2011-2013 Greenville City Council

Photos by Aileen Devlin / The Daily Reflector

February Council Notes

City Council has several meetings this month as we take the needed steps to hire a new City Manager

We meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. Among the proposals under discussion is a recommendation to restrict discussion of agenda items. Under the proposal, discussion of any item would be limited to five minutes from each City Council member, with three additional minutes available for follow-up. I believe this proposal will severely abridge our ability to conduct the public’s business. I do not plan to support this proposal.

In addition, we will review recommendations on temporary signs and flags. I would like to see temporary signs eliminated, as they create visual and physical litter that our Code Enforcement officers must address. Indeed, these signs create a resource drain on that division.

I am working with staff members in Code Enforcement and Sanitation to find solutions to the ongoing trash and litter problems in neighborhoods near the university. I have requested that it be placed on our agenda for a future meeting. Councilmember Max Joyner recently met with me, along with a resident of the university community who shared his ongoing frustration about trash with us and several staff members.

February City Beat

5:30 p.m. Feb. 8 – Recreation and Parks Commission meets. Third Floor, Council Chambers, City Hall.

7 p.m. Feb. 9 – City Council meets. Third Floor, Council Chambers, City Hall.

9 a.m. – noon Feb. 11 – Community Tree Day. ReLeaf and the City of Greenville will plant trees at the Moyewood Center, 1710 West Third Street. Volunteers needed!!

5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 – Greenville Climate Protection Partnership. Public Works building, Beatty Street.

6 p.m. Feb. 16 – City Council special meeting. 6:30 p.m. Neighborhood Advisory Board, Jaycee Park Recreation Building, 2000 Cedar Lane.

6 p.m. Feb. 21 – City Council special meeting, Room 337, City Hall. 6:30 p.m. Planning & Zoning Commission, Third Floor, Council Chambers, City Hall.

The Citizens Academy starts March 20!! Be sure to sign up for these special sessions on the workings of City government to be held at 6 p.m. each Tuesday. Meals included!! Applications due by March 31. Call 329-2489 (CITY).

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.

Find Marion Blackburn on Facebook

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.