Jamie Sauer Questionnaire

Below is a questionnaire sent by the Tribune staff to Sauer and her answers.

Name: Jamie Sauer

Age: 34

Address: PO Box 272065, Boca Raton, FL 33427

Hometown: Boca Raton – since I was 5 years old! 3^rd generation Floridian

Family: husband, 2 sons, 1 baby on the way

Current occupation: REALTOR ®

Highest level of education: Master of Arts, Political Science, University of Florida

Public service experience:

• Civic involvement: Junior League of Boca Raton, past Board Member, current leader, Kids in Distress, Boca Raton Historical Society Board of Directors

Have you ever been arrested? If so, when, what were the charges and what was the disposition? no

• no

Political figure you admire most and why:

• Abraham Lincoln – he stood up for what he believed in and changed America in a much needed way.

Fun fact about yourself:

• Met my husband while we were on vacation in the Bahamas.

Is there a problem of a growing income and wealth gap in the United States? If so, what’s to be done about it?

• Our unemployment rates are still way too high. We need to get more people employed and in the work force.

Is global warming real? What, if anything, should be done about it?

• There have been studies that support both theories. I think we need to take care of our environment, protect it – recycle, use renewable energy.

Why is city government important?

• City government impacts residents the most out of all levels of government. City government controls the local property taxes, our police and fire protection and many other local services. It is the responsibility of the city council to ensure our residents are represented, services are maintained and the budget process is managed properly. I understand Boca Raton and have the experience to ensure our city council is working with our community to address our city’s challenges.

What is the future of city government?

• A strong council that has distinct leadership, vision and guidance that the city manager and staff work to fulfill. Consensus building. Listening to all sides. Protecting the quality of life in Boca Raton – always.

Do you think fundamental changes are required in the city’s annual budget?

• No. There are changes that could be made (like cutting fuel costs, since we raised them last year and costs have gone down) and continuing to invest in technology to lessen costs, like we did with garbage pickup. However, we have the lowest millage rate of any Palm Beach County full service city. We have the highest assessed value and a AAA bond rating. All of these are great for Boca and its residents.

What do you think the public’s perception of the city government is? If there are problems, what do you want to do to improve that perception?

• I think the public is concerned with overdevelopment, traffic and lack of parking in the downtown, and I think they should be. It is a concern of mine as well. We need to plan better on all three. Plan better for traffic and parking with any new projects that come in. We also need to make sure that any growth we have is done carefully, responsibly and intelligently. We have a duty to those before us and to those after us to make sure Boca remains a world-class city.

Downtown development has been on the move in Boca Raton. What are your thoughts on the redevelopment efforts downtown?

• When we have growth, we need to do it carefully, responsibly and intelligently. I support the existing rules of 100 feet with exceptions for architectural benefits up to 140 feet in the core. I am looking forward to the townhall that is being scheduled in April to discuss the Mark as this is the first building under the IDG and needs to be assessed and evaluated. We should always be protecting the quality of life here in Boca Raton.

Traffic can be frustrating, particularly downtown. How should the city address this issue?

• We need to adjust traffic sequencing to maximize flow and minimize stop time. This may include installing additional vision systems. We should also complete our traffic study by the Wildflower. We need to plan for traffic that is brought in by any new development.

Annexation is on many people’s minds. What is your position on expanding the service boundaries of the city?

• There are a few criteria that need to be met before considering annexation:
  • Do we as a city benefit financially?
  • Do we keep the same level of services?
  • Does the potential area continue with the character of Boca Raton?
  • Does the community want to be a part of Boca Raton?
• If the answer is yes to all of the above, I would consider annexation.