Calvert Business Roundtable -- Mission Statement & Focus, October 2005

Note:  The following "Mission Statement & Focus, October 2005" of the Calvert Business Roundtable (CBR) was shared with members of the Beach Business Group at its November 2005 meeting, and is presented here for the benefit of members not in attendance. Mission -- Be the catalyst for positive change through partnerships with all segments of our community to sustain the character and quality of life in Calvert County. CBR Oct ‘05 -- Impediments (to a Sustainable Community) 1. Business Climate 2. Zoning Failures 3. Infrastructure 4. Affordable Housing 5. Public Input 6. Overloading of Route 2-4 7. Balanced Decision Making ACTION: Form a PAC 1. Business Climate Problems: Calvert perceived as not a good place to locate a business. Business development focused solely on parks. Causes: Policies and actions within the county’s government. Results: Local business expansion and influx of new businesses are stifled. CBR: Supports a fundamental change in attitude in our local government from one of discouragement to one of receptivity of business. 2. Zoning Failures Problems: Town Centers not evolving into vigorous commercial & residential centers. Insufficient Rural Commercial properties. Causes: Overly restrictive zoning barriers and lack of local government support. Results: Housing sprawl and insufficient expansion of commercial tax base. Needless travel for convenience purchases. CBR: Supports fixing town center zoning to enable the original concept and to limit rural housing sprawl. Supports limited additional Rural Commercial rezoning. 3. Infrastructure Problem: Lack of an overall infrastructure plan.  Cause: Infrastructure largely un-addressed by zoning and financial realities. Result: Businesses do not locate here because Calvert lacks modern communication, water, sewer, transportation, and reliable electrical services. CBR: Supports the formation of a task force pulled from a cross section of businesses and civic leaders to draft a workable plan as soon as possible. 4. Affordable Housing Problem: Insufficient low and moderately priced housing in the county. Cause: Steep rise in prices of residences fueled by demand and government imposed limits on building new housing stock. Result: Entry and mid-level employees, service workers, and teachers cannot find housing near their jobs. CBR: Supports partnering with businesses, community groups, and agencies to find solutions with realistic funding and zoning. 5. Public Input Problem: The public’s input to many county processes is too difficult. Cause: Complex and confusing mechanisms for public views on the county’s initiatives. Result: Inordinate influence of special interests.  CBR: Supports a county ombudsman office with staff, resources, and independence. Supports continuing interaction among the county government, local business leaders, and community leaders. 6. Overloading of Route 2-4 Problems: Route 2-4 is the only option for north and south travel in the county. Rush hour congestion becoming intolerable. Causes: No alternatives developed. Lack of in-county jobs and affordable housing. Result: Local and distance traffic co-mingled on Route 2-4. Excessive delays. Loss of businesses locating in Calvert. CBR: Supports a task force to find links to enable existing north-south roads to take on the shorter, in-county traffic & propose immediate upgrades to Route 2/4. 7. Balanced Decision Making Problem: Effective growth requires a constant balance of many factors, including residential, commercial, environmental, and quality of life concerns. Cause: Lack of leaders who can effectively balance these factors. Result: Escalating real estate taxes; rapidly rising costs of doing business; residents paying more than their fair share. CBR: Supports the election of county commissioners whose actions demonstrate their care for the viability of the county. ACTION: Form a PAC Bi-partisan. Rate candidates for county-wide office against CBR concerns in all elections. Contribute to general election campaigns as appropriate. Be active in advocating actions leading to a sustainable community. Decision: Set up the PAC? Advantages • CBR views more effectively represented and desired results more likely to be accomplished. • Better possibility for a beneficial change in attitude and for elected leaders to be more receptive to input from all segments of the community. • Better opportunities for a sustainable community. Disadvantages • Advocacy may risk ongoing relationships between businesses and county offices. • Time consuming and regular oversight required. Forming the PAC Organization • Unincorporated. • By-Laws. • Officers: Director and Treasurer. • Board of Directors / Steering Committee • Guidance from CBR Steering Committee and general membership. • Need accounting oversight to keep donations and disbursements within PAC guidelines. CBR Steering Committee Proposal Form the PAC immediately to be effective during the 2006 election. Initial officers (for the first year only): Director Dick Holler Treasurer Stovy Brown Draft By-Laws for approval in November. Develop and rank action items at November meeting. Possible Action Items Advocate candidates in county-wide elections (non-partisan). • Prepare interview questions based on CBR concerns. • Interview primary candidates. • Publish ratings for all candidates. • Re-interview general election candidates. • Advocate and provide financial support for those with high ratings. Town center and R/C zoning - promote improvements. • Review & analyze relevant parts of the proposed new zoning ordinance. • Hold working sessions with business and other leaders. • Propose changes in time to influence the new ordinance. Route 2/4 congestion - Promote formation of task force to make immediate recommendations. Work force housing - Work with others on substantive solutions & the will to implement them. Infrastructure - Form task force to draft workable plan as soon as possible.

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