A New Generation for Hot Springs? Candidate Garrett Collier City Director District 5 on TomCast

What role should technology, transparency, and citizen involvement play in the future of Hot Springs?On this episode of TomCast, Tom Wilkins sits down with Garrett Collier, a Hot Springs native and candidate for Hot Springs City Director, District 5.Garrett discusses his background in software development and public administration, why he decided to enter public service, and how he believes technology, communication, transparency, and citizen involvement can help shape the future of Hot Springs.The conversation covers some of the biggest issues facing the city, including downtown parking, public participation in city government, the future of District 5, redevelopment of the Hot Springs Mall, economic development, affordable housing, and possibilities for the Majestic site.CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome to TomCast 00:18 Meet Garrett Collier 00:44 Software to Public Service 01:55 Why Politics? 04:38 Making City Government More Transparent 09:16 Giving Citizens a Stronger Voice 12:58 Is Parking Hurting Downtown? 19:43 Listen to the People Doing the Work 23:50 What Is the Future of District 5? 25:11 What Happens to the Mall? 33:46 A Blank Check for Hot Springs? 39:10 An Idea for the Majestic Site 45:22 A Closing Message for District 5IN THIS EPISODE:• Garrett Collier’s Hot Springs roots and education • His career in software development • Why he decided to pursue public service • Transparency at Hot Springs Board meetings • Making city information easier for citizens to access • Giving residents a stronger voice • Downtown parking and the visitor experience • The importance of listening to advisory boards • The future of District 5 • Redevelopment possibilities for the Hot Springs Mall • Economic development and affordable housing • Ideas surrounding the Majestic property • Garrett’s message to District 5 voters