of Champaign where a bike and bus pass were my ticket to visit friends and see the city. I understand that walkable neighborhoods, balanced transportation, and compact growth allow the young, the old, and the car-less to participate in society.

4) Any personal environmental work, education, groups, hobbies, or habits (e.g. energy efficient home/cars/appliances; reduced consumption/driving; reuse; buy recycled/organic/local; vegetarian)?

I helped run a Local Business Tour of locally owned, environmentally and socially responsible businesses throughout C-U. I've lived my whole life in Urbana-Champaign without owning a car at all until three years ago. I shop at Common Ground Food Co-op and have worked as a coreworker.

5) What are the three most pressing environmental concerns in Urbana?

Creating a sustainable growth pattern instead of sprawl, bringing balanced transportation as I described, and safeguarding our water resources.

6) What is your opinion about environmental protections in the recently proposed Urbana Comprehensive Plan?

The plan now includes reducing sprawl and promoting compact development. I will push to make these goals a reality as we next update our Zoning Ordinance to implement the new plan.

7) Would you publicly oppose the proposed ring road around Urbana? If not, what would you do to prevent further sprawl and another slow flowing, low quality commercial corridor with desolate buildings?

I will oppose building roadways that would promote sprawl and low-quality development. Different ring road plans have been discussed for many years and I will engage in these discussions in order to plan roadways that support the health of neighborhoods and existing districts such as Philo Road.

8) What would you do to encourage more varied shopping in central and eastern Urbana (e.g., Philo Road) to reduce sprawl and gasoline consumption?

We are starting to see positive change in Downtown and Philo Road, but we must focus the use of incentives in order to bring retail shopping to serve the surrounding neighborhoods.

9) Would you publicly support policies that discourage sprawl by recovering all infrastructure (roads/utilities) and service costs (schools/fire/police) of expanding into natural areas and farmland?

In Urbana and in all of Illinois we must learn from the successes of other cities and states (such as Michigan) at using impact fees, TDR/PDR, and many other tools to protect green space and farmland.

10) What financial support would you give to create bike/hike trails that link Urbana together?

I will strongly support regional and neighborhood paths and trails including bicycle paths to connect our neighborhoods to campus and downtown.

11) Would you support sharing residential streets (walk/bike/drive) that slow traffic in Europe and traffic calming devices for smoother flow?

I support modern techniques such as traffic calming and will push for adoption of techniques that have been successful elsewhere.

12) Would you publicly support ending utility tax discounts for higher consumption and use the revenues as energy efficiency matching funds?

I look forward to learning more. [Please send any references on creating an environmentally healthy utility tax structure.]

13) Would you publicly oppose another nuclear reactor in Clinton?

I will investigate what leverage points Urbana residents and officials have in the reactor location process.

14) Would you publicly support shifting street maintenance funding from property taxes on everyone to gas taxes on actual users?

If Urbana added its own gas tax, consumption would shift outside our city limits. Instead I intend to collaborate at the regional, state, and federal levels for balanced transportation funding.

15) How much will you increase Urbana's fleet of hybrid cars?

I will advocate for a city vehicle fleet composed of hybrids and even lower-emission vehicles whenever there's an available make and model.

16) How will you increase Urbana's purchase of environmental products?

I will promote buying recycled office products, low-emission vehicles, and environmentally-friendly building materials. I will work with the park district, schools, and public works to use alternative paving materials and plantings and vegetation.

17) Would you publicly support adopting LEED building codes for energy efficiency in all future city government construction and remodeling?

This summer I visited Santa Monica and toured a new LEED Platinum Plus building owned by the National Resources Defense Council. I also learned about the Sustainable Santa Monica plan, met the Mayor and the director of their renamed "Department of Environmental Public Works", and toured an urban water runoff recycling facility. I have seen what is possible when a city chooses to actively work for environmental sustainability.

18) Would you support shifting to sales taxes (slowing consumption of imports) from property taxes to keep housing affordable?

I support a progressive tax structure that keeps basic goods and housing affordable and does not promote sprawl.

19) Would you support increasing parking fees for SUVs and pickups?

I look forward to learning more about such policies in other cities.

20) Would you support requiring the equivalent of storm doors and windows on rental units to reduce fossil fuel imports?

I support rental inspections and maintaining high-quality rental housing. I'd like to learn more about specific standards for energy efficiency.

21) Would you enable residents to use the city's webpage to sign up for emailed newsletters and announcements, saving postage and paper?

As the Technology Director of a database and web technology company, I will strongly support making more city services and information available online to save money and paper and increase the transparency of city government.

22) What would you do to protect the environment in Drainage Districts?

The city does not have direct control of drainage districts, but I look forward to collaborating with other jurisdictions including the nearby Salt Fork stakeholders.

23) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Throughout this campaign I have promoted smart and responsible growth and environmental protection. Please read more at http://www.votebowersox.org/ and use my website to contact me with any questions. Thanks for raising these important issues.