The 2011-2013 Greenville City Council

Photos by Aileen Devlin / The Daily Reflector

DISTRICT 3 TOWN HALL

7 p.m. Jan. 18

Missed the Town Hall meeting? You can watch it on GPAT 23 or stream it from the GPAT website. Or you can watch an excerpt here, in which Dennis Chestnut shares his concerns about trash & sanitation problems in the university community. 

Our yearly Council Retreat and Workshop took place Jan. 20 and 21.

-- Concealed Guns Allowed in Parks. We will take this issue up for a second time despite my serious concerns about allowing concealed weapons in playgrounds, ballfields and stadiums. Some members of council think that may be a good idea.

The state legislature has required cities to allow guns in parks. Each city can, however, prohibit concealed weapons in recreational areas like stadium bleachers. That is what our Council agreed to do.

-- Neighborhood preservation.

-- Pop-up Alert System. I requested that we look into installing a desk-top and mobile phone alert system similar to the one used by ECU. We will receive information about the costs of this system within a few weeks.

The yearly Friends of the Greenville Greenways Social is 7 – 9 p.m. Jan. 28 at Bradford Creek Clubhouse. This event was great fun last year with an open fire, marshmallow roasting, music and a silent auction. Call (252) 830-2910 or email froggsgreenville@gmail.com

Find Marion Blackburn on Facebook

January City Beat

7 p.m. Jan. 24 – Historic Preservation Commission, City Hall. Third Floor, Council Chambers.

Contact our Code Enforcement Division with any concerns.

Code enforcement (252) 329-4300

Car violations (252) 329-4315

http://www.greenvillenc.gov/departments/police_dept/information/default.aspx?id=6144

My goals for the community for the next two years will focus on neighborhoods, quality of life issues, clean energy, parks, open spaces, alternative transportation and animal welfare.
-- a strong emphasis on crime prevention, investigation and enforcement
-- funding for Eastside Park on 10th Street East
-- successful completion of new greenway sections
-- recycling promotion
-- ongoing review of club regulations and downtown policing
-- transportation alternatives for bike routes and sidewalks
-- progress on the Go-Science Center and other cultural attractions
-- additional code enforcement officers and rental property improvements

Together, we can continue to work for these goals in the next two years.

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SUSTAINABLE SUBURBS--We can do it! Original, creative, provocative thinking for a better City with a super quality of life.

WELL-DESIGNED development is the antidote to sprawl.-William Hudnut

HUMAN SPRAWL (obesity) and suburban sprawl correlate.-Ellen Dunham-Jones

SUSTAINABILITY: “Your well-being is my well-being.” -John Knott

SUBURBS CAN GO toward death – or life. We will have decay if we do the same old things. We need to reimagine a sustainable future.  Planning must be regional.  Our suburbs need to become more urban – with shopping, walking and offices. We have unsustainable traffic. Vehicle Miles Traveled outstrip road building and population growth. It is no longer sustainable to pave & drive. Sprawl sucks away the tax base and people. -William Hudnut

Read my notes from the Sustainable Suburbs conference

Full summary

Brief notes

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Find all City events on the City calendar
http://www.greenvillenc.gov/calendar.aspx
 
Find City Council agendas here http://www.greenvillenc.gov/departments/mayor_city_council/information/default.aspx?id=6002
 
Find minutes and watch previous meetings here
http://greenville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
 
The City is now on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CityofGreenvilleNC
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Crime & safety tips: page 1 page 2

Talent Bank form

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I will serve as a your voice as our City works to reduce crime, keep our homes and streets safe, increase economic growth and improve our quality of life. Good decisions by our City Council will promote public safety, healthy growth, excellent City services, parks, greenways and projects to enhance our City.

What I Believe

As your City Council representative I will emphasize these priorities for our City

• A robust cityscape with strong neighborhoods.
• Safe homes and streets.
• Enhanced economic development, including green initiatives.
• A thriving, safe Uptown area.
• A walkable, bikable city with parks and open spaces.

Courage, Not Fear

Our City Council needs to reduce crime, keep  neighborhoods strong and safe and bring new jobs to Greenville.

Our City has $2.4 billion in taxable value in single-family homes. We all win when these homes keep their value.

Join me in working to help Greenville advance as a leader in the state, a great place to live, and a vibrant, safe community.