October City Council Message
By: Vice-Mayor Ken Suer, Contact this Councilmember
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Some Important Questions Answered...
In our role as Councilmembers, we are frequently asked questions about the City’s operations as well as other “hot topics” of discussion around the community. Given some of the recent issues that have received coverage in the media – including the initiative petition, Parks Master Plan and business developments, I have prepared answers to some questions that may be helpful to you.
Does City Council listen to residents?
Council regularly listens to residents in meetings and through emails, letters and phone calls. Citizen input and involvement is an important part of our system. While some individuals feel that we don't "listen to them" - a more accurate phrase would be that we don’t always "agree". There is a difference, but citizens can always be sure that we listen.
Are Council minutes and legislation available to the public?
They certainly are, and these documents are made available on a regular basis. Approved minutes of meetings and Council legislation are available on the City’s website or at City Hall. Tape recordings of meetings are also available. The City complies with all State regulations and also reviews its policies to ensure compliance as laws change.
Is the Parks Master Plan a "done deal"?
Far from it. There has been a lot of public input so far and the plan will eventually be presented to the Parks Commission and to Council for further discussion and revision. Not all of the ideas that have been generated so far
will survive, but it has been interesting to look at the wide range of possibilities to enhance the parks that have been generated by our citizens. The ideas that do survive will be considered over a ten-year span as finances permit.
Is commercial development favored over residential areas?
Montgomery is first and foremost a residential community. We have no intentions of changing that. 73% of the land in the City is currently used for residential purposes. At the same time, our business community is very important. We need for it to stay viable as 71% of the City's annual income comes from business earnings tax and business property tax. We could not operate without our business district, yet recognize that we must work hard to balance interests of our businesses with our primary goal of being a premiere residential community.
Is there pressure on Council to widen Montgomery Road?
There is no pressure on Council to do this and we have no interest in doing this. We would be strongly opposed to this. Montgomery Road through Montgomery is as wide as it needs to be. There are also no plans to remove the medians. If anything, we may enhance and expand them. The "boulevard look" is very important for the corridor, not only for aesthetic reasons, but to ensure the integrity of our residential areas and ensure the viability of our zoning code.
What are the City's fund balance reserves and why shouldn't they be spent?
Before 2001, there were times when the City's financial situation was not as good as it is today. To stabilize the financial picture, a policy was put in place in 2001 to keep funds in reserve so the City could continue to operate for six to twelve months even if there were a major financial downturn, loss of a major employer, etc. The City has worked hard to build its reserves over the past 6 years and is in a good financial position today. Some cities have no reserves. They live very close to the edge and often find themselves in financial crises. We feel more prudent financial planning is important for the City and its residents.
What is the City's "Wish List"?
Once every five years the staff uses a brainstorming process to generate creative new ideas for the City. The brainstorming process records any and all ideas that people have to see the range of ideas and stimulate discussion. The list is not intended as a "to do" list as some suggest. There may be some worthy ideas that we pursue. Many others are deemed too impractical or unnecessary. It is still a good way to get people thinking and has generated a number of ideas that have been approved in the City’s budget and have proved beneficial to the City.
As a Council member, I appreciate when citizens ask questions so we can share accurate information on hot topic/issues in our community. Hopefully, this column will help to answer some that you have heard recently. If you have others, please feel free to ask – we all will look forward to getting the you information you need!