RFP Staff
♦ Golden quotes from the recent Salisbury City Council Retreat:
FIBRANT
“I’m concerned about the city moving too slow in getting the word out about Fibrant. The timeframe to capitalize on having a fiber-optic network is limited as other cities race to catch up.” Maggie Blackwell, Mayor Pro Tem City Council
RFP: You’re concerned about the city moving too slow about getting the word out on Fibrant? Fibrant rolled out almost 5 years ago. It’s been “defined”. It has a well-deserved poor reputation for outages, hefty one year contracts, over-priced VOIP phone and TV services, and not only charging its subscribers inflated prices for the services, but also draining money from the water and sewer funds and impacting city services. Maybe it would be good time for Fibrant to go through a name change.
“Come election season this year people running for council seats who are against Fibrant will ask, “How many jobs have you created?” We have got to be able to tell them something.” William “Pete” Kennedy, City Councilman.
RFP: Yes Pete-where ARE the Jobs? 5 years and Fibrant has attracted little if any business and sold only a miniscule amount of their highest speed tier.
“City likely to raise video (TV) fees, but not internet fees.” Interim City Manger, John Sofely
RFP: Ooof.
“Improving Communications with Fibrant’s customers is something I and my staff are working on.” Kent Winrich, Fibrant Director
RFP: Kent–some of the big team are not real good at answering their telephones or returning calls. Those folks on the phones are your hotel’s doormen–Fibrant’s first impression.
INNES AND LONG STREET COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM
“Another important goal is the development of the Innes and Long Street Complete Streets Plan will play a big role in the city’s long-term objective to make the city safer and easier to navigate for Pedestrians.” Interim Manager John Sofley
RFP:The city doesn’t need traffic calming on East Innes. Downtown already has “market-based traffic calming”. Traffic calming is going to make people avoid Salisbury and will hurt the chain store and restaurant tax base on East Innes. Most pedestrians come downtown in a vehicle and not a two-wheeled one.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SALIBURY
City Council needs to have a conversation about where it wants its large, industrial development to be located. The city currently doesn’t have a large industrial building available for companies.” Robert Van Geons, EDC
RFP: Salisbury is tough sell. Hope the city doesn’t get caught up in “build it and they will come industrial spec buildings”. Each industry has very unique specifications for their buildings. Many industrial spec buildings sit there year after year.
DOWNTOWN
“Bike lanes, a walkable downtown and development of options for different types of transportation will be necessary. Recruiting “small-box” stores downtown is something I’m working on.” Paula Bohland, Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
RFP: While I have strong doubts about Downtown Salisbury being a good fit for a bicycle and pedestrian town, if those “small box” stores you are recruiting are small chain boutique stores that would serve to stabilize the area and attract shoppers.
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL GROWTH
“The planned Carolina Thread Trail could act as a catalyst for residential and commercial growth in the city. Adding green space to the downtown area should be a priority for council. More green space and more events downtown will lead to more people coming and living downtown.” Michelle Nguyen and Terri Shaw, Parks and Recreation
RFP: Have very strong doubts linking nature trails to the city would serve as a catalyst for residential and commercial growth. More green spaces and more events, while being pretty would not likely attract people to live downtown. Too many negative statistics for Salisbury. Working class people are selling their homes and moving out of Salisbury when they can unload them. A thread trail will not bring warm bodies downtown.
