Our City Plan

One of my first orders of business is to hire a city planner and work with the city council to set up community wide meetings to gain community input for the development of a city-wide master plan. I will also collaborate with other Etowah County mayors to ensure we are moving in the same direction. This plan is a plan for tomorrow and will not be easily created nor implemented. It is a plan of big ideas that will take money. It is an item that will have to be in the city budget for implementation to begin. The plan will include but is not limited to, due to seeking community input, the following:

  • Updating and/or creating new policies and procedures for the city to operate more efficiently and effectively.
  • Inventory city-owned property that is a liability and sale or auction that is not in use or planned to be used.
  • Evaluate transportation needs of those that do not own nor operate automobiles. Address these needs with the public transportation schedules.
  • Make sure all areas of the city have a uniform look in signage.
  • Determine the types of industry that best fit our city based on workforce, land and/or building availability, railroad access, interstate and highway access, and quality of life.
  • We currently have a problem with homeless animals that must be addressed. This problem can be seen firsthand by driving around our city and counting the number of cats and dogs that are freely roaming about. Issues surrounding free roaming animals, homeless animals, and/or irresponsible animal owners must be addressed. Some of these issues will be resolved by updating ordinances regarding animal ownership but others will continue. The Humane Society is overcrowded and needs relief. I will work with several animal rights advocates to create a three-to-five-person task force that will focus on this issue. The task force will work with the city council to find solutions for housing homeless animals, spay and neuter programs, additional funding resources, and outside rescues. This model has been implemented in other cities and has been extremely successful.
  • Certain areas of our city need to be brought back to life or have new life brought to them. Some areas are doing well and do not need to be forgotten, while others need major attention. With community input, ideas will be obtained for the following areas and used to create a master plan:
    • Noccalula Falls is Gadsden’s largest tourist attraction. Improvements will continue to be made inside of the park based on recommendations made by the director of Parks and Recreation. Community meetings will be held to determine what businesses, other than a grocery store, are needed in this area and where they could be located.
    • Alabama City is often a forgotten area. This area has been mentioned as a potential arts district due to the location of Ritz Theater. Although an excellent idea, I want to hear from the community as to what you need and want. This input will come through a community meeting hosted by the city council representative.
    • East Gadsden is in a unique location as it can be an extension of the downtown. I will work to further develop East Broad Street with retail and restaurants. Signage and lighting will be consistent with what is currently in place for Broad Street. A pedestrian bridge over the river is a long-range plan but due to the railroad tracks being active and the Memorial Bridge being used to alleviate traffic problems on the Meighan Bridge this project is not currently cost effective. I will continue to support the development of the ballfields located at GSCC in East Gadsden so children will have a place to play, and money will be brought into the community through other teams visiting.
    • Tuscaloosa Avenue is best known for the Carver Museum which I fully support and will continue to support. Carver Community Center will remain at the focus of this community by bringing back youth baseball and football. Lighting for this area will remain a priority.
    • Riverfront development is necessary for Gadsden. I have spoken with several consultants about the best ways to utilize our river to capitalize on being a city located on a river. The ideas are endless, but planning must be strategic and logical as to what is best for the entire city. My plan is to bring in several consultants and have them discuss their ideas and the community to decide on what is the best fit.
    • Downtown Gadsden is a strength of our community. It is an area that is spotlighted when potential industry leaders are brought in; an area that potential doctors tour; an area that brings in many tourists; and an area we can be proud of. However, it is an area that cannot be neglected as we focus on other areas. I pledge to continue to support downtown Gadsden.