Bo Bennett, Ivan Harmon, Mike Padgett, Madeline Rogero. Marilyn Roddy had a prior commitment (yeay, I can use 'MR' for Rogero!!)

Opening Statement items of interest/issues:
BB- vision for a better community
IH- I won a bunch of elections
MP- private sector experience
MR- experience on Haslams office to build communities

Q: city pension crisis?
BB- mend it, don't end it, such as a longer vesting period
IH- money should be invested property, see what task force recommendations
MP- problem is worse than estimates, wait on task force
MR- investments actually doing better than plan, so fresh look by task force needed

continued...

Q: rainy day fund?
IH- cut taxes, taking in too much money
MP- bond rating looks at rainy day fund, cutting fund could cost us more
MR- be conservative with fund balance, could be a double dip
BB- maintain it

Q: reduce unemployment?
MP- support businesses that are already here, recruit new, new biz here via Oak Ridge
MR- diversified economy with an educated work force, infrastuxture, access to capital, quality of life to attract and keep businesses from leaving
BB- agree to support existing businesses
iH- make Chamber more accountable, Leverage UT, OR, TVA. Let's go ask Haslam for help, too

Q: continue solar/green initiatives
MR- I worked on most of these projects for innovative approaches. We are rolling out curbside single stream recycling.
BB- we should do more, I'd need to study
IH- I backed greenways, I'd add more.
MP-push solar

Q:South Knox Waterfront
BB- if there are funds in budget
IH- put on hold
MP- we have lots of projects- too many?
MR- our development areas getting constrained, infill development important strategy. Money is sitting there, ready when private investment is ready

Q: Cumberland Ave?
IH- more important than south knox, prioritize
MP- it's a public face for Knoxville
MR- yes, it's an important piece of overall strategy.
BB- very important

Q: Crime
MP- stronger neighborhoods
MR- also need to address blighted/vacant properties
BB- decrease police response times
IH- get communities involved, address drug problem through interdiction of drugs from out of state.

Q: are you a neighborhood person or development person?
MR- you can't be one or other, we need balance for community to work together
BB- a bit of both, if I had to choose, community
IH- property rights, raise tax base
MP- both