Document 1757026

2011 State of the City Speech
By Anna Peterson, Mayor of Salem,
Feb 9, 2011
Good afternoon and thank you all for attending the luncheon today. I want to especially
thank Salem Area chamber of Commerce, Salem City Club and Salem Rotary for
sponsoring the State of the City address each year. This is a fine example of
organizations partnering to produce a major event. Today the public is the recipient of
your shared resources, and if my speech is any good, they will be enlightened a bit
about their city as well.
I would like to start with some introductions and sincere thank yous. First, I want to
recognize and thank my husband Edwin Peterson for his love and support, and
especially for swearing me in.
These days, I am spending less time with Edwin, and more time with members of the
Salem City Council. I am impressed with the dedication and time that the Council
members devote to their duties and their commitment to making Salem the best it can
possibly be. We have a wonderful council and we are really enjoying building our team
and working together.
Ward 1 – Chuck Bennett, who is also our Council President.
Ward 2 – Laura Tesler
Ward 3 – Brad Nanke
Ward 4 – Rich Clausen
Ward 5 – Diana Dickey
Ward 6 – Sheryl Thomas
Ward 7 – Bob Cannon
Ward 8 – Dan Clem
One of the busiest city departments is Municipal Court. I want to thank Judge Jane
Aiken for her tireless commitment to dispensing fair justice and partnering with
community agencies to address the needs of people who come before her.
We have hard working, committed department heads.
As the second largest city in Oregon, we depend on their highly professional skills and
desire to provide the best customer service every day. I’d like to introduce each of
them:
City Manager Linda Norris
Deputy City Manager Sean O’Day
City Attorney Randall Tosh
Public Works Director Peter Fernandez
Police Chief Gerry Moore
Fire Chief Mike Niblock
Community Service Director Vickie Woods
Urban Development Interim Director John Wales
Information Technology Director Ida Salazar
Human Resources Director Connie Munnell
Administrative Services Director Tony Mounts
I also want to thank the employees that work for the City of Salem. They care deeply
about their community, and are at the forefront of dealing with the everyday tasks that
are part of a large city operation. I want to especially say thank you to them for working
so well with staff, volunteers, and Council, to reach our city goals. They also recognize
the needs in our community, and have regularly sponsored food drives, toy collections,
and volunteer in our community outside of work hours. Thank you for all you do to make
Salem Shine.
At the core of our community are over 5,000 volunteers that really make our city zing.
Whether they serve in the Library, or at Center 50+, the Police Dept, or are in the parks,
historic properties, neighborhoods or the airport, or in dozens of other volunteer
positions, they are vital to the smooth-running operations at City Hall and across our
community. And special thanks go to the members of our Boards, Commissions and
Task Forces. They are a vital conduit between the community and City Hall, as they
help us develop policies, programs and solve problems, every day.
Many people have asked me why I wanted to be Mayor of Salem, and especially why
now—with budget reductions and the uncertain economic outlook, and the downturn
across our community.
My answer is: What better time to be able to bring our residents together, maximize our
resources, and build upon the many accomplishments of recent years. And besides, I
tell them, we are not broke; we are not broken; and we continue to move forward.
Take for example the accomplishments Salem has made in the last year in the area of
technology and energy efficiency:
Our beautiful and much-used Salem Conference Center achieved LEED certification,.
Many groups look for this type of designation when booking conferences and
conventions, so this designation enhances marketing and use. Over 80,000 people
attended events here in 2010, many of them coming into city, staying in our hotels and
motels, and spending money in our restaurants and stores. Solar panels are being
installed on the roof and the Conference Center should begin to draw some of its
energy from the panels by March.
In November, West Coast Bank, Salem Electric, Portland General Electric, and the
Energy Trust of Oregon partnered with the City of Salem to launch a new pilot loan
program for Salem commercial building owners. Commercial business owners and
tenants are eligible to receive incentives of up to 50 % for lighting improvements made
to their building or business, and access to a low-interest loan for other project costs.
Lighting improvements typically result in a payback period of between 3 – 4 years, but
with the added incentives offered through this program, the payback is closer to 1 – 2
years.
Technology is enhancing public safety in Salem as well. The Photo Red Light program
continues to reduce red light violations and improve traffic safety at 25th and Mission
and Center and Commercial. CrimeReports.com, is a new web-based crime reporting
mapping system that aids in identifying areas of criminal activity. New Radar Reader
Boards are being placed on streets where speeding is a problem. And user-friendly
reporting of losses is now available through the on-line, 24 hr a day reporting system.
Salem Fire Department secured a $450,000 grant to purchase dual-band portable
radios to communicate with other agencies more quickly and thus coordinate responses
to emergencies and disasters.
Salem’s Information Technology Department developed an application so that
emergency responders can make wiser, quicker decisions to deploy personnel and
equipment, saving time and maximizing resources.
Our first responders – the Fire Department, the Police Department, and our partner
Rural Metro Ambulance do an outstanding job of providing emergency response and
keeping our community safe. I nave ridden along with all three and encourage
everyone here to do the same. You will see first hand how they work collaboratively
and cooperatively to get the job done. Our thanks to them for keeping Salem safe for
everyone.
A major public safety issue is the number of people with mental illness or addiction
issues that our law enforcement officers are dealing with because there are insufficient
local resources. I have talked with our Police Chief, our Marion County Sheriff, and our
local legislators and county commissioners about the need for local, community-based
facilities and services to meet their needs. Arresting them and taking them into the
criminal justice system is not the answer. The answers will not be found in jail cells or
on prison wards. It will be found in local settings when we provide the services they so
badly need.
The Building and Safety Division improved its website to allow applicants better access
to service options and information regarding permit status, land use application and
licensing.
Young people are often the first to use new technologies, and they have not been
forgotten as the City embraced new ways. The Library secured a grant for a ―Creation
Station‖ in the new teen library to provide audio, video and desktop publishing products
for educational and personal uses. Our Community Development department has
created the City’s first and largest Facebook page for the Youth Development &
Prevention section. The page has more than 1,200 friends – mostly teenagers who
volunteer and perform community service work.
Technology and energy saving systems have not been limited to city functions. In May
of 2010, the Teton Non-Profit Housing Corporation in partnership with the Salem
Housing Authority secured $730,000 of HUD grant funding to provide a comprehensive
Green Retrofit to fund critical improvements, recapitalize reserves, implement green
operations and maintenance practices at this 50-unit senior housing property.
Careful use of public funds is not limited to what goes on inside city facilities or in cityrun programs. Social service agencies play a vital role in our community, and the City
has recognized this by providing funds for some of the most basic of human needs.
We have used general funds and Community Development Block Grants to provide
social services to 23,551 individuals. The city also assisted Marion Polk Food Share
and the Salvation Army as they provided 160,037 meals in 2010. Other Block Grant
funds to Marion Polk Food Share helped add a community and training kitchen to their
current facility.
At the West Salem Clinic, Block Grant funds in 2009 and 2010 paid for building
modifications to add 17 new exam rooms which resulted in the hiring 3 additional
doctors and allowing many new patients access to services.
Now let’s talk about the budget, and why I say we are not broke:
Careful budgeting and streamlining and reductions in 2009 and 2010 have left the City
of Salem in much better financial situation than many cities and states across our
nation. We have not spent down reserves and jeopardized our bond rating, and we
have not continued to spend as if money would be found in a bottom drawer or hidden
ledger.
I would be less than honest if I told you that Salem can continue to provide all the
services and programs the public would like to have. As we begin the budgeting
process, the Citizen Budget Committee will carefully review the City Manager’s
recommendations and listen closely to public testimony to determine the mix of
programs and services they hold most important, and what they can do without.
We invite you to attend the budget hearings, where public testimony is always
encouraged, and to e-mail city councilors, other members of the Budget Committee or
myself, to make your thoughts and wishes known.
Here are some of the things we have done in the last year to save money:
The Municipal Court began two new programs to improve collection of fines and
assessments.
The city’s fleet operations are saving money by doing more preventative maintenance
and using new technology to reduce employee hours
Employees installed energy monitoring equipment and reduced over 1 million kilowatt
hours of energy use in the Civic Center
Center 50+ reduced the burden on the City’s General Fund by leveraging the city’s
$479,000 to provide nearly $2 million dollars worth of programs, services, and volunteer
hours.
Increased recycling has reduced City garbage by approximately 20%.
Property insurance coverage changes and renegotiated workers’ comp and liability
premiums have saved the City more than $125,000.
Beyond crafting a balanced budget, reducing costs across city departments and
programs, we are mindful that union contracts must be carefully negotiated to keep
wages, benefits and pensions at levels that recognize today’s tight economy and take
into account the future effect of today’s decisions.
One of the things that distinguish Salem is the tremendous participation and contribution
by the public to enhance city services and programs. This last year, the Salem Police
Foundation was created by citizens wanting to increase public safety programs. As
their first project, they assisted with manpower and financing to redevelop and rebuild a
Police K 9 training obstacle course.
The Library received nearly $350,000 in private donations to complete the renovation of
a new Teen Library slated to open on March 18, 2011. And the Center 50+ has
collaborated with other agencies, the business community and volunteers to offer nearly
200 quality programs and services to over 800 daily attendees.
Saving money, and mining community relationships and resources are important steps,
but job development and private sector investment within Salem are needed in order to
turn our economy around.
There have been some bright spots in the City’s efforts to add jobs. Home Depot built
its 465,000 square foot Rapid Deployment Distribution Center at the Mill Creek
Corporate Center, providing family wage construction jobs and has opened with 300
permanent employees. We must continue to work with the State of Oregon and
SEDCOR to market the Mill Creek Corporate Center.
Two long-time Salem businesses expanded and added jobs: Garmin Technical
Information Center has 250 new jobs, and Kettle Foods’ latest expansion added 16 new
positions.. New small businesses have opened in Salem and others have moved to
new locations, making capital improvements and adding employees. I want to say a
very sincere ―Thanks‖ to the Salem Chamber for its enthusiastic ribbon cuttings and
support to new and existing businesses.
But this down economy demands that we do more. We must be more targeted in our
marketing, and more aggressive in ferreting out businesses who are actively looking
today for new locations.
Through our partnerships with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, SEDCOR,
Chemeketa, and Business Oregon, we must identify businesses compatible with our
location and resources, and others that currently supply existing businesses. I have
already started planning with the Chamber and SEDCOR on these new ideas, and will
be involving new people from businesses and industries and commercial Realtors who
will help bring fresh ideas and connections to our efforts.
Our goal will be to attract additional jobs to the Mill Creek site, the High Tech and
Renewable Energy Park and other shovel ready sites and properties across the city.
More nationally recognized retailers are needed in our downtown, and they are on our
recruitment list as well. We are unusual in that we have four major department stores
downtown – Kohl’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom and JC Penney, who just completed a major
refurbishing of their store. Connected by sky bridges, they are important anchors to our
vibrant downtown, and we need to keep them in our downtown.
One of our most exciting opportunities is in the area of renewable energy and
sustainability. Not only has the City of Salem undertaken numerous sustainable
practices, but our new High Technology and Renewable Energy Center attracted a
leader in sustainable energy—Sanyo Solar. Its addition to our list of manufacturing
firms is fueling interest and partnerships that will make Salem a leader in attracting and
working with companies that develop solar, wind, biomass, electric vehicles, and
geothermal resources. Land is ―ready to go‖ at this site. Thanks to Portland General
Electric for installing a new transformer station in the Center to meet the needs of future
businesses. With over 200 new jobs, SANYO is just the beginning of job growth as
other firms look at this site for their operations.
The University of Oregon recently selected Salem for their Sustainable Cities Initiative
to develop plans and designs for city facilities, transportation systems, infrastructure and
community development. Over 500 students are working with city staff and community
and development leaders to envision and design new projects. Their work will help
Salem leverage existing resources to move projects forward based on well-researched
designs and plans.
With shovel-ready land at the Mill Creek Corporate Center, and the High Technology
and Renewable Energy Center, and land and buildings ready at the McGilchrist Urban
Renewable site, and several other large tracts of available serviced land, now is an
excellent time to invest in Salem.
Commercial air service is still a priority. City Manager Linda Norris and I met recently
with principals from the firm that assists Salem with those efforts The recent 4,000
square foot expansion of the airport terminal and FAA approval for the upcoming
runway extension project are crucial infrastructure projects that position the City to
attract commercial air service. We discussed several carriers, and in particular one
airline that will be particularly compatible with Salem travel patterns.
The third bridge across the Willamette – the bridge to West Salem – will benefit all
Salem residents. It will not help just West Salem residents, but will enable people and
goods traveling through Salem to reach their destinations more smoothly and with less
congestion on both sides of the Willamette.
The down economy has taken its toll on some of our downtown properties, both condos
and retail spaces, and vacancies are a concern to customers and local businesses.
And who would have ever guessed that 10 years after its opening, the Courthouse
Square would again be behind chain link fencing while Marion County and the Cherriots
Transit District grapple with structural problems rendering the building and parking
structure unusable. You can rest assured that Salem will be working with Marion
County and the Transit District for the best and highest use of that important downtown
block.
The Downtown Riverfront Urban Renewal Advisory Board and the Urban Development
Department has been working on a comprehensive Strategy that identifies specific
areas for investment of Urban Renewal dollars and a plan for action in each area of the
District that will attract private investors. From improved use of the 2nd floor in
downtown buildings to revitalization of business and residential areas north of
downtown and along Front Street, the City will be ready when investment dollars and
the private sector are ready to continue improvements to downtown and the area north
of Marion Street.
The Boise property owners are working to attract the type of business, hotel,
recreational and residential activity they have envisioned, but it will take time before
these plans become reality.
But lest you think that nothing positive has happened in our community this last year, I
wanted to be sure to include the latest news about parks in Salem. We have
completed construction of Bryan Johnston Park – doesn’t that name bring back a lot of
wonderful memories—and the dedication and ribbon cutting are scheduled for spring.
The City completed the re-planting at the Minto-Brown Island floodplain as part of the
natural habitat restoration project.
We look forward to the day that the stream that flows under the Boise site will be
uncovered, when a pedestrian walkway connects from there into Riverfront Park, and
across a pedestrian and bicycle bridge to Minto Brown Island Park.
The City has closed on the 50-acre Battlecreek property in south Salem. Street and
initial storm water improvements are scheduled there for construction in 2012. Look
forward to having a new park in that very active area of town, within a short driving or
walking distance of many neighborhoods and families looking for recreational
opportunities in that end of town.
Salem is a community of natural resources second to none in the state. We have an
abundance of open and green spaces, waterways for habitat and recreation, and parks
with a wide variety of sports facilities and spaces for community activities. With the
conversion in 2008 of the Union Street Railroad Bridge into a bicycle and pedestrian
connection from Riverfront Park to Wallace Marine Park, we began to realize the dream
of linking Minto Brown Island Park, Riverfront Park and Wallace Marine Park into one of
the largest connected open spaces for public recreation in the state.
Recreation and community use of these spaces creates jobs, and increases the value of
adjacent properties. Plans are underway to form a Natural Resources and
Sustainability Advisory Group that will work with me and the City of Salem to develop
long range plans to care for and use our natural resources--our streams, our open
spaces, and our parks-- to their fullest recreational, habitat and economic potential.
Another valuable job creator in Salem are the arts and cultural heritage facilities and
activities. By attending the world-class musical and dance performances, lectures, art
exhibits, historical sites, and fairs, festivals and events held right here in Salem, we
learn about our past, connect to the wide variety of cultures and religions here today,
and enjoy the artistic talents of people of all ages. The dollars spent at these venues
add to our economy and the paychecks spent here every day. Congratulations to
Salem Art Fair for being recognized as one of the top 20 art fairs in the United States!
The Oregon Artists Series Foundation continues to mount exhibits in the Conference
Center, adding greatly to its shine. The newly reconstituted Salem Public Arts
Commission will bring new art to public spaces all other our city.
Our growing population has turned Salem into an international city, with people moving
here from all over the world. They are working, living and participating in our
community, and have become an excellent resource as we learn more about cultures,
religions, and traditions from other lands. These international contacts are fueling
businesses and helping Salem to attract businesses and trade from around the world. I
am already planning with the Salem Multicultural Institute, the NAACP, The Latino
Business Alliance, and other organizations and individuals to create an advisory group
on multi-cultural and ethnic issues and opportunities.
I would be remiss if I did not celebrate our distinction as Oregon’s state capital. Easy
access to elected officials, the legislature, state agencies, appellate courts and other
state facilities is an advantage that makes Salem a great location for any business or
organization that does business with the State of Oregon.
I have visited with every member of our legislative delegation, as well as people from
DAS, DHS, and toured the new State Hospital. I pledged to work closely with each of
them, and our Marion County and Polk County Commissioners to strengthen our city
and region.
In closing, I would again like to thank Salem City Club, Salem Rotary, and the Salem
Area Chamber of Commerce. Our Rotary Club members have a tradition of raising
funds for our good works projects by ―ringing the bell‖ to announce good news, family
accomplishments, or when our photo appears in the local paper. Well, I am prepared
today with my check for the Salem Rotary Foundation, and I’d like to present it to our
President Dawn Bostwick.