A little over a year ago, notices for Christiansburg public meetings seemed scarce, random and late, providing little information. Some of this has changed.
For example, a Parks & Recreation Advisory Meeting scheduled for Monday, August 3rd has already been published. While no agenda is included, this notice solicits items to be considered for the meeting. With the new sports complex now open and town being supportive of some other special events, Council has been using a Roanoke City Chamber of Commerce "tourism formula" to estimate the positive projected economic impact of these activities. Apparently, it made sense to look to Roanoke (although the town is purportedly a member of the local chamber and contributed to funding a regional tourism initiative since July 2005). Voters are cautioned to take this "data" with a grain of salt for two reasons: 1. You'll know it when you see it, in comparing previous years lodging and meals tax receipts to current revenue collections (even if you factor a sluggish economy, a dip shouldn't be as noticeable). 2. Many of the town recreational activities are accompanied by special advertising programs. This could be expected to continue to grow, if all past advertisers are solicited to continue placing ads and new companies then want to buy in. Unless they're not asked, limiting access to this niche market while diminishing a potential source of revenue.
The Planning Commission is continuing discussion of a property in Cambria for a rezoning on Plum Street from general business to two-family residential on Monday, July 20th. This item was already before the commission once, so all they need to do is discuss any comments received during the required Public Hearing and make a recommendation to Council. What's never included -- on meeting notices or via the town's website -- is the history of subject properties, nor any adjacent lots. You know, public meeting minutes. There were questions about why this entire area, which is predominantly residential, was blanket zoned for business and where it is in relation to one of the town's three threatened historic districts.
Town Council will vote on this rezoning on Tuesday, July 21st but no comments will be taken because the Public Hearing was already held. Then they'll go back and talk about digital signage, which has been kicked around for over a year. It started when a gaudy sign popped up in one of the historic districts, but is now grandfathered anyway. Yet now other businesses in certain areas, even those not designated as historic, won't be able to add such customer grabbing signage. Other than that, who knows where this critical issue to the health, welfare and convenience of town citizens will end up. There's also a brief item about providing planning/zoning packets on the agenda, leading to discussions which may or may not highlight the fact council and the planning commission typically have access to extremely limited data when making land use decisions. Then there's a scheduled discussion for a "drainage matter" on Hemlock Drive -- this doesn't address the root causes of "drainage matters" that recently surfaced, evidenced by extensive flooding and sewage backing up throughout our fair 'burg.
One never knows if the agenda won't be amended at the beginning of a meeting nor what the Town Manager will feel like disclosing in his Progress Report to Council. And typically there's no media present as it doesn't exist anymore, or who is officially sent may be an unchaperoned intern -- so don't expect to get a good picture of what goes on unless you plan on showing up.
Notices may be legally compliant now, yet do nothing to enlighten voters. Records -- via cable broadcasts, video recordings, meeting handouts or minutes -- range from being non-existent to barely meeting the letter and intent of the law.