Roanoke City Council votes to put amphitheater back on capital plan

By: | WSLS
Published: August 04, 2009

11:18 p.m.

Two weeks after a majority vote halted amphitheater plans, the project is now back on the table for Roanoke City Council.

Council member, Rupert Cutler, made the motion for council to reconsider their vote, but the council’s arguments won the spotlight in the back and forth argument.

Gwen Mason did not support the project.

"We are getting ready to subject the city to an expensive drama,” she said.

But the show at this meeting was for free.

"I think one of the bigger challenges for the amphitheater is going to be coming up with better entertainment than us. I do, I do think we look a little foolish when we go back and forth,” said Dr. David Trinkle.

Amphitheater supporters say the city should keep the project moving.

"It just makes them look very indecisive, and I hope they will get their act together and make a firm decisive decision about it,” said Tom McKeon.

City Council veteran, Cutler, said, "To me, it's a logical next step in a process that's been underway for damn near a decade.”

First-term council member, Court Rosen believes that logic could be flawed.

"While it's not new to the city, it's new to me,” he said to the council members.

The indecisiveness had Roanokers calling in.

"The e-mails and phone calls that I've gotten and people say 'What are y'all doing; why are you ping-ponging back and forth,’” said Anita Price.

Price, who recently changed her vote to support the amphitheater explained, "Sometimes we as a group cannot make decisions and conversations until we are all here assembled."

There are more meetings to come and more decisions to be made that won’t happen overnight. The next step is to go through with an economic analysis project.

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5:10 p.m.

Council members voted 4-3 to put the amphitheater project back on the city's capital plan.

10 On Your Side's Candice Nelson is at the meeting. She'll bring you reaction on WSLS at 6:00 p.m., and where the plan goes from here, tonight on WSLS at 11:00 p.m.

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4:51 p.m.

Roanoke City Council voted to reconsider an amended resolution the city's amphitheater project.

The vote was 4-3, with Mayor David Bowers, Dr. Rupter Cutler, Anite Price, and Dr. David Trinkle voting in favor to reconsider.

Council is now discussing the amphitheater.