HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-15 State of the City Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
State of the City Message
February 15, 2000
We heard a great deal during the past year about planning and preparing for the new
millennium. Should we be looking into the future a thousand years as we deliberate policy
matters for the City? In reality, we know that would be futile. We are certainly in no better
position to see or predict what the world may be like a thousand years from now than were the
people of the tenth century able to envision the world of today.
But it is appropriate in some aspects to look ahead through the 21st century and to anticipate
what sort of impact our actions today and in the next few years will have on the Iowa City of
2100 and beyond. After all, a portion of our water treatment facility is currently over 100 years
old and still supports its operation. Likewise, elements of our sewage collection system have
been in service for that same 100 years. And few would deny that land use and development
decisions we make today will affect Iowa City for many generations to come.
While we have not taken a millennial perspective in our policy deliberations, we have certainly
planned major projects for the community which will directly influence life in Iowa City through
the coming century. This year we will see major activity occurring with regard to these project.
We have awarded a contract for the construction of the new water treatment facility, the most
costly and certainly the most important component of the water system upgrade. Construction
will begin this spring and continue for nearly two and a half years to completion. Similarly, we
will award a contract later this evening for construction of a major new component to the South
Wastewater Treatment Plant. This upgrade will increase treatment capacity at that site and
eventually all Iowa City wastewater will be processed there. These projects are the culmination
of years of planning, design and incremental construction which will ultimately result in a vastly
expanded capacity on the part of the City to provide water for our citizens and to treat
wastewater accordingly. The water system will be, for all practical purposes, a new system with
vastly improved water quality. The total cost of these two projects will exceed $100 million.
These facilities will serve us for generations to come and are designed to be compatible with
any additional facilities that may be constructed to meet growing demands in the future. I would
not be surprised if at least some components of what we are building today will still be
operational 100 years from now.
Another area of focus for this and other City Councils over the past several years has been the
downtown. Significant renovation of the City Plaza pedestrian mall has drawn positive reactions
from many citizens. This year we will complete the downtown streetscape improvements in
those areas surrounding the pedestrian mall. We will also begin to reconstruct Iowa Avenue in
the 300 Block, a project which will eventually extend to Clinton Street, will include pedestrian
way improvements on both sides of the street, and will enhance the approach of the Old Capitol
from the east. The University of Iowa continues to be a major participant in both the planning
and the funding of this project having committed to a 1.5 million dollar contribution. We hope
that this concept for Iowa Avenue will be perceived by future generations as practical yet
insightful, making Iowa Avenue more functional, while at the same time restoring the Old Capitol
area much closer to what it was 100 years ago. We enjoy a partnership with the University in
this project as well as numerous others. The University is a major player in many of our
decisions and has proven to be sensitive to the needs of the entire community.
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Parking that is displaced by the reconstruction of Iowa Avenue will be accommodated in the
new parking facility which will occupy the upper floors of Tower Place, currently under
construction on the south side of the 300 Block of Iowa Avenue. This mixed-use facility will
provide commercial space at street level with a second story of commercial space along its Linn
Street frontage. It is designed to appear less like a parking garage and thus will be more
attractive and compatible with surrounding structures downtown. It will provide added parking
opportunities beyond those that existed in the area previously, and will hopefully present an
attractive and convenient parking alternative for downtown visitors.
In the near future we will have the opportunity to capitalize on the availability of federal money
which will fund 75% of a cost of a $12 million dollar Transportation Center in the Near Southside
Area adjacent to the downtown. This will be a mixed-use facility providing an inter-city ground
transportation depot, a daycare facility accessible via Iowa City Transit and convenient to the
downtown area, and space for other commercial uses as well as additional parking for the area.
I believe this facility will be a catalyst for further commercial development in the Near Southside
Area and will play an integral role in keeping the entire downtown active and inviting.
In a similar vein, we recently designated the Central Business District an urban revitalization
area. This will allow for the granting of tax abatement or other incentives to property owners who
wish to improve their properties within the district. Together, these initiatives will enhance
opportunities for new development as well as preserve existing assets in the downtown area.
There are numerous other projects we have recently undertaken. A few of these include the
new Parks Maintenance Building at Napoleon Park, the recently renovated Airport Terminal
Building, the ScanIon Gymnasium at Mercer Park, the Shakespearean Theater now under
construction in Lower City Park, and a variety of others which will enhance the City's
infrastructure and increase our ability to maintain quality services throughout the community.
While time does not permit me to list these individually, each is significant and represents a
distinct contribution to the future viability and vision of our city.
Just as we derive satisfaction from responding effectively to the needs and expectations of our
citizens, we also recognize the importance of addressing those needs that are yet unmet or for
which we must devote greater effort and attention. We have seen a negative impact on Iowa
City's retail community since the opening of the Coral Ridge Mall. Industrial and commercial
growth within the limits of Iowa City has been significant in recent years but not as extensive as
we would have liked to have seen. In recent years, we have been able to assist three local
businesses in expanding their operations in Iowa City by leveraging Community Economic
Betterment Account and New Job and Income Program funds. These expansions have yielded
a total of investment by National Computer Systems, Moore Business Forms, and Oral B
Laboratories of nearly $90 million in construction and equipment. In addition to this sizeable
capital investment, these three firms have added a substantial number of new jobs and their
annual payroll has increased accordingly, The capital investment is a one time expenditure, but
the new jobs are an ongoing benefit to this community. Our cost in matching funds or loans or
short-term tax abatement are negligible by comparison and are a worthwhile investment for the
benefit gained. Such investments by these businesses represent a commitment to their future in
Iowa City, solidifying their presence here and adding new economic opportunities for the
community.
Despite successes like these, there remains vacant prime commercial space and industrial land
in Iowa City and we believe the City Council should assume a stronger, more aroactive role in
marketing the commercial and industrial opportunities that exist here. Council will include in the
upcoming three-year financial plan a total of $2.5 million to enhance our economic development
efforts. 80% of these funds will be earmarked for capital expenditures aimed at creating
opportunities for prospective businesses to locate in Iowa City or to expand their existing
operations here. We will work in conjunction with the Iowa City Area Development Group to take
advantage of our regional assets as we build on our existing industrial and commercial tax base.
This initiative could focus on the sale and development of industrial land such as currently exists
in southeast Iowa City, the redevelopment of sites like the Sycamore Mall area, and
development initiatives in the downtown and near southside areas, just to name a few. This
initiative addresses a pressing need for this City government to strengthen our economic base
and to attract new jobs and opportunities to the community.
Regardless of what programs and initiatives we undertake as a City Council, there is one
overriding mandate that never changes. The charge that you give to us and to this entire City
government operation is to serve you as well as we possibly can. You entrust us with policy
making authority, including the establishing of tax policies, and you expect and demand that our
actions effectively respond to the needs and desires of the community at large.
There is a certain satisfaction enjoyed by each Council Member in winning an election - it's just
human nature. However, we and the public would do well to recognize that the vast majority of
the people in this community did not vote for any of one of us. Consequently, we as a Council
must temper our actions to reflect the best interest of the entire community - not just the
opinions of the less than 10% of the eligible voters that elected us. Responsibility to the
community requires vision for the long run while being sensitive to the interests of small groups.
Conversely, you as a citizens must realize, and hopefully appreciate, that what you perceive as
your best interests do not necessarily represent the best interest of the entire community. We
are charged with looking at the big picture and must make the pieces fit into the larger puzzle.
Hopefully our actions will continue to reflect the vision and wisdom which has made our
community such a wonderful place to live, work, raise our children and most important, preserve
for our grandchildren.
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