Westlake State Of The City 2017 Recap

WESTLAKE, OH - The State of the City address was delivered by Mayor Dennis Clough on March 14. He focused on the city's continued economic development in 2016 and plans for 2017 during his speech in front of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Clough spoke to an audience of approximately 80 people, all gathered at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. He said that Westlake's continued success depends on economic stability and development. Touting the city's longterm stability, Clough highlighted Westlake's AAA bond rating, which has held at AAA-level for 16 years and counting.

Clough also said the city's general fund balance allows his administration to operate almost debt free. The city's stability financially has helped it attract businesses, the mayor said, and in 2016 more than 30 businesses either opened, relocated to, or expanded in Westlake. Those businesses included American Greetings, Sibling Revelry Brewery, the Holiday Inn Express, and many more.

American Greetings relocated to Westlake, officially, in September 2016. The company held a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new Creative Studios on Sept. 28, 2016. The move to Westlake was six years in the making, but business leaders and city leadership believe it was worth the wait.

However, business development is only one aspect of a city. The other, more important aspect, is the residents that make up a city. And Westlake's makeup has been growing.

The saw 47 new residential dwellings built in 2016, at an estimated value of $21.4 million, Clough said. That means the city's last estimated population, 32,428 according to the US Census in 2015, will likely have to be revised upwards soon.

Police and Fire

Last year was an active one for the city's emergency services departments. Arrests and calls for service were up somewhat significantly over 2015. The total number of calls for service increased to 36,352 versus 33,751 in 2015. Arrests jumped to 5,156 versus 4,798 a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the fire department saw a more subtle increase of usage. The department received 5,159 calls in 2016, versus 4,957 a year earlier.

Overall Objectives

Clough wants to keep property taxes low in Westlake, for both residential and commercial properties. Looking at how Westlake compares to some other Cuyahoga County towns indicates Westlake is already one of the lowest for effective property taxes in both categories. In residential property taxes, only Beachwood has a lower tax rate. In commercial property taxes, no one is lower than Westlake.

In fact, Westlake's property tax millage has been fairly steadily falling since 1985. Starting at a little below 13-mills in 1985, the city's property tax millage rate is now about 9.5 mills.

Clough also wants to keep sewer rates low for both residents and commercial properties. From a commercial standpoint, Westlake denizens pay $17.50 per MCF. Compare that to neighboring Bay Village where commercial residents pay $30.03.

For residents in Westlake, the sewer rate is $40 per 2.5 MCF. Neighboring Bay Village sees residents paying $90 per 2.5 MCF.

To see Clough's entire State of the City presentation slideshow, click here.

Photo from City of Westlake