Question the candidates

Neighborhood Times will ask questions of the Pinellas Park City Council candidates and print their answers through Feb. 27. Today's question was provided by the Pinellas Park/Mid-County Chamber of Commerce. If you want to submit a question, e-mail Anne Lindberg at lindberg@sptimes.com, call her at 893-8450 or send a fax to 893-8675. The election is March 5.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What would you do as a council member to encourage new businesses to locate in Pinellas Park?Are there any types of businesses the city should be encouraging to locate here? What, if anything, would you do to help existing businesses that had troubles or wanted to move out of Pinellas Park? Please be specific.

Alan Swartz

"I, as a council member, would continue to support the "can-do' attitude the city has in its dealings with both its citizens and its business community. Businesses look for the quality of municipal services and their accessibility as well as a low tax rate in determining where to locate. The current City Council and city administration have done an excellent job in this area and I would support the current policies.

"The city should encourage "clean' types of business to locate in the city, those being businesses that enhance the quality of life in Pinellas Park and do not pollute the environment.

"To help existing businesses that were having trouble or wanted to move out of Pinellas Park, we must first determine what is the nature of the trouble the business is having. If the problem is with an area of city government, we need to see if our existing policies and services are of a level any business would expect from a municipal government. On the other hand, if the problems the business is having is outside of those areas, there may be little we as a city could do."

Sandra Bradbury

"Council and staff should visit businesses in the surrounding area to determine their needs and see if they would mesh with the city of Pinellas Park and its residents.

"The Mom and Pop type of businesses that give you the personal touch that some larger businesses do not have the ability to provide. Quality industries and businesses that will be able to provide job opportunities for our citizens and young people entering the work force.

"Hopefully, we would be able to help prior to it coming to that situation by having good communications between business owners, city staff and the Chamber of Commerce. Our city has a strong commitment to work with our local Chamber of Commerce as a liaison when businesses feel the need for additional help. As a Chamber of Commerce member, I see firsthand the city's involvement in the business industry."

Ralph Marlow

(This answer was edited for length.)

"I will continue the support of our community development department and our Chamber of Commerce. Our community development department and our Chamber of Commerce working together have accomplished a lot from one end of town to the other. On one end we have our new Wal-Mart superstore and the other end we have Lowe's, not to mention the new dental offices (on Park Boulevard) and the new Sonny's (Barbecue, also on Park). We also have the new Cadillac dealership coming and the one I am excited about is the new National Guard Armory/Reserve Center coming to the Gateway Centre. . . . We must also remember that when new businesses are seeking locations, they take a look at our schools, churches, youth groups, crime rates, transportation, municipal services and our ability to provide quality employees.

"I would like to see more professional service businesses within Pinellas Park. A Barnes and Noble bookstore would be a nice addition to our city. More importantly, the types of businesses I do not want to see in the Park are low-grade used car lots, pawn shops, adult bookstores, adult entertainment lounges, day labor organizations, businesses that would stereotype our community and any business that would alter the family lifestyle or bring discomfort to our citizens.

"I feel retention of business is far more important than attracting new business. The retention of business means we keep our jobs. . . . We have a good program coming, the "Business Assistance Partnership,' thanks to the Pinellas County Economic Development Department, the city of Pinellas Park and the Chamber of Commerce. This assistance program . . . will solely concentrate on the retention and expansion of current businesses within Pinellas Park."

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