Delaware, OH
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2024 State of the City Presentation
City Manager Tom Homan gave the State of the City Presentation on February 28, 2024, at the Strand Theatre in downtown Delaware.
His prepared remarks:
Good evening and welcome.
I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to the residents of Delaware for their ongoing support and pride in our community.
I want to recognize our mayor and city council members. Thank you for your dedicated service and your commitment to Delaware.
I would like to thank our leadership team and city staff for their diligence in meeting residents’ needs and their foresight in planning for the future.
Thank you to our police officers, firefighters and all our public safety staff, who show unwavering dedication to protecting our residents and keeping Delaware safe.
I want to thank our partners: Delaware City Schools, Ohio Wesleyan University, Main Street Delaware, Delaware County, Source Point, the Chamber of commerce, MORPC, the health district and so many other organizations that serve our residents and businesses.
And finally, I want to thank the historic strand theater and managing director Tracey Peyton and her staff for hosting us tonight.
We love this venue in our city and I am glad we could be here tonight.
Thank you.
Anyone who lives in Delaware knows that this community is like no other in the region: full service; county seat; liberal arts university; rich history; open and welcoming. Vibrant downtown.
these are many of the reasons that make the state of our city strong. Of course, we face challenges—and over the course of the last 216 years, we’ve always found ways to address them.
Delaware’s growth means constantly balancing a desire to preserve what we love and a desire to explore new possibilities.
I believe we can do both if we remember to balance our priorities and focus on delivering the best outcomes for our community.
Safe drinking water, regular trash and recycling collection, parks and recreational opportunities, police, fire/EMS protection … these are among the many services provided by local governments. We likely utilize some of these services — water, for example — many times each day.
But good government starts with good people, and tonight I want to highlight them.
The mayor and city council appoint individuals from our community to more than 15 boards, commissions, committees and authorities.
Each has an impact on most every facet of local government. Each member brings expertise, levels of diversity, and a unique perspective to their service.
Tonight, on the screen behind me, are some those citizen servants who volunteer their time and expertise. I’ll tell you a little about the role these bodies play in making Delaware a better community for us all.
The airport commission is responsible for matters relating to the Delaware Municipal Airport Jim Moore Field.
The Board of Zoning Appeals hears appeals from individuals having to do with land use and building requirements.
The Civil Service Commission creates and monitors rules and policies for our civil service employees in the police and fire departments.
A New Community Authority is a board that oversees public development projects in specific geographic areas.
The Historic Preservation Commission oversees preservation activities for buildings and places located in our designated historic district.
The Metropolitan Housing Authority administers the housing voucher program, helping qualifying residents into rental housing
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board advises the city on recreational programming and parks development.
The Planning Commission governs land use within our municipal boundaries, including zoning and subdivisions.
The Shade Tree Commission makes recommendations to preserve and promote the existing urban forest in our city.
And finally, the Sister City Advisory Board helps us promote and enhance global community partnerships, including with our sister cities in Sakata, Japan and Baumholder, Germany.
At this time, I’d like to ask all board, commission and committee members present tonight to stand or wave and be recognized.
As always, delivering essential services without interruption is a priority. We installed more than 3,000 feet of new water line along Pennsylvania Avenue last year.
By replacing an old line that was prone to breaks we improved water service and fire safety for our residents.
The water line work was done last year so, this year, Pennsylvania Avenue will be ready to be repaved, a project largely funded with grant dollars. As we’re all aware work has already begun on this important roadway.
A quick note that this project includes a multi-use path on the north side of Pennsylvania from Euclid to Heritage; this is being done in partnership with the Delaware County Agriculture Society.
Speaking of our underground assets, the city maintains 217 miles of underground waterline and 185 miles of sewer line. We have a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that pulls water out of deep wells and surface water from the Olentangy River and treats it to make it safe for our residents. That plant sends out about 3.7 million gallons a day of fresh drinking water.
We also have an incredible wastewater treatment plant that takes all our resident’s waste and treats about 5 million gallons a day.
Keeping it all working properly is the responsibility of our public utilities department.
Let’s watch what goes into that.
Fire fighters and medics are constantly training to improve life saving techniques.
They spend more than 20,000 hours a year training in a variety of areas.
As the number of emergency responses increases every year, being prepared at the highest level can mean the difference between life and death. In 2023 we had 10,082 apparatus responses and responded to 94.6% of those calls within the 6-minute standard.
We profiled behind-the-scenes training scenarios in this recruitment video.
Over at the Police Department, Chief Adam Moore completed his first full year as Delaware’s 13th chief. The department undertook an analysis by the center for public safety management on how efficiently it delivers law enforcement services. Recommendations from that will help the chief and his leadership team plan the department’s future.
Not surprisingly, the report found the department does an outstanding job of providing an extremely high-level pf customer service.
Some quick stats: total incidents our police responded to in 2023: 24,564; total cruiser mileage 289,281.
One of my personal goals in 2023 was to get out of my office more regularly and check in with our departments. I called it Fridays in the Field and it was a terrific way to learn more about the great work we do, but also meet the outstanding individuals that get the job done for residents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For example, our finance and budget team at city hall earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s prestigious Triple Crown award in 2023.
This was a first for our city. It recognizes achievement in three budgetary or accounting fields in the same fiscal year. My congratulations to the Director of Finance Rob Alger and Director of Budget, Management & Procurement Alycia Ballone.
At Oak Grove Cemetery, which the city took over in 2012, we adopted a master plan to create a higher level of service to the community and guide the cemetery’s expansion. The cemetery is an important part of our community’s history; thoughtful preservation is critical
In 2023, cemetery roads were paved, entrances were landscaped, and a new columbarium was added that provides additional interment options for families.
Kudos to Amy Wright and John DeLong for all their efforts at the cemetery. Amy works with families and John keeps the grounds looking good.
We put an electric aggregation program in place in 2023, after voters in 2022 gave the city the authority to negotiate electricity rates. The program has been tremendously successful at providing our residents lower electric costs.
Data shows us that participants in the city’s electric aggregation program saved about 35 percent on electricity.
More than 10,000 city customers are participants in the program, so far saving $2.1 million dollars. That represents about $210 per customer since the program began in June.
I want to acknowledge the work of Assistant City Manager Kyle Kridler in leading the aggregation effort as well as Sustainable Delaware for their tireless advocacy
I have mentioned “The Point” in nearly every presentation I have given since coming to Delaware in 1999. Finally, I am happy to report the work is under way!
State and local officials in may turned the first shovels of dirt on the Point project, the intersection of US 36 and Ohio 37 that carries almost 30,000 vehicles per day.
ODOT is widening the railway underpass to allow for five travel lanes below the bridge structure, allowing for free and efficient movement of vehicles through this intersection.
The project also includes the construction of new pedestrian and bicycle paths and safe road crossings. The project should be completed in 2026.
A huge shout out to our funding partners: MORPC, ODOT and Congressman Troy Balderson
Last summer on our south side, the city and ODOT worked together to improve safety at the US 23 and Hull Drive intersection. A permanent median was installed along with turn lanes. Pavement markings were also improved.
In 2023, some new faces joined that team in some very key positions.
It was my pleasure to appoint Tim Pyle as Fire Chief. Chief Pyle is no stranger to city residents. He is a Delaware native, a product of Delaware City Schools, and has served the department for 23 years.
Tim brings great experience and commitment to this community -- he will serve the city well.
When i came to Delaware in 1999, our city was served by two fire stations. Today, Chief Pyle and his team are overseeing the renovation of the building that will become our fifth fire station and headquarters
Work on the former American Freight building, next door to Sheetz on the east side, is ongoing and the department expects to be serving our residents out of the station a year from now.
In August, we welcomed Sandra Pereira as our new Director of Planning and Community Development. Sandra spent 20 years in planning with the city of Beavercreek.
She has a commitment to thoughtful growth that aligns perfectly with Delaware together, our comprehensive plan.
To no one’s surprise tonight, the growth of Delaware continues to be front and center, not only for our planning department, but for all city departments and service providers.
Our population is approaching 45,000. We’ve grown more than 30 percent since 2010 and more than 85 percent since my first day on the job on Feb. 2, 1999.
Last year, about 400 new single-family home permits were issued, including 107 alone in the month of October
Already Sandra and her team are tackling the challenge of updating our zoning code so it better reflects the direction of Delaware Together, the city’s comprehensive plan, and aligns with our priorities for growth management, affordable housing, job creation, neighborhood vitality and sustainability.
Also under way is a much-needed overhaul of the city’s zoning and planning code and how the department interacts with residents and customers.
This includes everything, from offering online permitting and payments, to updated web pages and standardized applications and checklists.
We benefit our customers when we get rid of red tape, and we also help our staff.
Our city’s southwest area has been the subject of important work over the past 12 months. The area includes an existing business and industrial base, the airport, and significant roadway infrastructure.
Through focused planning with residents and stakeholders, we can leverage these assets to generate jobs, support the local tax base and create a new, vibrant part of the city that will attract workers and residents.
I want to recognize a key person leading this effort: Planning and Zoning Administrator Anna Kelsey.
Anna grew up in Delaware, graduated from Rutherford B. Hayes High School and Ohio State, and has come back to her hometown to help guide its future.
Economic development opportunities that generate jobs and grow our local economy were at the forefront in 2023. In a 2015 community survey, 56% of respondents ranked attracting new businesses and helping new businesses as their top priority.
Work on the final section of Sawmill Parkway began in the summer, with completion set for later this spring.
The police and fire videos you watched earlier were also created entirely in house – or in our case – in city hall, in a repurposed office on the second floor.
Video allows us to tell our “Delaware Story” in a more compelling way.
For example, the police and fire videos helped us attract a higher number of job applicants in an ultra-competitive public safety recruiting market.
My thanks and compliments to community affairs specialist Bob Hogensen for his videography skills and the quality of his work.
Our city team continues to excel in other ways. Last summer, city attorney Natalia Harris was inducted into the Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellows’ Program, a group committed to serving their communities, both as mentors and as practitioners of the law.
We were named Tree City USA again by the Arbor Day foundation in April. The foundation recognizes our commitment to effective urban forest management.
It marked the 42nd consecutive year the city of Delaware received tree city USA honors. Credit goes to parks and Recreation Director Ted Miller, Parks Superintendent JP Linkous and City Arborist Hunter Smith.
Our city was honored to take part in Ohio State University’s Project Dreams program in February, hosting the welcoming event for Equity Day, an initiative to create equitable schools through positive youth and community development.
Reflecting the changes taking place within our workforce and nationwide, the city in 2023 graduated its third class of future leaders through our Manager Development Program.
Providing our co-workers with opportunities for development ensures a talent pipeline and a desire to step into a leadership role, one of the keys to succession planning.
I am a big believer in the power of community engagement to tell our story and foster community buy-in.
Our Delaware Citizens Academy is in its 13th year and this year’s class of 25 filled up faster than any other. The academy is a free series of in-person classes that give an inside look at local government.
A big thank you goes to Community Affairs Director Lee Yoakum for all he does to plan and coordinate these sessions to run smoothly.
What i really like about the Citizens Academy is that residents can learn how the city of Delaware works and make it even better!
Graduates - some who are with us tonight - have gone on to serve on city boards or commissions, and on the City Council.
I am very appreciative of city staff for their dedication to providing services that improve the quality of life for our community.
And while the possibilities for enhancing our services are endless, funding is not.
Delaware is successful in so many ways as an award-winning city but continues to have more needs than it has resources available.
Next month, residents will see two issues on the march 19 ballot:
The first proposes a temporary, 0.35 percent income tax that would enable us to do several things, most importantly maintain failing streets and alleyways and make capital improvements to existing facilities.
We have a backlog of 195 streets in need of repair and this would allow us to fix 100 of them in five years.
The 5-year investment is vital.
The other issue is to make permanent the 0.15 percent parks and recreation tax approved by the voters in 2008: if approved, residents would have new recreation programming and parks and trail improvements that better meet community needs and desires.
It would be the first income tax rate change in 14 years. Placing these issues before voters is the right thing to do. I believe it, and i hope you do too.
We have a beautiful city and we want to see it stay this way for many years to come. Success on March 19 will ensure we’re able to maintain the quality of life that makes Delaware so special and make the needed improvements to maintain our streets and infrastructure.
Finally, while this is the first state of the city night of this kind, it will be a my last. I announced last summer my retirement this summer and am looking forward to welcoming a new manager before departing in July.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve as city manager over the past 26 years. Delaware is a wonderful community with a strong sense of place, a rich history and citizens who take pride in living and working here.
The strategies we’ve adopted are intended to make a difference not just today, but for generations to come.
I am proud of the work our staff has accomplished in partnership with our residents and community partners.
I am grateful to the mayor and city council and prior council members I have served for their support, leadership, and commitment to our city.
My time here has included growth and change, fire and flood, and even a global pandemic. Through it all I have seen the incredible resiliency of our community and a willingness to work together.
Tonight, I have outlined just a fraction of our work and our progress in making our future.
Looking ahead we must continue to visualize the Delaware where we want to live and do business in 2025, 2035 and 2050. The type of city we want for today and the type of city we want to leave our grandchildren.
We all want a city that is safe and secure. A city whose parks are clean, and with streets that are smooth. A city that has recreational opportunities everywhere. That has diverse connected resident communities. And a city where business opportunities are many.
We have work to do. We have investments to make. We must protect what we have and build on our success.
I am confident that Delaware’s future is as bright as ever, and that the best Delaware is right out in front of us … so let’s get back to work.
That, my friends, is the state of the city — our city.
Together, we will make our future.
Thank you!