Working, For You
When I ran for city council three years ago, it was because I cared so much for our community that I wanted to serve it and its citizens in the name of the public good. Fredericksburg's people are what makes it such a special and wonderful place to live, and why so many more people want to come here. But whether you were born here, bought a house in the 80's or just arrived yesterday, you are all a part of what makes this town such a great place to live.
In the past three years I have spoken to many people, both "native" and "new" and they all have something in common, they all care about our community, what is was, what it has become, and what it may be. When I moved to Fredericksburg in the early 70's, the town was quaint yet quiet, scenic yet slow-paced; tourists had not yet "discovered" this gem in the crown of the Hill Country.
"Old-timers" and "newcomers" alike can bemoan what the town used to be like, but the truth is, if Fredericksburg had not grown and changed into what it is today- a vibrant, bustling, economic wonder- we would have met the same fate of many other small Texas towns, and become just another faded spot on the map. Of course, there can be too much of good thing, and no one wants to see the goose killing the golden egg.
Development must be monitored and progress planned to ensure a healthy growth. We want to retain our small town charm by keeping Main Street's unique flavor, without diluting it with chain and franchise stores. Yet we want to offer businesses and manufacturers a place to set up shop, so they can offer good jobs, and a variety of products to our residents and tourists alike.
Keeping the right balance, while managing growth in our town, is difficult and requires time, study, and information to come to the right decision to meet the needs of our community. It also requires the input of our citizens, not just a select few, but from everyone who desires to participate. Everything that happens in Fredericksburg has an impact on its citizens, and you all deserve a voice in your town and in what your elected officials do.
I want to hear your voices, to hear what you have to say about growth, whether it's about adding another new hotel, housing development, or fast food restaurant. I want to hear if you think there's too much noise, too many bright lights, or too many trucks that bother your neighborhood. I want to hear if you feel we don't have enough parks, parking spaces, or public restrooms. Your concerns are my concerns, and I want to hear about them so that I may serve you in the best way possible.
Governance and communication is a two-way street, so I urge you to come to city council meetings to find out what is happening. I will be happy to email you meeting agendas beforehand, just click on this link to sign up. You can check my website each week to find out what happened at previous meetings and email me with your comments. I also look forward to seeing you at the next football game or fish fry fundraiser, feel free to bend my ear on the topic of your choice.
I want to serve all our citizens, and though I may not hear from each and every one of you, I will make the best decisions I can based on what you tell me and what I feel is best for our people and our town. I want to make sure that Fredericksburg remains a place we can all be proud of, yesterday, today and tomorrow. I want to continue working, for you, for Fredericksburg.
Working, For Fredericksburg
Though at times the pace of government may seem glacial, I feel that many things have been accomplished in the past three years. When I attended my first city council meeting, the topics included changes of zoning for three new businesses and a new three-story hotel. The hotel didn't go in, the three businesses were approved (though not all saw fruition). A fundraising event involving motorcycles was proposed, and passed under conditions relating to noise concerns. And gravel haulers were discussed as being a problem on Austin Street.
Over the past three years, many other businesses have been proposed, some getting the green light from council, some not. Motorcycles and the noise they generate continue to be an issue for our town; changes in and enforcement of the noise ordinance continues to be worked on. The gravel haulers problem has been resolved, with ordinances passed by council prohibiting these large vehicles access on certain residential streets.
City council agendas each week are filled with a variety of issues, many of which are requests for changes in zoning, permission to build subdivisions, hotels, and housing developments, schools, commercial businesses, and single family homes. The city must decide what sort of development is best suited for which areas, can a hotel be built adjacent to a residential area, where should "low-income housing" be constructed, can a home be converted into a business?
Many things are taken into consideration, and the welfare of the citizens in the area is paramount. When citizens come to city council meetings and voice their concerns for or against a project, I take these statements under careful consideration before making a ruling. This is why I stress the importance of giving me, and the council, your input on issues. Without it, we only have one point of view, the person approaching the council.
The city council meeting this past week concerned the building of condominiums near a residential area in town. Though ordinarily I am not for putting large housing structures near single family homes, I felt that this particular type of development would be a good fit for the area, providing upscale housing on a small scale (15 units), in an area that is lightly populated (it is situated next to the city cemetery and the Nimitz Museum). Also on the agenda, was the request for a drive through banking facility next to the future Wal-greens pharmacy on Highway 16 South, another retail business that was recently added to serve the citizens of our growing town.
A request for another annual event on Marktplatz was also on the list, there is scarcely a weekend that goes by that Fredericksburg does not have some type of fest or gathering going on in town. In the next few months, the City Council will be reviewing the use of Markplatz, to see which type of events are best suited for this historic town square and if they should receive a permanent spot on the calendar. Marktplatz was originally built for the public use, as a "market place" for the people, but we must be careful of the over-commercialization of this unique property, while still promoting activities for local citizens and tourists alike.
There are many issues that Fredericksburg faces, issues that stem from the continued growth of our town, a town that has become desirable for more and more people to move to, and why not? We enjoy good schools, an excellent health care system, clean water, air and streets, low crime, friendly neighbors, and a plenty of shopping opportunities. It is because of all the good things we offer, that we must then contend with the results of our popularity, namely development, growth, and with it change. Some of the issues that we face now that were not on the radar 30 years ago, are "Chains on Main", preservation of German traditions, high-tech business development, affordable housing, water availability, traffic concerns, and noise and light pollution, just to name a few.
It is difficult to make all things right for all people, and we cannot expect things to remain the way when we moved here, be it a decade ago or last week. It is my job as city councilman to help keep Fredericksburg the best place possible to live, attend school, raise a family, go to work, enjoy the weekends, and to retire. I will continue to put our citizens' needs and concerns first, while looking at the benefits for our community as a whole. It is my desire to hear what you have to say, to learn your point of view. I also want to communicate to you what your local government is doing, so I may better serve you as your councilman. In the end, it is our citizens who make our town what it is, by giving so much to our community, our community gives back to us.
I also want to give you the best community I can by working, for you, for Fredericksburg.