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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/30/2016 - Special January 30, 2016 53 Roanoke County Administration Center 5204 Bernard Drive Roanoke, Virginia 24018 The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia met this day atthe new Vinton branch library for the purpose of a Board of Supervisors Retreat. No audio and video recordings of this meeting are on file. IN RE: CALL TO ORDER Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman P. Jason Peters,Supervisors George G. Assaid, Al Bedrosian, Martha B. Hooker and Joseph P. McNamara MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Thomas C. Gates, County Administrator; Daniel R. O’Donnell, Assistant County Administrator; Richard Caywood, Assistant County Administrator; Anne Marie Green, Special Assistant to the County Administrator; Ruth Ellen Kuhnel, County Attorney; Deborah C. Jacks, Chief Deputy Clerk to the Board FACILITATOR: Kristi Dooley IN RE: OPENING REMARKS Chairman Peters welcomed everyone. Thomas C. Gates, County Administrator, also thanked everyone for coming noting there is a full agenda and turned the meeting over to Kristi Dooley, the retreat facilitator. IN RE: OPEN DISCUSSION Ms. Dooley introduced herself to the group and advised she was an Organizational Development Consultant. She stated the purpose of today is to clarify the Board strategic focus going into this year. She asked the Board what was important to them, their values and motivation. She added that is meeting would also provide an opportunity to discuss the citizen survey. What are the implications for the work we are doing? After lunch, discussion will ensue about getting clear about the strategic January 30, 2016 54 planning process, vision and who will work on each aspect. Finally, upcoming planning and development issues will be presented. First, she asked for an agreement on how we would engage: authentic engagement, staying present with each other, embracing healthy conflict, listening fully and actively, assuming a positive intent, being curious, exploring others ideas and sharing air time. Additionally, she noted there were some things to celebrate, sun, snow, the process and the doors it can open. Supervisor Bedrosian noted that he would like to change the seating. Ms. Dooley went through an exercise to learn a little bit about each other: forty and under, over fifty, veteran, bucket list, went to college outside Virginia, the first to attend college, those that like to avoid conflict, those to do not like to give difficult feedback, had a job you hate, worked for minimum wage, family was poor, raised by a single parent, if one of your parents did manual labor to make living, lived in more than three cities as an adult, observed discrimination and did not speak up, suffered the consequences for taking a stand, had a teacher as a mentor; if you ever felt you did not belong, part of a closer community; difficult as a kid, wants community to be more, feel you can make a difference. Ms. Dooley advised this was setting the stage for strategic planning, i.e. what is important to you and what are the values you want this community to stand for. Values drive strategic planning and priorities. She advised there were cards in the back of the room to help come up with five (5) values that the Board will want this community to stand for and five (5) values that you want to stand for as a Board. The meeting was recessed for twelve minutes. The values brainstormed were as follows: Service, planning, safety, growth and collaboration (Board) (Hooker). Fairness, diversity, responsibility, balance, integrity (Board) (Assaid). Teamwork, strategic (planning) as opposed to tactical, stay out of the weeds. Predictability especially economic development, fiscally sound, caring. (McNamara) Compassion, integrity, risk taking, safety and service. Risk taking to make the change to invest in our community (Peters). Responsibility, integrity, creativity, uniqueness, independence. Want to serve so that we can provide a community with diversity and make their own vision. Strong and in his own opinions and values those with their own strong opinion. Environment where they can flourish. Competition (Bedrosian). Chairman Peters commented that we need to take risk to bring the types of business that Supervisor Bedrosian is talking about. Supervisor Bedrosian stated it was hard to differentiate. He would like to live in a community where there is no cookie cutter set up. We want government to create an environment for all. Ms. Ruth Ellen Kuhnel, County Attorney, stated you have to find the right balance, include the risk taking and balance against for the sake of what you are giving up to take those risks, i.e. Cause and effect. Mr. Gates stated equity versus fairness and rather than growth vitality and the way you get there is planning. Supervisor Peters commented that Supervisor Bedrosian made a true statement, everybody in our society wants their own January 30, 2016 55 independence, but they step back and say what are you doing to facilitate the growth, etc.? What risk are you taking to spur economic development to provide the independence? He hears this over and over again. Additionally, he added that ihe hears that you need to bring the kids back home. This brainstorming list for values: planning, vitality and an assumption of integrity. Supervisor Assaid commented that he does not think planning is a value. You can assume integrity, but does not mean it is there. Supervisor Bedrosian commented you can get twenty different opinions; same with integrity and responsible; definition may mean different things to different people. Mr. Caywood responded with regard to forward looking, Roanoke has great traditions and has a tendency to look to the past (before it was better) need to look forward and feels there is a cultural weakness. Supervisor Bedrosian stated watch out for pushing our values out to the community; fine line. We try to force upon the community what it should look like or be and he is not comfortable with that. There is a mix of people doing it independently and used the Taubman Museum. He added that based on the survey most people are really not interested in giving their opinion. Does not think the 300 responding interest is a correct sampling. Ms. Kuhnel commented she trusted Supervisor Peters to have the courage to make a decision. She added that she felt partnership with other communities was important. Supervisor McNamara commented security is also important. Supervisor Assaid commented that patience is required as it takes a short while to mess something up, but takes longer to correct. A lot of people are not engaged, it is not they don’t want to offer, they are just too busy. Supervisor Bedrosian stated in response to Supervisor Assaid he does not want to confuse not interested with something else because people may not be engaged, they are doing their thing the way they want it; that is okay. Security, biggest role is the security of our community. Good to have rules in place to keep safe. Great thing to be known for. George, safety we can control, security is different. Also, opportunistic, people do live their own lives and some seize opportunity and some let them go by. There could be more opportunity if they want it. Supervisor Peters commented people are living their lives, but does the community have the idea that we cannot get anything done. Supervisor Bedrosian cited consistency so they can plan. Supervisor Peters added creativity. Supervisor Hooker added to be representative – goes back to the Board, we have to attempt to engage the community to fairly represent. The more people that we can get involved, the better. Mr. Gates stated the responsibility is on us to engage (reach out). We can always do better by providing more venues. Thinks everybody is engaged in some way. They are not necessarily unaware. When talking about schools, we only talk about government schools, never education as a whole. Biggest impression is the trash trucks. People do not think about government being involved in economic development. Structure yes; incentives for everyone. So exciting that we don’t have to give anybody January 30, 2016 56 anything. Give the value proposition for everybody. Attract businesses because it is a great place to be. Make it equal for everybody. We ought to be like referees in the game of life, even, equitable and consistent. The meeting was recessed for five minutes. IN RE: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY SURVEY FINDINGS Dan O’Donnell introduced Dr. Wilson who provided a PowerPoint presentation. A copy of this presentation is on file in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. He explained there were three major issues or areas: Economic Development, Education and Public Safety. Supervisor McNamara commented we need to send the budget to every citizen. We need to do a better job of educating the citizens, i.e. how much it costs to drive the truck down the street. Communication is the key. Supervisor Peters commented we need to find common goals. The meeting was recessed for five minutes. IN RE: COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN Dan O’Donnell went through a PowerPoint presentation on the Community Strategic Plan. A copy of this presentation is on file in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. 1. Community Strategic Plan Process Overview Mr. O’Donnell outlined the Community Strategic Plan Process. He explained about the focus groups, four-meeting format, need for a vision statement, focus groups determined and Board members need to be assigned to the focus groups and to confirm dates for focus group meetings. Supervisor Peters advised he would do economic development and public safety and do one on Monday and one on Thursday. Supervisor Bedrosian stated he could not commit due to his work schedule and would assist on Economic Development Supervisor Assaid volunteered for Transportation. Supervisor McNamara volunteered for Quality of Life with Supervisor Bedrosian assisting. Supervisor Hooker volunteered for Well-Being. Supervisor Peters asked why not have four community meetings in each quadrant? Mr. O’Donnell and Mr. Gates agreed. January 30, 2016 57 2. Visioning Mr. O’Donnell commented the visioning should aspire to be five years out and provided the following three statements as a starting point:  Roanoke County is a safe beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain community that provides a high level, quality of life for everyone ensuring future growth and prosperity  Roanoke County is a scenic, prosperous and safe community with unlimited outdoor opportunities where businesses can grow and where lifelong learning is embraced.  Roanoke County is a vibrant, prosperous and innovative community that values our heritage, our scenic beauty and our quality of life Supervisor McNamara stated we should provide world-class leadership to facilitate “xyz.” Supervisor Bedrosian commented we should align Roanoke County government with the values and priorities of the public with their aspiration. Ms. Dooley asked the group, “Who do you want to become?” It was the consensus of the Board to go with the following: Vision Statement: Roanoke County is a vibrant, innovative and scenic community that values our citizens, our heritage and quality of life. The meeting recessed for fifteen (15) minutes. 3. Focus Group Logistics Mr. O’Donnell then advised of the following days for focus group meetings: Economic Development Monday Public Safety Thursday Transportation Thursday Quality of life Monday Education Monday 58 January 30, 2016 IN RE: PLANNING/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — DISCUSSION OF COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Philip Thompson, Deputy Director of Planning outlined the zoning section in the PowerPoint presentation. Jill Loope, Director of Economic Development reviewed the Economic Development piece. Mr. Gates added his comments regarding Economic Development and Mr. Thompson reviewed activity centers. A copy of the PowerPoint presentations are on file in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. Tom Gates added his comments to the Economic Development section. Activity Centers — Philip Thompson. Items open for further discussion: Tanglewood Mall is the largest underdeveloped area that we do not own. Do we have a plan of what we want it to look like or do we want a developer telling us what it is going to be? Do we want to spend money to extend infrastructures or spend money on the areas that have the infrastructure? Supervisor Assaid asked to add Cotton Hill Road. Final comments from Supervisor McNamara commented how interconnected all the parts are when you put the puzzle together. Supervisor Hooker commented she liked watching the interconnectivity and general air of cooperation for growth. Supervisor Peters commented he is also looking forward to the process and added economic development drives "it." Supervisor Assaid commented we need to define "it". Mr. Gates thanked everyone for attending. IN RE: ADJOURNMENT Chairman Peters adjourned the meeting at 12:58 p.m. emitted by: Approved by: 11Deborah C. is P. Jaso Peters Chief Deputy lerk to the Board Chairman