At its October 10 meeting, the Independence City Commission officially adopted a tool to help elected officials and City staff focus their planning efforts for the future of the community. The Community Based Strategic Plan was developed with citizen input via surveys and open-forum meetings. The process was supported by a Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, comprised of nine community residents who helped collect and synthesize the data. The resulting five-year plan is designed to act as a blueprint to guide the City in addressing issues and prioritizing the allocation of resources. The plan includes a Primary Directive (the core rationale for why our City government exists), as well as five Key Strategic Directives outlining more specific action steps toward fulfilling the City’s obligation to its citizens.
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
As stated in the plan, "The primary purpose of government is to provide a foundation for civilized living." This basic objective, however, required more definition, so the process examined the intersection of three important questions:
- What do city leaders, residents and staff have a deep passion for? – Why do we come to work every day? What motivates us? Why do we care about what happens in Independence?
- What do we believe the city can do well or even better than any other city? – Are we uniquely positioned to do something extraordinary? What are we equipped to accomplish? This is a question of not only what we can do, but what we can do better than others.
- What drives the city's resource engine? – What is it that needs to happen in order to empower us to realize this primary directive?
In Independence, our Primary Directive is:
“Build upon our unique sense of community by offering residents the vibrant, welcoming environment that has led people to call Independence home for generations.”
THE 5 KEY STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES
Strategic Directive 1 -- Economic Development
“I want to live in a community where there are well-paying employment opportunities that allow me to provide for my family.”
Key Initiatives
- Review economic development plan for retention and growth of existing businesses, and new businesses recruitment
- Continue partnerships with Montgomery County and neighboring cities in business recruitment efforts
- Support expansion of medical services in Independence
- Address tax incentives for different and new types of businesses
- Make beautification improvements to downtown area
- Recruit a “recreational business” (bowling alley, skating rink, etc.)
- Enforce vacant building inspection and registry
- Evaluate revenue sources that can be used toward Economic Development Fund
Success Looks Like...
- Increase in population of Independence
- Increase in sales tax revenue for the City due to more purchases and economic activity
- Decrease in the unemployment rate in Independence
- Decrease in the number of vacant buildings in downtown area
- Increase in gas tax revenue and other tax revenues from increased economic activity
- Increase in the number of doctors and/or medical services provided in Independence
- Increase in Guest Tax revenue for city due to increased number of visitors to Independence
Strategic Directive 2 -- Infrastructure
“I want to live in a community where I can safely travel across town, with working roads and well-maintained public structures.”
Key Initiatives
- Increase budget allocation for road and sidewalk improvements
- Develop and implement Utility Maintenance Plan and Capital Plan
- Complete implementation of automated water meters throughout the City
- Perform long-term capital planning
- Perform annual review of street conditions and planned improvements
- Review and update 5-year Rate Study at 2.5-year midterm
- Maintain commitment to ADA compliance
- Make decision on City Hall and Public Safety facilities to address the long-term facilities needs of the City
Success Looks Like...
- Completed milestones on capital plans
- Increased budget to road improvements
- Improvement in Pavement Condition Index
- Efficiently operating Geographic Information System (GIS)
Strategic Directive 3 -- Beautification
“I want to live in a place that is clean and well-kept, where I am proud to bring family and friends to visit.”
Key Initiatives
- Increase budget and timeline on removing abandoned houses
- Re-configure city trash to once a week trash pickup to free up resources for increase in other pickup services
- Expand recycling pickup services
- Focus on neighborhood beautification through strict code enforcement in residential areas
- Expand partnership with Love Independence and other organizations in beautification efforts
Success Looks Like...
- Reduction in the number of abandoned houses
- Decrease in trash and other items found in streets and in front of homes
- Increase in neighborhood property values
- Realize more efficient operation of trash pickup
- Increase in participation rate in recycling program
Strategic Directive 4 -- Parks & Recreation
“I want to live in a city where my family can enjoy outdoor recreation, and where my kids have options of fun things to do.”
Key Initiatives
- Address branding and tourism position and analyze additional marketing opportunities to attract visitors
- Review plan of smaller parks and optimize and/or consolidate amenities
- Expand summer and educational camps for kids
- Develop and implement Zoo enhancement and maintenance plan
- Partner with neighboring cities’ senior centers to expand activities for senior citizens
- Increase partnership to promote Neewollah and other community events beyond SE Kansas
Success Looks Like...
- Increased number of visitors to park and zoo facilities
- Increased attendance of Neewollah and other community events
- Pass ADA accreditation for Zoo facilities
Strategic Directive 5 -- Community Spirit & Unity
“I want to live in a community that feels like an extension of my family. One where we can trust the City’s decisions, one where we see the best in one another, and that no matter your background, you feel like you belong.”
Key Initiatives
- Consider modifications to governing body and size of City Commission
- Partner with the Chamber of Commerce to create direct channel of communication between the Diversity Taskforce and City Leadership
- Increase communication through live streaming and media facilities from the City regarding announcements and budgetary decisions
- Conduct annual survey for citizen satisfaction
Success Looks Like...
- Reduced number of negative and/or critical publications in local newspapers and online sites
- Positive citizen survey responses on the positivity, friendliness, and inclusiveness of the City
- Increased feeling of inclusion from all Independence residents (as measured by survey)
- Increased number of social media updates and announcements from the City
- Increased voter turnout in City elections