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: Mike Anderson

• 33 years old, host of the local cable television program “The Not So Late Show”

• 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 something needs to be done. I think anyone who has toured the ITC and the LEC downtown feels the same. I toured both, and I believe these facilities are not adequate, and certainly do not help with recruitment. However, I do not believe the Hallmark location is the answer. I think paying $47,000 an acre is too much, and I think it wouldn’t help with response time. We need to continue to research other locations, and other possible solutions to this problem.

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’m cautiously optimistic about this program. It is in place to make sure everyone has access to a safe and habitable living environment. And I certainly support that. We need to make sure landlords are complying with property maintenance standards. I understand these inspections might be bothersome, but at any location they will only happen to 10% of units every 3 years. And then every 6 years if the inspections find no violations. But I’m also worried if we are able to adequately staff this program, and whether it is too over-reaching. Hopefully we’ve done the research.

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?

No. Certainly not when it involves this amount of money. In this situation I would not have partnered with KU Endowment if it meant we couldn’t have a bidding process. I think all of Lawrence can agree that the process and implementation that went into this sports complex was flawed. Proper research was not done, and the lack of transparency surrounding the project was troublesome.

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 certainly understand how tax incentives can be important for economic growth, and for attracting new businesses. Currently however, the arguments for these incentives for apartment developments are not strong enough. Too much money/time is being given away. With incentives, our focus should be on creating jobs, economic growth, and raising our median per capita income. When it comes to tax incentives, we need to start asking tougher questions, and doing more research.

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?

Possibly. In our current economic climate we are losing too much money on tax abatements. I want to correctly market Lawrence, grow the economy, and create jobs. Therefore, sometimes we have to offer financial incentives to those businesses that have provided a thoroughly researched and compelling argument for their incentive. However, I’m not going to offer a higher incentive just to attract a business to VenturePark. I want to be clear. If needed, I would offer incentives to support existing business or attract business to Lawrence. I’m not going to give a business a free pass just to make sure they only go to VenturePark. When offering financial incentives, difficult questions must be asked, businesses must be held accountable, and the incentive must be reasonable.

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?

Economic growth and development in Lawrence is important. I have gone over the chambers strategic economic development plan with both chamber president Larry McElwain and COO Bonnie Lowe. I have confidence in them and their development priorities. I strongly believe the chamber’s development efforts will provide our community with the strengths and opportunities needed to raise our per capita median income, and provide the growth that we need.

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?

Medium. I cannot express enough how important I believe infrastructure is to a city. Infrastructure just isn’t important for public safety and public psyche, but it’s also important when marketing Lawrence. And the condition of the streets is a problem I see everywhere in Lawrence. It seems like every 2 years the condition of the streets is a major debate topic in these elections. We need better solutions.

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?

If door knocking in our community has taught me anything, it’s that almost everyone dislikes roundabouts, especially dual-lane roundabouts. One woman I talked with said she goes 4 minutes out of her way just to avoid a dual-lane roundabout. If the community doesn’t like them, and they cost the city more to construct, then I am not going to support them. I’m certainly open to hearing arguments for them, but I have yet to hear a slam dunk argument.

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?

Absolutely I support this project. The arts are a major part of the identity of Lawrence. And I want to continue to support the arts and projects like this in Lawrence. I look forward to working with all parties involved to make sure everyone feels excited and proud of the final product.

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?

At the moment, no. This is an issue we cannot rush into. This is a prime example of how we should be in communication with other cities that have gone through successes and failures surrounding this issue. As of late 2014, twenty-four U.S. cities now offer gigabit internet. Let’s talk with them. Let’s look at what Cleveland is doing with their new commercial broadband services, let’s learn from the failures and successes of what Chattanooga tried, let’s talk with Cedar Falls, Iowa about their own high-speed, municipally owned networks. Let’s research before we act.

What is the biggest issue facing Lawrence neighborhoods?

For the majority of people I talked with, it’s schools. People are frustrated with the decisions and cuts being made in Topeka, and they worry about the future for their children. But for the more local level and what the city commission can control – I think the biggest issue is the worry of what is happening with our sales and property taxes. People want to know our economic vision for the future, and they want the security of knowing that the right decisions are made regarding their tax dollars. People want to feel they are being represented on the city commission.

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 would 100% support these projects. We need to have more discussions related to new urbanism in this town. Issues like walkability, bike lanes, sustainability, and quality of life are very important. Take downtown for example. Parking downtown is a problem, and the congestion is about to get worse. Our downtown is a major piece of our identity. Projects such as these would help alleviate these parking and congestion problems. As of right now, biking anywhere near downtown can be dangerous. This is certainly a problem.

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.)

Currently my likelihood is low. I would have to read and hear compelling arguments why city assistance is needed. It’s not just about providing a sound argument why it would be important for our community to have a new conference center; it’s also about providing a sound argument why you would need city assistance for it, and what kind/how much assistance you need. But I’m certainly open to hearing those arguments. Difficult and smart questions need to be asked.

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?

Absolutely. It is all about maintaining a solid relationship and communication with the police and sheriff’s departments. We need to make sure those departments continue to have the resources they need for crime prevention. My hope and belief is that 2014 will be an anomaly.

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 am. The new South Lawrence Trafficway is certainly going to help with our marketing issues. And if our desire is to create jobs, and to create growth, then I think this is a good thing. Rezoning can certainly be a delicate issue, but if done for the right reasons can be very productive for our economy. Any research of this issue offers pros and cons. However, after looking at all the arguments I think we would be missing out on an important opportunity if we said no.

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

Lawrence will continue to be a vibrant community. In the next decade Lawrence’s economy will grow and develop. We’ll see jobs created, and the per capita median income go up. This will allow us to focus more on infrastructure and urban sustainability, which will greatly help with the marketing of Lawrence, urban vitality, social development, and quality of life. We will have a wonderful downtown where people can gather, walk, bike, and find parking. We’ll clean up the river and create a beautiful river walk on the north side of the river that will become an attraction. We will find ourselves sitting at the top of every list where the word “best” is used.