Accomplishments

Financial Sustainability

  • Led internal reforms to ensure financially sustainable city services now and into the future;
  • Brought expenses under control, prepared responsible budgets, and created a financial plan to return reserves to mandated levels;
  • Restored the city’s bond rating and restructured a portion of our long-term debt, thus further reducing costs (reduced debt by 35%);
  • Increased the grant funding to the City of Arlington for various projects:
    • $39,500,000 to expand SR 531 slated to begin in 2024
    • $3,654,000 to complete 169th Street
    • $1,500,000 to support mental health navigation and treatment
    • $750,000 to replace culverts to eliminate flooding
    • $500,000 for the Arlington Innovation Center
    • $278,000 to design new community park in Smokey Point

Water/Sewer & Roads

  • Stopped automatic increases in water and sewer rates, with no rate increases for nine of the last ten years, thereby keeping our utility funding secure while saving you money;
  • Successfully lobbied to secure state funding ($39.5 million) for much needed improvements to 172nd Street (this, with the addition of two parallel roadways – 173rd & 169th – will help relieve the traffic congestion on 172nd St.);
  • Successfully lobbied to secure $1.7 million in funding to resolve flooding issues in Jensen Park area – with upsized culverts, our flooding issues in this area have been eliminated and allow for proper fish passage;
  • Developed plans for the long-term maintenance of our infrastructure including water, sewer, storm water and roads (the city plan for maintenance saves residents money and ensures safe potable water and sanitary sewers – we can successfully repair and replace aging infrastructure before failures in the system)

Economic Development

  • Established our streamlined permitting procedures as a model for the region;
  • Received unanimous County Council approval for the creation of a Manufacturing and Industrial Center which brings family-wage jobs to Arlington, resulting in 4,000+ additional jobs since 2012;
  • Increased number of businesses and jobs in the City of Arlington – 250% increase in businesses since 2012, with 1,347 currently licensed businesses (we also have a 37% increase in employment opportunities with 14,888 current jobs in Arlington);
  • Prioritized focus on a Smokey Point corridor design to bring infrastructure upgrades including sidewalks, bike lanes and street lighting – the city has a moratorium on development in Island Crossing and SR530 to develop a plan that recognizes the gateway to Arlington with its history as an agricultural corridor

Delivering responsive government to benefit our citizens

  • Created direct links between citizens and the staff who serve them – service requests and code compliance questions now go directly to the staff members tasked with resolving these issues;
  • Delivered timely information through our weekly electronic newsletter and social media;
  • Implemented changes on the city website to give citizens the opportunity to voice opinions on issues ranging from sewer rates to comprehensive planning;
  • Used comprehensive surveys and public meetings to hear directly from you about improvements needed in your neighborhood – this input will help build future spending plans;
  • Ensured a culture of service where city staff listens to their customers

Public Safety

  • Met crime problems head-on with ordinance changes, and new community policing initiatives pairing a social worker with an officer;
  • Re-organized Police Department management and filled vacant officer positions, hiring nine new officers in 2022 as well as a domestic violence coordinator;
  • Updated aging public safety vehicles and added body-worn cameras;
  • Increased training opportunities for public safety staff;
  • Planned a new impound and training center for police slated for 2024;
  • Establishing police emphasis patrol areas where crime is trending and direct links for neighborhoods to public safety staff to resolve issues together;
  • Reduced crime overall by 15% with the above approach in the last seven years

Quality of Life

  • Worked with community members to establish a family resource center in Arlington to add services for those in need, including cold weather shelter, rental assistance, and housing;
  • Directed American Rescue Plan funding to the Arlington Food Bank for mobile pantry;
  • Partnered with the Boys & Girls Club for free after-school childcare for working parents;
  • Established rental grant assistance for businesses forced to close during the pandemic;
  • Increased activities for community gatherings by investing in expanded Hometown Holidays event, including the ice rink and carrousel;
  • Started plans to build a community park in Smokey Point and a food truck court near the airport using additional American Rescue Plan funding