Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.
Naperville is emerging from the challenging COVID-19 pandemic years with a strong foundation for a stable and sustainable future, according to Mayor Steve Chirico.
In his annual State the City address to the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday, Chirico thanked members for reinvesting in the community during what has been a challenging two years.
“Our job as a local government is to help you adapt to that change and to look beyond what’s happening right in front of us and create a clear picture of what Naperville should look like in the future,” Chirico said.
The Naperville City Council has built the financial resources and set the priorities to succeed in a post-pandemic world by working with the community to create the Bridge to 2023 Priorities plan, he said. It focuses on five areas: infrastructure and utilities, sustainability, public safety, financial stability and economy, and affordable housing.
While infrastructure and utilities may not seem very colorful or exciting, it’s how customers get reliable electricity and clean water and drive from one place to another, Chirico said.
“Replacing your infrastructure is a whole lot easier and cheaper when you plan for it, instead of waiting until it breaks,” he said.
For instance, the electric team is implementing a new outage management system and making sure the city can support more electric vehicles and solar installations, the mayor said.
Also, more than 95% of water meters are read wirelessly, and the city is investing heavily in replacing water mains to avoid future breaks, he said.
“All of this is possible through new utility rates that provide funds for this work,” Chirico said. “None of us like to pay more for anything, especially in today’s world, but even with all these investments, our average residential electric rates are still below ComEd’s.”
The city saw success on the sustainability front in 2021 when Naperville cut the ribbon on a 3,000-panel solar system last June and hired sustainability coordinator Ben Mjolsness, he said.
With public safety, the city will continue to build on the legacy of former police Chief Robert Marshall, who retired last year, Chirico said.
The department is already finding new ways to innovate and connect with the community, such as with the launch of the text-to-911 program and the purchase of body worn cameras for all sworn police officers, he said.
In 2021, fire crews responded to 16,000 calls, the highest number in the department’s history, Chirico said, and the firefighter/paramedics continue to lead the way in saving lives.
While the national cardiac arrest survival rate is 13%, Naperville’s is almost 30%, he said.
“Financial stability and the local economy are the primary colors of our community’s canvas. We cannot provide our services or build our infrastructure, much less improve them, without consistent funding,” Chirico said.
Because the city derives its revenue from many different sources — taxes, fees and utility charges — Naperville residents pay the second lowest cost regionally for their city services, the mayor said.
Equally significant, he said, is nearly all the city’s revenue streams have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and a few, such as sales and income tax, grew beyond what was normal before the pandemic.
“Our businesses adapted so well that we actually brought in more dollars to the community,” he said.
Last year also showed how more affordable development can meet the needs of residents and developers, Chirico said, noting that the Vantage Naperville Apartments on Ogden Avenue were fully leased only three months after opening.
Looking ahead, the mayor touted the city’s efforts to pursue affordable housing for seniors and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Naperville is emerging from the challenging COVID-19 pandemic years with a strong foundation for a stable and sustainable future, according to Mayor Steve Chirico. In his annual State the City address to the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday, Chirico thanked members for reinvesting in the community during what has been a challenging two years. “Our job as a local government is to help you adapt to that change and to look beyond what’s happening right in front of us and create a clear picture of what Naperville should look like in the future,” Chirico said. The Naperville City Council has built the financial resources and set the priorities to succeed in a post-pandemic world by working with the community to create the Bridge to 2023 Priorities plan, he said. It focuses on five areas: infrastructure and utilities, sustainability, public safety, financial stability and economy, and affordable housing. While infrastructure and utilities may not seem very colorful or exciting, it’s how customers get reliable electricity and clean water and drive from one place to another, Chirico said. “Replacing your infrastructure is a whole lot easier and cheaper when you plan for it, instead of waiting until it breaks,” he said. For instance, the electric team is implementing a new outage management system and making sure the city can support more electric vehicles and solar installations, the mayor said. Also, more than 95% of water meters are read wirelessly, and the city is investing heavily in replacing water mains to avoid future breaks, he said. “All of this is possible through new utility rates that provide funds for this work,” Chirico said. “None of us like to pay more for anything, especially in today’s world, but even with all these investments, our average residential electric rates are still below ComEd’s.” The city saw success on the sustainability front in 2021 when Naperville cut the ribbon on a 3,000-panel solar system last June and hired sustainability coordinator Ben Mjolsness, he said. With public safety, the city will continue to build on the legacy of former police Chief Robert Marshall, who retired last year, Chirico said. The department is already finding new ways to innovate and connect with the community, such as with the launch of the text-to-911 program and the purchase of body worn cameras for all sworn police officers, he said. In 2021, fire crews responded to 16,000 calls, the highest number in the department’s history, Chirico said, and the firefighter/paramedics continue to lead the way in saving lives. While the national cardiac arrest survival rate is 13%, Naperville’s is almost 30%, he said. “Financial stability and the local economy are the primary colors of our community’s canvas. We cannot provide our services or build our infrastructure, much less improve them, without consistent funding,” Chirico said. Because the city derives its revenue from many different sources — taxes, fees and utility charges — Naperville residents pay the second lowest cost regionally for their city services, the mayor said. Equally significant, he said, is nearly all the city’s revenue streams have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and a few, such as sales and income tax, grew beyond what was normal before the pandemic. “Our businesses adapted so well that we actually brought in more dollars to the community,” he said. Last year also showed how more affordable development can meet the needs of residents and developers, Chirico said, noting that the Vantage Naperville Apartments on Ogden Avenue were fully leased only three months after opening. Looking ahead, the mayor touted the city’s efforts to pursue affordable housing for seniors and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.