INTRODUCTION
Buckeye is committed to providing the best quality of life for our residents. A place they can be proud of while raising a family, working close to home, and enjoying our unique amenities. To meet these goals requires strategic planning and input from City Council, city staff and residents. This plan would not have been possible without the valuable input and strong leadership of the City Council.
Over the past eight months, the city has conducted both a community and employee survey to get valuable feedback on what our residents expect, and what employees need, to ensure we continue attracting the best talent and provide outstanding services. The community and employee surveys served as the foundation for what is included in our strategic plan. Many elements of the plan include direct feedback received from our community and our city employees in our recent surveys. In addition, BridgeGroup LLC Management Consultants, facilitated the strategic plan creation and they held three retreats with Council and/or the city’s leadership team. This plan will serve as a visionary document and staff will provide quarterly status updates to Council.
The plan will focus on the following areas:
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Economic Growth
• Innovative and High Performing Organization
• A Safe and Sustainable Quality of Life, and
• Infrastructure
Each of these focus areas have guiding principles and specific, measurable activities to be completed within fiscal years (FY) 23-26, to ensure the city stays on track by making deliberate, smart, and sustainable choices for the future of Buckeye.
I am pleased to present the FY23-26 city of Buckeye Strategic Plan that can be tracked and monitored by Council, residents, and staff to ensure we meet our goals and achieve our mission of being the city of choice for businesses, residents, and employees.
Dan Cotterman
City Manager
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Fiscal Responsibility ..............................................................................04 Economic Growth ....................................................................................06 Innovative and High Performing Organization ...........08 A Safe and Sustainable Quality of Life .................................10 Infrastructure ..............................................................................................12 3
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
The city of Buckeye aspires to implement innovative and responsible policies and business practices to effectively manage its fiscal and human resources. The city aspires to maintain a stable, transparent, forward-looking fiscal condition that provides an outstanding quality of life for our residents. Business practices should be efficient, business friendly and ensure exceptional customer service to all stakeholders and residents.
Create and pursue opportunities for collaboration and regional partnerships to maximize resources and address regional issues.
Implement and seek diverse revenue sources that withstand and adapt to changing economic conditions.
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Demonstrate fiscal responsibility through established financial policies, budgeting practices and financial standards that meet the excellence requirements and benchmarks for financial reporting established by the Governmental Finance Officer Association (GFOA) and the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Ensure that this information is readily available and transparent to all residents and stakeholders. Implement business processes and operational efficiencies to streamline the cost of government including the examination and identification of cost of services and cost recovery policies. Implement financial initiatives that allows the city to proactively recruit, plan for, maximize, and retain top human resources. Implement innovative technology initiatives to support city business processes, customer service and encourage private development investment.
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PROJECT SENGE RATING LEAD DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR Implement Clear-Gov to enhance financial transparency 1 Finance FY 23 2 Finance FY 24 2 Finance FY 25 2 Finance FY 24 2 Finance FY 24 2 City Clerk’s Office FY 23 Form GO Bond Citizen Committee to consider alternative funding sources Conduct Impact Fee Study Develop Utility Rate Model Develop a User Fee/Cost Recovery Philosophy Verify records management solution FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVITIES 5
ECONOMIC GROWTH
The city of Buckeye aspires to seek diverse, high quality and enhanced development that supports the community’s economic sustainability and fosters growth and development. Business investment should be fostered through streamlined processes, technology and ongoing partnerships and relationships.
Ensure development services are continually streamlined, efficient, customer focused and responsive to support new growth, local economic development, and the long-term success of existing local businesses.
Continually update and refine a long-range planning that incorporates resident and stakeholder input to provide a road map for community design, strategic economic development, infrastructure, and budget planning.
Focus on strategic and targeted economic development pursuits that strive to increase local jobs, generate additional revenues, and support the needs of a growing community.
Nurture and support existing businesses and entrepreneurial efforts in the city.
Employ economic development strategies, including development agreements that invest in public amenities and infrastructure to enhance our quality of life and thereby drive economic growth.
Promote balanced housing development that targets a wide variety of options (e.g. types, price ranges, sizes, ownership/rental, and styles) through strategic partnerships and enhanced ordinances/policies.
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PROJECT SENGE RATING LEAD DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR FY 25 FY 23 FY 25 FY 24 FY 24 FY 23 FY 23 FY 23 FY 25 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 Community Services Development Services Development Services City Manager’s Office Development Services & Legal Development Services Economic Development & Development Services City Manager’s Office Economic Development Identify and prioritize economic development corridors for infrastructure investment Implement LEAN principles for development processes Complete Airport Master Plans (3) Complete Downtown Specific Area Plan and associated policies Update city codes and development standards for commercial and residential development Evaluate and align economic development partner agencies Draft Verrado Activity Center Special Area Plan Draft a housing action plan Complete an Economic Impact Analysis of the Buckeye Air Fair ECONOMIC GROWTH ACTIVITIES 7
INNOVATIVE AND HIGH PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
The city of Buckeye should update programs and policies that create a healthy, safe, inclusive, and sustainable workplace. The city aspires to be the employer of choice, by providing a culture and working environment and benefits to attract and retain a workforce that is committed to providing outstanding service to its residents at an exceptional value for their tax dollars.
Establish clear management expectations for all employees and volunteers of the city.
Develop initiatives to improve communication and transparency for city employees.
Create and maintain a culture of ownership by empowering employees to make decisions. Ensure employees have the necessary intellectual and physical resources to perform their jobs and provide excellent customer service efficiently and effectively.
Implement programs and develop projects that create a professional, safe, value-oriented, accountable, and responsive work environment with opportunities for education, advancement, and job fulfillment.
Implement and evaluate opportunities to foster employee engagement in meaningful ways that strengthen internal relationships while celebrating accomplishments.
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PROJECT SENGE RATING LEAD DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR FY 25 FY 24 FY 25 FY 24 FY 24 FY 24 FY 24 FY 25 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 Community Services Department Human Resources & City Manager’s Office Human Resources City Manager’s Office Human Resources & Finance Human Resources & City Manager’s Office Human Resources Human Resources Update personnel policies Develop new performance appraisal system Complete “Intentional Culture Design” project Evaluate benefits programs Develop an internal communication plan Develop and implement a mentoring and succession plan Implement on-site training and educational opportunities Create and implement an employee discount program for parks and recreation programs and activities INNOVATIVE AND HIGH PERFORMING ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES 9
SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE
The city of Buckeye will continue providing programs, gathering places, and events where the community can come together to participate in opportunities of learning and recreation. Sustainable relationships with the community should be cultivated through resident engagement, outstanding customer service, and clear, accessible communication. We aim to protect our community’s history and environment for future generations. The city aspires to implement programs and projects that create a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment that provide residents with opportunities for an engaged, healthy, and active lifestyle.
Preserve and enhance the historic and cultural identity/resources that reflect the values and traditions of our community. We support and promote cultural activities that reflect our historic legacy.
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Support and create partnerships with public/private educational institutions and local school leadership. Provide multi-generational development programs and recreational opportunities.
Create an enhanced connection with neighborhoods throughout the city through focused outreach and strategic utilization of various communication methods. We should celebrate our accomplishments through focused outreach to the residents.
Promote public safety process improvements and innovative programs that ensure a safe community.
Foster and support initiatives and evaluate community policies, programs, gathering places, and events that promote healthy and quality lifestyles for our diverse community.
Foster citywide “open space” initiatives, policies and city codes that support a clean, well-maintained, and sustainable community.
Promote and implement sustainable water management policies and practices.
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PROJECT SENGE RATING LEAD DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR Reduce the invasive species within the LGRC 1 Development Services FY 26 1 Water Resources FY 24 2 Police FY 25 2 Community Services FY 25 2 Fire FY 24 2 Community Services FY 25 Adopt water management policies Implement “2030 Public Safety Plan” Update Recreation, Parks, and Trails Master Plan Complete fire department accreditation Evaluate opportunities and potential partnerships to expand and formalize a public art program SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE ACTIVITIES 11
INFRASTRUCTURE
The city of Buckeye should strategically plan, implement, and maintain current and future infrastructure and facilities to support the community’s quality of life, economic viability, and protection of the environment.
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Establish routine and industry best practice maintenance guidelines to monitor the efficiency and operability of current below and above grade infrastructure and facilities.
Identify programs, technologies, or resources to compliment current operational practices that ensure the sustainability of existing infrastructure and facilities.
Establish long-term planning, prioritization and investment strategies for future infrastructure and facilities that improve the quality of life for residents while being financially sustainable.
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PROJECT SENGE RATING LEAD DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITIES FY 25 FY 24 FY 25 FY 24 FY 24 FY 25 FY 25 FY 24 FY 25 FY 25 FY 24 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Information Technology City Manager’s Office City Manager’s Office Engineering Engineering Engineering Engineering Public Works City Manager’s Office & Finance City Manager’s Office Public Works Complete APWA accreditation Develop an asset management program and tracking system Develop a “fully-funded and deliverable” 5-year CIP Create a “Low Impact Design” for storm water management Create a facilities master plan Develop a “Dig Once” city policy Advance regional transportation funding opportunities Evaluate existing roadway network level of service Update transit master plan Update transportation master plan to include truck routes and parking Develop a SMART City master plan 13