The Council held its first public work session on Manassas Next tonight. In attendance were several citizens, many members of the Manassas Business Council, several City staff members and Mark Wolfe – the republican nominee for Council. I had a presentation that was about 10 slides that went over the pieces of MN and estimated a budget for the first year. I will put that presentation up on the web tomorrow.The presentation and the costs were well recieved. The Vice Mayor suggested that the way to advance MN is to go ahead and insert the costs for MN into the budget for consideration this year. I will do that at the next budget meeting. The strategic planning aspects will have to be taken up by the City Council that is seated in early July.
All of this might seem a bit anti-climatic but I assure you that this is terribly exciting. For the first time in two years, we’re going to start strategic planning. We’re going to start a new public agenda and dialog. I can’t wait. Please do remember that the Council can’t do this without the citizens. We need your help and your input as we are just getting started.
Before I sign off, I’d like to thank all of those who helped. Beyond my family, some would prefer to remain anonymous so I’ll just leave it at that. If you helped, you know who you are and Manassas is better for your involvement. Thanks again and stay close as I know I’ll need everyone’s help before this is over in order to get it all done.
Update: Here is a link to the presentation I made last night.
March 19, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Andy, that’s a good looking presentation you made last night. The team (the Council) now has the ball and needs to move it forward.
Grab hold of that low hanging fruit before things get bogged down. Don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good. Let’s go…
March 19, 2008 at 2:40 pm
MOUNTAINEERS!!!
March 19, 2008 at 4:04 pm
“Although the affair was defined as a smoker, plans inspired by
fragrant Havanas after the delicious dinner are real and substantial,
very capable of actualization, with none of the visionary evanescence
of pipe dreams. The feast of civic eloquence was inspirational,
whetting the appetite for municipal progress by suggesting a taste
of the good things coming to Manassas.”
Manassas Democrat (1-25-1912)
Andy, a really fine presentation for Manassas Next, but a slice of plain
pizza to eat and no Havanas? Darn.
March 19, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Andy, a few thoughts:
– It is obvious that you have have put a great amount of thought, time
and work into Manassas Next. It certainly gives the city
a path to move up to the “next level”.
– The devil, as always, will be in the details. Everyone is on board
for “planning” and that we should do “something”, but when we
start putting real markers in the ground it will be more complex.
John Cartwright, a former city manager, said it was like
playing poker with a crowd looking over your shoulder and they
all wanted you to play a card, but every time you touched one,
a group will say “No, not that one – pick another”. I’m sure,
in a city of 36,000+ people, that we will never please everyone.
But, at some point, after listening carefully to advice and
analyzing the situation — we have to play our cards –or fold.
March 19, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Please note that one part of Manassas Next will be discussed
at a meeting of the Manassas City Council Land Use and
Economic Development Committee – tomorrow afternoon 3 PM –
City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room.
Agenda Item — Worksession on Proposed Incentive Zones
and Districts for Economic Development Purposes.
(90 minutes)
The public is invited.
March 20, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Andy,
How much are these costs? And is that how you came up with the 1.15.5 tax rate? If that is the case, I rather go without this fancy pants program and stick with the obvious.
We need good quality businesses, and neighborhoods, less crime and illegals. More quality and less crime and criminals will result in more spending by people who want to come to Manassas or stay in Manassas to shop, which will result in more sales and business tax revenue for the City. That in turn will allow for a lower real estate tax, which will allow for us home owners to have more disposable income to spend in our local shops and businesses.
Well, you did ask for Citizen input.
March 20, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Why are so many of these planning or discussions sessions at 3 pm or 5:30 pm in the weekday?
You guys may have the day off, but it seems to be done to intentionally keep average citizens from attending.
Why not on on Saturday or Sunday…or later in the evening on the weekday?
I have already predicted that you will raise taxes which is counter to the Republican campaign mantra.
With so much Manassas government waste, why is that City Manager’s reflexive reaction when the ecomony turns sour is to suggest a higher property tax?
And if you say, what Government waste, then you maybe you ought to stop talking during Citizen Time over the last few years and start listening for a change.
March 21, 2008 at 7:29 am
This plan now has all the makings of a larger Government, a more bloated school budget, and much higher taxes.
The school system should not receive a penny more in funding for any new programs until a marked improvement is shown in the current programs. Not a penny more should be given to the school system until the City Council reworks the funding formula for the school system.
Andy,
I’ll tell why people are moving out of the City, and yes, I know you are sick of talking about illegal immigration, but you can say that all you want, but until we get control of the problem, it will remain the number one issue, in spite of what the “in” crowd says.
March 21, 2008 at 9:59 am
Andy,
While I have been accused by some of not caring about anything in Manassas (City Of) except illegal immigration, you and I know better. I see that many of the ideas in your Manassas Next initiative date back to when you and I served on the City Futures Task Force. How long did we serve on that thing, worked to produce a solid plan only to have most of it remain just that: a plan?
I agree, we cannot afford to continue to bleed citizens to Gainsville, Haymarket and Culpeper. Quite a few people we both know have expressed that they are considering leaving as well. I agree the time to act is now.
I understand the tough job that council will have to get any new initiative funded under current economic conditions. Should illegal immigration continue to be part of the disccusion? I think so, but only a part. Your zero-tolerance zoning initiative and 287g are the largest components of the City’s ability to deal with the issue, and have passed. Requiring City contractors to prove that their workers are legal, and getting a street peddler ordinance that makes sense are about the only things left that the City can do on this issue. People need to recognize this. I do. Now it’s up to the state to begin to do their part, and maybe even the Feds too.
I agree that we need to do what we can for economic development. While I didn’t initially agree years ago with your view that Old Town is the “economic center of gravity” for Manassas, (I think the Big Box companies like Lockheed, BAE, Micron exert a greater economic influence) I have come to regard Old Town as the “storefront” that will bring young professionals and families to the City. I support B3.5, and the 28 corridor sector plan. I support the Wellington interchange.
I guess what I am trying to say is “Thanks” for stepping up to lead this effort. Sure there will be debate and disagreement over how the money gets spent. Fiscal Conservatism isn’t about not spending any money. It’s about spending money wisely. As long as the we spend the money on things that provide a tangible benefit to the citizens I am not generally opposed to the expenditure. I do think we should make sure that the budget contains minimal waste, and the Schools need to defend their budget and show results. However, I think the Hi-tech prep courses are a great idea.
I just wish the meetings weren’t so early in the day. Very tough to get to.
March 21, 2008 at 6:08 pm
This campaign is awesome. It’s like a breath of fresh air. The ManassasNext.com Web site is great and I love the logo that looks like it belongs on the periodic table of elements in a science classroom.
Ever since I went to the City’s Neighborhood Conference last fall, I’ve felt like positive changes CAN happen in Manassas. I got up and spoke at the Conference. I spoke at a City Council meeting. Now I’m helping to plan a Weems Neighborhood Watch Community Yard Sale on March 29. It’s all about building community and taking action. Today I called the property maintenance line about a vacant house on Weems Road that had a broken window on the second floor. I pick up several bags of trash every day in my neighborhood. I CAN make a difference.
If the police are short staffed because prospective police officers going through the hiring process can’t afford to live in this area, then I am all for a program that allows them to buy one of these vacant homes that are attracting crime.
This campaign has good ideas, and I’m sure there’s more citiizens like me who want to make these ideas happen.
March 21, 2008 at 9:13 pm
thanks for all of the feedback. Steve, I do remember the futures task force. What ended up in that document is at least somewhat represented in Manassas Next. I appreciate the input from everyone and will be in touch shortly.