Council members praised the work of Bedford City Manager Mike Mallis and his staff Tuesday for their creation of a new 16-page Good Neighbor Guide for the city. The booklet offers an easy-to-read collection of city policies on items such as refuse collection, curfew, pets, parking, noise regulation, taxes and more. Plus, it gives up-to-date phone numbers of the people you can contact if you need even more information.
“I am so excited for all the resident to get (the guide),” said Ward 1 Representative Sandy Spinks as she showed a copy to council during the virtual meeting. “Thank you everyone who was involved in doing this. I think it is great for new residents and even some of the residents who have been here for a while. It just gives you a little (refresher) on what’s going on in our city and who to call.”
Mallis said the guide is currently available on the city’s website and will be placed on different social media platforms. Plans are to eventually have a hard copy mailed to each household, and for it to be sent with welcome packets to new residents.
Speaking of being a good neighbors, during the audience participation portion of the meeting, Bedford resident Anne McPherson reported that some of the parking habits of people on streets in Ward 1 have been downright unneighborly.
Mallis read her email to the council, and she stated that homeowners in the area would like No Parking signs placed on Greencroft Road and the surrounding streets. She said getting in and out of their drives sometimes can be impossible because of the parking. She wrote that, “We have renters out here, (and) their friends come over and park their cars and have no consideration as to how close they park in front of our driveways.”
McPherson communicated that the streets are too narrow to accommodate the amount of cars that are being parked there, and so she is circulating a petition for all of the homeowners to sign.
Mallis said the city has been focusing on parking issues recently, and there have been a substantial amount of citations that have been handed out. He said patrols have been in that area in particular, and that they will continue to monitor over there.
In other business, council voted on an amendment to an ordinance about weeds and tall grass that also included a section that says vegetable gardens cannot be planted in front yards. Mallis said that residents may petition the city for permission to plant if they are facing unusual or undo hardships. Ward 5 Representative Heather Rhoades said she would vote yes on the ordinance, but wanted it stated for record that the law director advised that the new amendment about planting is basically unenforceable.
Rhoades also shared with the council that the Bedford Downtown Alliance held its final First Fridays event this month, and will be planning to launch them again in March, with the first one having an art theme. She also wanted to remind residents to patronize businesses in downtown Bedford, particularly during the holiday season.
“Leading up to the holiday season, we will be doing a “Live, Love, Buy Bedford” campaign to remind all of our residents that if you live here in Bedford, and you love Bedford, shop at Bedford locations and help them through this difficult time,” she said. “Many of our businesses in downtown are making it, and it’s because many of our residents are coming down to shop with them. This holiday season it is especially important.”
In other business the council:
- Repealed Criminal Activity Nuisance law that had previously resulted in a lawsuit against the city.
- Heard a report by Mallis explaining that the sidewalk projects originally slated to begin now will be postponed until the spring, when the city will double-up on the projects. He said that residents will still be able to get the price the city gets from contractors if they wish to repair parts of their sidewalks then, as well.
