Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
On Tuesday, the City Council approved a resolution to begin the process of termination membership with Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, referred to as CARPDEC.
CARPDC is one of 12 regional commissions in the State of Alabama that was established to provide technical assistance to local governments in the areas of planning and development. The commission partners with communities in Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties to support local governments in the areas of community and economic development, planning and housing projects, policies and initiatives. Prior to Tuesday, Prattville had been connected to CARPDC for the past 20 years.
Prior to the vote on the resolution, Councilman Michael Whaley said he had a few questions about the city withdrawing from CARPDC.
“I believe there is strength in numbers. I think that we have been a part of the Commission for quite some time. They do more than just grant writing and administration. I want to make sure that if we are withdrawing that it’s the correct process for us. I realize that we have internal resources that can write grants for us. One question would be, are there any resources available from CARPDC that would benefit is as far as grant writing and administration.”
Secondly, Whaley said that the council passed a resolution in the last meeting to hire a firm to assist in the search for a city planner. He said CARPDC also has some planning capabilities they are able to offer. “Is there anything that they can offer that would help us as a bridge until we get to the point that we have a full-time city planner?”
As far as economic development is concerned, Whaley said he is aware that the city has an economic developer in place. But he was curious if there is coordination and cooperation with the city and CARPDC that could benefit recruiting projects to the city.
“I am having a little heart ache with saying they have not been successful in grant writing. If that is all we are using them for, and we are not utilizing any of the other functions that they offer, and if there is no other benefit in any of the other areas they offer, then maybe that is what we need to do. I would ask, if they are not being beneficial, have we gone and relayed that information to them? Have we offered any solutions to make it more beneficial for us as a member of the commission?”
Gillespie thanked Whaley for his questions.
“I have served as a board member before (for CARPDC) and I have personally seen some of the challenges with CARPDC. The City of Prattville has been connected with CARPDC for about 20 years now.
“If you look at the amount of monies…right now it is a little more than $13,000 a year that we put into them, and it is based on population.”
He said he has spoken to CARPDC officials openly and honestly.
“If you look at the amount of monies we have spent with them, and the amount of monies, grants or project we have been awarded because of the partnership, the math does not add up. It is very uncommon for a community like Prattville to step out of this. We are not tied to CARPDC. We can use other planning divisions around the state. At this point in time, there have been several different challenges ongoing for quite some time. There has not been a lot of progress in improving those challenges. I think this might be the best way to help make those changes as needed.”
Council President Boone said in her time on the council, she cannot remember working with CARPDC for anything other than writing grants. She asked the mayor if that is correct.
“They have been tied to a couple of our economic development projects as they come in. But it has been very few. We do have a very good staff, whether it is our police, fire, economic development.”
He said there has been very little success or return on investment with CARPDC.
Whaley said that looking at the entire history, and where CARPDC was involved with successful project, does it equal out?
“The previous chair, who is no longer with us, I had several conversations with him. There were not a lot of changes, there were a lot of challenges. I’ll have to say no changes at all.”
He said the current chair for CARPDC has included conversations. “There were conversations about the membership dues. The membership dues just get you technically to the table. Then as you have projects, they generally charge 10 percent of that project or whatever it might happen to be. Just because you play in $13,000-plus, that does not stop the payments coming in from different projects. But they are looking at maybe there is some way to change that calculation. But there have been numerous challenges I would be willing to discuss with you and council members on the side.”
With that, the vote on whether or not to remove the city from CARPDC was taken. The vote was five council members in favor, Whaley voting against, and Councilman Marcus Jackson abstaining. The vote passed and the resolution to begin termination of membership with CARPDC adopted.
We have reached out to CARPDC for comments and will update if we hear back from them.
