Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 1992 TAG: 9201120117
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
RADFORD TAKES CLOSE LOOK AT ISSUES AHEAD
The need for better lines of communication was the theme of a five-hour planning meeting of City Council Saturday.It was the first "retreat" for the five-member board, although they didn't go far - selecting free meeting space at the public library to review more than 20 issues and concerns that the council will wrestle with in the immediate future and beyond.
Among the subjects discussed were:
The Radford Main Street Program, a historic preservation and economic revitalization project that stretches along Norwood and First streets from Tyler Avenue to Wadsworth Street.
Recently, a proposal by the program's board of directors to partially fund the project through an additional tax on property owners in the district was opposed by several merchants.
The merchants, many of them from the city's west end, questioned whether the program had directly benefited them. And, the merchants said, if the entire city is benefiting from the program, the financial burden of continuing it shouldn't rest on one group.
Mayor Tom Starnes said he was concerned the merchants - many of them long-standing members of the city's business community - did not see the program as beneficial or felt excluded from Main Street activities. He suggested trying to put West End merchants on the Main Street board.
Doing a better job of promoting Radford's "unique features" to encourage tourism, shopping and living in the city.
Bobby Nicholson said Radford's railroad history, Radford University, proximity to Interstate 81 and the "Long Way Home" outdoor drama were all areas the city could key on.
Deciding how to use those features to better Radford means the city "has to have some dreamers to put it together," he said.
One suggestion was a river walk that linked the city's parks along the New River from the east end to the west end. Nicholson also suggested cleaning up the city's railroad entrances to make them more attractive to people taking steam excursions through the area.
And council members said the city needs to take an active role in encouraging residents to shop in Radford rather than taking their money - and valuable sales tax - to surrounding counties.
Councilman Garrett Weddle said many Radford residents possess "a conceptual thing that you must leave Radford to get what you want," when it's probably not only available in the city, but for a cheaper price.
Budgeting time, especially when offices and agencies funded by the city begin to prepare information for council before final funding directives are received.
Council members said they were troubled that the School Board adopted a proposed fiscal year budget before receiving any input from City Council on how they see the financial picture.
The School Board recently approved a $7.56 million 1992-93 budget, reflecting a 7 percent increase over this year's budget and 18 percent more in city funds. The School Board's plan calls for 6 percent raises and a slightly improved salary scale. At about the same time, council voted to ask boards, agencies and departments funded by the city to cut 1992-93 spending by 3 percent. The cuts were tied to an effort to provide some sort of pay raises for city employees, who received no increases this year.
Keywords:
GARY WEDDLE