Mayor’s ‘State of City’

February, 11, 2008 , by David

This afternoon Mayor Meeker gave a speech- the state of the city. Looking forward Meeker put priorities in public art, transportation, energy-efficient lighting and our water crisis.

Much of the speech hinged around our ongoing drought and Meeker said that a meeting will be held with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Council to determine a water ‘budget’ - a daily allowance that the city could adhere to. Mary-Ann Baldwin and Nancy McFarlane have been put in charge of a “water conservation council” to encourage local businesses to conserve.

Meeker spoke of transitioning public lighting to LED technology and the importance of better lighting in the various centers of activity throughout the city.

Public transit was also a big focus, with Meeker calling for more bike lanes and sidewalks and improving our busing as well as other mass transit options. Charlotte was repeatedly cited as the model, Meeker saying, “they are way ahead of us.”

Meeker’s attention to public art is the newest chapter in our city’s conversation on public art. He called for art to be installed around the city, not just downtown, and for an arts Foundation, managed by the Art’s Commission to fund these projects. $100 thousand dollars of the city’s money was pledged to start the foundation in addition to private funding.