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Newly Seated City Council Meets TodayBy Amber Lester Thursday, July 08, 2010 Williamsburg City Council will discuss a mix of old and new business at today’s meeting.New members Doug Pons and Scott Foster will join the board as it hears how fiscal year 2009 turned out, while new Mayor Clyde Haulman will make appointments to various boards and committees. The board will also have a chance to start the year fresh with less paper waste; the city is recommending the board members use Apple iPads to receive and review agendas and other relevant documents. It’s another effort by the city to reduce waste and move forward technologically. The city currently spends approximately $2,000 a year in printing costs for agenda packages for City Council meetings and work sessions. Through analysis, the city found it printed 1,716 pages of documents last year for council, with about 20 percent using color ink. The city also prints approximately 20 copies of each agenda for meetings, which equates to about 69 reams of paper. Apple introduced the iPad in April as a device that in size and function, falls between smartphones and laptops. Williamsburg Information Technology Director Mark Barham determined the iPad would be the best device for council members because it has greater graphics presentation capabilities than any other electronic reader; it has annotation software available at a cost of $7 per copy of the software; and it is less than a half-inch thick, making it easy to transport or rest on the dais. The city agenda does not indicate how much the city would need to spend to purchase five iPads and accompanying software, but iPads currently retail for $499. The board will also vote on a proposed ordinance that would authorize City Manager Jack Tuttle to limit parking by nonresidents on certain residential streets. In order for a street to qualify for the limitation, it must meet two criteria: the number of parking spaces occupied by vehicles exceeds 75 percent of the spaces available and the average number of vehicles parking in those spots that are owned by nonresidents exceeds 25 percent of the parked vehicles. Owners of property abutting a residential street would be able to submit petitions to Tuttle to request limitations. The board will also review L&B Quarterpath, LLC’s request to amend the text of the RM-2 Multifamily Dwelling District lot width requirements to allow a minimum lot width of 25 feet for duplexes. The change will allow duplexes to have on 25-foot wide lot and one 35-foot wide lot; the developers are seeking more flexibility in the duplex designs. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposal on June 16. The Williamsburg City Council will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Stryker Building. |
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Comments
You don't see my point. The city is down about $2 million dollars in room and meal tax collections since FY 2008 with no end in sight for the declines. IMO it is not only an econimic issue it is a tourism issue. I don't think the Mayor or Foster are bad people and in time they will probably do pretty well if the usual suspects don't sink their teeth into them. The problem is we have a real problem NOW, that doesn't warrant on the job training or a period of time to learn the in's and out's of the Chamber and WADMC. We need someone that already has a clear understanding and is ready to act,debate,argu e,and work towards a positive change. The Mayor and Foster simply aren't ready for that yet and we will have a 6-12 month feeling out period where we will repeat doing the same that hasn't worked for the last few years. How many more businesses have to close shop before you get it?
In regards to WADMC, no it isn't required that the Mayor serve on this board. He may have elected to serve on it because of choice, it is his choice as Mayor. I believe Pon's and Foster supported him for the position and the powers that come with it. I don't see Foster's selection as cronyism. The School Laison is an important position, a new school contract is due to start this year.
There is nothing in the legislation from the state that requires the mayor or county chairs to be on WADMC. The mayor could show some real leadership and show us all that this isn't about ego and cronyism and appoint Pons to WADMC. For Pete's sake one of recurring issues during the campaign was tourism. This appointment is an insult. As far as the Chamber goes. Pons used to be a supporter, and as the Chamber has changed over time so has his support and criticism. To suggest that only people that support the chamber and toe the line can represent the cities interest is absurd. That's the whole reason for representative government, and IMO these appointments do not adequately represent the interests of the people. We'll see!
Pons used to be on the Board of Directors for the Chamber and was instrumental in bringing the Chamber and the old CVB together to create the Alliance. Further Arrogance!! If this is the type of well thought out decision making that we can expect for the next couple of years, we are going to need to replace a few more members of council in 2012.