Vallejo's new batch of council hopefuls agree the city needs to lure more businesses here to boost city revenues and pay for public services. But where they stand on how to accomplish that is another matter.

In the first major forum of the election season, all 11 Vallejo City Council candidates answered questions from the Business/Labor Partnership of Vallejo. The candidates are vying for three open seats in the Nov. 8 election.

Hundreds attended the event at California Maritime Academy, and listened for two hours as the political hopefuls tackled issues including public safety, parks and recreation and the city's budget crisis.

The candidates are seeking to replace Councilmembers Joanne Shivley, Pamela Pitts and Tom Bartee. Schivley and Pitts are termed out while Bartee is running for re-election.

The city's economy was at the heart of the discussion.

"We have to generate new income throughout the city," said former Councilmember Ray Martin.

More money should help the city minimize cuts to city services, Martin said.

The city needs to bring businesses that will benefit residents, said Bartee, the incumbent finishing the late Pete Rey's term.

"We need to get businesses with good paying jobs," Bartee said.

Bring new development, but not just any development, said Stephanie Gomes, a communications specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. She is proposing an alternative to developer Callahan De Silva's waterfront plan.

"We cannot settle for mediocrity now," Gomes said, calling the Callahan plan "suburban sprawl."

Vicki Gray, a local activist fighting a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Vallejo, said the same goes for supercenters.

"We have to take more pride in who we are and what we are in Vallejo and don't settle for anything that comes down the pike," Gray said.

The city needs to focus on marketing Mare Island to the biotech and health care sectors, said Richard Hassel, vice president of administration at Touro University, which is a tenant on the former naval shipyard.

"We need to use our assets and get off our assets," Hassel said.

Economic development should focus on services the city doesn't have now, Vallejo Planning Commissioner Hermie Sunga said.

"The first thing I want to see is a bookstore in Vallejo," Sunga said.

The city should strive to attract larger stores, John Estes, a former business agent for a labor union.

"We need to look at department stores," Estes said. "We need to keep those sales taxes here.

But focusing on luring American businesses is limiting, said Vallejo City Unified School District board member Rozzana Verder-Aliga.

"We need to think of the global economy," Verder-Aliga said. "There's so much potential for Vallejo."

People wanting to open shop here may have trouble getting a permit, said Hal Boex, a developer, investor and contractor.

"The biggest problem we have is City Hall is closed half the day for a siesta," Boex said, adding that he wants service hours expanded.

The current system is inconvenient for applicants who sometimes must go to different offices at City Hall, said Vallejo Planning Commissioner Linda Engelman.

"We need to streamline the process for permitting," Engelman said. "We need to be more business friendly."

To accomplish that, the city needs more resources, said Vallejo Community Development Commissioner Darrell Edwards.

"I think we need more people in our economic development department," Edwards said.

The Business/Labor Partnership of Vallejo includes the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce, International Association of Fire Fighters No. 1186, Solano Association of Realtors, Vallejo Police Officers Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers No. 180.

The partnership also is made up of the National Electrical Contractors Association, Vallejo Business Alliance, Vallejo Education Association, Service Employees international Union, Napa/Solano Building Trades and Central Labor Council.

- E-mail Chris G. Denina at cdenina@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6835.