Concord City Council candidate questions: Tristan Piper
The Concord Clayton Pioneer newspaper presented a list of questions to the candidates running for Concord City Council in the 2020 election for District 2. To read other candidate answers, click here. For our story on all the candidates running in this race, click here.
Tristan Piper
Age: 58.
Current Occupation: director of marketing and sales.
How long have you lived in Concord? 31 years in our District 2 home.
Why do you want to serve on the Concord City Council? I would like to ensure that my children, and future generations, inherit a fiscally sound city.
What experience or training do you have that qualifies you to make decisions for the city? Past board president of a large nonprofit that worked with both the city and county to provide services to Concord and Contra Costa County. I served two terms on the city of Concord Community Services Commission, recommending funding decisions to the City Council for approval. Additionally, I have a degree from Oregon State University in political science, with an emphasis in international relations.
What engagement have you had in civic affairs? Do you regularly attend City Council meetings? I have always been involved in civic affairs, and yes, I have attended and routinely watch City Council meetings.
What do you see as the three most important issues immediately facing Concord and how do you plan to address those issues? Balanced budget, equal economic opportunities and a safe environment to raise a family with a properly funded police force.
What are your priorities in making public policy? To preserve the future solvency of the city of Concord, as well as preserving our citizens’ quality of life. Policy decisions based on cost analysis of effectiveness of policies, with measurable outcomes.
How much would you say the city’s budget deficit is? How would you close the gap? There are many overlapping services that dual agencies are providing. I believe we need to be smarter about allocating monies when outside nonprofits can bridge these gaps. Measure Q is a step in the right direction. I believe in measurable outcomes for allocating monies as we work on lowering the deficit and building our city’s reserve.
A measure on the November ballot would extend Concord’s Measure Q until ended by voters – raising it to a one cent rate instead of the current half cent. What is your position? I am in favor of Measure Q. It is important to maintain open transparency with the additional funds raised with this measure.
What does “defunding the police” mean to you? The police budget is 57 percent of the city’s General Fund budget. Would you change this allocation? How? I am not in favor of defunding the police. For individuals and business to thrive, we need to feel safe in our communities, and I am a strong supporter of the Concord police. But if there are overlapping services and monies could be allocated more effectively in community partnerships, then I would be in favor of using those monies in trial partnerships with effective tracking of outcomes.
Should the city dedicate land for homeless encampments? If so, how much land and where? The city of Concord has a large homeless shelter off Arnold Way that I toured while on the Community Services Commission. Some of our sister cities need to bridge the gap and add some services in their cities vs. Concord becoming a magnet for an individual to find services.
Do you support just cause clauses to prevent evictions? Do you support a rent freeze? If so, for how long? If not, why? I do not support a rent freeze, as landlords also need to pay rent. But I do support rent control as some of our larger cities have implemented.
What role should the city play in closing the housing gap? We should be supportive of affordable housing options and also encourage our neighboring cities to be supportive of affordable housing. It is not Concord’s sole responsibility to solve homelessness and affordable housing, it is a county issue. We should not discourage homebuilders from developing in the city of Concord. They will simply go to other municipalities that are more favorable.
What is your vision for the Concord Naval Weapons Station? The northern waterfront? I am encouraged by the current plans, with one exception. I would like to ensure that a well-funded public library is included. Concord residents pay the largest amount of monies toward the county for library services and have the worst library facility. Concord deserves an updated library.
What would you do to differentiate Concord from surrounding communities in attracting new business and retaining current businesses? We need to market the good data about the city and continue to make Concord a destination city for families and business. We have an advantage over our neighboring cities, as Concord is an internationally diverse city. Especially with the naval weapons development, we may build on the uniqueness of our community – making Concord a destination to live, work and play.