Maitland City Talk

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous New Year. It has been a privilege and honor for me to serve as your mayor this past year. The reuniting and renewed positive attitude of our City Council has been a real inspiration. Working with our city staff and our volunteer boards has been pleasurable, rewarding and productive. We have accomplished many things this past year and look ahead with great expectations to continue moving our city forward in 2012.

To begin the review of our past year’s accomplishments, I would have to start with the completion of our new fire station on Packwood Avenue. This state of the art, green accredited building is a continuation of our commitment to provide first-rate facilities to our first responders that enables them to continue to provide first-rate service to our citizens. At the same time, we are continuing our commitment to be good stewards of the environment by constructing green accredited buildings. The construction of our city hall is also well underway with the projected completion date to be in August of 2012.

Other accomplishments of note for 2011 are:

• Continued to maintain no increase in the property tax millage rate.

• Continued to maintain a balanced budget.

• Continued to move forward with our capital improvement projects.

• Began the red light camera traffic enforcement program.

• Enacted a new ordinance to reduce prescription drug abuse.

• Enacted a new ordinance to regulate pain management clinics.

• Enacted a new ordinance to prohibit internet cafes (gambling centers).

• Created a city charter review commission.

As for the financial state of our city: Even though, due to the present economic climate, our revenues are down, we are financially sound. This is mainly due to fiscal conservatism by our City Council as well as our city staff, working hard to keep our expenses down. However, this will not last unless we take steps to increase our tax base in the next few years, which we are presently in the process of doing.

To increase our tax base we have to encourage quality development in our city. This is mainly being done by updating our land development code, including the streamlining of our permitting approval process. This will create a positive “open for business” policy in our city that will attract new business and quality development with specific emphasis on the redevelopment of our new downtown. The streamlining of the permitting approval process as well as the updating of our

land development code is nearly completed. The only pieces remaining are the rezoning and updating of the design standards of our downtown area that will be completed in February of 2012. We have already had substantial interest in the redevelopment of our downtown area and are working with several developers at this time.

Our main goals for 2012 are:

• Completion of our city hall on time and on, or under, budget.

• Maintain no increase in our property tax millage rate.

• Maintain a balanced budget.

• Continue to move forward with our capital improvement projects.

• Completion of the updating of our land development code.

• Work to secure new business opportunities and quality development for our city, which will create new jobs both temporary and permanent.

• Complete the review of our city charter.

The prospects for 2012 look very encouraging. With the dedication and enthusiasm of our City Council, city staff and city volunteer boards, anything is possible for our city. These wonderful people, and our dedicated and enthusiastic citizens, inspire me. They, along with my great love of our city, are the reasons why I love being your mayor. I look forward to our city’s bright future with great anticipation and you should too.

City Council Agenda of January 9, 2012

City Council meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9 in the Council Chambers, 1776 Independence Lane. Below are items that will be addressed at that meeting.

Special Presentation:

• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting – Sharon Anselmo, CPA, Management Services Director

Consent Agenda:

• Approve Council Minutes & Information Workshop Minutes of Dec. 12, 2011

• Receive Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes of Nov. 3, 2011

• Towing/Wrecker Services Contract – Tri-County Towing, Inc.

Decision Items:

• Change Order – Fire Station #45

• Contract Revision – Wharton-Smith – Fire Station #45

• Contract Revision - Wharton-Smith – City Hall

• Extend Contract - ACi/AVCON

For updates, please check our website at www.itsmymaitland.com.