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Mayor Rogero's State of the City

Transcript of Mayor Madeline Rogero's State of the City Address

Proposed Budget for City of Knoxville's Fiscal Year 2016-2017

April 27, 2016
Zoo Knoxville


Thank you so much, Vice Mayor Duane Grieve. Good afternoon!

A State of the City address at the Zoo just wouldn't be complete if we didn't include some of our animal friends. So I've invited Zoo Knoxville's famous African Grey parrot to join me on the stage, along with her trainer, Adam Patterson. Come on up.


Mayor Madeline Rogero and Einstein the talking African grey parrot from Zoo Knoxville
Hello there, what’s your name? “Einstein”

Aw, come on, don’t be shy, introduce yourself! “Sings Einstein”

Einstein, isn’t it a beautiful day to be alive and in East Tennessee? “YEEEEEE HAW!”

We all enjoyed the animals greeting us as we arrived. Thank you, Einstein, for hosting us on this beautiful day at the Zoo.  

The construction of Tiger Forest is really impressive.  I can’t wait to see those beautiful Malayan tigers in their new home.  

Einstein, can you tell our guests what the cats will say when they move in? “Meow”  

Meow??  I think you have the wrong kind of cat.  I’m talking about tigers, from the jungle. “Growl”  

Yeah, that’s more like it.  

We appreciate everything happening here at Zoo Knoxville – it’s a treasure for our city  and a destination attraction for tourists.  

Einstein, will you help me recognize a few people that are with us today? “Are you ready?”

I’m ready!  

Let’s give another shout out to our City Council members who are here today, starting with Vice Mayor Duane Grieve, our emcee, and Councilman and former mayor Dan Brown who represents this district.  

We have a pretty outstanding City Council, Einstein.  Aren’t they great? “WEEEEEEEEEE!”  

And I’m very impressed with Lisa New, executive director of the Zoo. Before she was director, do you know what animals she worked with? (chimpanzee sound)

In fact, the Zoo Board is doing great things and raising private funds to build out the Zoo master plan.  I want to thank all of them.

The chair of the Zoo Board, Eddie Mannis, former Deputy to the Mayor and my friend, is well loved here at the zoo, too, isn’t he? He’s famous. “Superstar!”

Yes, he’s a local celebrity all over town.  

I am honored that Rev. Dr. John Butler and his wife Rev. Donna Butler joined us today.  You know how they feel about all the animals, don’t you, Einstein? “We’re special”.  

Yes, you are special.  They are pretty special too.  

Thanks to the Police Dept. Honor Guard for presentation of the colors.  Weren’t they impressive, just like a roller coaster? “Whoooaaaaaaa!”

I know, I thought they were wonderful, too.  

And those students from Beaumont who led the pledge of allegiance. Weren’t they great?  “Latino tongue roll”  

Thanks to Michael Rodgers for singing our national anthem.  It was absolutely beautiful. Einstein, do you sing? “Fig a roow….la la la”

That’s great. Maybe next year, we’ll have you sing the anthem.  

We really appreciate the wonderful lunch today from All Occasions Catering. Einstein, what did you think of the food? “Burp”

Well, I guess you liked it, but that’s kind of rude.“Bad Bird”  

Oh, you’re not a bad bird. You might just need to work on your table manners.  

Mayor Tim Burchett is here. I am glad for your friendship, Mayor, and our ability to work so well together.  Einstein, have you met Mayor Burchett? “Hi Sweetheart”

Einstein, Mayor Burchett’s smart and beautiful wife Kelly is also here.  “wolf whistle”  

I want to introduce you to my family.  First, my husband, Gene Monaco. Einstein, have you ever met Gene? “Hey baby”  

Well, yes, he is handsome and I give him a kiss every night. “kiss sound”  

My daughter Carmen is also here. Children are pretty special, don’t you agree? “They’re special.”

Einstein, I work with some incredible people. I want to particularly recognize my senior leadership team.  

Bill Lyons – Deputy to the Mayor and Chief Policy Officer
Christi Branscom – Deputy to the Mayor and COO
Charles Swanson – Law Director
Police Chief David Rausch
Fire Chief Stan Sharp
David Brace – Sr. Director of Public Works
Jim York – Sr. Director of Finance
Avice Reid – Sr. Director of Community Relations

A very special recognition goes to my executive assistant Terry Alexander.  

Einstein, what would I do without this wonderful staff? “Wah, Wah, Wah”  

You are right, I’d cry like a baby.  

Now it’s time for me to give my State of the City address.“whistling spiral with splat at the end”  

Oh, come on Einstein, it’s not that boring, is it? “Eeeewwww”  

But we got so much great momentum and I’ve got some fantastic initiatives to announce. What do you think about that? “Oh my gah, oh my gah, oh my gah!”

You are right! It is exciting.  

Well, Einstein, thanks so much for helping me get started. What do you want to say to all the nice people? “I love you!”  

We love you, too, Einstein, and all your animal friends here at Zoo Knoxville.  

I guess it’s time for you to go. “Good bye”  



STATE OF THE CITY

Mayor Madeline Rogero

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This year, we celebrate 225 years of Knoxville history.  It was back in 1791 that the city of Knoxville was founded by James White.  

Can you blame James White and his family for wanting to live in the heart of this beautiful valley, in the foothills of these gorgeous mountains, and at the headwaters of the Tennessee River?  

But as I said at my second term inauguration back in December, they didn’t have to build a city here. This was an entirely voluntary effort, to encourage development and settlement, to establish a center of trade and regional governance. 

Knoxville was created as an act of collective will, and it exists today as an extension of that collective effort. 

Now, 225 years later, Knoxville is in strong shape.  We have a healthy and growing economy.  Our unemployment rate is 4.0% -- down from 5.5% last year and lower than both the state of Tennessee and the United States.  Building permits for construction in the city last year were up 41% from the previous year, and the highest in eight years.

In fact, you may have noticed that our streets and sidewalks are full of orange cones and detours. This is a good sign – really!  We are seeing major public and private investment– from KUB digging up the streets for new water lines; to TDOT road projects; to the University of Tennessee’s $1 billion construction campaign; and the city’s numerous road, streetscape, parks, greenways, and facility enhancements. 

While many cities and states across this country are failing to upgrade their crumbling infrastructure, we have taken a different track – we know that investing in infrastructure now, will position us for a stronger economy in the future.  

Our strategy is to strategically invest public dollars to maximize private investment. And we are already seeing the results with major private investments like hospital expansions, and the redevelopment of our old historic buildings as well as new construction for both residential, office, and commercial. 

For example, just last night City Council approved a PILOT for a $45 million dollar, mixed-use development on what is now a surface parking lot on Cumberland Avenue. Our investment in the Cumberland streetscapes project was specifically cited as the impetus for this new, significant private investment.

So the next time your commute is slow or detoured because of construction, just nod your head and say “yes, this is a good thing!”  Learn to appreciate all those orange construction cones.  In fact, I have proclaimed the orange cone to be our new city flower.  So watch them spring up everywhere, and know that this is a sign of progress and investment in our city.  

THE PROPOSED BUDGET

As we begin this new fiscal year, we remain in strong financial shape and our economy continues to steadily improve.

City government is financially well-managed.  We have maintained the highest bond rating in the city’s history and we have a solid fund balance that exceeds required guidelines for fiscal responsibility.  This strong fund balance allows us to make strategic investment decisions when opportunities arise in order to leverage private investment and future growth.

Over the past four years, with your support, we have passed sensible pension reform to reduce future costs to taxpayers and to responsibly address our unfunded pension liability, while continuing to provide competitive salaries and benefits to our employees.

This is my fifth budget to present to City Council and to you.  (And thank you again for the honor of serving you as mayor for another four years.)  

As I remind you every year, this budget is more than a financial document.  It is our vision statement and our policy document.  It shows clearly how we will accomplish our goals and strategies to achieve our vision of becoming an even greater city.

Our first goal is always to be good stewards of your money and your public property.

Our second goal is to deliver the excellent services you depend on and to provide for the safety of our community. 

Our third goal is to catalyze investments that make Knoxville a great city in which to prosper today, and a more competitive city for the jobs and talents of tomorrow.

There is no tax increase in this budget.  Our tax rate remains at just under $2.73 per hundred dollars of assessed value.  When adjusted for inflation and countywide appraisals, this tax rate is actually lower than it was 10 years ago. 

The budget I am presenting today reflects a projected 4.52% increase in revenues from the prior budget year, for a total net budget of $302.7 million. The General Fund budget, which is the main operating fund of the city, is at $212,535,000 -- an increase of 2.98%.

With these revenues, we will continue providing excellent public safety and public services, and will continue to implement our goals of Strong, Safe and Connected Neighborhoods; a Thriving Business Sector; an Energized Downtown and Urban Core; and a Greener and More Sustainable City.  

As a public service entity, our greatest asset is our employees. My goal is to offer competitive salaries and benefits in order to recruit and retain the talent we need.  This budget includes a 2.5% salary increase and, based on our annual salary survey, increases the entry salary for a number of positions, particularly those in lower pay grades.  It fully funds the annual required contribution to the pension plan to make the plan actuarially sound. 

STRONG, SAFE AND CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOODS


Great neighborhoods are the building blocks of a great city.  And great neighborhoods are, first and foremost, safe neighborhoods. 

Last year, the police department answered over 248,000 calls for service. Liaison Officers attended some 500 neighborhood meetings and worked with 90 different community groups to create partnerships to address crime and quality-of-life issues through building trusting relationships.

The fire department responded to over 21,000 calls for emergency services, and more than 40,000 students and adults were taught fire safety.  We graduated 32 recruits from the Training Academy, bringing the department to full staffing. 

As in the past, the largest portion of this budget is devoted to the operations of the Police and Fire Departments, both personnel and capital needs. 

Great neighborhoods have quality infrastructure and are free from blight.  The Community Development Department works in low and moderate income neighborhoods to provide affordable, accessible, and energy-efficient housing and this budget continues to fund the mitigation and acquisition of vacant and blighted properties.  

The Five Points neighborhood in East Knoxville is being transformed with significant anti-blight and housing investments from the city and nonprofit partners, and the revitalization of Walter P. Taylor Homes by KCDC.  A new 90-unit senior housing development will break ground soon in this next phase of redevelopment. This budget includes $800,000 (year 8 of a 10-year commitment of $8,000,000) to assist KCDC in Five Points redevelopment. 

Also in Five Points, Cherokee Health Systems provides primary care, behavioral health, and dental services at their facility. Cherokee will receive a $130,000 capital grant to expand their integrated-care facility to allow them to serve 5,000 clients (which will double the current number).  

Strong and safe neighborhoods are connected, with access to parks, greenways, and recreational opportunities. 

Did you know that the city Parks and Recreation Department has 70 miles of greenways and trails, 65 city parks, 52 playgrounds, 45 tennis courts, 13 recreation centers, 12 ballparks with 50 fields, 4 pools, 4 dog parks, 3 disc golf courses, 2 golf courses, 2 skateboard parks, an arts and craft center, a senior center, a 300-acre nature center, a quarry swimming hole, and Golden Gloves boxing.  

More than 850 children attend the Summer Playground Program at 10 sites; more than 400 children attend the After School Program at 11 recreation centers; more than 4,600 people on 388 teams play in the adult sports leagues in basketball, kickball, volleyball, softball, and baseball; and there are 617 teams in youth sports, including basketball, football, baseball, and softball. 

Last year was a busy year for Parks and Recreation.  Here is a sampling: 
 the city accepted title to the 70-acre River Bluff property from the Legacy Parks Foundation, as well as title to the Holston-Chilhowee recreation ballfields; 
 built a new entrance to Fort Dickerson Park; 
 began construction on the Suttree Landing Park along the south waterfront which will be completed later this year; 
 built six pickle ball courts at West Hills Park; 
 built a new playground at Dr. E.V. Davidson Recreation Center; 
 opened the community-built accessible Hank Rappe Playground at Lakeshore Park;
 opened the Knox/Blount Greenway, the first phase of a planned trail to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; 
 held the first Open Streets event with Bike Walk Knoxville and others, along Central from the Old City to Happy Holler; and
 mapped all our trails and greenways in Knoxville with Google Trekker. Check it out online at http://www.knoxmpc.org/trekker.htm.

This budget continues to fund these recreational centers and activities; improvements to ball fields and tennis courts; and improvements to Inskip Pool. 
 
The budget allocates $1,000,000 for the development of greenway corridors, and $100,000 for an Urban Wilderness development plan to guide future projects, determine access points and connectivity, and design unified signage and landscaping.

This budget also advances the city’s goal of “complete streets” that provide safe facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit, and vehicles.

A total of $2.7 million is for sidewalks within school parental responsibility zones; new sidewalk construction; ADA enhancements; and the Crosswalk Safety program. An additional $150,000 is for a sidewalk in the I-640 at Old Broadway area to complement the work TDOT is doing at that interchange. 

Bicycle infrastructure improvements are budgeted at $500,000 to continue implementation of our Bicycle Facilities plan.

KAT, Knoxville’s public transit system, is a crucial city service. KAT ridership was up more than 4% last year, the highest in the state. The budget supports KAT with $10.2 million to operate buses, trolleys and para-transit service, and new funding to add later service hours on certain routes on weekdays and Saturdays, and Sunday service on others.
 
The budget includes the City’s annual street-paving program; and over $1 million for improvements at Merchants Drive and Clinton Highway, $3 million for phase 2 of the Pleasant Ridge road project, and $1.5 million for Kingston Pike improvements. 

Due to popular demand, the city has developed a new Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program for residential neighborhoods to address speeding, and public meetings are being held now for public comment. The budget allots $200,000 for traffic calming projects. 

But stronger, safer neighborhoods are more than quality police and fire protection and more than bricks and mortar. Strengthening the social fabric and ensuring success for families and youth are even more essential. 

This is about investing in people.  And here is how we are doing it, intentionally.

Like many cities across this country, we face the grim reality that boys and young men of color are disproportionately affected in our city by violence and violence-related deaths both as victims and as offenders. With KPD Chief David Rausch, local pastors, youth-serving organizations, the schools, and other community partners, we are tackling this issue head on. 

We created the Save Our Sons (SOS) initiative to reduce violence-related deaths and increase opportunities for young men and boys of color by working collaboratively and focusing on prevention, intervention, and re-entry.

The recent senseless, tragic deaths in our city of two innocent young boys, Zaevion Dobson and his cousin Jajuan Latham four months later, have tolled the bell of our collective conscience and people from all across this city have asked me “what can I do?”  

Here’s what you can do.  Volunteer your time, your talent, and your treasure.  There are effective youth-serving programs across this city that need volunteers and caring adults; they need mentors and tutors; they need instructors with certain skills; they need donations, big and small.  

Young people need after-school and summer jobs. Hire them. Young men returning from prison need a Second Chance.  Hire them. The city has both a summer jobs program and a second chance program.  Call my office or email me.  We are glad to share our program model with you and connect you with resources to help your efforts be successful. 

Last week we announced an exciting new recreation facility for teens and young adults called the Change Center near Vine Middle School.  A true public/ private/ nonprofit partnership, the Change Center will have a roller skating rink, climbing wall, movie wall, concert stage, music mixing studio, indoor basketball court, game room, a Hard Knox Pizza café, and event space.  Over 26 organizations and businesses have signed on as partners.

There will be a jobs initiative, including entry level jobs and training at the center itself, and connections to jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in the community. This $2.9 million dollar facility is based on a self-sustaining business model and, after initial start-up costs, will not be competing with other groups for annual funding.  

I kicked off the fundraising effort with a city pledge of $250,000 for each of two years for a total of $500,000, pending city council approval.  This is similar to commitments we have made in the past to support expansions at the Boys and Girls Club and for the Sansom Sports Complex, among others.

In addition, The Haslam Family Foundation, Pilot /Flying J Corporation, and the Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville have together pledged another $500,000 to the Change Center. We have now launched a capital campaign to raise the remaining $1.9 million, and expect to open in the Fall of 2017.

The Haslam Family Foundation has also pledged $250,000 over five years for operating expenses, to ensure a strong, sustainable base for the Center.   

The Change Center evolved from conversations with young people.  They told us what they wanted; what they needed.  But the Change Center is only one part of the solution.  There are many other good programs that are reaching our children on a daily basis and providing them with the hope and opportunities they so desperately need. 

So this budget also includes agency grants to 17 other youth-serving groups, and $250,000 to assist Community Schools in center city neighborhoods.   The city Community Relations Department will receive an additional $50,000 to double its programming capacity for Save Our Sons. 

Our Public Service Department’s Second Chance program that provides employment and job skills/referrals leading to permanent jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals will be expanded to employ a dozen individuals over the year. 

Investing in people also means addressing issues of domestic violence, economic empowerment, healthcare, literacy, and senior care. This budget provides community agency grants totaling $419,000 to 12 agencies to provide these and other critical services that would otherwise fall on government to provide.

The concept of a “safety center” has been discussed for some time. We are currently at the table with Knox County and other community partners to identify the most effective, sustainable model for pre-arrest diversion of individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues. This budget includes $200,000 for the operations of such a program.  

The Mayor’s Roundtable on Homelessness continues to meet quarterly to implement our city’s homelessness plan. Our focus is on prevention, rapid re-housing, supportive housing, employment opportunities, and medical and behavioral services for people who are homeless. This budget includes $731,000 in grants, case management contracts, and program staff. 

Finally, investing in people means building their own capacity to make their neighborhoods and communities stronger and safer.  The Office of Neighborhoods works with people to organize themselves into strong neighborhood associations, and provides resources to build neighborhood capacity to implement successful projects. 

AN ENERGIZED DOWNTOWN AND URBAN CORE 

Downtown is the cultural and economic hub of our city and region. Our downtown revitalization strategy also includes reinvestment along the older and often vacant or blighted commercial spines that extend from downtown - north, south, east, and west. 

From disinvestment to investment is our mantra, and we seek to ensure that all Knoxvillians share in our city’s rising prosperity.

The largest new capital investment in the budget is $4.39 million for phase 1 of the Magnolia Avenue streetscapes project. First proposed in the 2009 Magnolia Avenue Corridor Plan, it has been in various stages of public input and design for the past two years.  The eventual plan is to redesign all of Magnolia Avenue from downtown to Burlington, to bring back neighborhood commerce and employment opportunities for area residents, to strengthen neighborhoods, and to make it safer and more attractive for all.  

Other redevelopment projects include improvements in the Downtown North Corridor, along Jackson Avenue, and in the South waterfront area including Sevier Avenue, Blount Avenue, and Suttree Park/Waterfront Drive.  Funding is also included for the commercial façade improvements program which has been a popular and effective revitalization tool.  

To the west, in Bearden, the Metropolitan Planning Commission will soon be unveiling a set of mixed-use guidelines that will allow and encourage both residential and commercial development along Kingston Pike. This was at the request of local neighborhood groups and business owners, and our hope is that it will serve as a model for other possible mixed-use districts along other traditional commercial corridors.

By encouraging investment at the commercial edges of neighborhoods, this kind of urban development can create the density to support new amenities, from retail to restaurants to services, and the job opportunities that come with them. 

THRIVING BUSINESS SECTOR

A great city has a thriving entrepreneurial eco-system and growing businesses with good jobs with benefits.  Our regional economic development efforts were successful last year with announcements of new recruits to our area such as Lifetime Products and Innovate Manufacturing. Expansion announcements included Regal Entertainment, Comcast, TeamHealth, and Jewelry Television.

The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center is also making its mark.  Since 2013, KEC has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs to turn their dreams and ideas into new businesses and new opportunities.  
 
This budget continues to fund our economic development partners: Innovation Valley, the Knoxville Chamber, Development Corporation, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, and the Visit Knoxville Film Office.

The Office of Business Support will continue to assist businesses and find innovative solutions as new opportunities arise. The Mobile Food Vendor program is an example of the role of this office to pilot and then help develop appropriate policies and laws for emerging business models. 

Arts and culture are the heart and soul of a city.  They enhance the quality of life for residents, are an attraction to visitors, and are factors often cited in business relocations and economic development. 

You can see this in Knoxville year-round -- whether it’s exhibits at the Knoxville Museum of Art; festivals like Big Ears, Rhythm n Blooms, Rossini, or Hola; the popular free jazz concerts and Shakespeare performances on Market Square; the gallery shows every First Friday; or the blue plate special at WDVX 

Grants totaling $400,000 will go to 28 arts and cultural groups, and Public Art is funded at $300,000, including $50,000 for an expanded partnership with Dogwood Arts, to support its Art in Public Places program.

I announced a few months ago the creation of a new City of Knoxville Poet Laureate position, which will help recognize and showcase our wonderful local literary talent. Nominations have been submitted, and we will announce the first appointment this summer – in time for the Poet Laureate to participate in Knoxville’s 225th anniversary activities.

We can’t talk about supporting our culture without talking about preserving our built environment – the buildings and places that connect us to our past -- whether it is the historic Farragut Hotel which will soon be returned to its glory or the Cal Johnson which has need of protection. This budget includes funds to continue the “demolition by neglect” program to stabilize and protect historic properties, and another $500,000 for Round 3 of the Historic preservation grants program.  

GREENER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE

We are working every day to make Knoxville a greener and more sustainable city. The Office of Sustainability guides our comprehensive sustainability efforts across all city departments and activities.

Though a very small office, they are having a very big impact.  For example: 
 Last year, staff helped secure a $15 million TVA grant for the Knoxville Extreme Energy Makeover program that will provide energy efficiency upgrades to some 1,300 low income households, 
 They secured a $240,000 grant from TDEC for the installation of a geothermal system at the city’s new Public Work complex.  
 They led efforts to amend the City zoning code to remove barriers to local food production and to support urban agriculture and permaculture. 

The value of sustainability is incorporated into the acquisition of new vehicles, new construction, engineering design, as well as energy consumption. This focus helps in the evaluation of projects both from a sustainability view but return on investment as well.  

For example, the budget includes $1.3 million for an advanced traffic management system (ATMS).  When fully funded and implemented the new system will allow networked, responsive timing of traffic signals to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion and pollution.

On a larger scale, the City of Knoxville has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 20% from 2005 levels by the year 2020. To date, we have reduced carbon emissions by 13%. Sustainable initiatives during the past few years have targeted carbon emissions, along with better building, transportation and waste initiatives.

LOOKING AHEAD

I have presented some of the highlights of the budget that now goes to City Council.  For more detail, please see the budget documents online at the city’s website.

This budget is practical, strategic, and responsible with a focus on public safety, public services, and infrastructure investment and maintenance.  It is also aspirational with quality of life improvements and a focus on investing in our people, and particularly on our youth. 

During this 225th anniversary year, we will be celebrating our people and our history in many ways. We all have our own Knoxville stories to tell, from the First Families of Tennessee right up to immigrants who just arrived here. 

I want to thank Council and all of you for having the wisdom to invest now in a future that provides for the security of all of our children and future generations – an open, inclusive, and just city for all. 

Thank you for coming today, thank you for the honor of being your mayor.  Have a safe trip back to work and home.