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State of the City Address - March 2007 |
My fellow citizens, thank you for joining me this evening.
I know each of us feels very blessed to live in Panama City, a beautiful place with miles and miles of waterfronts - bays, bayous, canals, and lakes, that generations have enjoyed. And not just for recreation - boating and water sports, but for industry - manufacturing, shipping, and fishing. Our coastal way of life is more desirable than ever, and it is more important than ever to properly manage the growth of our city. As I speak to you this evening, we see a city that has been on the brink of explosive growth. The changes that occurred over the last two years are in some ways exciting, but also create an air of uncertainty due to the effects of intense development in Northwest Florida. Like other municipalities in Bay County and the State, we have seen sudden increases in the cost of housing, property taxes, and insurance, and it's hard not to feel a little shell-shocked at the pace. But the natural tendency of our nation's economy to correct itself always gives us a chance to catch up, and we should make the best of that opportunity right now in Panama City. The onslaught of investors and prospective new citizens, while currently paused, showed us that certain areas of our local government and planning agencies were unprepared to deal with rapid growth. Valuable industries, businesses, cultural landmarks, and entire neighborhoods were lost or in danger of being bulldozed in the stampede, and we are just now beginning to realize the effects that the loss of such facilities as marinas and boatyards will have on our long-term local economy. It is important that we take the next couple of years to identify and protect the things about our city that have made life sustainable, so that when the onslaught returns we will be ready. And, if done carefully, our beautiful Panama City will become even more desirable. |
Our local economy, like every other city in Florida, relies heavily on the value of the land and natural resources. Throughout the state's history, the ability to exchange real estate for outside money has allowed local governments to sustain themselves, but available land is getting scarce. The redevelopment of existing coastal properties churns the ''raw material" from which so many Panama City businesses produce income, but that churn upsets the cultural threads that give a community its unique identity. And while the recent real estate boom was good for our business community, its wane does not mean that we cannot continue to grow within our own capabilities. In fact, important opportunities exist right now in the real estate market that can help sustain our existing economy, while better preparing Panama City to meet its future potential as one of the most desirable places to live in the entire world.
Elsewhere in the local economy, Panama City presently enjoys the benefits of two important military installations in the area. In addition to the payroll generated within Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Panama City, a tremendous network of military contractors supplies jobs and technical and industrial capabilities. The support of our nation's defense industry is always a hedge against the effects of fluctuation in other areas of the economy. Culturally, Panama City has long been a haven for the arts and humanities, and boasts active music and theater organizations, civic clubs, public festivals, and entertainment. The Martin Theatre, Visual Arts Center, and the Marina Civic Center have outdone themselves in the past few years with their offerings of world-class entertainment. And the continuing work of the Downtown Improvement Board will place all of these venues in the optimum urban setting. Tourism, including area citizens drawn downtown by festivals and public events, will continue to grow as long as traffic infrastructure and public accessibility supports it. Historically, the communal thread still exists in five districts, where properties and landmarks have been identified as having historic significance. An increased interest in protecting these areas has resulted in the pursuit of state grants, and citizens' efforts to preserve and restore. The people of Panama City treasure their roots, whether grown here or brought with them as a dream of life in a beautiful waterfront town, and it is that value that we must protect if we seek to encourage others to also make their home here. Public transportation has seen improvement in the last two years, but still has a little way to go before travel about the city becomes as efficient as it can be. Our plans for growth should always include a robust transportation system, and we will in fact see more permanent trolley stop facilities in the coming year. Panama City's CRA's may be able to contribute to the transit system through neighborhood improvements such as trolley stops, and thereby increase the effectiveness of the county-wide trolley as it operates within our city. |
I believe that the development pause gives us an unprecedented opportunity to use city resources that were being funneled into new development activities to help accomplish a "green it up, clean it up" program for our neighborhoods. I think that in 2007 and 2008 the city agencies can be instrumental in partnering with the citizens to plant trees, clean up and haul off refuse, and generally improve the aesthetic appeal of Panama City. This will only work to our benefit when the time comes for the city to grow to its full potential. And let's put the crews that were going to build new infrastructure for mega-condos to work replacing old infrastructure for our existing "customers" - the citizens who already live here.
As I mentioned earlier, important opportunities exist right now in the real estate market that can help sustain our local economy. Bay County, like other Northwest Florida cities, suffers from a shortage of affordable housing. Now, you can say that housing is about to get more affordable due to an oversupply of beachfront condos, but you know that I'm talking about houses that regular citizens can afford. When the price of the "supply" meets the income of the "demand", an entire army of construction-related businesses and employees can be unleashed to build the homes that ALWAYS sell - AFFORDABLE ones! While it may not make these businesses rich, it can keep them IN business until the high-end housing market returns. I have been hosting public forums on affordable housing, and I think that in the coming year that cause should be taken up in serious fashion by our city leaders, for the benefit of all the Panama City citizens that either need a home, or NEED TO BUILD ONE. And don't you think it's about time to hire that planner? You know that award-winning planner that knows how to bring it all together - the businesses, the affordable housing, the streetscapes, and yes, even the condos (of a reasonable height, of course). I would think that there are quite a few of them available right about now, and they can help us with that affordable housing thing while waiting to help us build paradise on the waterfront. The City of Panama City has no excuses for passing up a chance to do growth right - let's do it this year. |
The world-wide-web has furnished the population of our entire planet with unfettered access to information, and provides an opportunity for many more people to participate. I applaud the efforts of our city staff in providing web-based information that even working citizens can obtain after a hard day, in the comfort of their own homes. I believe that the City should provide even more access to more information and city services through this medium. I can imagine a time when the average Panama Citian can help select representatives, such as members of boards and authorities, by casting a vote on his home computer. I believe that the only thing that prevents "participation" is the lack of "facilitation" - give the people a way to participate, and they will be happier with their government. Let's make use of technology to get government out of the back room, and out into our sunny neighborhoods.
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It is my belief that, just as has been proven in the manufacturing industry around the world, the participation of individuals increases the quality and quantity of production. We must make the welcome mat at City Hall not just a greeting, but an invitation.
It is time that the citizens who pay for city government receive the same status and respect as its officials. The time has come for EVERY citizen to feel that he or she is an honored guest at our City Commission meetings, and that he or she will be free of harassment or abuse while attempting to interact with this City's government authorities. And I further believe that it is time that ALL neighborhoods receive equal improvements and allocation of city resources, so that a person who doesn't live here would have a hard time figuring out where the affluent neighborhoods end, and the non-affluent ones begin. NOW is the time for this to happen. |
The state of our City is sound. And while I see a large number of areas needing the attention of our city's resources, we have accumulated an enviable surplus with which to accomplish our goals. The opportunities for progress, some of which I've outlined, are also sound. And, as in my description of the future State of our City, I could go on and on about the things that I feel it is time for, but as a conclusion to this first State of the City Address, I will leave you with just one. Panama City truly is in a state of change, as it always will be. It is time, however, for that change to mean good things for ALL it's people, and not just a select few.
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