CITY OF WHITING STRATEGIC PLAN

1. CITY OF WHITINGSTRATEGIC PLAN Mayor Joe Stahura Whiting City Council May 8, 2007

2. Introduction • Why make this presentation? • I feel it is important for everyone to know that our decisions are made with a strategy involved…a method to the madness of sorts • To highlight our vision for future of our City • I made a commitment to conduct at least two public forums per year to hear your concerns

3. Plan Objectives • Help keep us focused • Provide a road map to achieve goals • Help sort out project proposals that are consistent with our vision • Proactive vs. Reactive • Ensure continuity between multiple projects

4. 6 Point Strategy • Expand & Diversify our tax base • Improve the condition of residential and commercial property within the City • Stabilize and then work to improve the City’s business corridors (Downtown & Boulevard) • Continue to enhance the Quality of Life in the community • Develop & implement a plan to address the City’s infrastructure needs • Implement change to maximize the efficiency of local government operations

5. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Expand & Diversify our tax base • Working with BP to maximize the 3rd party investments related to their expansion project • Aggressively pursuing Lakefront development opportunities that will bring increased investment • Reconstructing Standard Avenue, Front Street and 121st Street (east of Schrage) to allow new development to occur in this area • Acquiring key properties to control future development opportunities

6. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Expand & Diversify our tax base • Aggressively working to identify funding to demolish the former Globe Roofing buildings • New Center Street home project now progressing • Investing in New York Avenue homes – Sale price of $177,500 • Working with dozens of prospective businesses and developers to attract new venues • Offering ED loans for large scale commercial Investments

7. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Expand & Diversify our tax base • Aggressively working to market the former Justak Trucking property • Preparing for construction of the 1st condo building in the City’s history • Working with developers to retrofit additional condos into various renovation projects • Working with potential developers on planning and then constructing lakeview condos

8. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Improve the condition of residential and commercial property within the City • Tightly enforcing building codes & increasing the number of residential & commercial inspections • Providing matching assistance programs for residential & commercial curbside appeal improvements – over $2.5M being invested • Offering ED loans for large scale commercial Investments

9. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Improve the condition of residential and commercial property within the City • Investing in new housing construction • Demolishing unsafe and abandoned buildings • Purchasing and renovating select properties

10. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Stabilize and then work to improve the City’s business corridors (Downtown & Boulevard) • Developed a branding & marketing initiative to showcase our community and currently implementing the action plan • Developing physical & web based tools to fill vacant storefronts and attract new businesses • Developed a Business Assistance Program to assist merchants with specific business issues

11. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Stabilize and then work to improve the City’s business corridors (Downtown & Boulevard) • Added additional staff to focus on both Economic Development & Community Development • Working tirelessly with dozens of prospective businesses and developers to attract new venues • Providing matching assistance programs for commercial curbside appeal improvements • Offering ED loans for large scale commercial Investments

12. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Stabilize and then work to improve the City’s business corridors (Downtown & Boulevard) • Acquiring key properties to control future development opportunities • Developing plans for civic attractions that will bring shoppers & visitors to the community • Installing new signage along 119th Street and reviewing additional projects to enhance the charm of the business district • Established a Historic Preservation District to preserve the historic character of the street

13. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Stabilize and then work to improve the City’s business corridors (Downtown & Boulevard) • Funding a Wi-Fi program to create wi-fi hot spots along the business corridor • Working closely with the Chamber of Commerce committees to enhance the district • Sponsoring and hosting numerous special events throughout the year focused on attracting shoppers to our community

14. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Strive to continually improve the Quality of Life in the community • Investing $700,000+ into the WCC to ensure this important asset continues to provide Q of L services for the community for years to come, while aggressively seeking ways to improve the efficiency of the operation • Engineering a new pedestrian and bike trail connecting George Lake Trail to Whiting Lakefront that was ranked as the #1 project for funding in NWI - $750,000

15. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Strive to continually improve the Quality of Life in the community • Restoration of the Whiting Park Pavilion at a cost of $225,000 • Currently working on finalizing plans to construct a joint Whiting-Robertsdale dog park • Negotiating tax relief and new job opportunities for Whiting residents with new industries looking to locate in Whiting • Working on railroad “Quiet Zone”

16. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Strive to continually improve the Quality of Life in the community • Implementing the principles of the Marquette Plan into our lakeshore development plans

17. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Develop a plan to address the City’s infrastructure needs • Developed and continue to update a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan to prioritize the replacement of infrastructure including: • Street paving plan • Sidewalk replacement plan • Water line replacement plan • Sewer line replacement plan • Alley paving plan

18. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Develop a plan to address the City’s infrastructure needs • Completed a water line study to determine the priority needs to upgrade the water system • Made a commitment to review all infrastructure needs when planning a project • Investing capital into City owned buildings to protect our assets • Addressing emergency situations in a timely fashion

19. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Implement change in the operation of local government to improve our efficiency • Participated and subsequently implemented the majority of recommendations of the Good Government Initiative • Partnered with Hammond to bid jointly on asphalt and concrete projects • Developed a 5-year staffing plan • Doing more with less employees

20. What are we doing to achieve our goals? • Implement change in the operation of local government to improve our efficiency • Partnering with the School System to identify cost-saving projects and opportunities • Working with Hammond to identify potential cost-savings projects and opportunities • Trash collection and recycling program changes unbelievably successful • Aggressively seeking grants to supplement funding

21. If we’re successful… • Whiting will become a place to visit…a destination place, where: • Businesses are successful • People can enjoy a traditional vibrant downtown shopping district • The Quality of Life is so outstanding that people are waiting to purchase homes and move here • There are multiple attractions such as museums, art centers and recreational areas to enjoy

22. If we’re successful… • Property values will rise, while property taxes will continue to fall • Our tax structure is not heavily reliant on a single industrial tax payer • Our City’s infrastructure becomes easier to maintain and will accommodate future growth • Whiting will be one of the most efficiently run government operations in Indiana • Our Lakefront becomes an asset that we are proud to showcase

23. Project Update • Updates available on the web 24/7 • Center Street homes • Single family vs. townhomes • Booming – 12 new homes expected this year • Globe – Justak Properties • Numerous interested parties • BP – Private developers • Civil Defense changed to EMA • Statutes changed – improved efficiency

24. Project Update • Ohio Avenue (this week) • New water main, sewer replacement, drainage issues resolved, new street surface • 118th Street (this week) • New water main and new street surface • New York Avenue (July) • New water main, new sidewalks, new curbs, new street surface, ornamental street lighting • Community Court (underway) • New water main and new street surface

25. Project Update • Standard Ave. – Front Street – 121st Street • 121st Street extended through existing refinery • New water mains, new sewer lines/drainage,3-lane roadway, new curbing, lighting, bike trail • Allows for 50-acre industrial development and improves existing industrial access • Water Plant • BP expansion delays - Available land • Will have a final plan in place by summer

26. Project Update • Water System Improvements • Why – ISO – CIP • New hydrants • Ohio Avenue • 118th Street • New York Avenue • Community Court • Cleveland Avenue • White Oak Avenue • Standard Avenue, Front Street, 121st

27. Project Update • Parking Improvements • WCC area • New angle parking along Clark Street • New angle parking along Community Court (one-way) • Additional parking spaces along existing island • WHS Football Field • Changing lot entrance/exit to 117th Street • Several new spaces added • 119th Study underway • Recapture lost spaces • Look for new opportunities

28. Project Update • Parking Improvements • Dr. Benchik area • Fire Station area • City Hall renovations • ADA compliance • Resolve court security issues • New office space for future consolidation • Senior Condos • Waiting on developer to finalize plans

29. Project Update • Marina – Lakefront Development • Working with BP for various approvals • Developers waiting in line • Position to fast track process after BP nod • Infrastructure • $1M grant to install water, sewer, power lines into park – thanks to Congressman Pete Visclosky • Expected to begin this year • Former Tri-City Roofing property • Clearing in preparation for development

30. Project Update • Whistle Ban – Quiet Zone • Waiting for railroad action • Exploring sound barrier options • Berms • Sound proof walls • WCC • New roof in June • New windows underway • Electrical improvements

31. Project Update • Economic Development Projects • Valdes Engineering • Walgreen’s • Illiana Hotel • John’s Pizzeria • Significant regional hospital interest • Working with 1 national and 1 regional restaurant • Ethic Deli • Large scale industrial project moving forward

32. Project Update • Demolition • 1520 – 119th Street – complete • 1601 Fischrupp – complete • 3 small homes Steiber & New York – underway • Globe Roofing • Recent Acquisitions • Father & Sons Auto lot • Reasoning • Working on others

33. Project Update • Projects that have not yet received final approval • Cleveland Avenue reconstruction • New water main, sewer line, sidewalks, curbing, and restored brick surface - $2.4M • Outside chance for 2007 – likely delayed to spring 2008 • White Oak Avenue • New water main, sewer line, street resurfacing • Correct several problems related to aging sewer line • Emergency repairs to be completed in 2007 • Outside chance for 2008 – likely delayed to spring 2009

34. Project Update • Tax Relief • Still deciphering General Assembly action • Local Homestead Credits approved by the City Council for 2007 but eliminated by the legislature in 2008 • Local income tax mandated • No good indication of how trending will impact us • Impact determined by the effect of trending on BP

35. Questions & Answers