2011 LOVERIDGE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

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Third, Riverside is a smart city. We have had the distinction for the past three years of being chosen a Smart Community, marking us as one of the world's top 21 tech savvy cities. Breaking news: just yesterday Riverside was named to the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year. Riverside is among only three U.S. cities identified as global leaders in innovation and municipal technologies. Kudos to Chief Information Officer, Steve Reneker. Fourth, Riverside is a leading green city. Selected as the State's First Emerald City, an ambitious Green Action Plan was developed jointly with the California Department of Conservation. The Department Director said, "The goals for Riverside are as high as any in the State." And we are on target to meet its goals, going green to save green. Many green things are happening. The City's goal for the past decade was the planting of 100,000 trees; our count now is over 125,000. Kudos are in order to Ramon Alvarez for becoming the North America Distributor for ZAP, Advanced Technologies Vehicles and for the Spiel's, Tom and Candy, for building the greenest McDonalds west of the Mississippi. Fifth, Riverside is a city of arts. This was the year of the Fox, and its first year of performances. Also this year, we began branding Riverside as the City of Arts & Innovation. You have seen the iconic images; they have appeared in many publications and on many web sites. Sixth, Riverside is a safe city. 2010 was the year when an outstanding new Police Chief was appointed, Sergio Diaz, and when Chief Diaz appointed an outstanding senior management team. Seventh, Riverside has a Downtown that is alive and well. Three major buildings are under constriction: Hyatt Place, Fox Entertainment Plaza, and Citrus Tower. The Festival of Lights was again a major success as a celebration of place and the holiday season. Perhaps most importantly, Riverside passed Measure V to increase our Transient Occupancy Tax. It passed 66% to 34% at a time when many cities were voting against any tax increases. As a result of Measure V, a major expansion of the Convention Center will begin in 2011. Eighth, Riverside is a primary retail center in Southern California. Good news - -for the first time since 2007, sales taxes are up. Excepting Los Angeles and San Diego, Riverside trails only Anaheim, and sometimes Ontario, in sales tax revenues. Ninth, Riverside is the employment center of Riverside County. These jobs are increasingly white collar, located in office buildings across the City. Riverside has more office space than any city in inland Southern California. Each month, Council members highlight an economic success story in their wards. These individual stories are impressive; and they illustrate a diverse and vibrant economy in Riverside. To improve international trade and investment, the City signed a MOU to work together with the County. We look forward to expanded international commerce in 2011. And tenth, Riverside looks good. It is the verdict I hear from residents and visitors. Unlike a nation, state, or county, you can eyeball a city. It is a powerfi l measure, personal and comparative, of how a city is doing. 3