City of Buckeye Council Strategic Plan 2024-2027 by City of Buckeye

COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN 2024-2027

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. Dan Cotterman City Manager

In 2022, the city 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 providing 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 these recent surveys. In addition, BridgeGroup LLC Management Consultants, facilitated a strategic plan update with Council and leadership. This plan will serve as a visionary document and staff will provide quarterly status updates to Council. The plan focuses 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) 24-27, to ensure the city stays on track by making deliberate, smart, and sustainable choices for the future of Buckeye. The city adopted the original plan in 2022, and it was revised in 2023. I am pleased to present the revised FY 24-27 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Fiscal Responsibility ..............................................................................04 Economic Growth ....................................................................................06 Innovative and High Performing Organization ...........08 A Safe and Sustainable Quality of Life .................................11 Infrastructure ..............................................................................................13

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Guiding Principle

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.

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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.

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.

F I S CA L R E S P O N S I B I L I TY AC T I VI T I E S PROJECT

Form GO Bond Citizen

LEAD DEPARTMENT

FISCAL YEAR

Finance

FY 24

Conduct Impact Fee Study

Finance

FY 25

Develop Utility Rate Model

Finance

FY 24

Develop a User Fee/Cost Recovery Philosophy

Finance

FY 24

City Clerk’s Office

FY 27

Finance

FY 27

Finance

FY 27

Committee to consider alternative funding sources

Migrate essential clerk records into Tyler Solutions

Standardize all contract templates

Improve operational efficiencies by transitioning all contracts to MUNIS contracts module

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Guiding Principle

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.

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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.

E CO N O M I C G R OWT H AC T I VI T I E S PROJECT

Complete Airport Master Plans (3)

LEAD DEPARTMENT

Aviation & Development Services

FISCAL YEAR

FY 25

Update city codes and development standards for commercial and residential development

Development Services & Legal

Draft Gateway Activity Center Special Area Plan

Development Services

FY 25

Draft a housing action plan

Development Services

FY 25

Evaluate existing codes to remove barriers to downtown development

Development Services

FY 25

Complete second Economic Impact Analysis of the Buckeye Air Fair

Community Services

FY 26

Develop timeline and funding source for downtown streetscape enhancement

Development Services

FY 26

FY 25

INNOVATIVE AND HIGH PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

Guiding Principle

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.

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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.

I N N OVAT I VE A N D H I G H P E R F O R M I N G O R G A N I Z AT I O N AC T I VI T I E S LEAD DEPARTMENT

FISCAL YEAR

Human Resources

FY 25

Human Resources

FY 25

Design project

Human Resources & City Manager’s Office

FY 24

Evaluate benefits programs

Human Resources & Finance

FY 25

PROJECT

Update personnel policies

Develop new performance appraisal system

Complete Intentional Culture

Develop an internal communication plan

Develop and implement a mentoring and succession plan

Communications & Government Affairs

FY 25

Human Resources

FY 25

I N N OVAT I VE A N D H I G H P E R F O R M I N G O R G A N I Z AT I O N A C T I VI T I E S CO N T. LEAD DEPARTMENT

FISCAL YEAR

Human Resources

FY 25

Community Services

FY 25

Fire

FY 26

Evaluate and develop an implementation plan for battalion chiefs and ladder staffing

Fire

FY 26

Develop a fleet and people moving master plan

Public Works

FY 27

Human Resources

FY 27

PROJECT

Implement on-site training and educational opportunities Create and implement an employee discount program for parks and recreation programs and activities Conduct staffing analysis and professional development plan

Create an internal organizational safety program

SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE

Guiding Principle

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.

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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.

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.

S A F E A N D S U STA I N A B L E Q UA L I TY O F L I F E AC T I VI T I E S LEAD DEPARTMENT

FISCAL YEAR

Development Services

FY 26

Water Resources

FY 24

Implement Public Safety Plan

Police

FY 27

Update Recreation, Parks, and Trails Master Plan

Community Services

FY 25

Complete fire department accreditation

Fire

FY 24

Evaluate opportunities and potential partnerships to expand and formalize a public art program

Community Services

FY 25

Incorporate open space and parks standards in city code and development standards for new residential development

Community Services & Development Services

Create and formalize a park ranger program

Community Services

FY 27

Acquire Designation of Assured Water Supply (DAWS) for a portion of the city of Buckeye

Water Resources

FY 27

PROJECT

Reduce the invasive species within the LGRC

Adopt water management policies

FY 27

INFRASTRUCTURE

Guiding Principle

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.

I N F R A ST R U C TU R E AC T I VI T I E S PROJECT

Develop an asset management program and tracking system

Create a Low Impact Design for storm water management

Create a facilities master plan

Advance regional transportation funding opportunities

Update transit master plan

LEAD DEPARTMENT

FISCAL YEAR

City Manager’s Office

FY 25

Public Works

FY 24

Public Works

FY 25

Communications & Government Affairs

FY 25

Engineering

FY 25

Engineering

FY 25

Engineering

FY 25

Information Technology

FY 25

Public Works

FY 27

Information Technology

FY 27

Engineering

FY 27

Update transportation master plan to include truck routes and parking

Evaluate existing roadway network level of service

Develop a SMART City master plan Develop an emergency fuel storage and infrastructure strategy Complete a feasibility study for an open access fiber-optic conduit system Complete a traffic management center plan with implementation schedule and funding strategy