Good afternoon, Cuyahoga Falls! Welcome to my tenth state of the city address.
Thank you all for coming. This event sold out in a very short time, and I am honored to have you all here.
Before I start, to make this more interesting, I ask everyone to mentally turn back the clocks: not an hour for daylight savings time, but ten years back to 2014.
So, imagine here we all are back in 2014; Barrack Obama is president, and some of the new products of the year are the Apple Watch, Ring doorbell, drones, PS4, Xbox1, and a 60-watt LED light bulb cost $15 each! We assumed Ebola was the only epidemic we would ever have to deal with. Lebron returned to Cleveland to win a championship, and we were dumping ice on each other’s heads with the Ice Bucket Challenge. Most cities had just 1 or 2 car washes, no one had ever heard of a Zoom meeting, Snapchat was new, TicTok didn’t exist, and working from home was not even an option. Doordash was a brand-new concept, Teslas were just coming on the scene, Taylor Swift was single, and Donald Trump was still merely a TV host on The Apprentice.
So hold that thought; obviously, a lot has happened since I took office in 2014, and I will walk you through the years to bring you back to 2024 in Cuyahoga Falls.
Dr. Kent, thank you again for the kind introduction and for the ongoing support of Western Reserve Hospital in partnership with University Hospitals and Unity Health Network. I appreciate all that you do for our city. Thank you also to the Chamber of Commerce for hosting our luncheon. I appreciate your ongoing efforts to promote our local businesses and all that you do to keep our business community thriving. Kudos to the Kitchen on Front Street for the delicious food today; great job!
We have our two talented school superintendents with us today: Cuyahoga Falls Superintendent Dr. Andrea Celico and Woodridge Superintendent N'ecole Ast and their teams from both districts. Keep up the great work; you are educating our future leaders. Thank you to our community and business leaders who are with us, and thank you to all our elected officials who bring their A-game every day, no matter what comes their way. Thank you all for coming to hear my tenth State of the City Address. I have come to realize that one of the biggest achievements over the past ten years is the partnerships that have been fostered with everyone in this room. We all strive for success and have a true passion for what we do!
We have implemented innovative ideas that have transformed our city, proving that thinking outside the box can lead to pretty remarkable results. Thanks to all of you, Cuyahoga Falls has become a top destination of the region. To my senior staff and our 400 city employees, I express my gratitude for your dedication to providing our residents with the very best programs and services.
Our City Council, as someone who sat in your seat for 12 years representing the residents of Ward Six, I know first-hand the work you put into representing your constituents. Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of our residents.
To my biggest cheerleader, wife, and partner in life, Stephanie, none of this is possible without you. Thank you for being on this amazing journey with me. I love you.
I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to serve this amazing city for the past ten years as your Mayor. A full decade! I figured since I just completed the 10-year mark, it is appropriate to recap some of the highlights of the past ten years to show how we got to where we are today.
Our city's economic landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. In 2014, my administration set out to create an environment that fosters innovation, attracts businesses, and ensures sustainable economic growth. Today, I am proud to report that Cuyahoga Falls stands as a thriving economic hub, which is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our residents, businesses, and community leaders, including many of you in this room. Thanks for all that you have done! We even showed population growth at the last census putting us at 51,114; now the 14th largest city in Ohio.
Of course, highlights of the past decade include the completion of Portage Crossing, which was a vacant lot when I took office, the revitalization of our historic downtown, our thriving housing market and being named Best Hometown by Ohio Magazine! Our efforts have energized our city's economy, created jobs, and positioned our city as a hot spot in the region. I think you will agree; we are on a roll! But we aren't finished! We have many projects in the works that will support our community for years to come. But more on that later.
First, I will start by sharing our city finances. With our business growth over the past ten years, we are in the fortunate position of having a rapidly growing tax base. We finished 2023 with record numbers, with a budget of $244 million and a reserve cash balance of over $23 million. Congratulations to our finance team for receiving the Ohio Auditor of State Award for excellence in financial reporting. Our strong financial position enables us to prioritize infrastructure improvements throughout the entire city. We are rebuilding our water treatment plant, electric department, golf course clubhouse, street department garage, and planning a state-of-the-art fire training facility, among many other things. Also, much-needed improvements are in the works for the State, Seasons, and Wyoga Lake Road intersections, and a widening project to Portage Trail, west of State Road, which will improve traffic flow and enhance pedestrian safety.
Speaking of West Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls will soon be home to the Summit County Humane Society. We all know that they do amazing work for our furry friends. The new, state-of-the-art facility located on West Portage Trail will offer a central location in Summit County for the vital work of the organization. The Humane Society broke ground in 2023, with completion anticipated this summer. I look forward to officially welcoming them to the city later this year to finally hear all the wonderful barking and meowing. So please stop in to adopt a pet.
As you can see, Cuyahoga Falls is the place to be! Last year, we saw private investment of over $80.5 million and the creation of 142 new jobs throughout the city. South Front Street alone will see $20 million worth of investment, including public improvements, an updated streetscape, and the construction of 51 townhomes. The South Front Street Streetscape project, which includes a lighted welcoming arch at Broad Blvd, will begin this summer and will update the infrastructure and look of Front Street from Board Boulevard to Grant Avenue to tie it into the rest of downtown.
You have heard me say before that the Cuyahoga River is the crown jewel of our city. It will finally get the focus that it deserves with the new Riverloop and boardwalk improvements set to begin this year. The Riverloop will be a new upper walkway that will highlight the river’s natural beauty while connecting downtown visitors to our shops and restaurants and providing points of interest and gathering spots all along the way. Some of the highlights are Eagles Bluff, Prospectors Point, Kayakers Cove, Otter Overlook, a romantic outdoor wedding venue known as The Heart of the Loop, as well as a new stage at the river level under the Portage Trail bridge.
But rest assured that we are focused on more than just downtown. We have been hard at work engaging with residents, business owners, property owners, and other community members on reimagining South State Road and the Bailey Road and Northmoreland corridor into more walkable and inviting neighborhood destinations. Over the past year, we have engaged with hundreds of stakeholders through community meetings, focus groups, and community-wide surveys.
I look forward to unveiling preliminary plans in the next few months to get public feedback as we move forward with these exciting projects.
While we look to revitalize existing retail areas, we are mindful and committed to protecting and preserving our city's undeveloped areas. For the past three years, City officials and our counterparts in the City of Akron have devoted countless hours to preserving green space by developing a sensible and sustainable plan for development in the Merriman Valley while also promoting eco-tourism. But, innovation and revitalization do not only apply to development.
My administration is constantly looking at what is coming next and how to best position the city to take on any challenges and opportunities on the horizon. In today's competitive market for employees, a skilled and adaptable workforce is the lynchpin for a thriving community. Experts predict that by 2030 – just six years from now – there will be a national labor shortage of more than 80 million workers. In regular talks with our larger employers, we’ve heard that local businesses are feeling the workforce pinch now. To ensure the continued growth of our economy, we knew it was imperative to develop a workforce plan that would take Cuyahoga Falls businesses into the next decade and beyond. That need and our history of welcoming international newcomers brought us to kick off an exciting initiative in 2023. In the old days, workers would locate to where the companies were. Now, companies will locate to where the workers are. Under the direction of our Community Development Department, the city took a pioneering role in workforce development with the formation of the Welcoming Workforce Coalition. With the help of our consultant, Tanya Budler, and her consulting firm, Rise Together, this group of community and business leaders worked with the city to analyze and resolve workforce gaps. The Welcoming Workforce program also caught the eye of Harvard University, which will work with our small and large businesses directly to adapt their hiring practices and onboarding training to be more welcoming to our international newcomers.
One of the things that has drastically changed during my time as Mayor is how we communicate. Gone are the days when every resident and business in town received a free weekly newspaper brimming with local news about our parks, schools, and city activities. Today, our strategy is to layer our messaging methods to reach the most residents, businesses, and visitors with up-to-date information in their preferred format. In addition to sharing our information with traditional news sources, we began mailing our city newsletter, CURRENT, to all households and businesses last year. We have also expanded our reach to include regional and state-wide magazines geared toward potential visitors. And in the digital realm, we are proud of our award-winning city website and share regular updates on our social media channels. Speaking of news you can use; I have exciting news to share—the City of Cuyahoga Falls has a new smartphone app that is now available in the Apple Store and Google Play. This tool will enable us to share important and timely updates via push notifications and improve residents' accessibility to know what is happening in real-time. I encourage you to download the City of Cuyahoga Falls app today.
The Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Department constantly seeks to improve and expand the vast array of programs offered at our numerous city facilities, such as The Natatorium, Quirk Cultural Center, Water Works Family Aquatic Center, Brookledge Golf Course, Downview, and all our 26 neighborhood parks.
We were able to improve accessibility with new playground equipment at Harrington and Quirk, four additional pickleball courts throughout the city, outdoor exercise equipment, an ADA restroom accessible from the outside at Quirk, and extensive upgrades to accessibility right here at the Natatorium. This innovative use of Community Development Block Grant as a funding source has caught the attention of other professionals in the park and recreation field, with our parks representatives invited to present at the National Recreation and Park Association conference in Atlanta later this year.
As you know, we experienced a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse just ten days ago. To many, it may have been a chance to step outside and witness a couple of hours of celestial magic, but to our city team, it meant a year of planning and preparation to get ready for an event that we knew could double or triple our population due to our city being directly in the path of totality. I hope everyone was able to witness this amazing event with beautiful clear skies, which was a miracle in early April.
In 2023, I was proud to swear in four new police officers to the department and also oversee a transition in the department's leadership. A little over ten years ago, I swore in former police chief Jack Davis to his role as the city's 11th chief. Jack served our city faithfully for over three decades and retired in February after 34 years. Last month, Chris Norfolk took the reigns as our 12th Chief of Police. He has hit the ground running, and rest assured, we are in very good hands. The men and women of the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department put their lives on the line every day with dedication and compassion, and I thank each of them for their service to our community. We pride ourselves on having one of the best-trained and equipped police departments in the region, and our low crime rate is a testament to their efforts. For example, mental health response training is provided to all members of the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department. Well, last year, an officer was able to use this training when responding to an individual in a self-harm crisis. The officer was able to use his mental health training to establish a rapport, de-escalate, and convince him to seek mental health treatment. This individual has since thanked the officer many times for saving his life that night.
In the fire department, I was proud to welcome five new firefighters to the CFFD family last year. I mentioned the workforce pinch earlier. Well, believe it or not, the safety forces are no exception. To that end, the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department launched an innovative recruitment tool – called The Forge – in 2023. This citizen-style academy introduces participants to the physical, mental, and teamwork aspects of the fire service. The inaugural class of The Forge graduated 15 participants in 2023. Great job by all! If you have traveled on South Front Street recently, you have probably noticed some changes to Fire Station 1, the city's original fire station constructed in 1927. Over the past 100 years, the building has received numerous updates, most notably in the 1950s and 1970s. Upon completion of the restoration project, Station 1 will reflect its original 1927 appearance, adding another historic highlight to our historic downtown. The Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation is also hard at work with the construction of the Firefighter Memorial right next to Station 1. The memorial tower will house our historic 136-year-old Cuyahoga Falls Fire Bell and serve as a permanent memorial to honor the legacy and sacrifice of the members of the Fire Department.
So now, it is fitting to take a moment to highlight a handful of the significant milestones and achievements of the past ten years that have shaped our city. Over the past decade, we have invested in a state-of-the-art police training facility and firing range, as well as a new fire station on Portage Trail. Last year, we instituted a consolidated 911 dispatch center complete with the latest technology and greatly increased staffing. We have honored our history with the restoration of the Swain House at Keyser Park by establishing a Historic Design and Review Board. We also formed a Public Art Board that assisted us with the thoughtful inclusion of art in public spaces and, most notably, curated the larger-than-life Don Drumm sculpture at Highbridge Glens Park. If you haven’t seen it, it is definitely worth a visit.
As far as impactful low to no-cost programs, we now have a plethora. For our seniors, we brought back the no-cost Senior Driveway Snowplowing Program, worked with our partners at Western Reserve Hospital to develop the Envelope of Life, offering instant medical information for EMS crews to access, and instituted a Senior Watch Program with our police department to offer customized check-ins with seniors that live alone.
With our First-time Homeowner Packet, I have had the opportunity to personally meet thousands of new residents and thank them for choosing Cuyahoga Falls to plant their roots. Through our Neighborhood Ambassador Program and Front Yard Interaction meetings, I have had the opportunity to connect directly with residents in their neighborhoods at the street block level, right in their front yard! For our younger residents, I am proud to partner with Western Reserve and the schools for the Not Me; I’m Drug-Free program to educate every Cuyahoga Falls fifth-grade student about the dangers of using drugs. We also instituted CF Crimefighters, an anonymous crime tip line that offers cash rewards with no questions asked. We give out hundreds of awards and use interactive mapping for the great Halloween and holiday displays all over the city. We were proud to be the first police department in Summit County to carry Narcan in every cruiser, thus saving many lives. We were also the first to use fire, police, and an addiction counselor to establish a Quick Response Team to personally visit people with known addictions or mental struggles. My Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council has allowed me to connect with high school students interested in learning how local government works. It also serves as a focus group for sharing their ideas with me. I started the Honorary Boulevard program to honorarily rename Broad Blvd after residents who have done amazing things for the community. Earlier this year, to address the speeding problem, I launched the Safe Driving Initiative to encourage all drivers, young and old, to take a formal pledge to drive safely in our city and beyond. It is a comprehensive program that entails speed studies, windshield reminder stickers, and yard signs, and even offers a loaner radar gun for residents to gather data. Thank you to Council President Russ Balthis and Retired Police Chief Jack Davis for helping me launch this program.
We have seen an explosion of recreational tourism in Cuyahoga Falls in the past ten years. Now, for most of us, outdoor recreation means exploring the Cuyahoga Valley National Park or Summit Metro Parks, or kayaking and floating on our calm section of the beautiful Cuyahoga River. However, for the experienced kayaker, the removal of the two small dams exposed class five rapids near Broad Boulevard. The long-awaited removal of the Gorge Dam, which is underway, will only expand recreational opportunities, adding over a mile of additional challenging whitewater. Other lesser-known outdoor activities in our downtown are rock climbing, repelling, spelunking, geocaching, and, yes, even panning for gold in the Cuyahoga River! There is gold in Ohio; yes, I was in the river with a pan!
Last year, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of our Downtown Transformation, and what a transformation it has been! When I first announced that we were going to resurrect our downtown by putting the street back in after 40 years of being closed, some said that I had lost my mind. I knew it was the right move, but the consultant we had hired said it would take 8 to 10 years to fill in… and I’m not one to wait! So, in just five short years, Front Street went from a crumbling pedestrian mall that was mostly vacant to a thriving hot spot with retail, restaurants, and even new housing. Downtown Cuyahoga Falls is thriving beyond all expectations, and the tagline “the fun flows here” is quite fitting as I see people, young and old, having a wonderful experience in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.
I mentioned earlier that we were recently recognized as Best Hometown in all of Ohio! Last spring, Ohio Magazine reached out to let me know that we were in the running, and by late summer, I received the call that Ohio Magazine had chosen Cuyahoga Falls as Best Hometown in the state! Editors evaluated finalists in six categories - Community Spirit, Education, Entertainment, Health and Safety, Business Environment, and Culture and Heritage – to help make their selection. Quite an honor!
In closing, as I reflect on the past ten years as your mayor, I am filled with gratitude for the support of the people of Cuyahoga Falls and I cherish this amazing opportunity that I have been given. Together, we have celebrated numerous successes and laid the groundwork for a future that holds limitless potential.
I am thrilled to announce that the state of the city is stronger than ever!
I extend my deepest appreciation to every resident, community partner, business owner, and city employee who has played a role in making Cuyahoga Falls what it is today. Thank you for all of your support!
And I will close with my favorite statement: my goal as Mayor is to have only two groups of people: those who live in Cuyahoga Falls and those who wish they did!
Thank you, we’ve only just begun!