CC Minutes - 01/05/12 State of the City

Home Browse Search

We also welcome new leaders in our community this year —Lane County Administrator Liane Richardson and Lane Transit District General Manager Ron Kilcoyne —and we wish them well. This evening I'm going to speak very frankly with you about the current status of our city and how we will move forward. As you know, things aren't easy for a lot of people. Our task is to continue to be steady at the helm and focus on getting where we want to go. I'd like to be here tonight telling you that things will be much in better in 2012. But, in truth, the uncertain financial forecast continues to impact every government and every household. No matter what I read or who I listen to, the news isn't very good. Congress appears to be immobilized and the recovery from the recession is predicted to be slow. Economists tell us that by 2020, we still will not be back to where we were before the recession. In Eugene our unemployment numbers -10.5 percent —may be slightly better than the nation -10.8 percent - -the state -12.7 percent —or the county -12.8 percent —but they still are way too high. We live in a state and county with shrinking revenues and growing needs. As the second largest city in the state of Oregon, much of the need and its impacts are ours to address. We simply have no choice but to help each other through these tough times It's up to us to keep our city moving. They say when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That's what we have been doing and will continue to do. We've provided services and balanced our budget. We've been accountable. We've shrunk our footprint by tightening our belt, just like you. You can give big kudos to our City Council, City Manager Jon Ruiz and City staff for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of us all. We've worked to keep our city safe, to protect and develop jobs, to build affordable housing, to keep our neighborhoods livable, our parks and library accessible, recreation and cultural activities available, our roads repaired, our water and air clean, and our social services intact. We know these services are particularly essential in these tough times. As an organization, we've made over $20 million in cuts thus far and the end may not yet be in sight. We've been smart and innovative. We've done this with the help of many volunteers and partners. This is exactly what we'll have to continue to do together. I'm not saving it will be easy. I am saying it's the work of each and every one of us. Let's take a moment to enjoy what we've gotten done since last year. Our library earned one of the highest ratings in the country and usage has increased. We had great cultural events like the Bach Festival and production of Wicked that attracted people from both far and near. We've added to our Rivers to Ridges trail system. We've made $43 million in road repairs over the last three years. That's more repairs than ever in the history of Eugene, providing 495 well - paying jobs. We did that by supporting the gas tax and road bond. We worked together. We have well over $100 million in development occurring right now in our downtown. You can see it in MINUTES —State of the City January 5, 2012 Page 3