To achieve excellence in the established key goal areas, City Council has identified several Near Term Action Items to help facilitate the progress in which each goal is accomplished. Near-Term Action Items will be reviewed on a quarterly basis at Council Work Session meetings. See the following Near Term Action Items as they relate to the overarching goals:
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A. Communication
- Evaluate providing handouts and background material for City Council Meetings online prior to or at the time a presentation is made.
- Evaluate use of social media to communicate important information regarding community updates, events and activities.
B. Community Vitality and Neighborhood Integrity
- Evaluate the home improvement incentive program and options to provide an incentive for investments lower than $20,000.
- Evaluate funding strategies, timing and implementation planning for the following:
- Parks
- Streets and Alleys
- Sidewalks
- Evaluate programs to address neighborhood decline issues to stabilize the overall health of the neighborhood.
- Review and evaluate the rental registration program and develop fee alternatives and strategies to increase compliance.
- Evaluate developing a first-time homebuyer program to encourage ownership and residential reinvestment.
- Evaluate the establishment of a community wide day of caring where Richardson organizations and individuals come together to serve those in need.
- Develop outreach efforts with neighborhood associations to solicit residents to become involved with Boards and Commissions and other City/Community volunteer opportunities.
- Evaluate creating a co-op for neighborhood associations to provide improved economies for items such as insurance and maintenance services.
- Complete an analysis of the condition of screening walls in the City and develop a rating system to assist with future Capital Improvement efforts.
- Evaluate the implementation of "town hall" meetings specific to the various departments within the City.
C. Economic Development
- Evaluate strategies to fund redevelopment efforts in the community.
- Evaluate the development of an incentive program for retail reinvestment.
- Review and identify ways to leverage and/or expand STAR Tech.
- Evaluate developing a cluster attraction economic development program
- Evaluate options for creating an international committee.
D. Education
- Consider establishing an education round table with a wide-variety of institutions within Richardson.
E. Environmental Management
- Expand recycling to commercial businesses and multi-family communities.
- Evaluate the creation of an award program, similar to the community revitalization awards, for environmental reinvestment in both residential and commercial properties.
- Create and maintain an ongoing list that would identify and promote residential and corporate incentives for environmental and ecological projects.
- Evaluate increased communication strategies to inform property owners about their responsibility to maintain alleys, creeks, parkways and medians.
- Review and evaluate energy efficiency studies and plans for future implementation strategies.
- Evaluate implementing a program that would allow residents to recycle grass clippings and other lawn care waste.
F. Fiscal Responsibility
- Evaluate the city's procurement process and review options for providing reasonable preferences to Richardson based businesses on a scheduled basis.
- Evaluate a multi-city recreation facility in Breckenridge Park.
- Evaluate vendor contract provisions using appropriate risk management techniques.
- Evaluate strategies to expand paperless process initiatives.
- Evaluate strategies for improving city billing systems to achieve efficiencies.
Develop a bond evaluation appraisal which reviews future projects, communication strategies, implementation processes and timing.
G. Governance
- Evaluate video broadcasting boards and commission meetings similar to the City Council Meetings.
- Create a City Council legislative sub-committee.
- Evaluate technology enhancements in the City Council Chambers for communication media outreach.
- Evaluate the Work Session and City Council Meeting formats to improve efficiencies.
- Utilize work sessions to discuss items of broad community interest specific to the following:
- Golf
- Eisemann Center
- TIF Zone
- Zero Based Budgeting
- Election v. Selection of Mayor - Review in time for May 2012 ballot consideration
- City Charter review
- Develop a schedule in which each Commission has an opportunity to meet with the City Council in a Council Work Session.
H. Health Care Facilities and Community Wellness
- Encourage and promote athletic and fitness events within the city.
- Develop and promote health and fitness initiatives for the Richardson community.
I. Land Use and Development
- Evaluate enhancing the check cashing ordinance by reviewing the ordinance adopted by the City of Dallas.
- Evaluate creating an ordinance pertaining to the placement of Hookah lounges.
- Evaluate strategies tore-purpose underutilized retail areas.
- Evaluate the creation of a development plan for the 400 block ofWest Arapaho.
- Initiate the new study area in the Downtown/Main Street area followed by the U.S. 75 corridor.
- Implement the West Spring Valley reinvestment plan and consider public-private partnerships for redevelopment.
- Evaluate appropriate opportunities for public-private partnerships for future development, city services/amenities and parks.
- Evaluate the development of a dog park.
- Evaluate the development of a skate park.
- Evaluate property use options south of future Gymnastics Center.
- Periodically review the current Comprehensive Land Use Plan including the Master Thoroughfare Plan.
- Identify gaps of sidewalk continuity and evaluate possible improvement plan.
J. Marketing
- Evaluate the promotion and marketing of local events within the community that are not city related or sponsored.
- Evaluate developing a branding and marketing plan.
- Evaluate the creation of a Young Professionals Focus Group.
K. Public Services
- Evaluate City Hall/Civic Center facility and operation improvements to enhance the customer/resident experience.
- Evaluate enhancing art grant funding to include leveraging the Eisemann Center.
L. Transportation and Mobility
- Evaluate the expansion of the City's bike lane system and enhancing pavement markings and signage.
- Advocate for Richardson access points for the HOY lanes on Central Expressway.
- Advocate for acceleration of development of Cotton Belt rail line.