Southlake is one of the oldest planned unit developments in Hoover. Our Board of Directors represent the 448 homeowners in the 6 neighborhoods that make up Southlake. We are glad that you want to represent Hoover as Mayor or a Council Person. We have the following questions that we ask you to respond to by August 17 so that we can share them with our residents while they are considering who to vote for on August 25. Please send your responses to southlakedirectors@gmail.com
Questions for Hoover Mayor and City Council Candidates
August 2020
Q1. A recent USA Today article stated that ½ of 258 agencies surveyed have already reduced or planned to reduce funding for their local police departments. Do you support this for Hoover? If not, how to you plan to improve our policing to avoid public pressure for such an action.
A. (Robin Schultz) "I address public safety funding in detail on my web site http://robinforhoover.com/public-safety-funding/. To sum up my position, I will never vote to cut funding to our public safety departments. To address the public pressure, I will point out that HPD is undergoing accreditation through CALEA, the gold standard in police department accreditation. In addition, I intend to keep an open line of communication between myself and the Hoover PD leadership so that any issues brought by the public are addressed immediately. "
A. (Mitzi Eaker) "I do not support defunding the police or reducing funding, especially Hoover Police. I'm pro-police. Hoover invests 1/3 of what Birmingham does per person on policing. If we are having to deal with Birmingham criminals in our malls, we need to continue to invest in our police force."
A. (Dina Shunnarah) "I do not want to reduce funding.I would like more training on dealing with these difficult situations.People need to feel safe.People need to feel comfortable with a police dept that will protect them.Reducing funding of our police dept is never an option."
A. (Mike Shaw) "I absolutely oppose any effort to "defund" or otherwise hamper the ability of our police to do their jobs. I have a strong voting record of support for Hoover Police Department.
Nobody in Hoover will ever say outright that they are for defunding, but you will hear language from some that is carefully worded in their response. Please take note of this.
I am not grey on this. We have one of the best police departments in the nation and I will never go along with any effort to reduce their important role in our city or subject them to side door efforts to hamper their ability to function.
While all parts of the city should be striving to improve, I think these efforts should be based on national law enforcement standards and not the opinions of a few vocal people with an anti-police agenda."
A. (Casey Middlebrooks) "Public Safety and Education are cornerstones which make Hoover a great place to live as well as incentivize businesses to call Hoover home. These two areas along with better infrastructure will always be my top priorities. I have been resolute in my support for HPD and my re-election campaign has earned an endorsement from the Fraternal Order of the Police. All great organizations recognize there is always room for improvement. In 2018, with funding approved by the Council, HPD began the accreditation process for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations:
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
National Sheriffs' Association (NSA)
Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
CALEA is the national gold standard which police departments strive for. HPD is close to finishing this goal and with it requirements will be given in terms of transparency, data collection, diversity, training, etc. I believe this is the correct path to making our HPD even better with nationally recognized standards by experts in law enforcement."
A. (Gene Smith) Having retired from the Hoover Fire Dept. I know the value of Public Safety. I have known of no reason for defunding or underfunding our Police, Fire or 911 Center. The only reason for reduction might be if Brocato’s information on future funding is fictitious leaving the City in worse condition than anticipated. Public Safety is one of the true Sacred Cows in Hoover.
Q2. Recently, the President rescinded the AFFH rule. Do you know the intent of this rule? If AFFH is reinstated by a future federal administration, how do you propose to preserve single family zoning in Hoover.
A. (Robin Schultz) "The intent of AFFH, in brief, was to insure that communities adhere to the FHA by following certain guidelines. The Trump administration felt that, according to Sec. Carson “to be complicated, costly, and ineffective”, so it was rescinded. Hoover implemented a Comprehensive Plan, or Master Plan (attached) in 2019 which created guidelines that both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council could use when making zoning and development issues. In addition, Hoover also has a City Planner to assist both the Planning Commission and the Council. The Southlake community is listed as a P-2 area in the Comprehensive Plan, or "P-2 Preserved Built Environment".
"The P-2 Preserved Built Environment Sector consists of vast stretches of Hoover that are already
developed and have maintained their value and viability such that major revitalization efforts are not needed at this time. Existing single-family neighborhoods make up the bulk of this sector.
The community wishes to preserve and enhance the value and character that these neighborhoods
bring to the city fabric. Apart from such enhancements as greater walkability, traffic calming,
and lighting, most community participants felt the conditions of their neighborhoods was satisfactory."
Further change is unlikely in a P-2 area as I was able to demonstrate when a developer attempted to add 50 lots to the Bluff Park community, which is also a P-2 community. As I did then, I will fight against any developer who wishes to change the spirit of the Comprehensive Plan. https://hooversun.com/news/hoover-council-denies-rezoning-request-for-part-of-former-smith-dairy-farm/"
A. (Mitzi Eaker) "Individuals and families work hard to buy their homes. I will do all that I can as a city councilwoman to protect our communities from being devalued and I will work to preserve single family zoning."
A. ( Dina Shunnarah) "1. I understand the intent of his rule. As the President has stated it is intended to protect housing prices based on the market and decreasing crime. I support our President in this effort."
A. (Mike Shaw) "After consulting legal minds, I don't think AFFH applies to Hoover either way since we don't receive any HUD funding from the Federal government. So this shouldn't be a concern. However I believe the free market should guide our decisions on housing type. Right now there is significant demand for single family residential and I see no need to try and get in the way of that."
A.(Casey Middlebrooks) "I am loosely familiar with the AFFH rule which essentially deals with fair housing regulations. Hoover has a rich diversity in housing accommodations having roughly a third of our housing stock as multi family or rentals. It is something to keep an eye on but I would argue that Hoover is already well equipped in terms of housing affordability."
A. (Gene Smith) "The City has already been visited by the DOJ about affordable and government subsidized housing. The Mayor’s City Comprehensive Plan, that was never presented to the City Council, shows the destruction of most of the apartments along Lorna Rd. Now many would see that as a positive but if the DOJ were to see this occur, they have let the City know that they would not mind coming back to Hoover to take over all Zoning Requests. If those properties are eliminated that could cause other areas of the City to expand affordable housing to more mainstream single-family properties. The comprehensive plan needs to be reviewed by the new Mayor and CITY COUNCIL in order to ensure that housing remains affordable and available housing is still available."
Q3. The City and the Future Hoover Plan appears to focus mainly on the Galleria, Trace Crossings and Bluff Park areas. What would you do for the Southlake, Riverchase and Inverness areas to stimulate balanced growth in Hoover?
A. (Robin Schultz) "I believe the biggest necessity in the areas south of I-459 are infrastructure related, including widening of Valleydale Road. As we improve the infrastructure, we can begin to focus on business development as well, but it must be done in a responsible way. There are times when it appears that the eastern part of Hoover is forgotten by the city and, although I don't live there, I can see the issues and intend to be a voice for those in that area that have concerns."
A. (Mitzi Eaker) "I live in Inverness. I am a small business owner. Southlake is part of my community as I go to Southlake Orthopedics often with two boys. I also attended weekly seminars at Faulkner State. I know the area well. It is a great area and a convenient location.
I'm concerned that this side of Hoover is not getting the attention that it needs. Inverness, Riverchase and Southlake have an aging infrastructure and many retail and business properties are vacant.
I would work as a community advocate with developers and small businesses to fill vacant real estate with businesses that bring value to the community. I would push for building and branding an ecosystem that is a win for residents, business owners, property owners and the city of Hoover.
I'm the type of person who investigates the situation/issues with all parties, brings the right people to the table to create solutions, develop a plan, and work with all my might to get the plan completed while keeping people motivated and on task."
A. ( Dina Shunnarah) "I think all of Hoover needs to feel like one city. I hate the separation. Somehow and I am not sure how, yet we need to feel like one city. Hoover is made up of all areas, Southlake, Bluff Park, Inverness, Green Valley, etc. The city government needs to keep all areas of all neighborhoods."
A. (Mike Shaw) "Fortunately, Southlake, Riverchase, and Inverness are products of very good master planning already. And to my knowledge they are almost completely (if not fully completely) built out. I think efforts there should be focused on maintaining infrastructure, upgrading parks, and fairly distributing amenities like sidewalks.
However the best input on what needs to be done comes from the neighborhoods and the people themselves. So I'm always open to suggestions.
A general pro-business approach to government is also needed to ensure the retail sector stays strong in these areas as well. So this isn't specific to these areas, but is particularly important due to the older commercial there."
A.(Casey Middlebrooks) "The Council passed an updated zoning ordinance which now allows for greater leeway for Research & Development firms to occupy commercial spaces. The City has added both a City Planner & Economic Developer to our staff to help facilitate more strategic economic development. If commercial owners are interested in redevelopment opportunities we are always interested in listening and assisting when it benefits our communities."
A. (Gene Smith) "Southlake, Inverness and Riverchase are already built out. I would not expect your community would want to participate in any new growth. The property being developed out Stadium Trace has been in Hoover for more than 40 years and already zoned residential. There is still enough property undeveloped in this City to build another 1,800-2000 homes that has been in Hoover for that same time frame. They would have been built decades ago except for the County Sewer Moratorium that was in place for most of those years. Then the recession of 12 years ago."
Q4. The City considered selling its sewer system in 2018. Do you think the City should continue to own the sewer system? Are you willing to work with the Southlake, Riverchase and Inverness neighborhoods to properly support and maintain the system?
A. (Robin Schultz) "One of the reasons for the selling of the sewer system was due to environmental regulations. It's imperative that the city look continue to insure that the system is both up to code, while at the same time make sure that rates remain affordable for all of the customers."
A. (Mitzi Eaker) "Yes, we need to have ownership of our basic services and provide those services to our residents. Yes, I will be an advocate for you. I would like to hear more about this issue."
A. ( Dina Shunnarah) "Absolutely! I fully support any and all private residential developments to maintain their own sewer systems."
A. (Mike Shaw) "I don't think there are many trustworthy buyers for the city-owned sewer systems. So I don't see how we can sell it. However, if we keep it we're going to have to have an honest assessment of rates compared with the expense in effectively maintaining it. There are components of the system that will need capital upgrades and other places that will need upgrading for regulatory needs. We need to address this now before we are compelled to make a hasty decision down the road. Any discussion of rates should include ample opportunity for commentary and input by the public that would be affected."
A. (Casey Middlebrooks) "The third party appraisal of the City’s sewer system showed no real benefit to consider selling. In addition, I am concerned that private sewer ownership is primarily concerned with profits and not quality. For these reasons, I am not in favor of selling our sewer system."
A. (Gene Smith) "The City chose to go into the sewer business many decades ago. Mayor Brocato did have discussion of selling the sewer system a few years back. What occurred to the residents of Greystone found that if the system is sold the corporate profitability would take over common sense. That being said there are over $7M coming soon in repairs and maintenance for the Riverchase & Inverness Plants. It cannot be accomplished with the fees as they are. I believe the answer is for City Hall to work to work with the residents on being able to keep those two systems solvents. Hoover doesn’t need profit, but the City does need to be able to pay the bills. After these conversations are held, I’d almost be willing to say that those of us on Jefferson Co. Sewer would still be quite jealous."
Q5. Our Government Affairs Committee has been working with the City Planner to advance the case for a sidewalk/path on Southlake Parkway. Are you willing to support that plan and advance the timetable for construction?
A. (Robin Schultz) "Absolutely. All areas in the city should have sidewalks installed as soon as possible. One of the reasons for the delays in some areas is utility work that needs to be done, and that should be something the city and the utility companies can work on together to expedite the sidewalks. It would be great if all communities had a Governmental Affairs Committee to communicate with the city. If elected, I'd love to hear more about it."
A. (Mitzi Eaker) "Yes, I'm excited about the sidewalks. I think connecting eastern Hoover with sidewalks will connect communities and attract homeowners to our area."
A. ( Dina Shunnarah) "I am all about sidewalks. I live in an area without them and I am a runner. When a car is coming and there is no sidewalk to et on it's hard. Lots of people would love this and I am sure would use this. Sidewalks are the heart of any community."
A. (Mike Shaw) "We're due for a sidewalk plan update. I think we need to have an assessment of where sidewalks have been built and when. Then we can assess priorities. There is tremendous demand for sidewalks all across the city and we need to make sure the prioritization is both fair and logistically smart.
Sidewalks (while worth the cost) are extremely expensive and time consuming to retrofit into an existing neighborhood. To save money, we work with the state and Federal government to fund them. I've seen evidence that this may actually be of minimal financial benefit and adds significant delays. We may be able to build them much faster with minimal cost increase and I think this is something we should look at.
Also, because some of these federal requirements include proximity to schools, main highways, etc, it can distort the priority on which sidewalks are built first. This may not be fair to communities that don't fit the federal criteria.
Keep in mind that while the Council approves plan and policy, the Mayor and his staff carry them out. The engineering staff managed by the Mayor have significant input on priority and they have latitude on timelines and execution on these projects. This question should be directed to mayor candidates particularly."
A. (Casey Middlebrooks) "I understand that there may be an opportunity to connect Southlake to the Cahaba Greenway Trail system. This would greatly elevate the priority level for a sidewalk path in Southlake. I have learned that infrastructure improvements can be costly and require a great deal of patience, but I am supportive of bolstering the City’s walkability and added value to our neighborhoods."
A. (Gene Smith) " I’m willing to work with any Community within Hoover about their wishes, needs and wants. That is one reason I will stand up the Office of Civic & Community Engagement. Within that Office would be the Council of Neighborhoods. This is the first I’ve heard of your request for sidewalks. If you have already made the current administration aware of this they have kept it to themselves. "
Q6. We have welcomed the new “My Hoover Connect” feature of the City’s web site. However, many Southlake residents don’t use the internet or sometimes it’s difficult to get engineering/public works engaged in complex problems. Would you be willing to assign a City single-point contact for large neighborhoods like Southlake?
A. (Robin Schultz) "I would, provided it is something that could be put into the budget. The next four years are going to be difficult for the city when it comes to revenue. Because of that, we must be fiscally responsible. Being in the IT industry, I understand that sometimes technology can be overwhelming for some, but, at the same time, perhaps some easy to follow training would be beneficial to make it easier for some to use. At the same time, the app has its limits and a quick phone contact should always be available during those instances. One of the items on my platform is what I call the 4Cs. It stands for Communication, Common Ground, Compromise, Consensus. I feel it's imperative that we use the 4Cs to solve city issues. The first C is Communication, and if the app doesn't allow a resident to communicate their needs, then it's doing doing its job."
A. (Mitzi Eaker) "Technology is great, but it is not for everyone. I would take calls from residents, especially senior adults, who may not have access to "My Hoover Connect". I will listen and get them to the right person and be an advocate for big issues."
A. ( Dina Shunnarah) "It sounds like to me that maybe they are being overlooked by the city which brings me back to all of Hoover needs the work and people to keep up with all the neighborhood issues. I would lie to create a liaison for large neighborhoods. I think it's important to listen to our citizens. I love living in Hoover and will be here for a very long time!! I hope I have the opportunity to help serve such a great city."
A. (Mike Shaw) "MyHooverConnect also has a phone number for people who don't have the Internet. It is 205-739-7311. I think the city has made some good improvements in tracking issues, but there is still room for improvement. I do think that we can work directly with HOAs more effectively with such a contact. As we get larger, working with existing groups would definitely help. A primary contact would be a good idea, but this would be primarily an executive action by the mayor. In general I support anything that facilitates better communication with the neighborhoods. Thanks for these questions! I hope I've answered them thoroughly. I'm always available for further discussion at this email address or by cell at 205-541-6542."
A. (Casey Middlebrooks) "For everyday requests such as limb removal, missed garbage pickup, etc., MYHooverConnect or calling 205-739-7311 has been an excellent service to accommodate citizen requests. For more complex issues, the Mayor’s office and City Department Heads should make themselves available for our citizens and neighborhoods. If this is not occurring, please let me know so I can be aware.
Casey Middlebrooks, PhD
Hoover City Council
Chairman- Library Board & Fire Appeals
Council Liaison to Beautification Board, Hoover Belles, Veteran's Committee, & Hoover Horizons
205-475-7544
A. (Gene Smith) "There are people already in place. For garbage pickup or tree & debris from property cleanup or large item disposal you can talk with Robin Mangino at the Public Works Dept. But yes. I will update the City website to provide numbers where you can actually talk to another human on your needs. A city should only have voicemail after hours. Not during the working day. Our employees are here to assist you. Residents should receive more respect than an answering device."
Additional Comments by Candidates
A. (Robin Schultz) "In 2016 I spoke on behalf of the Quail Run and Southlake communities during the rezoning talks with Hoover City Schools. My daughter lived in Quail Run at the time and they, like Southlake, were being rezoned to Rocky Ridge Elementary School. Although RRES is a great school, the travel to the school as opposed to Riverchase Elementary School, would be a great burden for parents. We lost that fight, but nonetheless we tried.
I intend to bring the same spirit to the Council if elected. We must speak up for all residents in Hoover.
Please don't hesitate to contact me should you need further clarification on items, or if you'd like me to speak to your group either in person or via a Zoom call to answer additional questions.
I can be reached via phone at 205-201-0389, via e-mail at robin@robinforhoover.com or via FB messenger. My page is https://www.facebook.com/robinforhoover/ and my web site is RobinForHoover.com, which has my position on other Hoover issues.
Again, thanks for allowing me to respond to this survey."
A. (Mitzi Eaker) "advocate for big issues.
Two questions for you:
What are your biggest challenges with the Hoover City Council/Mayor?
What are your biggest concerns for your community?
I would be happy to come and meet with the residents, have a drive by
meet and greet, or host a zoom call.
Let me know how I can best serve you and your community.
Sincerely,
Mitzi Eaker
A. ( Dina Shunnarah) None
A. (Mike Shaw) None
A. (Casey Middlebrooks) None
A. (Gene Smith) None
Комментарии