Good Afternoon Southfield! Welcome and thank you for coming to the 2008 Southfield State of the City here at the beautiful Skyline Club. I would like to thank the Southfield Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director, Ed Powers. I would also like to recognize and thank the City of Southfield's Elected Team for their hard work and dedication to the City. Would you please stand to be recognized? Together, we each work to build a better Southfield. Would our school board members, State, County and Federal Representatives, please stand and be recognized? I would also like acknowledge our new City Administrator Jim Scharret.
The City of Southfield will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on April 28, 2008. Back on April 28, 1958 we were incorporated with a vote and approval of a City Charter by local voters. Back then, Southfield was largely an undeveloped township of 15,000 residents. Today, Southfield has grown to be a modern city of beautiful homes and golden sky-scrapers, with a residential population of more than 80,000. Southfield has more than 26 million square feet of office space and 8,600 businesses, including over 80 “fortune 500” companies. Fifty years ago, in 1958, Southfield was already growing into the business center, with over 50 companies already calling the city home. In the past 50 years, Southfield has truly grown from a rural farming community to one of the leading business centers in Michigan and the Midwest.
We kicked off our year of celebration with a Star-Studded Fire and Ice Gala. We will continue to celebrate throughout the year with a series of events for our business and residential communities. Please check our Web site and join us as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary.
The City of Southfield is joining other organizations in celebrating important milestones this year. Our very own Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2008, and… Architecture and engineering firm Harley Ellis Devereaux will celebrate its 100th year in business in 2008. This full service firm has grown to be one of the 150 largest design firms in the U.S. with more than 500 professionals at five locations nationwide, including offices in Southfield. Can we please have a big round of applause for these two outstanding organizations in recognition of their important milestones?
Despite a weak economy, Southfield continues to attract new investment, development and redevelopment such as: Cloverleaf Plaza has demolished the existing Sunoco gasoline station and Gorman’s Golf building at the corner of Telegraph and Twelve Mile Roads and constructed a one story retail center. The developer plans to invest more than $3 Million in this site. The American Cancer Society built a new 32,000 square foot office building on Civic Center Drive. National City Bank opened a new branch complete with drive-thru banking on Northwestern Highway. Odyssey Healthcare Hospice built a $1.7 million hospice facility on Eleven Mile Road and Franklin Roads. Southfield Retail Center built a new 10,000 square foot retail strip with a Starbucks Coffee, T-Mobile & Jet’s Pizza on Southfield Road between Twelve and Thirteen Mile Roads (in front of the award-winning Spring Haven housing & condo development.) Target completed a $4.8 million, 13,000 square foot addition and interior remodel of their existing store at Northland Shopping Center. Tower Ventures built a new 6,400 square foot shopping center on Evergreen Road. The center currently houses: Jimmy Johns sub shop, Thai Xpress (opening soon), Ink Stop and Café Kabob. Southfield Gateway, L.L.C. a one-story office and warehouse facility.... the home of Corporate Express contains 93,000 square feet located on the former Southfield Driving Range, between Northwestern Highway and Southfield roads. Tyrone Taylor Office Building is a new 8,000 square foot, office building at the southwest corner of Northwestern Hwy & Lee Baker Drive. URS Corporation moved into the American Center bringing 100 new employees. URS Corporation offers a range of professional planning, engineering and architectural design.
When it comes to housing Southfield continues to be the residential community of choice with its attractive, diverse, and affordable housing. In 2007, the City of Southfield saw the development of 21 new single-family dwellings, and 41 new condominium units. To grow and promote our community, the City’s Total Living Commission and Neighborhood & Information Center sponsored a Real Estate Breakfast Meeting and Southfield Neighborhood Showcase last October to educate realtors about Southfield’s many strengths and selling points. The program was followed by a bus tour of a variety of Southfield neighborhoods. It was an overwhelming success.
The Southfield City government continues to meet the ever-changing needs of the community while maintaining high standards. Here is a list of just a few the things that the City of Southfield has been doing to better serve you. The city of Southfield’s AA+ bond rating was reaffirmed in 2007 by Standard & Poor’s, one of the nation’s major bond rating agencies, placing the City in the top three percent of all rated governmental agencies in Michigan. Standard & Poor’s rating is reflective of the City's ability to maintain its five-year budget stabilization plan supported by the city's stable, diversified local economy, above-average wealth, income levels and moderate to low debt burden. Having a strong credit score is an impressive accomplishment in these tough economic times for Michigan cities.
We continue our focus on curb appeal… Every resident and business owner has a vested interest in maintaining property values by keeping Southfield clean and attractive. In addition, the City relies on the “eyes and ears” of the entire community to report any obvious or extreme code violations. The city of Southfield launched the “Eyes on Southfield” program in 2007 to enable residents and businesses to notify the City with ease when a code or blight issue is observed. Residents may simply call (248) 796-EYES, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week to report code issues or violations. With an increased focus on curb appeal, the Southfield Code Enforcement Department will respond to most complaints within a 24- to 48-hour time period. Together, we can keep Southfield beautiful!
We are maximizing the latest technology to enhance government efficiency. The City developed and launched an entirely new municipal Web site in May of 2007 to provide the community with a more interactive and streamlined source of City news and information. The new site features a new design with extensive photos and videos showcasing Southfield. The new site also features more online services and downloadable City forms, applications and documents. As promised last year… you are now even able to watch City Council meetings, live on the Web right from the comfort of your home! I hope you are watching – because we really put on a good show! The City’s new Web site has been very well received, in fact, we have even already won our first award: The Michigan Economic Developers Association’s (MEDA) awarded Southfield the ‘Best Web site’ for cities with populations below 100,000. The judges stated that the site was an, “excellent Web site that is graphically appealing, easy to navigate with very good information.”
I hosted with City Council’s support the Partner America Small Business Conference in December for small to medium business owners. We had a strong turnout from the business community. The event featured presentations from the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Comercia Bank among others. We plan to sponsor future conferences to partner with our small businesses, in order to provide the tools and information for their success.
All of us here believe that this is a great city, but it is gratifying to have our beliefs solidified by other noteworthy sources. The city of Southfield was named one of the nation’s most livable metro-area suburbs by Forbes magazine as part of its annual national survey, released on its Web site. The evaluation was based on market research conducted by NeighborhoodScout.com, a database that gathers figures from the U.S. Census, the National Center for Education Statistics, the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department. Southfield was selected as metro Detroit’s “most livable” community for its large commercial district, affordable housing, quality schools and safe neighborhoods. The research measured the education level of residents, home ownership rates, home values, quality of schools and the crime index.
In December, The Wall Street Journal noted that “Southfield, a suburb of Detroit, with a middle-class diverse community, displayed little tolerance for unsafe streets” commending our low crime rate. Crain’s Detroit Business magazine also recognized your Mayor as one of 2007's Most Influential Women. Since 1997, Crain’s has presented a list of the region’s “Most Influential Women” every five years. I am honored to receive such an award. The list highlights women who have contributed to the business community of southeast Michigan. The City of Southfield and its employees continue to be recognized as a progressive community known for its quality services and programs. I commend all of the City staff and community partners that work so hard to make Southfield shine.
The City has been pursuing a series of plans for the potential development of a City Centre Core area in the Evergreen/Civic Center area including the Municipal Complex. The City Centre Advisory Board members, who are comprised of area stakeholders that I appoint, recently presented their vision for the future development of the area. The board proposes to build a retro-fitted downtown made up of retail, office and residential development that would include new municipal facilities, cultural space, green space and several recreational venues. It would be a bold new endeavor for the City to undertake and its mission would be to enhance and stabilize the existing commercial tax base, enhance retail, entertainment and cultural activities for the citizens of the community while meeting the needs of the business community. Tax Increment financing would be key to the success of this visionary proposal that would serve as an excellent example of a private / public partnership.
Southfield's Public Schools continue to shape tomorrow’s leaders today. More than 89 percent of the 2007 graduating class went on to higher learning receiving over $3 million in college scholarships. The Michigan Association of School Boards awarded the Southfield Public School District the ‘Excellence in Education’ award for their high school academy programs. The district is wrapping up the completion of the $45 million dollar upgrade at Southfield High School. The district established a partnership with the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the Engineering Society of Detroit to create the McArthur K-8 University Academy. The young minds at MacArthur will focus on technology, problem solving, science and math in addition to the regular core curriculum. The school will foster high expectations for all students and require parent participation and commitment. I would like to commend MacArthur Principle Dr. Bobbie K. Hentrel and Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson for their fine work with the academy.
Consider these facts: Students who spend no time in extracurricular activities are 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 37 percent more likely to become teen parents. In contrast, high school students who participate in after-school activities are three times more likely to score in the top 25 percent on math and reading assignments as reported by the U.S. Dept. of Education. Communities that have at least 50 percent of their youth involved in after-school programs are five times more likely to be a healthy community. I am working to enter an exciting new partnership to create “Mayor’s Time – Southfield,” an after-school initiative to increase our students’ participation in after-school programs. Once completed, parents and children in Southfield will have a complete listing of all after-school programs that serve our youth as well as several new opportunities to get involved in extra-curricular and summer activities. Mayor’s Time has already brought $15,000 into Southfield Public Schools from the DTE Energy Foundation to create an environmental education curriculum for our children. We are looking forward to working with the Parks and Recreation Department, the City Council, our new Youth Center, the Southfield Community Foundation, and our Southfield Public Schools as well as our entire city to get this initiative moving forward.
The City’s financial position has been hampered in recent years by a steady decline in state shared revenues, the second largest single revenue component next to property taxes. In addition, a sluggish economy and a record number of foreclosures also negatively impact our tax base. The City has been able to work towards returning to structural balance by adopting and adhering to a five-year budget stabilization plan, a hiring freeze of some city positions, and new employee contracts. As a result, we are on track with our 5-Year Fund Balance Stabilization Plan; a plan that was designed to gradually reduce our use of fund balance for operating expenses. The state is facing unprecedented financial challenges and Southfield is no different. We are adversely impacted by the budget shortfalls of both the state and the nation. While the City remains a wonderful place to live and work, and is at the forefront of the Michigan business community, we still have many challenges facing us. However, I am confident that we have the team in place to meet these challenges and to remain successful.
I feel that there are several issues, programs and partnerships that we should address for the future. Last year, I told you that I would like the City of Southfield to be a leader in southeast Michigan when it comes to protecting our environment. I remain committed to addressing this extremely important issue. To that end, I am pleased to tell you that I formed the “Keep Southfield Green” committee comprised of City staff and business and community representatives to address this important issue. Southfield has been recognized by the Sierra Club as a “Cool City,” the environmental organization’s national campaign to ‘Solve Global Warming One City at a Time.’ There are several steps that we all can take to begin to reduce global warming. I strongly support the purchase of gas-electric hybrid vehicles for our fleet and for personal use as well. A single tree will absorb up to 2000lbs. of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in its lifetime. Southfield continues to be recognized as a Tree City USA designee for the 23rd consecutive year with the 2007 award. I propose that we as a city partner with our residents to plant 100 trees per year for the next ten years. As part of this initiative and the City’s 50th anniversary celebration, we have launched a special program for Southfield residents – the commemorative Liberty Elm Tree program. Through this program, residents may purchase a special, disease-resistant liberty elm tree for a reduced price. This program will help to keep Southfield “green” and beautiful while promoting curb appeal throughout the city.
The Southfield community will be able to enjoy a major new public green space when the Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve opens in the summer of 2008. The 42-acre nature preserve features nearly a mile of trails throughout beautiful woodlands overlooking Carpenter Lake. The Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve will represent a public model of sustainable design. The green architecture of the center will also demonstrate eco-friendly building practices that can be applied at home.
I would like to mention some of the great community events and programs that have recently taken place as well as some things that will be coming soon. I hosted the 2nd annual Holiday Diversity Celebration at the Southfield Town Center to bring together different ethnic groups, to celebrate our wonderful diversity. What better time than the holidays. We hosted our 7th annual Day of Peace Celebration with City Council and other elected officials. We invited children and parents from diverse backgrounds to promote the discussion of peace. I am still walking… the Mayor’s Walks “A Healthy City is a Strong City” campaign has been a great success. To date, hundreds of individuals from our community have participated in the Mayor’s Walks. I was recognized and presented an award for the Mayor’s Walks last year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for this important initiative - I invite you all to join me again this year at Inglenook Park.
Speaking of walking… Last summer the theme was “Dodge the Lodge. Anyone who drove around Southfield or metro Detroit last summer was well aware of the construction that had shut down the Lodge freeway. To celebrate the opening of the Lodge Freeway, I along with many other sponsors and supporters, conceived the ‘Walk the Lodge’ event. The event supported the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. More than 200 walkers and runners joined me to take part in the historic three mile walk across the new Lodge Freeway. I am also pleased to tell you that the City of Southfield will again host the American Heart Association's Heart Walk in May – the largest walk of its kind in the country.
We continue the Southfield Flower Day to promote curb appeal and beautification efforts. We will again have the 100 Days to Health campaign in Southfield, a partnership with Providence Hospital to promote healthy living. I encourage each of you to join us in creating and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. As many of you know, I had my own heath challenges in 2007 and I am so thankful to be healthy again. We will also continue the Mayor’s Roundtables to provide open information forums for the community. I encourage each of you to join us for these great events.
In closing… As we celebrate Southfield’s 50th Anniversary we proudly look back on where we have come as we look optimistically forward to where we are going. When I look back on the growth of this City I am amazed to think that in just 50 years Southfield has literally grown from farmland to the Center of It All! “Real generosity towards the future lies in giving all to the present.” - Albert Camus. The stellar growth and development of this community is due in part to the efforts of many of you in this room. Thanks you for your commitment, vision and hard work. Throughout the years, there have been many Southfield natives that have played a crucial role in our continued growth. I am very excited and optimistic about where Southfield will be in the next 50 years. I am very excited and optimistic, despite the present economy in Michigan and other parts of the nation, that Southfield will remain the vibrant, progressive community that it has become. I believe that we must use intergovernmental cooperation and regional efforts to address the growing needs of our city and our region. We have held our own and served as a model for over 50 years with our strong economic strength, diversity and strong healthy neighborhoods. We have overcome many of the negative social and economic trends and myths of the past, while remaining a major regional player. We must now continue to be that beacon of light that shines in this region. Many depend on us to keep the economic heartbeat and racial harmony of this region strong.
I personally realize that I am a part of the rich history of this great city and work hard everyday to meet the daily challenges to continue our commitment to regional leadership. I have had the opportunity to meet and partner with many leaders of our community to shape the policies of this great city. I am looking forward to future challenges and plan on using my strength and talents to take on a greater role in regional leadership. Please stay tuned. It is my personal commitment to you that I will work diligently for the good of all and the betterment of the great City of Southfield.
THANK YOU & GOD BLESS!