Dannielle Larkin
For St. George City Council
CANDIDATE Q&A
Question #1
What steps do you plan to take to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of affordable housing for PRIMARY residents, including those in lower income brackets?
If we want our children and grandchildren to be able to reside in Southern Utah, this is a problem we should focus intently to solve. The solution is ... READ MORE
If we want our children and grandchildren to be able to reside in Southern Utah, this is a problem we should focus intently to solve. The solution is multifaceted and includes in many cases relaxed and flexible regulations, infill housing, creative public private partnerships, and collaborations at all levels of government. I have worked and will continue to work hard to make space in our city for accessible, affordable housing.
Question #2
What specific projects do you support that are currently underway, other than water management, to improve the infrastructure in the city i.e transportation, utilities, public buildings, parks, open space, telecommunications, master planned developments?
What specific projects do you support that are currently underway, other than water management, to improve the ... READ MORE
Improving infrastructure shouldn’t always mean building more and bigger. Improving infrastructure means building smarter for the future. That looks like transportation systems that are sustainable and affordable in perpetuity and are multimodal, public buildings that are water and energy efficient and fulfill as many of the public needs as possible, parks that improve quality of life and are accessible to all abilities, open space that preserves and values our natural landscapes and protects our way of life as well as our valuable flora and fauna, telecommunications that allow us to compete economically, and master planned developments that look to help people live healthy, safe, affordable, and multi-generationally sustainable livelihoods. The request I hear more than any other is, “please don’t let our city turn into Los Angeles.” If we truly want to avoid the pitfalls of large metropolises, we have to be willing to embrace holistic solutions that consider the needs of every resident of the city.
Question #3
How do you plan to balance the need for public safety with the need for individual freedoms and privacy?
Protecting public safety is partially about providing well funded and trained police and fire departments and it is also about supporting their efforts ... READ MORE
Protecting public safety is partially about providing well funded and trained police and fire departments and it is also about supporting their efforts to keep the community safe by providing a safe, holistically healthy environment. That includes well maintained and safe parks and open space, roads that are planned with the human element in mind and move people safely and efficiently through our city, protecting our air quality, providing safe drinking water, and making sure we give a lifting hand to those in the most basic need in our society. Switchpoint and their programs are an excellent example of giving a hand up instead of a hand out and they greatly contribute to the overall public safety equation. Individual freedoms and privacy are of the utmost importance and a healthy society naturally engenders neighbors watching out for neighbors without intrusion into personal rights and choices.
Question #4
How do you plan to balance the need for new residential development with concerns about urban sprawl and preserving the natural beauty of the area?
It is absolutely possible to plan for the additional housing we know we need without drastically infringing on our important open ... READ MORE
It is absolutely possible to plan for the additional housing we know we need without drastically infringing on our important open space and natural vistas or ruining quality of life. This looks like allowing low impact urban infill in places that are already built as well as allowing for creative multi-use housing and mixed density/use developments. It looks like wise use of our water and energy resources that allow for our next generations to live in this beautiful place regardless of changes in availability of resources. This is an effort that is worth all our effort and energy to solve.
Question #5
What specific business sectors or industries do you believe would have the greatest positive impact on growth in the Greater Dixie area?
For many years we have been a construction and service industry heavy economy ... READ MORE
For many years we have been a construction and service industry heavy economy. While construction and service will continue to be vital, shifting to allow growth in the tech industry, including supporting our tech college and university will be vital for maintaining an economy that is facing future forward. Supporting businesses that keep our intellectual talent here when their schooling is complete will be key. That support often looks like making sure there are not impediments to their business success. All local businesses need an educated and trained workforce, affordable housing for employees, an environment that welcomes all income levels and family structures, and a community that is safe, clean, and healthy.
Question #6
Do you believe that there is a need for more entertainment options, such as bars, restaurants, and music venues, in the city?
Yes and this a great place to watch the free market thrive. If the need is there, our policies should allow ... READ MORE
Yes and this a great place to watch the free market thrive. If the need is there, our policies should allow for it, so long as it is not a detriment to the health and safety of our community.
Question #7
How do you plan to balance the needs of agriculture, Golf Courses, and residential water users to ensure equitable access to water resources?
St. George is a food desert. This means our grocery store shelves would be empty very quickly if trucks stopped coming in ... READ MORE
St. George is a food desert. This means our grocery store shelves would be empty very quickly if trucks stopped coming in for any reason. We grow very little food in our area due to our desert climate and the challenges involved there. Incredibly there are new innovations that allow for maximum food production with minimal water use, even in areas like ours with often poor soils. Hydroponics, aeroponics, permaculture, and other creative food production methods are going to be vital for our food security now and into the future. Switchpoint Aeroponics garden is the first of its kind in our area and is a model we need to replicate throughout the county. Golf Courses that are already here contribute in many positive ways to our community, including revenue they generate from locals and visitors as well as preservation of open space. All courses need to follow St. George City’s example from this past year and continue looking for ways to conserve water, which for many involves some turf removal, over-seeding with low water use grasses, and allowing roughes to grow longer, requiring less mowing and water. I do not believe any new(additional) courses should be considered. Residential water users need to consider the long term health and welfare of our economy and do all they can to conserve. We have been able to keep our property taxes some of the lowest in the nation and that is because we have been host to tourism that brings in approximately $1300 per household/per year in property tax reductions. We also want our kids and grandkids to have to opportunity to live in this glorious space. For that to be possible, we must make a concerted effort to be water wise. When the Mormon Pioneers first entered this valley, they viewed water as their most valuable and cherished resource and would jail anyone caught wasting it. We do not need that heavy handed approach today but we do need to equally cherish its life giving and life sustaining value and do all we can to make sure we have water to protect our future.