Politics & Government

Prioritizing Priorities: City Commissioners Rank Goals

Making sure the new Economic Development Coordinator is focused on business growth is a top priority.

A list of goals for the Royal Oak City Commission to focus on has emerged from the Jan. 18 strategic planning session.

"After a presentation of the results of the 2013 Public Opinion Study by Cobalt, and a long day of staff presentations and commission discussion, a list of objectives was formulated," wrote City Manager Don Johnson in a memo to commissioners.

Johnson surveyed commissioners asking them to rate 26 objectives on a scale of one to 10, with ten being the highest priority.

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Here's how the objectives ranked in priority:

8.0: Ensure the new Economic Development Coordinator is independent of regulatory processes and focused on business growth, retention and recruitment

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7.4: Complete at least one impactful project listed in the Non-motorized Plan such as the addition of bike lanes or adequate bike parking

7.1: Hire a grant coordinator to identify grant opportunities, complete grant applications, and manage reporting for awarded grants

7.1: Identify a sustainable revenue source for parks and recreation improvements and maintenance

6.7: Explore revenue options to fund road improvement and maintenance sufficient to reach target average and minimum Pavement Surface Evaluation and Ratings (PASER) to be decided by the City Commission

6.6: Improve customer service with the hiring of a community liaison to be the single point of contact for permitting processes

6.4:  Hire a Communications Director

6.4: Review and implement selected recommendations from the rodent report to control the rodent population

5.9: Hold a public forum on options for addressing unfunded liabilities as part of the Commission's budget hearings

5.6: Increase Farmers Market rental revenue by keeping the tent deployed in the northwest parking lot all summer

5.6:  Establish a Citizen Response System

5.4: Explore the sale of city owned property, potentially including underutilized parks, and dedicate proceeds to the Park Improvement Fund

5.1:  Complete "Age In Place" initial program assessment

5.1: Hire a consultant to review and make recommendations to improve the City's website on key metrics identified by staff and approved by the City Commission

5.1: Establish a modest budget to support the Royal Oak Commission for the Arts

4.7: Hire a consultant to complete a comprehensive stormwater system analysis to inform decision making regarding changes in the stormwater detention ordinance

4.6: Adopt a vacant property registration ordinance with no registration fee to identify owners of vacant property and deal with blight

4.6:  Reestablish the Trade Inspector positions as full-time

4.4: Establish a modest budget to support the Royal Oak Employee Health and Wellness Committee

4.4:  Partially restore staffing in the Engineering Department with the hiring of an Engineer III

4.4:  Partially restore staffing in the Assessor's Office with the hiring of an Appraiser III

4.4: Partially restore staffing in the Human Resources Department with the hiring of a Benefits Specialist

4.3: Retire the permanent booths at the Farmers Market to increase rental revenue, deal with rental demand and make the space more friendly to special events

4.3:  Provide additional budgetary resources for staff and commissioner training

3.9: Continue evaluation of the option to create a Wellness Center for Royal Oak employees n partnership with local communities

3.4: Adopt a commercial re-occupancy ordinance to promptly and efficiently identify and assist businesses operating in a new space

Do you agree with the City Commissions priorities? Tell us in the comments.

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