Naperville mayor: ‘We have plenty of work ahead’
Despite an economic climate that has caused the city to eliminate more than 10 percent of its work force and reduce services, Mayor George Pradel says Naperville is still the place to be.
Pradel presented his annual State of the City address to hundreds of business and community leaders Monday morning at Tellabs on the city’s north side.
“We have had some difficult discussions about city revenue and service levels recently. The value that we stretch from every dollar and the values that exist at the core of our organization have sustained us through these lean times,” Pradel said.
“We expect our government to be fiscally responsible, accountable and transparent to our taxpayers. And now, more than ever before, we must continue to make the decisions that will stand the test of time and make certain our values endure.”
Those decisions are helped, he said, by employees who have maintained positive attitudes and businesses that continue to want to call Naperville home.
Economic development success stories topped the list of Naperville’s achievements in 2010, Pradel said. He praised Navistar’s decision to move to neighboring Lisle and bring 3,000 permanent jobs. He also made mention of the renovation that will soon upgrade the former Holiday Inn Select on Diehl Road and turn it into a Marriott.
He said he attended 39 ribbon cuttings in 2010, including those at Delta Dental, a new Nicor call center and Laser Technologies.
“Recent events remind us that we have plenty of work ahead. As we move forward, we will continue to be respectful of the recovering economic climate,” Pradel said. “We will work to meet our financial obligations in a way that stimulates economic growth and encourages the creation and retention of jobs.”
Pradel called the city’s ongoing $22 million smart grid initiative the city’s “by far, most exciting project” and one that sets Naperville apart as the only municipality in the state to receive federal grants to match half of the $22 million cost.
“The electric utility’s cost will be $11 million and will generate a 300 percent return for the city. We will see a minimum, that’s right a minimum, of $34 million dollars in city savings over the next 15 years,” he said. “We are happy to report that this project continues to move forward on time and within budget.”
Pradel also called on City Manager Doug Krieger to give what he called a city government 101 lesson to let everyone know about sales tax and property tax revenues and how the city spends it.
“Our single biggest source for revenues is our sales tax. We get 1 percent of every purchase made within the city. While this may seem like just a sliver, you people buy a lot of stuff,” Krieger said. “As a matter of fact, we expect Naperville sales to be more than $2.6 billion this year, resulting in sales tax revenue of $26 million for the city.”
In closing, Pradel encouraged business owners to support and help each other overcome challenges.
“We are all part of a shared community with a vision of excellence. In the word community, there is unity,” Pradel said. “That unity is our greatest asset now and into the new decade.”
Pradel’s Top 10
Mayor George Pradel listed 10 reasons why Naperville is a world-class community during his State of the City address Monday:
10: Public safety
9: Nationally acclaimed schools
8: Naperville Park District
7: Downtown restaurants and shops
6: Home of Olympic gold and silver medals
5: Public transportation system
4: Involved citizens
3: Two museums (Naper Settlement and DuPage Childrens Museum
2: Home of the top-ranked library in the nation
1: Community spirit