Group seeks $50K from city for three years to help improve quality of life in Batavia

A committee that was asked by the city council to come up with a plan for improving the quality of life in Batavia delivered a report Monday night asking the city to commit to $50,000 annually to support the effort.

"Vibrant Batavia" is the product of a recommendation by consultants from czb, LLC, which initially recommended something similar, but at a higher cost and over a longer period of time.

The Vibrant Batavia Committee plan is a three-year effort culminating in Batavia's centennial celebration in 2015.

The $150,000 would be combined with $86,000 the group would raise -- with the money going primarily to a marketing campaign and hiring a part-time coordinator -- for the project.

"We really want to develop a powerful brand story for Batavia that will really foster pride in the community," said Marty McDonald, a committee member, who joined Brian Kemp for the presentation to the council.

Everything hinges on the build up to the centennial celebration, said Councilman Kris Doeringer, who also served on the committee.

The celebration will help attract sponsors to contribute to the $86,000 goal; it will bring out volunteers who will get involved in block clubs and other neighborhood efforts; it will help develop a marketing message for Batavia.

"All of those things will happen with the goal in mind of the centennial celebration," Doeringer said. "Remember, all of this hinges on coming together because we're shooting for that one goal."

Kemp said a marketing effort is needed for Batavia because there isn't one now, and such an effort would be aimed both at residents to help them better appreciate what we have, and at outsiders to help convince them to relocate here or bring businesses here.

McDonald said it's time to respond to all of the negative voices that try to bring Batavia down.

"I just get so tired sometimes of hearing the voices of the people who say all the negative things," McDonald said. "I want to get up on the biggest platform and say, 'Hey, we live in a great place.' "

Council President Tim Buckley praised the effort and said it is important enough to keep it going.

"Obviously, this is budget time and like anything else, it's a tough time, but I don't want to see Vibrant Batavia go away," Buckley said. "I don't want to lose this. I don't know where we're going to come up with $50,000 for three years, but we're going to try."