All nine candidates for the Yucca Valley Town Council took part in a forum Tuesday night, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Candidates answered a variety of questions, ranging from their views on medical marijuana dispensaries in the town, and on development impact fees; the wastewater treatment project; and a half-percent sales tax for infrastructure. Managing editor Tami Roleff was at the forum, and in this third part of a three-part report, touches on some of the answers of the final three candidates. For more in-depth answers, see this story at Z1077fm.com…
While Susan Simmons believes that the new highway medians hurt businesses, she suggested the town create enterprise zones for businesses, to encourage people to open up new businesses. Simmons supported medical marijuana dispensaries in Yucca Valley, and that medical marijuana would be easier to control if the town could regulate it. She said there are alternatives to septic tanks and said the town should help with costs for residents so they don’t lose their homes or businesses. She was in favor of a half-percent sales tax if it was just for the sewer project. Simmons said the town’s development impact fees are fairly low and should be raised. During her closing statement, she attacked Ron Cohen for suing the town, and Merl Abel for cutting town programs as a member of the town council.
Merl Abel said most of the town’s budget comes from property and sales tax, and urged residents to shop Yucca Valley, as dollars spent locally stay in Yucca Valley. Abel was in favor of letting the residents decide if they wanted a medical marijuana dispensary, and explained that the town council let the permit lapse for the town’s only dispensary because it was a monopoly; marijuana is not approved by the FDA; and the council had to consider the location. Abel congratulated the council for not laying off any police officers during the budget cuts, and said the town did try to help residents pay for the sewer project with Measure U, which voters did not approve. He thought a half-percent sales tax for infrastructure was premature, and said with the improving economy, property tax revenue would increase. He said he spearheaded the effort to reinstate development impact fees for businesses. Abel said public safety—police and fire departments—are the town’s number one priority, and touted the fact that the council kept the swimming pool open so that the community would have a gathering place.
Rick Denison encouraged residents to be proud of their town, because tourism begins at home, by spreading the word how great Yucca Valley is a place to live and visit. While Denison acknowledges that medical marijuana has its benefits, he is concerned about marijuana and youth. Medical marijuana needs to be regulated and controlled, and that requires a lot of overhead. He also doesn’t believe that a tax on medical marijuana should be a cornerstone of the town’s budget. Denison said that wastewater is starting to hit ground water and that the town should definitely be involved with the wastewater project. He loves the idea of a half-percent sales tax for infrastructure, because the funds come from the outside community, but said he would need more information before he could fully support it. Denison doesn’t believe that concessions should be made for businesses; he supports a development impact fee if the fees are equal for all businesses.
