City of O'Fallon 2011 Annual Report

2011 City of O’Fallon Annual Report

Our Vision:

Be the Best City in Missouri

Table of Contents 3

Financial Highlights

5

Our Vision: Be the Best City in Missouri

5

National Accolades

7

2011 Strategic Plan Goal I: Focus on the City’s infrastructure

9

2011 Strategic Plan Goal II: Focus on our residents’ quality of life and the City’s image

12

2011 Strategic Plan Goal III: Support the economic development of the region and provide appropriate revenue growth to support City services

14

2011 Strategic Plan Goal IV: Improve communications and responsiveness with residents and promote a transparent government

15

Map of O’Fallon

Community profile — O’Fallon, Missouri Founded: 1856 Date of incorporation: 1912 Form of government:

Mayor – City Council City Administrator

Population:

79,329*

Housing units:

29,376*

Median household income:

$76,480*

Land area:

29.19 square miles

Miles of streets:

285.27 miles

Park acreage:

447 acres

*According to 2010 Census

2

Financial Highlights T

he following is a brief overview of the City of O’Fallon’s general fund operations for fiscal year 2011.

The information presented is representative of the City’s final 2011 budget figures.* The general fund, which covers seven divisions with the city, is one of the 16 funds that make up O’Fallon’s total budget.

The budget is adopted by the City Council in accordance with the City Charter and Missouri Revised Statutes. Prior to adoption, staff reviews detailed budget activity with the City Council through several workshops and public hearings covering the budget and the City’s five-year capital improvement program.

Revenues — Where does the money come from?

Expenditures — Where is the money spent?

Revenues for the City are derived from various sources. The City’s top general fund revenue sources are sales taxes, franchise and utility taxes, and property taxes**. Other sources of revenue include fines and forfeitures, licenses and permits, intergovernmental revenues and charges for services. For 2011, the City budgeted $27,689,556 for general fund revenue.

Sound financial planning and controlled spending has enabled the City to maintain financial stability throughout the economic downturn.

Property Tax (21%)

Franchise and Utility Tax (27%)

Fines and Forfeitures (7%)

Sales Tax (37%)

Intergovernmental (2%)

Miscellaneous (2%)

General fund expenditures support essential services such as public safety and the general administration of the City. Specific budgeted expenditures for 2011 included the purchase of a public works facility to centralize operations, funding of our capital replacement program for computers and vehicles, and new paperless technologies.

The City’s general fund budget for 2011 totaled $28,329,682 of which $924,324 was offset by revenues of the water fund, sewer fund and the street and road improvement fund to cover the costs of the new public works facilities. The largest general fund expenditure is public safety which is 43% of the combined total. Additionally, the City of O’Fallon spent approximately $2.3 million on one-time capital projects as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (C.I.P.).

These expenditures include: online customer service tools, new servers that improved the City’s information technology infrastructure and a new phone system.

Public Safety (43%)

Administrative Services (20%)

Charges for Services (1%) Licenses and Permits (4%)

Unreserved Fund Balance The City maintains a general fund reserve balance that approximates 50% of the City’s operating expenditures.

The reserve balance provides revenue stabilization during temporary periods of revenue decline, required reserves for debt service payments, revenues for unforeseen contingencies and available funding for capital projects versus issuing debt.

Due to the prudent financial management of City funds, the City of O’Fallon maintains an AA debt rating with Standard & Poor’s Rating Agency with a long-term outlook of stable. *The final year-end information is not yet available, but will be presented in the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) later this year. **Property taxes are paid to various taxing jurisdictions and the amount reported here is only the City portion. The City’s share of property taxes approximates 7% of a property owner’s bill.

Administration (16%) Landscaping and Festivals (4%) Finance and Municipal Court (8%) Planning and Development (5%)

Public Works (3%)

3

Our Vision: Be the best City in Missouri

2

011 was a year of great accomplishments and tremendous progress in the City of O’Fallon, Missouri. Whether it was the continued national recognition, the impressive results of the 2010 Census or the continued commitment to provide the highest quality of service to residents, the

City once again lived up to its vision to be the “best City in the State of Missouri.”

Guided by the City’s Annual Strategic Plan, which is adopted by the City Council, City staff focused on the areas of infrastructure, quality of life, economic development and improved communications and customer service. These areas of focus led to numerous successes, making O’Fallon a better City today and for the years to come.

This annual report is intended to be a brief overview of just some of the City’s accomplishments during 2011. For more information on the City of O’Fallon, please visit www.ofallon.mo.us or view the O’Fallon year-end video at www.ofallon.mo.us/2011.

Mayor Bill Hennessy

4

Ward 1 Councilmembers

Ward 2 Councilmembers

Ward 3 Councilmembers

Bill Gardner Rick Lucas

Rose Mack Jim Pepper

Richard “Rick” Battelle John Haman, Jr.

Ward 4 Councilmembers

Ward 5 Councilmembers

Bob Howell Jeff Schwentker

Mark Perkins Mike Pheney

City of O’Fallon Annual Report

National Accolades O’Fallon once again makes “Top 100 Places to Live” list

F

or the fifth straight year, O’Fallon was ranked as one of Relocate-America’sTM “Top 100 Places to Live.” This honor continued O’Fallon’s six-year run of national accolades; it is a testament to the

residents and businesses that call O’Fallon home. O’Fallon was the only city in the State of Missouri to make the list.

To arrive at their annual “Top 100 Places” rating, the editorial team at Relocate-America reviews community nominations along with additional data on education, employment, economy, crime, parks, recreation and housing.

O’Fallon grows 71 percent in the last decade

T

he data from the 2010 United States Census was announced in 2011, and the City of O’Fallon’s official population came in

at 79,329, up 71 percent from the City’s 2000 Census number of 46,169.

With the release of this data, the City of O’Fallon officially became the seventh largest City in the State of Missouri and the largest city in St. Charles County. O’Fallon is also the second largest City in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, trailing only the City of St. Louis.

This amazing growth is the result of the wonderful neighborhoods, business environment, schools and emergency services in the City.

www.ofallon.mo.us

5

O’Fallon ranked as one of America’s safest cities

T

he City of O’Fallon was once again ranked among the “Safest Cites in America,” as determined by CQ Press in its

City Crime Rankings 2010-2011: Crime in Metropolitan America publication.

Of the 400 cities that were studied, O’Fallon ranked second safest. The City topped the list of Missouri cities that were surveyed and ranked highest among all Midwestern cities. In 2011, O’Fallon’s crime rate dropped 4 percent over 2010.

The crime rate rankings of the cities and metropolitan areas are calculated using six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. The rankings include all cities of at least 75,000 residents which reported crime data to the FBI in the categories noted. In the most recent survey, 347 metropolitan areas and 400 cities were considered using statistics released by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the FBI in September 2010.

6

City of O’Fallon Annual Report

2011 Strategic Plan Goal I

Focus on the City’s infrastructure Investing in O’Fallon’s roads

A

s the City of O’Fallon looks to the future, protecting the City’s infrastructure is crucial. In 2011, the City once again invested in road and street improvements throughout the City, ensuring better traffic

flow and safer roads.

City crews replaced more than $1 million worth of concrete slabs in O’Fallon’s subdivisions, resulting in nearly 2,200 new concrete slabs installed in our subdivisions. The repairs continued the City’s commitment to preserving local streets for generations to come.

Additionally, crews upgraded one of the City’s busiest intersections at Highway K and Laura Hill and Feise Roads. The new, wider intersection reduced congestion in the area and allowed better access to local businesses and neighborhoods. Road improvement projects along West Terra Road, Veterans Memorial Parkway and Guthrie Road also improved traffic flow.

Water and Sewer builds a more efficient system

O

’Fallon’s Water and Sewer departments focused on providing more efficient service to residents and reducing expenses.

O’Fallon Water installed new water meters for all of its customers.

These new meters are more accurate and will significantly reduce the amount of unaccounted water that runs through the system. The department also conducted an audit of the entire system, identifying and repairing previously undetected leaks and saving thousands of dollars.

In addition, the department constructed a new water main in the northeast part of the City. This new line provides a fully redundant system, meaning that even when repairs are needed, service to local businesses and residents will not be interupted.

7

O’Fallon’s recycling collection reaches record levels

T

he City of O’Fallon’s recycling program ended 2011 on a high note as O’Fallon residents recycled more than 23

percent of all items collected by Environmental Services crews, the largest annual total in the City’s history. Overall, the volume of O’Fallon’s recycling increased nearly 8% over previous years. These results make O’Fallon one of the Metro Area’s top recycling communities.

Recycling not only is good for the environment, it also saves the City money and helps keep rates low. When the City collects trash, the trash eventually goes to a landfill where the City pays money to drop the trash. However, when recycling is collected, the recycling ends up at a recycling center that actually pays the City for the materials.

“We are extremely grateful that residents are participating more and more in this worthwhile program, which saves money for both residents and the City, and helps protect our environment,” said Jim Wenzara, Environmental Services Superintendent.

8

City of O’Fallon Annual Report

2011 Strategic Plan Goal II

Focus on our residents’ quality of life and the City’s image A new playground highlights O’Fallon’s Parks and Recreation activities

A

fter nearly a year of planning, fund raising and construction, Brendan’s Playground, built to encourage kids of all abilities to play together, opened in O’Fallon’s Paul A. Westhoff Park.

The playground is named for Brendan Schmitt, a Westhoff Elementary School student who has difficulty playing on traditional playground equipment due to the effects of a rare genetic disorder. At the conclusion of October’s ceremonial ribbon cutting, Brendan and hundreds of kids enjoyed romping on the new playground for the first time.

Speaking to the more than 1,000 people in attendance, O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy said:

Today is about a young boy who has inspired each and every one of us to strive for something that seemed out of reach. Today’s about a community coming together on a project that is bigger than all of us. Today is about O’Fallon creating a new legacy for all of our residents.

With the opening of Brendan’s Playground, we are again demonstrating that O’Fallon is a community every family can call home and a place where people of all abilities can experience the love, caring and hope that this playground will bring.

The nature-themed playground features ADA-accessible ramps connecting nearly all areas, a variety of climbing structures, steel slides that are suitable for children with cochlear implants (because the slides do not generate static electricity), a variety of swings so that children of different ages and abilities can swing together, and a set of large, outdoor musical instruments.

www.ofallon.mo.us

9

Renaud Spirit Center grows to more than 2,200 members strong

O

’Fallon’s Renaud Spirit Center (RSC) completed a successful 2011, growing to more than 2,200 memberships and welcoming thousands of daily visitors. Plus, hundreds of O’Fallon residents

celebrated their birthday with their friends and families at the RSC. It was a proud accomplishment for the RSC staff, whose goal is to provide members with a great experience every time they enter the building.

“Our staff is dedicated to serving our members here at the RSC,” said Craig Feldt, Recreation Superintendent. “Our members have access to quality exercise machines in our fitness area, an indoor track, and one of the area’s best aquatic centers. We also offer an extensive list of programs, including a variety of kids’ classes, such as art, gymnastics, camps and swimming. For adults, we have popular dance and fitness classes, and leisure and cultural learning programs.”

O’Fallon’s events bring residents together

W

ith events spread throughout the year, O’Fallon’s Tourism and Festivals organizers are constantly

planning for what comes next. In 2011, their efforts paid off with some of the most successful events in O’Fallon’s history.

The fun started in the spring with Founders’ Day, the annual celebration of O’Fallon’s history, which drew hundreds to Fort Zumwalt Park. The summer months attracted residents to O’Fallon’s Civic Park to hear the sounds of O’Fallon Jammin’ concerts.

Of course, the highlight of the year was the Heritage & Freedom Fest and parade. Thousands of people lined the streets of Downtown O’Fallon for the parade, and then celebrated our nation’s freedom in Ozzie Smith Sports Complex. National performing artists Josh Gracin, Phil Vassar and Tonic entertained thousands, while OK GO brought a unique brand of rock to the stage, even calling an O’Fallon resident to the stage to play with them.

As winter approached, Fort Zumwalt Park basked in the distinctive glow of the annual Celebration of Lights. The event drew its biggest crowd ever with nearly 10,000 vehicles visiting the display. The event also raised thousands of dollars for local charities.

10

O’Fallon’s Police Department is working with residents for a safer community

O

’Fallon continues to be recognized as one of the safest cities in America, and the O’Fallon Police Department is a big reason why. In 2011, officers continued to focus on working with the

community to educate citizens on crime prevention.

This year’s National Night Out was a huge success, and more than 500 people attended the department’s Open House to get an up close look at police work. Additionally, officers conducted two Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) courses and the annual Citizen Police Academy to help residents get a better idea of how to stay safe and serve the community.

The O’Fallon Police Department also took several steps to help O’Fallon be prepared in the event of a disaster. The entire department along with numerous members of the City’s staff went through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster response training.

The training took employees through a mock disaster and gave everyone an opportunity to become familiar with the challenges that they might face during an emergency situation. The exercise also allowed City employees to become familiar with the documentation required by FEMA to qualify the City for Federal reimbursement of the expenses incurred during a disaster.

Volunteers donated more than 20,000 hours in 2011

O

’Fallon’s Volunteer Services team coordinated nearly 2,500 volunteers logging more than 20,000 hours in assisting the

City of O’Fallon, Missouri. The volunteers were of all ages and included individuals, families, church groups, students, scouts, businesses and other organizations.

“Our City’s volunteers can be extremely proud of their efforts,” said Kathy Halstead, Volunteer Services Manager. “Volunteers benefitted nearly every department, served on boards and commissions, and supported City events and projects throughout the year. In addition to the volunteers who provided ongoing service, many came out to provide support at events such as the Heritage & Freedom Fest, O’FallonTheatreWorks productions, the National Day of Service on September 11th and National Make-A-Difference Day, to name only a few.

Volunteering benefits both the City and the volunteers. O’Fallon’s volunteers often comment on how good they feel serving their neighbors, but their efforts have a financial impact, too.

Volunteers perform crucial services that otherwise would cost the City and taxpayers thousands of dollars.

11

2011 Strategic Plan Goal III

Support the economic development of the region and provide appropriate revenue growth to support City services Building through retention in Economic Development

T

he City of O’Fallon welcomed more than 170 new businesses to the City in 2011. These new restaurants,

retailers and manufacturers created hundreds of new jobs for O’Fallon residents. In addition, several local businesses chose to expand their O’Fallon locations, adding even more jobs to the community. It is yet another sign that the City of O’Fallon continues to withstand the recession and is seeing growth despite the economy.

Economic Development is about more than bringing in new businesses. Retention of existing businesses is even more important when the economy is in a downturn. That’s why O’Fallon’s Economic Development team expanded retention efforts during 2011. The efforts built on the continued use of the Department’s “Keep it in the ‘O’” campaign and included hundreds of visits to local businesses, improved outreach and communication and new ads designed to highlight O’Fallon’s status as the newest smoke-free community in St. Charles County.

12

City of O’Fallon Annual Report

Planning and Development reorganizes for better service and streamlined processes

I

n order to better serve residents and businesses and streamline processes, Planning and Development was restructured in 2011. As part of this, all building inspectors and code enforcement

officers were cross-trained as multi-discpline inspectors, and the two groups were merged. The new structure allows for better coordination between departments and has made it easier for businesses and residents when applying for permits. It also helps staff to better respond to the needs of residents and businesses.

Planning and Development also helped guide the implementation of the new Smoke-Free O’Fallon ordinance, which was voted into law by residents during the April election. Due to the cooperation of local residents and businesses, the City has seen nearly 100 percent compliance with the law.

Finance Department makes it easier to pay your bills

I

n 2011, Finance began offering residents the option of paying O’Fallon Water & Sewer and Environmental Services bills electronically through the City’s website. Residents can now set up an

account and make payments using a credit card over an encrypted Internet connection.

In addition to making utility payments, users may view their transaction history, render charts comparing previous years of service, and pay citations to the O’Fallon Municipal Court.

The department also is in the process of consolidating all utility billing operations, meaning residents will soon receive one bill covering all City of O’Fallon utilities. With these changes, the department will be more efficient and will save thousands of dollars in postage and processing costs. Eventually, this process will expand even more as the City will begin offering full electronic billing.

Finance also was once again awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the City’s “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report” (CAFR) for the 2010 fiscal year. This was the 20th consecutive year the department has received this honor.

www.ofallon.mo.us

13

2011 Strategic Plan Goal IV

Improve communications and responsiveness with residents and promote a transparent government Communications is spreading the word

T

he world of communications is changing nearly every day. Social media and new online tools present countless opportunities to share information and spread the word about local events and news. In 2011, O’Fallon’s Communications team greatly expanded its social media efforts and welcomed a record number of visitors to the City’s website www. ofallon.mo.us .

The department began integrating Twitter feeds into various parts of the City’s website, and several City departments now have the ability to announce emergency repairs, lane closures or residents’ alerts online, 24-hours-a-day. In addition, social media played a huge role in communicating event changes due to weather at the City’s Heritage & Freedom Fest.

Perhaps the greatest area of growth was in O’FallonTV’s use of YouTube. O’FallonTV posted hundreds of videos and quickly became one of the top municipal users of YouTube in the country. In addition, the YouTube videos added a new video element to the City’s website, bringing new users and an expanded audience.

14

City of O’Fallon Annual Report

Citizens’ First, City Clerk and IT improve customer service

I

n 2011, O’Fallon made a substantial commitment to customer service by implementing software that better tracks individual questions and makes it even easier for residents to contact City Staff. The results have been tremendous.

Since the launch in July, the City has received more than 500 requests and questions through the system. In addition, the City conducted comprehensive customer service training for all front-line employees.

The City Clerk’s office also launched a new tool designed to help residents keep more informed on upcoming City Council meetings. The new Agenda Quick software allows users to have “one-click” access to agenda items, so they can be more informed on the issues.

Map of O’Fallon O’Fallon

M

79

P

Dames Park

T.R. Hughes Ballpark

Tom Ginnever Ave.

Civic Park Parks and Recreation Office

T.R. Hughes Blvd.

Main St.

Municipal Centre

Ozzie Smith Sports Complex

Westhoff Park

70

70 Belleau Creek Rd.

Fort Zumwalt Park

Veterans Memorial Pkwy.

Mexico Rd. Bryan Rd.

Mexico Rd. Laura Hill Rd. Feise Rd.

Knau st Rd

K

.

Knaust Park

N WingHaven Blvd.

Future park site

DD

Calumet Ranch Trail to Laguna Dr., then Seaside Ct.

South Outer Rd.

Waterford Crossing Dr.

Phoenix Pkwy.

Renaud Spirit Center Indoor Recreation Complex

c Te hn

O’Fallon Sports Park

olo gy .

Dr

O’Fallon Rd.

K 64

Crusher Dr.

94

www.ofallon.mo.us

15

Scan the QR code to watch O’FallonTV’s “2011 City in Review” on YouTube. Or go to www.ofallon.mo.us/2011.

100 North Main Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366 www.ofallon.mo.us