THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 14, 1996 TAG: 9601120192
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
The following is a shortened version of Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf's 1996 ``state of the city'' address. Oberndorf delivered the speech Wednesday night to the Council of Civic Organizations, an umbrella group representing most of the city's civic leagues.
It's a pleasure for me to be here this evening with the Council of Civic Organizations for your first meeting of the new year. I want to thank the CCO for your efforts during 1995. It is very encouraging to see our civic groups continue to work together to make Virginia Beach an even greater city.
Each summer, the Virginia Beach City Council meets to set goals for the city and to chart progress we have made toward reaching these goals.
Through these strategic planning sessions, the City Council has created a vision to guide our city into the next century. We discuss strategic long and short-term options for the city. We set goals in order of priority and then come up with strategies to achieve these goals. Our Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program are based on these priorities.
Let me review some of the goals City Council has set for our city:
Economic Vitality - expanding job opportunities, businesses, tax base.
During 1995, 14 new businesses announced plans to locate in Virginia Beach. They bring with them nearly 1,400 new jobs and $39 million in investment in the city . . .
We're also seeing established Virginia Beach companies like Lillian Vernon and Stihl Incorporated undergoing major expansions of their current facilities. In 1995, 16 companies have expanded, creating 793 new jobs and $56 million in investment.
What does economic development mean to the average Virginia Beach citizen? It means better roads, better schools, better jobs and a better quality of life. Economic development means attracting more businesses who pay more taxes.
More tax revenue results in park development, recreation programs, libraries and other necessities and amenities that enhance our quality of life. A higher quality of life in turn helps convince prospective businesses to locate in Virginia Beach.
City Council supports economic development as a top priority for Virginia Beach by funding advertising and public relations activities and an economic development investment fund which can be used to build infrastructure to support companies coming into the city. Citizens and existing businesses benefit from improved infrastructure. Prospective companies view our competitive tax base, educated work force, comfortable climate and available transportation network as assets.
1995 was a banner year for the Lake Gaston project.
It began with a favorable draft Environmental Impact Statement from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and ended with the initiation of project construction. As you know, Virginia Beach has every federal, state and local permit needed to construct and operate the Lake Gaston Water Supply Project .
In October, the City of Virginia Beach awarded contracts for the project. The Lake Gaston Water Supply Project should be completed by the summer of 1998.
Destination point for tourists through development of activities and marketing strategies.
Virginia Beach is continually working to enhance the resort area for our residents as well as the 2 million people who visit us each year.
The Resort Area Beautification Program is a $60 million face lift to the oceanfront that began in 1987. The project includes improvements to Atlantic Avenue, adjacent side streets and Boardwalk connector parks from the Rudee Loop to 42nd Street. Atlantic Avenue and the Boardwalk are a showcase we are proud to put on display for our residents and visitors . . .
Safe community where citizens and visitors have a feeling of safety at any time in any place.
Our recent citizen satisfaction survey showed that nine out of 10 citizens feel that their neighborhood is a safe place to live. Eighty-nine percent believe that Virginia Beach in general is a safe place to live. For eight years in a row, statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice show Virginia Beach with the lowest overall crime rate of cities with a population of 250,000 to 700,000.
Regional cooperation, marketing and leadership.
It is crucial that cities and counties throughout Hampton Roads work together on projects that impact the region . . .
Mobility for citizens, businesses, tourists.
City Council is looking at a broad range of transportation issues from bike paths to mass transit. Virginia Beach is continuing to develop and construct a comprehensive roadway plan that includes an interconnected bikeway system . .
Active citizen/business involvement as partners with city government.
Virginia Beach has seen tremendous success through community partnerships involving everything from reducing crime to conserving water.
We are working in partnership with Cellar Door Productions of Virginia to construct a 20,000-seat outdoor amphitheater off Princess Anne and Landstown roads. The first concert is scheduled for April of 1996 . . .
We are working to improve communications with our citizens in a number of ways. Beach Advisory is our citizen newsletter which we publish quarterly. Our Public Information Office publishes a monthly Civic League Advisory which is packed with news about the City of Virginia Beach. This publication is provided to all area civic leagues and civic league newsletter editors.
We believe we're on the right track in Virginia Beach. In our recent citizen survey, more than 94 percent of residents agreed that Virginia Beach is a good place to live and expressed satisfaction with city services. Virginia Beach is a city with a rich history and a bright future.
All of us on City Council are excited about the potential that exists in Virginia Beach. Through strategic planning, we've begun the process of making our vision a reality. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Meyera Oberndorf
by CNB