This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on March 16, 2010.
In an upbeat State of the City address Tuesday evening, Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox promised constituents she would continue to make “fiscal accountability” her top priority in 2010.
Mayor for four years, Cox briefly touched on somber issues such as the fiscal shortfall and talked heavily of new projects while thanking councilmembers and others for their work.
“As our city grows and changes, through the good times and the bad, it is still our daily personal interactions that move us forward,” she said. “While we must not lose sight of today’s economic conditions, our city is positioned to recapture a path of progress worthy of our history. Chula Vista will rebound and will be better than ever.”
Delivering her fourth city address to100-plus attendees, Cox focused largely on issues like redevelopment projects and the city’s environmental standards. Cox also spoke of the fiscal health of the second largest city in San Diego County.
Home to more than 225,000 residents, Chula Vista was forced to reduce its general fund budget to $129 million this fiscal year compared to $172 million three years ago. With another $10 million in anticipated cuts by the end of June, Cox touched on the City Manager’s Fiscal Health Plan, which was approved by the City Council last year.
“This plan was built on tough decisions initiated three years ago,” she said. “We imposed hiring freezes, consolidated departments city-wide, made furloughs mandatory and restructured contracts with outside agencies.”
Cox also said the city’s leaders are ready to make “structural budget reform measures to protect future reserves, track potential deficits and better manage the city in the years ahead.”
Like other local addresses, Cox blasted the State Legislature for deliberating the idea of taking $4 million from Chula Vista to help its own fiscal dilemma.
“Cities across the state, no matter how fiscally conservative they might be, remain subject to being robbed in order to bail out a State Legislature that either cannot or will not balance its own budget,” she said. “These state actions would result in diminished services at the local level.”
Steering away from the city’s poor economy in the address, Cox touched on the Eastern Urban Center revamp, now labeled “Millenia,” which will have “affordable housing for seniors;” and the Chula Vista Nature Center Foundation, which was recently saved by local residents after it almost shut down due to budget cuts.
Cox concluded by noting endeavors in the city like the removal of electrical towers to the city’s bay-front and other redevelopment projects, and the anticipated University Park and Research Center.
“The University Park and Research Center will be a critical component of Chula Vista’s economic development,” she said. “It will attract employers, generate thousands of new commercial construction and higher education jobs, and contribute to significant increases in business and employment across nearly every sector of the economy.”
Though Cox received a standing ovation from attendees and was praised by Councilmember Rudy Ramirez prior to the address, Councilmember Steve Castaneda criticized the mayor for failing to offer solutions to the city’s fiscal problems.
“I thought it was a good round-the-world speech,” he said. “But I was unimpressed by most things she said. She did not offer one solid initiative to create jobs and our citizens need that now… they are hurting now.”
Castaneda, who is running against Cox for the mayoral position, said he would have talked about being “aggressive” with renewable energy projects and other ways to invigorate the city’s economy.
Despite the criticism, Cox acknowledged there is “more hard work ahead” for those in Chula Vista.
“Together, our city employees, residents, businesses and nonprofits can responsibly make lasting improvements today for the benefit of future generations.”