State of the City speech: Mayor carl Gerlach

Overland Park
Chamber of Commerce
Annual "State of the City"
Feb. 17, 2009
OP Convention Center
6000 College Blvd.

• Video of 2009 Speech
  (32:06 min., .wmv file)
• 2009 PowerPoint
  (used throughout speech)
  
• 2009 OP Fun Facts
  (handout, .pdf file)
  

Transcript of 2009 speech:

Good afternoon and welcome. It’s an honor for me to be here today.

I would like to thank the Chamber’s Board of Directors for this opportunity to share with you the outstanding news about Overland Park.

I also want to express my appreciation to Tracey and her staff for arranging today’s event.

To Black and Veatch, Metcalf Bank, Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Sprint, thank you for serving as today’s corporate partners, and also to the 11 corporate sponsors.

I want to recognize Nadine Guest, general manager of the Convention Center, and her fine staff for today’s outstanding service.

Before I go any further, I want to acknowledge the unavoidable elephant in the room.

It’s big, obvious and weighing on everyone’s minds and hearts.

I’m speaking, of course, about the economy.

VIDEO SNIPPET

You know it’s difficult to see the forest for the trees when we are bombarded with news reports of a faltering economy and record unemployment.

However, I want to take a moment and have you see the big picture.

From 22,000 miles in space our world looks beautiful.

Look right there in the middle and you see how fortunate we are to live in the most prosperous nation on earth.

Now look right at the heart of our country to Kansas and finally to Overland Park.

From up here it’s easy to see the 75 square miles we span today.

We’re home to almost 173,000 people.

When Overland Park was incorporated as a first class city in 1960, we were a bedroom community, with little retail and very few jobs.

Today, we are a center of commerce with a large employment base.

We have become a destination for businesses, visitors and residents.

Our crime rate in 2008 went down 4 percent in a city that is already one of the safest in the nation.

Over those nearly 50 years, we have become a premier city with many attractive amenities and nationally recognized features.

In 2008, we again were recognized as one of the top ten places to live in America by Money Magazine, and by BusinessWeek as one of the top 20 best places to raise your kids.

Accolades aside, the real message is what our former and current city leaders, both elected officials and staff members, achieved over the intervening years.

The bold decisions, the daring projects, the rising movement to implement change and new ideas tested this city and made it greater.

At each of those moments, Overland Park was at a defining point regarding how our future would unfold.

Our leaders of the past have faced similar economic circumstances.

This Convention Center opened over five years ago during a struggling national and local economy.

It made a profit its first year of operation, which was extremely unusual for a facility like this.

Ask yourself, where would Overland Park be today if we had not pursued the idea of a Convention Center?

That project took nearly 20 years to move from discussion to opening.

It created demand.

It created jobs.

It created opportunities.

It created -- Economic Power.

Moving from a bedroom community to a destination for retail and global corporations took time and leadership.

Even though the economy is tough, Overland Park is growing, and the reasons we’re weathering the storm can be found in the work done at ground level.

The leaders of yesterday and today want an Overland Park that is a place to live, work and INVEST.

Just like you, we must do what we can to attract people for those homes to be occupied, jobs to be filled, and purchases of goods and services provided by your company.

Today’s economic concerns will not diminish our resolve to move forward.

An intelligent community has to be able to see what happens over time, come to conclusions, and determine its direction and future.

There are more economic opportunities and a continuing bright light for your company and the city of Overland Park. Whether it is

• the Overland Park soccer complex;
• Vision Metcalf; or
• working with the Chamber of Commerce to retain or attract new businesses here;

We must, and will, take action to ensure our future.

This year we embark on a new era in Overland Park with an extremely kid-friendly activity - soccer.

The opening of our Overland Park Soccer Complex is about 180 days away.

Mark your calendar for September 1.

Tournament organizers are quickly booking available weekends for this year and 2010.

Already, six of the 12 weekends are booked for tournaments this fall.

We are projecting hundreds of teams from out of town, and thousands of visitors.

With 10 tournaments booked for 2010, the number of teams and visitors will grow even more.

We are working to land the US Youth Soccer National Championships in July of next year.

Overland Park has a distinct advantage. Our soccer complex is the only one of its kind in the nation.

We have 12 fields with synthetic turf and lights at one location, and wireless Internet access.

Ward 4 Councilmember Fred Spears was out there the other night testing the lights and Internet access.

Nearby, there are restaurants, shopping, hotels and kid-friendly amenities.

East of the soccer park is a proposal for a regional, if not national, tourist attraction.

It is the American Museum of Natural History.

The museum is part of a 1.5 million square foot mixed use development at 135th and Nall, called Prairiefire at Lionsgate.

A 10-year contract has been signed with the American Museum of Natural History out of New York for revolving, continual exhibits.

Two displays a year could attract more than 400,000 people annually.

Displays may include historical features from Rio de Janeiro, Egypt and a fossil from Ward 5, Councilmember Jim Hix.

Nearby, at 135th and Metcalf, the Von Maur and Backwoods stores opened their doors at Corbin Park, a 1.1 million square foot shopping center.

They created more than 100 new jobs.

Danielle Evon, general manager of Von Maur, said:

Our customers have been asking for a store in the Kansas City area. Von Maur did the research and felt Overland Park was a natural fit.

Customers who have moved to the area from Iowa, Wichita and other locations have told Danielle that they appreciate the store being here.

Danielle, we appreciate your company locating to Overland Park.

This August, I expect visitors from the Professional Golf Association Nationwide Tour, which will be held at the Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate.

The tour was looking for a bigger venue and selected Overland Park.

Young golf professionals looking to qualify and obtain their PGA Tour cards will play. Generally, the top 25 players each year receive their cards.

This event is August 17-23 and will bring in visitors and national exposure for Overland Park.

I think Councilmember John Skubal will qualify for the tour.

Meeting the expectations and desires of companies and their work force requires us to meet future demands today.

We are doing that with Vision Metcalf.

The attention Overland Park has been receiving continues to come from different parts of the country.

From Washington, to Tulsa, to Chicago, people are discovering our plans for the future of Metcalf Avenue, a vital economic spine.

A year ago, the city adopted a long term community planning effort called Vision Metcalf.

From I-35 south to 123rd Street, residents, business owners and operators, developers and others met with officials to talk of what could be.

Since I last spoke with you:

• We have embarked on a transit study in partnership with Johnson County and the city of Mission on a proposed route including Metcalf, Shawnee Mission Parkway and to the Plaza;
  
  
• We selected a company to work on the development of a form based code in the downtown area. This new development process will allow this community to get back to an urban growth pattern that is more sustainable.
  
  
• We altered our typical landscape plans for major roadways and followed a Vision Metcalf concept plan for softer median features and more trees and native plants. Our first effort is along Metcalf, from 99th to 103rd, and will be complete this spring.
  
  
• We watched the rise of the Phoenix Building in downtown Overland Park where the Gil Rumsey Art Studio stood. This mixed use building includes retail on the first floor, offices on the second, and four lofts on the top floor. For Brian Foxworthy, co-owner of the Phoenix, downtown Overland Park was a natural location. Foxworthy said:

  Mixed use is becoming more and more popular across the country. This is really what the area is looking for: People to live, work and play here.

  As you can see, the Phoenix is quite popular with our Ward 1 councilmembers Dave Janson and Terry Happer Scheier.

• Also, we worked with developers on the transformation of Cherokee South shopping center, 95th and Antioch, a part of the Vision Metcalf plan. This project includes the renovation of a retail center, with new designs, free standing buildings, and enhanced landscaping and streetscape. Demolition began last month, and stores should open in October. Hugh Robinson, executive vice president with Tri Land Properties, said:

  Overland Park is a solid community with strong families and schools, and safe and solid government.

  You can follow the project live on the Internet by going to the city’s Web site. In fact, take the opportunity to watch Ward 3 Councilmember Donna Owens operate the heavy machinery.

• We expect work to begin in late spring or early summer on another multi-use building in downtown Overland Park, the Market Lofts. Located at 80th Street and Marty, this project will have underground parking, retail on the first floor and thirty residential units on the upper floors.

• We have heard from interested developers who want to pursue the potential of Vision Metcalf despite an economic slowdown.

As we continue to focus on the future, we won’t let ourselves get overwhelmed with the challenges of today.

We want the development community to continue to look to the future of Vision Metcalf.

• It moves from car-based businesses and community amenities to walking to your home, job, shopping and entertainment;
• It proposes a new lifestyle shopping center and provides housing choices attractive to young professionals, families and retired couples;
• It expands office space through mixed uses; and
• It encourages public open spaces.

Vision Metcalf represents a new chapter in Overland Park’s history.

We know there are challenges associated with these good ideas and strong vision.

We hope Vision Metcalf will:

• Attract dynamic and creative individuals and businesses; and
• Appeal to visitors, residents and businesses to live, work and invest.

The Phoenix Building, Cherokee South and the downtown Overland Park Market Lofts are all signals from both the private and public sectors committing to action.

It’s time to renew Metcalf’s character.

When I spoke earlier of our predecessors taking action, Johnson County voters did just that.

In November, voters approved the Johnson County Education Research Triangle sales tax, a responsible education and economic package for our future.

Nearly $15 million will be collected annually to fund programs for the University of Kansas and Kansas State University.

Over 20 years, the economic impact is expected to surpass $1 billion.

The annual revenue will be evenly divided to establish:

• the KU Cancer Clinical Research Center in Fairway,
• the K-State National Food Safety and Animal Health Institute in Olathe, and
• the KU Edwards Campus featuring a Business, Engineering, Science and Technology Center in Overland Park. Groundbreaking is expected later this year.

The KU Edwards campus plans to offer 10 new business and engineering degrees and accommodate 1,000 additional students.

From the economic side, the KU Edwards campus has been operating in Overland Park for 16 years. It has had an economic impact of more than half a billion dollars.

In all the talk about KU and K-State, there is an additional educational institution that will benefit.

Dr. Terry Calaway said:

Even though Johnson County Community College doesn’t receive a dollar from the tax, it could be the biggest winner.

For every physician or researcher employed at a hospital or lab, there are eight to 10 technicians, nurses and lab techs necessary for support. Many of them trained at the community college.

And, oh yes, it also includes the support of Ward 5 Councilmember Terry Goodman.

All of these people will be working and shopping in our community.

The Education Triangle will create jobs and ensure economic power for Overland Park and all of Johnson County.

All around the nation, in D.C. and state capitols like Topeka, lawmakers are talking about economic recovery packages as ways to shore up the economy.

Over the past year, Overland Park has had a number of road projects that have helped sustain our local economy.

The I-435 and Antioch interchange officially opened in December.

Talk about perseverance.

City leaders began proposing a new interchange at Antioch in 1985, and it officially opened in 2008.

We have improved mobility and safety for drivers with the new flyover ramp, the new interchange at Antioch and additional lanes in each direction for 435.

Construction workers have put in over 800,000 hours of time on that job so far. Or as one engineer put it, that is equivalent to 385 years of one person’s life.

How much of an impact did the I-435 project have on our local economy?

Taking a conservative hourly wage of $30, it equates to a $24 million payroll that workers spent here, further impacting our local economy.

Other projects finished in 2008, which also impacted our economy, include:

• Nall, from 143rd to 159th Street, a joint project with Leawood. More than 107,000 hours were recorded, for a $3.2 million payroll impact.
  
  
• And that soccer park I mentioned earlier, more than 56,000 hours have been recorded so far, at more than $1.6 million.

In 2009, three other projects will generate about $8 million in construction payroll.

• The widening of College, from U.S. 69 to Pflumm;
  
  
• The widening of Switzer, from 143rd to 151st ; and
  
  
• Stonegate Pool at 97th and Antioch. This neighborhood pool is being completely rebuilt and will open for this summer’s swim season. Back from his Grammy award winning appearance, former OP rapper Jam Master D, better known as Ward 3 Councilmember David White, is ready for some rest and relaxation at Stonegate.

Overland Park has been, and continues to be, a leader in Kansas when it comes to the number of jobs in our community.

More than 34,000 jobs were added in Overland Park during the decade of the 1980s, and again in the 1990s.

The latest countywide projections for new jobs for this decade estimate that another 100,000 jobs have been added, with Overland Park having a hefty amount of that total.

As far as the federal economic stimulus package goes, Overland Park is working with the Kansas Department of Transportation to secure nearly $90 million for rebuilding and widening of U.S. 69 Highway from I-35 to I-435.

I guarantee we will look for money anywhere and everywhere. Under the sofa cushions, through bake sales, whatever it takes.

Isn’t that right, Ward 2 Councilmembers Paul Lyons and Curt Skoog?

This project is “shovel ready.”

Engineering work is nearly done.

Land acquisition for right of way is moving forward.

Our City Council had the foresight to authorize $4 million of pre-construction engineering work for U.S. 69.

It is rare for a community to commit money to engineering when state and federal funds have yet to be designated for a particular project.

That significant investment in a needed project will reap benefits for Overland Park businesses and residents at this critical time.

Any federal stimulus for roads is being tied to projects that can start within 90 to 120 days.

Mr. President, Senators Brownback and Roberts, and Congressman Moore, we want you to know that Overland Park is ready . . . shovel ready.

And to prove it, I’m ready to break ground tomorrow.

Government leaders who move a city toward an uncertain future are like navigators of a ship.

The crew and passengers are made up of residents, businesses, employees and customers.

Therefore, as leaders, we must focus on two things: a strategic position and a destination . . . and maybe a bigger ship.

And when conditions change, leaders must respond immediately, or lose direction and focus.

With the current economic situation, Overland Park continues to tighten its fiscal belt and plot an effective and manageable course.

One effort to reduce expenses and improve efficiency is the use of “beet” juice on city streets.

Snow plow drivers are applying beet juice in two areas of the city as part of a pilot program.

Though we have not had much snow this year, we have used it several times

. I appreciate our Ward 6 councilmembers, Dan Stock and George Kandt, squeezing juice out of a turnip, I mean beet, and making our money go a little farther.

Overland Park was a leader among local municipalities, announcing:

• a salary freeze for senior management;
• filling vacant positions only in the police and fire departments, and other essential jobs;
• long-term reductions in expenditures; and
• a proposal to cut more than our projected shortfall.

Our 2009 budget reflects responsible adjustments due to an unprecedented and simultaneous decline of both sales and property tax revenues.

But we are not taking a short term look and applying a temporary fix.

We are implementing sustained cuts for the next five years.

As we trim away expenditures, we strive to ensure our goal of maintaining outstanding services and most importantly, moving Overland Park forward.

We reduced our expenditures by $67 million over six years, and increased our contingency fund just in case the economy doesn’t turn around as quickly as we all hope.

We did this without altering major services.

Most importantly, we have kept whole public safety operations like police and fire.

Understand that our continuous monitoring and planning have left us sufficient time to thoroughly evaluate future revenues and expenditures, and make logical and informed decisions.

Crucial conversations and thought went into our efforts.

I want to recognize my fellow councilmembers and city staff members for their leadership and willingness to boldly address financial challenges and provide important navigation in these turbulent economic waters.

As I stand here before you today, we are watching and listening to Governor Kathleen Sebelius and state lawmakers regarding proposed revenue takeaways that transfer money promised to cities and put it into state coffers.

We are looking at possibly a $3.5 million loss in the alcohol fund.

The alcohol fund pays for:

• D.A.R.E. programs for your kids in elementary schools;
• Parks, and bike/hike trails; and
• Community service and social programs, which provide treatment for those suffering from alcohol and drug abuse.

We will continue to review our fiscal standing and urge state lawmakers to recognize that the actions they take to remove revenue from cities will shift the burden to local governments and do not address the long-term financial challenges of the state.

We ask that state lawmakers navigate a course that is prudent and responsible.

The path ahead for us and for the nation is not unique.

For years, Overland Park has weathered economic challenges.

This city, this nation, have dealt with equally challenging moments and have found appropriate solutions and successes.

Let me assure you that your city is not standing still.

Overland Park is looking to the future as we have always done.

Remember, an intelligent community has to be able to see what happens over time, come to conclusions, and determine its direction and future.

That is what gives Overland Park and you – Economic Power.

Thank you for being here today.