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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, March 18, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 14, 2004 Mayor says Medford improves By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A vision plan created by city residents and officials has helped build a more vibrant downtown, a healthy economy and safe neighborhoods, Medford Mayor Lindsay Berryman said Monday. In her final "state of the city" address, Medford’s mayor likened the city in the late 1990s to the mature grapes in a vineyard, ready for harvest. But, she said, the city lacked a specific plan to guide and focus its energy. In response, the city developed a strategic vision plan, now called "Medford in the 21st Century." Berryman said that vision has helped Medford leaders create a plan and maintain focus on critical goals. Since she was first elected mayor, the city’s population has increased by 11,000, an 18 percent increase, she said in a speech at a monthly forum sponsored by the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County. That growth has been matched by many improvements. "These are vintage years for our city," she said. Advertisement From preserving the natural and cultural heritage to tackling housing density and transportation issues, Medford has grown while improving its livability, she said. Berryman said the city has come to better understand what’s important to maintain that livability. "The Carnegie Library building is sacred. Bear Creek Greenway is sacred. The I-5 viaduct is not sacred," said Berryman to laughter from the audience. "Our neighborhoods, both old and new, are sacred. The county courthouse is sacred. Costco is not sacred." Berryman credited Councilwoman Claudette Moore for following up on the vision to push for adding sidewalks near elementary schools. Moore helped organize the successful campaign for a $4.6 million sidewalk bond measure approved by Medford voters in November. Berryman touted numerous other pluses for the city, including local partnerships to offer business incentives, tax exemptions for high-density housing downtown, an expanding park system and booming tourist, health care and retirement industries. She noted Medford is one of only four cities in the nation with a wireless mesh network, which provides instant communication for city workers and police. Many of those advances were linked to the city’s success in implementing the vision plan, she said. "We don’t need a crystal ball to see Medford’s future; we can find it in our vision," she said. Berryman, who announced her resignation as mayor last year, will be succeeded in January by Medford optometrist Gary Wheeler. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Advertisement s