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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-0106 MAYOR'S ADDRESS..~sLIYOR MEDARIS' ADDRESS - City Council ~!eeting January 6, 1981 IT IS WITH A DEEP FEELING OF GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY THAT I BEGIN MY TERM AS MAYOR OF ASHLAND. FIRST, PERMIT ME TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO EVERY- ONE WHO SUPPORTED ME IN OUR SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN AND ESPECIALLY THE MEMBERS OF MY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE AND THE MANY, MANY DEDICATED WORKERS WHO GAVE OF THEIR TIME AND TALENTS SO GENEROUSI,Y. IT IS MY EARNEST DESIRE TO DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS MAYOR IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO REPRESENT AND BE RESPONSIVE TO ALL CITIZENS OF ASHLAND. THEREFORE I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL JOIN TOGETHER IN A CONCENTP, ATED, DEDICATED AND UNIFIED EFFORT IN KEEPING ASHLAND A DESIR- ABLE AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE~r] I'M SURE MOST OF YOU KNOW THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE ASHLAND SO ATTRACTIVE TO "OUT OF TOf~ERS" WHO ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE HERE FROM CALIFORNIA, THE MIDWEST, THE EAST ETC., BUT FOR THE UNINFORMED AND TO REFRESH ALL OUR MEMORIES, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME FACTUAL DATA WHICH MAKES ASHLAND SUCH A UNIQUE AND DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE. 1. ASHLAND'S CLIMATE, GEOGRAPHIC SETTING (MTS., LAKES, RIVERS, OCEAN- ALL ONLY A SHORT DRIVE FROM ASHLAND), AMERICA'S FIRST ELIZABETHAN THEATRE AND TIlE SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL (WHICH CONTRIBUTES $16 MILLION TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY ANNUALLY) PLAYING TO OVER 1/4 MILLION PATRONS YEARLY, MAKING TOUR- ISM OUR LARGEST INDUSTRY. SOSC WITH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 STUDENTS CONTRIBUTES OVER $32 MILLION TO OUR ECONOMY ANNUALLY -- SPECIFICALLY, SOSC PAID THE CITY NEARLY $200,000 IN 1979 FOR ELECTRICITY, WATER AND SEWER CHARGES AND SINCE WE TAKE 1/3 OF ELECTRIC REVENUE TO SUPPORT OUR GENERAL FUND, THE COLLEGE CONTRIBUTEDAPPROXIMATELY $55,000 IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF CITY SERVICES, POLICE, FIRE, STREETS, ETC. NATIONALLY FAMOUS LITHIA PARK, THE RESTORATION OF WHICH IS PROGRESSING NICELY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PARKS DIRECTOR KEN MIKEL- SON AND THE PARKS COM>IISSION ATTRACTS VISITORS FROM MILES AROUND. YES ALL OF THESE PLUS ASHLAND'S HISTORY, STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENTAL FINANCE, DIVERSE TO CULTURES AND ECONOMIC BASE COMBINED/HAKE ASHLAND A CO.~D~IJNITY WITIt A CHARACTER ALL IT"S OWN. 2. THERE ARE SEVERAL ECONOMIC FACTS THAT CONTRIBUTE SUBSTANTIALLY TOWARD MAKING ASHLAND AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE: COMBINING OUR CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE AND ELECTRIC RATE, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE OUT OF FIFTY OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN OREGON ~-{ERE IT'S CHEAPER TO LIVE. THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT NEARLY 40% OF THE PROPERTY IN TIlE CITY IS NOT ON THE TAX ROLLSZ! THIS FACT HAS TRADITIONALLY DISCOURAGED THE CITY FROM RELYING HEAVILY ON PROPERTY TAX AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE. ~..,jTHER BRIGtiT SPOT IN OUR CITY'S FINANCIAL PICTURE IS THE FACT THAT A'i. THE END OF LAST JULY THE CITY'S BONDED DEBT WAS ONLY $1,470,000 WHICH IS EXCEEDINGLY LOW. ONLY $ 80,000 OF THIS AMOUNT IS SUBJECT TO OUR BONDED DEBT LIMITATION UNDER ORS 287.004 AND REPRESENTS ONLY 1% OF THE CITY'S LEGAL CAPACITY OF BONDED INDEBTEDNESS. THERE MAY BE A FEW OTHER CITIES IN OREGON WITH LESS BONDED INDEBTEDNESS BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. I DO KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES ARE UP TO, OR CLOSE TO EXCEEDING THEIR LEGAL BONDED EXPOSURE LIMITATION~% TWO OTHER FACTS THAT HAVE CON- TRIBUTED TO THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE CITY ARE: 1) THE ~PPROXIMATE ASSESSED VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY HAS INCREASED FROM $64 MILLION TO $290 MILLION IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, AN INCREASE OF 353%~r 2) THE CITY PROPERTY TAX HAS DECLINED FROM $3.94 to $2.10 DURING THE SAME PERIOD, A DECREASE OF ABOUT 47%. I FEEL THAT WE ALL OWE A SPECIAL VOTE OF THANKS TO FORMER MAYOR PRICKETT, CITY COUNCILS, BUDGET COmmITTEES AND OUR CITY STAFF, FINANCE DIRECTOR BOB NELSON IN PARTICULAR FOR THE WISE JUDGMENT AND EFFECTIVE HANDLING OF THE CITY'S FINANCES RESULTING IN A STRONG, HEALTHY ECONOMIC CONDITION THE CITY ENJOYS TODAY. THE NEW CITY ADMINISTRATION IS FACED WITH A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE TO KEEP OUR CITY FINANCIALLY STRONG ~ILEtPROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS. WE WILL BE CALLED UPON IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO MAKE SOME CRITICAL DECISIONS WHICH COULD AFFECT THE FISCAL STABILITY OF THE CITY FOR THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS. BY FAR THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM FACING THE CITY TODAY IS THE NEGOTIATION OF A NEW POWER CONTRACT WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO CONTIN'UE SUPPORTING THE GENERAL FUND WITH ELECTRIC REVENUE. SINCE THE PRESENT CONTRACT WITH PP&L EXPIRES IN FEBRUARY OF 1982, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT WE WILL HAVE A "SHORT FALL" OF ABOUT $180,000 IN OUR GENERAL FUND FOR 81-82. IF WE HAVE TO CONTINUE PURCHASING POWER FROM PP&L AT A NEW CONTRACT PRICE OF DOUBLE AND POSSIBLY MORE, THE PRESENT PRICE OF 7 mills, WE WILl, NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND WITH A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM OUR ELECTRIC REVENUE. THIS WOULD POSSIBLY NECESSITATE THE CITY'S HAVING TO REDUCE POLICE, FIRE AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES NOW BEING SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND. HOWEVER, WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE NORTHWEST POWER BILL WE ARE HOPEFUL OF NEGOTIATING A FAVORABLE CONTP~CT WITH BONNEVILLE POWER. THE INITIAL INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED IS ENCOURAGING TOWARD OUR BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE SOME OF OUR PRESENT ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES IN TRANSFERRNG 1/3 OF THE ELECTRIC REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND. LET ME HASTEN TO SAY, THAT THE NORTHWEST BILL IS VERY COMPLEX AND WILL TAKE DEEP STUDY AND ANALYSIS AND SERIOUS NEGOTIATION BEFORE WE WILL KNOW WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO MJlNTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE GENERAL FUND. b~iNG THE OPTIMIST THAT I AM, I BELIEVE T[~T WE WILL BE ABLE TO SIGN A POWER CONTRACT WHICH WILL MEET OUR FINANCIAL NEEDS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. TIlE NEXT MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM I THINK TIlE CITY IS FACED WITH IS OF NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE. CONTINUING ESCALATION OF INFLATION, POPULATIEic GROWTH, GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION AND OTHER FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL MArE IT IMPERATIVE FOR THE CITY TO FIND AND IMPLEMENT NEW SOURCES OF REVENLE WE ARE TO CONTINUE FURNISHING AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF ALL ESSENTIAL SERV!CZ~ TO OUR CITIZENS. FINANCE DIRECTOR BOB NELSON INCLUDED IN THE PRELIMINARY CITY BUDGET SEVERAL PAGES OF POSSIBLE NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE CI?Y. SOME OF THESE ARE VERY REALISTIC AND DESIRABLE SOURCES OF NEW REVEHUE I PERSONALLY RECOMMEND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEM. I WOULD AT THIS TI>% SPECIFICALLY RECOMMEND Z~O NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE - THE FIRST WOULD BE A CITY VEHICLE TAX APPLICABLE TO ALL AUTOMOBILES AND TRUCKS OWneD AND OPEFjrZZ BY ALL RESIDENTS OF ASHLAND. IF ENACTED, THE REVENUE FROM THIS YEARLY C~'~' AUTO LICENSE WOULD BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PAVING AND MAINTENANCE OY CITY STREETS. THIS BEING A SERVICE CHARGE OR "USER TAX" WOULD BE ACCEPrAiLi BY MOST PEOPLE. I RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY ORDINANCE, WHEN WRITTEN, INCLrZE PRO+ISION THAT EACH AUTOMOBILE AND TRUCK PASS A MANDATORY AUTO EMISSIO~ TEST BEFORE THE LICENSE COULD BE ISSUED. I REALIZE IMPLEMENTATION PROCEri~E MUST BE FORMULATED AND EVEN SOME LEGISLATION PASSED BEFORE WE CAN START SELLING CITY AUTO LICENSES, BUT I THINK IT IS A VERY FEASIBLE PLAN. TiE CITY NEEDS THE NEW REVENUE AND THE CITY OF ASHLAND SHOULD BE THE FIRST ENACT A MANDATORY EXI~AUST EMISSION TEST FOR ALL PASSENGER CARS AND TRUC!CS IN OUR CITY. ANOTHER SOURCE OF NEW REVENUE (OR ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROi,% PRESENT SOURCES) IS AVAILABLE FROM UPGRADING AND UPDATING SYSTEMS CI~RGES RELATING TO THE BUILDING INDUSTRY. HERE'S ONE EXAMPLE - SINCE THE 50'S THE CITY HAS BEEN CHARGING ONLY 1¢ PER SQUARE FOOT FOR LAND ANNEXED TO Ti~Z CITY AND THIS WAS CONSIDERED A "BUY INTO" THE CITY WATER AND SEWER SYSTE-f. I THINK A SUBSTANTIAL RAISE IN THIS CHARGE IS LONG OVERDUE. I WOULD LIK_E TO SEE IT RAISED TO TEN OR TWELVE CENTS. ADEQUATE INCREASES IN PRESENT Ct~RGES FOR PROVIDING CITY WATER, SEWER AND ELECTRICITY TO NEW DEVELOPI,~lT7~ SI~OULD BE ENACTED BY THE START OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR JULY 1ST. WITH EVEL'! PRIVILEGE THERE IS AN OBLIGATION, SO I BELIEVE TItAT PEOPLE WI~O MOVE INTG DESIRABLE CITY SHOULD PAY THEIR RIGHTFUL SHARE. THESE DEVELOPMENT CRARGEi ARE NEEDED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUE NOW AND IN YEARS TO COME AND I ENDORSE TttEM WHOLEHEARTEDLY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCE! OF NEW REVENUE LISTED IN THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET BY FINANCE DIRECTOR NELSCi7 THAT I ENDORSE BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I WILL NOT DISCUSS THEM NOW. WITH YOUR INDULGENCE. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE THE FINANCIAL DISCUSSION WITH THESE REMARKS TAKEN FROM THE LETTER FROM GERALD W. BURNS, THE CPA FIRM WHO HAS JUST COMPLETED AN ANNUAL AUDIT OF THE CITY'S BOOKS. I QUOTE "WE PERFORMED OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES AND FOUND THE BOOKS AND RECORDS WELL MAINTAINEDIAND ACCURATE. WE FOL~D DISBURSEMENTS ~RE MADE FOR AUTHORIZED PURPOSES AND THE EXPENDITURES RECORDED IN THE PROPER ACCOUNTS. WE ALSO FOUND THE BANK ACCOUNTS TO BE WELL MANAGED AND IN AGREEMENT WITH THE BOOKS. IN ADDITION, WE BELIEVE THE CITY HAS A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND HAS EARlNED A RFJSONABLE RATE OF RETI~N ON ITS INVESTED FUNDS. THE CITY ALSO PERFORMED WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS ON IT BY THE ADOPTED BUDGET." THOSE WORDS FROM THE CITY AUDITOR CALLS FOR A SINCERE VOTE OF THANKS TO BRIAN ALMQUIST, BOB NELSON AND THE ENTIRE CITY STAFF FOR ~ETING THEIR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY SO CAPABLY~:~ SPEAKING OF CITY STAFF, I WOULD BE REMISS SINCE I HAVE MENTIONED ALMQUIST AND NELSON, IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE BERNIE KRUG, ELECTRIC SUPT., AND HIS FINE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SPLENDID JOB THEY DO AND ESPECIALLY THEIR OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECORDS REPRESENTING 15 Y'EARS WITHOUT A DAY OF LOST TIME DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS RECORD IS EVEN MORE PHENOMENAL CONSIDERING THE ttlGHLY HAZARDOUS OCCUPATION. AL ALSING, DIR- ECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIS DEPARTMENT ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND EFFECTIVE HANDLING OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES. I WAS ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED BY THE WAY ED FALLON AND HIS WATER QUALITY DIVISION ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE i~ST SUMMER WHEN A SERIOUS WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN SECTION OF THE CITY. BY WORKING "ROUND THE CLOCK" ADJUSTING VALVES AND TIEING IN A LARGE 16" LINE WITH A 12" LINE AT TEKRA & PARK STREETS THE PROBLEM WAS ALLEVIATED. PLANNING DIRECTOR JOHN FREGONESE AND HIS STAFF ARE DOING A FINE JOB IN HANDLING DAILY LAND USE ~%TTERS AND ALSO IN MEETING THEIR RESPONSIBIL!rf OF PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. I HAVE ASKED JOltN TO WORK ON AND PRESS FOR LCDC APPROVAL OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS HIS FIRST PRIORITY. ANOTttER TOP PRIORITY FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS COMPLETION OF A C.I.P. WHICH INCLUDES UPGRADING OF THE CITY WATER SYSTEM, A STREET TRANSPORTATION PLAN (I~HICH INCLUDES AN ON & OFF RAMP AT MOUNTAIN AVENUE), A DOWNTOWN PARKING FACILITY, STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION, HOSPITAL EXPANSION AND EXPANSION OF PARKS & CITY BUILDINGS. THIS IS A BIG ORDER FOR Tile PLANNING DEPARTMENT BUT UNDER JOHN'S DIRECTION I THINK IT CAN BE DONE. THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT UNDER TttE CAPABLE GUIDANCE OF CHIEF Y KING, AIDED BY TRAINING OFFICER DAVID ttARLACHER IS BECOMING A . EFFECTIVE FORCE IN THE COMMUNITY. I t~VE ISSUED A CI~LLENGE TO CHIEF KINC: TO IMPROVE ASRLAND'S RATING FROM THE PRESENT "4" TO "3"Z I RAVE PURPOSELY LEFT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL LAST TO DISCUSS BECAUSE OUR CITY HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION:I MA~OR CRIMES HAVE INCREASED 75% IN OUR CITY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS!I:~ IN 1969 THERE WERE 553 MAJOR CRIMES REPORTED IN ASHLAND; IN 1979 THERE WERE 965 MAJOR CRIMES REPORTED IN OUR CITY. TOTAL COMPLAINTS INCREASED FROM 4,511 IN '69 TO 11,549 IN '79 156%~ THE CITY SUFFERED THIS DRAMATIC INCREASE IN CRIME YET THE POPULATION GROWTH WAS ONLY 27%??? ASHLAND, OF COURSE, IS NOT ALONE IN THIS DUBIOUS STATISTIC -- MAJOR CRIME IS ON A DRAMATIC INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE NATION. LOS ANGELES COUNTY REPORTED A NEW RECORD OF OVER 2,000 HOMICIDES FOR LAST YEAR, AN ALL-TiME RECORD FOR THE "CITY OF ANGELS" AND g~URROUNDING ARI~ OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA REPORTED OVER 200 MURDERS FOR LAST YEAR, A NEW RECORD FOR THAT TEEMING NORTHE~q CALIFORNIA METROPOLIS LESS THAN 500 MILES SOUTH OF ASHLAND. YES, I AM VERY CONCERNED OVER THE INCREASED ERIME IN OUR CITY AS ARE MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN, INCLUDING POLICE CHIEF VIC LIVELY AND ALL OF HIS POLICE OFFICERS. WE BELIEVE, AND HAVE SOME EVIDENCE THAT SOME OF THE INCREASE IN OUR CRIME IS DUE TO TRANSIENTS PASSING THROUGH TOWN AND NEW ARRIVALS WHO UPON VISITING ASHLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME, ALTHOUGH UNE~LOI ED, DECIDE TO STAY. WE WELCOME ALL LAW ABIDING VISITORS WHO PARTICIPATE IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMY, BUT ~ SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE NOR ACCOMMODATE UNDESIRABLE VISITORS TO OUR CITY WHO DO NOT RESPECT NOR ADHERE TO OUR CITY'S CRIMINAL CODE. SOME OF OUR ORDINANCES ARE BROKEN REGULARLY. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE VISITORS TO THE CITY WHO SLEEP IN LITHIAPARK NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. ALTHOUGH SLEEPING OR OVERNIGHT CAMPING IN OUR CITY PARKS IS FORBIDDEN BY CITY CODE # 10.68.230. I COULD QUOTE YOU OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE THE CITY'S CRIMINAL CODE IS BEING VIOLATED, BUT DUE TO LACK OF TIME I CAN'T GO INTO MORE DETAIl THE POINT I WISH TO MAKE IS THAT STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF ALL CITY LAWS IS MANDATORY IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER IN OUR CITY. STRICT ENFORCE- MENT IS THE VERY FOUNDATION TO MAINTAINING LAW & ORDER. PERMISSIVE ENFORCE- MENT WILL ERODE THE FOUNDATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RESULTING IN ANARCHY WITH THE CRIMINAL IN CONTROL OF OUR CITY. I DON'T WANT TRAT TO H~PPEN, AND I DON'T THINK THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS DO EITHER. PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD AND MUST TAKE PRECEDENT OVER ALL OTHER SERVICES FURNISHED OUR CITIZE: WE HAVE A FINE POLICE DEPARTMENT LED VERY CAPABLY BY CttlEF VIC LIVELY, HOW- EVER, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDERSTAFFED. THE DEPARTMENT }~S 22 SWORN ~SONNEL, YET THE F.B. I. ' S RECOMMENDATION CALLS ONCE NEW CRIME FIGURES ARE RELEASED AND ANALYZED, FOR 23. IT COULD B~ ~,~A'F THE RECOMMENDATION WOLFLD CALL FOR EVEN MORE CERTIFIED OFFICERS. WE MUST ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH STRONG AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SO I AM RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY'S P.D. BE STRENGTHENED BY THE ADDITION OF ONE OR TWO MORE CERTIFIED FULL TIME OFFICERS. I REALIZE I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THAT THE GENERAL FUND, FROM WHICH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FUNDED COULD POSSIBLY EXPERIENCE A $186,000 "SHORTFALL" in '81-82 BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT THE BUDGET COI~ITTEE WILL ADDRESS TIllS PROBLEM IN THE SAME SERIOUS MANNER THAT I HAVE DEFINED IT AND INCREASE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. I t~VE RECObD~ENDE TO CItlEF LIVELY THAT WE ESTABLISH A WALKING BEAT IN THE DOWNTOWN & PLAZA AREA STAFFED BY A FULL TIME UNIFORMED POLICEMAN. I ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THE LITHIA PARK PATROL BE INCREASED TO ENFORCE ALL CITY CODES RELATING TO CITY PARKS. THE CITIZENS OF ASHLAND DESERVE STRONG EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCE- MENT AND I SINCERELY HOPE THE CITY BUDGET COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL AGREE. I ALSO RECOmmEND THAT THE RESERVE POLICE OFFICER PROGRAM BE ENLARGED TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE POLICE PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY. I WOULD CERTAINLY BE REMISS WERE I NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE FINE JOB BOB STROWBRIDGE, ADMINISTRATOR, AND THE SPLENDID MEDICAL STAFF OF THE ASHLAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL HAVE DONE IN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE DONE THIS FINE JOB IN SPITE OF "RUN-AWAY" INFLATION, RISING MEDICARE & MEDICAID AND MILES & MILES OF COSTLY GOVERNMENT RED TAPE. NOW THAT I HAVE PASSED OUT BOUQUETS GALORE TO CITY DEPARtmENT HEADS AND EMPLOYEES (IF THERE ARE SOME I SHOIID HAVE MENTIONED TtIAT I DIDN'T -- IT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL -- SO HOPEFULLY I'M FORGIVEN:~) i DO HOPE THAT YOU DON'T THINK THAT I THINK OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PERFECT AND THAT ALL ARE DOING THE BEST JOB THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOINGS: WE ALL IIAVE OUR FAULTS '- "HE WHO IS WITHOUT FAULT MAY CAST THE FIRST STONE." HOWEVER, I SINCERELl BELIEVE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE HONEST, HARD WORKING DEDICATED PEOPLE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE CITY ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN ALMQUIST AND EACH OF OUR CAPABLE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND IN THOSE AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD AND CAN BE MADE TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WE WILL ~KE EVERY ATTEMPT TO DO SO. IN SLFMMARY LET ME REITERATE THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS FACING THE CITY AND WHICH MUST BE RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE: 1. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING A DECEiqY CONTRACT, EITHER WITH BONNEVILLE POWER OR PP&L WHICH WILL ALLOW OUR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE SALE OF ELECTRICITY. 21 IMPLEMENTATION OF A CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH THE UPGF~DIN OF THE CITY WATER SYSTEM TO SUPPLY ADEQUATE WATER TO THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE CITY SO AS TO LIFT THE PRESENT MORATORIUM AS FIRST PRIORITY. 3. ENACT NEW ORDINANCES .AND OTHER PROCEDURES TO GENERATE NEW REVENUE FOR THE CITY'S GENERAL FgND. 4. STRENGTHENING OF POLICE & FIRE DEPARtmENTS TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR THE COMMUNITY. YES, AS STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS TALK, IT IS GOING TO BE A REAL CHALLENGE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FOR WE IN CITY GOVERNMENT TO KEEP ASHLAND THE DESIRABLE AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE THAT WE WANT IT TO BE. HOWEVER, WITH THE COOPERATION OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF OURCITY, I AM CONFIDENT THE CITY COUNCIL AND I, AND THE CITY STAFF, WORKING IN HARMONY CAN INDEED REACH OUR OBJECTIVES WHICH ARE SO VITAL TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND HAPPINESS OF ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY. AS PROMISED DURING THE CAMPAIGN, STARTING THIS THURSDAY MORNING AT 9 A.M., THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL BE OPEN TO ANY CITIZEN OF ASHLAND WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME IN AND DISCUSS CITY BUSINESS. YOUR COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS AND EVEN CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM WILL BE WELCOFZ. CITY HALL - IN REALITY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF ASHLAND -- SO EXERCISE YOi~ PRIVILEGE -- GET INVOLVED -- WE IN CITY GOVERNMENT REPRESENT YOU -- BUT I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT EACH OF yOUR WILL BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS -- WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN AND WILL SUCCEEDI AS A GREAT AND HONORED MARTfR ONCE SAID "AND SO MY FELLOW AMERICANS ASK NOT W~!AT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU - WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY". THANK YOUf: