Transcript for Derek Myers--Challenger

1. Please take 3-5 minutes to give an opening statement about your candidacy and your vision for Blacksburg.

I’m appreciative of everyone who braved the cold rain. It is good to see the faces of many friends of 35 years. I came to Tech in 1973. I’ve spent close to half of my life in this town; met many of you through civic activities, arts, and ecumenical work. I retired in 2003 and several things have kept me busy. I’ve worked in advocacy of behalf of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens, and worked for neighborhoods. I’ve worked with the Arts Association and a coalition of citizens to explore the use of the old middle school. We responded to the town’s RFP, but it didn’t work out financially. I became involved early on with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the local chapter here. It was started by folks like Bob Stuart and Woody Leach. It involves coalition building throughout the state and locally. We’re in contact with legislators. Our project is payday lending, and we were partly successful.

In 2003 we realized there was a bad situation for child care – The Valley Interfaith Child Care has two centers; now about to be consolidated. I’ve been treasurer, worked with budgets and personnel.

My neighborhood involvement started in the 1980s when I worked on the Progress Street extension and worked with those concerned with First & Main.

I used from past experience my ability to work in helpful ways with others, follow through with tasks to the end, network and bring people together.

2. In the context of smart growth, can you please give a local example of smart growth and a local example of growth that was planned badly.

Immediately look to Shadow Lake Village – very nice. The way parking handled and the way the community is handled. To all of us, there are two examples that I wished had been handled better. One is the stadium. We should have more patience and foresight in placing it. The other is the First & Main – disaster within disaster like a Petrushka doll.

• What specific actions would you initiate to preserve the town's green and common spaces?
I would try to take the template of what exists right now, overlay it with who the owners are and forecast development and try to weave in connections so that people can get to these places and can be an asset to the community.

3. What do you see as the three major problems facing downtown Blacksburg, how would you prioritize them and what specific measures would you champion to help solve these problems?

First there are, there might be more than 3. It is unpacking itself as I study it. I didn’t feel comfortable with what I knew what was downtown. I walked downtown and made an inventory. We have 29 restaurants, 4 tanning places, 4 tattoo parlors, 1 shoe repair – going out, 1 hotel coming in

1. Attractiveness and lack of destination
2. Inflexible regulations for starting business
3. Walking safety, public order – comfort level downtown

I don’t meet my neighbors downtown. I can’t buy shoelaces, stationery, or the latest novel. My wife says there is nothing there. Perception becomes reality. Nothing there for people over 50

Permit process inspectors seem to go out of their way to set up obstacles. We need to work on a change. They need to facilitate instead of obstruction.

Walking is challenge. We need better signage - better for parking.

Pedestrian pathways, parking, attractiveness.

Try to make it a destination that trumps others. Do it with events, enticing business, capital, facilitation, promotion needed. Need to regulate businesses going in and help those starting businesses. Need to do something about vacant property – we are not an enterprise zone. Buy up, rehab, and resell those buildings.

A need for more resources – rent subsidies for start up business.

Retail access could be as simple as the Roanoke Times doing survey as they did for NRV mall.

• Please share your ideas for how Council and staff can play a more supportive role in attracting and keeping small businesses in downtown and making Blacksburg a more family friendly place.

I don’t see that much effort to advertize opportunities for downtown, not aware of effort to publicize Blacksburg to people outside. That is a direction we should go. We should invite people in, leverage from state agencies, and the state, small business grants, look at rent situation. Too often new businesses are being discouraged by overregulation of building code enforcement. Float an idea – concerted effort to make downtown Blacksburg where skills and crafts are: shoes and watch repair – make an extra effort to attract crafts. People that love horses – saddle maker and harness maker, potters, shoelaces & stationary

4. Council was blindsided by the big box proposal. In response, Ordinance 1450 was passed to require that future commercial buildings in excess of 80,000 sq. ft. receive special review. How can we make sure we don’t get blindsided again? What criteria other than size might be useful in evaluating a proposed development?

Know what you are consenting before you give your consent. When they say, “ I got to know before a big convention in Vegas.” Insist on council insisting on legally binding language. Neighborhood protection has to be part of rezoning. We are in great need of a rezoning checklist – embed community values, prescriptive criteria for rezoning. We might be able to come together. The present rezoning process should be scrapped; we need transparency and a pre-submission conference.

Factors other than size – are we following smart growth? How does it affect our goal of sustainable community? Does it complement business we already have, does it fit visually, construction, materials? What is the impact on traffic, neighborhoods, loads on infrastructure, water runoff?

5. There is a process underway to develop the old Blacksburg Middle School site. Can you discuss specifically how this process will ensure the development of the site in accordance with the community’s wishes and reassure a skeptical public that this development will become a proud reflection of Blacksburg’s unique character?

I have been unable to look at the latest process. My information is a little out of date, but follows the general plan. We have citizen representation on the old middle school transition committee. Requisites for the project – good return on property investment – not be a money pit. Receive a quality solution. There is a three phase competition through April of next year – three opportunities for citizens to comment. Get ready to pick five jurors. Send out prospectus on the competition. Submit plans to initial jury, places for public comment. Are comments going to affect? That is the rub. Developers can feather their nest at the expense of citizens, especially the neighborhood. We need to make sure our ducks are in a row with rezoning. Is this really what we need? I think civic/mixed use or civic/residential. Look at Clay Court – not sure it has done so well. The old middle school has the potential of community within community, using ample green space that is already there. Weaving parks and play spaces. Have levels of income so seniors could live and interact with children. We need ultra transparency to birddog the process step by step.

6. In these times of economic and racial challenges for large segments of our nation’s population, what do you think the Town and the Council’s roles should be to assure that Blacksburg recognizes and addresses the local manifestation of these national issues and promote and monitor progress toward greater inclusion of members from racially/ethnically different groups into Town affairs and the broader community?
We have been blessedly free of actual racial tension in this town. I came after the time of Maryanne Matthis and Charlie Aull who worked with the human relations council that made a lot of this better. We need to be on our guard. It is great that Tech is going to establish a peace center in Norris. I admire the project on Lee Street with HUD in creating affordable housing. I hope Harding Avenue goes well. We should try to do it in an infill way. We don’t want heavy developments outlying. The town has supported Valley Interfaith Child Care Center. Three daycare centers within a month have closed. I would like to see homeless intervention regionally. In hiring we need to look at diversity. Town employees are within a living wage. I want to support policies and behaviors that protect rights and dignity of immigrants and others under attack.
• What strategies would you suggest the Town pursue to increase the amounts of affordable housing and public transportation, particularly for those who want to live where they work, and/or who could benefit from easier access to their place of work?
Sounds like assessing the workers that we need to provide housing for. Negotiating with builders and planners, plotting our transportation lines for that, encouraging car pooling and cycling. Specific strategies – I frankly don’t know the grant programs well enough, but I am sure through VDOT and HUD those things have things. We need a needs assessment and traffic plan.
7. Given the Town's decreasing net operating revenues and increasing long-term debt, what is your position on the $.01 increase in the meals tax, currently. proposed to address Blacksburg’s immediate need for more police officers and additional staff to maintain downtown cleanliness?
Wish we could have more. I’m all for it. We need to talk about decreasing revenues.
• (If against - do you have other solutions to offer?

8. The new Arts Initiative is often cited as an indication of positive Town/Gown relations. What are the opportunities and obstacles to improving mutual support? What are some ideas you’d like to bring to Town/Gown discussions?

Ideas – as far as I know, Tech is only one in the state that doesn’t charge meals and lodging tax and for concessions at games. Tech is a good citizen. To rise to full citizenship, they should end that voluntarily. I would get together with whoever could persuade Charlie. Hubbard Street extension has a need to get together. The 460 connector has taken a step. The university should let us have land for Hubbard Street extension.

It would be nice if Tech could build more housing, public private deal like the conference center in Roanoke. Bring in more conventions with tax added.
.

9. Recently stakeholders—including citizens, small business owners, and entrepreneurs—have expressed concerns about the responsiveness and transparency of town staff. How can Council address this problem?

By being responsible for performance of the town. Don’t stifle citizens’ concerns. Need to follow them up. All departments are here for citizens, not the other way around. Planning and engineering needs to change – need to be openhanded and fair. There are good people there, but need to turn over a new leaf. Need to be outgoing in seeking concerns. Couldn’t we reward staff for citizen satisfaction? Review how well staff interacts with citizens. See if expedience is overriding real service.

10. Which issues will be the focus of your time and energy on Council? If you could only accomplish three things on Council, what might they be and why?

1. Give citizens reason to look to town government as partner and not their adversary.
2. Get planning and zoning piece right.
3. Make downtown a magnet destination graced by quality redevelopment of old middle school, not just being known for Tech.
4. Neighborhood federation up and running again. Council can encourage it and get more cross talk among neighborhoods.

11. What skills, experiences and personal characteristics do you possess that would make you a more effective Council member than other contenders in achieving cooperation with the public, with fellow council members, with the business community, and with Virginia Tech?

All people running have qualifications. I don’t do one-upmanship. I have spent good part of my life working with others to get things done. Locally I worked individually and with various faiths to improve lives of most our vulnerable citizens. Smith, Nutter, Schuler, Edwards, I’ve had conversations with them. The Payday Lending Task Force. I worked to unite for more just and compassionate lending. We worked to promote more accessible alternatives to payday loans. It got capped at 36%, but still has $20 fee for every $100 and $5 per check to the state registrar. I am proud of what we do – industry spent 1 million. We have no money.

I helped to start Valley Interfaith Child Care. I enjoy bringing people together to work on problems. My contacts with the business community go back many years. I feel I can use my arts community experience. I want to make life better for all.

For Challengers: (Derek and Leslie)

12. Are there failed policies or practices in recent Council decisions? How would you prevent similar actions in the future?

Policies I would point to the way we go about rezoning and development. I can see there are a lot of chinks there. Council being so eager to repair our place to do business jumped the gun. It needs to be patient, needs to look for loopholes, conditions that aren’t written down may not count; proffers do, conditions don’t. There is inconsistency. Sometimes the comprehensive plan trumps everything as in the Progress Street extension. Other case, the recent zoning appeal, the comprehensive plan is out the window. We do not have a good record on notification of hearings and other actions. We need to test to see if people are really getting the messages. Council and staff need a report card. How are we doing as a democracy in our town? What grades would you give council?

Questions from the audience

1. What do you think about the need for revenue and the mess up for First & Main. What do you think about locking the barn after the horse is stolen, spending over $100,000 for Supreme Court appeal and the result of cancelled projects at the senior center?

I don’t like to see that because I am a senior myself. We don’t know what has happened to the state budget, raw materials and fuel. We are going to have to watch it. There is an important principal of control of zoning. We have to rescue it now. It is important for us and other communities or we are going to have more messes. It is justified for the protection of our citizens.

2. I am concerned that we don’t have an outdoor pool. What is your interest in an outdoor pool?

We have Piedmont pool - tiny, Shawnee, - unable to get in, Aquatic Center – indoors. I’ve seen towns smaller than this that have a nice aquatic pool. We’ve heard it from the students. It is easy for me to say we need it. I can’t say where we are going to get the jack to do it. It is definitely worth exploring or see if there is something else we can do without. There is a table that we spend per capita compared to Radford or Montgomery County. We are not spending that much. I would back that.

3. What are your thoughts about a business incubator? Would you consider the outdoor pool and incubator as a possibility?

I hope you will put that in as citizen input. The middle school is everything for everybody. In terms of incubation for business, that is something that could work. Other things to think about – great model in Jacksonville Center in Floyd. Rick Boucher helped get money for that. Other helpful ideas have been for a senior center in that building. It is a good idea, turning the present rec. center over as youth center.

A major problem with the pool –the capital improvement budget is limited to 2 million every year. How do you get new rec. center with 2 million a year? Response from town is things will have to change. How?

Does that mean raising 2 million or finding bond issue? We are healthy in terms of our indebtedness. We are .71 of indebtedness. I have seen interesting things tied to transportation grants. We ought to explore that. You have a right to hear from council that they’ll work on changing that.

4. Transportation. – bicycles. Is Blacksburg a bike friendly community, should it be, what should we do about it?

We have a committee to do that. Some people complain about bikes tearing through Heritage Park on way to the National Forest. I’ve had my share of too close encounters with cyclists and we had one or two actually killed in town. I don’t know how we can widen Main Street, but it begs to be looked at and back to the cool city and sustainability. Somebody should draw up a list what the unsafe things are for cyclists. Maybe that is a task for the corridor committee – a timeline for completing the bike connections and extending the connections to the newly developed areas. Having well marked bicycle racks downtown. Way to improve the agreeableness of cyclists.

5. Who are Blacksburg’s most vulnerable citizens?

My idea is someone who lives paycheck to paycheck. Who wants to work, but can’t afford child care, people for whom transportation to work is precarious because a bus doesn’t go there, whose car breaks down. The number of children that are put in adverse foster care situations. People that have to make a choice between food on the table and paying the rent. People who are enticed into car title loans or who take out loans into a death trap. Council doesn’t have a direct charge to take care of them, but it is a collateral activity. I know that Al Leighton worked on projects that help people. People who are turned out without taking their meds or drug addicts.

Major problem of low cost housing, employees of town can’t live in the town. Employees at Tech come all the way from West Virginia. How can we solve the problem of low cost living in town? Erasing the trailer parks has made the problem worse. It would be good if the town could acquire pieces of land, maybe lease them from someone? I don’t know. I am ignorant about real estate so I can’t provide solutions. This is a town that has the fourth highest concentration of PhDs so we have brain power and we ought to be able to do something. My home town buys up vacant property and there has got to be money somewhere to do that, but you have to contend with “not in my back yard.”

6. If town changed zoning so that single family resident developments must include 25-55% of that new housing has to be low cost housing integrated with new housing would you support that?

I think that is a good strategy and I think we ought to do it.

7. I was against Wal-Mart originally. But I met one of your vulnerable people at our church and she set me straight. A Wal-Mart on Main Street on the bus line would solve the transportation problem. Wal-Mart is charging less than my insurance copay for 300 medications. Wal-Mart is needed by vulnerable people, why are we so against it?

Wal-Mart is trying to green itself so maybe it will change. The woman I sleep with would not mind having a Wal-Mart. There are odious practices and we’ve seen communities hollowed out. I won’t deny what you say, but maybe in another location and build the greenest building you ever saw. There are so many other problems.

8. If the report card for council said that you were not going to be re-elected, would they solve the problem for downtown businesses?

That would be a strong statement to council. Threatening legislators doesn’t get you any place. It just makes them mad. In a small community like this, it might make a dent, but I can’t say for sure. I’d like to see us work to a point where we damp down the antagonism so that we could work together.

9. Report cards – what about the town staff? I don’t think the staff supported the council on the Wal-Mart project as they should have. Staff hasn’t changed.

That is an ongoing concern; the culture is leftover from an earlier regime. Should council be on the offensive toward staff?

Council is charged with making government work. Concerns need to be known and then there needs to be follow-up. Responsiveness and effectiveness need to be a criterion that staff is doing the job we expect them to do. Taking away the fear factor might be useful. I am talking in the abstract about these relationships and expectations. Concerns come from citizens and it is the job of council to convey them. I am not conscious that it is being done.

Advice over Wal-Mart wasn’t good and that was a pretty blunder, but staff hasn’t changed.
What are the alternatives? Off with their heads?

10. Do you (council) get to hire and fire staff?

Assessment. I’ve seen that at Tech. If change isn’t happening, wrong things keep occurring. That is a clear signal. I am not comfortable talking about someone else’s job. I’m hearing change needs to take place.

11. We are 40,000 member town contributing more than half of the income to Montgomery Co. How do you feel about becoming a city?

I’ll start with a cost-benefit analysis. What do we have to gain and what do we have to lose? It is high time we study that. There are lots of areas and attitudes where we are not too satisfied. Be sure you are right and then go ahead.