2002 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

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year a will start work on new administrative offices for the Fire Dep rtment and Central Fire Station. The Mayor's top initiatives will focu on regional policing, providing in-car cameras for all patrol cars and placi g more emphasis on training and recruitment for the Police and Fire Dep rtments. We' Building an Attractive Ciry - We are working to enhance the natu 1 and man-made beauty of our city through effective City programs. Fort e fifth year in a row we were named a Tree City USA. The Building Bloc Grant Program helps residents spruce up their neighborhoods, and aggr ssive Code Enforcement will continue to address deteriorated and nuis ce properties. The Commercial Corridors Improvement Fund provi es much needed funding to address a variety of needs along five of the City's major corridors. The City is funding major programs for curb & si walks, neighborhood centers, weed & seed program, and trans orming a former dump into a model outdoor environmental lab. We'r Building Opportunity - A key issue for any city is education and oppo pity for young people. The City is committed to keeping schools open 'n our neighborhoods and to maximizing their use by the community. We a e building partnerships that will create ne~v strategies for enhancing our f rural education system. Working together with families, student grou s, school officials, neighborhoods, the faith community and civic orga 'zations, we can support our local schools ;and improve the level of indiv dual student performance. We'r Building a Strong Economy -Local govf;rnment plays a key role in ec nomic development. By providing adequate infrastructure and offeri g targeted assistance, the City can stimulate private investment, creati g business opportunities and jobs. The Ciity's policies encourage new sart-up businesses, strengthen existing business, attract new jobs, incre se assessed value and emphasize direct investment in hard-to- devel p areas. Efforts have been and will contir,;ue to focus on imple enting the comprehensive plans for downtown and the East Bank. The ity's administration will vigorously pursue; the revitalization of older Indus 'al sites, as well as the expansion of the Blackthorn area. Proprietar~Operations. he City's proprietary operations comprise :>everal separate and distinct activities accounted or in both Enterprise and Internal Service funds. The Enterprise Fund operati ns include the following: the City's downtown parking garages, water utility services, waste ater utility services, solid waste services, the Century Center, the consolidated St. Joseph Co ty/South Bend Building Department and, Blackthorn Golf Course. The Internal Service Fund o erations include the City's self-funded liability insurance program, the City's self-funded empl yee benefits program, and Central Services (a department that accounts for the expenses re ated to fuel, vehicle repairs and various other services and supplies provided to City department on acost-reimbursement basis). xiv