The Journal-World sent a 16-question survey to each candidate running for three at-large seats on the City Commission. Fourteen people filed for those seats. The March 3 primary election will whittle the field of candidates down to six for the April 7 general election. These answers are presented as they were received from the candidates.

Candidate profile: Kristie Adair

• 41 years old, a Lawrence school board member, co-owner of Wicked Broadband, and director of the Lawrence Center for Entrepreneurship

• Full profiles and more questionnaires

Do you believe a new police headquarters facility is needed, and if so, are you open to considering a property tax or sales tax increase to fund the facility?

I do believe there is a need. Supporting small business growth and entrepreneurship will allow us to grow our tax base and more easily afford larger ticket items like a new police facility. In the interim we may need to refocus some of our CIP funds to improve the working conditions of our law enforcement officers.

The city in 2014 approved a new registration and licensing program for apartments and other rental units in the city. It is set to begin inspections in July. Do you support the program as approved?

I would like to see a year of inspections and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the program at that time. After the first year we can then see if we have a continued need for the program.

As part of the Rock Chalk Park sports complex, the city entered into a public-private partnership with Kansas University Endowment and a private development group. As part of that agreement, the city is paying for about $12 million worth of infrastructure that was exempted from the city’s standard bidding process. Do you support public-private partnerships that involve the city paying for work that was not bid?

All City of Lawrence expenditures should go through a competitive process including economic development expenditures. Every dollar spent whether through an expenditure or a tax incentive should go through a competitive process.

In 2014 the city approved tax rebates for projects in East Lawrence, downtown and near the KU campus that were either wholly or largely for apartment development. Do you support providing tax incentives for apartment development?

I do not support incentives for apartments or hotels. Those project, once built, will pull tenants from other apartments and hotels that are operating without a tax incentive. Those empty units would mean less money for property owners to maintain their property or hire others to do so. We need to keep a fair, overall perspective in mind when considering tax incentives.

Every single economic development dollar should go through a competitive process including tax incentives.

The city last year opened Lawrence VenturePark, the new business park that was built on the former Farmland Industries fertilizer plant site in eastern Lawrence. Do you support the idea of providing tax abatements and other financial incentives to attract businesses to that park?

I would support incentives for primary jobs. We need to keep in mind the areas of focus we have already listed in our Economic Development Plan: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Bioscience, and Information Technology. Those are areas that could bring new money into Lawrence.

In 2015, the city is budgeted to provide about $220,000 to the Lawrence chamber of commerce to lead the community’s economic development efforts. Do you support that arrangement with the chamber?

Chambers of Commerce were created as a special interest group to advocate for business. They do a great job. Public funds for economic development are not typically spent with a special interest group but rather with an unbiased agency.

In 2008 voters approved a three-tenths of a percent sales tax to fund city-street maintenance and other infrastructure projects. How would you rate the condition of city streets today?

I think our streets are in great shape for automobile traffic. We could do a much better plan integrating Complete Streets ideas into upkeep and maintenance in a way that would encourage more pedestrian and bike usage of our streets.

In 2014 the city built a new dual-lane roundabout on Wakarusa Drive, and is considering building more in the future. Do you support the use of roundabouts in the city?

Roundabouts can be effective if they are used properly. I would like to look at an overall policy for our streets that considers the encouragement of multimodal transportation. We may be able to save money by not expanding into roundabouts.

Based on current city capital improvement plans, the city is scheduled to spend about $3 million in 2015 and 2016 on a project to rebuild a portion of Ninth Street as part of an effort to make the area into an “arts corridor.” As currently proposed, do you support the project?

I support the project especially because of the integration of Complete Streets. My main concern is that we make sure we are making the best use of our Capital Improvement Funds with all of our projects.

The city has been asked to approve financial incentives designed to spur the installation of additional gigabit, super-fast broadband service in Lawrence. Do you support the idea of providing a financial incentive to private companies interested in providing enhanced broadband services to the community?

This is an area in which I have a financial interest so I do not think it would be appropriate for me as a city commission candidate to address this issue.

What is the biggest issue facing Lawrence neighborhoods?

Lack of economic opportunity. Our community is losing jobs and growing much slower than other communities. We need to address this issue first so that we have funds to improve neighborhood infrastructure.

Given the other needs of the city, what is the likelihood that you would support additional funding for trails, bike lanes and other pedestrian-oriented projects in the community?

I feel that supporting pedestrian projects will make Lawrence a better community. We can have sidewalks and trails that connect the entire community allowing people to walk and bike for transportation and recreation. Studies have shown that walking as little as 30 minutes three times a week is as effective as an antidepressant.

Given the other needs of the city, what is the likelihood that you would support the idea of city assistance for a new conference center in the community? (Full disclosure: Members of The World Company, which owns the Journal-World and LJWorld.com have put forward a proposal for a downtown project that includes a conference center.)

We have other opportunities to promote growth in our community that are more in line with the City’s economic development policy.

In 2014 there were six homicides in Lawrence, the highest number in at least a decade. Is there anything the Lawrence City Commission can do to improve public safety in the community?

I would like to address that issue in several different ways. Improved mental health support. Several homicides were committed by persons with mental health needs. We also need to address the issue of economic opportunity. Fully employed young men tend to be better at avoiding trouble. Finally we need a program to get officers better involved with the communities they support. KHP has done a great job of this with the Tweeting Troopers project. Citizens feel better able to connect with law enforcement and could likely feel more comfortable reaching out.

A proposal has been made by a development group to create a major new retail area just south of the South Lawrence Trafficway and Iowa Street interchange? Are you supportive of rezoning property for major new retail developments in the community?

I feel that Horizon 2020 set in place a plan for the city so we had an overall picture. I think it would be more beneficial to the city as a whole if we could look at in-fill as opposed to sprawl. If the developer still feels that is the best place then we should let them know we will not pay for building the roads and services out to them. This has worked well in many other communities such as Boulder.

What’s your vision for the type of community Lawrence will become in the next decade?

I see Lawrence as a community with growing small businesses, universal economic opportunity and pedestrian friendly infrastructure.