Meet Pam Walzer, Ward 2

AGE: 52
OCCUPATION: Jewelry maker
MARITAL OR PARTNERSHIP STATUS: Divorced
EDUCATION: Indiana University, bachelor’s degree in biology and minor in chemistry; West Virginia University, graduate work in biochemical genetics
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Space rocket researcher and quality tester; EPA hazardous waste management of chemical agents and explosives; substitute science teacher
MILITARY EXPERIENCE: None.
PUBLIC SERVICE: member of Missoula County Local Government Study Commission and Missoula Downtown Association; volunteered for International Wildlife Film Festival and U.S. Sen. John Tester’s election campaign
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
ENDORSEMENTS: Missoula County Democrats, Missoula Area Central Labor Council, Mayor John Engen, Missoula County Commissioner Jean Curtiss, Sen. Greg Lind, Sen. Dave Wanzenried, Rep. Ron Erickson, former Rep. Gail Gutshe; Chamber of Commerce rating: 1.2 of 3.0.
WEB SITE: http://www.pamwalzer.com/

Questions and answers

What qualifies you to be on the City Council?

“Part of it has to do with my very varied background. As a scientist, the analytical thinking of having to find what the problem is and looking for a solution is all part of my background training. Businesses and cities are similar, and I have a lot of experience in the business end that can be applied to the city. Not to mention being a member of the Missoula City Local Government Study Commission. I do know what’s going on. People say it’s the closest I can get to being an incumbent. Also, the environmental work I did, disposing of toxic wastes, made me very much involved with the regulations. Because of that, in the study commission I dug into government relations, something most councilors can’t do. And that makes me an asset.”

What are the best and worst things the City Council has done in recent years?

“The worst is a no-brainer, the scuttling of the 2000 Northside/Westside neighborhood plan. Council took all that the residents wanted and destroyed it by amending the update. Luckily, it was killed. Nothing about the update changed, but there was an attempt to damage the original plan. The neighborhood’s original update describes the vision for what should happen in the neighborhood. Part of it has to do with the expansion design of the Safeway store. It doesn’t fit into the neighborhood plan of expanding West Broadway as a part of downtown, keeping it pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The amendment would remove Safeway from the plan. One store might not be a big deal, but it sets the ground for the rest. Currently, a compromise is about to be reached, and the neighborhood’s real excited about that.

The best is the Iraq war referendum. Putting it on the ballot is nonbinding, but it gives Missoula a voice. This is truly something that City Council offers the people of Missoula: to speak as one voice, not just individually sent letters.”

What one thing would you most like to accomplish as a member of the City Council?

“I would like to see council regain its job of well-arranged planning. They seem to be wrapped up in day-to-day minutia without a great road map to follow. We need to have a big plan to follow so the City Council knows what to do. Right now, they don’t know what they’re supposed to do. From election to election it changes without reflection of any big plan.”

What can the city do to attract better-paying jobs?

“I’m not for trying to drag businesses in from the outside. I’m not against anyone coming in, but I’d like to see ways to take advantage of the brain trust we have here, through the university and the medical community. We have so much opportunity for spin-off. And to do that, we need to start small and build up from within. That way, the entrepreneurs themselves are getting the wealth. (Take) for example, the Missoula Children’s Theatre. So much money comes into Missoula because they’re going out. The idea is to grow it here, keep your smart guys here in town.”

What should the city do to encourage the development of more affordable housing?

“We need to continue efforts of nonprofits for low-income affordable housing. We also need to think of affordable rentals. But everyone forgets quality. We need to look at models around the country to adapt and apply here. Maybe even giving landlords tax incentives to cap rents. People are seeing increase in taxes, meaning special improvement districts and impact fees. Make developers pay upfront, but they say it’ll increase the cost of the house. Maybe, but wouldn’t it be better to know when you bought your house you could afford it, than later get hit with a $100 a month charge? In the meantime, they’re trying to encourage development within the city. But there’s a minimum lot size which is too big. Large houses on large lots equal poor affordability. We need to change those rules to (offer) small houses on small lots.”

Should Missoula endorse a troop withdrawal from Iraq? Why or why not?

“Yes, because even though it’s nonbinding, it gives Missoula a voice. This is truly something that City Council offers the people of Missoula: to speak as one voice, not just individual letters.”

What is Missoula’s most pressing traffic problem and where should the city turn for the money to solve it?

“Problem is we’re looking at roads and cars. (The) more roads you build, the more cars you get. To prove that, look at North Reserve Street, and we still haven’t learned that lesson. We need to change how we’re thinking about transportation. When we develop, we want to make it so people don’t have to drive across town to do anything. Mixed housing is the answer. That way, low income doesn’t mean you’re stuck living in one section of town. You’re mixing things together, and essentially that doesn’t cost anything. Secondly, we need to increase Mountain Line service. I feel the demand is there. I hear many people say, ‘I’d take it, but it takes too long to get anywhere.’ Finding money is always a big issue, but if we don’t build more roads, it might be there.”

Should the city encourage or discourage more housing in existing city neighborhoods? Why or why not?

“Yes, it should, in all neighborhoods. We need to spread the wide variety of housing prices throughout the city. There’s no reason well-built multi-family dwellings can’t exist very nicely in different locations. I think the city should let the market decide where the growth happens, whether it is within the city or not. No matter what, more housing vacancies mean lower prices.”

Should the city limit the number of unrelated people who may share a house?

“I once had 10 people living in a neighboring duplex; they were great, other than the seven cars. That’s a complex issue, and it has to do with health and safety. Related or unrelated doesn’t matter. The issue is if they can safely live in a location. That’s a really hard thing to govern. Having been a student myself, I’d rather see safety in rentals and not just discriminating against rentals.”

What specific problems in your ward would you like to see solved?

“The ward has three distinct areas, and traffic is in issue. We need to increase Mountain Line availability throughout the ward. Also, I’m not a bike Nazi. I don’t ride a bike. I have one, but I don’t ride it. But I want people to appreciate being in your car is not a fun thing. We need to design the city to be pedestrian friendly. And I am for chickens.”