HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-06 CorrespondenceMayor Throgmorton's recommended changes to the draft 2018-19 Strategic Plan
NOTE: Items highlighted in green would be added; items crossed through would be deleted.
Review the draft 2018-19 strategic plan [IP4 of 311 Info Packet]
Sten 1: Confirmation of Guiding Statement of Intent and 7 Strateizic Goals
Foster I A more Inclusive, Just and Sustainable Iowa City
1. Promote a Strong and Resilient Local Economy
2. Encourage a Vibrant and Walkable Urban Core
3. Foster Healthy Neighborhoods throughout the City
4. Maintain a Solid Financial Foundation
5. Enhance Community Engagement and Intergovernmental Relations
6. Promote Environmental Sustainability
7. Advance Social Justice and Racial Equity
Step 2: Refine Specific Actions within the Strategic Goal Areas. The following is a list of
ideas agreed upon by a majority of Council Members.
1. Promote a Strong and Resilient Local Economy
a. Undertake a comprehensive assessment of the current public transit system
and implement changes to assure that the service best meets the needs of the
entire community
b. Effectively market and grow the local food economy
c. Through cooperation with the Iowa City School District, Iowa Workforce
Development, Kirkwood Community College, Iowa Works, and others,
increase opportunities for marginalized populations and low-income
individuals to obtain access to skills training and good jobs
d. Work with Procter & Gamble and impacted supply chain companies, local
economic development organizations, and labor unions to respond
effectively to the company's decision to terminate its local production of
beauty care products
2. Encourage a Vibrant and Walkable Urban Core
a. Collaborate with the University of Iowa on its redevelopment of University -
owned property located in the Riverfront Crossings District, and on
improving the quality, accessibility, and use of the Iowa River Corridor
b. Preserve important parts of Iowa City's history by considering the
designation of additional buildings as historic landmarks, and=
onsu ting wit7—stakeho-Mer by considering the creation of an historic
preservation district far part of the downtown
c. Evaluate existing strategies and consider additional actions to address the
need for reinvestment in the = existing private housing stock in the
eemmuni
3. Foster Healthy Neighborhoods throughout the City
a. Adop4 a nemsAdo Modify the existinj Affordable Housing Action Plan MW
idents to incluA new strategies to improve the availability and
affordability of housing in Iowa CiArsspecially for low -to -moderate income
buseho/A
b. Embed the "Missing Middle" concept into the City's land development
practices by adopting a Form Based Code for at least one (preferably two)
of our neighborhoods
c. Ensure the next two budgets contain sufficient funds to make meaningful
progress toward achieving the goals Vthe Bicycle Master Plan and Parks
Master Plan. For parks, this includes:
i. Consider a plan for rubberized surfacing at park playgrounds
ii. Develop strategies to address the equity gaps noted in the Parks
Master Plan and plan for the equitable distribution of destination
parks within an easy and safe distance of all residents
d. Complete an analysis of traffic accident data and identi& actions to improve
the safety of our roadways
4. Maintain a Solid Financial Foundation
a. Continue to monitor the impact of the 2013 property tax reform and
evaluate alternative revenue sources as aid necessary
b. Continue to build the City's emergency fund
c. Monitor potential changes to Moody's rating criteria and maintain the
City's Aaa bond rating
d. Continue to reduce the City's property tax levy
e. Maintain healthy fund balances throughout the City's diverse operations
5. Enhance Community Engagement and Intergovernmental Relations
a. Experiment with innovative ways of engaging with diverse populations in
person and on social media
b. Improve collaborative problem -solving with regional -governmental entities
bodies on topics of shared interest
c.
Improve relationships with the State oflowa and legislature by reaehing on
Improve re a cons aps wa m ers oj the Iowa 7753777 and Senate
reaching out to legislators and other elected officials in eastern Iowa, aM
6. Promote Environmental Sustainability
a. Adopt an effective Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and ensure the next
two budgets contain sufficient funds to]Fcilitaid make tneaningf u' progress
towc-zachieving its goals
b. Ee-Suppoll efforts to increase the reach of the Parks and Recreation
Foundation
7. Advance Social Justice and Racial Equity
a. Support organizations and efforts in the in the „^mm,,n i that provide
services to people experiencing and recovering from trauma and crisis
related to mental health and substance abuse
b. Evahtate and +onsider a policy to limit city business to vendors that pay
all employees a wage of $10.10 or higher
c. Explore ex andediHg upon andjfi-flly i r'„v.. enti � racial equity
toolkit ernme., embedding it within city department and
Council levels
d. Consider elevating hourly staff wages to $I5/hour or more within two years.