Robert (Bob) Baggett is running for Auburn City Council Position No. 7. He is running for a second term. Baggett’s opponent is Vera Orlandic-Hodak.
Auburn Examiner: Social media accounts for public official can build a direct connection for the city’s residents that can create a dialogue for comments or questions with those responsible for their public services. presently only Auburn’s Mayor has an official Facebook account. Do you believe city councilmembers should have official social media accounts to engage with their constituents? Please explain why or why not.
Bob Baggett: The Mayor is the primary spokesperson for the city as the Executive Branch!! I do not believe that our elected Councilmembers should have their own official social media account because the Council is a legislative body of seven individuals that work collectively when voting on issues that affect city policy rather than as individuals. As individual citizens most of the Councilmembers may have their own personal social media account; however they should not provide individual dialogue or comments regarding city business that has not been voted on at a regular Council Meeting of the city. Any correspondence received from a citizen or resident by a Councilmember is distributed to all Councilmembers and, if a reply should be made, it will be made by the Mayor.
Auburn Examiner: A common issue raised about downtown Auburn is a lack of parking or that parking is limited to 3 hours. With the two new mixed-use buildings going in, how do you propose the city address these concerns?
Bob Baggett: Parking in the downtown area has been an issue for some time for the city’s residents, and is further compounded more recently because of the construction in process or about to commence on two 7 and 8-story mixed use buildings along Division and Main Streets, respectively. These new buildings will provide parking for the building occupants and for visitors to the mixed use facilities. Sound Transit is in the final stages of design and permitting for construction of a 2nd parking structure at the corners of 1st Street and A Street NW behind City Hall. I believe that this new structure will accommodate more than 450 vehicles planned for completion in 2023 that may be used by commuters and downtown shoppers alike.
Auburn Examiner: What thoughts do you have, if any, to improve the appearance of the city?
Bob Baggett: Our City Planners have been working with consultants during the past few years for city and street upgrades that would improve the city’s overall appearance, especially the downtown corridor. Unfortunately many of these upgrades would require considerable expense not currently in the city’s biennial budgets. The city has budgeted and is using grant monies to improve the appearances of existing businesses by offering shared or matching funds for façade improvements, which has been a successful annual program. New plans and designs to replace the Heritage Building that burned down along Main Street are currently under review within the city Planning Department that will further enhance the aesthetics and overall appearance of the downtown corridor.
Auburn Examiner: If you received a $1 million grant to use for the city any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
Bob Baggett: I believe that if the city received a grant of $1-million dollars without conditions, we should use it to further assist our non-profit businesses in the city to help curb homelessness, the opioid epidemic, and perhaps use some of the funds to assist in the beautification of our city as noted in item 3 above.
Auburn Examiner: The city’s projected budget indicates that without changes, Auburn could be in the red in the coming years. It has been suggested that implementing new revenue sources would likely prevent this. What revenue source(s) would you propose to help balance the city’s budget?
Bob Baggett: It should be noted that the city is NOT presently experiencing any financial trouble; however, the city is currently working with a consultant to recommend to the Mayor and Council their suggestions for replacement of some of the revenue streams that will be sunsetting or going away in the next few years. In order for the Council to continue to be fiscally responsible, we will review the consultants suggestions under consideration and possibly consider other options for replacing existing revenues. These recommendations will be shared in a public forum setting that will include input from our citizens and businesses. Each Councilmember has shared their individual ideas during Council Meetings to assure that our biennial budgets are balanced and remain solvent. We will be working with our city Finance Department, the consultant, and the public, to assure that our operating budgets for the city remain in the black.
Auburn Examiner: What do you feel we can learn from Seattle’s growing problem when it comes to affordable housing?
Bob Baggett: The term affordable housing is a relative term depending upon your income and geographic location; however, having said that, our city is currently collaborating with the City of Seattle, the office of the King County Executive, and building developers, to provide housing that is affordable throughout the region, especially for low income households. This collaboration will focus on federal and state funding sources and the availability of existing housing stock in the region. Seattle rental and housing rates are extremely high and unaffordable for most families with low-to-moderate incomes. It may be possible to use these grant monies to assist or help subsidize, in part, these families accessibility to reasonable and affordable housing. This will be an ongoing issue that requires our serious attention, and probably will not be easily solved in the near term.
Auburn Examiner: The city will see new development and redevelopment to accommodate the contiual growth of Auburn. If you could change one thing in our zoning code, what would it be and why?
Bob Baggett: Our city’s population is currently growing by 4,000-6,000 people annually, and we are now at approximately 84,000 and counting. Auburn currently has one of the most liberal fee structures for new and remodeled housing. As we grow in population, we may want to re-look at our density codes for providing suitable housing for various size families. I am an advocate for single family dwellings in Auburn; however, I also believe that in future years this may have to be tempered with more multi-family and perhaps higher density housing than is currently allowed.
Auburn Examiner: While not voters, the youth of Auburn are still constituents. How will you involve them, and ensure they are considered in your decision-making process?
Bob Baggett: I believe that our youth are our future and we should continue to involve them in our planning and development as a city. We currently involve our youth in the Junior City Council (Mayor’s Office) and the Auburn Youth Council (Parks, Arts & Recreation) in key assignments and responsibilities such as periodic presentations of ideas and projects to the City Council, and annual or semi-annual trips to the National League of Cities where they gain a working knowledge of various city governments on a national scale, and bring viable ideas back to our city for possible consideration or adoption. It has been difficult in recruiting and maintaining youth for our Junior Council over the past years, and would like to see more emphasis in improving the process that might involve our city staff and elected officials to visit our middle and senior high schools to explain the program available to the students.
Auburn Examiner: What programs do you feel the city is lacking? If elected, how will you work to see these programs are implemented?
Bob Baggett: I would support a Domestic Violence Advocate Program that would provide city departmental coordination and reporting of activities, and chair periodic meetings among all affected departments including Legal, Auburn Police, Judicial, and the like.
Auburn Examiner: Illegal dumping, excessive litter, graffiti, and unkempt sidewalks are among concerns raised by Auburn residents. What do you propose to address cleaning up Auburn’s more unsightly areas, and keeping them maintained?
Bob Baggett: The obvious answer would be to hire additional city personnel to help clean up these problem areas; however, this would put a considerable additional burden on existing city budgets. Perhaps providing more receptacles for trash and a program to bring awareness to our residents or those creating these unsightly acts. Our Code Compliance Officers (3) are constantly patrolling our streets and neighborhoods, and responding to citizen reports, to bring these areas of concern into compliance, and work with individuals to possibly avoid future incidents. These officers have a limited budget approved by the City Council to assist or correct most of the graffiti and minor clean-ups throughout the city, but these funds are often insufficient to cover the entire city.
Auburn Examiner: What businesses do you feel Auburn is lacking and would benefit from the most?
Bob Baggett: Our city’s Economic Development Department’s primary objective is to bring additional businesses and living wage jobs to our city. We do need additional manufacturing-type businesses possibly replacing or co-existing within our warehousing community. We also need to continue to diligently work on filling up our empty Main Street storefronts with businesses that will draw people to our downtown corridor. I suggest a Library Annex, ice cream parlor, upscale restaurant, or possibily a soup and salad business.
Auburn Examiner: If elected, how will you govern for the future of Auburn?
Bob Baggett: If re-elected, I will continue to work diligently and collaboratively with my fellow Councilmembers, staff, and the Mayor’s office, to create and approve legislation and policy for the city that will support our projected growth and quality of life for our citizens and residents. I will continue to support a transparent government knowing that our city leaders and staff have the tools and abilities in-place to implement these plans, and the knowledge that I can continue to be a catalyst for these processes. I still believe that we must be prepared to support the current and future growth mode with efficient and effective planning tempered with sound leadership and fiscal responsibility. I also believe that we should listen and respond to our people, and provide and maintain the necessary infrastructures to carry us forward for the benefit of future generations. Interact proactively with local businesses and continue to strengthen our relationships with the Muckleshoot Tribal Council.
Auburn Examiner: What is your favorite word?
Bob Baggett: Favorite Words: Can Do!!
Auburn Examiner: What is your least favorite word?
Bob Baggett: Least Favorite Word: Can’t
Auburn Examiner: What turns you on?
Bob Baggett: Turn On: Challenge
Auburn Examiner: What turns you off?
Bob Baggett: Turn Off: Procrastination
Auburn Examiner: What sound do you love?
Bob Baggett: Sound I Love: My Lovely Wife’s Voice
Auburn Examiner: What sound do you hate?
Bob Baggett: Sound I Hate: House alarm going off.
Auburn Examiner: What is your favorite curse word?
Bob Baggett: Favorite Curse Word: Darn!!
Auburn Examiner: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Bob Baggett: Other Profession to Attempt: Police Officer (when I was much younger!!)
Auburn Examiner: What profession would you not like to do?
Bob Baggett: Other Profession Dislike: Lion Tamer
Auburn Examiner: If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Bob Baggett: God’s Word at Arrival at Pearly Gates: Welcome!!
Check out other candidate responses to these questions here. Other election questionnaires can be found in our Vote 2019 section.
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