Where they stand: Dan Coody
Over the last month or so we’ve gotten to know a little about each of the candidates running in the Fayetteville Mayoral election this November. We know what kind of music they like, where they like to eat, even whether or not they call the Hogs.
Now, it’s time to dig a little deeper into where these folks stand on what we all think are some of the issues facing Fayetteville today. Just like last time, after we’ve heard from everyone, we’ll provide a separate post for you guys to discuss the interviews. Until then, the comments are turned off.
Fayetteville Flyer: A lot has been made about the city’s budget in the media in recent months. Is Fayetteville in as much trouble financially as the papers and blogs would have us believe? If so, what would/could you do about it if elected?
Dan Coody: I’ll let your readers decide if Fayetteville is in financial trouble or not. Here are some basic facts. We have about $8 million in reserves right now. In 2002 I asked the Council to approve a minimum balance, or floor, of 20% of our annual general fund income to sustain us through hard times. That was about $3.5 million in 2002. Now it’s about $5.5 million. We have about $2.5 million more in the fund above our self-imposed floor. Our sales tax income is growing. We projected a 2%
growth in income for 2008 and we are seeing over 4% growth. Fayetteville has the lowest city property tax rate in NWA. If we matched the next lowest rate (Rogers) we would have an additional $1.5 million more with which to work. Springdale has the highest rate. Fayetteville’s real
estate has a higher value and is more stable than any other city in NWA (Skyline Report). We are doing much better than most cities in America.
We rely too heavily on sales tax. Our income rises and falls with the economy and sales tax is the most regressive. I support the diversification of our revenue stream, but it takes Council action. I have been working to increase our tax base by recruiting new businesses and expansions that can help our city and our schools. Malco, Sam’s, Biobased, CaseStack, Ineos, and other companies are helping to grow our economy. We are positioning ourselves for the new economy by attracting businesses that want to capitalize on clean, renewable, alternative technology. You may have noticed the interest from Sweden and other places that are looking to bring green businesses to Fayetteville. By hiring the state’s first sustainability coordinator, we saved $333,000 in utility bills while reducing our Greenhouse Gas Emissions. None of this is by accident.
FF: There is a giant mud pit on the corner of College and Mountain. From reading the papers, it would seem as though we as a city are at the mercy of some developers who don’t seem to care about what the delays are doing to our downtown area. Are our hands really tied in situations like these? If not, what gives?
DC: What we need there more than anything else is a good hotel. I am as frustrated as anyone that the place looks as it does. They are in the process of cleaning it up, and the sooner the better. But the folks who have given us the hole have also invested tens of millions in other projects that get overlooked, like the Fulbright Bldg., Carnall Hall, E.J. Ball Bldg., Bank of America, Underwood Lofts, Cooper House, Ozark Theater, Ozark Bowl and the remaining block around the hole, etc. The Hole is just the most visible. After the construction-permitted time passes, the City can take the land back according to a provision in the contract. But our first goal is get a hotel built there. We need it.
FF: Speaking of development, we’re hearing a lot of arguments about whether Fayetteville should grow upwards or outwards. It seems that when tall buildings are proposed, some people freak out and others rejoice. What’s the best direction for Fayetteville, up or out?
DC: Generally, there are two things people do not like: Infill and sprawl I prefer infill and redevelopment , as I believe most residents do, according to the Downtown Master Plan and City 2025 Planning process. Infill means more people living downtown who keep restaurants and businesses open, form a more walkable, safe community, and create enough density for better public transit. Sprawl that discourages walkability, increases commute time, and encourages cookie-cutter sameness will hurt Fayetteville in the long run. I think our current ordinances borne from the public process are very good.
FF: What do you think about public transportation in Fayetteville? Do we need it right now or is there even enough demand for such a thing in a city our size?
DC: Our public transportation system needs improvement. We need more routes and we need bus stop shelters. Now that gas is so expensive it is more important than ever to provide good public transportation. But since our tax rate is so low, we don’t have more money to plow into the system. Alternative transportation is also important as we work to provide multiple ways to get around town. Better road connections, more trails and sidewalks, bike lanes, public transportation, and eventually, regional light rail are all important if we want to reduce congestion, cut personal expenses, reduce oil consumption, and live healthier lifestyles. There is no question that larger, more dense cities have better options for public transportation, but Fayetteville needs to continue on the path toward multi-faceted transportation solutions.
FF: Condos, condos, condos. Everybody wants to build condos in Fayetteville. Doesn’t that sound kinda weird to you? It does to us but then again, we’re not running for mayor. Are condos really that cool?
DC: The older I get, the less I feel like mowing. I lived in the heart of downtown Fayetteville for several years and, frankly, it’s great. I can see why downtown living is so popluar. Deborah and I may move downtown again some day. If people want to live in condos downtown, it helps our downtown businesses thrive, builds a walkable city, places residents where the services already exist, and makes for a safer community. Condos may not be for everyone, but I think offering a variety of housing choices in Fayetteville is a good thing.
FF: Fayetteville High School: Should it stay or should it go?
DC: Unless there is a buyer for the present location, it appears that the school will stay. This is a school board, citizen, and parent decision. While the city has an interest concerning services and growth, the City will work with the school board to resolve issues that need to be addressed after a general agreement on the future of the high school has been reached. I think schools should be located so that students can safely ride bikes or walk to them. If Fayetteville citizens want smaller schools and more of them, then they should let the school board know that we are willing to pay the price for that. The best thing to do is to have everyone develop as nearly a perfect plan as feasible, estimate the costs (including inflation), and take it to the voters.
FF: Our music scene has gone from incredibly awesome to horribly embarrassing in the past 5 years or so. Some folks would disagree but most would second us in a heartbeat. From the closings of JR’s Lightbulb Club and The Dart Room to the end of a decade-long run that the Music Hall put forth, it seems like live music venues are dropping like flies. Now we’re even hearing that the police are cracking down on the noise on Dickson Street. Is there something that can be done or are we just experiencing some bad luck?
DC: First, there are more and more singer/songwriters moving to Fayetteville than ever. Jack Williams and Tiffany Christopher have just moved to town as many others have before them. There is jazz all over the place while there was none 15 years ago. Bordino’s, Jose’s, George’s, Froggie’s and others are increasing the music choices in Fayetteville. The music scene is on the upswing according to the current Arkansas Traveler linked here. I listened to Benjamin Del Shreve (D’s Pizza), Still on the Hill (OmniPeace Center), a very good jazz group (Bordino’s), a great rock group (Froggie’s), and the incredible Sons of Brazil (Stella Boyles Hall) in the span of a few days. There is more music at the Farmer’s Market than ever before.The music scene is market driven. If a venue closed it’s probably for personal reasons other owners didn’t have enough business to keep it open.The police ARE NOT cracking down on music on Dickson St. There has been only ONE (1) noise ordinance ticket issued to a bar in all of 2008. It was issued to Froggie’s after the sound man had been warned earlier they were violating the noise ordinance. The rate of ticketing is minimal over a ten year period. Read the last line on the Traveler article. I know there is a petition being passed around on Dickson to raise the decibel level for live music. Here is the issue. When the bar owners come to City Hall to try to raise the decibel level the neighbors will show up inforce, too. While we do not receive many complaints now, there could be a backlash if the neighbors perceive a threat to the truce that exists today.There is the chance that the level could be lowered even more if the neighbors rally. I went to Dickson St. with the police and the noise meter to hear for myself what the legal levels sound like. I agree that 75 decibels is not very loud. I believe there are ways to resolve this, and I am certainly willing to take a Council tour to Dickson St. with a meter so they can hear for themselves the legal levels. I am willing to experiment to see where there may be room for modifications. This is not a decision a mayor makes. It is strictly a Council decision to approve or amend ordinances. The mayor is required to make sure ordinances are enforced.
FF: The fact that Fayetteville is being called “The Green Valley” was news to some of us. How is living in a sustainability capital good for us as citizens or are we currently focusing too much on being a Green model?
DC: The outside world knows more about Fayetteville’s “Green Valley” than most locals do. We have been written up in Newsweek, N.Y.Times, Washington Post, European News, Sotokoto (Japanese) Environmental Magazine, Governing Magazine, and more. Living in a sustainability capitol is enormously important. First, our work to protect our environmental future is the most important issue of our time. Second, we have a unique opportunity to capitalize on our position with the University and Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiatives. The City is becoming known as the ground floor for the next generation of technologies to reverse our march toward climate change. We are not focusing on it too much. The more the outside world knows of the Green Valley Initiative, the better for our local economic opportunities. While we are doing as much as we can, I believe we need to do even more. Other cities are following Fayetteville’s example and adopting our programs. We are making the world a better place. This is a key reason I am seeking another term. This momentum needs to be maintained
FF: Many folks seem to think the Walton Arts Center is leaving town. Others say at worst we’ll be sharing it with Benton County. Where did we go wrong or is this all just a bunch of hooey?
DC: The WAC is not leaving town. There is always the chance of another campus at Crystal Bridges. I am working hard to have any expansions happen here. Fayetteville did not “go wrong”. 60% of the WAC’s users come from Fayetteville while 60% of the funding comes from Benton County. The WAC has grown to the point it needs to expand (it is occupied 95% of the time) and there is a study to determine how that expansion should happen. I do not think anything will happen in the near future (next 5 years), and I believe that when it does, it will happen in Fayetteville.
FF: There is no doubt that Fayetteville is in much better shape than it was 8 years ago. Is there anything that has been established that you wouldn’t dare change about our city?
DC: I could not agree more that Fayetteville is in much better shape than it was 8 years ago. When I think back at the out-of-control growth at the expense of our quality of life, the huge public protests and upheaval over the city’s direction, the lack of infrastructure investment for our future, the deep divide between the environmental and business communities, millions lost in lawsuits, etc., we are in MUCH better shape now. The feedback I get is that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Change in leadership WILL ABSOLUTELY change direction, priority, and momentum. What I would not change is the direction we are headed.We have become a leading city in the nation when it comes to forward-thinking planning, efficiency, and sustainability. We are finding ourselves listed regularly among the best cities in America. Our citizen satisfaction surveys tell us we have dramatically improved the way we perform the public’s business. We are providing better services, and more of them, than ever before. We have taken on more in-house public works projects so we can deliver a higher quality, more cost effective product. We are doing all this with fewer city employees per thousand residents than we had in 2002 and on the lowest municipal tax structure in NWA. Retaining a professional staff of excellent managers is an important factor for making it all work. I have been fulfilling the promises I made during my earlier campaigns. While I continue to find room for improvement, I am enormously grateful for the opportunity to help make Fayetteville a better place to live than it was 8 years ago. Let’s keep a good thing going!
FF: This one goes to 11) We can’t cover everything in just 10 questions. What is one thing you’re just biting your nails over that we missed?
DC: Why did I get back in the race? There are many reasons why I decided to run. One is that we have seen a momentum develop in the last year that has exceeded my expectations. I do not believe this momentum will be sustained with different leadership. I had stated early and clearly to a couple of the candidates that I reserved the right to re-enter the race if it became obvious to me that the likely winner would take Fayetteville in a radically different direction. After spending 8 years building an open, progressive, innovative, efficient, and balanced government, I want to see that trend continue. I am very concerned that it will not. For those candidates who claim that I’m in it just for the pension, they are wrong. I already participate in a good city retirement program that I can leave to Deborah. The other pension option can’t be inherited. The bottom line is this: Deborah and I have always felt a responsibility to make the world a better place. I feel good about where Fayetteville has come over the last 8 years and I want to continue working where I believe my talents contribute the most.
