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Public Comments - Speeches
Monmouth State of the City Address
Independence Baptist Church, Independence OR
January 25, 2001Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting to be a part of your program today.
As you've just heard, John and I are here today to share with you some thoughts about our community.
And it is customary for a State of the City Address to be a formal presentation of recent accomplishments, current challenges, and thoughts about the future.
In other words, today is a time for serious talk - serious talk about what we need to do, and why.
As I prepared for today, I struggled because there is so much that needs to be talked about.
And as I thought about the present, I was reminded of the past.
Over a century ago, Charles Dickens began his tale of two cities with the following phrase: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
I believe there is no better way to describe our current circumstances.
Clearly, this is a limited analogy for we are not engaged in a revolution - or in fact anything close to the civil strife that was the background for his story.
However, the essence of the tale: a tale of two fortunes - two simultaneous truths, is at the heart of our story.
There are good things happening in our community.
The cities of Monmouth and Independence are working closer together now, than at any time before.
We worked together to provide Boise Cascade the incentives necessary for them to rebuild after an eco-terrorist attack.
We have worked together to secure assistance from the state that will guarantee a bridge for the school our community so desperately needs.
We will be holding a "Youth Summit" in mid-march so that we as a community can come together and support our youth through collaborative means.
In Monmouth, we are beginning to implement our Downtown Plan - in fact, the first of what will be many new light-posts is currently shining in Main Street Park: it is a beacon leading the way for what will come.
We are continuing to work on finding a long-term technological strategy for our community - we are trying to build a "fiber road" for new markets.
We have developed and are now actively promoting a solid proposal to keep the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training - and the jobs connected to the Academy - within our community.
And we are working on building an urban forestry culture here - in our town. The Monmouth Legacy Forest Association has done wonders - and it's only the beginning.
These are just a few of the things going "right" in this community.
Unfortunately, there is another truth - another story that must be told.
Monmouth's downtown is in crisis.
The Public Safety Academy and its jobs may move to Salem.
And Monmouth has experienced a dramatic and undeniable downward shift in development.
In fact, we experienced 0% population growth over the past year.
Let me say that again: in 1999 our population was 8,910 souls - in 2000 it was 8,910 souls.
We have stagnant growth in the one sector of our economy that has been the mainstay for the past half-decade.
Ironically, our students often cannot find available multiple-family housing - so our traditional residential areas are undergoing involuntary transition.
This has fostered a small but identifiable pattern of residential flight.
As a package, these things are a threat to our future.
While Monmouth is far from terminal, urgent care is required.
This is not a surprise. Many of us in this room have had candid conversations about our business district, about the effects of growth, and about the services that are simply unavailable to our citizens.
For years, we have maintained our city services through disciplined financing and reliance upon non-commercial, residential taxes.
In the absence of a robust private sector - and the revenue it would generate - we have managed to keep things together on shoestring and a smile.
Unfortunately, the price of our quality of life has increased even as our economy has leveled out.
We need private sector, commercial and retail development - in fact, we needed it yesterday.
We need targeted development - development that is spelled out by our downtown economic assessment: we need a blend of restaurants, entertainment facilities, and retail shopping.
And we need to focus on the things we know we can change - the issues at hand.
For just I moment, I want to "go off message" and clear the air about what I call the "third rail" in Monmouth politics.
Much like an 800-pound gorilla, the alcohol issue is omnipresent but seldom talked about in public forums.
It has resurfaced because of a legitimate concern over the decline of our downtown.
And while some in our community believe that the "wet/dry" issue is the panacea: it is not.
The prohibition of the sale of alcohol within Monmouth is clearly a competitive business disadvantage but it is not the singular cause of the current downtown decline.
It is a potential policy choice and as such it warrants future discussion, analysis, and rational debate - but it is not my issue - and it is not the most important challenge we face - at least now.
As Mayor, I am a member of the council, similarly constrained by the letter and spirit of a charter that dictates neutrality.
However, as Mayor, I also believe that I have a singular duty to help foster an open atmosphere - to encourage timely dialogue between interests and to ensure that whatever the citizenry decides, we can do so as one-community - and move on. The voters of Monmouth may or may not decide to allow alcohol in our town but that vote cannot take place until November 2002.
In other words, for the moment, right now - the alcohol question is irrelevant; there are other things that can and must occupy our near-term attention.
Simply put: we are up to our backsides in alligators - we must focus - we must remember that our intent is to revitalize our business district which in turn will strengthen our community.
We must demand progress in every venue, at every opportunity.
We have developed the plan: in fact we have developed several plans.
We know what we want: the time has come for action.
This year, I am proposing several ideas for Council consideration.
First, I am proposing an economic development function for our city.
Whether its form is a pass-through grant to a contractor or the creation of a new city position - we need an "action officer" to bring our plans to life.
We need a person solely dedicated to using the tools we have on hand to build our dreams. Our current staff is stretched - they are doing good work but we need to give them help.
Second, I am proposing a "Quality of Life Initiative" for the City of Monmouth.
I think we need to formalize our emphasis on quality of life as a major factor for consideration in all we do.
This may provide our planning commission with increased flexibility - as well as provide residents and students with a clearer understanding of our shared rights and responsibilities as citizens of Monmouth.
Third, I am proposing a formal beautification campaign for the 99W corridor.
Several of our councilors, as well as scores of our citizens have expressed the need to dress-up our entrances and our byways.
They are right - they and we have waited long enough - what people see of our town as they pass through must leave a positive instead of a negative impression.
However, this will demand a partnership between the city and any/all non-profits interested in the challenge. As you know, our city cannot afford everything - but if we as a community of citizens collaborate and concentrate our efforts we can make a larger impact, with fewer dollars.
This "targeted effort" will be a major subject of a forum I am holding on February 10th at Volunteer Hall.
And finally, I am proposing that Monmouth continue its ongoing strategic technology planning.
We are on the cusp of a new technology-driven economy - we may be able to provide everything larger cities can - in terms of infrastructure - as well as a quality of life they cannot provide.
If we can make this community a silicon-village - then we must do everything we can to make it so.
As promised, this speech is a collection of past, present and future.
While I am open-eyed about our current circumstances, I am hopeful about what can be done if we choose to pull together.
Some time ago in Ancient Greece, Aristotle was asked what he thought "citizenship" meant.
He suggested that citizens were like sailors: some were oarsmen, some were engineers, some were captains, and some were deckmen.
When they worked together the ship - the polis - the community could reach countless destinations.
When they failed to work together, the ship faltered.
I am here today asking each of you to find your niche and help us reach new, previously unseen destinations.
Your personal investment of time, talent, and treasure is absolutely critical - we cannot get there without you.
Together we can. Thank you.
