Much of the town council's agenda is routine. What can be interesting is staying until the very end of the meeting, where council member's make unscheduled comments on matters not on the agenda (including new or old business) or to hear the last item on the agenda, the Town Manager's report. The manager's report of items is never detailed as to what will be brought up -- sometimes there is nothing, sometimes there are items of significance.
At last night's council meeting, the final discussions moved to three points.
One, Councilwoman Carter suggested capping the town's regional Tourism Development Council (TDC) contributions to $70,000, rather than allocating the contracted 1% of all lodging taxes collected. When the town council last agreed to raise the lodging tax in 2005 from 5% to 7%, it was stated as being done to provide 1% to a regionally focused initiative for tourism development funded by three governments. The other 1% of this increase went to the town, meaning the town collected and kept 6% tax on all lodging.
Add this on top of another 6% for all prepared meals taxes going into the town's general funds, AND higher commercial property tax valuations, AND Christiansburg's personal property tax on business property AND a Business, Professional and Occupational Tax (BPOL) AND a $20 fee for every commercial electric meter and one sees that businesses carry a significant tax burden for the right to conduct business in town.
None of these additional revenues derived from businesses are earmarked for tourism, marketing, economic or community development. Perhaps this then subsidizes the town's providing water and sewer services at half the actual cost?
The basis for this cap on funds passed to the TDC is to support or fund the town's own interests, specifically the not yet opened aquatic center and possibly other recreation related activities. This suggested cap seemed to have broad support from all council members, even though town adminstration has no specific plans or initiatives to retain or attract business to Christiansburg, much less marketing its recreation facilities. This attitude and approach is oppositional to the concept of Christiansburg being business friendly, or that local businesses bring value to our citizens and community.
The town's legal counsel was advised to review the existing contract between the town and the TDC. A business plan for operating the town's aquatic center is expected to follow the hiring of an aquatic's director, targeted for July per the town manager's report. One could also ask whether a business plan is in place for the town's Harkrader Sports Complex or Recreation Center as regards operational costs and generating revenue for offsetting those expenses. And it sounds as if there is no budget for the new aquatic center, with the to be hired aquatic director determining the operational budget, rather than council saying "this is what's available." Councilman Wade stated and restated the desire for seeing a business plan for this facility today, noting acquiring paying events takes a lot of time and citizens should know what the related costs or plans are now.
Two, Councilman Stipes indicated a web development company had been contracted -- without giving specific outcomes and web functionality, or addressing how other current constraints to the town's network / infrastructure are being addressed to support this site. A new town web site is now reported as something that will be available by October 2008, but network issues have been the basis of not having a more robust web site previously. This site will be developed by "Civic Plus" which was stated as having numerous local government contracts around the country.
Three, a public hearing for another conditional use permit was scheduled for June 17, to consider allowing a professional office in a residential neighborhood. During election season, "maintaining the integrity of neighborhoods" was a key point for several candidates. One shouldn't suppose this application came in after the elections due to this, but it will be interesting to hear what is being proposed or whether adherence to specific zoning rights and protecting residential areas from encroachment by special permits is back on the table.