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Rishell: City debt service will spike by almost $2 million for the fiscal year 2018. The need for commercial business development. Adequately funding the City’s core services.
PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?
I have thoroughly analyzed each budget so far and will continue to do so, because we must determine the difference between our wants and our needs.
Also, I will emphasize commercial business development. When I first came onto council, I was surprised that the City did not have an economic development brochure to promote the City’s assets across all of Northern Virginia. We have a brochure now, and we also have an Economic Development Manager whose primary responsibility is to try to bring business into the City. I will encourage all Governing Body members to work in cooperation with our new Economic Development Manager. I will work to create a more formal outreach plan consisting of more active participation in Chamber of Commerce events, visitation to local businesses to receive their input and ideas, and of course contact and visitation to new businesses who may wish to locate into Manassas Park. If this is not sufficient, we will try additional measures TBD.
It’s important that we begin to be more proactive to bring in the revenue that is needed to support our schools and other core services. Currently, the City is heavily dependent upon residential taxation, so business revenue will help make a living in our City more affordable.
Rishell: According to the Charter of the City, the Mayor serves as the CEO of the City, and also represents the City in a variety of venues. It is important for the Mayor to provide leadership through action, by example, and with decorum.
PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?
Rishell: In addition to my life and career experiences, I have the experience of being a councilmember for the last four years. I have performed my council duties in a comprehensive and detailed manner.
Beyond my responsibilities as a council member, I serve the City in the following capacities:
*Serve on the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA) Board of Directors since 2010
*Member Representative to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA)
*Vice Chair of the Finance Committee of the NVTA
*Member of the Planning and Programming Committee of the NVTA
*City Representative on the Route 28 Steering Committee
*Member of the Manassas Park Department of Social Services Board
Rishell: When I knocked doors and campaigned for my council seat in 2012, I heard from residents across the City that they wanted to know more about what their local government was doing. City staff has been making great use of social media to promote the City and its events.
