2007 CITY COMMISSION STRATEGIC GOALS AND PRIORITIES |
City Commission Goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Promoting the economic development of Lawrence to provide varied work and business opportunities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Identify industrial sites and a process to develop them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Use the Southeast Area Plan to create-ate an employment zone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Move toward acquisition of the Farmland property. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Expand the tax base through growth of existing and new businesses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Develop incentives in addition to tax abatements (add to our “tool box”). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identify sources of funding for a dedicated economic development fund. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Develop a common understanding of what economic development is. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Have a city staff person focused solely on economic development. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PLANNED GROWTH: Encouraging growth that protects our environment, neighborhoods, and cultural features while benefiting all of our citizens. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Conclude the successful adoption of rural development standards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Resolve the public improvement financing method. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agree to stay within service area 1 in the urban growth area; be proactive about where growth will be and avoid spot zoning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amend codes to allow for traditional neighborhood development (TND). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Initiate a community visioning process to encourage community building. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ensure that the city leads the development process; create a new model for this. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expand meetings with the county, the school district, and KU. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Work on more cooperative projects with the county; develop a model for growth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Initiate a discussion within the community about a new model of growth and its comprehensive plans. Educate the community about the differences. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMUNITY BUILDING: Creating social capital and celebrating our heritage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Get the Carnegie Library building active. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Encourage the viability of the Farmers Market, including improving the facilities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Have more events downtown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ensure the accountability of the police department. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Determine what we want to do about the Library expansion and how much it will cost. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Encourage KU and Haskell to be more a part of the community and the community more a part of KU and Haskell (e.g., Homecoming Parade downtown, more partnerships). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Develop a comprehensive plan for services to the homeless. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secure adequate funding for after-school programs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keep the focus on Lawrence for the Heritage Area. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ENVIRONMENT ISSUES: Integrating the environment into our decisions as we work towards a sustainable city. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Move toward a watershed storm water policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Evaluate and adopt an energy code. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adopt an environmental chapter for Horizon 2020. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Require LEED standards for public buildings. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Continue community connectivity through bike paths, trails, and rail to trails. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Encourage neighborhood planning that emphasizes non-automobile access to schools and shopping. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transition to pesticide-free parks and buildings. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
x | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY: Improving the livability of all Lawrence neighborhoods. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Develop affordable housing through the Land Trust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institutionalize area planning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Coordinate with the school district regarding school sites and future uses of schools. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Find ways to lessen the impact of student housing on neighborhoods. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Explore private/public partnerships to provide affordable housing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identify key pedestrian routes and enforce snow removal of them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bring in the Neighborhood Re-investment Corporation (NRC). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inventory sidewalks in neighborhoods and bring them up to standard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TRANSPORTATION: Improving access for all citizens. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Build community consensus for a regional transportation plan that includes resolution of the SLT, Highway 59, and Eastern By-pass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Continue work on street development standards, including alternatives to street widths. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bring the “T” and KU on Wheels into better alignment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Initiate a commuter bus service to Johnson County. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investigate the possibility of a pedestrian bridge across the Kansas River. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Create a plan to increase funding for KDOT projects that benefit community. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Continue to educate the community about access management. Develop consensus and policies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Model bio-diesel and other renewable sources in city’s transportation equipment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Integrate the bike plan into the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Work toward the central coordination of all street lights. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT: Protecting the integrity of downtown while maintaining it as a unique community resource. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Ensure that the downtown is clean and inviting (e.g., identify trees that will keep downtown cleaner). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redevelop the library as an anchor for multi-use development for downtown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Study the topic of alcohol issues and sidewalk dining. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Implement “adopt a planter” program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Work with a KU class to develop a new downtown design in order to freshen the look of downtown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consider creative responses to barriers related to the Harris project. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SERVICE DELIVERY: Provide excellent City services consistent with resources available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Objectives: | Streamline the process of working with the Business Retention Task Force, so that there is coordination among departments and the process is clear and consistent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adopt a performance management system. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Implement new building codes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Objectives: | Purchase project management software for the planning department. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Improve the CIP process – set priorities and integrate the plan with goals. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Integrate fire station operations into the budget. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Explore the possibility of increased staff support or salary for city commissioners. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
xi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||