The Emporia Gazette

May 28, 2012

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For the first “State of the City” speech in Emporia’s history, Mayor Julie Johnson played it safe, invoking Charles Dickens to focus on what was good about Emporia in 2007 as well as the good she believes is yet to come in 2008.

Johnson’s 12-minute address came at the end of the city’s action meeting Wednesday night. She prefaced it by making reference to the president’s traditional State of the Union and the governor’s State of the State addresses, and saying of her city address, “We’re going to try this and see what happens.”

Her speech opened by connecting Emporia’s political landscape to the theme of Dickens’ famous opening to A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness ... ”

Johnson said Dickens’ words were a reminder that perception is shaped by people’s attitudes and perspective.

“There are those who would look at 2007 in Emporia and think of it as the worst of times,” Johnson said. “I prefer to think in terms of the best of times and to continue to work for the times that will be even better.”

Among her positives, Johnson noted the celebration of Emporia’s sesquicentennial and the hiring of Matt Zimmerman as city manager, who she said “brings much energy and new perspectives to the city.” She also lauded the economic success the city enjoyed in 2007, saying Emporia was happy to welcome the REG and Hills Pet Food plants that are under construction.

“The jobs that are created by these companies will certainly benefit our workforce and the community as a whole,” she said.

She said the turnpike/I-35 construction project would probably be considered by some Emporians as being part of “the worst” of 2007.

“Right now, it is a challenge to get into Emporia from the west,” she said. “But when all the projects are completed, I believe that we will all first give a big sigh of relief and then come to recognize that traffic moves a lot better out there.”

For the year to come, Johnson mentioned as key issues the drive to bring good manufacturing jobs and expand the community’s efforts in the technology industry. She said the retail incentives policy passed last year and the information that will be included in the Buxton retail study would prepare the city for retail development opportunities.

The issue of housing, she said, was one area that couldn’t fall under the “best” category. She mentioned the Human Relations Commission’s efforts to develop a self-funded rental housing program and said the commission would continue looking into providing safe housing for tenants and safeguards for landlords.

“During the public meetings, it was emphasized that rental housing was not the sole culprit in the derelict property inventory in the city,” she said. “Therefore, the commission must also review the property maintenance ordinance passed in the 1990s.”

The formation of the 2009 budget, she said, would include discussions on the most equitable means of funding local government, including dialogue on the roles of user fees, franchise fees, property tax and sales tax.

Diversity was another topic Johnson sees at the forefront of the new year. She said the city commission would work with the Human Relations Commission to study the National League of Cities Diversity Community standards in order to make Emporia a cost-effective diversity community.

“We all must learn about each other, accept our differences and create a better city based on our similarities,” she said. “Change is not ever easy; change is not always fast, but it is relentless. If we are not willing to adapt to change, we will surely be left behind in today’s world.”

Johnson closed by saying she and her fellow commissioners were charged with providing the services and amenities Emporia needs in the most economical way possible.

“If we meet this challenge,” she said, “2008 will once again be the best of times in Emporia.”

Before Johnson’s address, commissioners:

• Approved the proposal from Springsted to study law enforcement consolidation between the city and county.

• Authorized Johnson to sign a proclamation declaring Jan. 21 as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a proclamation declaring February to be Project Emporia Month. Project Emporia features a canned food drive whose participants will attempt to collect 8,000 canned items.

• Presented plaques of meritorious service to Emporia Police Department officers Todd Ayer and David Holmes and Lt. Larry Adams for their roles in saving two teenage boys from the ice at Peter Pan Park last month.

• Adopted the city’s 2008 legislative policy.

• Approved upgrades to the city’s wireless water meter reading units for $21,203 and the purchase of 19 new meter head registers for approximately $3,600.

• Listened to Zimmerman’s report on city activities. Zimmerman said the Buxton study is on schedule to be finished in late February and that the Chamber of Commerce’s Blueprint for Success, formerly known as the Image campaign, will be unveiled at the chamber meeting Friday.