Election 2018: Los Alamitos City Council candidates share their priorities and thoughts on local issues

Voters will go to the polls Nov. 6 to pick who will represent them on the City Council.

Ahead of the election, all candidates were invited to share information about themselves and answer questions about their priorities and local concerns for this voter guide. In each city, all were asked the same questions and given the same word count for their answers. The newspaper reached out to contacts provided to the city clerks and Orange County Registrar of Voters. Responses were not received from a few of the candidates, as is noted in the guide.

In Los Alamitos, six are vying for four seats on the City Council.

The candidates

Mark Chirco, attorney (MarkChirco.com)

Tanya Doby, no response received to the survey

Gisele “Gigi” Finch, no response received to the survey

Dean Grose, semi retired/business consultant (DeanGrose.com)

Shelley Hasselbrink, incumbent, controller for Mason West (hasselbrink4losal.com)

Warren Kusumoto, incumbent

Question 1: What are your top two priorities if elected?

Mark Chirco: Address skyrocketing pension costs (the city is facing a $14 million deficit in the next 10 years versus only a $7 million reserve). Extricate the city from increasingly expensive litigation.

Dean Grose: Develop alternative revenue sources; maintain public safety and the quality of life in Los Alamitos.

Shelley Hasselbrink: Long-term sustainability and keeping Los Alamitos a desirable place to live and do business.

Warren Kusumoto: (1) Local control over municipal affairs by keeping Sacramento out of proscribing what we can or can’t do as a charter city; (2) Reinventing the city to provide the mandatory services that the citizens need and to rationalize and evaluate the optional services that the city currently provides.

Question 2: How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves with meeting residents’ needs? Should it involve finding new revenue or trimming the budget?

Mark Chirco: We will need to analyze all options. None of the options that we will consider will be ideal but I am hopeful we can find creative ways to trim the budget by cutting waste and increase revenue through ever improving business and a booming economy. This will likely not be enough, however, and we will need to look at all options to ensure our city remains financially viable.

Dean Grose: Pension liabilities must be addressed and pensions need to be renegotiated equitably. Priorities are maintaining a safe and well maintained city.

Shelley Hasselbrink: There is no good answer. Cities have very few choices regarding paying off the ever-increasing pension liability. We could go for a sales tax increase, a transient occupancy tax increase, a utility tax increase or move our debt over to pension liability bonds. All bad answers but all cities are forced to examine all options as a way to stay financially solvent.

Warren Kusumoto: (1) The retirement of debt using current revenues is a must. Just like our own personal finances, we cannot spend more than we earn. However, the pension debt continues to grow and will continue to do so regardless of the yearly amount of revenues that are appropriated. We need to reform how we are incurring an ever-growing debt obligation. (2) Raising revenues on the wallets and earnings of our residents is wrong. A 1-cent sales tax increase will follow our residents outside of our city when we purchase new or used cars; the DMV will collect the state and local sales tax. Creative taxes such as special assessment districts are more palatable, but they are still taxes on the consumers.

Question 3: What should the city’s role be in encouraging the development of low-income housing units? Would you support a mandate or an incentive of some kind?

Mark Chirco: No answer given

Dean Grose: Housing needs to be affordable for all those seeking to live in Los Alamitos. I would be willing to evaluate options; however, I oppose new taxes or unwarranted fees.

Shelley Hasselbrink: Los Alamitos is a built out city with no additional room for residential or business development. I am not in favor of state-mandated low-income housing. I feel that each city needs to look at their own demographics and develop housing based on the local needs and demands.

Warren Kusumoto: Development: Take no direct role – the city and council can support the free-market development of low-income housing that is mandated by state law by removing some local regulations or zoning changes. Mandate/Incentive: The city’s support can be as simple as reducing or minimizing fees, and fast-tracking approval of permits and entitlements.

Question 4: Communities across the state are grappling with rising pension and other post-employment benefit costs. What do you think needs to be done to deal with this problem?

Mark Chirco: True and meaningful reform. Address current liabilities but ensure that all future pension obligations are fiscally sustainable.

Dean Grose: There are several steps. First, annual cost of living raises need to be put on hold; develop a plan that they employee can manage; renegotiate labor agreements.

Shelley Hasselbrink: The answers and solutions need to come from the state. Pensions are state issues that cities are having to deal with the consequences. We can pressure our state officials for pension reform but until anything of substance is changed, it will be the number one issue in all California cities.

Warren Kusumoto: W need real pension reform for the public sector employees; the current system is unsustainable and places an enormous burden on our child and grandchildren. Public sector employees are richly compensated with pay and pension benefits that private sector workers no longer receive

Question 5: On the ballot this November, voters will be asked to decide on whether to repeal the recently enacted increase to the state gas tax. What is your position on the gas tax?

Mark Chirco: I am for repeal of the gas tax. Ever-increasing taxes are hurting our economy and our residents and we pay some of the highest gas prices in the country. There are plenty of sources of revenue to pay for necessary infrastructure repairs.

Dean Grose: Vote “yes” on Proposition 6.

Shelley Hasselbrink: I feel that we are taxed enough on our gas consumption. I would like to see where all of the other gas taxes that have been collected are being allocated. In the past, gas taxes were passed by the voters with the promise that money collected would go to improvement and maintenance of our highways. Where di that money go?

Warren Kusumoto: I favor repeal the gas tax and demand that legislators (and appropriators) in Sacramento provide a full and transparent accounting of all gas taxes collected (pre-SB1 law) and how they were spent. Once every penny of the pre-SB1 gas tax is spent of road/highway maintenance and improvements, and if there is a shortfall – only then should we be taxed to maintain or improve our vehicle infrastructure

Question 6: The high cost of housing in California has spurred increased interest in rent control. On the ballot this November is Proposition 10, which would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act. What are your thoughts on rent control?

Mark Chirco: Rent control has many unintended consequences including devaluation of property owners’ investments and discouraging developers from building further housing which is sorely needed in California.Dean Grose: I’m opposed to Prop. 10.

Shelley Hasselbrink: Another state mandate that cities will be forced to implement without support or funding from the State. It’s time that the state lets cities govern themselves to provide the needed services, businesses and housing that will directly benefit their own residents and businesses.

Warren Kusumoto: Liberal/progressive legislators in Sacramento continually prove that they will over-regulate free enterprise and impose policies that will exacerbate the problems that their policies created. If left unchecked and unchallenged, I can see a day when the entire state’s rental stock will be under some form of rent control, which prevent new rental housing projects and will cause investors and land owners to seek other ways to make a profit.

Question 7: Proposition 64 authorizes the legalization of marijuana, while granting local jurisdictions the authority to approve or deny certain marijuana-related businesses. What are your thoughts on marijuana legalization to date and what do you think of your own community’s policies on marijuana?

Mark Chirco: Our city has restricted the sale of marijuana within city limits. I agree with this restriction.

Dean Grose: The city has already voted to reject marijuana dispensaries in Los Alamitos. I favor that action.

Shelley Hasselbrink: I believe that the state legalized marijuana before there was some mechanism for testing similar to the DUI field test. There is not the same stigma with many people regarding driving under the influence of marijuana. I am concerned that we will follow Colorado and see a large increase of marijuana related traffic accidents due to the legalization without the same stigma of drinking and driving.

Warren Kusumoto: Regulate to the maximum extent allowed by law. I worry about impaired drivers on our streets and highways, as well as operators of heavy machinery, transportation of people/goods. I do not advocate for the curtailment of the individual’s freedom to enjoy the fruits of their labor, but I do expect them to be a responsible member of their community and not endanger their neighbors by irresponsible actions such as driving/biking/walking while impaired.

Question 8: Senate Bill 54 limits the role of state and local law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration laws. The law has drawn legal challenges from some localities which want the flexibility to work with the federal government. What do you think of SB54?

Mark Chirco: I am focused on Los Alamitos. As a city without a jail, SB 54 has not affected how our police do their jobs and I disagree with the decision by our council to enact an ordinance (rather than a resolution) that has resulted in expensive litigation and threatens Los Alamitos’ financial well-being. The dispute between the federal government and the state of California regarding SB 54 will be decided by the federal courts as it should be. Additionally, it is Congress that needs to be address immigration reform once and for all.

Dean Grose: I do not support the state sanctuary law. Immigration needs to be addressed, but SB-54 is an attack on local control and as a charter city we have legal rights to develop local laws.

Shelley Hasselbrink: Philosophically, I am against sanctuary cities. We need a way to track all criminals to ensure our residents our safe. With the sanctuary city policy, it is impeding law enforcement to provide us with public safety. However, financially, I am not in favor of bankrupting our city or depleting our city of vital services to pay for a lawsuit that will not change the current California law. At this time, we are so early into the lawsuit with many moving parts, it’s hard to predict the outcome.

Warren Kusumoto: SB54, also known at the California Values Act, was considered by the City Council. We declared our city exempt from the California Values Act by enacting an ordinance declaring this. To date, the City of Los Alamitos, a charter city, is the only municipality in the state to enact an ordinance declaring that we are exempt from the California Values Act.