Mayor outlines future goals, reminisces accomplishments

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan laid out his plan for city governance in 2006 while expressing gratitude to the City Council and city staff for his administration's accomplishments in the past year. \nAt Thursday's State of the City address titled "City Vision 2006," the mayor's hour-long speech focused on the promotion of community through four distinct themes: collaboration, commerce, condition and character.\n"I have absolute confidence in our mission," he told a packed house at City Hall. "Community collaborations involve partnerships among the city and community entities, while community commerce is aimed at improving Bloomington's economic vitality. Community character is focused on preserving and strengthening the city's unique qualities and community condition demonstrates care for our public safety, environment and animals."\nKruzan announced that the city's premier achievement so far has been getting its fiscal house in order. In the face of a $1 million shortfall caused by state cuts, a budgetary balance was attained as well as a restoration of reserves.\nNow, more than two years through his mayoral term, Kruzan reminded those in attendance of the platforms he ran on in the 2003 election: improving the human condition, economic vitality and preserving community character. Kruzan said the next two years will be a rededication to those concepts.\n"I'm proud of all the success we've had on all those fronts," he said.\nThe mayor highlighted the city's acquisition of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater and its continued success, the addition of 110 acres of greenspace to the city's inventory and the purchasing of the CSX rail line through the heart of downtown as proud accomplishments of 2005.\nThe mayor's "rails to trails" project was officially christened the "B-Line" at Thursday's address and described as the largest economic project the city will undertake for years to come.\n"Plans are taking real shape," Kruzan said. "If all goes according to plan, we will be near the start of construction by this time next year."\nKruzan spoke of his administration's efforts at building partnerships with civic organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Ivy Tech, Downtown Bloomington Inc., the Bloomington Area Arts Council, Monroe County Community School Corporation, the United Way and the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. \nHe particularly stressed the importance of the city's relationship with IU and the University's role as an economic partner. \n"In addition to being our largest employer, updated numbers just released indicate that annual purchase of goods and services made by the University from Monroe County vendors amounts to $40 million," he said.\nOther topics addressed were the city's labors at creating and developing affordable housing, measures to combat recidivism through the local criminal justice system and a warning against the homogenization of community identity.\n"Keeping our city from looking and feeling like any other is worth fighting for," Kruzan said.