Just finished a list of what was accomplished by the City Council during my term as Mayor. Getting ready to go to my last meeting feeling good about getting alot done in two years. Greensboro has momentum-and I wish Mayor Elect Vaughan and the Council the best in continuing forward. 2011-2013 Mayor/Council Accomplishments • Hired Denise Turner-Roth as City Manager o Resulted in outstanding senior staff and dramatically upgraded positive attitude of the entire City organization. • Recruited and Hired City Attorney which dramatically upgraded and improved the performance of the City Attorney’s office. • Developed a List of Council Priorities o Jobs and Economic Development o Public Safety o Maintaining Infrastructure • Developed List of Focus Areas for Economic Development o Airport Area o Downtown o Nanotechnology School at the Gateway Center • Adopted two City Budgets with no property tax increase • Crime statistics showed a reduction in crime of 11% between 2011-2012. • Negotiated an Infrastructure Agreement with Guilford County to spend unused portions of the joint Water/Sewer Trust fund to expand sewer service along I-85 and I-40. The $19 million project is currently under construction. • Initiated discussions with the Legislature to oppose Jordan Lake Rules as proposed, gaining a postponement and eventual rewrite from the State Legislature, which could save citizens in Guilford and Alamance Counties as much as $300 million. • Worked to obtain and keep funding to complete Greensboro’s Urban Loop and to gain approval for the $50 million bridge crossing I-73 to access 900 acres already owned by the Airport. • Initiated a citizen involvement process to consider a downtown performing arts center that has resulted in a public private partnership with at least $35million in private contributions and $30 million in City issued bonds paid for by user fees. The land for the project has been purchased, the architectural/construction team is being finalized, and the structure for ownership and operation of the facility is being developed. • Organized a significant community meeting in East Greensboro to hear and prioritize community concerns o Approved the Disparity Study, which will result in more City work for minority contractors. o Focused on Parity Study, with particular emphasis on improving north/south connectivity in East Greensboro. o Ground was broken on the $11 million Hayes Taylor YMCA on land obtained from the City for $1.00 per year. The project will enhance the activity center developing around the Gateway Research Park and Gateway Gardens. • Initiated discussions and joined Opportunity Greensboro to improve City relations with our seven local colleges and universities and get Downtown University Village under way, resulting in selection of the site at South Elm and Gate City Boulevard. • Raised awareness of lack of competitiveness in condition of downtown and worked to reconfigure and reenergize downtown development efforts. o Supported “good repair” ordinance for boarded up buildings downtown o Supported continuation/completion of Downtown Greenway o Reconfigured DGI to enhance its focus on job creation and economic development. • Proposed that the City hire a Federal Lobbyist and aggressively pursue grant opportunities in Washington o $1.5 million grant for Hondajet expansion o $1 million grant for Commerce Department Job Creation Challenge • Passed new garbage and recycling contracts that resulted in a $1 million per year savings to Greensboro taxpayers. • Worked with Guilford County County Commissioners and leaders in Randolph and Alamance Counties to start major economic development projects that have the potential to transform the workforce in central North Carolina. • Moved Speakers from the Floor back to the beginning of Council meetings. • Operated for two years without picking up the gavel one time in a public meeting.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:43:26 +0000
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