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• Insurance coverage must remain at the $100 million mark
• Fines for violations must be significantly higher than $1,000 currently proffered.
• There must be a contractual obligation to make sure the insurance coverage is extended to  ‘during all operations’.
• Must have Environmental Impairment Liability/pollution coverage
• There are other issues such as emergency response, emergency preparedness, inspections, timing, setbacks, and use of alternative sites.  All of these issues are important. Once implemented, If any Business violates those ordinances or contracts, then we as a City and County must enforce them, even if that means litigation.

1) Do you have concerns about the proposed residential oil and gas development plans in Broomfield?  If so, what specifically concerns you and what would you do to implement change? If not, please explain why you are satisfied with the proposed plans. 

I have serious concerns regarding the proposed plans in Broomfield, especially now, given that they are trying to push through the MOU prior to the election.  The current proposal does not address the serious concerns that residents have regarding the proximity to our homes, school, or reservoir.  In fact, the newest version is even closer to the reservoir site than before.  In addition, the Huron and United Pads were dropped, and instead, split up, and moved even closer to residences and schools.  Bottom line, the proposal is not anywhere close to ready to be voted on by Council.  The Task Force process must be completed before any projects move forward.  This includes the Comprehensive Plan Chapter being adopted as well as any and all ordinances and regulations be fully enacted and in place.   Only then, should an operator’s plan be considered.  To implement this I would not enter into any agreement or allow the cities approval process move forward on any operation until we had sufficient time to debate the merits of proposed ordinances in open, public meetings, allowing the public to have input on any such changes.   Only after this is completed will I vote to allow the approval process on any particular plan to move forward.

2) Do you believe that regulations (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BxAJnoFWbi4RVGlHRVVKcEQtZ00) that are being recommended by the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee (the “Recommendations”) should be adopted in full in addition to the Comprehensive Plan Chapter even if it means risking litigation?  Please explain why or why not, and cite any specific portions of the Recommendations with which you disagree or find essential. 

The Task force did an amazing job given the time crunch that they were pushed into.  The proposed comp plan chapter that they have put forward is a great step in the process of ensuring the health and safety of the people of Broomfield.  I do believe that is should be adopted in full, however, I do feel that it does not go far enough in several areas.  I recognize the hard work and compromise that went into the proposal, but I am not comfortable with the setback matrix as is and I would like to see additional requirements to plug and abandon all vertical wells within a spacing unit prior to drilling.  The setback matrix for example allows a loophole of splitting up well pads and having a greater number of wells close to homes as was originally imagined.  This loophole is demonstrated by the most recent proposal.  This must be addressed before the comp plan is adopted.  The whole idea in my mind was to plan where we will allow pads within the city of Broomfield.  While the setbacks and alternative site matrix are a good step, I believe a zoning model would be much more effective.  CCOB should create a specific zoning designation for O&G drilling and then only zone those areas which we find acceptable within the setback model.  What this would accomplish is to have a few, limited number of larger well pads, placed in strategic areas, while plugging all other wells within the city limits.  O&G drilling would not be allowed anywhere else within the city limits.  Not only does zoning fall within the city’s jurisdiction, but it allows operators to reach their mineral rights as they have the technology to drill horizontally up to 2 miles.

3) After the City Council decides which Recommendations to adopt, they will need to decide how to implement them.  Do you believe the City Council should only create ordinances for Recommendations that are clearly within the City’s authority, or do you believe the City Council should look for holes in the State’s regulations and create ordinances for those issues, even if it means risking litigation?  Why?

Ordinances are the preferred method of enforcing the task force recommendations.  Ordinances are binding on all operators and allow a fair, transparent process that operators must follow.  In addition, ordinances can be changed by an open process if the need arises.  MOUs bind the hands of the city to be adaptive to the changing needs of the community and changing technology.  In addition, we will push the State to allow greater control of operations.  If we are bound by an MOU and the state changes the laws to allow greater local control, then we would not have the ability to adapt our rule, instead we would be bound by the previous MOU.  Furthermore, we see first-hand the problems that our previous MOUs are causing us in dealing with this current proposal.  I do not support an MOU in most circumstances and will vote to adopt the task force recommendations via ordinance.

4) If your beliefs and/or political views regarding an issue become at odds with the collective voice of your constituents, how would you proceed with critical decisions despite this conflict?

Ultimately, we live in a representative democracy, meaning that the people vote public official into office to make the best decisions that they can given the available information.  “The collective voice” is a difficult thing to get a good handle on without a poll of every single voting member of a community.  When elected I will make the best decision as I see it with the information available to me.  That being said, I am one man, with a limited amount of time.  That means there is no way that I can be an expert on every topic which comes before Council.  Listening to the voices of the constituents is the very first place an elected official should start when reaching a decision.  I do not promise to always vote in line with how some or even all of my constituents want.  I do promise however to listen to all people, first and foremost the people of Broomfield, and make the very best decision that I can for all members of the community, not just the special interests.

5) Do you believe that the health, safety, and welfare of Broomfield residents has been protected with respect to oil and gas development decisions to date?  If not, how do you intend to advocate for this protection if you are elected?  If yes, please explain in detail how you believe this has been accomplished and explain if there any improvements you would like to see.

No.  I believe Broomfield has been run for many years with a good-old-boy mentality which puts the interests of the connected above the interest of the community.  You hear the term, “The Broomfield Way” kicked around a lot.  Some of those who use it, purport it to mean civility, compromise, and respect in public discourse.  That is what they purport, in reality however, many of its supports mean just the opposite.  To them, it is code for “We” know better than “You” because “We” have been here longer.  It is the attempt by the establishment elite of Broomfield to silence any an all who disagree with them.  To quote one well-known supporter: “I am tired of YOU people moving into MY town and trying to change things.”  This mentality also is a status-quo thinking which values getting along above standing up for the people of Broomfield.  This mindset is behind the statements of “There is nothing we can do” or “We have no tools.”  It is this appeasement, defeatist attitude that is threatening the health and safety of the people of Broomfield.  When elected I will fight for the people of Broomfield with every legal means to not allow dangerous industrial operations so near to our children and families.  Let us remember,  this debate is not about a “responsible energy developer” who is serving some noble national purpose.  This is multi-million dollar companies trying to line their pockets on the backs of the people while they still have the chance.  Oil and Gas are dying industries. Technology is advancing at such a rapid rate, in 20 years we will no longer be having this debate.  This is not about need, it is about profit.  It is about a well-connected industry using their political muscle to bully communities into submission.  I will not allow that to happen.  It is time to take a stand.  It is time for true leadership!