On behalf of the City Council for the City of Upland, I thank you for taking the time to read this electronic-version and/or hard copy of the City’s 2010 State of the City Address. Over the past several years, I have participated in the standard forum of other Cities with the Mayoral address before members of our community in the Council Chambers or other public meeting place. In the past, it has always been a great opportunity to address residents and business owners and to speak about our fine City; the only problem being that it was only to a select crowd who generally attend such events and for which all have been very respectful and courteous to my presentation. This year however, when speaking with the City Manager about the City’s incredible accomplishments during these times of fiscal challenge, it came to me that I would dismiss the pomp and circumstance of years gone by, and simply use this format to present the facts in a very concise and cost-effective way…no big gathering, no reception, but a report card if you will of the City’s progress.
This past year, as in the prior year has continued to stress and strain the City of Upland as it has so many personal lives and businesses. Banks have failed, businesses have collapsed and closed, residential and now commercial foreclosures have continued to increase, the stock market has “taken” and now “given back” some hard-earned investments and retirement monies, and the governments (Federal and State) have continued “struggling” to seemingly balance obligations to serve its multiple constituents while at the same time “shoring up” corporate America. At the local level, Cities have had to help the State of California attempt to keep the lights on of government, by lending monies to the State and having the State in some cases outright raid the check book of all Cities. In Upland, we are no exception to this process, and we have experienced declining revenues from property and sales tax, as well as development impact fees and the like. However, now to my message of “ENDURANCE: Reaching Greater Heights”... at the City, we have continued to be successful in these challenging times.
We, the collective team, have continued our aggressive lobbying program in Sacramento and in Washington, DC. Moreover, we have applied for federal appropriations from the $13 million authorization within the WRDA Bill for the Upland Basin Expansion Project. And, now along with City resources ($25 million) have spent in excess of $5 million from various State sources on this project to expand the City’s storm water collection (pipelines) and retention facilities (reservoirs) for the purposes of public safety and aquifer replenishment. By saving this water from “run-off,” we will save tens of millions of dollars over the next 30 years in avoided costs of purchasing potable water.
The City is also applying for millions of Federal Stimulus funds that are now available, including roadway improvements for Foothill Boulevard and Arrow Highway, as well as public safety, downtown revitalization and library-related support.
The City has a very strong General Fund Reserve, in excess of the City Council’s policy “floor” of 25%; to be maintained for unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, staff has implemented various cost-cutting measures including reductions of $5.5 million in the General Fund over the past two years alone. As noted above, the City ended the last fiscal year with reserves in excess of $10 million and while retaining that we expect to adopt another balanced budget this year without the use of these reserves. Total FY 2009/10 expenses for all City services provided to the community are illustrated below.
The City continues to receive awards by the nationally recognized Government Finance Officers Association for its Annual Budget, as well as Comprehensive Annual Fiscal Report (CAFR). The City has an extraordinary staff, and in addition coordinated over 12,000 hours of volunteer services benefiting Upland residents.
Continued work on the City’s General Plan and Historic Downtown Upland Specific Plan is underway.
Staff has facilitated the construction of one of few new residential housing communities today in the Inland Empire. Trumark Homes is constructing 39 new housing units in Northwest Upland.
Staff has also continued their work on the funding and administration of the City’s historic Fire Station/Museum and Upland Lemon Grower’s Building rehabilitation.
This year, the City also participated in a very exciting and new Summer Youth Employment Program. In coordination with the County, the City of Upland provided temporary summer work experiences for 65 youth in 6 City Departments. These efforts saved in excess of $100,000 of resources that could be utilized for other purposes.
New Restaurant and Business Attraction Programs were introduced, with exciting results.
Moreover, programming continued in the City’s efforts to implement education related to the Chamber of Commerce and the City’s joint venture “Discover Upland” campaign, including direct mail pieces to Upland residents promoting the value and significance of shopping locally!
The City received 85% participation in Phase II of its renowned RENU (Revitalizing and Enhancing Neighborhoods in Upland) Program. Staff facilitated the approval and completion of 40 new RENU grants which assisted 57 residential units on 10th and 12th Avenues, as well as 9th and A Streets.
As very exciting news, the City recently opened its new Animal Services Facility; an approximate 19,2000 square foot facility full of new technology and housing for Upland’s “soon to be adopted” animals. The City is excited to partner with Western University, who will be providing medical support to the new facility through their Veterinary Science Program.
The City has been very busy this past year, having paved over 2 million square feet of roadway, constructed 200,000 square feet of concrete improvements (sidewalk, curb/gutter and driveways); slurry sealed over 100,000 square feet of street and reconstructed 3,000 lineal feet of rock curb, including repair of the historic rock drainage channel on 19th Street.
Moreover, several large street reconstruction projects were completed this past year with improvement costs exceeding $5 million; 21st, 7th and 8th Streets to name a few.
Other significant public works projects completed this past year include the rehabilitation of 2 wells (West End 3 and Well 17); entering into a new water purchase/exchange agreement with San Antonio Water Company (SAWCO) resulting in significant costs savings and entering into an MOU with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, and design phases of the City’s first recycled water distribution system are now underway.
Tremendous progress on multiple public safety fronts occurred this past year. For example, Fire Station No. 164 was completed in the North part of our city, and the Fire Department took delivery of their new Ladder Truck for location at Station No. 164. A new Air Ambulance Program was initiated in the City with the relocation of Old Station 164 (modular units) having been moved to Cable Airport; training is now complete and we have aggressively put to work our new Airship. The Police Department installed a new CAD/RMS Field Reporting System and software was successfully installed throughout the department and in all of the squad cars. Moreover, effective negotiations/collective bargaining on a new 3-year employment contract with the Police Officers and Management Associations was completed; both the Police and Fire Departments received grants and/or generated new revenue in excess of $600,000 each this past year. Some old programs such as the Redflex Red-light camera systems at certain locations throughout the City were cancelled, while other new programs began such as implementation of a 12 lead EKG program allowing Paramedics to have technology available to them to diagnose early cardiac blockages on call outs, and get the patient transported to cardiac facilities at the local hospitals bypassing emergency and saving lives.
On other fronts, staff too has been very busy on day-to-day business, and while at the same time having again received ICRMA’s 2009 Star Award for implementation of Best Practices in Risk Management, completed significant concession bargaining with most employee groups wherein all reduced salary and/or benefits for a defined time to assist the City in maintaining a balanced budget, and implemented a new paperless agenda system know as Novus and a new bookmobile service to 7 City-sponsored locations.
Looking forward, the City of Upland enjoys such great promise for this coming year with the addition of new restaurants such as “The Heights” in the Colonies Development, along with much continued work toward urban/transit-oriented living and new retail development downtown with entities such as the Olson Companies and others; new lifestyle and residential venues throughout the City are headed our way.
Continued efforts at reconstructing infrastructure, from roads to water/sewer facilities; along with new infrastructure implementation such as work on the City’s recycled water system will continue this coming year. Park improvements, neighborhood improvements such as Revitalizing and Enhancing Neighborhoods in Upland (RENU) and new development will continue as well.
And, notably Upland maintains undoubtedly the coveted position of one, if not the most solvent municipal corporations in the Inland Empire as evidenced by Standard and Poor’s (bond rating agency) again improving/increasing its rating of the City’s financial worthiness for the second year in a row from A to A+, a remarkable accomplishment in these times; although not without pain nor a careful/cautious “go forward” strategy for the future.
I would now like to leave you with a hearty thank you for your support of our hometown; a place for which we all can be so proud and also for your “Endurance: We have Reached Greater Heights,” and will continue to strive in doing so. On behalf of the Council, I want to thank our staff for their tireless efforts in maintaining the City of Gracious Living as a final destination for so many of us who live, work and play here and for whom without, the City would simply be something much less grand than it is today. It is my true honor and pleasure to serve as your Mayor and it is not a responsibility that I take lightly. And yes, while we do have an occasional quasi-political squabble, they are not without merit. However, they have not, nor will they interfere with the important business and accomplishments of this City. Again, thank you and as we continue to pull ourselves out of this economic downturn, I wish for you to know that the City is here for you, and we will continue to work at exceeding your expectations of us in every respect, each and every day!
John “JP” Pomierski, Mayor
Brendan Brandt, Mayor Pro Tem
Ray Musser, Councilmember
Tom Thomas, Councilmember
Kenneth W. Willis, Councilmember
Robb Quincey, City Manager
