Home >> City Commission >> Mayor's Message

A Message from Mayor Roger B. Wishner Change is perhaps the most popular word in our lexicon today. The concept of change has driven us and helped us select a new president. However, change is not limited to any one level of government. Rapidly changing economic conditions require all governments to assess what their core business is. I will take that concept a step further and state that all governments - including the City of Sunrise - must take account of the public's desire for change. Now is the perfect time for us to take stock of what we have achieved, evaluate our current situation and plan for a prosperous future.

Since Sunrise's incorporation as a city in 1961, we have realized remarkable successes, including building a strong, diverse economic base and comfortable, safe, family- oriented neighborhoods. We've even been recognized as one of the state's top three "Best Places to Raise Your Kids" for 2009 by BusinessWeek magazine. Nevertheless, we have not even begun to scratch the surface of what we can become. As we move forward, more changes in the way the City does business will occur. For example, we need the right framework from which to operate. To that end, we are moving the City more and more to a performance-based organization, holding ourselves accountable to serve you better. This includes providing you a more open and technologically sophisticated government. Currently, you have the ability to track building permits and sign up for our electronic newsletter on the City's Web site. In the near future, the City will be making City Commission meetings and the information we discuss available to each of you through that same Web site. The City has expanded the hours when you can sign up for recreation sports programs or pick up a needed police report. We are continuing to explore methods to make these and other services more easily available to you. We are taking a close look at all our operations from a process and financial efficiency standpoint. We are also asking you how we can serve you better through the use of surveys and customer comment cards. It is the City's goal that these efforts will continue to foster progress, service and, of course, positive change.