Before a full house of dignitaries and local and state officials, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo delivered his annual “State of the City” address Monday, listing accomplishments made in 2014 and others the city is aiming for this year.
In a speech that lasted just over 20 minutes, Saffo touted the city’s economic standing, financial condition and investment in roads and other infrastructure, while also highlighting challenges ahead, such as curbing violent crime, implementing initiatives recommended in a recent economic development report, and retaining and promoting the city’s film industry, which has quieted with a recent change in the state’s film credit.
“We cannot just stand by and watch this 30-year-old, clean industry of film go to Georgia,” Saffo said, “an industry that has spent millions of dollars and helped support the many, many small businesses in our city as well as region.”
Acknowledging the presence of state Rep. Susi Hamilton and Wilmington Regional Film Commission Director Johnny Griffin, Saffo added: “We will work with our local delegation in Raleigh to attempt to make our film industry competitive again.”
Saffo also foreshadowed challenges in implementing last year’s Garner Economics report, which recommended initiatives for improving the city’s economic vitality that Saffo said would cost money and require coordination with area stakeholders, including New Hanover County, which partnered with the city in commissioning the report.
“If we don’t invest and make the recommendations become a reality, we will be left behind by other communities that are willing to make those investments in the future of their cities and counties,” Saffo said.
Other priorities for 2015 include curbing violent crime, which Police Chief Ralph Evangelous has reported increased 7 percent in 2014. Saffo said the city would begin funding additional police officers—Evangelous has requested eight detectives, specifically—and work with neighborhood groups and nonprofits to promote programs aimed at reaching out to at-risk youth.
Saffo also listed recent accomplishments, such as completion of the Third Street enhancement project, voter-approval of a $44 million streets and sidewalks bond, and renovations to the city’s Municipal Golf Course.
Saffo reported improvements in the city’s economy, with 1,800 building permits issued last year, a 4.9 percent drop in county unemployment, and 58 new businesses brought to the city’s center with the help of Wilmington Downtown Inc.
Saffo also lauded the efforts of Wilmington Business Development in helping to attract Vertex Rail to the city. The railroad car producer is in the midst of hiring more than 1,300 employees and investing more than $50 million in its Wilmington facility, which is slated to start operation this spring.
The city’s financial status was described as strong, with Saffo touting its balanced budget, AAA bond rating and more than $27 million in reserves, or fund balance.
“Our strong financial health has afforded us the ability to make investments in our roads, our parks, and our fire and police departments. And we will continue to invest in our future,” Saffo said, noting the streets and sidewalks bond projects that are scheduled to be completed over the next seven years.
Related story: City sets 2015 schedule for new roads, sidewalks
Other infrastructure improvements on the horizon include completion of the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail and the city Riverwalk, development of a planned northern waterfront park, and a public-private project to replace the Water Street parking deck with a high-rise, mixed-use development.
“City leaders have long recognized the significance of this site as an asset that could help drive the local economy,” the mayor said. “Great cities do great things. Projects like this can transform a good downtown into a great downtown.
“…We see redevelopment of that site as an opportunity for a public-private partnership with most of the cost picked up by a private developer while the city replaces the public parking for local businesses located near the site.”
Noting the city’s celebration of its 275th birthday last year, and its recent ranking in a USA Today online poll as the best riverfront in the country, Saffo said: “We are blending the old with the new. We are proud of our historic roots, our past, yet are appreciative of the vision of progress, the road to our future.
“Our future as a community and as a city is bright.”
Related stories:
- Film commission: Production inquiries down more than half from last year
- City officials meet with legislators on goals for this session
- Eight detective positions eyed for city police department
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or jonathan.s@portcitydaily.com. On Twitter: @jrspiers