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State of the City Address
Mayor Jonathan WeinzapfelPresented to Rotary Club of Evansville
March 17, 2009
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Considerable Progress in 2008• Road Paving• Sidewalk
Replacement• Pigeon Creek
Greenway Passage• Bike Lanes on City
Streets• Education Roundtable• Southwest Indiana
College Access Network
• Bellemeade and Howell Parks Pools
• Boys & Girls Club Partnership
• Museum Expansion Project
• Front Door Pride Progress
• New Downtown Restaurants & Shops
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
THE ECONOMY IS THE TOPIC OF THE DAY .
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
January 2009 UnemploymentRate Number
State of Indiana 9.9% 319,801City of Evansville 8.8% 5,142
United States 8.5% 13,009,000
Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development, www.in.gov/dwd
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Closings, Layoffs, Job Reductions, Salary and Benefit Reductions
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Local Government Finances• City budget affected by:
– Increased fuel costs– Increased utility costs– Increased health insurance costs– Decreased revenues
• Result of State property tax reform
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Local Government Finances• City budget balanced for 2009
– 5th year in a row• Could never have predicted
what has happened with the economy
• In a good position to handle it because of changes made over the past five years
• Have demanded that our City operate more efficiently
• Have looked for partnerships that allow us to make good use of our resources
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Streamlining Local Government• Partnership with USI Center for
Applied Research and Technology– Evaluated issues related to
city-wide parking enforcement
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Streamlining Local Government
• Cooperative Purchasing Organization (CPO)– Cut costs – Create efficiencies– Leverage increased
purchasing power
• New online time and attendance system
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Streamlining Local Government• 12 City positions
eliminated in all– No employees put
out of work• $553,000 annual
savings*• Able to provide the same level of service
*Based on 2008 salaries and benefits
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Streamlining Local Government• Haven’t had to take
actions that other Indiana communities have, such as:– Laying off large numbers
of employees– Making drastic cuts to
essential services– Increasing income taxes
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Private Sector Relatively Stable• Local financial services relatively stable
because of conservative lending practices
• Evansville’s unemployment rate is a full percentage point below the State average
• Ft. Wayne, Gary and South Bend have unemployment rates above 10%
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Job Creation, Business Expansion
• Mead Johnson Nutrition: – Investing $26 million to
build new R&D Technology Center
• Berry Plastics:– Investing nearly $21 million
for new global headquarters in Evansville
– Hiring at least 250 new workers
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Job Creation, Business Expansion
• American General:– $35 million expansion
nearing completion– 150 new full-time positions
will soon be filled
• Vuteq (Toyota parts supplier):– Adding 50 jobs
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Reality of the Economic Situation
• These are challenging times
• It will take a lot of hard work and collaboration to turn things around
• We need to be patient
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
THE ECONOMY DIDN’T REACH ITS CURRENT CONDITION
OVERNIGHT, AND IT WILL TAKE TIME IT TO RECOVER.
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
National Recovery Process• Federal government taking steps to speed
up the recovery process• Not “Wall Street” vs. “Main Street”• Taking action on multiple fronts to:
– Create jobs– Put people to work– Put money back into the economy
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Meeting with President Obama
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Meeting with President Obama• Had the honor of traveling to Washington,
D.C. to meet with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and several cabinet secretaries at the White House
• Meeting took place right after Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
• Will create or save millions of jobs
• Invest billions of dollars in the nation’s infrastructure
• Help reinvigorate neighborhoods
• Invest in clean energy technology
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
• President Obama urged us to use this money wisely
• That’s what the City of Evansville intends to do
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
Amount Source Use$795,964 Community Development
Block GrantsRevitalize older neighborhoods (Build, revitalize and/or demolish homes)
$1.2 million Homeless Prevention Funds Keep people in their homes and fund the services necessary to support them
$5 million Highway/Bridge Infrastructure Funds
Modernize Downtown traffic flow and signalization; construct Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage, Industrial Corridor, Phase 2
$388,019 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
Prevent and control crime
$2.6 million Federal Transit Administration
Buy 3 more hybrid buses, bringing total to 11; retrofit existing facilities and buses to use 20% biodiesel (B20)
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
• States and cities can compete for billions of dollars in grants, such as:– $2 billion available through the
Neighborhood Stabilization Program for redevelopment projects
– $5 billion available for home weatherization– Will pursue funding to continue work dealing
with flooding on the southeast side• We are carefully monitoring grant
opportunities
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
• We are not waiting for the Federal government to bail us out
• Have our own stimulus projects which will put hundreds of people to work and pump more money into our local economy
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
EVSC Construction Projects• EVSC spending $150 million to:
– Build new North High School/Middle School complex
– Renovate other schools• Work is underway• All projects should be complete
by fall 2011
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
EVSC Construction Projects• Timing is ideal• Bids for have come in well
under budget– Due to reduced material
and borrowing costs• Projects will:
– Improve our children’s education– Cost less– Create jobs– Stimulate the ecoomy
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
New Arena to Stimulate Local Economy
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Hundreds of New Jobs for Our Community
• Economic impact study commissioned by the Evansville Regional Business Committee estimated that:– 670 jobs created during construction period– 530 jobs created after arena is complete– New restaurants, new businesses need
hundreds of workers
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Spin-off Economic Development• Browning Investments
is committed to building a 250-room hotel
• City issuing an RFP in the next few weeks
• Just the beginning of the investment and jobs that will be created in our community by a new arena
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Deciding to Build a New Arena• Has been a long and thorough process• Started talking about what to do with
Roberts Stadium years ago– Built in 1956– Renovated in 1990– Has served our community well
• Have known for several years that the facility needs a massive upgrade
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Public Involvement• Formed Roberts Stadium
Advisory Board, with members representing:– Business– Labor– Neighborhood associations– Universities– Government
• Hired experts like The Gateway Group to help us sift through all the data
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Public Involvement• Roberts Stadium Advisory
Board held 13 public meetings over the course of 18 months
• Invited the community to participate and speak at each opportunity
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Advisory Board Recommendation
• Roberts Stadium Advisory Board unanimously recommended building a new arena downtown
• City Council endorsed recommendation• County Commissioners, County Council
endorsed use of Food & Beverage Tax to help fund it
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Facts Supporting Recommendation
• According to Gateway, we will need to spend up to $17 million over the next 3 – 5 years to keep Roberts Stadium open
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Roberts Stadium Deficiencies• Would cost a total of
$40 million to correct deficiencies– Concourses too narrow– Aisles too narrow– Seats too small– Concession areas and kitchens inadequate– Not enough restrooms– Restrooms not up to code– Facility not ADA compliant
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Roberts Stadium Structural Problems
• Would $90 million to fix major structural problems– Rigging can’t support
equipment weight– Floor not regulation size
• Too small for ice shows, arena football, hockey, and any other event that uses a standard floor
– Undersized truck docks and marshalling areas
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Renovating Roberts Stadium: Bottom Line
• Would cost us at least $90 million to renovate Roberts Stadium to make it lasting and competitive
• In essence, we would have to build a new facility
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Building on Same Site• If build downtown, can take advantage of
tax increment financing (TIF) district• TIF funds NOT available to use at current
Roberts Stadium site• Would need to increase property taxes by
about $60 million to build a new facility at the current site
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Building on Same Site• No other economic
development taking place in that area
• None has occurred in the past 50 years…
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Building on Same Site• Would have to
shut down the whole area for almost two years to allow the intensive construction to take place
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Downtown is the Best Choice• Can finance construction with
sources of revenue that are only available downtown– Food & Beverage Tax– Gaming Proceeds– TIF District
• Can finance a new arena and provide excellent coverage on debt obligations without raising taxes
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
More Bang for our Buck• Will see economic
development take place downtown because of this project
• People will walk to downtown businesses and restaurants
• Retailers and developers already telling me they can’t wait for a new arena
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Asset for Attracting Conventions• Arena will be located
right next to The Centre• The two facilities can
be used in tandem• Will allow our community
to attract even larger conventions and events
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Roberts Stadium Parking
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Parking Comparison: Downtown vs. Roberts Stadium
Downtown*:5,296 spaces
Roberts Stadium:3,000 spaces
* Within a five-minute walk of the intersection of Fourth St. and Locust St.
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Downtown ParkingCity Garages
Sycamore St.: 588Locust St.: 378Third St.: 613TOTAL: 1,579
Private Garages420 Main St.: 150Executive Inn: 600Old National: 600One Riverfront: 425Fifth Third: 400TOTAL: 2,175
Surface LotsTOTAL: 1,542
Total Parking: 5,296 Spaces** Within a five-minute walk of the intersection of Fourth St. and Locust St.
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Planned Downtown Traffic Changes
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Access Points to Downtown
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Access Points to Arena Area
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Access Point Comparison: Downtown Site vs. Roberts Stadium
Downtown Evansville
Roberts Stadium
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Funding Plan• Funding for new arena will not take away
from City services• Relies on completely different funding
sources: Downtown TIF, Gaming Receipts, and Food & Beverage Tax– Cannot be used for things like salaries and
benefits– Can only be used for capital projects
• Does not touch current allocation of revenue for existing projects
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
WE CAN PAY FOR AN ARENA AND STILL HAVE MONEY TO INVEST IN THE
CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE CITY AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Arena Project Director• John J. Kish
– Former Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority
– Responsible for all aspects of $1.1 billion Midfield Project
– Completed on time and on budget
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Food & Beverage Tax• Working to get the State legislature to
approve use of the local Food & Beverage Tax as a revenue source for the arena– State law must be changed
• Proceeds currently paying off bonds on The Centre– Once paid off, all proceeds will go to arena
• House approved the bill unanimously• Now being debated in the Senate
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Property Acquisition
• Discussions taking place with property owners
• Making progress
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Next Steps• Secure site• Food & Beverage Tax change• Construction to begin this summer• Opening date: Late summer of 2011
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
No Better Time to Build a New Arena
• Create community pride• Improve quality of life• Attract more prestigious and visible events
to Evansville
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Our Own Stimulus Package
• Put hundreds of people to work• Support more economic development
downtown• No Property Tax Increase
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Community Pride• I am proud that this
community continues to move forward with projects like the arena – even in this frightening economy
• We really have no choice• We must move forward and build on the
momentum we have going here
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
National Economy Will Present Challenges
• But here in Evansville:• We’re tough• We’re smart• We know how to work together
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Please Do Your Part• Talk to your friends
and neighbors about the new arena and how important it is
• Tell people that we are on track to lead the state out of the economic challenges we face
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
SHARE YOUR PRIDE AND OPTIMISM THAT EACH OF US HAS IN OUR COMMUNITY…
NO MATTER WHAT WE MIGHT FACE.
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Thank You!
State of the City Address | Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel | March 17, 2009
Questions?
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