HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/31/2002 - RegularJ
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Agenda for the October 31, 2002 Regional Leadership Summit
Meeting with General Assembly Members
Salem Civic Center- Parlor C
12:00 p.m.
I. Welcome and Introductions ................The Honorable Sonny
Tarpley, Mayor of the City of Salem
II. Overview of the Regional Leadership Summit Activities... Wayne
Strickland, Executive Director, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional
Commission
III. Presentation of Key Legislative Items for the General Assembly
Approved by Elected Officials at an October 18, 2002 Meeting
Concerning a Regional Legislative Agenda.
A. Education
1. The General Assembly should fully fund the Standards of
Quality. The Commonwealth has an obligation to fund the Standards
of Quality on the basis of realistic costs -- reflecting actual education
practices to include capital, operating and maintenance costs.
Presented bv: The Honorable Linda Wyatt Member Roanoke City
Council and
The Honorable Marv Bugs Chair Mont~omery County Board of
Supervisors)
B. Taxing and Funding:
1. The General Assembly should eliminate the distinction in
taxing authority of Virginia's cities and counties. Counties should
possess the same authority as cities to levy taxes on tobacco products,
lodging, meals and admissions. The Tax Commission recommended
the elimination of the distinction in taxing authority.
Presented bv: The Honorable Sonny Tarpley, Mayor City of Salem
2. The General Assembly should not limit or restrict existing
local revenue sources.
Presented bv: The Honorable Wayne Angell Chair Franklin County
Board o~ pervisors
3. The General Assembly should require state agencies, such as
the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, to
use specific income data from towns when assessing grants-in-aid
programs. Currently, data for counties are used when towns apply for
grants and often the economic conditions in a town differ significantly
from the economic condition of the county in which they are located.
This places the towns at a disadvantage when applying for
competitive state grants.
Presented by: The Honorable Joe "Butch "Church, Chair, Roanoke
County Board o~upervisors
C. Transportation:
1. The General Assembly should require VDOT to find a
funding mechanism that will expedite the widening/improvements to
Interstate 81. I-81 is the economic lifeblood of Western Virginia.
Improvements to this highway will enhance safety and promote the
economy of this region. The communities in Western Virginia cannot
wait 40-50 years for the widening of I-81 to take place.
Presented by: The Honorable Steve Clinton, Chair, Botetourt County
Board of Supervisors
2. The General Assembly should fund implementation of
passenger rail service in the Roanoke to Bristol corridor. Rail service
will provide a good multi-modal addition to the highways and airports
currently serving the region.
Presented by: The Honorable Bill Bestpitch, Member, Roanoke City
Council
3. The General Assembly should fund the Smart Road outside
of the VDOT funds allocated to the Salem Transportation District.
Approximately 35% of the funds allocated to the Salem District are
going to pay for the Smart Road. This highway facility represents an
economic benefit for the entire Commonwealth and the nation, and as
such, the funds for the Smart Road should not come solely from this
region's highway allocation.
Presented by: The Honorable Joe McNamara, Member, Roanoke
County Board of Supervisors and
The Honorable John Muffo, Member, Montgomery County Board o~
Supervisors
D. Local Authority:
1. The General Assembly should not pass legislation that takes
away local government authority over land use issues. For example,
legislation will be considered in the 2003 session that will require
manufactured housing to be permitted "by right" in all residential
zoning districts. Such legislation would directly affect the power of
local councils and boards to control land use in their communities.
Presented bv: The Honorable Temple Kessin erg , Mayor, Cit~of
Covington and
The Honorable Cletus Nicely, Chair, Alle~hany County Board of
Supervisors
IV. Concluding Remarks ........................The Honorable Don Davis,
Mayor, Town of Vinton
V. Comments by General Assembly Members
VI. Adjournment