Resident tells council rezoning outreach fell short and files FOIA request

During the public-comment period on April 15, Frida Cathcart, who identified herself as a Roanoke resident and journalist, told Roanoke City Council that the city's outreach around a recent rezoning lacked substantive community engagement. Cathcart said city marketing was appealing but left out meaningful input opportunities for affected residents, and she said she filed a FOIA request seeking the city's All-America City application to better understand what the city represented publicly.

"When the people come to you again and again saying they’re not getting meaningful community engagement... that’s very concerning," Cathcart said, adding that she has been in positions on boards and expects better outreach, including evening meetings for people who work. She also told council she had consulted an attorney about potential constitutional claims but said the lawyer could not identify a monetary injury sufficient to pursue federal litigation without cost to her.

Mayor Sherman P. Lee and other council members responded that the council has provided opportunities for public hearings and public comment, and that allowing people to speak, even when the council ultimately disagrees, is part of the process. The mayor said council members often stay late to hear views and that the city has increased community outreach. Council members said they would continue to seek better ways to publicize opportunities and to engage residents.

Cathcart urged reporters and council members to press for better engagement and said she will publish findings in forthcoming articles. Council members acknowledged the concerns and said staff and council would seek to improve outreach methods.

The exchange closed with an offer by the mayor and staff to continue dialogue with residents and to examine outreach channels including the scheduling of evening meetings, social media, library postings and other channels to reach broader audiences.