STATE OF HOWARD COUNTY ADDRESS

January 14, 2009

Delivered by Ken Ulman, Howard County Executive

THANK YOU, RAND, FOR SUCH A NICE INTRODUCTION AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON SO MANY ISSUES IN HOWARD COUNTY, AND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE HERE TODAY. WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, THE PRIDE I FEEL SERVING THIS GREAT COUNTY GROWS EVEN STRONGER. WE ARE TRULY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC, HEALTHY, AND FORWARD LOOKING COMMUNITIES ANYWHERE.

THANK YOU TO HOWARD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT PAM KLAHR, BOARD CHAIR MARK CISSELL AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER BOARD FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HOWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AND, OF COURSE, THANK YOU FOR ONCE AGAIN HOSTING THIS STATE OF THE COUNTY LUNCHEON.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO HOWARD COUNTY’S FUTURE.

AS MUCH AS I ENJOY BEING COUNTY EXECUTIVE – AND I DO ENJOY IT…MOST DAYS – I KNOW THAT IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF MY WIFE JAKI AND OUR DAUGHTERS, MADDIE AND LILY.

ADVICE FROM MADDIE:

• STAND UP STRAIGHT
• SMILE
• BE YOURSELF
• SPEAK SLOWLY AND LOUDLY

I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING TODAY, FOR TAKING TIME FROM YOUR BUSY LIVES TO BE A PART OF THIS EVENT. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN HOWARD COUNTY TO HAVE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS LEADERS WHO CARE SO MUCH ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. ACTIVE AND ENGAGED CITIZENS STRENGTHEN BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR DEMOCRACY.

INDEED, IN THE RECENT GENERAL ELECTION, HOWARD COUNTY HAD THE HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUT IN THE STATE AT 83.3 PERCENT, AND THAT 0.3 PERCENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE EDGED OUT FREDERICK COUNTY BY 0.1 PERCENT. AND WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT WHO YOU VOTED FOR, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU VOTED (AND, LET’S BE HONEST, THE FACT THAT WE BEAT FREDERICK COUNTY AND THE 22 OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE!)

A YEAR AGO I STOOD BEFORE YOU AND SAID THAT THE STATE OF OUR COUNTY WAS STRONG AND GETTING STRONGER. THOUGH MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN, I AM PLEASED TO STAND BEFORE YOU ONCE AGAIN AND REPORT THAT THE STATE OF HOWARD COUNTY IS STILL STRONG.

OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, HOWEVER, THIS STRENGTH WILL BE TESTED, PERHAPS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. WE DO INDEED HAVE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES BEFORE US, BUT LET’S FOCUS ON SOME GOOD NEWS FIRST...

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS, SAFE STREETS, STELLAR BUSINESSES AND A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE. THESE ELEMENTS MAKE UP THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND, THANKFULLY, OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN EACH AREA.

OUR SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. THEY ARE THE BEST IN MARYLAND. AND JUST LAST WEEK, THE STATE OF MARYLAND WAS RANKED BY EDUCATION WEEK TO HAVE THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY. SO, TO RECAP, OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE BEST IN THE STATE, WHICH IS HOME TO THE BEST SCHOOLS IN AMERICA, THEN AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED, THAT MEANS OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO ENJOY OUR SUCCESS AND RECOGNIZE DR. SYDNEY COUSIN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE OTHER PILLAR OF HOWARD COUNTY’S STRENGTH IS PUBLIC SAFETY. AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER, I SLEEP EASY AT NIGHT – WHEN I ACTUALLY SLEEP – KNOWING THAT THE HOWARD COUNTY POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE THERE TO PROTECT OUR STREETS AND RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCY.

AND WE’RE MAKING GOOD ON OUR COMMITMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET, FUNDING OVER 50 ADDITIONAL SWORN POSITIONS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. OF COURSE, AS I SAID LAST YEAR, WE CANNOT BE COMPLACENT IN PROTECTING THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR CITIZENS. ANY CRIME IS ONE TOO MANY AND ANY RESIDENT WHO FEELS UNSAFE IS ONE TOO MANY. I KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY WHEN I SAY THAT WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL TIMES MEETS THAT STANDARD.

IN OTHER AREAS, HOWARD COUNTY CONTINUES TO ENJOY EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE. OUR PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES ARE AMONG THE BEST ANYWHERE. AND WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON OUR PRIORITIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

ALL OF THIS AND AN ENVIOUS LOCATION BETWEEN BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON COMBINE TO MAKE HOWARD COUNTY ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST PLACES TO LIVE, WORK AND DO BUSINESS.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED BY NATIONAL MEDIA. AS IN YEARS PAST, HOWARD COUNTY WAS RANKED BY FORBES, MONEY MAGAZINE AND OTHERS AS ONE OF THE NATION’S BEST PLACES TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY.

AND AGAIN THIS YEAR, OUR LIBRARIES WERE RANKED AS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU TO VALERIE GROSS AND HER TEAM AT THE LIBRARY FOR THEIR WONDERFUL WORK. WE ALSO HAVE VALERIE TO THANK FOR THE CHOOSE CIVILITY CAMPAIGN, WHICH IN SOME WAYS HAS COME TO DEFINE US.

I’VE SEEN A FEW VARIATIONS…

[CHOOSE CIVILITY STORY W/ STEELERS BUMPER STICKER]

SO, THINGS ARE GOING WELL IN HOWARD COUNTY, AND BECAUSE OF OUR STRENGTHS, WE ARE STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED TO FACE OUR UPCOMING CHALLENGES. LET THERE BE NO DOUBT, OUR CHALLENGES WILL BE FORMIDABLE.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY. IN THE DAWN OF THIS NEW YEAR, WITH RENEWED HOPE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND SOCIETY, THE FACT REMAINS THAT OUR ECONOMY IS IN THE MIDST OF ITS BIGGEST DOWNTURN SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

EVEN FROM A POSITION OF RELATIVE PROSPERITY, WE IN HOWARD COUNTY ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD AROUND US, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO SPELL OUT HOW THIS CRISIS IS IMPACTING HOWARD COUNTY.

WE ARE FACING THE POSSIBILITY OF ZERO REVENUE GROWTH IN NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET. THIS IS IN COMPARISON TO MORE THAN 8½ PERCENT AVERAGE ANNUAL REVENUE GROWTH OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME SINCE 1964, WE FACE THE PROSPECT OF A DECREASE IN INCOME TAX REVENUE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT. REVENUES FROM BOTH RECORDATION AND TRANSFER TAX ARE DOWN MORE THAN 40 PERCENT FROM THEIR PEAK JUST THREE YEARS AGO. NEW PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS WERE JUST RELEASED FOR THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, AND AS WE EXPECTED, THEY ARE DOWN.

IN PREPARATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET, WHICH I WILL SUBMIT TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, I HAVE ASKED ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS TO PUT TOGETHER FLAT BUDGETS, BUT AS ANYONE WHO HAS EVER PREPARED A BUDGET KNOWS, WHETHER FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR YOUR BUSINESS, A FLAT BUDGET IN THE REAL WORLD MEANS CUTS. BASIC COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS ARE STILL RISING, AFTER ALL. I HAVE ALSO ASKED DEPARTMENT HEADS TO SUBMIT TO ME BUDGETS WITH 5 PERCENT REDUCTIONS, AND ALTHOUGH WE HOPE TO AVOID DOING SO, MAKING SUCH DRASTIC CUTS MAY BE NECESSARY.

THESE ARE TRULY DIFFICULT TIMES, AND WHILE WE WILL NOT KNOW THE STATE’S PROPOSED BUDGET UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE DO KNOW THAT THE STATE IS FACING A ROUGHLY 2 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET SHORTFALL. WITH 40 PERCENT OF STATE FUNDING GOING TO LOCAL AID, WHICH IS PRIMARILY FOR EDUCATION, THE PROSPECT OF THIS SUPPORT ESCAPING THE BUDGET AXE IS UNLIKELY.

THERE’S NO WAY AROUND IT—THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY. BUT WE WILL WEATHER THIS STORM PRECISELY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR IT… EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT PREDICT WHEN IT WOULD COME OR WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WHILE OTHERS SOUGHT TO BOUNCE HIGHER ON THE HOUSING BUBBLE AND OVERLY EXPANDED HOUSING STOCK DURING THE EARLY PART OF THIS DECADE, WE WERE BUFFERED BY AN ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES LAW AND HOUSING ALLOCATION SYSTEM THAT MODERATED THE BUBBLE IN HOWARD COUNTY.

WHILE OTHERS WERE TAKING ON EXCESSIVE DEBT WHEN MONEY WAS CHEAP AND THE ECONOMY BOOMING, WE ADHERED TO FISCAL PRUDENCE, A PHILOSOPHY THAT HAS SERVED US WELL AS WE CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE FEW COUNTIES IN THE NATION TO HAVE A TRIPLE A BOND RATING FROM ALL THREE RATING AGENCIES.

AND FROM THE DAY WE TOOK OFFICE, MY ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE DOING MORE WITH LESS A TOP PRIORITY. THESE, AND OTHER ACTIONS LIKE THEM, HAVE LEFT US BETTER POSITIONED TO DEAL WITH THE ECONOMIC EMERGENCY FACING OUR COUNTRY.

TO BE SURE, WE ARE FACING DIFFICULT DECISIONS AHEAD. BUT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, WE CANNOT SHIRK FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO EACH OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST WIELD OUR STRENGTH TO CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. NOW, MORE THAN EVER, OUR SHARED PURPOSE REMAINS CLEAR: TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF OUR COMMUNITY’S VALUES AND ENSURE THAT HOWARD COUNTY REMAINS A BASTION OF DIVERSITY, ACCEPTANCE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.

SO LET’S TALK ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT IN TOUGH TIMES. WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ROLE OF A STRONG GOVERNMENT IN A WEAK ECONOMY?

FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOVERNMENT MUST DO MORE WITH LESS.

IN ECONOMIC TIMES LIKE THESE, MORE PEOPLE TURN TO GOVERNMENT FOR SUPPORT AND SERVICES. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN EVIDENCE OF THIS, AS PARTICIPATION HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY IN OUR HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE SEEN A 66 PERCENT INCREASE IN FAMILIES

RECEIVING EVICTION PREVENTION ASSISTANCE, AND A 55 PERCENT INCREASE IN ENERGY ASSISTANCE SUPPORT.

OUR TOP-RANKED AND WELL-USED LIBRARIES, TOO, HAVE GROWN MORE CROWDED, WITH A 26 PERCENT INCREASE IN VISITS AND A 15 PERCENT INCREASE IN ITEMS BORROWED.

AND HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS WITNESSED TWICE THE ENROLLMENT GROWTH PROJECTED FOR THIS YEAR, AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING THE HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION AVAILABLE AT HCC.

I’D LIKE TO THANK DR. KATE HETHERINGTON FOR HER LEADERSHIP AT THE COLLEGE.

EVEN AS DEMAND FOR COUNTY SERVICES GROWS, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. WE WILL NOT USE THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN – THE TIME WHEN GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED MOST – AS AN EXCUSE TO IGNORE THIS COMMITMENT.

AND I MUST TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE AND RECOGNIZE OUR HOWARD COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WITHOUT WHOM WE COULD NEVER ACHIEVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE ENJOY; AND AS WE LOOK TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE WITH LESS, IT IS THIS WORKFORCE OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO GIVE THEIR BEST EFFORT, CREATIVITY, AND COMPASSION EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND ONE OF THOSE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF WORKING SMARTER AND FINDING EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DO MORE WITH LESS IS OUR NEW CHIEF PERFORMANCE OFFICER, IRA LEVY.

YES, I HIRED IRA TO BE OUR I.T. GUY; BUT IN JUST TWO YEARS HE HAS BECOME ONE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT’S MOST CRUCIAL RESOURCES IN MANY AREAS. HE IS STILL OUR I.T. DIRECTOR, BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF DOING MORE WITH LESS, IRA HAS AGREED TO TAKE ON THE ADDITIONAL ROLE OF SCOURING COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.

IRA HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR EFFORTS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND THIS INNOVATIVE ATTITUDE HAS ALREADY YIELDED OVER 10 MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY.

DURING LAST YEAR’S STATE OF THE COUNTY SPEECH, I MENTIONED SEVERAL ACTIONS WE HAD TAKEN TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE SPENDING – SUCH AS, THE ELIMINATION OF OUR CABLE TV STUDIO AND PRINT SHOP, CHANGES TO OUR RECORDATION TAX COLLECTIONS PROCESS AND NUMEROUS

TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS. TODAY, I’M HAPPY TO SHARE EVEN MORE.

FOR EXAMPLE…

• A NEW POLICY THAT REDUCED THE NUMBER OF TAKE HOME CARS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES BY 60 PERCENT, RESULTING IN AN ANNUAL SAVINGS OF $700,000.
• IMPROVEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY AND EXPANDED VOICE OVER IP CAPABILITIES NETTED SAVINGS OF $425,000 THIS YEAR AND ARE PROJECTED TO SAVE TWICE THAT AMOUNT NEXT YEAR.
• A NEW ONLINE JOB APPLICATION SYSTEM THAT HAS REDUCED PAPER USAGE BY 40,000 SHEETS ANNUALLY AND SAVED STAFF TIME. THIS APPLICATION SYSTEM IS MORE CRITICAL NOW THAN EVER, AS WE’RE SEEING UPWARDS OF 300 APPLICANTS FOR EVERY AVAILABLE POSITION, MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.
• IN AN EFFORT TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS BETWEEN COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE CREATED THE COOPERATION AND EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY SUCH AS JOINT BIDDING ON MANY TYPES OF CONTRACTS AND SHARED MAINTENANCE. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
• WE ARE WORKING BETTER THAN EVER WITH OUR PARTNERS IN STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL, AND SAVING MONEY IN THE PROCESS. TWO MONTHS AGO WE BEGAN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE TO HAVE PRISONERS AT THE PATUXENT INSTITUTE GROW 1,000 SAPLINGS ON PRISON LAND IN JESSUP. IN THREE YEARS, PRISONERS WILL TRANSPLANT THOSE 1,000 TREES TO COUNTY PARKS, AND THE TOTAL COST TO THE COUNTY FOR THIS VENTURE WAS PURCHASING SAPLINGS FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF --- 350 DOLLARS. THE BALTIMORE SUN FOUND THAT PRICE SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY REPORTED THE PROGRAM WAS COSTING THE COUNTY 350,000 DOLLARS. I KNOW, IT’S HARD FOR SOME TO BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH BY SPENDING SO LITTLE.
• AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE HOWARD BUILDING IS CURRENTLY UNDER RENOVATION. OUR DECISION TO RENOVATE RATHER THAN BUILD A COMPLETELY NEW OFFICE COMPLEX IS SAVING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND OF COURSE, INCREASED GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY SAVES MONEY FOR BUSINESSES AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION.

IMPROVED SYSTEMS AND MANAGEMENT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS LICENSES AND PERMITS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING ARE LEADING TO MORE TIMELY PLAN REVIEW AND APPROVAL…AND AS YOU KNOW, TIME IS MONEY.

WHILE WE CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO THINK CREATIVELY AND PROPOSE NEW IDEAS, WE MUST ALSO LOOK TO OUR GREATEST RESOURCE—YOU THE CITIZENS. AND IN HOWARD COUNTY, WE DON’T HAVE TO LOOK VERY FAR TO FIND A TRUE EXPERT IN ALMOST ANY FIELD.

I HEAR DIRECTLY FROM CITIZENS ALL THE TIME – THROUGH EMAILS, PHONE CALLS, OUR ANNUAL OPEN PUBLIC FORUM…AND FOR THOSE WHO PREFER A LESS FORMAL VENUE, I CAN BE FOUND ON MOST WEEKENDS AT COSTCO CHASING MY KIDS DOWN THE AISLES GETTING SAMPLES. BETWEEN THE FREE SAMPLES AND THE DOLLAR-FIFTY HOT DOG AND SODA DEAL, THAT’S DEFINITELY DOING MORE WITH LESS.

YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT LISTENS BECAUSE THE FACT IS, LISTENING LEADS TO SOLUTIONS.

LET ME SHARE A RECENT EXAMPLE WITH YOU…

LAST SUMMER, I RECEIVED A PETITION FROM COMMUTERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT PARKING AT THE SNOWDEN RIVER PARK AND RIDE. I WENT TO SEE THE PROBLEM FIRSTHAND, AND WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE STATE TO AGREE TO WORK WITH US ON A SOLUTION. AT MINIMAL COST, WE ADDED 30 NEW SPACES SIMPLY BY RECONFIGURING THE SPACES IN THE EXISTING LOT.

JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, WE GOT WORD THAT THE STATE WAS PROPOSING TO ELIMINATE COMMUTER BUS SERVICE FROM THIS LOT—THE VERY SAME LOT WE JUST IMPROVED. I WAS PROUD TO SEE OVER 500 PEOPLE SHOW UP TO PROTEST THE CUTS. WE LISTENED AND WE MADE THE STATE LISTEN, TOO.

BECAUSE OF THE CLEAR IMPORTANCE OF THIS ROUTE, WE REACHED A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH STATE OFFICIALS TO MAINTAIN SERVICE WITH FUNDING FROM BOTH THE STATE AND COUNTY.

AND JUST AS GOVERNMENT LISTENS TO RESIDENTS, WE LISTEN TO OUR BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

THROUGH CEO BREAKFASTS, MEETING WITH CHAMBER MEMBERS, VARIOUS BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES, AND MEETING WITH THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, WE SEEK NOT ONLY A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR CHALLENGES AND NEEDS, BUT ALSO HOW BEST WE AS COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAN PARTNER WITH YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS I ENJOY MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR DIVERSE BUSINESSES WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, FROM LARGE NEW EMPLOYERS LIKE INTEGRAL SYSTEMS AND MERKLE TO SMALLER NEW COMPANIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, JUST THIS YEAR I CUT THE RIBBON AT NOT ONE BUT TWO NEW DOGGIE DAY CARE FACILITIES — CLUB POOCHE AND TIKI’S PLAYHOUSE. CLEARLY THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES THIS YEAR IN HOWARD COUNTY.

PERHAPS THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE — ONE THAT HELPED ME GAIN SOME NEW PERSPECTIVE ON MY OWN JOB — OCCURRED DURING MY ANNUAL JOB EXCHANGE WITH A FARMER. THIS YEAR I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A DAIRY FARMER FOR A DAY.

[“FARM- CITY” STORY]

BUT SERIOUSLY, THESE BUSINESS VISITS — ACROSS ALL SECTORS — ARE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AS WE LISTEN AND WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT, WE MUST ALSO PREPARE FOR AND INVEST IN THE FUTURE. AND AS WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, OUR GROWTH AS A COUNTY — AND HOW TO MANAGE THAT GROWTH EFFECTIVELY — IS OFTEN A KEY CONCERN. HOW WE PREPARE FOR GROWTH GOES A LONG WAY TO DETERMINING WHETHER WE HAVE THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITIES OR THAT WHICH DETRACTS FROM THEM.

ONE OF THE AREAS WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT THE FUTURE OF HOWARD COUNTY IS DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA. FOR TOO LONG, COLUMBIA HAS LACKED THE TYPE OF VIBRANT, WALKABLE, LIVABLE DOWNTOWN THAT WE DESERVE.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AS WE HAVE LISTENED TO EACH OTHER AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN A CAREFUL, DELIBERATIVE PLANNING PROCESS FOR DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA, AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE AGREEMENT ON ALL THE DETAILS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

I WANT TO SHARE A QUOTE FROM JIM ROUSE WITH YOU, AND ALTHOUGH THIS QUOTE IS FROM MARCH 10, 1964, I BELIEVE TODAY IT IS MORE TIMELY THAN EVER. ROUSE SAID:“WE HAVE IN OUR HANDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR CITY—IN OUR GENERATION—THE MOST LIVABLE, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE CITY IN AMERICA.”

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US. LOOKING BACK AT THE ROUSE COMPANY’S PROPOSAL TO THE COUNTY FIVE YEARS AGO AND COMPARING IT TO GENERAL GROWTH PROPERTIES’ CURRENT SUBMISSION, IT IS HARD TO MISS THE REMARKABLE IMPACT THAT THE PUBLIC DIALOGUE HAS HAD SO FAR.

THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE REFINED AND IMPROVED IN THE CURRENT SUBMISSION, BUT WITH CONTINUED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD AND COUNTY COUNCIL, WE WILL ENSURE THE REALIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY’S VISION FOR DOWNTOWN BY PUTTING A PLAN IN PLACE THAT EMBODIES OUR HOPES, OUR IDEALS, AND OUR PRINCIPLES.

HOWEVER, I AM TROUBLED BY THE FALSE NOTION THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE UNKNOWNS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND GGP’S FUTURE, WE SHOULD PUT THE PLANNING PROCESS ON HOLD. I COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE.

WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO APPROVE A PLAN.

UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE ONLY STRENGTHENS THE CASE FOR HAVING A COUNTY-APPROVED PLAN THAT REFLECTS COMMUNITY CONSENSUS FOR THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA. SUCH A PLAN WILL ENSURE THAT NO MATTER WHO ULTIMATELY OWNS LAND IN DOWNTOWN, ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE GUIDED BY THE COMMUNITY’S VISION.

ANOTHER PLACE WE’RE INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE IS THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF ELLICOTT CITY, ONE OF HOWARD COUNTY’S TREASURES.

HOWEVER, BEING SUCH A CHARMING DESTINATION PRESENTS CHALLENGES, AND ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES IS PARKING. BUT HAVING LISTENED TO LOCAL BUSINESSES, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF PARKING AND PLAN TO MAKE LONG-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IN THE INTERIM, WE INITIATED A PARKING METER HOLIDAY TO PROVIDE FREE PARKING DURING THE RECENT SHOPPING SEASON.

AND WE RECENTLY COMPLETED OUR PURCHASE OF THE OLD POST OFFICE ON MAIN STREET. WORKING OUT OF THE BASEMENT OF THE POST OFFICE, HOWARD COUNTY TOURISM HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB ATTRACTING VISITORS TO OUR COMMUNITY. SOON WE’LL BE ABLE TO LET THEM OUT OF THE BASEMENT TO CREATE A NEW VISITOR CENTER THAT WILL STRENGTHEN TOURISM’S PRESENCE IN ELLICOTT CITY AND ITS REACH THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

GIVEN OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN WE HAD HOPED; BUT THE TOURISM TEAM UNDERSTANDS THE NOTION OF DOING MORE WITH LESS, AND I’VE HEARD THEY ARE CATCHING UP ON OLD EPISODES OF HGTV’S DESIGN ON A DIME.

GOOD GOVERNMENT IN TOUGH TIMES ALSO MEANS MAINTAINING A LONG-TERM FOCUS, GROUNDED IN OUR VALUES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO EMBRACE PROGRESSIVE IDEALS, AND TO FIND CREATIVE, FORWARD-FOCUSED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AFFECTING US AS A COUNTY AND SOCIETY.

MOST NOTABLY, OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING THE MODEL PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY HAS YIELDED DRAMATIC RESULTS.

IN JUST THE FIRST NINE DAYS OF ENROLLMENT FOR OUR HEALTHY HOWARD ACCESS PLAN, WE WITNESSED OVERWHELMING DEMAND FOR HEALTH COVERAGE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ENROLL MORE THAN 1,100 INDIVIDUALS IN EXISTING HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME OF OUR OWN MONEY, WHICH IS PERHAPS THE MOST REMARKABLE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

HOW DID WE DO IT? AT A HEALTH CARE CONFERENCE IN PHOENIX LAST YEAR, WE HEARD ABOUT RECENTLY DEVELOPED SOFTWARE USED IN CALIFORNIA WHICH SEARCHES ALL EXISTING PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITHOUT COVERAGE. WE THEN PROPOSED TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THAT THEY PROVIDE HOWARD COUNTY A GRANT TO CREATE THIS SYSTEM AS A MODEL FOR OUR STATE, AND THEY AGREED. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED HEALTH E-LINK, AND THROUGH ITS USE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND COVERAGE FROM OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS FOR SO MANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

ONE SUCH CITIZEN IS THE ELLICOTT CITY WOMAN I SPOKE ABOUT IN LAST YEAR’S SPEECH. SHE HAD GONE YEARS WITHOUT PROPER HEALTH COVERAGE, AND AFTER A CONSULTATION WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET COVERAGE THROUGH KAISER PERMANENTE, A PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNER THAT WE RECRUITED TO JOIN THE HEALTHY HOWARD PROGRAM AND PROVIDE COVERAGE TO 300 COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE RESULT WE HOPED TO SEE FROM THE PROGRAM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT OUR GOAL WAS NEVER TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENT SPONSORED HEALTH COVERAGE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKED. IT WAS ALWAYS TO FIND COVERAGE FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED IT BY UTILIZING EXISTING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES FIRST.

AND IN THAT RESPECT, WE HAVE ENJOYED RESOUNDING SUCCESS. OVER 1,400 PEOPLE WHO WERE WITHOUT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO NOW HAVE IT THANKS TO THE TIRELESS WORK OF DR. PETER BIELENSON AND THE FOLKS AT THE HOWARD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HEALTHY HOWARD.

ANOTHER KEY PRIORITY AS WE INVEST IN OUR FUTURE IS THE ENVIROMENT. OUR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES ARE LEADING TO HEALTHIER ECOSYSTEMS, HAPPIER CITIZENS AND BETTER BOTTOM LINES. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE HAD CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS GREENING OUR COUNTY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

THANKS TO IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTMENTS IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES, WE ARE DECREASING OUR ENERGY COSTS AND OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. HAVING MORE HYBRID VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET THAN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, INCLUDING HYBRID BUSES FOR HOWARD TRANSIT, ALSO MEANS CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS ON FUEL COSTS.

TO TRULY BE A MODEL GREEN COMMUNITY, WE MUST INCORPORATE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND INCENTIVES FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. WE HAVE DONE THIS BY ENCOURAGING AND IN SOME CASES REQUIRING NEW BUILDINGS TO BE BUILT TO GREEN STANDARDS AND EXTENDING TAX CREDITS FOR SOLAR AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY. WE HAVE ALSO EXPANDED OUR LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE SMALL LOTS AND HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO STRENGTHEN PRESERVATION OF OUR PRECIOUS WOODLANDS. AND, OF COURSE, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I FAILED TO MENTION THOSE BIG BLUE BINS.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE BINS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY PUT THEM TO GOOD USE. IT’S ACTUALLY PRETTY AMAZING.

EVERYWHERE I GO, SOMEBODY COMES UP TO ME AND THANKS US FOR THEIR BIN. WHILE WE WERE DISTRIBUTING THEM, WE WOULD GET ANXIOUS CALLS AND EMAILS FROM PEOPLE EAGER TO GET ONE EARLY. IN FACT, DURING OUR PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE BINS, A WOMAN PULLED UP AND TRIED TO TAKE THE BIN FROM THE DISPLAY!

AS EXPECTED, THE BINS HAVE ALREADY LED TO A 15 PERCENT REDUCTION IN TRASH HEADED FOR LANDFILLS AND A 23 PERCENT INCREASE IN RECYCLING, WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR OUR POCKETBOOKS.

THROUGH A COMBINATION OF SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING AND THE NEW BINS, WE GENERATED 1.6 MILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR ON RECYCLING, WHICH IS A 73% INCREASE OVER THE YEAR BEFORE.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT SIMPLY REDUCING OUR TRASH WILL GENERATE SAVINGS OF $575,000 ANNUALLY, AND THIS IS WITH THE LOW FIXED RATE WE CURRENTLY PAY FOR WASTE DISPOSAL.

IN JUST A FEW YEARS, THAT DISPOSAL RATE WILL RISE DRAMATICALLY AND SO WILL OUR SAVINGS. IT IS INCUMBENT THAT WE CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE WE SEND TO LANDFILLS, BECAUSE THIS EFFORT, LIKE OTHERS IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA, IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOUND ECOLOGICAL AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT GREEN BUSINESSES HOLD THE PROMISE OF OUR ECONOMY’S FUTURE. I HAVE LONG BELIEVED THAT HOWARD COUNTY COULD BE A CENTER OF GREEN BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, AND IN THE PAST YEAR, WE ESTABLISHED A GREEN BUSINESS COUNCIL AS A MEANS OF ATTRACTING MORE BUSINESSES AND ENHANCING THIS INDUSTRY IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

WE ARE SEEING GREEN BUSINESSES GROW THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, CHESAPEAKE SOLAR, A LOCAL PROVIDER OF SOLAR ENERGY SOLUTIONS, IS EXPANDING AND ADDING JOBS IN HOWARD COUNTY, WHILE THE ENVIRO-CENTER IN JESSUP, HOME TO THE GREEN BUILDING INSTITUTE, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS EXPANSION INTO A SECOND BUILDING.

E-STRUCTORS, A GREEN COMPANY LOCATED IN ELKRIDGE, IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING INDUSTRY. IN FACT, IF YOU DROP OFF AN OLD TV AT BEST BUY OR AN OLD COMPUTER AT ANY LANDFILL IN THE REGION, IT WILL BE RECYCLED AT E-STRUCTORS.

BUT THAT’S JUST PART OF THE E-STRUCTORS STORY.

LONG-TIME HOWARD COUNTY RESIDENTS, MIKE AND JULIE KEOUGH FOUNDED E-STRUCTORS IN 2003, AND THE BUSINESS HAS QUICKLY GROWN IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THEY RECENTLY MOVED FROM A 23,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING TO A 94,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, AND THEY HAVE INCREASED THEIR WORKFORCE BY 41 PERCENT THIS YEAR. BY THE WAY, THEY ARE STILL HIRING.

THOSE NUMBERS MAKE THEM GOOD BUSINESS PEOPLE---BUT IT’S THE REST OF THEIR STORY THAT MAKES THEM HOWARD COUNTY BUSINESS PEOPLE. MIKE AND JULIE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A PASSION FOR THEIR WORK AND THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT’S THEIR PASSION FOR HELPING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT MAKES THEM TRULY SPECIAL. E-STRUCTORS PROVIDES TRAINING AND PAID EMPLOYMENT TO PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, LIKE BRYAN.

BRYAN IS A YOUNG MAN WITH AUTISM WHO WORKS THERE FOUR HOURS A DAY. HIS MOM WROTE TO ME TELLING ME HOW MUCH HE LOVES IT. HIS CO-WORKERS ARE KIND TO HIM AND HE CANNOT WAIT TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. THIS IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES HOWARD COUNTY A TRUE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

MIKE AND JULIE ARE HERE TODAY AS MY GUESTS, PLEASE STAND UP SO WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE YOU AND ALL YOU DO IN HOWARD COUNTY.

AS UPLIFTING AS THE KEOUGHS’ STORY IS, IT IS NOT UNIQUE. IN FACT THERE ARE COUNTLESS VARIATIONS OF THIS STORY TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT HOWARD COUNTY EVERY DAY. STORIES OF BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS FORGING PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE COMMON GOOD, ACKNOWLEDGING THE SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL TRUTH THAT KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY STRONG – THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WITHOUT QUESTION, THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES. OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND POSSIBLY LONGER, WE WILL BE CHALLENGED LIKE WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CHALLENGED BEFORE.

THESE TIMES DEMAND DEDICATED EFFORT FROM ALL OF US, FOR IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE. THAT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO GET BY, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I HAVE NEVER KNOWN HOWARD COUNTY TO BE CONTENT TO JUST “GET BY.”

THE MEASURE OF OUR COMMUNITY’S STRENGTH WILL NOT BE A RANKING IN SOME MAGAZINE, NOR ANY OTHER EASY-TO-GRASP STATISTIC. INSTEAD, OUR STRENGTH WILL ONLY BE FOUND IN OUR RESOLVE; OUR RESOLVE TO TRULY MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AND BEYOND.

THANK YOU.