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Rosemount State of the City address Mayor Bill Droste

As prepared for delivery on March 6, 2012

This is the 10th time it has been my honor to deliver the State of the City address for Rosemount. And

there have been some common themes through most of those years. One is that the state of

Rosemount is strong. And Im proud to say that is the case this year. Another is that my City Councilcolleagues and I work toward goals of managing growth and moderating the cost of government.

Unfortunately, one theme of the last few years has been that we in City government and in the rest of

the community have had to struggle against the effects of a troubled economy. We still face so many

challenges to make sure our families, businesses, and other institutions are on a strong footing.

But today I would like to show you some signs of improvement, and how we hope to capitalize on those

conditions.

We have businesses that are opening facilities in Rosemount. We have businesses that continue to

operate at a high level, providing jobs for hundreds of people. We have employers who have chosen torelocate or consolidate here. We have businesses that are expanding, rebranding, and demonstrating

their commitment to the community.

We have new subdivisions growing to bring more households to our community, even in a housing

market that remains difficult. We are progressing to provide additional housing options for all members

of the community, including the growing cohort of senior citizens. We have had a series of ribbon

cuttings and welcome events for businesses that want to be part of Rosemounts existing market and its

potential.

And most encouraging, we have signsI dont mean signs figuratively, I mean literally of new jobs

available in our community.

None of this means the challenges to our economy are solved. We remain vulnerable to shocks from

the national economy, and even the global economy. Our state and federal governments have a long

road ahead to reach solutions to their budget problems. But our economic conditions are improving

from where they were three years ago. And I would like to share with you details about how we see

Rosemount taking advantage of this situation.

First, for jobs and the economy: the Port Authority, which is the economic development arm of City

government, spent much of the past year working on a plan for growing jobs and our economic base.

Many of you heard details of it at our business luncheon last fall. In brief, we will work to increase ourengagement with existing businesses. We will try to increase commercial amenities of the kind that are

currently underserved in Rosemount. We will focus many of our efforts on Downtown and the Business

Park. And we will devote energy toward the long-term goal of a world-class development at UMore

Park.

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Almost all of these involve public-private partnerships. In some cases, were recruiting the partners. As

an example, the City commissioned a study of whether theres a need for a hotel in Rosemount. The

answer was that yes, there is a demand here. By making an investment in the study, we hope to attract

private developers for such a project.

Weve also benefited from an analysis of the market by experts at the Urban Land Institute. It showedby one measure of the retail market stores within a five-mile radius Rosemount residents have lots

of choices. We are not under-retailed, as the industry puts it. But we know our residents want close,

convenient shopping. So we will continue working on niche markets to better serve our residents.

We also follow closely whats happening in the housing industry. Housing is so important to local

communities, especially ones like Rosemount that are growing and trying to provide opportunities for a

population with changing demographics. I work in the industry, and I can point to dozens of ways that

the slowdown has had a dramatic effect on new and existing housing supplies. Distressed housing

continues to affect the entire market. The lowering of values is painful for homeowners and is also felt

in every local government because we all depend on property taxes for most of our resources.

Some of those trends are moderating. And some are likely to remain for the next few years. But in

Rosemount, the year 2011 brought some encouraging news. DR Horton has begun work on 29 lots

along Akron Avenue north of County Road 42. Nearby, Lennar will build 27 homes. And Ryland plans 24

homes. Those are just first-phase numbers. The total could come to 245 homes when those

subdivisions are fully built-out. Theres always a certain amount of speculation in building homes before

the buyers are lined up, and depending on the market for the customers to fill them. But these

established firms have decided thats a good bet in Rosemount.

And again, sometimes we in City government can provide help to meet the need. The City has identified

a private developer to bring a crucial ingredient to the housing mix in Rosemount. The plan would bring68 units of senior housing to the site of the old St. Joes School, just north of the Steeple Center.

Demand to serve this segment of the population will grow in the next several years. We can meet part

of the need with this development and not just as a home for some, but as a gathering place at an

attached center, dedicated to the needs of our seniors but not walling them off instead, tying into the

rest of the community through our Downtown.

I have mentioned the financial challenges to City operations. Weve met them while still moderating the

tax burden on our residents. 2012 marks the fourth year of reduced property taxes charged by the City,

as measured on the median-value home in Rosemount. Weve held that line actually, weve moved

that line down while still funding a prudent list of added items.

Our Fire Department put a half-million dollar fire truck into service late in the year. We are developing

baseball fields on property deeded by UMore. We have received a grant that will allow us to extend a

trail along Highway 3 to Connemara. We continue to protect the Citys investment in infrastructure like

the street network with a thorough maintenance plan. Weve looked for help where we can, and weve

succeeded by winning grants from the Met Councils Livable Communities program for $440,000 for

amenities like a public plaza and streetlights at the senior development.

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And we are working with the MVTA to get a jump start on funding for a Park and Ride just south of City

Hall. In my role as Vice Chair of the Authority, I review ridership figures. For the system as a whole, rides

were up 6.2 percent last year. The express routes from Rosemount to Minneapolis were among those

showing healthy growth. With a return to higher gasoline prices and the introduction of bus rapid

transit service on Cedar Avenue, the demand for those services is certain to grow. A Park and Ride in

Downtown Rosemount will meet the need.

Its fun to talk about the new stuff. But we have to keep our eye on the basic functions of City

government. We have an accomplished staff of employees and people who volunteer for part-time

work to maintain Rosemounts public safety. This weekend the American Legion will honor one from

Police and one from Fire for the annual Public Safety Employees of the Year recognition. And its always

a hard choice to make the picks from many nominees.

Reported crime was essentially the same in Rosemount last year as the year before. There were

increases in reports of theft, vandalism, and misdemeanor assault. But even so, those categories are

below the averages for the last five and ten years. The decline is fortunately steeper for serious crimes.

Fire Department calls rose last year but not because of fires. Those calls were down. But there was a

big increase in the need for medical help.

Other City workers stayed busy, too. This winter hasnt required as much snowplowing as the one

before. But weve kept Public Works crews busy with other maintenance. Our parks continue to be a

popular meeting place for neighbors, and our staff maintains a quality program of recreational activities.

Parks-and-Rec and Public Works are also busy with the creation of ball fields at UMore, and

improvements to Rosemounts trail system.

And our staff provides support services with members of the community willing to volunteer for one

project or considering the dedication of some of our citizens, to volunteer for several. The Beyond theYellow Ribbon group leads our communitys support of military members and their families. The Arts

Council had a successful year, generating not just cultural opportunities but also economic activity.

Now one of our high school teachers has organized a community band. And we had another successful

year for Leprechaun Days and the Haunted Woods Trail. The way Rosemount comes together to

celebrate holidays, or success or to provide support for individuals and groups that need assistance is

a significant part of who we are as a community.

But who we will be as a community depends on our young people. And their success depends on their

education. We on the City Council are advised by the Youth Commission. We honor students who go

above and beyond to excel in scouting and 4-H. And we get to greet the Irish Marching Band: number

one in Minnesota for the sixth year in a row.

Our public schools have many accomplishments. Our high school even had a student, Scott Miller, who

got a perfect score on the ACT college admissions test last spring. That puts him at the 99.95 percentile

nationally. These are signs of the tremendous success of our schools, public and private. Their

dedicated staffs strive to make Rosemount a desired place for families.

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Were also home to the intermediate school district, 917, and to Dakota County Technical College. DCTC

offers unique studies in areas like nanotechnology. But it also strengthens our community with offerings

for workforce training. Two-year schools like DCTC are critical to providing skilled workers as the

national economy ramps up.

All of our educational institutions are continually changing because their student bodies are changing.Rosemount remains a growing community with about 7,000 children age 17 and younger. Our Citys

population is increasingly diverse: 13 percent people of color in the 2010 census. And thats especially

true of the young.

Last school year, in the District 196 schools that draw mostly from Rosemount, 19 percent were non-

Hispanic, non-white. The state keeps track of how many languages are spoken at home. For 196s

students, there are 84 different languages and dialects everything from Spanish and Somali to Grebo

and Waray. We know weve changed substantially in the last ten years: in the nation, state, metro, and

county. We expect the change to accelerate.

Thats one of the many ways Rosemount will look different in the future. Development patterns will

change, too. You can see a 400-foot tall example of that on the horizon. The wind turbine at UMore

Park was dedicated last year, to provide cutting-edge research on clean energy. Its just a prototype,

and it may be gone by the time the big changes take place at UMore.

The University of Minnesota plans a futuristic community of 20-to-30,000. To pay for it, the U hopes to

begin gravel mining on part of its property. The City has just begun its review of the new ordinance to

cover the mining. The Planning Commission and the Council will be holding public hearings at every step

of the process. Were already heard from some residents that the newest concepts appear much less

intrusive than the original. And we hope for continued improvement.

In his state of the university address last week, President Eric Kaler talked about the vision for UMore.

To quote:

Excellence also means aligning our strategies with economic realities. That is another

component of balancing change. For example, given the uncertain economic environment for

residential development, the UMore Park LLC board decided that we are going to focus in the

near term on economic development activities that will add value to the property.

President Kaler concludes:

While we remain committed to the long-term goals, we will use this time to further develop aplan to mitigate the impacts of gravel mining and other development activities on faculty who

use UMore space for their research.

In the near term, the University has agreed with the City to resume work on a review of any

environmental issues that need to be addressed before development moves forward.

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As always, we have a lot on our plate. To guide the Citys staff as they carry out their work, especially as

they prepare budget proposals for the following year, the Rosemount City Council sets annual goals. We

approved the latest version last month. There are four categories covering much of what weve

discussed here: Structural Finances and Efficiency, Infrastructure and Sustainability, Parks and

Recreation Facilities, and Economic Development.

We list several specific projects and initiatives things such as pursuing a partnership for indoor

recreational amenities with DCTC and the YMCA; continuing our progress on communications with the

public; increasing the use of parks facilities with the addition of features and encouragement of special

events.

And we intend to develop a comprehensive strategy to enhance Downtown Rosemount, for the people

who live and work there and for the rest of the community. Some of the possibilities are building a

splash pad for children to play in water; improving the Erickson Park shelter and parking lot; paving

Brazil Avenue; building an underpass for pedestrians under Highway 3 near the Community Center; and

adding lighted tennis courts and exercise stations for seniors. Some of that may take a few years, but

the work begins now.

We also hope that our citizens will adopt a goal of their own: to shop whenever possible at our

hometown businesses. Giving those businesses our support will ensure that they are present and able

to support our community.

To review, what will you see in Rosemount in 2012? Those new subdivisions we talked about earlier.

The Mississippi River Trail, a bikeway that eventually will run from Rosemount to Lake Itasca and the

Gulf of Mexico. We hope to see a start on the senior housing project and improvements at the

Community Center. And we especially hope for more companies to follow in the footsteps of Hawkins

and Proto Labs, bringing new job opportunities to the City.

We invite them all to join those of us who make Rosemount our home, and our success story.