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Tuesday, 07 November 2006 17:33 |
By DAVID FORBES
Mayor Terry Bellamy is a lot of firsts ǃÓAshevilleës youngest (34 when elected) and first African-American mayor. Her first year in Asheville has been an involved one.
Stormy negotiations with the county over water, criticism of several developments around the city from the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods and other groups, the fate of the Civic Center, affordable housing, getting a budget hammered out after losing money from the water authority ÇƒÓ all these issues and more have faced Bellamy, a native of the city.
She recently sat down with the Asheville Daily Planet to answer questions on the issues facing the city, how she plans to deal with them in the future ¨?¨?¨?ÇƒÓ and the challenges she has faced as mayor.
ADP: Whatës the most pressing issue facing the city in the short term ÇƒÓ in the next year or so?
 Bellamy: I think
there are a lot of initiatives out in the community that need to be
addressed, that have started, are in process or are waiting in the
wings. Weëre going to need the resources to address those concerns,
whether itës the Civic Center, parking downtown, cleaning up the
community, even in planning for growth and development. We need to ask
if weëve got adequate staff to deal with plans and projects as well as
staff to handle the planning of our growth and development corridors.
The challenge is getting resources to tackle those issues.
ADP: In the long-term, whatës the most pressing issue for the city?
Bellamy: One of
the things about Asheville is that weëre uniquely placed in a great
position in that we have an economic development plan ÇƒÓ the HUB project
ÇƒÓ to deal with our economy and how it should evolve and involve the
overall community.
We have, for
example, adequate water supplies. We have three water sources and we
actually have a fourth coming on-line. Our economy is diversifying ¨?ǃÓ
we have the medical economy, we still have manufacturing, we have
tourism and small businesses.
Looking long
term at our community, just dealing with the issues of affordability,
not only housing but also cost of living, health care, mental health
issues are all concerns. Those costs, compounded, hurt our area. We
need to look at reimbursement of Medicare and how thatës affecting our
community. We also need to look at the cost of housing, since so many
people want to come live in our community ÇƒÓ and how thatës going to
affect the need for higher wages and lower costs. The reality is higher
housing costs mean lower wages. Those issues are long term and
immediate.
ADP: In your
Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech, you mentioned that one of your main
goals is "one Asheville" ÇƒÓ how do you think thatës going so far and
what are your plans for the future to try and build "one Asheville?"
Bellamy: Iëm
trying to look at Asheville and get more people involved in our boards
and commissions and diversifying that pool ÇƒÓ thatës important because
thatës a decision-making process. Having different voices at the table,
whether thatës different socio-economic backgrounds, different ages ǃÓ
itës about having Asheville come together in that. Also helping our
downtown residents understand that our residential neighborhoods need
support, like in Haw Creek and Shiloh or Fairview Road. We all have the
desire for safe communities, for low crime, for no crime. I think that
the boards and commissions process and the input sessions that are
being held, even the advisory board of the police just had input
sessions ÇƒÓ those give the community the opportunity to participate.
Staff is working to include people in the Richmond Hill process. Itës
about having peopleës voices at the table who were not previously heard.
ADP: In your
inaugural speech, you mentioned that Asheville could no longer afford
to have a council agenda that looked like a planning and zoning agenda.
However, development issues still remain some of the hot-button topics.
How is that process going?
Bellamy: If you
look at the committee structure weëve set up, development issues are
being spread out a bit more. Council is having more thoughtful dialogue
and discussion about development. We are working with staff on trying
to make our development ordinances more user-friendly, asking how we
can make it more affordable for developers to do business in our
community as well as making the process a little clearer. Itës all
those opportunities working together. If you look at the agenda over
the last nine to 10 months, youëve seen some of the things that council
had been wrestling with for years finally moving forward.
ADP: There have
been some very heated negotiations going on between the county and the
city over water, especially the offer for the county to take control of
the Civic Center. Where does that stand?
Bellamy: We have
sent them a letter letting them know weëre open to seeing the Civic
Center, along with other regional amenities the city currently has
being set up, under a regional authority. This is an opportunity for us
to dialogue with the county about the Recreation Center, the golf
course, McCormick Field and the Nature Center.
It also needs to be understood that the City of Asheville is currently carrying the weight for our region.
I sat beside a
wonderful couple last Friday at the Civic Center, but they donët live
in Asheville. There are a lot of wonderful opportunities to partner and
I would hope that regardless of what comes with the water issues, we
would partner with the county on development incentives, development
projects and tap into what theyëre trying to do.
ADP: Within
council, there have been, specifically on issues like the attempt to
put a uniform water rate in with the budget, some clashes and
disagreements. How do you think the state of council members getting
along with each other is going?
Bellamy: Thereës
always opportunities for us to work more closely on issues and I think,
as time continues to go forward, our council will come together on some
issues and on some issues we wonët. In my heart, I honestly believe
that each council member serving right now loves Asheville and, from
their viewpoint, they want Asheville to be successful. My role is
trying to see where thereës some overlap and move that forward.
ADP: Youëve been
mayor for nearly a year now. What would you say is the most challenging
part of the job and the most fulfilling part of the job?
Bellamy: The
most fulfilling part is hearing the success stories, hearing the people
who got what they needed out of the city, who got quality customer
service when they paid their water bill or when they called about
something related to the city. When I see children actually
understanding local government and even when I see adults getting
involved with a board or commission or coming to a hearing, people who
have never participated in civic activities before ÇƒÓ thatës most
fulfilling and rewarding.
On the other
side, I think that the trust issue between the city and other entities
is a big challenge. Trying to, along with council and the city manager,
build trust with partners, community members and citizens of Asheville,
show them we have their best interests at heart and we ÇƒÓ really ÇƒÓ want
to see some successes in our community.
I believe that
this is a great opportunity for the city to move forward ÇƒÓ and some
people are going to have to take our word for it. In some areas we have
not been successful as a city. But now we have a new city manager, we
have some new department heads, we have some new staff ÇƒÓ and some old
staff who undestand that thereës been a directional change in the
community as far as the leadership. I hope the community gives us a
chance to play that out.
If weëve done
something wrong, Iëll be the first to admit it, apologize, learn from
it and go in a different direction. Thatës why trust is so important
and weëre trying to overcome those hurdles.
ADP: Any other issues youëd like to address?
Bellamy: We have
gotten some things done, or moved forward, or even on the front burner
in the last 10 months that have kind of been ignored before. Rome was
not built in a day. Thereës still so much more to do. I think this
council is open to hearing the tough issues and making the hard
decisions. Whether itës a 4-3 vote, a 5-2 vote or even a 7-0 vote, our
goal is to see something started and finished and thatës important.
I think the
community is seeing an open government. Customer service is way up.
(City Manager) Gary Jackson has done a great job working with staff so
that when people call, they get return calls, they get to hear from
staff more readily. Thatës important to see that. Thatës what I want
the community to see and hear. I want to go out, press the flesh,
listen to people and see what ways weëve learned and what ways we can
be more effective.
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