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State of the City 2003
2003 State of the City Address
by Mayor Gary Podesto
February
19, 2003
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Good afternoon. Welcome Commissioner Garamendi. Welcome back to Stockton. I stand in front of you today very proud of the courageous path your city council is traveling in re-energizing this great city. Let me begin by mentioning the downtown renewal activity either already underway and on the fingertips of council approval. Work has begun on the historic Hotel Stockton and as life is once again breathed into the hotel, as workers scurry removing asbestos, a 16 screen classic stadium cinema is under construction with 18,000 square feet of new retail included. Renovation has begun on the historic Fox Theatre and with a few minor bumps is still scheduled for a 2004 re-opening. Soon coming before the council for approval will be a 185 room waterfront hotel, multi-use arena and new ball park all on the waterfront, bringing new visitors to our City’s core.
Private sector interest and investment is at an all time high and all indications are that it will continue to improve as new projects come online and the City stays focused and energetic. Obviously the state’s budget deficit is not good news but Stockton cannot wait for the state to solve its problem, we must and will continue to work to improve our opportunities to attract ready investors while we offer the advantages and diversity of this great Central Valley city.
A huge part of our improvement lies on the back and shoulders of good code enforcement. We must continue the effort to rid our community of neglected properties that lower the quality of life and raise government’s cost through social challenges. Welcoming the new construction and moving out the mismanaged elements allows us and investors to look forward with confidence in a new Stockton, vibrant and attractive to all ages and all cultures.
Part of our future will include new retail centers around our transportation corridors. These centers will provide increased revenue and goods necessary to serve our growing population. Obviously we are an attraction to new home builders, that’s good, but also challenging. While being pleased to welcome the new neighbors, we must also find the revenue to pay for services such as police, fire, education, parks and road maintenance that new development demands from city government.
When I was first elected, I promised to move our City’s services towards being efficient and effective, while maintaining the same level of service.
A few years ago we got out of the landfill business. A business that cities across the nation have been exiting. We used the savings from turned around landfill losses to fund endowments for arts and the library and we devoted 15 million to improve city infrastructure and remove ghetto properties. Before this council for the past few years have been many opportunities to trim waste by outsourcing various services including the operation and maintenance of the city’s municipal utilities. I look forward to your city council continuing with the courage to act in your interest and vote to approve a 172 million dollar savings to Stockton’s industry and residents. I hope your agree with me and the Chamber, that a good and responsible government will vote to put the 172 million in savings in your pocket rather than continue to dole it out on wasted consultants. Soon the same commitment will be necessary as we look to garbage greenwaste pick up and the operation of our City’s golf courses, both areas whose cost currently overshoots their revenues.
We voted to reduce the utility user tax by 25% and kept a promise to reduce the real estate transfer tax. It’s time Stockton enter the 21st century in its delivery of services and think of our citizens as our customers, demanding service, but at competitive prices discovered through a competitive process. We will continue to repave neglected city streets, work on youth programs and build parks, but as always our number one focus will and must be an improved public safety from 911 ambulance transport to expanded and targeted police efforts.
Chief Chavez has been an outstanding Chief of Police. The citizens are fortunate to have him as our chief. He has managed the most important department in our city through our most challenging times. And year after year has worked to improve our citizens’ safety. Sadly, good things come to an end and Chief Chavez has announced his retirement. It will be a huge job to find a replacement for the chief while wishing him well in his next endeavor, he will be missed. Although we face challenges such as the state budget and replacing the chief of police, we are heading in the right direction by creating an investment environment and ridding ourselves of past mistakes and putting in place policies that will keep us from repeating those mistakes.
I wish to thank all those partners in this effort. the citizens of our community, city management and all city workers, the business community, school districts, county government, the chamber of commerce, the downtown alliance, the San Joaquin partnership and the partnership that we celebrate today with the Port District of Stockton and this great agency’s ability to bring family wage jobs to the greater Stockton area. The City of Stockton and the Port of Stockton have a great commitment to one another and we wish them a happy 70th birthday. Thank you all for all you do for this great city! |
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Stockton,
CA 
on the Move!