Saginaw Mayor’s 2022 State of the City Address

Good morning. I’d like to thank each of you for attending this very
special 2022 State of the City - State of the County Address. And a special thanks
to the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce for hosting today’s event.

I was looking forward to all of us being together in the Dow Red Room today. But
I appreciate the leadership at the Chamber and their decision to put our safety first.
Although we’re apart, we are united in our hope for a brighter future and our belief
that together we will move forward.

Before I begin, I want to take a minute to acknowledge my fellow council members.

This group of leaders is dedicated to this city and committed to serving you, its
citizens. I want to recognize my Mayor Pro Tem Michael Balls, Council Members
Annie Boensch, George Copeland, Michael Flores, Monique Lamar-Silvia, Bill
Ostash, Autumn Scherzer and Reggie Williams.

I must also recognize our City Manager, Tim Morales, and his management team.
You will not find a more engaged, active, and responsive team of individuals. They
are doing more with less and they are getting it done. When I speak today of our
successes and accomplishments, it is largely due to Tim and this team of competent
leaders.

I’d also like to thank every City of Saginaw employee who worked courageously
throughout 2021 to strengthen our city, rebuild our economy, and unify our streets
and neighborhoods. Each day, I am inspired by these employees and their hard
work and dedication to the City of Saginaw.

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Heading into 2021, like so many, I believed we would be starting a new
chapter, and leaving behind the unprecedented challenges we endured during
2020. In truth, 2021 served up many of the same challenges
from last year, but with a new (and sometimes even more difficult) twist.
However, even when it seemed like the odds were against us, our employees and
our community never wavered. For that, I am eternally grateful and excited to
share this look back at all we accomplished together in 2021.

Let’s begin by discussing where we are financially. Despite the many financial
challenges resulting from the ongoing pandemic, we remain in stable financial
condition. Our City Manager and his Finance Management team have been able to
maintain this position by pro-actively managing our expenses and budget.

Our Finance Division continued to streamline operations throughout 2021 to

provide the easiest, safest customer service possible for our citizens. Recently, we
implemented a new online payment processor, InvoiceCloud, to offer a more
robust online payment experience for our customers.

The Office of Management and Budget has worked with city staff to present a
balanced budget to City Council once again for FY 2022. The approved budget for
the City of Saginaw is very conservative. Although the budget is balanced, there are
many challenges that the City of Saginaw must face and overcome in order to
maintain a positive position for the future. COVID’s impact on our revenues is still
unknown; what we do know is that there needs to be constant monitoring and
adjustments to the budget and city operations. Our Finance Management team will
continue to review every expenditure and closely monitor revenues.

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I want to point out the fact that our Office of Management and Budget and Finance
Division have both received national recognition each year over the past decade
from the Government Finance Officers Association. This recognition shows the
City’s commitment to accountability, accuracy, and transparency. Despite the
challenges we face, we never compromise our standards and commitment to
excellence, and we have remained transparent with our finances and our
budgetary practices.

Let’s look at the growth and development in our city. I’m here to tell you, economic
development remains strong in the City of Saginaw. We as a city continue to
enhance our development processes to ensure they are accessible, user-friendly,
and create a positive environment for investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses. In
the past year, we saw over $160 million in new investment in 18 significant
development projects. The projects are too numerous to mention them all, but
you can see the transformation taking place on almost every corner of the city. We
have new retailers, restaurants, and offices springing up everywhere, and exciting
renovations underway on various historic buildings and properties that will provide
new residential apartments and condominiums. We’re also continuing to see
investment and advancement in our medical facilities, solidifying Saginaw as the
home for medical and health care treatment in the Great Lakes Bay Region. All
of these projects represent jobs, investment, and a confidence that Saginaw is the
place to live, learn, shop, and play.

Investment is on the rise in our city, and we are positioned for further growth and
transformation. This is in great part the result of the hard work of our Economic

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Development partners at Saginaw Future. I want to thank the entire Saginaw
Future staff for their efforts to encourage investment in our city.

Our local businesses are the heart of our city. We know that many of our local
business owners are continuing to fight their way through this pandemic, but I’m
proud to say the City of Saginaw and our development partners have continued to
find a way to support our local businesses.

This year, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation launched the

Michigan Survival Grant program. This grant provided over $400,000 to 53 City of
Saginaw businesses who experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. These
grants allowed over 300 jobs to be retained or re-established here in the city.

I also want to highlight the work of the Saginaw Economic Development

Corporation in 2021. This team has been there every step of the way to provide
local entrepreneurs and small business owners with the tools to grow and expand.
Over the past year, the SEDC has provided small business owners with numerous
opportunities for networking, education, expansion and investment. In 2021, the
SEDC allocated $300,000 in forgivable loans and over $300,000 in new loans to
existing businesses, startups, and expanding businesses. The SEDC also supported
local entrepreneurs through several training events and networking activities,
including workshops throughout the fall, monthly small business mixers at CMURC,
and a very successful Small Business Expo that was held this past August at Morley
Plaza.

In November, the City collaborated with several other organizations to help host
the Saginaw Soup event. This event highlighted local entrepreneurs and allowed
them the stage to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges and a local

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audience. It was amazing to hear these enthusiastic entrepreneurs and we’re glad
that we can help provide the tools and resources that will allow their business to
flourish.

In 2021, we were there for our non-profits as well as our small businesses. The City
of Saginaw spent $647,000 in CARES Act funding received from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development. These funds were distributed throughout our
community to prepare, prevent, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. From this
funding, grants were awarded to 12 non-profit agencies in the City of Saginaw and
over 75 small businesses in the community. $375,000 was used to assist 3
homeless shelters and the United Way of Saginaw County to help the homeless
population and those persons at risk of becoming homeless. Using the CARES Act
funds for this kind of assistance shows the city is willing to allocate dollars and
prioritize resources for the most vulnerable in our community.

Improving the quality of life for our residents has been and will continue to be a
priority for the City of Saginaw. We worked hard throughout 2021 to maintain a
vibrant, safe, and enjoyable community for our citizens.

We saw a lot of orange cones and detour signs throughout the summer, but these
are the marks of progress. In 2021, our Right of Way Division improved nearly 9
lane miles of road, including major reconstruction along Mackinaw Street and 17th
Street. Our teams also completed several ADA sidewalk ramp installations and
sidewalk replacements in the city during 2021. The Right of Way Division also
worked hard throughout 2021, completing over 35 intersection studies to improve
traffic signing and safety at several intersections throughout the city. In our
downtown area, we continued the work on a new surface parking lot to improve

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parking in the downtown area. This year, our Parks and Facilities team worked
throughout the summer to improve security at many of our local parks. We’ve
enhanced lighting, parking and installed state-of-the-art security cameras at many
of these parks. These are just a few of the projects and developments that tell
families and potential investors looking to locate in Saginaw that we put a high
premium on quality of life as a city.

Our Water Treatment Division continues to provide some of the finest quality water
in the country! It is reassuring to know that we have the staff and infrastructure in
place to maintain water service round the clock to keep Saginaw families healthy,
clean, and hydrated. In 2021, our Water Treatment Division treated and delivered
6.3 billion gallons of drinking water and performed thousands of quality tests to
ensure your drinking water is safe. The Wastewater Treatment Division treated 7.6
billion gallons of sewage and storm water. But just like other types of
infrastructure, investment in the future will be necessary to continue providing
high-quality drinking water. Last year, this team successfully obtained over 22
million dollars in funds to assist in several improvement projects for our water
treatment infrastructure.

We were awarded $4.5 million in funding from the State of Michigan this past fall
to aid in the removal and replacement of drinking water lead service lines
throughout the City. This additional funding will replace an estimated 1,000 lead
service lines, with the projects taking place over the next three years. This
funding will help shorten the amount of time it takes to replace the lead service
lines within the City’s system and highlights the commitment of our Water
Treatment Staff to protect public health and improve the quality of life in Saginaw.

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Our City Clerk’s office continued the work in 2021 to ensure we have a safe and
efficient election in 2022. With the remaining funds we received from the Center
for Tech and Civic Life grant funding, the City was able to purchase cameras to
enhance the security at our ballot drop boxes during the upcoming election. Our
City Clerk and the Election Division have also worked hard throughout this past year
to assist citizens now with the voter registration process. In September, our Clerk’s
office participated in National Voter Registration Day to remind citizens of the
importance of voter registration and to offer additional assistance to citizens with
the registration process. No one should forfeit their right to vote due to missed
registration deadlines or lack of knowledge about the registration guidelines.

Our Police and Fire Department faced a number of unique challenges in this past
year, but through it all, they did not waiver in their commitment to protect the
citizens of this community.

With the goal of promoting fire safety in every home in our city, our Fire
Department installed nearly 700 smoke detectors in homes this year at no cost to
our citizens. The Fire Department also upgraded its Fire Apparatus Fleet with the
purchase of a new engine, and we are upgrading our training facility. We recently
purchased a fire training building that will allow our fire fighters to train in a
controlled live fire environment. This will be an asset not only to the City, but to all
fire departments in the Great Lakes Bay area. 2021 was also the first year of the
Fire Department’s High School Fire Academy program. The Fire Department, in
partnership with Delta College and the Saginaw ISD, is currently training 7 high
school seniors that will have the opportunity to become certified firefighters upon
their graduation.

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When so many national headlines are filled with negative stories involving police
and law enforcement, I’m proud to highlight the work of our Saginaw Police
Department.

Crime and violence are on the rise in every city across the nation, but Saginaw
Police Department remains focused on preventing and solving crimes and
prosecuting offenders. We are grateful for the strong partnership we have with
the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan State Police, the Michigan
Department of Corrections, and the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office to assist
with these efforts.

This hardworking team is active and engaged in our community. One effort that
has been extremely successful is the SPD’s Front Porch Roll Call events. These
events are held in various neighborhoods around the city and allow citizens to meet
and interact with our officers. These events are also an opportunity for our citizens
to inform the officers of their concerns and the challenges they face in their
neighborhoods.

I must take a moment to highlight the work of our Police Department’s Victim
Services Unit. The City of Saginaw is one of the few departments in this region to
offer this service to our victims affected by crime and crisis circumstances. At a
time when so many are facing hardships and loss, it’s encouraging to see this
support for our victims and those affected by traumatic crime. There couldn’t be a
better time for this sort of resource in our community.

The work of our police and fire department to make our city safer depends in great
part on close relationships with our SCENIC/Inspections Division to reduce blight,
strengthen our neighborhoods, and beautify our city. Our Inspections Division

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processed over $25 million in building permits in 2021, helping to increase growth
and development in our city. This year, our Inspections Division received over
$200,000 in grant funding to continue their efforts to eliminate blight in the city.
This team understands first-hand how the removal of blight can have a
monumental effect on several areas, including crime reduction, the creation of new
development opportunities, and the restoration of the quality of life for our
residents. I thank them for their contributions to make Saginaw a better, brighter
community.

As current Mayor and a City Council member for almost 10 years, I do acknowledge
that times are changing not only for Saginaw, but throughout the State of Michigan
and across the country. There is no doubt … the City faces challenges. We, as a
city, have some very big financial challenges. Our Financial Management team
continues the challenge of pension and retiree healthcare costs. We've made
several changes in the past few years to impact this long-term liability and we're
making strides--but we must continue to be vigilant and dedicated to setting money
aside to pay for these costs. We have seen a decline in many sources of revenue
due to COVID, and the long-term effects on these revenue streams are still not
completely known. We must take a proactive approach in addressing these lost
revenues. Additionally, the City has limited funding for infrastructure and the
replacement of aging buildings and equipment, and we must address these needs.
The City has also faced several operational challenges this year. The City continues
to be challenged with ongoing supply chain issues. Our teams must continue to
explore joint procurement sources and the use of cooperative purchasing
agreements to ensure we can purchase goods at the lowest possible costs. And like
every other organization and institution in America, we have faced enormous

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staffing issues this year. We have some very large staffing needs, and our Human
Resources team has worked non-stop to fill the many vacancies we have
throughout the City. We need to constantly find ways to attract young adults and
skilled professionals of all ages to be interested in working for and serving the city.

But I still believe. I believe in this leadership team to continue to move Saginaw
forward and I believe Saginaw is a great city. Not because we don’t have problems,
but because we don’t run from them. We learn from our problems. We learned a
few things in 2021. We learned to collaborate and create solutions, and turn
problems into opportunities to be better than we were the day before. One step
forward, one day at a time.

We learned this past spring that it would take all of us working together to tackle
the amount of litter and trash that had accumulated in our city. But when we
announced a community wide cleanup event in early May, Saginaw—you showed
up and showed out! We had hundreds--neighborhood groups, organizations, and
individual citizens—we teamed up to clean up. We came together to help get our
city back to where it should be. We were a part of the solution. I want to thank
our Inspections Division for organizing this event and to anyone who was there that
morning-I want to say THANK YOU!!

We learned last summer that there was a great need for financial assistance in our
community and that once again; it would take a collaborative effort to help our
citizens who were struggling to make water payments. In a matter of days, city
staff worked with the representatives from United Way and Saginaw Community
Action Center to create a Utility Payment Assistance Collaborative. The 3-day event
at City Hall streamlined the process and made a way for citizens to work with the

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local representatives, apply for financial assistance, and avoid water shutoff.
Throughout the event, over 300 residents received financial assistance. This was an
amazing effort on everyone’s part to connect our citizens in need to the local
organizations that could assist them.

We learned in 2021 that we must constantly look progressively to the future to

attract new residents and visitors to our city. There must be a determined effort
to prepare for new innovations, new technology, and developing trends in mobility.
With the help of grant funding from the Michigan Department of
Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, the city installed its first set of electric
vehicle charging stations, --2 Direct Current Fast Chargers in Old Town. Once
completed in 2022, we will have 4 additional chargers throughout Saginaw. There
are very few charging stations in cities north of Saginaw, so traveling to destinations
such as Traverse City or Mackinac Island can sometimes be a challenge for electric
vehicle drivers. The new charging stations are drawing visitors and residents to
our Downtown and Old Town area and they are taking the opportunity to explore
and enjoy our city while they recharge.

What did I tell you? We live in a great city.

At last year’s State of the City address, I told you the most important thing we could
do was love. I encouraged you to look out for your neighbors and children and get
to work to preserve the city we worked so hard to build and restore. –AND you
did.

When I think back on 2021, one of my favorite moments of this past year that truly
demonstrated love and the heart of this community-- was Labor Day weekend at
Borchard Park. On that weekend, hundreds of local pastors and citizens joined with

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me for a time of prayer for our city. Earlier in the summer, after we had far too
many tragedies and loss of life in the city, I partnered with Bishop Larry Camel to
help plan and organize a series of prayer events during the month of August to fight
the violence that was rising in our city. These gatherings were a time when we all
came together. On Labor Day weekend, everyone was there-- from the eastside
and westside—all races, all religions. On that Labor Day weekend, we prayed, we
sang, we even walked across the Court Street Bridge arm in arm--standing united
as we prayed for peace in our city. And I thank God because peace did come, and
we saw a decline in violence. I want to thank everyone who came out for these
events. I believe our prayers made a difference!!

Speaking of making a difference, I want to take a moment to acknowledge just a

few of the many organizations and individuals who make a difference in our
community. I want to acknowledge:

 Those of you who serve on a board and commission for the city of Saginaw.
Your involvement is an important and valued part of City government.
 Our many neighborhood associations and the dedicated members who are
making a positive contribution in our neighborhoods. We know that strong
neighborhoods are the key to a strong city, and we appreciate all the work
you do to look out for your city and for one another.
 The groups and organizations that have taken it upon themselves to adopt
one of our city parks. We greatly appreciate the love that you show our parks
and the hours you volunteer to paint, clean and maintain these areas.
 To all of you who volunteer your time and offer resources to a worthwhile
Thank you. You truly are making a positive impact in someone’s life.

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  Lastly, I want to take a time to recognize my special friend, Larry Brethauer
and the Friends of Hoyt Park Committee. Larry must be commended for the
work he and his committee have done to create excitement every winter
with “Bring Back the Ice,” as well as baseball, t-ball and the many summer
activities at the historic park. Larry, you are a legend in my book. Thank you
for your passion and commitment to the city.

Dream with me for a minute, Saginaw.

Imagine the Saginaw we want for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren, our
next seven generations. But how do we get there? How do we move Saginaw
forward?

I’m sure you all are aware of the federal funds the city has received from the
American Rescue Plan Act legislation. These funds are intended to combat the
COVID-19 pandemic, address its economic impact on the community, and lay the
foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. We understand that this funding
can transform our city. Our goal is to strategically plan and invest in programs,
services, and infrastructure that will make a difference in the quality of life for every
single Saginaw resident now and in the future.

The funding comes with restrictions and limitations. The U.S. Treasury recently
released the final rules on the use of these funds in mid-January. We are now
finalizing a process to plan and allocate funds. City Council, along with the city
administration, is working to develop a framework that can be used to inform our
decision-making.

We have taken steps forward. In August, we launched our survey, which was
available online and in paper form, to allow residents to tell us what they feel are
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the key areas where we should focus to take our city to the next level. In
September, we hosted a Strategic Planning Session to review community survey
results and identify priority investment opportunities. Later in November, City
Council hosted two public open house events at City Hall to meet informally with
the public and receive feedback from individuals and organizations on how they
would prioritize the $52 million in funding. Even while waiting for guidance from
the Treasury, we felt it was important to continue conversations with our citizens.

Recently, we established an ARPA Advisory Committee. This committee will

provide input regarding potential projects or category spending for ARPA funds and
prepare recommended funding priorities for consideration by City Council.

These are important steps; however, we realize there is more to be done. City
Council has heard the concern from stakeholders and citizens in our community.
We realize that there are segments of our population that are facing great
challenges and there is much to be done to assist with their needs. Although we
may be slow in taking action with the ARPA funding, it is not that we don’t care or
don’t see the need in our community for these funds --and it is NOT because we
have a hidden agenda or a secret plan for these funds. It is because this funding is
far, far too important to mishandle. The consequences of misuse of these funds
could be detrimental and set our city back in numerous ways. We are charting our
course to creating the Saginaw that we know we can be. We will get there, one
step at a time. When it comes to allocation of the ARPA funds, I would rather take
baby steps in the right direction than giant leaps in the wrong direction.

So let’s dream big, Saginaw. With ambitious vision, exciting new initiatives, and
passionate community members, we can shape our city into one that is increasingly

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vibrant, innovative, inclusive and sustainable. But it will take more than money to
build the Saginaw we all dream of-- it’s going to take time, energy, and commitment
from our citizens. It’s going to take a lot of love.

I am often asked, what makes the city of Saginaw different from the rest? To me,
the answer is easy. It’s the people. We care for one another. We work alongside
each other collaboratively and respectfully. We own our problems and work
together for a solution. That's what makes Saginaw different from all the rest.

I want to share a special initiative that we undertook in the city during 2021. The
city collaborated to create a marketing video as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to
maintain our status as a Redevelopment Ready Community with the Michigan
Economic Development Corporation. Our goal for this video was to re-energize and
inspire current Saginaw residents about the uniqueness of the city and continue to
reflect to every person—both near and far--the great things that are happening in
this city. Our hope is that we can change any negative narrative out there about
our city. In the end, what we came up with were 9 unique stories that showcase
how individuals who truly care about the City of Saginaw are taking action and
making a difference. Today, I’m excited to show you a trailer for these videos.
(SHOW VIDEO)

Starting next week, the city will launch a new video each week on social media and
on our website. Be sure to visit us on Facebook or our website each week to see
these unique stories of individuals who are passionate about Saginaw. Share these
stories, help us shine a light on the progress we are making as a community and
highlight what truly makes Saginaw special—its people.

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On the screen is a new decal we have created. Look closely. It shows our ever
evolving, dynamic history. We are who we are because we stand on the shoulders
of the great leaders who came before us. I’m thankful for the visionaries that gave
us a strong foundation, those who have served us well. But now it is up to us to
take their place and move this city forward. Ultimately, our future depends on the
dreams, the ambition, and indeed the HEART of everyone who lives, works, and
plays here.

The decals are available at City Hall and will soon be available at your favorite local
business in Saginaw. Get one and display it, and show the world how proud you
are of your city.

WE are building Saginaw. All of us, together. This is your city, and it’s my city. I am
honored to serve as your Mayor and I am proud to call Saginaw my home. My hope
is that you feel that same pride too.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the City and County of Saginaw
Michigan.

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