November 10, 2011 – Mayor Jim Suttle announced today that the City of Omaha has received a total of $3,829,106 for crime prevention and criminal justice programs. The awards were made through six criminal justice grants recently awarded to the city. Each grant will operate between one and three years, and provide funding for projects in 6 separate criminal justice areas.
“The City is taking full advantage of State and Federal resources targeted to keep neighborhoods safe,” said Mayor Suttle. “These are dollars that would otherwise go to other communities or states and I believe our tax dollars should be used to help us resolve problems we face in Omaha. This money will help city officials keep neighborhoods safe and give local law enforcement the tools necessary for crime prevention.”
The Six Projects:
• Project Safe Neighborhoods provides $77,079 to fund local criminal justice efforts addressing issues relating to gun and gang crimes in the city.
• The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program provides $83,141 to fund improvements in the quality and timeliness of forensic science services in the Omaha Police Department.
• A grant to “Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders” provides $750,000 to support a coordinated, community wide response to domestic violence in order to hold offenders accountable for their actions and enhance services to victims.
• The Omaha / Douglas Juvenile Accountability Block Grant provides $118,886 to support the collaboration of juvenile services programs in Omaha, juvenile re-entry programs, juvenile risk and needs assessments, and juvenile restorative justice programs.
• The COPS Hiring Grant Program makes $2.6 million available to add 10 new police officers for three years.
• The Metro Drug Task Force, which is a collaborative effort between area law enforcement agencies, received $200,000 to combat drug trafficking, as well as the sale and use of illegal substances.
August 3rd - Mayor Jim Suttle was pleased with the Omaha Fire Association’s vote to approve a tentative contract agreement with the City of Omaha. "This agreement represents four years of negotiations by firefighters who looked beyond their own interests to do what was best for the City of Omaha," said Mayor Suttle. "The fire department should be commended for voting to bring actuarial balance to the pension system, saving $13.5 million annually from the combined police and fire contract agreements."
"It was not easy for Omaha firefighters to give back benefits agreed to in prior contracts, but they understood that concessions would benefit all Omaha residents," said Steve Kerrigan, Labor Relations Director. "Their vote in favor of the contract demonstrates a willingness to negotiate concessions with city officials and not turn to the Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR) to secure their rights under past agreements which gave more than the city could afford to give."
"This contract is a real solution to a pension shortfall that will continue to grow out of control unless we stop it," said Mayor Suttle. "It allows us to bring ballooning pension costs down and saves millions of dollars every year. I am encouraged that Omaha firefighters voted to ratify the contract, the Personnel Board unanimously approved the agreement and it is my hope that the City Council will also see the financial benefits of voting in favor of this contract."
The following is the full speech Mayor Jim Suttle presented to the Omaha City Council on Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 at 2:00PM.
Good Afternoon. Thank you for being here today for the presentation of the 2012 Budget.
We are embarking on our eighth week of battling rising water levels on the Missouri River which continue to threaten residents and businesses along the riverfront in Omaha. Although we have planned for the worst, we are optimistic and working for the best.
This experience has taught me a great deal about what the people of Omaha are truly made of. Our citizens don’t walk away from a challenge and are willing to do what it takes to keep our city moving forward.
We’ve demonstrated throughout this challenge that as a community we are at our best when we plan ahead and pull together for the greater good of our city. What has impressed me most is watching agencies from all levels of government, the private sector and individual volunteers rally to keep our city dry and our people safe. It is inspiring.
City employees have worked tirelessly, taking on additional responsibilities, and demonstrating a strong commitment to the welfare of this great city. They have worked in harmony to keep our airport open, to keep sewage from backing into our neighborhoods, and to protect hundreds of millions of dollars in assets and thousands of jobs. I would like to give my sincere thanks to each and every one of our dedicated city employees.
Our city’s budget is another shining example of what happens when all of us pull together to solve the problems we face in our community, no matter how insurmountable the challenges may seem at first. After two difficult years of overcoming serious budget shortfalls your willingness to work with me to get our financial house in order has paid off. Today, I am pleased to tell you we will be able to pay for vital city services this year without increasing taxes!
The budget before you today is a responsible one and a strategic one. It positions city government for long term success in responding to the public’s need for services. Most importantly it has been designed with the people of Omaha’s best interest in mind, now and in the future.
We are pulling out of this recession in better shape than most cities across the country but we cannot afford to throw caution to the wind. We must continue to keep our eyes open for unexpected events around the corner. We restored financial stability to our city by reducing expenses and implementing efficiencies throughout our city departments.
Our goal for 2012 is to maintain and manage our accounts by planning ahead, and forecasting our needs in five year increments. We have the technology to project our finances, next year, the year after and the year after that. It is in the best interest of taxpayers to know what lies ahead and avoid surprises so they too can be prepared for the future.
Twelve months ago I asked for your support in navigating out of extremely rough financial waters. I asked for your patience. Together we did the heavy lifting and are now seeing positive results. Significant spending cuts combined with minimal tax increases made it possible for us to be in the black today. I want to sincerely thank you for your support and for your commitment to the people we serve.
Let me repeat. This city is at its best when we work together and confront the challenges we face, head on. Our city employees and our taxpayers also deserve credit for their willingness to work with us through the city’s financial problems.
The 2012 budget reflects responsible spending and responsible savings. We are changing the way we do business, so taxpayers can get the most from every dollar they spend. The City of Omaha has the challenge of maintaining quality services while operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Performance based budgeting is an excellent example of well thought out efficiency measures that enable our city departments to offer cost effective services. It focuses financial resources on services demonstrated to work in the best interest of the people we serve.
The Omaha Fire Department has been using this model for two years. They have strategically repositioned people and equipment to optimize their services.
As a result Omaha firefighters;
Continue to meet their response times
They have not had a fire related death in 30 months
They have saved the city nearly 11 million dollars over two years and
Will be under budget this year for the second time in a row. This is a first.
I would like to thank the entire Fire Department for their commitment to the people of Omaha.
Both the Omaha Police and Fire Departments reduced their staff numbers again, which is expected to generate significant cost savings for 2012. The 2012 budget provides for increased pension contributions by Police and Fire as part of our long term strategy to solve the unfunded pension liability.
The City continues to leverage technology as a way of increasing efficiencies and streamlining government operations. In 2012 we will see most tax payments available on-line. Building permits will be going on line, reducing long application schedules and eliminating a frustrating process for businesses and developers. We also implemented on-line scheduling for golf courses and more e-government is on the way.
For the first time ever, hundreds of citizens in Omaha weighed-in on the budget through a virtual town hall system called EngageOmaha.com, and we listened. Park Security was repeatedly mentioned as a priority to the people we serve and as a result we created a division within the Parks Department dedicated to park security in the 2012 budget.
Our overall goal is to turn the tide on shortsighted decision-making which may produce short term political benefits but prevents city government from providing quality services to its residents. City streets have been sacrificed to avoid making tough decisions and we must change that. In 2012, I am proposing a ten year plan to put residential street light funding back into the general fund, freeing up money for much needed street maintenance and repairs. I am also continuing a long term plan to build our cash reserves so we can be better prepared to make responsible decisions for our community and our children who depend on us to protect their future interests. I would ask for your help in reaching these goals.
If we don’t start looking ahead our city will always be operating in crisis mode. Benjamin Franklin said, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” No one can predict when the next financial crisis or major weather event will take place. We know the consequences of not being prepared for a bad economy. We also understand the sense of security that comes from working together, being prepared and staying ahead of flood waters.
We have an opportunity and a responsibility to the people who elected us to serve in their best interest. I ask that you consider this twenty-twelve budget request and build on what we have achieved together.
Dr. Martin Luther King said “the time is always right to do what is right.”
We have come this far together doing what is right for Omaha, and we will continue to be at our best when we pull together for the greater good of this community.
June 23, 2011 - Mayor Jim Suttle asked the White House, Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Dave Heineman to assist Omaha and surrounding communities needing reimbursements for expenses they have incurred as a result of rising water levels on the Missouri River. “Communities up and down the Missouri are facing the challenge of limited cash flows in a tough economy to pay for costs associated with flood prevention and damage control,” said Mayor Suttle. “We are asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to work with our communities so these emergency expenses do not impose undue financial burdens on our already fragile local budgets, or on our taxpayers.”
Governor Dave Heineman submitted a disaster declaration to FEMA last Friday on behalf of the communities in Nebraska impacted by flooding, including Omaha. On Friday, Mayor Suttle led the Governor and Congressman Lee Terry, on a tour of Eppley Airfield as well as the 13 miles of levee on the Omaha side of the Missouri river and the nearby sewer treatment facilities. Mayor Suttle has also invited Nebraska’s United States Senator’s Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns to also inspect the 13 mile levee system.
Currently, FEMA may take months or years to process and reimburse communities for expenses filed under a disaster declaration, particularly if the incident is ongoing. After speaking with the White House and Nebraska’s state and federal officials, Mayor Suttle is asking the President to direct FEMA to make monthly reimbursements to local governments in our area.
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, per 42 U.S.C. 3751(a). The deadline for the FY 2011 Justice Assistance Grant is July 21, 2011. JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance requires that the 2011 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant (JAG) be available for public comment before the grant is awarded. Attached are links to the application program narrative and budget for your review until Thursday, August 11, 2011.
June 16, 2011 - Due to the overwhelming number of volunteers in Omaha, the City is able to make some adjustments to the sandbagging operations for public and private property.
This Friday through Sunday, our sandbagging operation will continue at Levi Carter Park for two shifts each day, from 8 am to noon, and 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The operation at the 18th & Chicago Street site will be temporarily suspended until needed. The short term goal of 100,000 sandbags on hand will be reached today and we anticipate the goal of 150,000 to be reached by the end of the weekend.
To date, there have been 2,000 volunteer hours logged which has allowed the City to obtain our goals. The 18th & Chicago sandbagging location is ready for operations to commence in an hour’s notice, should the need arise.
Flexibility is of utmost importance in being prepared for this flood event and we will continue to work with the community to keep you informed of the need and the results of this effort. For updated information on sandbagging schedules and locations, please visit our website at www.cityofomaha.org/parks, or www.omahaflood.org.
