The Ellensburg City Council’s only contested race this year is between Fennelle Miller and Chris Herion. Miller has previously served on the council while Herion is a new name on the ballot. The Observer recently asked Miller and Herion to discuss issues of importance to the city. Responses have been edited for brevity.

FENNELLE MILLER

Age: 52

Current Occupation: Business Owner and Archaeologist

Position on council: #7

What are some big issues in Ellensburg at the moment?

Growth. We need to plan for it in all capacities; ensuring we have adequate infrastructure, including the ability to serve new customers with water, sewer, and other utilities, as well as plan for added capacity on roads.

Economic development. We need to encourage, support, and seek out new businesses (either home-grown, or relocating) that provide good-paying jobs, and do not cost the city much in terms of new infrastructure.  This will allow graduating students to remain in Ellensburg if they want, and it will improve the city’s revenue stream through taxes the new businesses bring in.  The best types of businesses to accomplish this are generally professional services, such as specialty doctor’s clinics, accountants, lawyers, all kinds of consulting businesses (like mine), high tech (software development, not hardware manufacturing), etc.

We also need more jobs for skilled trades, and I would like to see us take advantage of local training programs, such as the Operating Engineer’s heavy equipment school in Kittitas, Perry Tech in Yakima, Bluestone Academy, and others.

What should be done to address it?

We need to be pro-active in our land-use planning, and that will be dealt with in the next comprehensive plan update, which will begin in 2016.  I am very familiar with this process, having gone through the previous update process as a land-use professional.  My work in the planning commission, as well as four years on the city council, provides me with the critical experience necessary to lead this effort.

How would you describe the relationship between the university and the city?

The town-gown relationship has ebbed and flowed over the years.  Right now we are not at our apex, but that could be easily remedied by having standing joint planning meetings, such as those happening for the CWU-downtown corridor that is in the works.  These are strong points that could be expanded, but it would require a formal commitment not just on the part of the city, but by CWU administration and student body as well.  In a previous administration, all faculty and staff were encouraged to become involved on City Boards & Commissions.

We also need to make sure that students who are living off-campus are doing so in a way that respects their non-student neighbors.  The Campus-Community Coalition needs to be supported and strengthened.

What would you like to see happen over the next few years for Ellensburg in terms of services, goods and development?

We need to grow carefully, planning for growth and regulating it, rather than adopting a laissez-faire attitude, and trying to react after damage has been done.  Some of the things that make Ellensburg a great place to live include our older, established neighborhoods, plenty of recreational and park opportunities, low crime rate, etc.  With unplanned-for growth, we would run the chance of suffering the consequences like so many cities have.  Not enough police or fire coverage, inadequate or failing infrastructure, not enough parks or activities for youth, and an uneven balance between residential development and commercial and industrial growth.  It’s all about planning, and having and implementing an agreed-upon community vision.  And that is what the Comprehensive Plan update is all about.

Becoming a predominantly residential “bedroom community” with huge housing growth and not enough commercial and industrial growth accompanying it, is a real concern right now, as new houses are sprouting up like grass blades in the north end of town.

We are also not building enough senior- and youth-oriented opportunities.  Seniors will need increased housing options, and our city’s youth need to be offered plenty of wholesome things to keep them occupied, and out of trouble

My vision is also for the city to grow a variety of housing choices, including low- and moderate-income housing (rentals and owner-occupied), as well as more dense development in key areas (townhouses, condos, apartments).  Right now, “Starter homes” begin in the $200,000’s, and that is out of reach for many.

What are your thoughts on economic development on industrialized-zoned land at the south city limits?

The Industrial-zoned land is small, in comparison with the land zoned for commercial development at the South Interchange.  Bigger parcels of land that should be developed for industrial uses first include the City-owned parcels and the private parcels along Dolarway.  Those have been designated as Industrial for a long time now, and aren’t being developed.  The City needs to be more proactive in ensuring infill, before we start looking at other development.

What is the best way to encourage participation and input from the community and university students on council decisions?

I think that the City could be doing a better job of involving the Student Government in its daily business.  The Student BOD could then disseminate information to all students and groups.

Also, I already work with a number of individual professors, and would like to encourage student, staff, and teaching staff participation in City Boards and Commissions.  That would be a wonderful avenue to increase awareness of what the City is doing, and to solicit input.

Further, the City and BOD and/or the administration could send out quarterly surveys and questionnaires to the university community (students, staff, and employees) to determine the most pressing unmet needs, and generally get feedback, including new ideas. Often, students and faculty are studying topics and learn of new trends before the City heard of them, and we could certainly benefit from their knowledge.

But this needs to go both ways, too.  Educating the students about what the city is, and what it does, and encouraging active participation would be equally helpful.

Would you ever support a student representative on the city council, like a student appointed position?

Because the student population turns over so quickly, I’m not sure this would be a good idea.  It takes upwards of a year to learn all the duties and functions of our City government, and most students cannot make a four-year commitment.  Therefore, the turnover would mean that no student could ever get to a point where they were able to make a meaningful contribution before they were ready to graduate and move on.  Finding other ways of making communication and cooperation happen would be more beneficial, I think.

CHRIS HERION

Age: 45

Current Occupation: Kittitas County Deputy Prosecutor. Major, U.S. Army Reserves Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps.

Position on council: #7

What are some big issues in Ellensburg at the moment?

I really do not see one central issue facing the City of Ellensburg at the exclusion of any another issue.  There will always be issues for our city to address.  Obviously, economic development is certainly an issue since more and more people use Ellensburg as a “bedroom community” to commute to the west side and Yakima.  The reason is obvious.  We have an attractive community with a great quality of life.

What should be done to address it?

Therefore, we need to work toward attracting good paying jobs here.  I know plenty of CWU graduates would love to remain in Ellensburg.  Otherwise, residents can be confident that I will take the same judicious, deliberate, and thoughtful approach I take every day in the courtroom and as a reserve military officer.

How would you describe the relationship between the university and the city?

I believe the relationship between CWU and Ellensburg is strong and will become stronger in the next decade as both CWU and Ellensburg grow. I have met with President [James] Gaudino and see a future in which CWU and the City of Ellensburg can work together on joint projects, which will only serve to benefit both students and residents.

What are your thoughts on economic development on industrialized-zoned land at the south city limits?

I am in favor of economic development at the southern corridors to our city.  I believe the best way to encourage economic development is for the City of Ellensburg to put out the proverbial “Welcome” mat and project the image that “Ellensburg is Open for Business.”  There is no reason for students and residents to have to travel to the west side or Yakima for goods and services when we can have it here.  We are at the epicenter of the state—a crossroads for travelers north, south, east, and west.  There is no doubt that we could be an economic hub while maintaining our downtown core, which has been thriving the last few years.

What is the best way to encourage participation and input from the community and university students on council decisions?

First, I would encourage all students to attend city council meetings.  Attending city council meetings is the greatest and best way for students to see their local government in action and offer input.  Second, I would certainly be available to speak to students on how their local government, to include the court system, works.  The motto of CWU is: “Learn. Do. Live.”  There is no better practical application of what CWU students learn than to see how it plays out locally.

Would you ever support a student representative on the city council, like a student appointed position?

The city council does not have the authority to appoint a student to serve on the city council, which consists of seven residents who are elected at large.  However, I would be in favor of a student representative to the city council.  I think the city council would benefit to learn what is happening with students on campus.  After all, CWU has been an integral part of Ellensburg since 1891.  What a legacy.