Akron, Ohio News Release...

1999 State of the City Address

State of the City Address Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic City of Akron, Ohio January 8, 1999

I. Acknowledgements

Thank you, Mark Auburn and also to Katy Downing, president of the Kiwanis, for inviting me to deliver this address to the combined Kiwanis/Rotary group again this year.

It is my pleasure to deliver the State of the City address. My LAST ONE..........................

in this century. It was 12 years ago that I first had the privilege to speak to you in this capacity, as Mayor of this wonderful city. In January of 1987, I was 37 years old and had already been on a longer than expected public-service journey that began in 1973. That's when I was first elected to office...25 years ago... representing the ninth ward on Akron City Council.

There I was with a full head of dark hair, a young family, a house, a part time job on council earning a whopping $7,500 a year, and working full-time for B.F.Goodrich. Oh yes, I also had a relatively substantial personal loan to pay back because I had taken it out to pay for my campaign in running for council.

I had never planned to be Mayor. But, in 1987 there I was. And the first few months in office changed my mind. I began to realize that this was exactly what I wanted to do. Now, as I begin my 13th year as Mayor, I can tell you this has been an opportunity that I have cherished and have never taken for granted and I thank the voters for having given me this professional opportunity and personal privilege.

And, yes, I still do consider it a privilege to serve. I still enjoy getting out into our community and meeting the real people who are out there, the ones who care about their families, their neighborhoods, their city. The people who give government good suggestions on how to make improvement. Very often, they offer to help. I still enjoy the normal people who have that sense of commitment to community and government. It makes me realize that what I'm doing IS worthwhile.

But I have to tell you...and I'm getting a bit mellower with age I suppose...but I still get aggravated by the people who don't get involved. The ones who just sit on the sidelines and complain, to themselves, their neighbors, talk radio...the newspaper. People who seem to be against everything good that we try to do to make this a better place to live. I'm tired of these people constantly talking about what they don't like and what ideas they are against....I'd like to ask them today, "Why don't you start telling us what you're willing to do to make things better?" The Kiwanians and Rotarians here today know exactly what I mean.

I said at a recent news conference that these people should get off their duffs and get involved. It may give them some perspective. And at that same news conference, we gave our citizens something to be a part of that will help mold the very future of our community.

What we are giving our community with the Imagine.Akron 2025 program that I announced just last week, is an opportunity to have input into where our city is heading over the next generation. We have an organization ready to be built, technology at our disposal and already an enthusiastic response from people who want to make a difference.

Imagine the opportunities we will be creating for future generations by committing ourselves to building a road map for the future.

Imagine a new strategy for housing that encourages private investment in new homes.

Imagine a scholarship program that opens the door and makes the dream of a college education attainable for so many more children in Akron.

Imagine Akron with a huge contingent of citizens ready to better our

community... citizens who believe they CAN make a difference.

You'll notice on your tables a couple of handouts we have for you. One is the volunteer form for Imagine.Akron. I would encourage you to consider becoming a part of this program. If you are interested, or want to think about it, take this with you, fill it out and either fax or mail it in.

The other is a brochure that lists some of the significant accomplishments of 1998 in the City of Akron. I've always felt my State of the City speeches were loaded with too many statistics, so I've put some of them in this flyer as an addendum, if you will, to the speech itself.

I believe Akron must be a city of opportunity for all of our residents. As we consider the state of our city in 1999, perhaps that is the best way to judge our accomplishments, and to define our vision for the future. We need to help people reach their full potential and to flourish in our neighborhoods, our schools and at our places of work. And let me emphasize that I mean all of our residents, including our children, our small businesses, in all of our neighborhoods.

The people of Akron can be proud of our successes during this decade. We have, as a city, achieved a remarkable turnaround in our economic health and vitality. We have aggressively avoided many of the problems that are plaguing central cities across our nation. Our economic agenda has helped to bring renewed commercial interest in our downtown and throughout our city.

We have reduced violent crime, expanded resources for our neighborhoods and street maintenance, consistently focused on the efficient delivery of services to our residents and businesses, and helped implement a citywide character-building program to enhance education and the future of all of our residents.

We are moving in the right direction.

The City's fiscal position is strong. We have maintained an excellent bond rating and received high fiscal ratings from Moody's. In 1998, we held the line on general fund expenditures and city hiring and propose the same for 1999.

All that we have accomplished, all that must be done in the future, rests on a foundation of public safety and improved quality of life.

And I will say, at the outset, I have been troubled by the number of police officers I have had to discipline or dismiss in my time as mayor. While violent crime in Akron has declined by 10% over the past year and while we have invested in new technology for our officers to improve crime fighting...things such as:

• A new, centralized Emergency Operations and Communications Center for handling community disasters
• State-of-the-art communications equipment like the Automatic Vehicle Locator and Computer Aided Dispatch systems
• Pen-based hand-held wireless computers, vehicle printers, and equipment giving officers and firefighter/medics instant access to important records while in the field
• And technology allowing officers to file their reports electronically from the field, giving them more time on our streets

.....and while our officers and firefighters are also doing a good job working with the block clubs and the schools...

All of that is overshadowed by a disturbing number of high profile examples of individual police misconduct...

Remember...police officers are human. They're not perfect. However, even one officer engaged in criminal conduct or inappropriate behavior is one too many---and unfortunately for us, it's been more than one.

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, George Romanoski and I promise you that any police officer found to be engaged in serious misconduct will be fired, and if appropriate, prosecuted... and that those engaged in lesser misconduct will be disciplined. Our track record proves that this administration has taken a hard line on misconduct within the police department...and we will continue to do so.

You should know that the police department has initiated an Ethics Training course for all of its officers. This on-going program gives them a chance, with the aid of a facilitator, to discuss and air out some of the grey areas, the ethical dilemmas they face both in their jobs and in their personal lives...difficulties that may be unique to this demanding profession.

No matter what improvements we make in public safety, or economic development, if we don't have good schools, the future of the city will be in doubt. A city must be safe and have good schools, or people will move out.

Through our police department, we have implemented in our schools the DO THE RIGHT THING program. Every month we recognize and honor a dozen or so youngsters for exhibiting good character and home or at school. Anything from finding money on school grounds and turning it in to the principal, to alerting a teacher that a classmate may be the victim of abuse at home, have been recognized.

I am proud of all of the children we have honored in the Do the Right Thing program. We have established a valuable connection between our police and our young people that has created a level of trust.

Our Character Counts program is proving influential in the community and in the schools. Do the Right Thing fits right into this character building framework that we have established to teach children, parents...all of us... about the importance of fairness, citizenship, caring, trustworthiness, respect and responsibility. I believe our entire community has already benefitted from this relatively new program. The long-range importance of this character building effort will serve our city well in the next century and I encourage all of you to participate in this community-wide effort.

In 1998 we honored 75 young people for their service to the community, on National Youth Service Day. More and more of our children are contributing vast amounts of volunteer time in service to others and to the community, and we should all be proud of their commitment.

We are continuing to provide financial assistance for technical support in our schools to help train students in skilled trades.

We again provided support for Education in Action so students in our schools could partner with home builders and actually build a house, themselves. 1998 was the second year for that program.

And we have plans to make a substantial investment to endow a scholarship for students in our public schools to attend the University of Akron. The source of some of the scholarship funds would be from a $100 million federal grant for which we are currently competing as part of the Urban Empowerment Zone program. We would take $10 million and match it with another $10 million from the proceeds from the sale of the Hardy Road Landfill and generate this endowment.

And, if we receive this designation, we will be challenging the private sector to match what the City and the federal government have done by generating $20 million more.

And, on January 16, in one week, I will be holding the annual Mayor's Ball at the John S. Knight Center. Last year in my State of the City address I told you I would be creating a scholarship program of my own. Well, this year, all proceeds from the Mayor's Ball will go to start a scholarship fund at the University of Akron. This Scholarship Fund is one way I can help ensure a better future for more young people in our city.

In 1999 we will continue our strong commitment to neighborhoods. In 1998, we provided financial assistance for the construction and rehabilitation of hundreds of homes. We removed more structures that were eyesores on the landscape and made millions of dollars worth of public improvements to streets and sidewalks throughout the city and to neighborhood business districts. We've planted 2,600 trees, replaced and repaired water and sewer lines to bolster our infrastructure. We constructed new ball fields and playgrounds and improved some existing ones. Our many neighborhood community centers are becoming increasingly popular year round, and our recreational activities bring families together in their neighborhoods---especially in spring and summer with our art shows and symphony, jazz and dance performances in our parks.

And beginning this year, another professional sport comes to Akron as the Akron Racers Women's Pro Fastpitch softball team begins play in the renewed Firestone Stadium complex in Firestone Park.

Construction has begun on the Cascade Valley Park Bikeway from Bath Road to North Portage Path. We'll begin the next unit, from Portage Path to North Street this year.

New libraries are being built in Ellet and on the near west side on land we helped provide.

And areas of our city recently under-served by grocery stores, will soon have them again. We are working in close cooperation with the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation to secure a full service store for East Akron. We have received a $1 million Urban Initiatives grant from HUD and are now developing the plans for this project.

At Wooster Hawkins, we are working with Albrecht Incorporated to insure the construction of another new, full service Acme store to be independently franchised at the Wooster Hawkins Shopping Center.

In May, we cut the ribbon at a new home and one of the many new families move in on Andress Street on the city's south side. It's part of the new $4.6 million South Akron Homes development project.

All of these improvements enhance the value of our neighborhoods, making Akron a better place to live and raise a family.

It's important to note that during the past 12 years, we have invested more than 99% of our Community Development funds in neighborhood revitalization projects such as this. Because of these projects, more than 500 new homes have been constructed throughout the city in areas where only older, worn out homes once existed. I am very proud of what we are doing for Akron's families of today and of the future.

And, don't be fooled by the wild accusations of a few self-serving demagogues. We have and will continue to re-invest the vast majority of our tax dollars in our neighborhoods.

In August, Andrew Cuomo, secretary of Housing and Urban Development visited Akron to deliver $1.52 million in federal funds for the Enterprise Community. He called our EC program, (quote) "one of the best in the nation," and said it can serve as a model for successful job creation and economic development.

We are proud of what we have done as an Enterprise Community since 1994 in using federal monies to act as a catalyst to spark an economic rebirth in an economically depressed area:

• We've created a revolving loan fund program to provide loans of up to $75,000 to small businesses
• We've established the Industrial Incubator and the Safe Harbor Minority Incubator to provide technical assistance to businesses to help them expand
• We have created an Entrepreneurial Training Program for residents and businesses

Secretary Cuomo said it best when he told us during his visit, (quote) "Together you are sending a message loud and clear to America that the best days of Akron are not in its past, but in its future."

And, this year, we'll hopefully be able to build upon the City of Akron's nationally recognized Enterprise Community accomplishments, with a brand new project.

Last September, a broad-based network of citizens, social service agencies, education, business, government and neighborhood leaders completed our application to the HUD that could bring more than $100 million to the community.

We are in competition to be among 15 cities selected as Urban Empowerment Zones. Included in this designation is an award of $10 million per year for ten years. The purpose of the program is to increase economic opportunity and sustainable development for the residents, businesses and institutions of this area.

If selected, we have developed a plan and the necessary funding allocations to help create economic opportunity through:

• entrepreneurial development
• land assembly and development
• brownfield re-development
• financing incentives
• developing the work force for the future

Plus, there are strategic initiatives in education, housing, family support, health and public safety.

Beyond the $100 million in federal support, becoming an Urban Empowerment Zone will ultimately lead to hundreds of millions of dollars more in increased investments in our community over a decade.

One area that has seen a dramatic increase in private investment is the area with the highest concentration of jobs in the county.

The public investments we have made in this decade downtown---most notably Inventure Place, the John S. Knight Center, and Canal Park---have stimulated private investments in restaurants and other establishments.

Early in 1999, three more restaurants will open their doors downtown.

The former O'Neil's building will re open this month as a beautifully remodeled office building.

Later this year, the bottom two levels of the building will open to restaurants and more downtown entertainment.

GoJo Industries is proceeding with redevelopment of the former BF Goodrich World Headquarters Building in an agreement we reached in 1998. Several hundred good jobs will be added downtown when this is finished.

We're also installing new signs and adding more parking all the time to make downtown easier to navigate.

And 1999 will bring more discussion on the concept of creating a cultural district on the north end of downtown. The idea proposed last November involves a cinema complex with the Art Museum, Main Library and Civic Theater as its neighbors in the block on the north side of Main and Market streets.

By now you may have heard quite a bit about this idea. It's something we have talked about doing in some fashion or another for a few years. What's different about the atmosphere downtown today, from, say five years ago, is that people are coming to us now, expressing interest in locating downtown.

That's how it was with this project. A developer did his research and found a company that owns a chain of cinemas who was very interested in downtown Akron. As the developer approached us with the idea, the concept of an entire block dedicated to the arts, was proposed.

We have built the center of our city on solid public-private partnerships and that is what we would need to drive this development. We need commitments not only from the City and the County, but also from the boards of the Museum, the Library and the Civic.

If those organizations feel they can secure the necessary funding, we can take the next step toward creating what would be an anchor on the north end of downtown. The area in between would then, we believe, be even more attractive to private development, spurred by the activities on either end of Main Street.

During 1998 we also made vast improvements in services we deliver to our citizens. Two rather formidable ones will provide great cost savings for us now and in the future.

I appointed a Blue Ribbon Panel that performed a detailed, nine-month investigation of the Akron Water Department and delivered a report containing 59 recommended improvements.

Included in the recommendations:

• Training for certain employees to handle multiple assignments
• More efficient meter reading to reduce "spiked" bills
• Increasing automation of water plant facilities

We will include many of the panel's recommendations in our redesign of the Public Utilities Bureau. I hope we will be able to reduce water rates for our customers after we implement these improvements.

We are also going to be able to keep our curb service rates in check with the sale of the Hardy Road Landfill to a private operator. We received $11 million for the sale and were able to negotiate a low tipping fee for haulers so we could maintain curb service rates rather than have to increase them.

Akron has an aggressive approach to economic development. Business development and job creation are most important elements if our city is to sustain its growth.

In 1998, the demand for space in our industrial parks continued to grow. We now have three at near-capacity and we will be opening five new parks over the next 18 months to meet the needs of expanding businesses and to provide more job opportunities.

Last year, companies like MB Kit began to set up operations in these business parks. MB Kit, a German-based manufacturing company, is building its new 20,000 square foot North American assembly/distribution facility on a parcel of land adjacent to the Akron Fulton International Airport.

This year, we will be transforming the former General Tire complex into another industrial park.

These types of investments create job opportunities for our citizens by working with businesses large and small and making Akron more attractive to them.

Akron is a pro-business city---because encouraging business growth means encouraging job growth.

Companies such as FirstEnergy, which selected downtown Akron for its corporate headquarters in 1998, bringing several hundred new jobs into the central part of our city.

The City budget, taxes, incentives to business, and business regulations must all be viewed from the perspective of how they all are working together to create more jobs.

And our concern isn't just within the City. It's regional.

In 1998, Akron's fourth JEDD agreement was negotiated and approved by Bath Township. This will provide even greater opportunities for cooperation between Akron and our neighbors.

Let me say, in closing, I am very optimistic about our City's prospects for 1999 and beyond. I am hopeful for the future, because I remember the past. I know how far we've come.

Here I am. 25 Years after beginning a life in public service. And while---at that time--- I never imagined becoming mayor, I did imagine a time when we would have a vibrant city once again. And despite the cynics and the people who just like to disagree, together, we have built a city that I'm proud of.

But I want to keep working to make this city even better, with greater opportunities for more people. And to do that, we need good people in public service, people willing to put up with the scrutiny of public life as it is today.

If we don't have good, strong, honest representation we will---as Senator John Glenn so aptly put it in his speech before the Roundtable last month---have only second and third rate people running things. You will---he said---have given up your franchise to the few.

And since our political system is what he called, the personnel department for the constitution, we have only ourselves to blame, our cynicism as a society, if things start to go downhill.

The best way to combat cynicism in our political system is with increased citizen participation in the community. In 1999 you'll see the opportunity for unprecedented participation in city government and community involvement.

Hundreds of citizens will take an active role in Imagine.Akron 2025 to help shape Akron's future for the next quarter century....

At the same time they'll be joined by the Enterprise Community Network, people working on the Character Counts program, the citizen group participating in helping to determine the feasibility of the proposed cultural arts block on Main Street, residents in our Neighborhood Petition program, along with the many boards, commissions, block clubs and neighborhood watch programs who will continue to participate in determining Akron's future.

We have made great progress. We are ready to enter the 21st century as a strong and vital city. With the continued help of our caring citizens, we will be prepared to turn the challenges of that new century into opportunities for all of our citizens.