2013 State of the City 2/19/2013 Council Meeting

1. 2013 State of the City2/19/2013 Council Meeting CITY OF WARSAW

3. Strategic Goal #1GROWTH MANAGEMENT • DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY GROWTH • UTILIZE ANNEXATION AS A TOOL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • RECONCILE CURRENT ZONING AND DESIRED LAND-USE DISCREPANCIES WHERE THEY MAY EXIST

4. 2012 • Completion of Bike/Walk Master plan • Passage of business friendly Sign Ordinance • Initiate downtown Parking Study • Initiate Complete Streets Ordinance • Annexation of 110 Acres of developable ground west of IVY Tech • Expanded into Northern Tax Increment Financing District and approved by Indiana Economic Development as a Certified Technology Park

5. 2013 • Initiate new Comprehensive Plan • Ball State University School of Architecture and Planning charette focusing on the Gatke Property/Market Street/Little Crow Building “corridor” • Warsaw Housing Authority is initiating neighborhood organization and action plan for above area • Utilize “complete” transportation plan • Focused Economic development initiatives • Planning requirements for Stellar Community Status that we plan to apply for in early in 2014

6. #2 BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RETENTION • ESTABLISH LOCAL PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES TO SUPPORT EXISTING BUSINESS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO EXPAND AND GROW • ACTIVELY SEEK TO UNDERSTAND CONDITIONS AND NEEDS OF EXISTING BUSINESS • DEVELOP A COORDINATED ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

7. Through ORTHOWORX collaboration: • Exploring Orthopedic Specialty Clinic • Exploring Business Incubator/Accelerator • Strengthen workforce initiatives that meet the needs of the industry… eg. IVY Tech collaboration creating the Advanced Orthopedic Manufacturing Program

8. 2012-2013 • Developed relationships/ on site visits with Orthopedic and other corporate CEOS • Support federal legislation to repeal Medical Device Tax and support state efforts to mitigate MDT through state incentives and tax relief • Listened to needs of merchants with multiple public hearings regarding the Sign Ordinance and Parking study

9. 2012-2013 • Through KEDCO/CPEG: • Develop regional supplier network to improve access and collaboration regionally • Through WCDC: • Strengthen Building Façade grants and Revolving Loan for improvements • Provide a voice for downtown merchants

10. Strategic Goal #3 Business Attraction • Identify and prioritize properties available and desired for development • Create and promote shovel ready sites for development • Use local finance tools strategically and creatively to support business attraction efforts. • Grow tax base with assessed value from preferred business types • Diversify industry and business mix

11. 2012 • Identified landowner partners within the newly Certified Technology Park. • Finalized CTP agreement with IEDC • Interviewed industrial developers, construction companies, engineering firms to solicit proposals for a consolidated marketable industrial park that will be designed to grow and expand • Selected Browning development to • create preliminary site plan • develop a collaborative agreement amongst partners • negotiate a shell building proposal • create marketing strategy for the new industrial park

12. 2013 • Preliminary engineering is currently underway in the new industrial park • Partnerships will be formed to • maximize land use and cooperation in developing the site plan • Collaborate on infrastructure expenses • Develop incentives and marketing strategies • CTPincrement revenue should be realized later this year and will be earmarked for accelerator development • The expansion of Winona PVD will occur this year • We will name the CTP /industrial park. . . any ideas?

13. Establish a coordinated marketing and outreach program highlighting economic development opportunities within the community • Create and promote economic development marketing efforts through a consistent strategic targeted message • 2013 • In collaboration with the Chamber and KEDCO • Our marketing and messaging will be further redefined as the CTP planning progresses • As “product becomes available”, our goal is to strengthen the common message with all economic development entities and consolidate with a unified approach • Continue to market to existing industry through active outreach

14. Strategic Goal #4DOWNTOWN WARSAW • Further define and encourage development/redevelopment efforts within the central business district • Identify needed critical downtown streetscape elements and improvements • Establish a strategy to expand downtown Warsaw as a unique community and business activity destination

15. 2012 • The remodelingand occupancy of the historic First National Bank Building occurred this past year. • Offices of the Mayor, Human Resources, Clerk-Treasurer, Building and Plan, City Engineer, City Attorney, and Waste-Water Payment were consolidated in the new City Hall. • In addition, an enlarged parking lot /city plaza was developed • The WCDC merged with the Chamber to consolidate management staff and enhance efficiencies for both entities. • The bike/walk master plan was completed with specific facility projects downtown to connect public areas with parks and neighborhoods

16. 2012(contd) • Initiation of the downtown parking study • Completion of the new sign ordinance • First Friday events continued under the direction of the city’s new event coordinator and with the guidance of the WCDC • The establishment of Saturday Farmers Market in the Plaza and on Center Street

17. 2013 • Completion of the parking study • Farmers Market expansion • Completion of City Plaza • Parks department will begin to program the City Plaza • City Special Events Coordinator will Collaborate with WCDC to further develop and program downtown events

18. 2013 (contd.) • Acquisition of the Indiana American Water Pumping Plant at Center Lake • Buffalo Street Boulevard design will be explored further to develop a timeline as a downtown to Center Lake Park connection • The planning charettewill look at redevelopment opportunities in downtown Warsaw that could involve larger parcels of land. • City entry signswill be replace and wayfindingsignagewill be erected • The re-establishment of law enforcement presence downtown with high visibility office in new city hall and a base for foot and bike patrols

19. Strategic Goal #5Communication & Process • Work to streamline development/permit approval processes • Improve communication between City of Warsaw officials and the citizens of Warsaw • Improve communication and coordination between the City of Warsaw, neighboring communities and Kosciusko County • Develop a coordinated communication effort between the City of Warsaw and key stakeholders

20. 2012 • Establishment of a monthly newspaper column, “…from the Mayor” in the Times Union that seeks to inform our citizens of municipal issues • Increased use of city website to convey • Involvement in monthly Community Action Council (CAC) meetings, membership in Orthoworx (advisory Council seat), Membership in KEDCO, WCDC board, CCAC board, and close collaboration with Chamber. • Attendance at County Commissioners meetings, close relationship with county elected officials, • Collaboration with County Sherriff and Prosecutors office emergency services. • Partnership with 911 and countywide emergency management

21. 2012 (contd.) • Collaboration of Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Territory. Expansion to third fire station. • Collaborate with County on Road and Bridge projects through county membership in the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) • Continued improvement of City Website • Regular meetings with WCS superintendent have established collaborative partnership

22. 2013 • Collaborate with Winona Lake to finish up connection of Bike /Walk project connection the heritage trail to Smith Street • Collaborate with county to engineer bridge on 300 North to accommodate pedestrian traffic from Sheldon Drive to Madison School and into Warsaw CTP. • Explore further collaboration with county and Winona Lake to enhance community assets. • Continue to improve communication process at public meeting through multimedia presentation and better council audio system. • Continue to use technology to expand communication process

23. Strategic Goal #6Neighborhood Revitalization • Develop programs to support a balanced mix of safe, stable, and desirable neighborhoods within the community

24. 2012 • Acquisition and demolition of two blighted residential properties at edge of downtown. • Appropriated extra funds to leverage into CDBG • WHA/HOW is developing collaboration with Habitat for Humanity to leverage assets to develop more sustainable NRI resources. • Resurfaced selected streets in all five districts

25. 2013 • Planning charetteto evaluate residential housing needs in study corridor • Evaluate options to resurface more neighborhood streets in spite of reduced road revenues • Continue to develop NRI initiatives with expanded partnerships • Housing plan is major component of Stellar Communities initiative

26. Additional Operational Initiatives • School Safety • Realign DARE/ SRO resources and responsibilities with WCS • Initiate regular school patrols and presence for all WCS schools within city limits • Collaborate with WCS on school security issues • Respond to WCS requests for safe schools and provide available resources

27. Roads and Transportation • Husky Trail reconstruction engineering • Resurfacing project list with optional asphalt recycling process • Through the Bicycle Advisory Committee and with community partnerships, we will work to prioritize, fund, and implement Bike/Pedprojects from master-plan. • Continue support of regional Amtrak resumption of service • Implement 2013 Aviation Capital Improvement Plan-lowering of power lines

28. Stormwater/Wastewater • By mandate from IDEM/EPA implement storm water (MS4 guidelines). Will hire an MS4 coordinator, develop a project list of drainage issues, develop a budget, and storm water fee. • Complete the shutdown of WWTP #1 and diversion to plant #2 WWTFT • Develop preliminary site plan for station #3 • Initiate optional EMT training for current firefighters

29. Budget and Finance • Continue to find ways to cut expenses and control capital spending as a result of decreased revenue as the result of property tax cap credits. • Assessed valuation took a big hit this year as the result of reassessment and real estate downturn. It appears that real estate values are starting to comeback but I’m sure it will be a slow recovery. Methamphetamine and PSE • We will continue to combat the scourge of crystal meth as the human toll continues to mount. Our officers are ever vigilant and will continue to fight this horrible problem • I will look towards tamper-resistant products to provide an effective option for law abiding citizens who use the medicine properly, as we work with our legislators to limit and/or remove dangerous precursors from the shelves of our stores.

30. Thank You ! Mayor Joe Thallemer