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We are in very strange and challenging times. Initiatives at the State and local levels to protect the health and safety of all residents during the COVID-19 pandemic are significantly impacting all aspects of our daily lives, though we are optimistic that with vaccines being distributed again at an all-time high and certain restrictions strategically being in place, a return to full normalcy is prayerfully on the horizon.
I continue to be highly impressed and grateful for the creativity and commitment demonstrated by our city leadership and city staff. We have identified and implemented innovative ways to conduct operations and deliver necessary services to residents & businesses while simultaneously taking appropriate precautions to keep employees and the general public as safe and healthy as possible. Everyone should be highly commended and I know our residents appreciate these efforts.
Sixteen years ago, West Park was developed based upon the need to be able to control our own destiny. Because of our diligence, we have surpassed the expectations of others and since inception had a balanced budget. We have survived because we are survivors!
Although we are proud of what we have done in the past years, we must stay focused to continuously build West Park into the city of positive progression. Here is a glimpse of some of our accomplishments from this previous year:
Free Fresh Food Distribution where we provided food for a minimum of 300 families monthly
Community Benefits Program which reinvests back into West Park
Minor Home Repair Grants which provide a forgivable loan for home repairs
Child Care Assistance Grants to parents and their children for up to $600
Traffic calming devices on SW 57th and SW 20th
Tree Trimming Grants for overgrown trees especially during hurricane season
Youth Summer camp providing a safe place for students to learn and grow
Senior Citizen Program providing a weekly space for seniors to congregate and participate in social activities and enjoy life
Provided five (5) scholarships to West Park high school and college students in the amount of $1,000 each;
Worked collaboratively with our State Legislatures to secure $250,000 in funding
Held our Annual Mary Kendrick Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway and Free Holiday Toy Giveaway
Provided school supplies to students
Positive change in taxable value for the last nine appraisal periods
Acquired $500,000 toward construction of new cultural facility at McTyre Park
Acquired funding for the rehabilitation of the ball-field at Mary Saunders
Acquired funding for State Road 7 Pedestrian Lights
Acquired funding for various complete street improvements
Opened our First Police Department facility. Public safety is the top responsibility of local government. West Park is facing trends that everyone across the country faces. From recent shootings to vehicular crashes involving pedestrians to the growing family societal concerns, our public safety department addressed concerns proactively. From distributing gun locks and gun safety educational materials, doing safety checks at seniors’ homes, to providing safety tips to youth and sharing trends and improvements at our City Commission meetings, our police and fire department continue to be an important investment in our future.
Yes, much progress has been made! But I’m hungry for more, and I know you are too! We must continue to find ways to offer viable alternatives as we have so much more to do. That’s why we must keep moving! We must continue to provide more services and more support to our residents. We must be prepared to do more. We’ve made good progress! A good part of this field has been plowed, but we still have so much to go before all of West Park can reap the benefits of the goodwill it has sown.
The key to all of this is planning, preparation and forward thinking. Those are the steps that will lead us down the road to successful, sustainable progress.
I am very optimistic for our future following the pandemic. Preparation and adoption of the budget is a team effort involving nearly every employee in our city and every Commission member. Thank you to our City staff for their willingness to meet the City’s priorities and for your assistance in the preparation of this budget. Finally, thank you Commissioners for your leadership in moving ahead on numerous issues, including identifying responsive solutions to the COVID-19 emergency, and for your adoption of financial policies and prudent financial guidance that resulted in the foundation for this proposed 2022 Budget.
To the residents, we present you with important investments for the City’s future, while responding to the unprecedented challenges facing our community. The budget prioritizes critical services and the health and safety of our community through thoughtful reductions in conjunction with strategic investments in our workforce, operations, and infrastructure. Our vision of pursuing world‐class quality of life by actively collaborating with our community towards a fulfilling and inspired future for all guided us throughout the process and will continue guiding future evaluation and decision‐making. While we are facing unprecedented times, the message that this budget portrays is that we are in this together. We are OneWestPark.
Join us for our upcoming Public Budget Hearings on these dates:
⦁ First Budget Public Hearing: Wednesday, September 8, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
⦁ Special Assessments Public Hearing: Monday, September 13, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
⦁ Second Budget Public Hearing: Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
In conclusion, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had many challenges. We have had to pivot with the rest of the world and learn how to move forward. As we’ve pushed through uncertainty, we have met countless opportunities to reflect, refine, realign and revisit what we are doing and move forward with a renewed sense of purpose, hope and gratitude.
Remember to contact me at City Hall with your ideas, suggestions or concerns. I represent you and appreciate your input into the continued success of our beloved city. I can be reached at (954) 329-8990 or via email at: fbrunson@cityofwestpark.org.
