Candidates discuss annexation, communication at community forum

The Cahaba Heights Community Foundation coordinated one last opportunity for candidates to respond to citizen questions Sunday at their forum at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.

The questions were sourced from members of the Cahaba Heights community and were drawn out of a fishbowl before being posed to either the mayoral candidates or a specific place on the council. After the initial answers, other candidates were given the opportunity to respond with their answers and thoughts.

All 11 candidates attended the forum, with incumbent Place-3 candidate Steve Ammons briefly being represented early on in the meeting by his neighbor Adam Plant.

Cahaba Heights residents Aaron and Ashley Kuntz, who are employed at the University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham, respectively, moderated the panel.

Questions ranged from economic development and transparency, which were discussed heavily at the Chamber of Commerce's forum on Aug. 16, to issues of annexation, form of government and communication with and within city government. 

With regard to annexation and other growth within the city, all of the candidates remarked that they are aware of the concerns that continued growth will negatively impact the school system, and that they want to do everything they can to keep schools in mind.

Place-2 candidate Kimberly Cook said when people hear or say "explosive growth," that there is generally a negative connotation, but that she thinks that growth can be good for the city, as long as there are safeguards in place to ensure that infrastructure and schools can handle any increase in numbers.

Mayoral candidate Ashley Curry said he thinks that if any new growth affects schools in any way, it needs to undergo additional scrutiny.

Several candidates, including Place-4 candidate Bob Elliot, wanted more involvement by the Board of Education in annexation decisions. 

Place-2 candidate Kim Benos and incumbent Place-4 candidate George Pierce said, however, that the Board of Education is already involved in the annexation committee, and that the committee always confirms with the school board that they are comfortable with any additions.

Incumbent Place-1 candidate John Henley agreed.

"That communication is there," he said, citing his experience as liaison to the BOE for the council.

Another question asked the candidates if there is anything they would change about the city's current form of government, which was changed to a Council-Manager form in 2012.

"I'm with Jeff Downes daily," incumbent mayoral candidate Butch Zaragoza said, "and having him is the best thing we could have done." Zaragoza added that there is nothing he would change about the current form of government.

Henley said he was also a strong proponent of the current form, and that it was a major reason he ran in 2012, because he wanted to see it come to pass.

Place-3 candidate Robert DeBuys said he is in favor of the Council-Manager set up, but would like more oversight of the City Manager's endeavors, and wants the council to approach initiatives with healthy skepticism.

Pierce added to the conversation that while he thinks the current form is working well, he would advocate for the addition of two more council members in order to better represent the growing population of Vestavia Hills.

Place-1 candidate Rusty Weaver said that in theory the current form works, but that he can see ways in which the system could be abused, and said he thinks there should be safeguards in place to ensure it is utilized correctly.

With regard to budgets, the candidates were asked what they would specifically prioritize if the city ended a year with a windfall or surplus.

Place-3 candidate Paul Head said that if it were a lump-sum amount, he would advocate that it go toward fixing multiple ball fields throughout the city. If it were a continuing surplus, he said it should be directed toward ensuring that first responders receive proper compensation.

Others, such as De Buys and Ammons, represented by Adam Plant at that point in the forum, said they would put the funds toward sidewalks. Ammons' plan also consisted of shoring up park facilities and moving toward the payoff of the city's debt.

The Cahaba Heights Community Foundation also live-streamed the event on their Facebook page, and video of the event can be viewed there.