2013 State of the City
2/19/2013 Council Meeting
CITY OF WARSAW
Strategic Goal #1
GROWTH 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
 2012
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Completion of
Passage of business friendly
Initiate downtown
Initiate
of developable ground west
of IVY Tech
 Expanded into Northern Tax Increment Financing District and
approved by Indiana Economic Development as a
 2013
 Initiate new
 Ball State University School of Architecture and Planning
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
that we plan to apply for in early in 2014
Status
#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
 Through ORTHOWORX collaboration:
 Exploring
 Exploring
 Strengthen workforce initiatives that meet the needs of the
industry… eg. IVY Tech collaboration creating the Advanced
Orthopedic Manufacturing Program
 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
 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
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
 2012
 Identified landowner partners within the newly
 Finalized
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
 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
increment 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
/industrial park. . . any ideas?
 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
Strategic Goal #4
DOWNTOWN 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
 2012
 The remodeling and occupancy of the historic First
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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
.
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
was completed with
specific facility projects downtown to connect public areas
with parks and neighborhoods
 2012(contd)
 Initiation of the
 Completion of the
events continued under the direction of the
city’s new event coordinator and with the guidance of the
WCDC
 The establishment of Saturday
in the
Plaza and on Center Street
 2013
 Completion of the parking study
expansion
 Completion of
 Parks department will begin to program the City Plaza
 City Special Events Coordinator will Collaborate with WCDC
to further develop and program downtown events
 2013 (contd.)
 Acquisition of the Indiana American Water Pumping Plant at
Center Lake
design will be explored
further to develop a timeline as a downtown to Center Lake
Park connection
 The planning
will look at redevelopment
opportunities in downtown Warsaw that could involve larger
parcels of land.
 City entry signs will be replace and wayfinding signage will
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
Strategic Goal #5
Communication & 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
 2012
 Establishment of a monthly newspaper column, “…from
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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
 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
 2013
 Collaborate with Winona Lake to finish up connection of
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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
Strategic Goal #6
Neighborhood
Revitalization
 Develop programs to support a balanced mix of safe,
stable, and desirable neighborhoods within the
community
 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
 2013
 Planning
to 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
initiative
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
Roads and Transportation
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engineering
Resurfacing project list with optional asphalt recycling
process
Through the
and with
community partnerships, we will work to prioritize, fund, and
implement Bike/Ped projects from master-plan.
Continue support of regional
resumption of service
Implement 2013 Aviation Capital Improvement Planlowering of power lines
Stormwater/Wastewater
 By
from IDEM/EPA implement storm water (
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
Budget and Finance
 Continue to find ways to cut expenses and control capital
spending as a result of decreased revenue as the result of
.
 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
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.
Thank You !
Mayor Joe Thallemer