Having a vision, aligning our goals to that vision, and making plans that get us to our goals: That is how Rutland will succeed.
I am rolling out my goals and plans.
Take a look below at Infrastructure and Experiences.
More to come!
Infrastructure
-
Federal and state transportation agencies aid in paying for our roadway projects through organizations like the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and others. In order to maximize our access to these funds, we must have a city plan and agreement that shows we are willing to build roads to certain standards and when that is in place, we can get the best match for our city funds so that for every $2 we invest, they invest $8 into the same project. We MUST bring our standards up to match so that we can take advantage of these additional funds and get more of our roads repaired faster.
-
Every street we plan to work on, we must look to the “Complete Streets” model for our path forward. Rutland citizens want smooth roads, usable sidewalks and infrastructure that lasts.
Once we complete a renovation to a roadway, we don’t want to keep making changes and repairs. This is costly and redundant.Establishing a Rutland City standard, that aligns with “Complete Streets” https://smartgrowthamerica.org/what-are-complete-streets/ will allow us to craft city roadway infrastructure, that we can all use and ENJOY.
Can you imagine being able to walk or bike or drive from one side of Rutland to the other without encountering a pothole or crooked sidewalk? -
Walking, Biking, Transit and Micro Transit are all key ares to focus on in order to allow our population to traverse the city. For transit we must work with The Bus (Marble Valley Regional Transit District) to plan and build routes that serve the most in need of transportation services, while adding convenient ways for citizens and visitors to traverse our city.
-
This goal may seem large, but in reality we have a real opportunity to capture a title like this.
Rutland city is 7.6 square miles - because of our size, we have a real opportunity to focus on making this city welcoming to all sorts of people who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle (more to come on that soon).
If we focus on Complete Streets and a few other design standards, we can make Rutland a truly walkable and accessible city.While we are working on that, repairing the sidewalks we have in place, needs to take precedence. we can start this work as soon as the weather permits - We need to ensure our citizens can get around our city safely, without hazards created by infrastructure in disrepair.
-
With the mountains and trails that surround our city, biking and Vermont have become synonymous with one another. We need to prioritize biking accessibility and connectivity in our city.
By making this a priority we capture an entire population of Vermont residence and visitors and provide a community for them to experience and participate in. -
Our water infrastructure is in need of massive amounts of repair throughout the city. The aging pipes are actually a common reason we have not repaved certain roads yet. We must replace our aging water and waste water system, so we can move forward on repairing the worst roads in our city
-
Parts of our sewer and waste water systems in the city are combined. This creates all sorts of problems with wastewater management. When we get a heavy rainfall, this can cause sewage to overflow into our streams. This creates an event that may even cost the city money. We need to continue to separate our stormwater and wastewater systems. Doing so will prevent from sewage discharge, and also again, allow us to work on re-paving those roads that are most in need.
ExperienceS
-
Rutland has longed for a movie theatre back in the community, but has struggled to get one back in operation. Having a city master plan with population growth targets will allow us market our community to the proper companies and show them why Rutland is a smart investment for their future.
-
Having a boutique hotel in our downtown region will add value and visibility to our city in more ways than one. Providing a fun place to stay for those visiting our city as well as a way to host those coming for conferences or special events opens up all sorts of opportunity for Rutland City as a whole.
-
Rutland city is a prime location for experiences such as special events and festivals. With our fairgrounds, city parks, Center Street, Merchants Hall, The Paramount and other spots throughout our City; our region is setup for great indoor and outdoor entertainment right here in Rutland.
We need to continue to coordinate our efforts and help Rutland City standout as an experiences and events hub in Vermont. Who wouldn’t love more Friday Night Live events! -
Our parks (and recreational facilities) already provide us space for such great experiences. Art In The Park, National Night Out, Sunday night city band, Wednesday night concerts Whites pool in the summers and all of our great playgrounds and sports fields for families to enjoy.
We can expand on these great experiences by adding a few elements to address our youth.
How about a permanent skate park with a dedicated graffiti wall? Additional programs that connect our youth to mentors and their community to build new skills and connections?
Whatever we as a community choose, our parks add immense value to our city. -
Rutland City is the perfect spot to host a major festival or regional event.
With all of the natural assets that surround our city, we have the opportunity to connect with people who love the same things that we love about our region.I have a plan for an event just like this, that can and will bring excitement, entertainment, and business to Rutland city. When elected I will work with our community partners develop this event and put Rutland in the spotlight as the amazing place it truly is.
-
Killington is a great attraction in our region and always has been. I have heard it said lately “What is Killington doing for us?” I think this is the wrong approach.
I believe we should be thinking “what can we do to connect with what Killington brings to us?”
We have an opportunity to market our city to all those who visit the mountain. We can bring those people to our city to eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, and enjoy the experiences that Rutland has to offer like shows at The Paramount for example.We should not expect that these people are just sent our way, we need a plan to attract them to the city, and let them fall in love with Rutland.
Operations
-
-I will ensure that DPW has the tools to communicate with the public so Rutland residents know what projects are underway, and how those projects will benefit the city.
-We will create a system so the DPW can be easily informed by the public so that issues are addressed in a timely manner.
-Infrastructure is everything our city runs on. We cannot get to work, drink water, or park our cars without infrastructure. DPW is the main player in ensuring our city works, and I am excited to support them.
-
-I will ensure that city hall is a welcoming, friendly place that is reflective of the commitment of the people who work there.
-Employees in Rutland City Hall do an excellent job serving the public in their departments. As mayor, I will use my experience as a systems architect to ensure that each department has the tools needed for communication and collaboration, ensuring a seamless process for everyone doing business in city hall.
-As mayor, I will set the tone for city hall–I won’t just have an open door, I will actively seek connection with community members and public workers alike so that we can continuously improve both the public’s experience and the working environment.
-
-I will make sure that the city government has the resources to guide developers and entrepreneurs through the process of doing business in Rutland.
-When city departments are given the structure and opportunity to collaborate, a visit to city hall will be the first step in a simplified process to doing business in Rutland.
- I will lead the way in making sure city departments have the tools they need to support people who are looking at Rutland as a place to establish a business.
-
-When I joined the Board of Aldermen, digitizing Rutland City’s services was a focal point for me.
-Creating an up-to-date website and an app to report residents’ concerns, are the first step in helping Rutland’s residents communicate more easily with city departments.
-Residents still need a way to gather information about their property, apply for permits, and do other simple tasks, online.
-As Mayor I will invest in digitization of services for the city, helping us find efficiencies and give our employees more time in their schedules to help move the city towards its long term goals.
Growth
-
Rutland 2045 - If Rutland City’s population had grown at the same rate as the rest of the state from 1960 to today, we would have over 28,000 people living here today.
Let’s plan for the short term and the long term. 2045 is 22 years away. If we focus our efforts, we can grow our city’s population to 25,000 people. Growing our population will provide us with the tools to fix many of the challenges we face today, including reduction in the property tax burden on the individual taxpayer.
-
A growth plan with clearly defined population targets and a plan to get us there, will generate interest from commercial and residential developers, who will want to invest in our city knowing that we have a plan for growth.
As mayor, I will work with our city departments to develop incentives to help businesses and developers make the most of their investments in Rutland. For example, by offering subsidies for utilities, restaurants can stay open later, and property owners can stretch their dollars in renovations and new construction
-
As mayor, one tool I will use to incentivize the development of housing is temporarily suspending fees like “change of use” permits that owners need to pay when converting a property from an office to an apartment, for example. We need more housing, and temporarily suspending these fees will allow those owners to convert those properties and reduce the cost of that conversion, all while removing a roadblock to housing development in Rutland.
-
That city master plan I will help construct is a solid, ratified plan that investors can bank on. It can help us capture grant dollars, pre- development, and development funding. It will help us to attract Opportunity Zone investors, build a robust plan for the TIF district, and line up shovel ready projects all throughout the City of Rutland. We can use the Rutland City Master Plan as a growth plan, as well as a selling tool for investors, developers, and business owners.
-
Being able to grow takes vision, energy, and most importantly, planning. We need to be prepared for growth. Fortunately, existing studies of our community tell us where we need to invest and what infrastructure needs to be put in place. Puting the right infrastructure in place is key to that preparation. It is also Rutland’s version of aligning our vision and our action.
Center Street is a prime example. With the expansion of The Paramount Theatre just around the corner, the plans for a downtown hotel, and the new investments in the old Rutland Herald building, ensuring that city infrastructure is ready for the next step is the responsibility of the city. We can do this without burden to the city tax payer by leveraging the TIF District. With a plan in place to invest in infrastructure, Rutland will build a case for developers to invest, because WE THE CITY will also invest.