Name: Lee Byrd
Age: 67
Education: Henderson State University, B.S.; Air Force Institution of Technology, B.S.E.E.; University of Illinois, M.S.E.E.; California State University, Dominguez Hills, M.B.A.
Occupation: Incumbent RPV Councilman
Years on the Peninsula: 23-plus

Sixty-six hundred voters in 1993 said I should represent them on the RPV City Council. I have the education; two graduate degrees; engineering and an M.B.A. I am a businessman and have managed large numbers of employees. I served on the RPV Planning Commission and as president of the Ladera Homeowners Association. I have served as mayor, mayor pro tem and council member. My record of fiscal conservatism is a record of which I am proud. The city is in excellent financial condition and reserves are being increased. Roads are being repaired and our parks are scheduled for expansion.

Prop. M was passed by the voters in November '89 and became the law of the land. I took an oath to uphold our laws. We must be absolutely sure that the rights of all our citizens are protected. The actions the council took on Sept. 16 by clarifying the views and foliage replacement policy for the Commission was appropriate. We will continue these actions to insure that the foliage and view owners are treated equally. If policy changes do not provide equal treatment, it may be necessary to place the ordinance on the ballot.

If a"thriving business environment" means auto malls and such, I would not support such measures. I believe we must follow the general plan. However, we will continue to work with the merchants and business owners at Golden Cove and the Western Corridor to improve their business environment and sales. Long Point should be developed in the next few years with people serving activities and businesses. Golden Cove should follow. Western Avenue requires cooperation by Los Angeles and CalTrans. The Council will continue to seek that cooperation.

Our codes are specific. Building will not occur on unsafe land. We now require that the geology studies are complete and accepted by the city prior to any development approval. Many noticed public earings are required by the Planning Commission and the Council during the process. The public will be fully informed and I could expect the same participation of the public as we have seen in the past. The general plan is restrictive and I support following that plan.

I have fully supported and particpated in the formulation of the Natural Communities Conservation Planning effort for RPV. The NCCP will provide more and better habitat than we have now. The preserves will be the property of the city at very little, if any, cost. I proposed acquisition of Shoreline Park from the county and I fully support the acquisition of open space and improvement of habitat. When we acquire open space, we also acquire the responsibility for landslide abatement, fire prevention, drainage and preparation of the land for use by the public. I am prepared to set aside the resources to accomplish these goals.

Within the next four years, my priorities will continue to be good fiscal management of our limited resources. Safe streets and good roads remain at the top of the list. These are being done. We must develop a comprehensive Parks plan centered around unsuccessful NCCP. Development of Long Point should be resolved. We must continue to mitigate the land movement which has destroyed home and threatens others. The unbuildable lands should be re-vegetated with coastal scrub. I will continue to push for all RPV children to attend Peninsula schools. I support our seniors' need for a more permanent Senior Center.

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