Redeveloping Snellville, Expanding the CID and Taxes: City Council Forum Recap

More than 140 people showed up to the Snellville City Council candidate forum Tuesday (Oct. 29) at South Gwinnett High School. 

The event was hosted by Citizens for a Better Snellville and Snellville Neighborhood Alert Program, and Dave Huddleston of Atlanta's WSB-TV Action News served as the moderator for the hour-and-45-minute forum.

As expected, Mayor Pro Tem Tom Witts, Councilman Bobby Howard and former Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender showed, but their opponents--Alisa Boykin, Dexter Harrison and Councilman Mike Sabbagh, respectively--were not in attendance. Harrison's brother, Dwight, was in the audience along with Mayor Kelly Kautz, who recently called the forum a "political ploy."

Although they didn't show, the three candidates had representatives give opening statements for them. O.J. Green spoke on behalf of Sabbagh, Gloria Allen represented Harrison, and Patricia Sims spoke for Boykin. They all echoed similar statements: Each explained why the candidate couldn't attend (Sabbagh was working on a tight deadline for work; Harrison had family in town; and Boykin had a meet-and-greet scheduled), how the forum should have been scheduled a month ago instead of the week before election day, and how they're still available to speak with citizens by phone and email.  

After the opening statements, each attending candidate was given three minutes to respond to a question chosen at random and submitted by a member of the audience. Although each candidate was given a different question, many of the questions overlapped and were similar. 

Here's what some of the major topics of the evening were: 

On redeveloping Snellville: When asked how Snellville can build its own identity similar to Norcross, Lawrenceville, Dacula and Suwanee, Bender explained that the city needs to focus on the town center plan in its Livable Centers Initiative study. The city has already done much to get to their goal (such as realigning Oak Road, getting the continuous flow intersection at Highway 124 and Highway 78 underway and building the town green), so there isn't too much they need to do to create that downtown feel. Snellville is truly a place to live, work and play, Bender said.

On a similar note, Witts was asked what his vision for Snellville was in three years and six years. In three years, he sees the city breaking ground on the continuous flow intersection, and in six years, he sees a new shopping center and town center at Wisteria Drive. 

To help the city grow, Howard said he would redevelop the city's retail and commercial eyesores. The city's been on a good path so far, he said, especially since businesses such as Olive Garden, Academy Sports, PetSmart and other stores have moved into the city limits in the last few years. In another question asking what he would want to do with the empty property on Wisteria Drive across from the police department, he said he hopes that the space could be the "first domino" in the town center with a mixed-use property of residential, commercial and retail. 

On the Evermore CID: Witts was asked how he felt about extending the community improvement district through the city. While having a CID can help quicken transportation projects and the like to the area, he said that he doesn't support the current CID because its board of directors isn't willing to add a board member from Snellville to represent the city. He called it "taxation without representation" because the businesses along the corridor would be taxed for CID services. Witts believes the city instead should invest more into the Downtown Development Authority.

Howard was asked about his feelings on the proposal of the CID coming through Rosebud Road to Loganville and passing Snellville. He said that he could not comment on it because it wouldn't involve the city, but his concerns echoed Witts' with taxes on business owners. 

On taxes: Witts said he does not support tax incentives for redeveloping the town center unless it's necessary. "If we do it right, we don't need it," he said.

Howard responded similarly when asked if there is a need for increased taxes on residences in the next four years. Right now the city is doing fine with the current taxes, he said. 

Should a candidate should be a homeowner? Bender explained that, although a candidate doesn't need to be a homeowner under the city charter, she believes that a candidate should own some type of property in the city, so that "they have some skin in the game. This person sitting on city council will make decisions on what I'm going to pay in my property taxes, and If I don't own that property, then that decision's not going to affect me. I think it might be a little easier to vote for a tax increase ..."

Should a councilmember's household finances be in order? Howard believes it's important to meet personal, financial obligations and to not spend more than a person can. The city's checkbook is in the hands of the council and mayor, he added. 

If he were to be re-elected, can the city expect better cooperation with the mayor? Howard said that he believes in standing up for himself. "When things are not done according to our charter that I believe are not correct, that I believe are a detriment to our city, I believe that the citizens expect me to do what I have to do, to raise those issues, to fight those fights and absolutely represent everybody in this city when it comes to that." 

On the "vote no for incumbents" sign: Apparently there's a road sign saying to vote against the incumbents in the upcoming election, and Bender was asked on what her opinion was on it. She explained that the two "candidate teams"--the three candidates who showed and the three who didn't--each have a mixed bag of incumbents and newcomers, so it's up to the citizens to decide who to vote for.

On annexation: Bender said annexing property into the city would be based on a case-to-case basis and if that property would benefit the city. 

On building a cultural arts center: Witt said it would be a great idea if they know how to build and maintain it, but is unsure if the project is at the top of his priority list. 

On the quality of life code: Bender said that the code needs to be enforced more, especially since the city currently operates on a complaint-file basis and because of foreclosures. 

On the student pedestrian problem on Skyland Drive, where Britt Elementary and South Gwinnett High are: Howard said he would work with the county on what the best options are for the road and sidewalks in order to make it safer to cross. 

On short responses: Howard simply said "yes" when asked if the city should have free WiFi. Witts said he was a conservative republican when asked if he was that or a liberal democrat.

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For more information on the candidates and voting, check out Snellville Patch's Election section.