2025 Candidate Questionnaire on
Environmental Sustainability

Candidate Responses:  Anthony Panzera
[email protected]
  1. Background
    What would you like Grandview residents to know about your background, as it relates to the environment, climate, and conservation?  If applicable, please describe any  relevant educational, career, or service experience you have.

    My formal education is in the hospitality industry, in other words: taking care of people, serving people. I apply this to all forms of my life and my service to the city. As I’ve shared with you in the past, I have no qualified expertise or relevant professional history related to environmental science. 24 years of experience as a city leader has given me a wide breadth of insight and awareness across these topics, but there’s always more to learn. I won’t misrepresent myself in any way by claiming to be an expert, however I am perfectly capable of considering guidance provided by qualified sources.

  2. Priorities
    If elected, what are the top environment-related priorities you will pursue, if any?

    Let’s all take a minute and be honest – whether we like it or not. I realize this is a targeted question for a targeted audience, but I was not elected to Grandview Heights City Council to save the world from climate change. The city does, and will continue, to embrace the importance of environment-related aspects when merited. In order to properly evaluate an idea or priority, one must also give the appropriate weight to the holistic sustainability of policy and fiscal requirements. In other words, it has to be feasible, practical, and functionally able to be executed into the future – otherwise, the changes we seek to make won’t accomplish the intended outcome. it’s just activist grandstanding and voter pandering, and I’m not that guy.

    Continuing to focus strictly on the global climate aspect is a disservice to the cause itself. It works against the intention to take an “at any cost” approach to any kind of progress if the burden becomes too great to sustain the change. The city has limited resources when trying to effectuate any sort of change when it comes to a city with finite financial resources. so, I’m a realist to the wide array of challenges that the city faces. As for our true local environment-related priorities that can be sustained, I plan to;

    - Continue to pursue the ongoing efforts on our urban with Parks and Rec, our tree program, inviting civic spaces, and improving the pedestrian experience.
    - Continue furthering the Heritage Trail project, which will transform the Goodale “train tracks” into a wonderful greenway connecting downtown through Grandview Heights, Marble Cliff, Upper Arlington, Hillard, and Plain City.
    - Continue to pursue sound opportunities to incorporate solar and alternate energy options for our public facilities.
    - Continue to consider and encourage hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles for our fleets.
    - Continue to encourage developers to pursue energy efficient construction including green energy and other alternate sources for the future.
    - Continue to pursue progressive urban planning in our opportunity zones, with a focus on mixed-use forms, thereby reducing the necessity of vehicle travel.
    - Continue to pursue programs such as the current residential green energy aggregation program.
    - Continue to make improvements to our residential and commercial waste reduction efforts.
    - Continue to evaluate environmental impacts when contemplating new developments and infrastructure projects, including light pollution, vehicle reliance, stormwater management, etc.​

  3. Climate Action Plan
    Several cities/municipalities across Central Ohio have adopted climate action plans, which principally are done to assess their greenhouse gas emissions, identify steps to mitigate these emissions, and enact a plan to implement those steps.  Should Grandview pursue a climate action plan?  Please elaborate on your position.

    The city does, and will continue, to embrace the importance of environment-related aspects when merited.

    I’m unfamiliar with the details of any such plans, so I would need to explore this matter further as it relates to the practical steps that Grandview Heights could take. I have no conclusion that the city “should” or “shouldn’t” pursue a climate action plan, without understanding the breadth and scope of any such plan. It would be an easy response to say “yes”, but the reality is that I don’t have enough information to give a comprehensive answer. There’s honesty in my position on this question – and if practical, sustainable solutions are possible, I’m open to consider.

  4. City-Resident Partnerships
    How well does the City work with residents to source community input in guiding policies and programs relating to sustainability?  As a councilmember, would you seek any changes in our current partnerships?

    The city continues to seek public input relating to an extremely wide variety of topics. Focusing solely on one topic is not a measure of good leadership or governance, as concerns, much like our citizens, are many and varied.

  5. Renewable Energy Aggregation
    In November of 2023, Grandview Heights voters passed Issue 23, which authorized the city to implement an electric aggregation program for residences and businesses, featuring 100% renewable electricity. Do you support the continuation of this program, and would you make any changes to it?

    Nearly 20 years ago, as Council President, I explored the option of wind-produced electricity to power the city facilities’ energy needs. The concept of RECS had barely been created, and wasn’t widely understood unless one was actually in the energy trade sector. Unfortunately, it was determined not financially feasible at that time.

    Yes, of course I supported the electric aggregation program, and I’m open to modifications that may be prudent in the future.

  6. Biodiversity Loss
    Many residents are concerned about biodiversity loss and wildlife decline.  For some examples, it has been estimated that birds have declined by about 30% and insects by as much as 75% in the past several decades.  Do you believe that Grandview Heights can or should take part in addressing this issue?  If so, please elaborate.

    Under my past leadership, the city continues to commit to biodiversity and the practices that can help improve – or at least mitigate – this decline. Considering reasonable and common-sense policies on pollinator gardens, propagating native species, and encouraging eco-minded landscapes for any redevelopment opportunities are among the ways the city could help address this issue. The city controls a small collection of land compared to the private sector, but there are opportunities for us to encourage private biodiversity improvements, along with expanding our own efforts in our own parks and green spaces.

  7. Plants
    Related to Question 6, a growing scientific literature has demonstrated the importance of native trees and plants in supporting our ecosystem, while exotic invasive species pose significant threats.  What steps, if any, should the City take to promote native plants and control invasives, both on public and private property? 

    I touched on this in my reply above.

  8. Walking, Biking, and Transit
    Do you believe Grandview is a safe and easy place to walk, bike, and take public transit?  Should we take steps to provide safer routes for walking and biking?  Should we work to broaden public transit options?  Are you happy with our sidewalks?  Who should be responsible for maintaining sidewalks?  What is your position on e-bikes and scooters? 

    Yes, I would define Grandview Heights as a safe place to walk, bike, and take public transit. We continue to take reasonable steps to improve our pedestrian and multimodal spaces, and it has improved tremendously over my 24 year tenure. It’s easy and probably publicly popular to say, “the city should pay for the sidewalks”, but that view/policy would result in millions of dollars of perpetual costs to the city – which ultimately must be paid by residents and property owners anyway. Our current sidewalk policy is fair, sound, and, most importantly, fiscally responsible and sustainable.

    I’m open to a conversation regarding the pros/cons of e-bikes and scooters –, I wouldn’t say that I have a firm “position” as it relates to potential legislative measures on that topic, but I would welcome input from all sides.

  9. Waste
    Is Grandview doing well at diverting waste from the landfill?  Should we try a curbside compost pilot program like other cities have done?  Please elaborate on your positions.

    Our recycling program is quite successful; I was a huge part of its growth over the past quarter century. It has grown multitudes during my leadership on Council, for which I offer tremendous credit to our past leadership, and to our residents for embracing the city’s efforts to reduce the demand on our landfills. Our service department is constantly looking for ways to divert from the landfill using all forms of recycling, including our yard waste program. I’m open to evaluating opportunities for the city to expand the participation and expansion of composting options.

  10. Lawn Care
    Quite a few of our members want to know your thoughts about gas-powered lawn equipment, particularly leaf blowers.  It has been estimated that using a gas-powered leaf blower for 30 minutes produces about the same pollution as driving a large pickup truck from Texas to Alaska.  They are also loud, often exceeding 90 decibels.  Since 1990, leaf blower usage has doubled, and there has been a trend toward more powerful models.  Some of our members state that they cannot enjoy outdoor spaces during the day due to the air and noise pollution.  For similar reasons, over 100 cities in the US have enacted bans and/or restrictions on gas-powered leaf blowers.  Please share your thoughts about this issue.

    I’m not going to reply with an absolute position on this topic, as that would be irresponsible and narrow-minded without a more comprehensive discussion. There remains a personal choice element/right for homeowners who opt to use gas-powered leaf blowers in our city, and of course there are obvious challenges as to how the city could effectively control their use.

    ​I personally don’t have one, don’t use one, and I would prefer to not have them contribute to pollution while also interrupting the reasonable peace and quiet that we expect. [There’s been one running at a neighboring property for the past 2 hours as I’m composing my replies to this questionnaire.] I’m familiar with the exhaust pollution, however I have no data to support or oppose the estimate that you’ve illustrated above. I would contemplate practical measures to restrict or regulate their use, particularly for commercial landscape companies that have little to no concern for the surrounding neighbors. [At the same time, I also believe that the use of these blowers should be part of a resident’s decision making when choosing their landscape service.]