2008 State of the City: Mayor carl gerlach
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Annual State of the City Speech
Noon,
Feb. 19, 2008
Overland Park Convention Center
Thank you, Greg.
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, Embarq, Metcalf Bank, Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Sprint Nextel, thank you for serving as today’s corporate partners, and also to the 13 sponsors.
I want to thank Sprint’s CEO, Dan Hesse, and its Board of Directors for the decision to return the corporate headquarters to Overland Park.
I personally believe last week’s announcement will be beneficial for Overland Park and the whole metropolitan area.
I want to recognize Nadine Guest, general manager of the Convention Center, and her fine staff for today’s outstanding service.
Before I begin, let me take this moment for a special recognition of someone who has meant so much to Overland Park.
Shawnee Mission School Superintendent Marjorie Kaplan is retiring in July after serving 16 years.
She is returning to Arizona to be closer to her grandkids.
During her tenure, the district has expanded its advanced education classes for gifted students, upgraded schools with bond issues, and Dr. Kaplan was relentless in her efforts to persuade state lawmakers to provide adequate funding for school districts.
Thank you for your service and commitment to our students.
We did sort of a trade with Arizona. They get Dr. Kaplan and we get Johnson County Community College President Terry Calaway.
Terry came to the campus this past summer after serving as president of Central Arizona College.
Terry, I want to congratulate you and wish you the best of luck.
Johnson County Community College is a stellar academic institution with a national reputation, and I know you will continue on that path.
Help me welcome Dr. Calaway.
As I stand here before you today, I want to say 2007 was both a joyous year, and one that brought heartache that touched our community and the nation.
It was a year when many people, for unselfish reasons, rallied in support of our community and its residents.
It was a year when we, as a community, took steps to protect our children’s future.
It was a year when Overland Park looked and worked toward potential opportunities.
It was a year when so much has been done and yet, there is so much to be accomplished.
We all know the power of words.
Words convey meaning, feeling and thought.
For instance, if I say to you: The future’s bright. What comes to mind?
Let me show you.
VIDEO SNIPPET
Unlike previous years, our councilmembers aren’t speaking in the videos.
Remember, the writers were on strike, and unfortunately, they didn’t make it back in time.
“It’s my neighborhood.”
Those three words sum up succinctly a major project we began in 2007 that will probably impact Overland Park for years and decades.
We call it Vision Metcalf.
It’s a look at Metcalf along an eight-mile stretch from I-35 south to 123rd Street.
All great cities have a great avenue.
And when you think of great streets, you immediately think of:
- Busy pedestrian and bike pathways,
- Uniquely designed buildings, and
- Accommodating public transportation.
Overland Park has a great avenue in Metcalf.
It has been described as the spine of Overland Park and Johnson County.
Like my spine, which is a little longer than most, it is aging and in need of attention.
Metcalf has fulfilled its every need in the past.
Its future is untapped for what people are seeking in tomorrow’s world.
Innovative ideas are coming forth through Vision Metcalf.
I want to thank the moms, dads, even kids; the neighborhood activists, the curious, and the concerned.
More than 4,000 citizens are helping to shape this great street through feedback sessions, surveys and design charettes.
The dreams of these people and their community involvement have been especially inspiring for me.
“Dreams drive deeds.”
Dreams of a better Metcalf will benefit Overland Park.
Citizens have embraced Vision Metcalf as a personal project, hoping to define and propel Overland Park forward.
Without a doubt, this is why I love and truly care about Overland Park.
Thursday night at 7:30, at the Sheraton Hotel next door, Tony Nelessen, lead consultant on Vision Metcalf, will take the next step in this 15-month project.
The plan calls for creation of a new, vibrant and desirable urban landscape with mixed use for the five nodes identified in the study area.
Folks, it is a complete transformation of Metcalf.
Here is a sneak preview of what’s in store:
- A component like a bus rapid transit with connections to downtown Kansas City and KCI.
- Sustainable makeovers of downtown Overland Park and 95th and Metcalf.
- Increased walkability to homes, jobs, shopping and entertainment.
- A new lifestyle shopping center, expanded office space and a large public park and civic center near housing options attractive to young professionals, families and elderly couples.
- All of this tied together by dramatic new gateway designs at both ends of the study area.
These are just a few elements.
The plan will guide development along Metcalf for the next 20 to 30 years.
I personally encourage you to attend Thursday night’s insightful presentation.
Metcalf certainly touches Johnson County and Overland Park, especially from an economic standpoint.
Your business is our business. We work to help companies in Overland Park.
In the words of one person in the video: “It’s my livelihood.”
We are hearing those messages.
As corporations look to control expenses, I want to offer an opportunity for you and your company.
Late last summer we opened the Matt Ross Community Center in downtown Overland Park.
This 80,000-square foot facility has already become extremely popular.
It has “great new pools.”
We have:
There is a:
- gymnasium with two basketball courts,
- a walking and running track, and
- meeting rooms.
At your table is a coupon for a free day at Matt Ross or the newly expanded and remodeled Tomahawk Ridge Community Center at 119th and Lowell.
You can use the swim pools at Matt Ross, and exercise equipment and gymnasium at both locations.
To help keep your kids in shape and outdoors, we are moving forward on another family-friendly project.
By a show of hands, how many of you are soccer moms, soccer dads, or soccer grandparents?
Then, many of you can appreciate what I’m going to talk about.
Coming to Overland Park by September 2009 is an unrivaled and unique Youth Soccer Complex at 135th and Switzer, just north of the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead.
Construction is under way to build 12 full-size lighted championship soccer fields.
This facility will be special because all the fields are going to have synthetic turf. It will have an irrigation system to cool the turf on hot days.
To our knowledge, there is absolutely no other soccer complex like this in the country.
On this project: “Overland Park scores.”
Further, having 12 fields at one location is unique.
These are vital components to host soccer tournaments.
Families will enjoy other kid-friendly amenities like playgrounds and a spray-type aquatic attraction.
If you are just trying to get caught up on work, bring your laptop.
There will be a wireless Internet connection, at no charge.
This soccer complex gave us a chance to upgrade a 40-year-old golf course.
Six holes at St. Andrews were relocated to make room for the soccer fields.
They opened in November, nearly six months ahead of schedule.
We hope to continue this stellar construction pace, obviously weather permitting.
We are already hearing from regional and national soccer tournament officials.
Two weeks ago, city and Convention and Visitors Bureau staff went to Pittsburgh to express our interest in hosting the 2010 national championship youth soccer tournament.
We expect to attract many out of town players and families.
You know what that means?
“Visitors must eat,” and “Guests need rest.”
Our fields are near hotels, restaurants, shopping and more, which again is not typical at other locales, we are discovering.
Generally, here it’s a comfortable six- or seven-minute drive from nearby hotels.
That isn’t true in other cities, where fields can be 30 minutes away.
Preliminary data from our consultants indicates we could host seven regional tournaments and one national tournament a year, bringing in over 150,000 visitor days.
As we look to bring visitors to the soccer complex, we also are involved in a citywide branding campaign to attract more visitors, businesses and residents to Overland Park.
Last year, the Chamber’s Economic Development Council, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the city began the first-ever collaborative effort of branding our city’s image.
We are finding out how businesses, visitors and residents perceive Overland Park.
Are we perceived as Coke or Pepsi; Mercedes or Lexus; Nordstrom or Target?
Some people believe that Overland Park lacks the amenities necessary to help attract and retain young workers.
If your work force is decreasing due to retiring baby boomers, attracting and keeping a viable work force of millennials and Gen Xers is not only a business issue, but also an economic challenge for the entire community.
Keeping Overland Park highly competitive for corporations and their workers, tourists and residents is a fundamental necessity.
We are a community with outstanding achievements.
We are also a community that needs to continually look to the future to ensure Overland Park’s competitive advantage and amenities.
VIDEO SNIPPET
Our residents certainly looked to the future in order to keep Overland Park competitive.
Try these three words: 75% say yes!
It’s exceptional that 75% said yes to improve our neighborhood streets and our thoroughfares.
Forty percent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the Jan. 29 mail-in election for the 1/8 cent sales tax.
“Improves my streets” and “Improves my neighborhood.”
Those are some of the benefits of the 1/8 cent sales tax.
Ten years ago, the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce brought to the city the 1/8 cent sales tax idea.
This is a great example of a private and public partnership.
Since the tax was first collected in 1999 through next year, we will have improved 28 miles of residential streets and 22 miles of thoroughfares.
Non-residents of Overland Park are helping us pay for our city streets.
On behalf of the Governing Body, I want to express my appreciation to the Chamber for running its campaign, and especially Co-Chairs Julie Quirin and Mike Lally.
Thanks for your support, which continues to make Overland Park the great city it is.
When it comes to road construction, there are three magic words we all desperately want to hear: Saves me time.
2008 will be the year when the collective action of a few brings benefit to all.
More than 20 years ago, city leaders like former Chamber of Commerce President Mary Birch and former Mayor Ed Eilert proposed to state and federal officials the construction of an interchange at I-435 and Antioch.
It takes five words for this special announcement: It will open – This Year!
The I-435 project is: Right on schedule!
Thanks to Mary and Ed for thinking of the city’s future when you broached this project in the mid-1980s.
Speaking of road construction, you will soon begin to hear about a major project.
By a show of hands, how many of you drive on U.S. 69 highway?
Have you noticed more traffic?
You are not alone.
This year will mark the beginning of our effort to address the future needs of U.S. 69 from 75th Street to 167th Street.
I-435 may be a precursor of what we expect for the anticipated traffic congestion coming to U.S. 69.
Traffic volume continues to increase, which means congestion.
I know what some are you are saying right now: “Expected to worsen.”
For instance, the drive time from 167th Street north to I-35 is about 11 minutes today.
Travel time will more than triple to 35 minutes by 2020 if we fail to act today.
Think about the amount of time you drive on U.S. 69 and multiply that by three.
A roundtrip commute to Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, from southern Johnson County may exceed TWO HOURS a day.
The cost of commuting, and its negative impact on businesses and all of us, is real and significant.
We cannot wait to act.
It took more than 20 years to get the I-435 and Antioch Interchange under way.
We, elected officials and administrators, are already working with current state legislators.
When the current legislative session is over, we will work with local business and community leaders and Johnson County officials.
“You can help” is a sign in the video. We need your help.
Please send your check, cash or money today …..
Kidding aside, we hope to bring to the forefront the “real” challenges of U.S. 69 if left unaddressed and make all aware of its far-reaching impact.
Planning for the city’s future is what the City Council and City Manager John Nachbar do.
Part of that planning is what our city will look like.
This week, County Commissioners will decide on our proposal to annex 15 square miles of unincorporated land that is clearly in our growth corridor.
This proposal is good for Johnson County and good for Overland Park.
It places an area that is the target of current and pending development and brings the planning under the direction of the City.
The best planning produces a first-class city. From our first day as a city, we have done just that.
We have received recognition locally and nationally for our planning and growth management policies.
Our residents have given Overland Park some of the highest survey ratings in comparison with other communities.
Two years ago, 94 percent of residents stated that they were satisfied with the city’s quality of life.
94 percent!
Indicators of urbanization are occurring in the proposed annexation area.
Last week, the Commissioners approved a rezoning for retail development in unincorporated Johnson County at the southwest corner of U.S. 69 and 199th Street.
It calls for more than 450,000 square feet of retail.
That is about half the size of Metcalf South Shopping Center.
Sewer districts are being created, and petitions are circulating for more sewers in this area.
Sewers are a prelude to ultimate development.
Student enrollment in the Blue Valley School District is increasing.
The district is planning to build Blue Valley Southwest High School and an adjacent middle school at the southwest corner of 175th and Quivira.
Further, the district plans to build two new elementary schools within the proposed annexation area.
The Mid-America Regional Council projects that population in Aubry Township is expected to grow by more than 300 percent by 2020, and over 600 percent by 2030.
Kansas City Power and Light received approval from County Commissioners a couple of months ago to build a substation at 194th and Lackman because of increasing demand for energy associated with growth.
As a proven and nationally recognized local government, we have the wherewithal in terms of resources and staff to properly manage growth.
In 2002, following annexation, we met with residents and developers to cooperatively manage growth and development.
The real questions for County Commissioners are:
- Who has policies and development standards in place to manage growth?
- Who has the staff in place to manage growth?
Johnson County’s unincorporated areas are urbanizing.
Olathe, Gardner and DeSoto have all recently annexed areas or plan to.
I hope the County Commission will carefully examine the real issues, including Overland Park’s performance as a municipality since its incorporation.
VIDEO SNIPPET
One area where I’m proud to say Overland Park is a leader is environmental initiatives.
“Green’s my scene.”
Overland Park is a “green” community. Sustainability is not a new concept in Overland Park.
For years we have initiated environmental projects.
In 1999, the Visitors Center at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens was built.
It has passive solar and geothermal systems to keep the building warm.
Other efforts at the Visitors Center save about 40,000 gallons of water a year.
The Matt Ross Community Center stands as the latest example of Overland Park protecting the environment.
Indoor pools produce a large amount of condensation. We capture that hot water and reuse it to heat pools.
Extra large landscaped islands with trees provide shade in the parking area and reduce heat from the pavement.
Twenty seven years ago, we were recognized as a Tree City USA due to our dedication to planting and caring for trees.
Our slogan then was: Plant a Tree, Cool the City.
We have continued to be recognized for 27 consecutive years as Tree City USA.
That was one of our first steps to protect the environment.
In 1990, we were the first metropolitan area city with a voluntary curbside recycling program.
In 1997, we worked with consultants to reduce energy usage to save money and protect the environment.
We were one of the first cities in the nation to purchase a hybrid vehicle.
Today, we have 18 hybrid vehicles in our city fleet, and more are coming.
This spring, the Police Department will purchase two hybrid vehicles for its investigation division.
Over the years, we have approved ordinances for development to protect streamways and built “green infrastructure” for lakes and streams.
This has resulted in “a cleaner stream.”
At your table is a handout, printed on recycled paper with environmentally safe ink, of what Overland Park has done and continues to do.
Your environment is our environment. We all share responsibility for protecting what we have.
We also pay careful attention to our fiscal responsibilities.
As business men and women, the economy is weighing on your minds.
It is also for your city.
City Manager John Nachbar has been carefully monitoring the economy, talking with market analysts and taking precautions.
We’ve anticipated this downturn and already put plans into action, exercising fiscal constraints.
Our financial plan has been based on an uninspiring economy.
In fact, in 2008 and 2009, we are holding the budget line and projecting no growth in operating expenditures over the next two years.
Overland Park uses a 5-year forecast of city revenues and expenditures as an important financial planning tool.
As we cautiously proceed, rest assured that I, your City Council, and the City Manager are acting on the latest information about our national and local economies.
If you closely examine your property tax statement, you will see that Overland Park’s property tax mill rate accounts for 10 percent or less of your TOTAL bill.
We have the lowest mill rate of any city in Johnson County and of any first class city in Kansas.
Public safety is one of our budget priorities.
“We train together” “to help you” is an important function of our firefighters and police officers of this city.
We also properly fund capital improvements like streets and pools.
After this summer’s swim season, we will rebuild Stonegate Pool at 97th and Antioch.
A new pool will be built at 151st and England beginning in July, just west of U.S. 69 Highway by the Blue Valley Branch of the Johnson County Public Library.
Both will be open for the 2009 swim season.
To help you get to your pools, this construction season, we are:
- Widening 119th Street from Riley west to U.S. 69; and
- Widening Antioch from 151st south to 167th Street, next to Blue Valley West High School.
“Make a difference!”
Three very powerful words.
In June, thousands made a difference.
Remember the solemn look on the young faces, the energy of our metropolitan area teen-agers whose single-minded mission and vow was to find Kelsey Smith.
They made a difference.
The concerned parents who gave their children an extra long, tight hug at night to cope and understand made a difference.
Finding Kelsey, a friend of many of the kids, was going to happen through sheer will of this community.
Student volunteers gathered and formed Kelsey’s Army.
She was not only a friend, but a daughter and a sister.
On behalf of the Governing Body, I want to let you know we are forever indebted to the students, parents, and everyone who assisted in these efforts in any way.
We are sincerely grateful for your assistance.
I want to mention the outstanding and tireless work accomplished by the Overland Park police officers and detectives who led the investigation, and investigators from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who assisted.
To Kelsey’s parents, Greg and Missey who are here today, I want to express our sorrow and our continued support for you and your children.
Both of you are making a difference.
“Caring, compassion, community.”
The true strength and character of Overland Park is its people who do care, and who show compassion and come together as a community to make a difference.
Overland Park is a lot of things.
It’s a place where we work, shop and live.
We have so much going for ourselves. We are a great city. It will continue with your participation.
I’m proud to be Mayor of this community.
Thank you for allowing me to address you today. Best wishes for the remainder of 2008.
VIDEO SNIPPET