The city commission prepared Wednesday a vision statement and short-term and long-term goals for Emporia.
Bill Barnes, director of ESU’s MBA program and director for the Center of Business and Economic Development at Emporia State University, facilitated the session.
Barnes and Commissioner Joel Phipps formed the general content of a vision statement that will include developing an environment to support growth in retail, restaurants, housing and entertainment and enhance an environment for higher education in Emporia.
The commission can leave the statement vague, so they can put the details in later through its goals, Barnes said. The commission will have to pass a resolution at some point to form the vision statement, so they will still have a chance to change it up to the resolution and can always change it in the future.
“But something like this should not be changed every 10 seconds,” he said.
The statement should be used as a “road map for the future,” Barnes said.
The commission also formed possible short-term goals within 18 months:
Identify and have in place a specific funding source to support the multi-year fund no later than April 2013.
Adopt Phase I of the enforcement program on housing by October 2012 and start Phase II by January 2013.
Create a proactive environment to assist in success of higher education in Emporia.
Develop and adopt parks master plan by October 2012.
Complete the Community Initiated Development Program, Phase III
Maintain financial viability of city by lowering administration transfer fees to 15 percent, no increase in mill levy or utility fees, and maintain minimum recognized reserves
The commission’s possible long-term goals included:
Increase city and college on-campus population by 10 percent each in five years.
Define a comprehensive economic plan by end of 2014.
Complete a Black and Gold District within five years.
Sustain and maintain housing program within five years.
Create and adopt a vision plan for Emporia by end of 2014.
jamesbordonaro (James Bordonaro) says...
Here's my proposal for a vision statement:
Keep taxes to a minimum, enforce the housing code so students don't die in fires, provide adequate recreational opportunities, and keep the streets paved and the garbage picked up. Simple, right? Didn't even take me a "retreat" or seminar or paying some guy $500 to think of that on my own.
February 2, 2012 at 8:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
But james, seminars and retreats have such good eats like donuts and cinnamon rolls and swedish meatballs and pizza and pasta salads and ...
Seriously, your ideas rock!
February 3, 2012 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
How many of the citizens attending the Commission meetings have told the Commissioners exactly what you have just stated james ?
But then, how many of these same exact citizen/taxpayer suggestions have either fallen on " Deaf " Commission ears or been " Totally blown OFF " as suggestions coming from those who " don' t know " anything ?
And why do you think that petitions are started and signed by those same suggestion making citizens/taxpayers to bring " Bad " Commission decision making to a vote of the " self same " citizen/taxpayer electorate ?
And how many times has the Commission's thrown good money down the proverbial " think tank " rat hole or fleeced the taxpayer to attend a " retreat " or seminar to get " ideas " on City Goals, etc. ?
When you have answered these questions to your satisfaction, then you will know why Emporia, Lyon County and it's taxpayers are in the shape/trouble/debt that they are currently in, " up to their collective NECKS " !!
JMO
February 3, 2012 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
marko (anonymous) says...
seriously doubt they can do anything for five hundred dollars
February 3, 2012 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EmporiaRocks (anonymous) says...
Now, now, James...
You know as well as I that the fire that killed those students wasn't caused because the housing code was not being enforced.
February 3, 2012 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )