Joel Goodhart
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At a glance
- News mentions
- 0
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 7
- Total speaking time
- 10:04
- Avg per meeting
- 1:26
- Segments
- 240
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Top issues during term (20)
ReCode Blacksburg Land Use Code Update
Funded through existing municipal planning budgets and consultant contracts.
Automated License Plate Readers (Flock Cameras)
No cost figures were given, though one speaker noted a relatively cheap exit clause in the Flock contract.
Blacksburg Horizons Comprehensive Plan Survey
None discussed at this meeting.
Sewer Backup Claims and Municipal Liability
Church members report over $40,000 in damage; a similar 2017 backup was paid for by the town.
Short-term rental rules modernized
Penalties for violations drop from a $1,000 criminal fine to a $500 civil penalty.
Prices Fork Road Commercial Drive-Through Development
Private commercial investment with potential local tax revenue benefits.
Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Infrastructure
Flashing beacons cost approximately $15,000 per unit.
South Main Street Office and Studio Conversion
Encourages adaptive reuse of existing structures and small business investment.
Town charter corporate boundaries update
City status could mean a totally new tax structure and different state funding streams for local projects.
Meals tax updates and late-payment penalties
Late penalties can rise from 10% to a maximum of 25%, protecting a significant town revenue stream.
Blacksburg Transit Solar Panel Utility Easement
Councilmember comments indicated the solar lease is expected to save the town substantial money over many years.
Downtown Retail Incubator Lease
Utilizes federal ARPA funding to establish community business infrastructure.
Meeting Transparency and Access
Potential future costs associated with expanding audio-visual recording capabilities for work sessions.
emergency services staffing
Keeping a steady stream of student volunteers saves the town a ton of money that would otherwise go toward hiring more full-time, paid staff.
Town Branding Rollout and ARPA Funding Allocation
Involves federal American Rescue Plan Act funding allocations.
election
Your tax dollars and local utility rates could shift depending on how the winning candidate handles future data centers and town growth.
town council election
Local council decisions directly impact your property taxes, utility rates, and where municipal tax dollars get spent.
Utility and Solid Waste Fee Increases
Increases utility bills and waste collection costs for town utility customers.
Regional Emergency Communications Board Appointment
Town-Wide Flood Resilience Plan and Watershed Study
Impacts on property development and flood insurance requirements for affected parcels remain to be detailed at the public hearing.
Decisions during term (119)
Recorded while Goodhart was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent Agenda — Town Council Minutes (Oct 6 and Oct 13, 2026)
Resolution 10-D-26 — Charter Amendment Request on Town Corporate Boundaries
Consent Agenda (Minutes; Resolutions 10-B-26 and 10-C-26; Charter boundary hearing; Ordinance 2123 introduction)
Ordinance 2073 — Homestay Ordinance Update
Ordinance 2117 — Meals Tax Amendments
Ordinance 2121 — Utility Easement to Appalachian Power
Appointments to Police Towing Advisory Board
Town Council Minutes: September 1, 2026, September 8, 2026 and September 15, 2026.
Approval of Planning Commission Minutes - September 1, 2026
Consent Agenda Approval
Resolution 9-B-26: Conditional Use Permit for Drive-Through at 1800 Prices Fork Road
Resolution 9-C-26: Conditional Use Permit for Office/Studio Uses at 700 & 706 S. Main St. and 105 Eakin St. SW
Reappointment to New River Valley Agency on Aging
Town Council Minutes: August 18, 2026 and August 25, 2026.
Ordinance 2073: An Ordinance to Update the Town’s Homestay Ordinance to Reflect State Law Changes and Establish Civil Penalties by Amending Town Code Sections 6-601, 6-602, 6-605, and 6-606.
Ordinance 2117: An Ordinance to Amend Sections 22-700, 22-703, 22-704 and 22-705 of the Town Code Pertaining to Meals Tax to Update Definitions and Exemptions from the Tax and Establish an Additional Penalty for Late Payments.
Approval of August 4, 2026 Minutes
Election of Commission Officers
Cancellation of September 15 Work Session
Approval of Planning Commission Minutes- August 4, 2026
Voting record (94)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.