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Mayor confirms consent on removal of bench, says he can't unilaterally approve the taking of city property

A citizen removed a public bench in South Roanoke frequented by homeless people because Mayor Joe Cobb consented, numerous attendees at a contentious Oct. 8 meeting say.

Cobb, who dealt with an excited audience that demanded the removal of that bench and possibly others near it, can be seen on Facebook videos of the meeting agreeing to the idea. Cobb, in an interview last week, concurred with what the videos show.

Numerous people at the Crystal Spring Grocery meeting have contacted The Roanoke Rambler to voice their belief that Cobb’s words prompted the decision by resident Bobby Mountcastle to remove the bench the next day.

“Will I be charged with a crime if I remove the benches and return them to the parks department?” one attendee asks, the video shows.

“Yes, you may,” Cobb replies.

“We may remove the benches?”

“You may,” Cobb says as the crowd erupts in applause. 

A few seconds later, after conferring with City Manager Valmarie Turner, Cobb tells the audience, “We’ll be glad to remove them.”

Cobb reiterated last week what he told The Rambler in an earlier interview: He does not have the authority to grant legal permission to the public to take city property. Cobb, in the earlier interview, said he walked into a surprising situation that night, being interrupted often, and he was trying to think and respond amid high tension. The Facebook videos show that as well.

Mountcastle said he took the bench – which he said was damaged even before he removed it – to the city's facilities department off Williamson Road. City Attorney Tim Spencer confirmed that Monday.

Mountcastle, in an interview last week, said he did assume his decision would cause a reaction – but he said he did not second guess what he was doing based on discussion at the meeting.

"A mountain is being made out of a molehill," he said.

The bench was frequented by transient people in one of the most affluent areas of the city, raising the concerns of those who live and run businesses in the neighborhood. The neighborhood was also shaken earlier this year when 80-year-old Susan Williams was murdered in her South Roanoke apartment building by a felon who was homeless. 

Whether the city will take any action on the general issue of removing benches – or the public taking matters into its own hands – remains to be seen. The City Council’s agenda on Monday included a closed session on the South Roanoke matter.

The bench’s removal came as a new city task force on homelessness begins its work – expected to take a year or more – toward finding new and innovative solutions to the problem, as well as increasing awareness.

New City Hall jobs to add expected results and a cost of more than $500,000

The city of Roanoke is adding four new jobs to the payroll.

A transit director, tourism specialist, grants manager and sustainability manager aim to improve the city’s operations and ability to deliver services, according to the administration.

The salaries and benefits for the new jobs, in total, will cost over $500,000, city council was told before it approved the new positions unanimously on Monday.

City Manager Valmarie Turner said as she’s taken stock of city hall in her first year the four positions “rose to the top” and need to be moved on “quickly.”

The jobs likely won’t be filled until the first of the year and existing job vacancy savings will be used to pay those hired for an expected first six months, Turner said.

“I just want to thank the city manager for putting these positions as priorities,” Councilman Peter Volosin said. “I think that’s something that the city council has been looking for, and we’re really grateful for your leadership on that.”

The city council raised the meals tax earlier this year to provide revenue for other needs during a tight budget cycle. When asked about the cost of the new jobs, Turner said the expectation is at least some of the jobs will generate revenue to offset some of the expense.

The transit job –  to lead and coordinate transit services across the city – will be paid by reallocating existing responsibilities and resources. No other specifics about the reallocation were immediately available. 

“We’re looking at it from a holistic perspective,” she said of what the hires will do for the city.

The jobs, too, will be part of an ongoing compensation study which has a goal of providing a living wage to all employees. Turner said there will be budget effects with that.

Asked if the tourism job is being created due to any issue between the city and Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge — the region’s tourism arm which receives operational money from the city — Turner said “no, not at all.” The person hired will work in conjunction with Visit VBR, she said.

The city tourism specialist will look to increase promotion of attractions, events, and amenities and will support growth in visitor spending and business activity, according to its description in city documentation.

The grants manager will coordinate and oversee the city’s efforts to identify, apply for, and manage grant funding. The position should improve the city's ability to get competitive grants, reduce reliance on local tax dollars, and ensure compliance with funding requirements, according to city documentation.

The sustainability manager will lead the city’s environmental responsibility and implementation of its Climate Action Plan. The manager will make sure sustainability goals are part of operations and that energy efficiency and cost-saving opportunities are pursued, according to city information.

Don't like Roanoke's parking situation? Now is the time to offer complaints and ideas

Does downtown Roanoke have enough parking? What about bike paths and sidewalks? Is parking enforcement lax or too strict?

The city hopes to answer such questions with a new study that examines the parking situation downtown and in the River’s Edge area around the Carilion Clinic campus.

Residents can take a survey about their experiences from Fishbeck, a Michigan-based consulting firm that’s creating the study.

There’s also a public workshop from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, at Berglund Hall (710 Williamson Rd. NE). Officials want residents to drop in anytime during that window to share ideas, experiences and challenges.

Briann Mann, who oversees the city’s Park Roanoke service, said the study has been five years in the making. He described the effort as “a holistic look at the parking program, present and future.” The city’s contract with consultants is $127,500, Mann said.

Consultants will bring forth recommendations in the spring or summer, according to Jon Forster, parking and mobility planner at Fishbeck.

“They just want to make sure that downtown continues to thrive,” Fishbeck said of Roanoke leaders.

Parking, or a perceived lack of parking, has been a not-infrequent criticism from downtown visitors. In recent years, business owners have also complained about parking around the River’s Edge parks, particularly during sporting events.