Name and age? Jennifer Riffle, 37
What brought you to Basalt and what keeps you here? Affordable housing, small-town character and temperate climate brought me to Basalt and keeps me here. I’m invested in Basalt with my service-based business (estate manager/chef), homeownership, my husband’s business (owner’s representative for construction management; Rocky Mountain Institute is one of his projects) and it’s heaven.
For the full list of questions and answers, click here.
Have you ever been arrested? If so, why? No
Who is your personal hero and why? Amanda Boxtel is my personal hero with how she is turning "no" into "yes" one-step at a time (to quote her). With her bionic exoskeleton suit, she bridges the gap between machine and human with charisma and compassion. She’s my Bionic Woman super-human hero. I recognize her success as an international presenter and valuable Basalt citizen. And, I adore her laugh.
Why should you be elected to Basalt Town Council? I have vision and passion for the future of Basalt, like many did for Aspen in the 1990s; towards a direction of environmental stewardship. My strengths of moral character, budget acuity, focus, bravery to vote for the greater good rather than my own interests and youthful enthusiasm suggest I will be a solid addition to the existing council. I will symbolize a growing population that has not been represented for two terms.
If you could accomplish only one thing as a Basalt Town Council member, what would it be? Lead Basalt towards a model of sustainable community. A sustainable community is one that is economically, environmentally and socially healthy and resilient. It meets challenges through integrated solutions rather than through fragmented approaches that meet one of those goals at the expense of the others.
What about the current Basalt Town Council that needs to change? More diversity of representation by women and young professionals. There also needs to be clearer definitive direction provided by council to staff and committees on direction to avoid month-long lags in coordination.
Basalt is grappling with several issues. A big one is how to go about the Pan and Fork property. As a Basalt Town Council member, what would you advocate for? Getting grass or simple ground cover growing on it and taking down the fence in partnership with the CDC for this summer so the parcel in the center of our town appears appreciated. Not zone it till we zone or rezone the adjacent available parcels. Analyzing the information provided by the plethora of planning and land use consultants and look hard at the long use planning of the Pan and Fork. Look at all the cards in our hand — Pan and Fork, Lions Park, Recycling parcel, Clark's — and finalize long term planning/zoning on all the parcels together, then present the package to developers. Educate the populace on "True Cost To Own" and how "POST" funds can. Formal talks with the CDC regarding the town of Basalt putting an offer on the table for purchase, or not.
Some people say Basalt is split over how to manage the Pan and Fork. Others say most people want the same thing, it’s just some of the details are different. What do you think? There are a lot of different ideas of what should happen at the Pan and Fork. Dependent on the perspective one looks from, they can either seem very similar or quite different. Most ideas have some mix of development and park. My goal on council will be to help everyone understand what the options are and how they would affect our town. A few facts I would like to point out regarding the parcel:
• 250 registered Basalt voters signed a petition that to have a resolution put on the ballot for the community to vote on the purchase of the Pan and Fork parcel by the town of Basalt.
• After submission of the petition, at a recent council meeting, town government officials currently up for election had the opportunity to put this question to voters. In the meeting, members voted as follows: Rob, Herschel and Rick were opposed; Jacque was in favor.
My goal is to look at all the options, weigh the input and lead towards a consensus.
Old Town Basalt is still struggling to fill storefronts. How much does town government play a role in changing that? The future of Old Town is uncertain at this moment. Who you elect will greatly influence the direction. Our town government needs creative, young professionals with a pulse on future vibrancy, respect of our history and character, and focus on a sustainable economic model present and future. By electing the same people over and over who have yet to create or repair downtown, our future may likely continue uncertainly.