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2009 Office of the Mayor Goals

  1. Based on public input and community vision, collaborate with Council, city departments and the Bellingham Public Development Authority to obtain approval of an identified hybrid master plan for waterfront development and generate an execution work plan for City responsibilities contained within the approved master plan. (Council Goal 3)
    • Execute a development outreach/marketing plan for city-owned properties in the waterfront district
    • Provide regular updates to the City Council and other stakeholder groups on progress toward the master plan and garner input, as appropriate
    • Coordination with local delegation to obtain relevant state and federal funding
    • Collaborate on strategic and tactical plans with Public Development Authority board and personnel, inclusive of any early action project execution
    • Examine feasibility of public or private-public municipal service buildings within the master plan, inclusive of WWU and City operation centers
  2. Continue implementation of recommendations from the 2007 business survey and economic development strategic planning process. (Council Goals 3, 4 and 9)
  3. Increase public participation and improve integration and timing of Council priority setting, citywide strategic planning, budgeting and then initiate implementation of a City performance measurement system based on Council goals. (Council Goal 6)
    • Continue examination of other cities' models for using public input to establish budget priorities, evaluate service performance and report progress to their communities.
    • Evaluate citywide use of public opinion surveying and establish citywide policies/procedures to guide these efforts.
    • Launch and staff Long-term Fiscal Stability Task Force.
  4. Initiate at least one "triple bottom line" strategic initiative that enhances environmental, economic, human capital development for the City's residents. (Council Goals 3, 4 and 9)
    • Further develop plans for Council and Library Board consideration regarding a hybrid or mixed use central library location.
    • Collaborate on a potential county-wide "Thrive by Five" initiative with area school districts, smaller cities and non-profit partners.
    • Launch a public-private Sustainability Strategies Council to evaluate and execute as feasible: a sustainable business/green jobs campaign, a collaborative business incubator to start-ups that could eventually produce "middle-income" green jobs and other development strategies.
  5. Maintain and improve neighborhood relations and association operations. (Council Goals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9)
    • Provide responsive neighborhood services staffing to enrich City-neighborhood relations.
    • Produce a neighborhood newsletter monthly.
    • Provide liability insurance coverage for volunteers in neighborhood leadership positions.
    • Provide training and workshops for neighborhood capacity building, inclusive of but not limited to bylaws development, meeting facilitation, surveys, conflict resolution, communication plans, etc.
    • Transfer "Small & Simple Grants" program from Community Development to the Executive Office and implement:
      •  Mayor's Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative to build partnerships between associations, schools, non-profits, and businesses
      • 2009 Community-based special events that benefit the community
  6. Develop and maintain systems and strategies that support timely, accurate communications and effective public involvement. (Council Goal 8)
    • Identify and implement organizational best practices to support effective communications citywide.
    • Respond to priority communications needs.
    • Provide communications and public involvement training to staff, as per priorities identified in various evaluation efforts.
    • Maintain and improve city website, news release distribution and related electronic communications systems, in collaboration with Information Technology Services Department.
    • Maintain and improve electronic communications systems, in collaboration with Information Technology Services Department.
    • Produce "Inside Bellingham" and other television programs that highlight city goals, priorities and accomplishments, in collaboration with Information Technology Services Department.
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