Blogging On (pre-WP, originally posted 11-7-06)

Blogging is a great way for elected officials to communicate with their constituents. It was worthwhile during my campaign last year and it started out here [at SunValleyOnline] as a positive way to have a dialogue on the Prop 2 issue.

After careful study of various blogs by elected officials around the country, I found that those types of blogs are most conducive to good dialogue when they are separated from for-profit settings where opinion, news and advertising are mixed together.

I decided to start my own personal blog site at WordPress, one of the worlds leading blog providers. I look forward to this great opportunity to communicate with the residents of Sun Valley and with my friends around the world on topics of specific interest to them.
I welcome those interested in participating in my new personal blog to visit me at Nils Ribi’s Blog.

Great thanks.

Prop 2 – More Reasons to Vote No (pre-WP, originally posted 10-20-06)

This week SunValleyOnline owner Tracy Lotz and I discussed Prop 2 on the “Perspective” show with Gene Dallago. The program appears daily at 12:30 pm on local Channel 14 and this coming Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm on Channel 13. You can also watch the program anytime on the internet at this site courtesy of the Idaho Mountain Express:

Watch “Perspective” on Prop 2

Watch it on broadband

Watch it on 28.8 modem

Prop 2 – A Clear and Present Danger to Our Pocketbooks and Our Neighborhoods (pre-WP, originally posted 10-11-06)

The debate over Prop 2 is growing more intense and has become quite polarized. However, there is a good discussion going on between the extremes that deserves attention. People concerned about

Idaho’s future agree that Prop 2 puts three things at risk:
1. Our pocketbooks;
2. Our neighborhoods and the communities where we live; and
3. Our governing process.

Prop 2: Understanding Its Ramifications (pre-WP, originally posted 7-29-06)

It is useful that we are having an open discussion about Proposition 2 here in Idaho. However, before we get too carried away with emotions, let’s take a moment and understand the real-life factual ramifications of the Prop 2 proposal on our families, friends, and neighbors here in Blaine County.

Nils Ribi says Thank You (pre-WP, originally posted 11-9-05)

I would like to thank all the voters who supported me in yesterday’s election. I would also like to thank SunValleyonline.com, Tracy and his entire crew for their wonderful public service by providing this Blog and the online candidate interviews. This campaign was a truly outstanding experience for me. I appreciated the opportunity to meet so many of members of my community and am fortunate to have made new friends along the way. I am extremely grateful to the many volunteers who believed in me and helped in so many ways to make my campaign a true grassroots effort. It is a testament to living in such a wonderful and engaged community that the campaign stayed focused on the important issues facing Sun Valley. I am honored to have been elected by the voters. It is a tremendous responsibility and I take it very seriously. I now look forward to beginning the work ahead.

Nils Ribi on Keeping the Tourist Economy Healthy (pre-WP, originally posted 11-3-05)

The Chamber of Commerce asked the following question of the Sun Valley City Council candidates: “Considering that tourism generates 50% of city property tax revenue and 95% of Local Option Tax revenues, how do you plan to keep this important segment of the economy healthy and growing?”

My response: “We need to make sure our community is healthy and prosperous. We will accomplish this by supporting and fully implementing the City’s updated Comprehensive Plan that contains key provisions to keep the tourism segment of our economy healthy and growing. The Council must monitor the tourist growth, be prepared to step in when there are low snow years, national crises and the like. The City of Sun Valley should work cooperatively on marketing and be sure its marketing dollars are spent wisely and carefully in an on-going partnership with Ketchum and the business interests of our area.”

Nils Ribi on Consolidation of Services With Ketchum (pre-WP, originally posted 10-29-05)

Concerning the proximity and potential cost savings, I was asked if I would consider consolidation of any Sun Valley and Ketchum city services. Each City has unique requirements, situations and an identity. In most cases, previous studies have indicated that outright consolidation would not be cost-effective. Several joint cooperative relationships exist including EMT and ambulance service, police, fire, consolidated dispatch and KART. As our circumstances change with the growth expected in Sun Valley, we should continually evaluate consolidation and joint relationship possibilities for the benefit of each community. We should also be keenly aware of opportunities for consolidation as they arise, such as regional transportation.

Nils Ribi on City Budget Priorities (pre-WP, originally posted 10-26-05)

When asked how I would solicit input to determine the city’s future budget priorities and what direction I would give to city staff as guidelines for meeting those identified budget priorities, this is how I responded:

I observed the entire Sun Valley City Council budget process this year. Other than the media, no more than one or two citizens ever show up for the entire process. This should not be construed that the public is not interested. I would first solicit input through small round table meetings with citizens where I reach out for discussion on the various budget items, and then with that information I would work with my fellow Council members to establish the priorities. The direction to staff should be on creating efficiency in government by developing a high quality budget that is responsive, easy to understand and maximizes the taxpayer’s dollar. Of utmost importance is to get the Council to operate the City’s budget on a longer time horizon, which will help better identify and prioritize the needs of the City.

Nils Ribi on Regional Cooperation (pre-WP, originally posted 10-21-05)

Regional cooperation is critical to the success of our larger community, as our ability to resolve regional issues depends on cooperative partnerships that foster rational growth and sustained prosperity. I fully support the efforts that have been initiated recently by Mayor Thorson on regional transportation. Other areas that need regional attention include: workforce housing, rational land use decision-making, including the airport location, and environmental issues concerning water quality/quantity and air quality.

Nils Ribi on the Importance of Workforce Housing (pre-WP, originally posted 10-18-05)

It has been a pleasure to participate in Mayor Thorson’s workforce housing effort from my position on the P&Z. I support these first steps since these ordinances establish rates that are reasonable and will not negatively affect development. This work also had the support of the Sun Valley Company, which was brought about in a collaborative and positive partnership. I also support the goals of the ordinances because they are important to the security and economic prosperity of our community. We must continue to monitor the outcomes of this effort with the community to be sure the program is successful. We must also seek a mix of strategies involving all possible creative solutions working with the entireWood River Valley. No one solution alone will work, nor can each political entity alone solve the problem. Finally, I will work to ensure that all workforce housing meets a high design standard for visual integrity and integration.

Nils Ribi on Priorities for Sun Valley’s Capital Improvements for the Next Three Years (pre-WP, originally posted 10-14-05)

My first priority would be for the City Council to develop a new five-year Capital Improvement program. The prior Council let this lapse. I support Mayor Thorson’s efforts to pursue this. All funding comes from the Capital Improvement Fund, through existing LOT and property taxes, and whenever possible with matched state, federal, grant or private funds. The important priorities are:

Nils Ribi’s Vision for Sun Valley (pre-WP, originally posted 10-12-05)

I envision ten years from now that Sun Valley will have been able to retain its sense of community, all the while allowing new development to happen without sacrificing the reasons we came here in the first place. I see the Sun Valley Resort being successful in carrying out its master plan. We are able to do this by working cooperatively to establish appropriate policies, which ensure success of the resort and preservation of the cultural values the citizens treasure. We realize this through leadership by implementing the City’s updated Comprehensive Plan that addresses planning for growth, economic success, regional thinking and preserving community character.