One week before Asheville City Council holds its retreat, the city will be hosting a community forum for citizen input on council’s goals for last year. Supportable efforts include public safety, laying sidewalks, and opening public restrooms downtown.
On the stranger side, are the following:
· Pursue Eagle-Market Street and riverfront redevelopment
· Develop youth and education programs that support job and career placement in Asheville; begin with a redesigned Summer Youth Program
· Promote and support the economic viability of local foods and agriculture through tailgate markets and other long-term strategies
· Develop the City of Asheville’s “Employer of Choice†plan with an emphasis on workforce and local labor pool development opportunities
· Pursue the development of city-owned property to achieve strategic housing, economic development and land use goals
· Promote strategies that encourage sustainable, high-density, infill growth
· Develop neighborhood and corridor plans with citizen participation
· Use visualization technology and modeling to asses growth impact analysis for transportation needs, housing needs and neighborhood enhancements
· Implement building incentives for achieving strategic housing and environmental goals
· Develop a comprehensive plan to provide workforce housing opportunities
· Expand climate awareness education
· Work with regional partners to create incentives for green building and energy conservation
In a similar vein, a colleague of mine said today he would support a Constitutional amendment for separation of business and state, observing that corporations have more influence these days than churches.
