By DEIRDRE FERNANDES
The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH - Mayor Meyera Oberndorf stood in the city's newly completed convention center Thursday and touted Virginia Beach's recent victories:
The convention center is drawing thousands of visitors from around the country. Town Center is bustling and nearly built out. And the Navy, at least for now, is still flying its jets over Virginia Beach.
During her annual State of the City speech, Oberndorf said the city now stands "with endless opportunity before us, but we must decide what to do with it."
Oberndorf told the almost 600 business and government leaders gathered at the convention center that the Beach needs to diversify its economy.
Last year, 33 new businesses moved to the Beach and 36 existing companies expanded, resulting in an investment of about $150 million, Oberndorf said.
But she said that more needs to happen.
She showed a video of the city's new economic development campaign, which promises, "Virginia Beach won't just be the talk of the town. It will be the hottest place for business in America."
The city can no longer simply rely on its largest employer, Oceana Naval Air Station, Oberndorf said.
Virginia Beach officials spent much of the past two years in a battle with the federal government to keep the jets in the city.
They succeeded in January, when the Defense Department's inspector general decided that Oceana would remain the master jet base.
"The council is committed to working in harmony with the Navy for as long as the opportunity to do so remains," Oberndorf said.
But Oberndorf suggested that the city should be cautious as it looks to bolster the tourism industry and the Oceanfront.
Proposals for developing the old Dome site and Rudee Loop in the resort area should be carefully considered, Oberndorf said.
"We're not going to rush into anything, because the decisions made in this regard will be the kind that define how history judges us," she said.
The city also faces some challenges, including how much to cut the tax rate, developing work force housing and fixing its aging roads system, Oberndorf said.
City Manager Jim Spore this week proposed a 6-cent rate cut that would bring Virginia Beach's tax rate to 93 cents per $100 of assessed value.
"I hope to find a way to go even lower," Oberndorf said.
The city will continue to rely on state legislators to help it solve its transportation problems, Oberndorf said.
Cities around the region are struggling with how to move goods and services on roads that are no longer adequate, said Jack Hornbeck, president of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
But he said Virginia Beach had a successful year.
"It's a very exciting time for the city of Virginia Beach," Hornbeck said. "The city is really positioned to move forward."
� Reach Deirdre Fernandes at (757) 222-5121 or deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com.
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same old rhetoric
Seems like the same old speech, year in and year out. It would be nice to hear some sweeping, ground-breaking news. A 6 cent tax rate deduction is not news (just smoke and mirrors). A tax freeze would be... or perhaps a rate deduction equal to any assessment increases. Why must we develop Rudee Loop? Make it a park where people can gather and enjoy the ocean view (vice throwing up condos or yet another high rise hotel). Same thing w/ the Dome property - make it green instead of gray! The Major forgets that our infrastructure is crumbling beneath our feet, yet she rolls out the welcome mat to further construction. A major initiative to fight blight and redevelop such areas, not to mention a tougher stance on littering would be nice.
Mayor
These are the same brilliant people who decided not to be involved with the Tides and instead made that wonderful sportsplex investment for our now defunct soccer team. A real bright future indeed.
Oberndorf needs to go!
"Hottest place for business"? Of course it is. Why? Because this ancient relic of a mayor will make sure that the business in never taxed! Between VB and norfolk, they whined all the way to Richmond to dump the tax on business. Business/developers make bigger campaign contributions than us little taxpayers. The city will rely on the state to solve the transportaion problems. The very problem she created with total over-development of every square inch possible. Approve every developer project. Tax the hell outta the citizen. And let the state clean up the mess! Good ideas there mayor.
A Truly Gracious Lady Leader
Thank you Madam Mayor for your continued service to our community. Although very difficult, you have persevered with the assistance of a trusty Coastie nearby. Not often does a citizen see the Mayor of their city just tooling around town with her hubbie - I think that is just great, like the City we call home. Ok, nuff said. The City must continue the partnership with the Navy and work to insulate the existing federal facilities from current and future issues, with extreme gusto. Open and available land at the Oceanfront lying directly adjacent to the beach or other water feaures must be taken off of the tax/development books right now for the long-term benefits of all current and future citizens of the Beach. There is not one world-class destination that has sought to develop the entire beach front. The best destinations preserve and protect those propeties for their most valued assets - the citizens and visitors. Establish The First Street Recreation and Surf Park today!
Your bright future moves away
Having grown up in Virginia Beach and having parent's that still live there I keep up with local happenings. The future is not bright. I graduated from college and looked to return home but was unable to find a job. I was over qualified. My friends who also wanted to return home were turned away for the same reason. We became professionals, CPA's, Architects, Engineers, etc and we could not get jobs. The future the Beach so heavily invests in with education works but it does not have the oppurtunity reap the rewards because of the lack of non military related jobs. It is also hard to get people to come to a city were so many jobs are seasonal. Like our forefathers I looked West and found the oppurtunity I could not find in Virginia Beach.
I attended her speech...
and everyone was giggling the whole time. I do indeed think that, as a human, she has shrunk at least 3 or 4 feet since she took office. As for the future - we need more x-rated t-shirt shops and less trash cans on the beach.
Ouch...
I can feel the Mayor's and city council's hands in my pockets already. Just what we need is another hotel, another hotel and did I mention another hotel? This city cannot and will never sustain itself on tourism. A little bit of sand, too many beach no-nos, locals not welcome, nothing to do, insufficient parking, overzealous towing, Dairy Queen and cheap T-Shirts as far as the eye can see is not what entices people with money or companies with good paying jobs. But hey, as long as there are citizens to foot the bill, who cares? So long Oceana and all of your good jobs.
No more "progress" please
I've been around since VB annexed Princess Anne County. The charm of VB was that you could visit a Beach resort, take a ride in the country, visit a dairy farm, and return home to the suburbs...all within the city limits in one day. Now the Green Line is history, farms are being replaced with $500,000 cookie cutter houses, roads are choked with traffic, and schools are overcrowded. The VB Dome, a historic geodesic structure was bulldozed, the Pavilion was built and then demolished, and now we have a fake "downtown". This is progress???
Forefathers?
Please lets not embrace this talk of our forefathers a little to much and what their vision was 400 years ago. I promise you diversity had nothing to do with that vision. If the beach had any vision they would not have had to depend on Oceana for such long period of time. What a great look for Virginia's largest city. Endless oppurtunity but small mind, conservative thinking, yeap thats Virginia, 400 years and counting!
Diversifaction pffft
An increased focus on tourism and taking those decisions slowly is the same old same old. I can't wait until the Mayor is history. The previous comment about the Beach's bright future - was that a typo? Did you mean blight future? I'd have preferred that she spoke of what services I can expect from the increase in taxes, or how roads/traffic issues are being addressed or increasing public safety concerns and lack of planning... not more about the oceanfront and town center and more low paying jobs! I'm sick of taxation without representation.
Mayor was on target again!
I have to agree with the Mayor's comments as the city has a bright future. Going slow on CIP tourist projects is also a wise move. In the meantime, look back to core basics of the citizens needs such as roads, schools and public protection. While there are still many issues before us, The Mayor is really smart to be looking and slowly moving forward.