Interview with Julie Allen, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 4

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Julie Allen is a member of Jefferson City's Transportation and Traffic Commission and a candidate running for the Jefferson City Council Ward 4 seat. Allen's campaign focuses on strengthening the economy through infrastructure improvements, increasing housing availability, creating jobs and promoting parks and recreation opportunities.

Allen worked as an acting director for the Missouri Department of Revenue, executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission and a division head in the Department of Natural Resources.

Allen is running against Kathi Harness.

Marie Moyer: Why are you running for city council and what are your qualifications to run?

Julie Allen: Okay, thanks for asking. I actually have been involved in the community for many, many years and my grandmother sort of instilled in us to give back to communities. So it's something I think is important, whether it was a PTA president or the finance chair of my church. You know, I've just been involved.

So I'm a certified public accountant, and about five years or so ago, I start noticing that the city council was having trouble: budgetary problems, facing deficits and having some trouble with civility and focusing really on the issues, so I started paying more attention. And as a CPA, you know, when you see that there's financial problems, it really draws your interest. And so over these past years, a couple of years, I've been considering what I can do to help. And it's really just using my skills and experience and my community involvement that I have now, being on the West Side Business Association and the Jefferson City Traffic and Transportation Commission already, I have a good knowledge of the city. And then, you know, I have a lot of experience, so I just want to bring that as part of my contributing to our city. It's such a great city.

Moyer: The other question is, what improvements do you think are necessary for Jefferson City's infrastructure?

Allen: Well, I've knocked many, many doors virtually through the whole ward. And what I will tell you, I see and what I hear people talk mostly about really is related to the streets. And what I tell them is every time that I've had somebody from city council knock on my door as they talk about the streets, and I think it's time for us to start measuring how we're doing. So whether it's the streets, also our stormwater, our sewer, there are many parts to infrastructure. We need to start measuring how we're doing and what the needs are.

And I would like to see each of the departments develop goals, present those to the city council along with the budget, so we can talk about what they're trying to achieve. Give them a, ‘Hey, that looks great in relation to the budget money you're asking,’ or, ‘could we, you know, could we talk about this and maybe get a little more ?’

And we can start telling the public, then we can start celebrating the work that they're doing. And it's just a way to, you know, it's a business practice. It's a good business practice.

Moyer: Can you just highlight some examples of what people are saying specifically about the streets or specifically about sewage that are kind of issues?

Allen: Yeah, well, about the streets, it's really related to I'll give you an example. If you go into Covington Gardens, you'll see the condition of the streets there. But on a door I knocked on yesterday, they were talking about right in front of their house, there was a big hole and like their son lost a stick, it just went down and they were having trouble getting it taken care of and really, it was a bigger issue than just, you know, putting a little bit of asphalt over it or they felt it was. So it's those types of things and the roughness of driving and those types of things.

I've also knocked on several doors where stormwater drainage is a problem for them. It comes through their yards and they, you know, they don't have the experience and knowledge to know what to do. Sometimes, it's because there has been a lot more development in the area and so that causes a lot more stormwater drainage. But some of them have had it for years and they've worked the city without a resolution, and the city doesn't have a regular maintenance schedule for the stormwater. So, without a maintenance schedule, you're really just only addressing problems when people call you.

Moyer: And how will Jefferson City address the affordable housing shortage?

Allen: Well, I think Jefferson City is addressing it now. I think they're doing a good job as far as sitting and working with developers, taking them to areas, issuing RFPs (requests for proposals). And there have been quite a few developments approved by the city council. But from there, you have to really get them to build. And there are some breaking ground now, but you really have to spend time helping them, if there's any way they can receive any help or mentoring on getting the buildings built. Also, when I was meeting with the Homebuilders Association, there's some frustration out there about the time to issue permits, building permits, the way variances are issued and how long it takes, or sometimes the no’s that are received before they even fill anything out.

So again, I'd like to start seeing some goals. Let's get reducing that time to issue permits down and let's start issuing more permits. Let's talk about the variances and how those are handled. So I think those are some key areas we can focus on as city leaders to help bring affordable housing.

Moyer: And just kind of rewording what you said, what I'm hearing is kind of making it a more accessible process?

Allen: Making a more accessible process, and also asking the staff to look at what they're doing and really report to the council and to the public what their goals are and start coming up with some specific ways to start improve their services.

Moyer: And how should the city government trim its budget to pay for increasing health insurance costs?

Allen: Well, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I know exactly how to trim the budget because I'm not involved, but I am a certified public accountant and that means I know how to slice and dice budgets. I know how to look at them, I know how to ask well-informed questions. And the reality is I like doing it, you know?

So there would be areas I would start looking at. I'd really have to look at the whole budget, but I would look at contractual services, I would look at what they call administrative overhead, those costs. I will look at those different areas to see and I would look at what was budgeted over the past five years versus what was spent. So, there are several tools and methods you can use. And as a CPA, I'd be, you know, really looking forward to working with the rest of the council and looking at those areas.

Moyer: And so why would you look at those specific areas compared to others?

Allen: Because of my experience, those are areas that you can probably look for even more efficient ways to use your money.

Moyer: And what are your thoughts on the conference center project?

Allen: You know, I'm excited about the project and I know there's not, there's not been a business member here in Jefferson City that's not interested in the project, wanting it to move forward. And I'm a board member of the Jefferson City West Side Business Association, so I'm very involved in supporting businesses.

Knocking on doors, it's not the same feeling. Probably, the majority of people have some real concerns about the conference center, and what I tell them is, what I can guarantee you as a CPA is that I will ask the questions to see that financially they are sound projections, that we're not using tax dollars and that we aren't committing our children or grandchildren to something that could cause them problems.

So that's my commitment, is that I, I'm sort of a Show-Me person. I was born in Missouri for a reason, and I probably became a CPA for a reason. So those things, I have to see all the information and ask questions before I can fully say I feel like it is a very good risk and I would support it moving forward. So there are things yet to be done and I think that the city leadership expects all of that to happen. And I do, too. But those are the things that have to happen, I think, for our public to support it.

Moyer: I guess my follow up is, you said that some people voiced their concerns, can you just say some of the concerns? I heard you mention tax dollars, related to that.

Julie Allen: They don't really. First of all, the city's been talking about it for, what, 30 or 50 years? So there's skepticism about it naturally, of course. And then they don't want their tax dollars to be used and they don't want it to be a project that we're just doing that could cause future generations an obligation that they can't hold up. So those are the things that I think are very easy to, not easy to work through, but as you work through the next steps and you look more at the finances and look more at how it's going to be operated. Other people have said, you know, they don't want the city operating it. And there are plans that I think will help alleviate those questions. But it's a little, still a little early yet and I'm just committed to them that I will use my expertise and skills to both communicate to them about it and also to make sure financially it's a sound, it's on sound footing.

Moyer: Is there anything I didn't touch on that you would like to that you're also focusing on your campaign or it can just be in general, anything else you want to add?

Allen: Yeah, you know, first of all, I am known for being open, straightforward, working with everybody, and that's what I plan to do if elected to be the Fourth Ward city council candidate. I believe in working together and really meeting in the middle. And sometimes when you disagree, it's the best opportunity to come up with the best solution. So that's what I believe in and that's what I will bring to the city council, a spirit of collaboration, working together, and, you know, just keeping moving Jefferson City forward. It is such a great city. We all love it. My family loves it. So that's why I'm wanting to serve.