AUBURN - The city of theater arts. The greenest town in America. The city of cultural diversity. The city of the future as a result of the past
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Lea Abbott, right, an Auburn native and business consultant from Skaneateles, addresses Auburn's city council during a strategic planning session Wednesday afternoon at the Seward House Museum.
Lea Abbott, right, an Auburn native and business consultant from Skaneateles, addresses Auburn's city council during a strategic planning session Wednesday afternoon at the Seward House Museum.
These were all suggestions given Wednesday by city officials who were asked how they would like Auburn to be described 10 years from now.
City councilors, Mayor Michael Quill and City Manager Mark Palesh participated in the special strategic planning session during which they worked together to pinpoint some future priorities for the city.
At the end of the meeting, they listed those priorities and decided which ones were for the short term and which were for the longer haul.
One of the main focuses of the session was improving quality of life in Auburn. And throughout the meeting, participants covered topics ranging from how to tout the city's eco-friendly projects, taking care of local businesses, fixing housing issues and improving the local arts and entertainment.
Like many communities in upstate New York, Auburn has seen its population thin and grow older over the years, moderator and local consultant Lea Abbott told the council.
“People are voting with their feet,” Abbott said. “But we believe in this place. We grew up here, and we have roots here.”
Councilors agreed that one of the priorities should be to attract and keep young families in the city, as they are the ones who tend to invest in their community.
“Cities that do well, they do well because they have those young families,” Councilor Matthew Smith said.
During the meeting, Abbott suggested that those young families are drawn to communities with strong economies and property values. Those types of communities have things to offer that other locations do not have, Abbott said.
“The stronger, more vital you make a community, the more you are going to attract the stronger, more vital people,” he said.
Palesh and the councilors pointed to a number of local initiatives and projects meant to improve the city's quality of life. Officials are currently working to secure a musical theater festival for Auburn. Auburn Memorial Hospital is turning around financially. Cayuga Community College and Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES offer quality career training and education.
These are all things that cater to the needs of children as they grow, Palesh said. And these things can have an effect on the local economy, he said.
“Jobs come as a natural result from focusing on families,” Palesh said.
Energy costs also affect local economies, and Abbott congratulated the city on its focus on green energy in recent years. Geothermal technology in government buildings and power generated from local natural gas digesters can attract businesses, he said.
Though councilors also questioned how much effort they should put into attracting new, large manufacturers. How many times do city officials ask local businesses already in Auburn about their needs, and how many times are they thanked for operating in the city, Quill asked.
Councilor William Graney agreed.
“We have to retain the business we do have here,” he said.
Though the councilors and Palesh pointed out that the citizens' attitudes can have a major affect on a city's quality of life. For such improvements to happen, the people will have to keep a positive outlook for the long term, Palesh said.
Quill also expressed that sentiment.
“If we could get rid of the negativity in this city, I think we would solve 90 percent of the problems,” Quill said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
What'snext?
The Auburn City Council came up with the following goals and priorities for the city during a strategic planning session.
Short-term:
• Regionalization of services
• Revitalization of local parks
• Higher emphasis on public relations
• Energy production
• Theater and entertainment
• A comprehensive plan for the city
• Possibly organizing a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Alaska becoming a state
Medium-term:
• Development of hydroelectric, wind and natural gas power
• Forging partnerships with Auburn Memorial Hospital and Cayuga Community College
• Neighborhood retail
• Following the regional blueprint project
City councilors, Mayor Michael Quill and City Manager Mark Palesh participated in the special strategic planning session during which they worked together to pinpoint some future priorities for the city.
At the end of the meeting, they listed those priorities and decided which ones were for the short term and which were for the longer haul.
One of the main focuses of the session was improving quality of life in Auburn. And throughout the meeting, participants covered topics ranging from how to tout the city's eco-friendly projects, taking care of local businesses, fixing housing issues and improving the local arts and entertainment.
Like many communities in upstate New York, Auburn has seen its population thin and grow older over the years, moderator and local consultant Lea Abbott told the council.
“People are voting with their feet,” Abbott said. “But we believe in this place. We grew up here, and we have roots here.”
Councilors agreed that one of the priorities should be to attract and keep young families in the city, as they are the ones who tend to invest in their community.
“Cities that do well, they do well because they have those young families,” Councilor Matthew Smith said.
During the meeting, Abbott suggested that those young families are drawn to communities with strong economies and property values. Those types of communities have things to offer that other locations do not have, Abbott said.
“The stronger, more vital you make a community, the more you are going to attract the stronger, more vital people,” he said.
Palesh and the councilors pointed to a number of local initiatives and projects meant to improve the city's quality of life. Officials are currently working to secure a musical theater festival for Auburn. Auburn Memorial Hospital is turning around financially. Cayuga Community College and Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES offer quality career training and education.
These are all things that cater to the needs of children as they grow, Palesh said. And these things can have an effect on the local economy, he said.
“Jobs come as a natural result from focusing on families,” Palesh said.
Energy costs also affect local economies, and Abbott congratulated the city on its focus on green energy in recent years. Geothermal technology in government buildings and power generated from local natural gas digesters can attract businesses, he said.
Though councilors also questioned how much effort they should put into attracting new, large manufacturers. How many times do city officials ask local businesses already in Auburn about their needs, and how many times are they thanked for operating in the city, Quill asked.
Councilor William Graney agreed.
“We have to retain the business we do have here,” he said.
Though the councilors and Palesh pointed out that the citizens' attitudes can have a major affect on a city's quality of life. For such improvements to happen, the people will have to keep a positive outlook for the long term, Palesh said.
Quill also expressed that sentiment.
“If we could get rid of the negativity in this city, I think we would solve 90 percent of the problems,” Quill said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
What'snext?
The Auburn City Council came up with the following goals and priorities for the city during a strategic planning session.
Short-term:
• Regionalization of services
• Revitalization of local parks
• Higher emphasis on public relations
• Energy production
• Theater and entertainment
• A comprehensive plan for the city
• Possibly organizing a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Alaska becoming a state
Medium-term:
• Development of hydroelectric, wind and natural gas power
• Forging partnerships with Auburn Memorial Hospital and Cayuga Community College
• Neighborhood retail
• Following the regional blueprint project
The Citizens' Say
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Biggguy wrote on Aug 28, 2008 9:20 PM:
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