Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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We are setting out to slash ten weeks off the timeline our city government has usually used to approve the budget for next year. That will let us save money.
City officials from all city departments this week officially started the 2019 budget process and began working to really embrace the priority based budgeting concept. We think it will let us produce a better budget, a better city government, and better delivery of city services. If we save money in one area, we can use it elsewhere, more efficiently and deploy our resources better.
We are working with the Center for Priority Based Budgeting, which has transformed the way local governments across the nation define success and prioritize services in their communities. This could be a fundamental change in how we allocate our fiscal, physical, and human resources. Toledo is committed to spending within its means and learning the true cost of doing business. Accordingly, decisions will be based on the true cost of providing a service.
I want to thank everyone who participated in the
Mercy Health Glass City Marathon
, the Rogers High School girls basketball championship parade, and all of the other amazing events in Toledo this past weekend. Watch the
video on Facebook
to see the Rogers High School team receive the Key to the City.
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Our mayor's office marathon relay team - named "You'll Run Better in Toledo" by social media polls - didn't have the best finishing time but it was an amazing experience. There are more pictures of the other city of Toledo teams on our
Instagram
.
Finally, I want to take a moment to congratulate Michael Beczynski, vehicle parts storekeeper for the city in our Public Service Department, on his retirement. I wish I could personally thank every city employee for their service.
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Police
Have you ever imagined rappelling from the rafters of the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo?
Officer Gabe Greenwalt, of Toledo Police SWAT, takes you behind the scenes during a recent rappel training. Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, Urban Search and Rescue Team are also featured.
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The Toledo Police Department staffs a full-time SWAT team. If you're interested in joining our team, look
here
. Learn more about the Toledo Police Department at
toledopolice.com
.
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Capital Improvements
Toledo City Council should vote May 22 on the 2018 capital improvements budget.
The proposed $29 million budget includes funding for new emergency vehicles, sidewalk repairs, and improvements to Levis Square. About $22 million will be spent on streets this year.
The proposed budget includes $900,000 for new police vehicles; $300,000 for improvements to the Safety Building roof; $1.35 million for three ambulances and nine other vehicles for the Fire and Rescue department; $30,000 for
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building upgrades to Fire Station 7 on Bancroft Street and Franklin Avenue, and $1 million for sidewalk repairs at roughly 680 locations.
Bill Burkett, the city’s acting director of economic and business development, said Levis Square Park downtown needs about $500,000 for improvements.
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This program is designed to take out bad pavement and replace it with new asphalt. City crews completed 16 miles last year.
The goal for 2018 is 25 miles. The 2018 budget includes $700,000 for the 2018 program.
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Mill and fill runs concurrently with the residential resurfacing program, for which there is $8.75 million budgeted this year. The residential resurfacing list was posted in the
March 23 newsletter
.
The main roadway resurfacing program, which is generally called the "Matches and Planning" program because it uses matching grant money, also runs concurrently.
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Toledo City Council this week approved a consent decree with the Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA to cover costs for the Ottawa River cleanup and authorized an associated agreement with Metroparks Toledo to create a Manhattan Marsh Metropark in that area.
Toledo will pay $811,500 for related environmental damages, past assessment costs, restoration costs, oversight costs, and expenses.
The
Manhattan Marsh
will be a new park in the vicinity of Manhattan Boulevard and Suder Avenue, adjacent to Chase Elementary School in North Toledo. Once complete, Manhattan Marsh will be the first Metropark in North Toledo. Its construction fulfills the park district’s promise to build a metropark within five miles of everyone in Lucas County.
Toledo City Council this week also unanimously voted to remove milkweed, the plant essential to monarch butterfly survival, from a noxious weed designation under Toledo's municipal code. We hope to see more milkweed in city parks.
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Mayor Kapszukiewicz and students from Burroughs Elementary planted trees at Burroughs Park for
Arbor Day
.
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Toledo's alley-cleaning program started Tuesday off Sylvania Avenue between Burnham and Vermaas avenues.
The city collected more than 2.5 million pounds of debris and 3,430 tires from alleys in 2017.
Dumping is illegal and violators face big fines. Call Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020 to report dumping in alleys or anywhere in the city.
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Drop Off Refuse and Recycling Event
Woodsdale Park, 1250 Woodsdale Park Dr., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
Saturday, April 28
. We will take household hazardous waste, electronic waste, up to ten tires (on or off the rim, but no commercial tires), paper, housewares, clothing, toys, bulky items. and refuse. Televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators, and other large appliances will
NOT
be accepted. Latex Paint costs $1 per gallon to drop off. More info
here.
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The next
Wednesdays With Wade
will be 4:30 to 6 p.m.,
May 2
at the West Toledo Branch Library,
1320 West Sylvania Ave.
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Bike To Work Day
is Friday, May 18.
Leave the car at home!
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Main Library Renovation Community Forum
Attend one or all of these
open forums
, all to be held 6 to 8 p.m. at the Main Library's McMaster Center, Wednesday, May 2, Wednesday, May 30, and Thursday, June 28.
Each forum will be an opportunity to share their input and insight about the Main Library's services, collection, and space moving forward.
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By The Numbers
(
year-to-date
)
39,813
potholes filled
3,266
vehicles towed
876
illegal signs removed
1,891,253
pounds of debris removed with street sweepers.
*
3,387
building inspections completed
2,404
contractor licenses issued
617
new jobs
*
The number posted last week was the incorrect year-to-date amount.
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Text Alerts
Sign up for Toledo text alerts
here
.
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Recycle your old electronics. Only about 15 percent of electronics, or e-waste, are recycled. Cell phones and other electronics contain high amounts of precious metals.
Americans throw out more than $60 million in precious metals every year.
Learn more about Lucas County's electronic waste program
here
.
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The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments this week celebrated its 50 years of regional achievements.
TMACOG is a non-partisan regional planning partnership made up of voluntary members in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Together, TMACOG members work on transportation, water quality, and other economic development endeavors that affect quality of life for everyone in our region.
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Toledo In The News
Toledo gets art vending machine
Artist and Art-o-mat creator Clark Whittington isn’t much of a traditionalist. He bores easily with the conventional and he doesn’t care much about generating gobs of money.
Toledo Ballet visits Broadway for finale
Toledo Ballet concludes its 2017-18 season with Broadway at the Ballet. Resident director and choreographer Michael Lang brings a series of favorite Broadway show tunes to life through the beauty of dance. Romance, drama, and comedy unfold in a pastiche of classical and contemporary movement.
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