|
State of the City Annual Update by Mayor Geri McCaleb Mayor McCaleb was elected to City Council in 2001. She was elected Mayor in 2011 and is currently in the second year as her fourth term. Mayor McCaleb reviewed progress achieved on the Council's 2017 Goals: 1. Beacon Boulevard Preservation and Improvement Plan. The City is working with the MDOT to address maintenance and improvement of this main corridor through the city. 2. Urban Forest Management. The City has enlisted the expertise of GVSU to analyze issues such as the conservation of Duncan Woods and Mulligan's Hollow. 3. Infrastructure Maintenance and Replacement. Although a number of large projects have been undertaken, $35 million worth of projects still need to be addressed. A permanent funding process needs to be established for this ongoing need. 4. Short-term Rental Regulations and Enforcement. The City has established a comprehensive policy which has become a model for other communities. Efforts to address this issue at the State level have become inactive at the committee level. 5. Waterfront Stadium Reconstruction. Dedication for the new facility was held June 21. The stadium can now accommodate many more attendees than originally anticipated. 6. Catwalk Restoration. The needed $1 million was raised. Final reinstall of the catwalk should be completed in 2019. Mayor McCaleb listed the 2018 Goals: 1. Increased Space Needs for the Public Works Department. Clean up of the North Third Street DPW property is needed with possible relocation to a more appropriate area. 2. Pension Liabilities are Underfunded. The fund is currently underfunded by $16 million. Analysis indicates that the City will be better off staying with its current plan. 3. Airport Research, Report and Strategic Plan. MDOT will present an Airport Community Benefit analysis in October. 4. Sustainable Infrastructure Financing Plan. Establish a permanent financing plan that won't increase millage rates. 5. Housing Affordability. A ten-step plan was adopted on August 20, 2018. 6. Local Energy Production. Priorities of the BLP and the citizens are to close the Sims plant, retain local, independent power generation, and retain an energy source for the Snow Melt system. 7. Washington Square Parking. There currently are no public parking lots for customers of the local businesses. Mayor McCaleb touched on the following topics: Downtown Parking Structure. The big questions to be addressed are Where? and how much would it cost? Development of the Stanco property for housing and related parking. The Planning Commission gave initial approval on September 11 for the building of a Hampton Inn along the Grand River east of the Applebees restaurant. |
