Gary Storm for Urbana City Council

I will work to:

Procure new federal funds for economic recovery and reinvestment to pay for public works of numerous kinds: infrastructure improvements; new information/communication technologies; improved public transportation systems; upgraded school, health and social service facilities; and grassroots community improvement projects organized by citizen groups.

Use existing sales tax revenues, special TIF funds, and new grant revenues for the same purposes in order to provide the physical and social infrastructure required to attract business, residential and cultural investment.

Promote development within established areas rather than on the periphery of the community in order to minimize urban sprawl and destruction of valuable agricultural land surrounding Urbana.

• Specific to Ward 7: Monitor development of the University’s old Pomology Orchard (at the SW corner of Philo and Windsor Roads) and of Orchard Downs (west of Race Street between Windsor Road and Florida Avenue) to insure that Ward 7 residents have a voice in decisions made and that the developments be completed in ecologically-responsible ways that also respect the social, cultural and aesthetic character of the existing neighborhoods.)
• Downtown Urbana: Involve the City, business and citizen groups in downtown planning and development; create incentives for small scale commercial and cultural enterprises; establish higher density housing for a variety of age and income groups; and connect the two downtowns and campus through an energy efficient transportation corridor that includes walking and bike paths (increased land values along the corridor will attract many kinds of investment)

Promote intensive, organic approaches to gardening and farming both inside and outside the city through the promotion of neighborhood/community gardens and community supported agriculture (CSA) efforts.

Encourage the development of ecologically responsible leisure activities that are rewarding but consume less energy and materials than current lifestyles—e.g., creative intellectual and artistic activities, reading and discussion groups, debate groups, amateur athletic competition and sport, landscape design and gardening, etc.; often these can be organized as clubs or nonprofit social or civic groups.