City Commission Strategic Goals and Priorities
City of Lawrence, Kansas
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Strategic Goal: |
Economic Development: Promoting the economic development of Lawrence to provide varied work and business opportunities. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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Identify industrial sites and a process to develop them. |
· Revisions to Ch 7, HORIZON 2020 · Econ. Devel. Bd is working on a process for industrial development · Review Development Code for consistency with ECO and ED Bd recommendations |
City Manager’s Office, Planning |
· Returned to PC committee to await ECO2 report in April · Process underway
· Future item |
· Aug/Sept ‘05 · tbd
· tbd |
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Use the Southeast Area Plan to create an employment zone. |
· Adopt a SE Area Plan showing proposed allocations of uses · Amendment HORIZON 2020 to create a policy in Ch 7 to pertain to “Employment Centers” & goals associated with this new type of industrial use · Explore new urbanism concepts for neighborhood development of mixed uses |
City Manager’s Office, Planning |
· Awaiting CC direction
· Awaiting CC direction
· “Next steps” staff memo 4/26 CC mtg; flow chart under development |
· tbd
· Aug/Sept ‘05
· June ‘05 |
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Move toward acquisition of the Farmland property. |
· Preliminary meetings with current owner · Explore brownfields or other potential funding sources (grants) for clean-up · Add to CIP discussion
· Evaluate cost and benefits of acquiring property |
City Manager’s Office, Legal Services, Finance |
· Awaiting CC direction · Awaiting CC direction
· Awaiting CC direction – not currently in CIP · Awaiting CC direction
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Expand the tax base through growth of existing and new businesses. |
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Chamber – ED office |
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Develop incentives in addition to tax abatements (add to our “tool box”). |
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Finance, Legal Services, City Clerk’s Office |
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Identify sources of funding for a dedicated economic development fund. |
· Explore topic during 2006 budget process |
Finance, City Manger’s Office |
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Develop a common understanding of what economic development is. |
· Schedule professional development activity for staff with Chamber · Create definition with input from interested stakeholders |
City Manager’s Office, Chamber staff |
· Potential topic for Mgt. Team meeting ·
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Have a city staff person focused solely on economic development. |
· Study role of economic development staff in other communities · Develop program improvement request |
City Manager’s Office |
· tbd
· CC program improvement |
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Strategic Goal: |
Planned Growth: Encouraging growth that protects our environment, neighborhoods, and cultural features while benefiting all of our citizens. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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Conclude the successful adoption of rural development standards. |
· Rural Planning Committee work to be completed in April/May; revised chapter will be submitted to PC for public hearing and adoption · BCC is working on a parallel path to initiate standards for cluster development in UGA and for access management along county roads · Water meters and improving availability of water to rural areas is part of both BCC and RPC studies |
Planning |
· RPC continuing to meet to resolve issues; new draft being developed
· Fuller outline to be presented to BCC 5/16; direction form BCC to follow
· Underway |
· PC to receive draft in May; public hearing in June or July · tbd
· tbd |
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Resolve the public improvement financing method. |
· Complete Cost of Services Study · Include in draft Subd. Regulations implementation actions consistent with recommendations of study, as adopted by CC |
City Manager’s Office, Planning |
· Underway · Underway |
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Agree to stay within service area 1 in the urban growth area; be proactive about where growth will be and avoid spot zoning. |
· Adopt annexation policy or development guidelines to direct growth to Service Area 1 in UGA · Amend policies in HORIZON 2020 to reflect revised city policy · Distinguish between “spot zoning’ and ‘leap-frog’ development/zoning |
City Manager’s Office, Planning |
· 5/18 study session topic
· tbd
· tbd |
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Amend codes to allow for traditional neighborhood development (TND). |
· Develop the process for community involvement and review of new development/design standards. Typically, this would include a community wide charrette, action plan, pattern design books, designation in HORIZON 2020 of appropriate geographic areas in the city for this type of development and revisions to city regulations – zoning, subdivision, street standards – also involving fire and emergency services in standards development.
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City Manager’s Office, Planning |
· Awaiting CC direction re: this approach |
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Initiate a community visioning process to encourage community building. |
· awaiting CC direction
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City Manager’s Office |
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Ensure that the city leads the development process; create a new model for this. |
· see previous note re: cost of services study |
City Manager’s Office |
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Expand meetings with the county, the school district, and KU. |
· awaiting CC direction |
City Manager’s Office |
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Work on more cooperative projects with the county; develop a model for growth. |
· discuss mutual benefit cooperative projects |
City Manager’s Office |
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Initiate a discussion within the community about a new model of growth and its comprehensive plans. Educate the community about the differences. |
· awaiting CC direction |
City Manager’s Office |
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Strategic Goal: |
Community Building: Creating social capital and celebrating our heritage. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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Get the Carnegie Library building active. |
· Awaiting CC direction
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City Manager’s Office |
· Added project to CIP list
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· SAT grant due in May
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Encourage the viability of the Farmers Market, including improving the facilities.
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· Infrastructure improvements at existing location |
City Manager’s Office |
· Drinking fountain, porta-john, handicap ramp inst. |
· complete
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Have more events downtown. |
· Worked with DLA for new summer “Splash on Mass” campaign and promoted bike races in downtown area. |
City Manager’s Office, Parks & Rec |
· “Splash on Mass” set for 6/15; Mike races set for 5/13 |
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Ensure the accountability of the police department. |
· Tie accountability to Resource Plan community goals |
City Manager’s Office, Police |
· New noise complaint process helping neighborhoods |
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Determine what we want to do about the Library expansion and how much it will cost. |
· Future budget discussion after feasibility study is complete |
City Manager’s Office; Library staff |
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· New Directions report-May |
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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). |
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City Manager’s Office |
· April 30 Lied Center/Bert Nash Summit |
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Develop a comprehensive plan for services to the homeless. |
· Awaiting final report from Homeless Task Force |
City Manager’s Office, Neigh. Resources |
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Secure adequate funding for after-school programs. |
· 2006 budget topic of discussion |
City Manager’s Office, Finance |
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Keep the focus on Lawrence for the Heritage Area. |
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City Manager’s Office |
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Strategic Goal: |
Environmental Issues: Integrating the environment into our decisions as we work towards a sustainable city. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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Move toward a watershed stormwater policy. |
· Evaluate watershed based standards for possible implementation
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Public Works / Planning |
· Watershed map revised, extending into urban growth area |
· tbd
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Evaluate and adopt an energy code |
· Present Code to CC · Forward CC direction to appropriate Code Review Board |
Neigh. Resources |
· Completed · Est. 9 months for review after ICC review process is compete |
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Adopt an environmental chapter for Horizon 2020. |
· Assignment to new long range planner |
Planning |
· Reviewing resources based on ECO2 Open Space work |
· in 2006
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Require LEED standards for public buildings. |
· Discussion of standards during design phase of Wakarusa treatment plant |
Neigh. Resources, Public Works, City Manager’s Office |
· RFP responses due early May for site study |
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Continue community connectivity through bike paths, trails, and rail to trails. |
· Finalizing master plan for the “greenbelt” park east of Langston Hughes Elem. School, which has trails and working on the Burrough’s Creek Rail Trail Corridor committee. · Revise Subdivision Regulations to include connectivity requirements for streets and sidewalks · Include Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan in update to TRANSPORTATION 2025 |
Planning, Parks & Rec, Public Works |
· Rejuvenation of levee trail segments continues on an annual basis; seeking grant funds
· Underway
· Scheduled to begin late ‘05 |
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Encourage neighborhood planning that emphasizes non-automobile access to schools and shopping |
· Establish a connectivity policy for pedestrian access to public and community facilities (PC had workshop on this 04/13 and will continue to work on this issue) · Consider policy & code revisions to identify this as a community priority |
Planning, Public Works |
· MARC and City hosted Walkability Workshop in April on pedestrian accessibility
· TSC has Pedestrian Safety subcommittee beginning to identify resources |
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Transition to pesticide-free parks and buildings. |
· Reviewing proposed plan presented to City Commission |
Parks & Rec |
· Report to CC 5/17 |
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Strategic Goal: |
Neighborhood Quality: Improving the livability of all Lawrence neighborhoods. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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Develop affordable housing through the Land Trust |
· CHAT process developed with Aquila
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City Manager’s Office, Neigh. Resources |
· CHAT scheduled May 9-11 |
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Institutionalize area planning |
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Planning |
· PC workshop 4/13 identified types of plans and processes for each; staff creating templates for each process for website |
· tbd |
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Coordinate with the school district regarding school sites and future uses of schools |
· Offered to be on planning committees for new school additions as a result of the bond issue; initiated discussion about future school-park sites in new urban growth area. Initiated discussion with school district administration about LPRD uses of several schools that are closed. |
Planning, Parks & Rec |
· One staff member from planning sits on the boundaries committee for coordination purposes |
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Find ways to lessen the impact of student housing on neighborhoods |
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City Manager’s Office, Neigh. Resources, Police |
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Explore private/public partnerships to provide affordable housing |
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City Manager’s Office, Neigh. Resources |
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Identify key pedestrian routes and enforce snow removal of them |
· Identify key pedestrian routes · Enforce snow removal by property owners |
Public Information Officer and Neighborhood Resources |
· Key pedestrian routes identified/letters mailed to adjacent property owners prior to 2004/05 snow season |
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Bring in the Neighborhood Re-investment Corporation (NRC) |
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Inventory sidewalks in neighborhoods and bring them up to standard |
· Sidewalk programs review for City Commission · Street inventory underway; curb/gutter conditions evaluated next followed by sidewalk inventory |
Public Works |
· Sidewalk programs memo provided 11-10-2004 · Sidewalk inventory schedule tbd |
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Strategic Goal: |
Downtown Development: Protecting the integrity of downtown while maintaining it as a unique community resource. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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Ensure that the downtown is clean and inviting (e.g., identify trees that will keep downtown cleaner) |
· Have removed 60 Washington Hawthorne trees and replaced with Tree Lilacs. Bidding a vacuum litter machine for downtown; bids due April 19th · Infrastructure repair and maintenance projects |
City Manager’s Office, Parks & Rec, Public Works |
· Public Works efforts are on-going as funding and staff are available for maintenance projects |
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Redevelop the library as an anchor for multi-use development for downtown |
· See previous note re: this topic |
City Manager’s Office |
· Interviews for master consultant completed |
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Study the topic of alcohol issues and sidewalk dining |
· HRC study and recommendations to CC |
City Manager’s Office, City Clerk |
· HRC asked for moratorium until mid May
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Implement “adopt a planter” program |
· DLA submitted program proposal with 2006 funding request |
Parks & Rec |
· DLI has proposed model agreements |
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Work with a KU class to develop a new downtown design in order to freshen the look of downtown |
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City Manager’s Office |
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Consider creative responses to barriers related to the Harris project |
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City Manager’s Office |
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Strategic Goal: |
Transportation: Improving access for all citizens. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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Build community consensus for a regional transportation plan that includes resolution of the SLT, Highway 59, and Eastern By-pass |
· Mayor’s initiative
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City Manager’s Office, Planning, Public Works |
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Continue work on street development standards, including alternatives to street widths |
· Development of alternatives for further Commission discussion
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Public Works |
· Public Works Director developed memo articulating alternatives; further direction from City Commission would be helpful |
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Bring the “T” and KU on Wheels into better alignment |
· Goal for new Public Transit Adm. |
City Manager’s Office, Transit |
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Initiate a commuter bus service to Johnson County |
· Goal for new Public Transit Adm. |
City Manager’s Office, Transit |
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Investigate the possibility of a pedestrian bridge across the Kansas River. |
· More direction is need |
Public Works |
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Create a plan to increase funding for KDOT projects that benefit community |
· Explore options for funding |
Public Works |
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Continue to educate the community about access management. Develop consensus and policies |
· Planning is drafting access management guidelines · 23rd Street Access Management Plan is being partially implemented |
City Manager’s Office, Public Works |
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Model bio-diesel and other renewable sources in city’s transportation equip. |
· Evaluate/ implement opportunities to incorporate alternative fuels and technologies into fleet when economically feasible |
Public Works |
· Fleet manager evaluates efficiency, effectiveness, reliability of alt. fuels/technologies |
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Integrate the bike plan into the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) |
· Bicycle Advisory Committee recommendations submitted with the 2006 CIP requests |
Public Works, Planning |
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Work toward the central coordination of all street lights |
· More direction is needed |
Public Works |
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Strategic Goal: |
Service Delivery: Provide excellent city services consistent with resources available. |
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Key Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
Target Completion Date |
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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. |
· BRTF request for recommendations and suggestions processed by staff
· Tie BRTF goals to Best Practices |
City Manager’s Office, Planning, Public Works, Neigh. Resources, Utilities |
· Staff provided a number of suggestions via memo at the 4/7/05 BRTF meeting · Staff met 4/25 to flesh out recommendations |
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Adopt a performance management system |
· Awaiting CC direction; could be a 2006 budget issue |
City Manager’s Office |
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Implement new building codes |
· Code Review Boards need to review all new building codes (ICC) as appropriate |
Neigh. Resources; Fire/Medical |
· Building Board reviewing International Residential Building Code |
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Other Objective |
Action Steps |
Department(s) Responsible |
Progress to date |
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Purchase project management software for the planning department |
· Purchase software · Train staff · Implement use with specialty planners |
Planning |
· Complete · Underway – May schedule · tbd |
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Improve the CIP process – set priorities and integrate the plan with goals |
· Process and format improvements identified for 2006 CIP review process |
City Manager’s Office |
· Improvements underway
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Integrate fire station operations into the budget |
· Consolidation of facilities will be incorporated in the 2006 Budget |
Fire/Medical; Finance |
· Budget process underway
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· 06/01/05 |
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Explore the possibility of increased staff support or salary for city commissioners |
· Awaiting CC direction; could be a 2006 budget issue |
City Manager’s Office |
· Budget process underway
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