Bob's Update - May 7, 2007
“Ann Arbor is better positioned than almost any other place in the
nation to prosper.”
I thought I’d start out with
that excerpt from an article you might not have seen in the
Ann Arbor News recently.
As we go forward into the planning process for the 2008-2009 budget, what often sticks in memory is the talk of decreased funding, slower growth, revenue downturns along with deepening budget woes – and indecision – at the State level.
I think of myself as a realist, but if I’m going to represent reality, I’m also going to be sure that we’re looking at the whole spectrum of possibilities before us. And that includes both sides of the model.
That article I referred to was about a national survey conducted of 362 metropolitan statistical areas for their ability to provide talented workers and an "innovative environment.'' The city of Ann Arbor came in first, beating out places like Boston, San Francisco and Seattle - and 358 other US cities.
And last week I returned from a short trip to Europe with other government
and business leaders to look at some of the world’s best working examples of
aerotropolises. As you may recall from an
Update I wrote last year, there has been a great deal of interest
over the past nearly ten years in transforming the 20,000 acres around
Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run airports into an "airport city" that
would become a center for transportation – not just air, but all types, as
well as a hub for high tech and commercial companies, entertainment
establishments and residential properties – creating tens of thousands of
jobs. An aerotropolis.
|
"Bob's Update" is a weekly message to Washtenaw County employees from County Administrator Bob Guenzel. eWashtenaw publishes these columns when they are deemed timely and useful to the wider community. Please contact Administrator Guenzel with your comments. |
It was an exciting trip – not just for the value of seeing a working model of the future of this region, but for the conversations that are finally turning ideas into concrete plans. With the addition of Detroit Renaissance and the leadership of its president, Doug Rothwell, I think we’ll see real movement on this idea in coming months with research into best practices and a governance structure to seek funding, and to pull the idea together.
Wayne County will be most affected by this plan, and it will take 30 to 40 years for full development, but I’m sure you can imagine how Washtenaw County will reap the benefits of such directed growth in our region.
So, I hope you’re not stuck on the back side of the model these days. We will all be facing some change and difficult decisions in the coming budget cycles, but it’s important to remember that we have options born of innovation, deep knowledge and mindful stewardship of our resources.
We will continue to find ways to be excellent public servants - while we remember the importance of the dream.
I’m absolutely convinced of this because I know the caliber of people who
work for this organization.
I know you.
I hope you have a great week,
