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Occupation: Nonprofit director
Age: 41
Years living in Mountain View: 17
Top priorities: Housing affordability, infrastructure/public safety and environmental sustainability
Not that long ago, Chris Clark held the distinction of serving as Mountain View’s youngest mayor. Now he is seeking another term on the dais, this time as one of the more seasoned policy makers.
When Clark was first elected to the City Council in 2012, it was the tail end of a recession. But things quickly picked up and development began to boom, he said. Since then, construction has leveled off with an economic slowdown.
Clark says Mountain View has a solid housing blueprint, but its implementation could be difficult because of the economic climate. Even so, he is optimistic that this could change, as interest rates are coming down, making it less costly to build. In the meantime, the city has the framework in place; it just requires developers to step in, Clark said.
In respect to affordable housing, Clark says the city’s requirement for market-rate developers to set aside 15% of their units as affordable is a good policy. He also sees value in the in-lieu fees, which have been used to help 100% affordable housing projects get built, like the one slated for Lot 12 in downtown Mountain View.
Clark supports the city’s focus on housing for low-income families. But he also thinks there should be more opportunities for the so-called “missing middle,” or moderate income residents who also struggle with housing affordability. They would especially benefit from entry-level home ownership options, like stacked flat condos, Clark said.
On the issue of upzoning in single-family neighborhoods, Clark says he is not in favor of it for the entire city; however, he supports a targeted approach in certain areas, like the R3 zoning district. It’s also a critical component of how Mountain View will meet its housing goals, Clark said.
Clark has a strong take on fiscal solvency too, saying that it was vital for Mountain View to maintain its AAA credit rating. When Clark was first elected to the council, the city was dipping into its reserves. His preference is not to be in that situation again, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balanced budget.
Still, Clark recognized that Mountain View might need to make some difficult decisions about what capital projects to prioritize in the future, especially if Measure G does not pass. The city also could pursue more state and federal funding opportunities, he said.
To revitalize the downtown area, Clark proposed several ideas. Closing off Castro Street was a start, he said, noting that recent code changes are allowing for different kinds of uses in the area. Longer term, Clark says the city should focus on activating the southern blocks of Castro Street as well as Moffett Boulevard. Speaking to business owners and hearing directly from them about what is needed is important too, he said.
Clark also has identified environmental sustainability as a top priority. When he was on council, Clark voted in favor of a ban on gas infrastructure on new developments. He opposes increasing park fees on residential developments though, citing concerns about stifling housing. Instead, Clark says he would look to other sources to pay for parks and open space, such as a parcel tax or the city’s Measure G property transfer tax.
In respect to policing, Clark supports the installation of automatic license plate cameras. He also was on the City Council when the police safety advisory board, a citizen oversight committee was created. It has been doing a good job, Clark said, noting that the current structure of the city’s advisory bodies has been effective overall.
But Clark says there could be room for improvement regarding the relationship between the city and Mountain View Whisman School District. A reset is needed, he said, adding that this would be happening soon as there will be some turnover on the council and school board with the November election.
“I think that presents an opportunity for us to get together and really step back and talk about, at a high level, how we interact together and what our priorities are and really start building a shared vision and a better working relationship longer term,” he said.
More information about Clark’s policy positions and priorities can be found on his campaign website, https://www.electchrisclark.com/
