On Tuesday morning sheets with the written-up and tallied resident feedback from Monday night's Community Summit were presented. The following were the top vote getters among the suggestions.
MAJOR SUCCESSES 2004-2009
1. Town Center
2. Oceana NAS and BRAC
3. Convention Center
4. Oceanfront Upgrades
5. Quality of Life (Cultural Arts)
6. Schools: Buildings & Accreditation
7. Recreation Centers
8. 31st Street Corridor
9. Light Rail
10. Virginia Aquarium Expansion
MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING VIRGINIA BEACH 2009-2015
1. City Revenues and Services
2. Transportation: Public, Mass, Light Rail, Multimodal
3. Road Maintenance
4. Preservation of Aging Neighborhoods
SERVICE EVALUATION (Reduction, Elimination, or Privatization)
1. Solid Waste Management
2. Landscaping Service
3. Recreation Centers
4. Education - Schools Funding Formula & Schools Consolidation
5. Animal Shelter
6. Treasurer/Commissioner of Revenue
REVENUE IDEAS
1. Hotel & Meal Tax
2. User Fees
3. Real Estate Tax Increase
4. Highway Tolls
5. Solid Waste Fee
6. Charge for Beach Entertainment/Events/Festivals
7. Sale of City Properties and Buildings (Parks, Recreation Centers)
Yes, VBTAers, 6 of 13 tables voted out a real estate tax increase as a priority. Yet more evidence of how out-of-touch you are....
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Community Summit 2009
On Monday evening Virginia Beach held a Community Summit. Residents were asked questions derived from City Council's two days of strategic planning in August. 80 residents came to the convention center to participate.
It was an enjoyable evening that brought forth some intriguing ideas. A couple of the revenue ideas were ordered to be studied by City Staff when Council reconvened on Tuesday morning.
However, the evening saw more antics by the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). First, Maximum Leader Robert Dean brought a large sign attacking the City. (On Tuesday morning it was noted that such behavior is part of what costs the VBTA seats on city committees.) Second, at Table 13 the VBTAers (Dean and Al Saferstein) tried to prevent the recording of any ideas they disagreed with. Under the rules, all suggestions were to be written down. Third, Table 13 provided one of the most extreme ideas of the night: selling off Virginia Beach's public libraries. That's right: VBTAers would close our libraries! With policy planks that utterly beyond the pale, no wonder they can't even come close to winning a City Council seat.
It was an enjoyable evening that brought forth some intriguing ideas. A couple of the revenue ideas were ordered to be studied by City Staff when Council reconvened on Tuesday morning.
However, the evening saw more antics by the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). First, Maximum Leader Robert Dean brought a large sign attacking the City. (On Tuesday morning it was noted that such behavior is part of what costs the VBTA seats on city committees.) Second, at Table 13 the VBTAers (Dean and Al Saferstein) tried to prevent the recording of any ideas they disagreed with. Under the rules, all suggestions were to be written down. Third, Table 13 provided one of the most extreme ideas of the night: selling off Virginia Beach's public libraries. That's right: VBTAers would close our libraries! With policy planks that utterly beyond the pale, no wonder they can't even come close to winning a City Council seat.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Is Jewish
Astonishing. Experts have examined a closeup of a photo of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad taken at the March, 2008 Iranian election. He's holding up his identity papers. The papers reveal that he was originally named Sabourijan, which means "weaver of the Sabour". In Persia, the talit (the Jewish prayer shawl) is known as a sabour. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/6256173/Mahmoud-Ahmadinejad-revealed-to-have-Jewish-past.html
Analysts believe his Holocaust denial and strident anti-Israeli statements are probably an attempt to overcompensate for his Jewish roots.
H/T to The Virginian.
Analysts believe his Holocaust denial and strident anti-Israeli statements are probably an attempt to overcompensate for his Jewish roots.
H/T to The Virginian.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Newtown SGA Meetings - Round 1
On Thursday Virginia Beach held the first round of public meetings on a plan for redevelopment of the Newtown Strategic Growth Area (SGA). There were focus groups earlier in the day, followed by a meeting open to the general public in the evening. Both types of sessions asked the same three questions and had the same map exercise as their climax.
10:30 A.M. Focus Group
Arriving early in the area by bus, I had to walk over and take a look at the eastern terminus of the Norfolk light rail line. In turn I looked down the Virginia Beach portion of the vacant Norfolk Southern Right-Of-Way. (Do I have to spell out what I was thinking?) I walked to the Virginia Beach office of Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), where all Newtown SGA meetings are slated to be held. I found the distance surprisingly walkable.
Kudos to DEQ for the nicest men's room I've ever seen in a government office building. Not only a great bathroom, but clear signage to it that meant you didn't have to ask directions.
Our 10:30 focus group was made up mostly of business people and residents from within or nearby the Newtown SGA. Therefore, they had great knowledge of the area.
This is the third SGA plan that I've participated in, and the questions on this one will probably make it harder than either of the other two (Resort Area and Pembroke) to reach a consensus:
1. Should the building mix be commercial and light industrial (current), or commercial and residential?
About 80% of the land in the SGA is now being utilized for commercial or light industrial.
A few things. First, Newtown is one of the 4 current SGAs that is suitable for large-scale residential redevelopment, being outside the Oceana AICUZ zones. Second, light industry is what the City wants in the periphery of Oceana, as it's compatible under the AICUZ regulations. Third, light industry may not have the density to support light rail.
2. What role should mass transit play in the future?
How long before Virginia Beach light rail comes online? Also, how many people will choose transit over their cars?
A few matters of note. First, it was pointed out that the first thing visitors entering Virginia Beach via I-264 see is the Newtown SGA. Therefore, it should be a pleasant-looking gateway. Second, Virginia Beach really isn't in a position to deal with the problems of Newtown Road itself with the east curb line being the Norfolk city line. Third, the walkability issue hit home when I tried crossing Princess Anne Road to catch the bus out. I found it more difficult than Virginia Beach Boulevard in my home neighborhood.
The climax of the focus group was placing dots on the SGA map: red for weaknesses, green for strengths, and blue for potential for improvement. Our group carpet bombed the Arrowhead Shopping Center with red dots.
6 P.M. General Public meeting
With the RAC meeting having run long, I was down to my third bus option - and the first of the two buses was running 9 minutes late. Still, I managed to make it there at 6:04. With a large crowd, the meeting was late starting, so I missed nothing. It occurred to me that had Virginia Beach light rail been in place, I could have taken the train from the convention center station to the Newtown Road station in minutes.
There was a Presentation made to the public (even some info not covered in the focus group), followed by the dots onto the map exercise at each table. A spokesperson from each table afterwards presented their table's input.
There were some snobbish comments. One table attacked poor neighborhoods as generators of crime. The same table wanted "no Section 8 housing" in the SGA. (NEWS FLASH: you can't legally bar Section 8 from an area.) Another table's spokesperson stated "renters have no responsibility."
There were some stupid comments. One table wanted "another Sportsplex" in the SGA. (Yeah, like the first one has been a huge success....) Another wanted "75-80 foot landscape buffers" between properties. (That's thinner than the Beach's current suburban!)
Round 2 of the process has the consultant slated to come back in December, holding a week-long studio at DEQ with possibilities. After getting feedback on them, they'll then try to draw up a final draft plan for public comment.
There were some moments of humor on Thursday evening:
1. After a couple at my table had been spewing VBTA b.s. all night, I put a red dot on their business.
2. A hotel General Manager in the SGA claimed prostitution was rampant in the Newtown Road/Greenwich Road area, provoking laughter and jokes.
10:30 A.M. Focus Group
Arriving early in the area by bus, I had to walk over and take a look at the eastern terminus of the Norfolk light rail line. In turn I looked down the Virginia Beach portion of the vacant Norfolk Southern Right-Of-Way. (Do I have to spell out what I was thinking?) I walked to the Virginia Beach office of Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), where all Newtown SGA meetings are slated to be held. I found the distance surprisingly walkable.
Kudos to DEQ for the nicest men's room I've ever seen in a government office building. Not only a great bathroom, but clear signage to it that meant you didn't have to ask directions.
Our 10:30 focus group was made up mostly of business people and residents from within or nearby the Newtown SGA. Therefore, they had great knowledge of the area.
This is the third SGA plan that I've participated in, and the questions on this one will probably make it harder than either of the other two (Resort Area and Pembroke) to reach a consensus:
1. Should the building mix be commercial and light industrial (current), or commercial and residential?
About 80% of the land in the SGA is now being utilized for commercial or light industrial.
A few things. First, Newtown is one of the 4 current SGAs that is suitable for large-scale residential redevelopment, being outside the Oceana AICUZ zones. Second, light industry is what the City wants in the periphery of Oceana, as it's compatible under the AICUZ regulations. Third, light industry may not have the density to support light rail.
2. What role should mass transit play in the future?
How long before Virginia Beach light rail comes online? Also, how many people will choose transit over their cars?
A few matters of note. First, it was pointed out that the first thing visitors entering Virginia Beach via I-264 see is the Newtown SGA. Therefore, it should be a pleasant-looking gateway. Second, Virginia Beach really isn't in a position to deal with the problems of Newtown Road itself with the east curb line being the Norfolk city line. Third, the walkability issue hit home when I tried crossing Princess Anne Road to catch the bus out. I found it more difficult than Virginia Beach Boulevard in my home neighborhood.
The climax of the focus group was placing dots on the SGA map: red for weaknesses, green for strengths, and blue for potential for improvement. Our group carpet bombed the Arrowhead Shopping Center with red dots.
6 P.M. General Public meeting
With the RAC meeting having run long, I was down to my third bus option - and the first of the two buses was running 9 minutes late. Still, I managed to make it there at 6:04. With a large crowd, the meeting was late starting, so I missed nothing. It occurred to me that had Virginia Beach light rail been in place, I could have taken the train from the convention center station to the Newtown Road station in minutes.
There was a Presentation made to the public (even some info not covered in the focus group), followed by the dots onto the map exercise at each table. A spokesperson from each table afterwards presented their table's input.
There were some snobbish comments. One table attacked poor neighborhoods as generators of crime. The same table wanted "no Section 8 housing" in the SGA. (NEWS FLASH: you can't legally bar Section 8 from an area.) Another table's spokesperson stated "renters have no responsibility."
There were some stupid comments. One table wanted "another Sportsplex" in the SGA. (Yeah, like the first one has been a huge success....) Another wanted "75-80 foot landscape buffers" between properties. (That's thinner than the Beach's current suburban!)
Round 2 of the process has the consultant slated to come back in December, holding a week-long studio at DEQ with possibilities. After getting feedback on them, they'll then try to draw up a final draft plan for public comment.
There were some moments of humor on Thursday evening:
1. After a couple at my table had been spewing VBTA b.s. all night, I put a red dot on their business.
2. A hotel General Manager in the SGA claimed prostitution was rampant in the Newtown Road/Greenwich Road area, provoking laughter and jokes.
Happy Anniversary HRT
Yesterday (October 1, 2009) was the 10th Anniversary of the merger of Tidewater Regional Transit (TRT) and Pentran to form Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). No, I know of no official commemoration of the event.
While I had heard talk in the weeks leading up to it, I had forgotten about it until Jim Davis' report at the RAC meeting mistakenly referred to HRT as "TRT". I started thinking "There hasn't been a TRT since....oh".
Have fun!
While I had heard talk in the weeks leading up to it, I had forgotten about it until Jim Davis' report at the RAC meeting mistakenly referred to HRT as "TRT". I started thinking "There hasn't been a TRT since....oh".
Have fun!
RAC October 1, 2009
On Thursday afternoon Virginia Beach's Resort Advisory Commission (RAC) held it's October meeting. Originally slated to be a short meeting, it ended up running about 85 minutes.
Two reports are in the queue for the RAC. Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Director Jim Ricketts will give a preliminary report on the 2009 season at the November RAC meeting. In December City Finance Director Patti Phillips will give the Tourism Growth Investment Fund (TGIF) report that was originally on the docket for November.
The meeting was lengthened by two long reports:
1. Oceanfront Enhancement Committee (OEC) Chairman Jim Davis' interim report on the behavior of homeless persons in the Resort Area was distributed to Commissioners prior to the meeting. Still he read from and spoke on it, running over 20 minutes.
2. In a move that wasn't on the agenda, Nancy Creech delivered a report on the Neptune Festival that went about 15 minutes.
The Plan/Design Review Committee (PDRC) addressed the issue of adopting a form-based code for the Resort Area. The consultant is Urban Design Associates (UDA) of Pittsburgh. (UDA is the same firm that did the Burton Station SGA plan, and is now doing the Newtown SGA.) Also, proposals for work on two existing hotels were looked at.
RAC Liaison John Uhrin gave updates on projects associated with the Resort Area.
Off-topic fact of the day: with the Little Creek Amphibious Base assuming control over Fort Story, the combined Little Creek/Fort Story employs more Virginia Beach residents than Oceana NAS.
Two reports are in the queue for the RAC. Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Director Jim Ricketts will give a preliminary report on the 2009 season at the November RAC meeting. In December City Finance Director Patti Phillips will give the Tourism Growth Investment Fund (TGIF) report that was originally on the docket for November.
The meeting was lengthened by two long reports:
1. Oceanfront Enhancement Committee (OEC) Chairman Jim Davis' interim report on the behavior of homeless persons in the Resort Area was distributed to Commissioners prior to the meeting. Still he read from and spoke on it, running over 20 minutes.
2. In a move that wasn't on the agenda, Nancy Creech delivered a report on the Neptune Festival that went about 15 minutes.
The Plan/Design Review Committee (PDRC) addressed the issue of adopting a form-based code for the Resort Area. The consultant is Urban Design Associates (UDA) of Pittsburgh. (UDA is the same firm that did the Burton Station SGA plan, and is now doing the Newtown SGA.) Also, proposals for work on two existing hotels were looked at.
RAC Liaison John Uhrin gave updates on projects associated with the Resort Area.
Off-topic fact of the day: with the Little Creek Amphibious Base assuming control over Fort Story, the combined Little Creek/Fort Story employs more Virginia Beach residents than Oceana NAS.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
What Passes For "Justice" In San Francisco....
We're used to zany rulings by the Federal judges out there. However, two new lawsuits have been filed that could only have a snowball's chance in San Francisco. A man has filed separate suits over neither Froot Loops nor Cap'n Crunch Crunch Berries containing real fruit, claiming their advertising was deceitful. He goes on to allege he ate them believing they contained real fruit, and now wants unspecified damages. http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/weird/Man-Sues-Froot-Loops-for-Not-Being-Frooty-at-All-62674757.html
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