GREEVER-RICE: Tagged to Comment on Hoppe/Read dispute

 

COLUMBIA, 4/1/10  (Beat Byte) -- Though after the fact, Columbia Tribune reporter Janese Heavin is leading Tracy Greever-Rice (left) into the Hoppe/Read dispute, asking her to judge whether or not the mediation was successful. 

 

But the project stalled out long ago and Greever-Rice was never directly involved. 

 

"At this point, we can't know if it was 'successful' until the development proceeds," Mrs. Greever-Rice told Ms. Heavin.  "Then we can measure how thoroughly it complies with both the mediation agreement and the statement of intent, and we can measure the long-term impacts on surrounding property owners."

 

Asked what she would want to see in a public mediation, Mrs. Greever-Rice said, "We need to be able to ensure that the development plan is in full compliance with the mediation agreement.   It is unfair, and in many cases will be unaffordable, for neighbors to be left with the legal and financial responsibility of ensuring developers' compliance with the mediation agreement."   

 

Open mediation, Mrs. Greever-Rice added, "could be a useful tool for encouraging development that adds value to all properties impacted by a development."  

 

Closed mediation, on the other hand, "leaves local government with no new tools or knowledge to use as a model for future development negotiations."

 

Asked who should pay for mediation between developers and neighborhood associations, Mrs. Greever-Rice said that while parties in negotiation can determine who will pay, if the City is encouraging specific parties to negotiate using a particular method, the City has an ethical obligation to ensure that the playing field is level and that all parties have the ability to authentically and equitably participate in the process."

 

Finally, Ms. Heavin asked what Mrs. Greever Rice thought of the Hoppe/Read debate, which Mrs. Read likened to a political attack. 

 

"Barb Hoppe and Mike Sleadd have graciously worked on and supported many local campaigns over many years and I'm grateful for their confidence in my race," Mrs. Greever-Rice noted.  "Barb mentioned to me on the day that she sent it that she was submitting a letter to the Missourian.

 

"People support my campaign because they like my thinking and approach to inclusiveness in the public process. Looking at the facts of a process and having a difference of opinion is not an 'attack'.  It's having an informed public and is an important part of the electoral process."