InstantnewsBellaire.com

Stimulating small business in Bellaire is the subject of the fifth and last question in InstantnewsBellaire’s Q&A series with Bellaire City Council candidates.

Robert, who has lived in Bellaire for two years, asked the candidates:

What can be done differently to promote local, small business opportunities within Bellaire? (I am thinking something creative like the Keep Austin Weird campaign)

Here are the answers from the two mayoral candidates. Scroll to the bottom for information on the procedures of this Q&A.

Cindy Siegel

Cindy Siegel

There are some unique ways to attract small businesses to Bellaire that have been successful in other cities.  These approaches can attract the types of businesses that Bellaire residents want to frequent; add to our quality of life, and increase our commercial tax base.  There are companies that work with cities, like ours, to analyze the retail space available in a city and the types of markets that exist in and around that city.  Based upon their analysis, the company would then assist Bellaire in actively pursuing and recruiting the types of businesses that appeal to Bellaire residents.  The City Manager and I have met with such a company regarding the topic that you have brought up.  We have, also, had conversations with the local Chamber of Commerce about partnering with them to promote Bellaire and the businesses in our city.

Some people believe that redevelopment of our commercial area can be accomplished through stimulus money and/or creating a tax incentive district.   Unfortunately, the strings attached by the federal government to stimulus money make it very difficult to get any substantial assistance for a city as affluent as Bellaire.  Additionally, the tax value of our downtown is such a small amount that  a tax incentive district isn’t realistic.  However, modifying our Comprehensive Plan in a way that creates our community’s vision for our downtown and sets out zoning laws that encourage the types of businesses and redevelopment our residents want, can have a positive impact in bringing about a thriving downtown.  I am a big believer in the free market and I believe that if small businesses see that Bellaire residents will frequent them – the small businesses will come to Bellaire.

Robert Riquelmy

Robert Riquelmy did not respond to this question by the deadline.

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In this series, candidates receive questions twice per week and have 24 hours to respond with an answer that is less than 300 words long. The answers publish with no editing.