State of the City FOLO

Four major city development projects set to unfold in the next decade may strengthen Huntington’s commercial infrastructure, while increasing the traffic to downtown Huntington.

The projects, outlined by Huntington Mayor Steve Williams in his recent State of the City address, are designed to bring commercial, retail and housing developments to underused and inefficiently-used city spaces.

The four major projects being discussed are the Hal Greer Boulevard corridor, the River to Rail area on the west end of Huntington, the industrial area between Marshall University and the Highlawn neighborhood and the creation of high-speed broadband Internet access throughout the city. In his address, Williams said the combination of these projects will provide the greatest economic expansion opportunity our city has seen since the 1940s.

Two projects have moved past the discussion stage. The first phase of demolition of Northcott Court, part of the Hal Greer Boulevard corridor, was completed in September. Efforts to deploy high-speed broadband Internet throughout the city were accelerated after the West Virginia Broadband Deployment Council chose Huntington to participate in a study about the feasibility of high-speed broadband Internet implementation.

According to Williams, the redevelopment of the area between Marshall and Highlawn will provide the longest-lasting impact for the city.

“You transform that part of the city, and then Huntington becomes a totally different player in the Ohio River valley,” Williams said.

A surprise development project Williams announced in his address is the redevelopment of Riverfront Park as an area for commerce. Possible construction projects include a state-of-the-art, 260-slip marina, a boardwalk with retail facilities and restaurants and RV riverside camping facilities. The Riverfront Park project is estimated to take six to 10 years to complete.

Large redevelopment projects mean large financial spending for a city that, in the coming year, is projected to lose revenue. Financing for each of the projects has not been outlined yet, but it is likely that the city will seek both state and national grants to help finance the projects. (More research, interviews)

Funding for the Riverfront Park project has been outlined. The project will be financed by a public-private partnership that will utilize a combination of private capital with public and private grant sources. Superior Marine, a company that was engaged in a lawsuit with the city for many years until it was settled last year, will be working with the city again on this project.

With funding likely to be such an issue for these projects, the eventual effects on the city’s infrastructure are of primary concern to residents, who hope the benefits of the projects will outweigh the costs. (Interviews and research to garner quotes and support for this idea)

These projects are all part of a plan, heavily supported by Williams, to cause a rebirth of Huntington. Even though funding will be a huge issue, as the city is not financially thriving, Williams has reiterated his confidence in the ability of Huntington to rally together and make these projects happen, one way or another. (Interview, to get quotes)

State of the City address RECAP

Huntington Mayor Steve Williams called for a reduction in the general fund budget but said the state of the city is vibrant and fiscally sound in the annual State of the City address Tuesday.

With revenue projected to be over $1 million less than what was originally projected for the current fiscal year, Williams used his address to defend and explain the budget changes. He made it clear that no layoffs would occur, and efficient streamlining in the operations of the city, namely the public works, police and fire departments, would compensate for the budget reduction. Williams said the process would require all departments to work together to ensure quality services for citizens.

“When revenue growth is limited or declining, we are demonstrating that such a partnership assures efficient and effective delivery of services,” Williams said.

Williams said the city is in a state of growth and will continue to pursue development projects that further enhance Huntington as a leading city in the region.

The four major projects being discussed are the Hal Greer Boulevard corridor, the River to Rail area on the west end of Huntington, the industrial area between Marshall University and the Highlawn neighborhood and the creation of high-speed broadband Internet access throughout the city. Williams said the combination of these projects will provide the greatest economic expansion opportunity our city has seen since the 1940s. Commercial, retail and housing developments are planned for each of the different areas.

According to Williams, the redevelopment of the area between Marshall and Highlawn will provide the longest-lasting impact for the city.

“You transform that part of the city, and then Huntington becomes a totally different player in the Ohio River valley,” Williams said.

A surprise development project Williams announced in his address is the redevelopment of Riverfront Park as an area for commerce. Possible construction projects include a state-of-the-art, 260-slip marina, a boardwalk with retail facilities and restaurants and RV riverside camping facilities. The Riverfront Park project is estimated to take six to 10 years to complete.

In his address, Williams said combating drug addiction within Huntington is the single largest issue the city is facing. He said the new approach will be to focus on the addicts not the dealers. He said the city needs a two-pronged approach, continuing the aggressive law enforcement strategy and coupling it with accelerated addiction treatment.

Since January 1, Huntington has had 87 overdoses and 12 deaths due to overdose.

“We had 87 missed opportunities to save a person’s life,” Williams said. “We have 87 families devastated. We have 87 neighborhoods disrupted.”

Though Williams recognizes that he does not have the legal authority to direct the effort, he said the city has a moral and ethical responsibility to come together to fight addiction. Williams said one resource that is being underutilized is the area youth, and he said he would do his best to start there on the journey to decrease addiction in Huntington.

Williams also mentioned the importance of equality and diversity in the Huntington community.

“My vision for our city is that we become a city that embraces our diversity and actively seeks inclusiveness as we learn to stand as one people celebrating our differences,” Williams said.

The mayor cited the recent events in Ferguson and Cleveland to show the importance of open communication between community leaders, city government officials and citizens. He also made it clear that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered citizens will have a voice in the city, without discrimination.

Williams’ address was full of optimistic and forward-looking projects, but he emphasized that these projects would take time and would entail a very complicated process. Though the budget is decreasing, Williams said the city has changed for the better and will continue to grow.

Projections for State of the City

In a preview of his upcoming State of the City address, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams revealed Wednesday that the city’s general fund budget will be decreasing by 5 percent compared to last year’s budget.

Williams said there would be cuts but no reductions in services or layoffs. He did not specifically state where the cuts would happen. Williams was quick to defend the budget change and said a restructuring of operations would allow the cuts to be made without serious negative effects.

 “We’re not cutting the budget,” Williams said. “The revenues are declining, and I’m making an adjustment. We’re living within our means.”

The budget for 2015 will be $43.3 million. Last year’s budget was $45.1 million.

The decreased budget and its effects will likely be the main talking point for Williams in his address Tuesday. Williams will defend his cut by explaining the city’s projections of a 5 percent decrease in revenue.

In his preview, Williams cited newly completed projects on Marshall’s campus as a reason for the decrease in revenue. With the construction of a new engineering complex nearing its end and a recently finished athletic complex, Williams said Huntington will lose nearly $2 million in revenue in 2015.

To make up for this decrease, Williams said he has found alternatives that will allow the city to remain financially solid. These alternatives include creating efficient structures that provide services more cost-effectively and increasing the collection of fees and fines owed to the city.

While thorough discussion of the budget cuts and explanations will make up most of the address, Williams will likely mention the ongoing growth occurring in Huntington. In his preview, the mayor said the state of the city is solid and growth-oriented.

“It is strong, vibrant, at the beginning of a renaissance,” Williams said.

Williams described some of the new planned developments that are adding to the strong state of the city. Demolition of the Northcott Court public housing complex along Hal Greer Boulevard is already underway, and the plans for the area involve both commercial and retail buildings.

Williams will talk about this project and a few others to show that despite the revenue drop, Huntington is growing and evolving.

The 70-acre Marshall-Highlawn area of industrial properties is also a planned location for development. Williams said development of hotels, a baseball stadium and retail and commercial properties has been discussed for the large city space.

Williams is also likely to mention the River to Rail initiative that is designed to reduce crime in central city, a place referred to by Williams as a “diamond in the rough.”

In his preview, Williams introduced the idea of a “virtual ribbon,” involving a citywide broadband Internet network that would tie the projects together and create a solid business-friendly infrastructure in Huntington.

Overall, Williams will use the State of the City address to provide explanations for the budget cuts, while showing the positive growth Huntington is experiencing.

Williams will deliver the address 3 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council chambers at City Hall.

City Council Meeting 2/9/15

Huntington’s sewer problems are closer to being solved after the city council Monday passed ordinances giving the Mayor Steve Williams permission to move forward with improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.

The council heard a second reading of an ordinance regarding a $6.5 million bond issue to make necessary repairs at Huntington’s treatment plant in Westmoreland. This specific ordinance will have one more reading at city council where the vote for passage will be taken.

The council approved two ordinances allowing the mayor to accept contracts on behalf of the Huntington Sanitary board to replace failing parts on the plant’s incoming and outgoing lines. The projects are estimated to cost more than $1 million each and are likely to take 270 days to complete. Mayor Williams said he hopes the bonds will be issued by April. The projects are not anticipated to raise prices for the Huntington community.

City councilwoman Joyce Clark, whose district is Westmoreland where the wastewater treatment plant is, said she has been hearing responses of relief and eagerness from her constituents, “It’s about time they’re doing something.”

Monday’s city council meeting also saw the announcement by Huntington Police Chief Joe Ciccarelli of Police Officer of the Year for 2014. Lieutenant John Williams was given the honor for his 25 years of expertise and leadership as an officer and investigator.

“Huntington took me in with open arms…and its been a pleasure to serve this community,” Williams said. 

The council unanimously approved a resolution honoring the YMCA’s Kids In Motion program, which began in Huntington in November of 2013. The program is designed to fight obesity, especially childhood obesity, by making exercise fun and providing nutrition information and tips for parents. The program is sponsored by Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center. Jamie Berry, director of Kids In Motion, said the program’s success is rooted in its effect on children in the Huntington community.

What’s exciting about our program isn’t the numbers or the weight loss, it’s about the kids that keep coming back,” Berry said. “They’re learning, they’re growing, and they’re seeing exercise in a whole new light.”

The council approved three resolutions and one other ordinance at Monday’s meeting. The ordinance allows the city to enter into a 3-year contract with a new administrator for its self-insured worker’s compensation program, saving the city $3,600.

One of the resolutions gave the Huntington Police Department permission to purchase a new utility vehicle, a purchase that will be reimbursed by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

The other resolutions permitted use of fiscal year 2014 project funds for the Cabell-Wayne Huntington-Wayne Home Investment Trust, providing money for the Huntington area Habitat for Humanity and homebuyer assistance program, and a revision of the general fund budget.

The next regular meeting of city council is scheduled for Feb. 23. Mayor Williams’ State of the City address to the council is set for Feb. 17 at 3 p.m.

House Bill 2081-Protect the News

House Bill 2081, if passed, will amend and reenact §61-2-10b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, to include journalists as a protected profession within the explicit definitions of crimes of violence against certain categories of workers.

The bill was introduced by Delegates Nancy Guthrie, Larry Rowe, Mike Pushkin, Andrew Byrd and Sean Hornbuckle last month.

West Virginia code 61-2-10b, which the bill would amend, provides explicit definitions and punishments for crimes committed against certain workers while acting in their official capacity. The workers included in the current protection are governmental representatives, health care providers and emergency medical service personnel.

If enacted, House Bill 2081 will add journalists to the list of protected workers and define them as “any employee of a news-gathering organization that disseminates news and information to the public by means of print or electronic publication, including audio and video distribution by electromagnetic transmission.”

This amendment would give substantial protection to journalists while they are working in the field. Anyone who engages in a violent act against a journalist on the job deemed a “malicious assault” or “unlawful assault” would be charged with a felony. Violent acts classified as “battery” or “assault” would receive misdemeanor charges.

The existing code, §61-2-10b, has very clear definitions of each of the categories of workers and acts of violence. The code and the amendment could use more clarity with the explanation of workers in their “official capacity.” While this narrow explanation could stand in most legal situations, the code could meet issues with decisions about when a worker is in his or her official capacity.

Overall, the amendment would be a positive and necessary addition to the code. In a time where news stories are becoming more dangerous and controversial, it is necessary for journalists to be protected. Though I have never been in a situation where this amendment would have applied, I have experienced some openly defensive subjects for news stories I have covered. It is hard to predict what people in stressful, newsworthy situations may do, so House Bill 2081 is essential.

H. B. 2081

(By Delegates Guthrie, Rowe, Pushkin, Byrd and Hornbuckle)

(Introduced January 15, 2015; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.)

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2015_SESSIONS/RS/Bills/hb2081%20intr.htm