Reposted: Anonymous Blogger’s Top Ten Priority List
Anonymous said…
1) Accountability
2) Putting the day-to-day operation back in the administration’s hand and out of the council’s hand which is what the charter actually says.
3) Putting the City as the leader in economic development and what it sees needs to happen, not have it follow the direction of many self-serving groups
4) INFRASTRUCTURE – if we don’t increase our capacity to serve residents and businesses with water, sewer, gas and electricity – we’re dead in the water in terms of growth
5) Increasing the tax base – NOT BY RAISING THEM – look at the pockets around the city, that lie within the City which are presently receiving all of the city services and have not been annexed – these are areas the City is losing property taxes on. Go beyond that and look just beyond our borders at areas receiving 3 of the 4 services and consider annexation.
6) Review and scrutinize every current contract for professional services – example attorneys – IF we have a City attorney, do we need an attorney for the Council? do we need 4, 5, 6 additional attorneys on retainer? Put these under contract for specific time periods of for specific projects. (attorneys are just one example)
7) Planning & zoning – get them some help! If we can’t hire engineers and others for this department then let’s outsource it and be done!
8) Personnel/Human Resources – the fact that it takes forever for someone to be hired at the City is ridiculous! Start running this like a REAL business – post the job internally for 3 weeks, then post outside. Use DOL or an outside source to screen candidates and then process internally – get rid of this someone in personnel is off every Monday and Friday and btw if your paperwork is on so-and-so’s desk nothing is done until they come back from leave, vacation, etc. I understand civil service is involved, but other cities have found a way to make it work, why can’t we?
9) Downtown – some of you aren’t going to like this, but succesful cities have thriving downtowns – this has been proven by researchers. Thriving does not mean it is the hub of shopping, it means downtown has been reinvented in most places to something eclectic – an alternative place to go, built usually around something historic, cultural, or out of necessity. In our case we have all 3. We have the history downtown – granted Dean presently has it tied up with an outrageous price tag. The only way to get him to move is change the accessed value to what he thinks it’s worth and start making him pay property taxes on $12 mill. Cultural – the arts district has a solid foundation with River Oaks and Caughlin Saunders – find ways to use them more. Necessity – government is downtown, therefore it will also be necessary for people to be downtown. Build off that base, along with the artist base to entice others to be downtown after 5 and on the weekends. It can work, but we need some creativity – something that is lacking in our leaders at this time.
10)20-40-year-olds – ENGAGE THEM!!! These are our most creative group of people, they want a reason to stay, they are the most mobile and have the ability to leave a city. Seek new fresh ideas from them. Find reasons for them to BELONG. Not everyone has two kids, a spounse, a house and a dog. There are still people who want to go out, enjoy a good reasonably priced dinner at a non-chain restaurant, enjoy music that is current of various genres and have places to meet with their friends – not necessarily bars and not always coffee houses.
Ok, that’s my top 10. Sorry if it’s more than you wanted.
It’s not more than we wanted, my friend. I think you would agree that this is just scratching the surface, but it’s still a great list from which to work. Unfortunately, there’s one thing we can’t do: We can’t expect to make Dean pay property taxes on $12.2 million. It’s a great idea, but in order for us to do that, an appraisor would have to value the building at $81 million (commercial buildings are assessed at 15%). If anything, we should ask the tax assessor to reassess the building to a lower price (something that would be more in line with true market value). If the building itself is worth $2.5 million (I think that’s probably fair), then assess it at $375,000. We must be able to push the asking price down and in line with market.
CenLamar 
Excellent starter list Lamar!
I do love downtown historic qualities… Alexandria has a perfect footprint to start a very eclectic shopping district to attract visitors. It would be nice to have the Bentley as the show piece.
A major problem is the criminal element. That should be priorty.
C.C.
One other thing in regard to annexation… It would be nice to say I live in a certain city instead of saying I live 4 miles from Alexandria and 4 miles from Woodworth. Betwixedandbetween C.C.
The Alexandria Golf and Country Club right across the street should help, right?
Dial up no cable C.C.
WEll Delores Brewer takes credit for her experience. With that experience come responsiblity. Very few of the things in this top 10 list have been accomplished while Delores was taking credit Thus, why should we believe that Brewer can do any different. CHANGE MEANS CHANGE and we can not get change doing it the same way. NO DELORES NO NED NO DEBRA its Past time for a change .
I of course disagree, Delores was not on the council nor was she in any capacity to deter the happenings in city government. She is more aware of what needs to be done than the other candidates. If all of Alexandria for once in their lives would get out and participate meaning VOTING instead of being passive then change can be accomplished.
C.C.
Caroly, do you EVEN live in Alexandria?
I have most of my life. All my relatives do!!!Is there a problem.
Caring about a city that is in trouble, I know might strike you as humorous since said city could have cared less about us during 1997-2003. Carolyn Cicardo
Actually, since Dean claims the property is worth $12.2 mill, then the assessor can re-evaluate the current value of his property – he is required by law to do so every 3 years I believe for every property in the City – it could be more, but I think it’s 3. Property values aren’t necessarily set by appraisals for taxing purposes. They are usually re-established when properties sell, except for when the assessor is required by law to re-evaluate and consider the natural increase or decrease in value that is taking place in the market place.
Dean’s property could be re-evaluated to $12.2 Mill, he would then be forced to pay taxes on the commercial structure for what portion is deemed set for it at the rate of it *15% * millage, the land portion *10% * millage. PLUS he is still going to have to pay taxes on the FFE’s at fmv*15%*millage.
That’s what most people don’t understand – Businesses get hit 3 times on property taxes – 1) for land, 2) for the improvement and 3) for the furnishings & fixtures. PLUS they have an inventory tax at 15%*millage as well, unless they are a manufacturer and then they pay it and file for a credit.