For more than a decade, the East Lansing City Council and administration have partnered to identify key objectives that guide the use of city resources, focusing on achieving desired outcomes. The Council and administration meet in retreat each January to discuss the upcoming year’s objectives and to receive updates regarding the past year’s activities. The City’s Strategic Priorities fall under the overarching categories of Strong Neighborhoods, Vibrant Economy, Enhanced Public Assets, Environmental Quality and High Performing Government.
In addition to identifying priorities and setting forth a blueprint for the allocation of resources, the Strategic Priorities document provides a means for measuring progress and promoting accountability. The Strategic Priorities document also serves as a framework for annual and quarterly performance reports. Internally, the strategic priorities are used as a framework for individual and group discussions between the city manager and department heads. The City Council Strategic Priorities document is a well-used, fluid set of guidelines which factor into virtually every major decision and initiative undertaken by the City Council and administrative staff.
Download City Council's Strategic Priorities Including 2009 Activities Update
2010 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Strong Neighborhoods
1. Work to strengthen relations with MSU in collaboration with the Community Relations Coalition (CRC), Responsible Hospitality Council (RHC), MSU/City of East Lansing Celebrations Committee, as well as enhanced administrative linkages;*
2. Collaborate with the East Lansing Public Schools in marketing schools and neighborhoods;
3. Explore conditional zoning ordinances and their applicability to new and existing residential development in East Lansing;
4. Collaborate with the Hometown Housing Partnership Inc. to facilitate conversion of rental housing to owner occupancy and to increase the rehabilitation of qualified, single-family homes;
5. Expand new and existing neighborhood housing opportunities particularly affordable housing;
Vibrant Economy
6. Participate in regional economic growth initiatives including the Local Area Economic Partnership (LEAP) Inc, Smartzone Consortium and Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA);
7. Work with LEAP to develop comprehensive business attraction and retention strategies;
8. Implement the Comprehensive Master Plan along with attendant rezoning for new development;
9. Promote redevelopment of targeted areas of the downtown;
10. Pursue vibrant commercial corridors citywide;
11. Facilitate Northern Tier commercial development through master planning and through improvements to roadway infrastructure;
Enhanced Public Assets
12. Complete the annual update to the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan;
13. Initiate a comprehensive transportation plan that is inclusive of all modes of transportation including mass transit;
14. Explore development of a "value-added" card or pass for residents that would provide free access to city amenities such as parking and recreation;
15. Develop a community wayfinding plan to connect key destinations, making the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly;
16. Pursue trailway expansion and connection;
17. Enhance walkability through the continuation of the hazardous sidewalk maintenance program;
18. Pursue planned improvements to public park and recreation facilities throughout the City;
19. Develop a cultural master plan;
20. Work with Lansing and Lansing Township on the Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement project;
Environmental Quality
21. Expand City recycling programs;
22. Maintain the urban street tree population in response to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB);
23. Expand Tree Maintenance Plan to include all city properties;
24. Cooperate regionally in addressing groundwater management, wellhead protection and stormwater/watershed management programs;
25. Utilize parks and other City properties to create wetlands, reforestation areas, riparian buffers and other natural areas for enjoyment, pollution prevention and educational endeavors;
26. Initiate negotiations with Michigan State University and Meridian Charter Township to enter into long-term agreements to provide for Wastewater Treatment Services as current 50-year agreements expire between 2011 and 2013;
27. Investigate and pursue green energy and environmentally-friendly options for the city consistent with Mayor's Climate Control Agreement to which the city is a signatory;
High Performing Government
28. Enhance regional collaboration in the provision of fire protection and emergency services;
29. Prepare the city organization and community to respond to emergencies of any nature by training appropriate staff in Emergency Management Practices;
30. Work to eliminate duplication of services and processes. Combine similar functions among various departments;
31. Proactively communicate City policies and positions to the print and broadcast media, specifically to the editorial boards of the State News and the Lansing State Journal;
32. Strengthen community leadership by offering the Citizen's Police Academy and the East Lansing Emerging Leaders Program;
33. Provide training in accordance with Policy Resolution 1998-3 for appointed board members and commissioners that includes Parliamentary Procedure, the City's Code of Ethics and the Open Meetings Act;*
34. Represent East Lansing's interests in state and federal legislative matters including but not limited to the preservation of funding for statutory revenue sharing, Public Act 289 fire protection grants and Community Development Block Grant funding by working in conjunction with the City's multi-client lobbyist, the Michigan Municipal League and our legislators;
35. Review city code to update or eliminate ordinances that are obsolete or no longer applicable;
36. Measure citizen/customer satisfaction with city services and initiate programs to improve the perception of city services;
37. Expand e-government opportunities to enhance access to information, services and programs offered by the City;
38. Utilize five-year financial forecasting plans for all of the major funds of the city and provide annual updates;
39. Utilize the city's Health Care Task Force in order to continue health care cost containment;
40. Implement worksite and community wellness initiatives.
For more information, contact Assistant City Manager Marie McKenna at (517) 319-6881 or mckenn@cityofeastlansing.com.