Ten Years of Addresses
The 2016 Rochester Hills State of the City address was held Tuesday evening with a Hollywood Oscar Theme – red carpet entrance, awards, changing wardrobes – hosted by Mayor Bryan K. Barnett. This was Barnett’s 10th address as mayor.
The Rochester Hills State of the City 2016 began with Mayor Barnett address the crowd from above them – photo by Michael Dwyer
Held as Stoney Creek High School, the event nearly filled their large auditorium and provided a wonderful stage to tell the audience about the successes of the city from the past year.
The National Anthem was performed by two Stoney Creek High School students, Lia K. Catallo and Sophia Wahl – photo by Michael Dwyer
“The City of Rochester Hills has had another exceptional year – a golden year if you will. And much like the entertainment industry gathers once a year to celebrate their stories, we do the same. Stories of heroic achievement and personal accomplishment, of kindness and humble service to others, of groundbreaking innovation and national excellence. All written on a 32 square mile stage with our beautiful community as the backdrop. And tonight, many of the great actors and actresses starring in these stories are in the house. Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the golden age of Rochester Hills and I am honored that you have joined us to celebrate this evening.” ~Mayor Barnett’s Opening Remarks
The 2016 Rochester Hills State of the City Address had an Hollywood Oscar Theme to the evening – photo by Michael Dwyer
Watch the Video by Rochester Hills TV
By the Numbers
The Rochester Hills mission statement – Rochester Hills is to be the preeminent place to live, work and raise a family – was the focus of the address. Many numbers and statistics were delivered – moving the city in a positive direction.
- New House Permits, up 13%
- 150 New Townhomes Being Constructed
- New Housing Construction Costs Coming Down
- Property Values Increased by 9%
- 400 Additional Lots, Site Condos and Apartments Scheduled for 2016
- 400,000 Square Feet of New Development
- Foreclosures Down by 88% over the past Five years
- 13th Largest City in Michigan
- Five New High Tech Companies in 2015
- Five Others Expanded Operations
- More Investments, More Jobs, coming in 2016
- Vacancy Rate just 3.4%
- Unemployment just 3.5%
- Top 5% for Michigan Municipalities for Financial Stability
- AAA Bond Rating from all Three Rating Agencies
- Number One Recycling Community in Michigan
- Nine New Firefighters
- Safest City in Michigan with Populations of at Least 50,000
The Opening Number at the 2016 Rochester Hills State of the City address were the Oakland University Repertory Dance Company – photo by Michael Dwyer
“Most of you are familiar with my Mayor’s Business Council by now. This self-funded organization of our cities top CEO’s meets to provide the city with business insight and feedback and was something I created in my first year as Mayor. The group has been streamlining our systems, helping recruit their customers and suppliers to the city and really creating a network of relationships that does not exist in other communities. It’s where we met Andreas Blind from Jenoptik and how we began to work that deal. Well we know how valuable this organization has been in creating jobs and investment in the community but we were certainly not prepared for the news we received last summer,” said Mayor Barnett as he announced the council was recognized as being one the 10 best programs in the country and won the 37th Annual City Livability Award.
He gave credit to Oakland University and Rochester College, in part, for providing a local resource of higher education. Nearly 50% of Rochester Hills residents hold a Bachelor’s degree and 25% hold Master’s degrees.
Changing wardrobes half way through, Mayor Barnett was eager to remind the audience about Riverbend Park – photo by Michael Dwyer
Riverbend Park
“This 114 acre gem is going to revolutionize recreation as we know it here in Rochester Hills and the excitement is shared by a growing number of individuals and groups in our community,” said Mayor Barnett, “For those of you who have never visited the park, you must. It has many distinctive and beautiful features, including an upland prairie, a dense hardwood forest, pristine wetlands, a beaver pond, a bullfrog pond, and 30-foot bluffs overlooking the mighty Clinton River, which winds and weaves it way through the beautiful scenery. This property will make you feel like you are three hours north while being just a couple miles from your home.”
Mayor Barnett is passionate about this park, and he is looking for additional donors to complete the park.
100 Women Who Care, a Rochester Area organization, won a community Excellence Award – photo by Michael Dwyer
Community Excellent Award
Two awards will handed out for this inaugural year. The first one going to Desiree Linden (via video) an Olympic athlete from Rochester Hills getting ready to represent the USA in the Brazil Games. The second award went to 100 Women Who Care – a local group of women – who have contributed nearly $200,000 in less than three years to local service organizations of the area.
Mayor Bryan Barnett, along with his wife Corrin and one his sons, at the Rochester Hills State of the City 2016 Address – photo by Michael Dwyer
In Conclusion
“Thank you all for the role you play in helping make Rochester Hills a community of champions and thank you for making Rochester Hills the undisputed preeminent place to live work and raise your family,” said Mayor Bryan Barnett.
Andy Zale, candidate for Oakland Township Supervisor, and Kevin McDaniel, Mayor of Auburn Hills, enjoy the afterglow reception at the State of the City address
The auditorium exited into the lobby of Stoney Creek High School for an afterglow reception. Hot coffee, warm food, and tasty deserts were served.
Cake awaits the attendees of the 2016 Rochester Hills State of the City address held at Stoney Creek High School – photo by Michael Dwyer
About Michael Dwyer