WELCOME
· Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
· Welcome and thank you for attending the 2010 Southfield State of the City.
· I would like to thank the Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director Ed Powers and the Westin Hotel for hosting us here today.
· I would also like to thank and recognize the City of Southfield's other elected officials for their hard work and dedication to our City.
· We have two new members on City Council: Councilwoman Janna Garrison and Councilwoman Linnie Taylor (intro rest of Council – Myron Frasier, Sidney Lantz, Joan Seymour, Kenson Siver)
· In particular, I would also like to recognize the former Mayor of the City of Southfield, current City Council President Donald Fracassi who has served the City for more than 40 years.
· I also want to acknowledge our City Clerk Nancy Banks and our City Treasurer Irv Lowenberg.
· Would each of you please stand and be recognized.
· I would also like to recognize our 46th District Court Judges: Chief Judge Susan Moiseev, Judge Shelia Johnson and Judge William Richards.
· Would our school board members, State, County and Federal Representatives, also please stand and be recognized.
· Your commitment and investment in Southfield is the foundation on which we stand and grow.
· I appreciate all that each of you do on behalf of our great city. Congratulations to those of you who were recently elected or re-elected this past fall.
· I was re-elected this past fall myself, and I would like to thank my family, supporters and every Southfield resident that has continued to put their trust in me to serve as the Mayor of this great city.
· I would also like acknowledge our City Administrator Jim Scharret and our Deputy City Administrator Fred Zorn.
· I would like to recognize all City employees who work very hard to make sure that the citizens of Southfield receive quality and professional services.
· I stand here today grateful for your trust, but humbled by the task before us.
· In these increasingly strained economic times, it is important for us, the Mayor, Council and Administration, to maintain a strong, unified position of strength, fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability.
· In serving together, we recognize a simple truth: we NEED each other.
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
· Today I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about where we stand as a city.
· I would also like to give you the highlights and successes we have experienced this past year.
· Today, we face some serious financial challenges in Southfield.
· Like all major Michigan municipalities, the City’s financial position has been hampered in recent years by a steady decline in state shared revenues, the second largest single revenue stream next to property taxes.
· These are monies needed to provide essential services like police, fire, life support, code enforcement, building and safety engineering.
· The revenues represent tax dollars that we collect and send to Lansing. The money is put through a complex formula and is redistributed back to Southfield.
· Well for 5 years, that amount has become less and less.
· City Treasurer Irv Lowenberg has indicated that the total in state shared revenues is down 29 percent or $2.8 million dollars, compared to the levels of 8 years ago.
· These continued cuts to state shared revenues and decreasing tax revenues severely impact the City’s ability to provide the desired level of services and public safety.
CHALLENGES (PROPERTY TAXES)
· As all homeowners and commercial property owners in this room well know, our property values are being attacked. This has resulted in a record decline in the City’s property tax base.
· In fact, we will see our tax base decline approximately 15% in the upcoming fiscal year, according to figures from our City Assessor.
· I know that it feels good to put more in our collective pockets and pay less taxes.
· I admit that my husband and I did a happy dance when we saw our lower tax bill.
· But, as a city, we have had our revenue flow decline at an alarming rate; a rate unprecedented in the 50 plus years of the City’s history.
CHALLENGES (ECONOMY)
· Consumers are cutting back on spending as jobs disappear and major investments — homes, stocks, and retirement accounts — drop in value.
· From the historic number of foreclosures, to our business community facing layoffs and bankruptcies in addition to ever-rising costs in healthcare, insurance and transportation – virtually no one or organization has not been adversely affected by this national economic downturn, including Southfield.
· The old cliché of doing more with less is no longer a cliché - it is a call to action and a daily requirement to get the job done with less.
· At the same time, there is also an unemployment crisis in this State.
· I want the business community to be certain that we are aware of the challenges that you are facing and that we are all in the same boat.
· So what are we doing about it? Ladies and gentleman, we recognize the fierce urgency of now and are FIGHTING FOR YOU!
MEETING THE CHALLENGE
· The City of Southfield has already taken many steps to make sure our house is in order and to help position ourselves financially in order to weather this economic storm.
· The City implemented a two-tiered wage and benefits program for new employees; Cross-trained employees to perform other duties and functions; and reduced overtime across the board.
· We’ve become more efficient through the effective use of computer technology.
· We have also been working to reduce the size of the City’s workforce through managed attrition.
· As a result, the City of Southfield has 130 fewer positions, or 16 percent less employees, than it had in 2004, while not compromising essential city services. So, we will be there when you call us!
· And while we continue to explore new ways to do things better, increase revenues and reduce costs, we still face unprecedented financial shortfalls.
· Without question, the City of Southfield and virtually every other municipality in the State of Michigan are facing the bleakest financial outlook since the Great Depression.
· We feel the pain in our city because we are one of the largest economic engines in the state of Michigan.
· We respect your hard-earned tax dollars and will NOT misuse them!
· We have NOT shrunk from the challenges, nor have we failed to seize new opportunities! We will keep working to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN for Southfield!
FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
· I am proud to say that despite this economic meltdown, we are recognized as a city that gets it right. Here are some examples:
· Southfield was selected for the Best Managed Pension System in the U.S. by the prestigious Institutional Investor Magazine in 2009.
· Despite the market collapse, this places us in the top
1 percent of all pension systems in the United States.
· The City has continued to maintain its AA+ bond rating, placing Southfield in the top three percent of the more than 450 public agencies within the State of Michigan currently rated by Standard & Poors.
· That rating is reflective of the City's ability to show adherence to its five-year budget stabilization plan as well as the city's stable, diversified local economy; above-average wealth and income levels; and moderate to low debt burden.
· The City of Southfield is also a multiple-year recipient of the Government Finance Officers Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
· Having a strong credit score is an impressive accomplishment in these tough economic times for Michigan cities.
NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM
- Like many communities throughout Michigan and the nation, Southfield is dealing with a record number of foreclosures.
- To address the foreclosure challenge, the City applied for a Neighborhood Stabilization Program, or NSP grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- I am very pleased to tell you that, as a result, the City has been awarded a $3.2 million NSP grant to help stem the tide of record foreclosure and double digit property loss.
- The NSP helps to stabilize neighborhoods by allowing the City to purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes to rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop.
- One activity that is really critical to NSP is Direct Homeownership Assistance.
· The City allocated $357,000 to provide assistance for down payment, escrow, closing costs and other home improvements.
· The assistance may come in the form of a grant, deferred loan, or reduced interest rate.
· During 2009, the NSP program enabled 11 families to purchase homes.
· Each property involved is upgraded and improved within the mortgage commitment.
· The program has changed lives as it has empowered families to achieve the dream of owning a home!
NEW DEVELOPMENTS / REDEVELOPMENTS
· Despite the ongoing weak economy, Southfield continues to attract new developments and redevelopments throughout the city.
· The state of the economy calls for ACTION, not only to create jobs, but to lay a new foundation for job growth. I would like to highlight:
· Secure 24, an IT service company invested $1.2 million to renovate a property on Northwestern Highway, adding 263 new hi-tech jobs to the City of Southfield over the next three years.
· Ciber, Inc. another IT services company opened a new development center at the First Center Office.
· They are planning to create at least 100 new jobs in the City of Southfield and will invest approximately $1.2 million in new personal property.
· Michigan needs new industries and NOT be so dependent on the automotive industry, so I’m happy to announce:
· Capital Welding, a part of the automotive sector since 1988, is transitioning into the aerospace industry with an addition to their facility on 8 Mile Road. They purchased new equipment at a $1.4 million investment in the existing facility. We’re excited about their expansion!
· And speaking of job creation, there is an important initiative that helps displaced workers:
· Lawrence Tech’s Recovery Starts Here program provides 50 percent tuition for eligible displaced workers or their dependent children;
· Southfield is growing its international economy:
· PRS Equities Limited is proceeding with plans to designate 16 acres of its 65-acre Central Business Park for international trade, making Southfield the site of Michigan's only multi-tenant Free Trade Zone.
· In January, PRS opened its International Incubator Center and has brought a number of Chinese companies on as tenants who specialize in auto parts supply, wire products and equipment manufacturing.
OTHER COMPLETED PROJECTS IN 2009
· We are happy to welcome the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to Southfield. (Name if present)
· And we do have new development…
· Franklin Center Associates, LLC completed construction of a one story, 12,000 square foot DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan medical office building with parking on Northwestern Highway.
U.S. EPA BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT GRANT PROGRAM
· In support of our business community we are using every economic development tool available, one of those being the EPA Brownfield program.
· Brownfields are abandoned, idle, or under-utilized industrial and commercial facilities.
· The City of Southfield was featured as a best practice community in Brownfield Redevelopment at the EPA National Brownfield Conference in New Orleans last year. It represents a “Super Bowl” type of achievement in the redevelopment community because we are converting vacant, under used sites into productive properties.
CURRENT BROWNFIELD PROJECTS
· The three parcel Central Park Place located on Evergreen Road and Civic Center Drive is a current Brownfield project that we are excited about.
· The buildings were functionally obsolete, and therefore all parcels qualified as a Brownfield.
· The project will transform the vacant area into the center of a new redevelopment.
2009 CITY HIGHLIGHTS
‘field Zone Youth Center
· This is a prime example of doing more with less through collaboration…..
· I am delighted to tell you that the long-awaited ‘field Zone’ youth center opened in May of 2009 to rave reviews.
· The 15,000-square-foot youth center is open to all middle and high school students living or attending school in Southfield and is located in the lower level of the former Southfield Public Library.
· It’s a place for teens to hang out, do homework, or just relax.
· In 2007, the City and the Southfield Community Foundation, entered into a 20 year lease agreement on behalf of the Youth Center.
· Several of Southfield’s most prominent businesses made this center happen.
· Lear Corporation donated computers and networking expertise;
· DENSO sponsored the theater;
· Providence sponsored a physical activities room;
· Architectural firm, Harley Ellis Devereaux (Dev-er-oh), donated a project cart for middle school students;
· Congressman Levin initiated a federal grant;
· The United Way for Southeastern Michigan made a major grant to the project; the Skillman Foundation was an early supporter and additional assistance came from Kappa Alpha Kappa and the Brenda Lawrence Foundation;
· In all, the center is a fun, safe, supervised environment where teens are welcome to hang out and become involved with a variety of positive educational and recreational activities.
Sports Arena Agreement
· With the continuing economic downturn, it is necessary for us to look at new ways to cut costs while still providing our residents with outstanding recreation programs and facilities.
· The Southfield City Council authorized a two-year agreement with Little Caesars Amateur Sports Foundation to manage operations at the Southfield Civic Center Sports Arena.
· Southfield Parks & Rec will work in partnership with Little Caesars to provide programs, services and events such as hockey clinics, celebrity hockey games, figure skating and hockey tournaments.
· The rink is also the home of Little Caesar’s, Lawrence Tech and Detroit Country Day’s hockey teams and offers improved facilities and expanded programs for the community.
Southfield Film Office
· In an effort to capitalize on the 42 percent State of Michigan refundable tax credit for film productions, the City launched the new Southfield Film Office in mid-2009 to provide a one-stop shop for all filming in Southfield.
· Southfield offers a wide variety of locations and settings–from golden skyscrapers to rural neighborhoods.
· Whether producers are looking for a modern urban center or a scenic natural backdrop–Southfield has it all!
· The City has already served as the location for several productions such as the major motion picture "Demoted," which filmed at the Southfield Public Library.
Census 2010
· The City began working with the U.S. Census Bureau to coordinate the 2010 Census in Southfield.
· It is very important for the City to receive an accurate head count as Census data is used to distribute Congressional seats to states; and over $300 billion in federal funds to state and local governments each year.
· Our slogan for the city is: “Southfield: Stand Up & Be Counted!”
· I’m asking everyone to please fill out their survey, so that all in Southfield can be counted.
AWARDS & HONORS
· The city of Southfield’s 50th Anniversary campaign won the national ‘Savvy’ award in the category of Special Events. Congratulations to the Community Relations Department!
· Congratulations also goes to two of our own Southfield firefighter/paramedics John Martin and Michael Rickard who were honored with the prestigious Valor Award from The Hundred Club of Detroit for their bravery and service in saving a Southfield resident from an apartment fire.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
We take our safety and security very seriously here in Southfield.
· According to our Police Chief, we saw a reduction in serious crimes last year in Southfield by 7.6 percent.
· The TOTAL reduction in crimes was 10.9 percent. Almost unheard of in these tough economic times!
· We responded to an urgent community need and authorized the police department to reinstate the position of animal warden to assist Southfield residents with animal-related problems on their property or within their immediate living space.
· Animal warden services include: animal bite complaints, vicious, stray or wild animal concerns, barking dogs, dead animal removal, and animal cruelty cases.
· We welcome aboard Animal Warden Robert White!
Fire Department
Southfield continues to work to find resources that upgrade safety equipment and training.
· In 2009, the Southfield Fire Department was successful in securing three federal grants from the Department of Homeland Security to fund a Fire Safety Trailer used for education and prevention; a video conferencing system; and new diesel exhaust systems.
Military – Community Covenant
Southfield CARES about its military personnel!
· In September, the City entered into a Military – Community Covenant with the U.S. Department of the Army and the Army Reserve Base located in Southfield.
· The covenant shows our commitment to support and sustain our local military community.
Southfield Goes Green
When it comes to being a green city, Southfield is walking the walk.
· The City has a long history of preserving green spaces and enacting ordinances that protect the environment.
· Southfield has been a proud Tree City USA Award recipient for the past 25 years.
· Southfield is also a cool city, recognized by the Sierra Club’s national campaign to ‘Solve Global Warming One City at a Time.’
· The City launched the Southfield Goes Green environmental awareness campaign and featured a revamped “green” City Web site.
· The campaign is designed to provide ideas and tips to preserve the health of the environment.
· Green cities don’t just happen by accident. They are the result of an entire community—its residents, businesses and government—working together to create an environmentally-friendly and sustainable city.
NEW COMMUNICATION VEHICLES / SOCIAL MEDIA
· We are in a global communication market and to be competitive we must enhance all methods of communication.
· We can no longer rely solely on traditional media outlets or city newsletters to get our message out.
· As a result, the City developed and launched a LinkedIn City profile page and a Facebook City fan page in 2009 to further promote Southfield in a convenient and cost-effective manner.
· Both sites are used to communicate timely information about the City to targeted audiences for virtually no cost.
· The City has received very positive feedback from our fans such as:
o “I've lived all over. There's still no place like Southfield. If you're lucky enough to live there right now, don't leave! The grass is NOT greener elsewhere.”
o “The City of Southfield is beautiful. We have loved it since 1997. We are proud of our community. I live here, work here and worship here.”
o “Wow! What a wonderful idea. Posting road closure info on Facebook to the City of Southfield friends. Hats off to you Southfield!”
· I encourage all of you who are Facebook users to become “fans” of the City because we want to hear from you.
· Feel free to contact me on Facebook as well.
PARKS & RECREATION
New Heated Tees at Beech Woods
· You can now swing your clubs year-round!
· The city of Southfield, in partnership with NR Golf, Inc., opened the new heated golf tees driving range at Beech Woods Golf Course last year.
· The course now includes 50-tees with 27 heated and a PGA Professional on staff.
· If you work in Southfield, you are treated as family when you purchase your Business Leisure Cards because it entitles you to use Southfield recreation facilities at resident rates.
LIBRARY
· We are a trendsetter when it comes to our state-of-the-art Southfield Public Library.
· In 2009, the Library checked out over nearly 700,000 books and movies to the community, 100,000 more than in 2008.
· The Library welcomed over 800,000 guests in 2009, that’s over 125,000 more guests than in 2008.
· Acknowledging our large business base, the Library’s Business Start-Up Center, provides resources to help your business succeed.
PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL
· Located in the Cornerstone district, Providence Hospital continues to be a world-class healthcare institution, celebrating 100 years of medical excellence.
· The hospital’s staff and physicians have been dedicated to healing the bodies and touching the souls of thousands each year.
· They were again named a Top 100 /Cardiovascular Hospital.
· They were designated as a Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Center of Excellence and received the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Improving Care in the Hospital and in the Emergency Room
· Let’s give them a round of applause and show our appreciation for their 100 years care in the community.
CURB APPEAL
· Despite our challenges with vacant homes and foreclosures, we have fought back with code enforcement programs like Two Kids and a Truck, cutting grass, removing litter and monitoring and maintaining vacant property.
· We will NOT allow our city to decline!
· We remain committed to maintaining high appearance standards and encourage you to call Eyes on Southfield at 796-EYES, 24/7 should you observe a potential code or appearance issue.
· We are committed to curb appeal and I would like to thank Code Enforcement Director Gerry Witkowski (Wit-tow-ski) and his team for the great job they do in helping to maintain the City’s appearance.
· Join us in the fight to preserve and protect the beauty of our city!
SOUTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
· Southfield's Public Schools have restructured to meet the demanding needs of today while they continue to shape the leaders of tomorrow.
· The Birney Future City team took first place locally and fifth place nationally in a competition that challenges 7th and 8th grade students to design a city of the future and describe how it works.
· At the conclusion of the competition the students even got the chance to meet President Obama at the White House!
· McIntyre Elementary School was named a Blue Ribbon School by the Department of Education Exemplary School Recognition Program, declaring it one of the best in the state.
· MacArthur K-8 University Academy received an Excellence in Education Award for its exemplary programs and partnerships and for its turnaround in student performance.
· University High School Academy was nominated as an Oakland Press & Oakland County Top Educational Program.
· In addition to a host of rigorous honors courses, the students are also studying Chinese.
· Several students even went on an exchange trip to China last summer while others had the opportunity to participate in the Confucius Institute at Wayne State University.
· Michael Frasier of S-LHS is a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist for 2010 – congratulations to him and his proud grandfather Councilman Myron Frasier!
PROPOSED INITIATIVES
· Cities across America cannot continue to operate as islands to themselves, despite their personal desire.
· We can only survive if we develop new ways of doing business.
· In these increasingly difficult economic times, I call for more regional cooperation and resource sharing among cities and counties when and where possible.
· It’s been said that “it takes team work, to make the dream work.” Southfield, we are fighting for your American dream!
· I believe that it is now more important than ever that we (the leaders in this room) begin to work together to find new and innovative ways to deal with this economic crisis as a region focused on our very survival.
· Success CAN be attained through mutual cooperation AND mutual responsibility.
· Collectively as a region, I believe that we can be stronger and therefore must present a unified front to Lansing and Washington in responding to our needs here in southeast Michigan.
· Therefore, I will be calling on the mayors and city managers throughout southeast Michigan to come together to find the best practices to pool resources and collaborate together to attack this financial crisis.
MAYOR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
· I would like to highlight the Mayor’s Walks. To date, the Walks have focused primarily on adults.
· I would like to expand this effort to also include our young people with a new program geared towards Southfield youth.
· Too many young people today do not eat balanced, healthy meals or get enough exercise. And I don’t think that video games or texting their friends cut it.
· I will sponsor a series of summer health and fitness clinics that will be fun, educational, inspiring and will challenge our young people (K - 8) to get off the couch and become more fit and active.
· I encourage each of you to join us in creating a healthier lifestyle for ourselves and our young people.
· In closing, it is my esteemed pleasure and honor to serve as the Mayor of this great City and I pledge to continue to meet our challenges head on.
· The City of Southfield, much like the United States of America, was built upon a solid foundation that can and will weather this storm.
· I believe that as the economy begins to gradually recover that Southfield will be a stronger city as a result of the current economic trials that we all must presently endure.
· It may not be tomorrow, but rest assured we will persevere and prosper again thanks to the vision, dedication and tenacity of each of you in this room.
· My Grandparents often spoke and reflected upon their struggles during the Great Depression.
· As I recall their words of experience and wisdom, they did not speak with anger, they did not speak with regret, but rather they spoke with a sense of PRIDE.
· They were proud that they survived, they were proud of the lessons that they learned. They often used words like:
· “Always have cash on hand, don’t borrow against your future, always protect your credit, it may be your last hope.”
· “Turn off the lights, don’t waste” and they would ask, “do you really need to have that to survive?”
· I believe that the history books will remember this as a time in America and the state of Michigan when we were faced with one of the greatest economic challenges ever.
· I am sure that history will reflect that our national consumer practices and greed contributed to our current challenges.
· Some experts will probably state, that all of our watchdogs in government and Wall Street were asleep at the wheel.
· However, what history will ALSO write about is how WE (the leaders in this room) managed this crisis and whether our leadership enabled us to survive and rebuild as first a city, then a state, and finally a nation.
· It is in our collective hands today to turn this city, this state and this nation around!
· But, we need all hands on deck!
· While this speech is a report on our city, it is also a CELEBRATION of our RESILIENCE as Southfielders.
· There is a popular scripture that says, “Let us not be weary in doing what is good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out.”
· So, let us keep working until our work is done!
· We are DOERS and WE CAN meet these challenges with even greater effort and cooperation.
· Let us view this address as a call to service to FIGHT for Southfield!
· We SEE the need and we HEAR the call! Let us all roll up our sleeves and together ANSWER that call!
· May God bless you, your families and the City of Southfield!