On September 21st and 28th, RioVision hosted two virtual Town Halls to meet the candidates running for City Offices in the November 3rd election.
RioVision is pleased to offer ZOOM recordings of both these sessions on facebook.com (/riovistavision or /discoverriovista) and nexdoor.com
(nextdoor.com/post/162230586?init_source=copy_link_share).
Mayoral candidates Ron Kott, Rich Lynn, and Emily Gollinger were scheduled to meet with attendees last Monday, September 28, at 7pm (after the deadline for this submission).
On September 21st, 65 citizens joined Executive Director, Tom Surh (moderator) of RioVision via ZOOM with the 5 candidates running for open City Council positions: Rick Dolk (appointed incumbent running unopposed to complete a 2 year term), and Hope Kohn(incumbent), Don Roos (incumbent), Walt Stanish, and Debra King running for two open 4-year term positions. Candidates spoke “round table” style within time limits set by timekeeper Robie Williams for fair “air time.” Over the first ½ hour, candidates introduced themselves highlighting how long they have lived in Rio Vista, their educational and career backgrounds, their current involvement with the community as volunteers, organizational or committee members/leaders, and/or government officials, their areas of expertise and accomplishments, and a snapshot of their priorities and/or vision for our community.
In the 60 minutes that followed, each responded to questions submitted to RioVision by citizens via email prior to the meeting. Given more questions were sent in than could be addressed on line, moderator Tom Surh identified 5 recurring themes which he posed to the candidates. The topics included:
(1) Local Economic Development: what actions were seen as priorities for creating jobs, developing the business park, and improving the commercial viability and appeal of our downtown area?
(2) City-owned Army Base Property: what actions need to be taken to stimulate the development of that land for the benefit of our community?
(3) Rio Vista Airport: what issues are of most concern regarding our airport and what role can the city council play in addressing them, if any?
(4) Public Schools/River Delta Unified School District: what does the city council need to do to improve/enhance the city’s working relationship with the school district to provide support for the challenges facing our schools given the pandemic, growing student population, and infrastructure constraints?
(5) Sewage Treatment: how should the city council address the funding challenges for upgrading, replacing, or expanding local sewage treatment facilities (given the aging Beach plant and its eventual closure)?
In their responses, candidates provided insight into their experience with the issues, their research and knowledge, some of the history of each issue and how it has been dealt with to-date within the city, obstacles and challenges, and ideas for what the next steps might be or what planning is needed to meet them. Summation statements were made by each candidate before the session closed including their website and/or contact information.
Rio Vista will also have Measure O on the ballot to extend the Sales Tax originally passed in 2012 and renewed in 2016 (see www.riovistacity.com/sales-tax/ or www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=25376) as well as Measure J River Delta Unified School District SFID #1 Bond Measure . There will be a Virtual Town Hall for these issues on October 5, 2020. To request the Zoom invitation please send a request to riovisionsm@gmail.com.
Vote By Mail Ballots will be mailed out by the county at the end of the month. Ballots can be mailed in or dropped off inside at the River Delta Unified School District office at 445 Montezuma St from 8am-5pm starting October 5th, with the curbside poll workers at Hap’s Bait Shop at 84 Main St from 8am-5pm October 29-31 and November 2, or at the polling locations on election day November 3rd at 45 Main St (Youth Center) and 1000 Summerset Drive (Trilogy Delta Club). VOTE!!!
The Rio Vision Gallery, 116 Main St., remains open for all to enjoy. Just walk in with face mask and savor the work of local artists and artisans, perhaps find a special gift.
(11am-3pm Tuesday-Saturday). We are updating our displays for October!