On Saturday, November 13, 2021, the elected and appointed leaders of the City of Plymouth spent the day discussing the five-year future of the city. The combined group discussed the internal strengths and weaknesses and the external opportunities and threats that could impact the city. The team then created a shared vision of what the city may look like in 2026.
The City Commission approved the following goals, objectives and one-year tasks at its January 18, 2022 meeting.
Goal Area One – Sustainable Infrastructure
Key Objectives
- Identify and establish sustainable financial model(s) for major capital projects, Old Village business district, 35th District Court, recreation department, and public safety
- Incorporate eco-friendly, sustainable practices into city assets, services, and policies; including more environmentally friendly surfaces, reduced impervious surfaces, expanded recycling and composting services, prioritizing native and pollinator-friendly plants, encouraging rain gardens, and growing a mature tree canopy
- Partner with or become members of additional environmentally aware organizations
- Increase technology infrastructure into city assets, services, and policies
- Continue sustainable infrastructure improvement for utilities, facilities, and fleet
- Address changing vehicular habits, including paid parking system /parking deck replacement plan, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and one-way street options
One-Year Tasks
- Update investment policy
- Begin update to Recreation Master Plan
- Analyze current financial models for capital projects, OV business district, 35th District Court, recreation department, and public safety
- Explore/create impervious surface ordinance
- Explore/implement organic material collection
- Develop educational/resource material on native and pollinator friendly plantings
- Identify possible future rain garden locations
- Increase educational/resource material on tree related information
- Research possible partnerships/memberships with “green” organizations
- Evaluate city facilities and technology to assess necessary upgrades and emergency preparedness needs
- Initiate Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) grant activities
- Acquire fleet upgrades based on 2021 approved funding plan
- Review the potential to modernize city facilities and ensure ADA compliance
- Complete ADA compliance project at Cultural Center (extent based on pending federal funding)
- Decide on direction for paid parking
- Review and discuss electric vehicle infrastructure and possible charging locations
- Design parking lot at Saxton’s site
Goal Area Two – Staff Development, Training, and Succession
Key Objectives
- Create policies and programs that support staff recruitment/retention, including a coordinated recruitment program, flexible scheduling, and an internship program
- Increase staff levels to appropriately support city services and departments
- Provide staff/board/volunteer trainings and programming with a focus on improving understanding on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and emphasizing working with and serving diverse communities
One-Year Tasks
- Create a 5-year staffing projection
- Review current recruitment strategies and identify additional resources
- Identify/establish flex scheduling positions and procedures
- Develop a plan for an internship program
- Review potential department collaborations
- Hire an additional recreation professional
- Review current diversity, equity, and inclusion training opportunities
- Seek out training opportunities for serving diverse communities
Goal Area Three – Community Connectivity
Key Objectives
- Engage in partnerships with public, private and non-profit entities
- Increase residential/business education programs for active citizen engagement
- Robust diversion, equity and inclusion programs
- Actively participate with multi-governmental lobbies (Michigan Municipal League, Conference of Western Wayne, etc.)
One-Year Tasks
- Review park sponsorship and explore the establishment of a “friends of the park” type organization
- Solicit interest in renewal of “citizen’s academy” type program
- Attend governmental professional organization meetings/conferences/events
- Increase targeted, cohesive use of web pages, social media, videos, etc. to provide education on city services
Goal Area Four Attractive, Livable Community
Key Objectives
- Create vibrant commercial districts by seeking appropriate mixed-use development, marketing transitional properties, and implementing Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) practices
- Improve existing and pursue additional recreational and public green space opportunities and facilities for all ages
- Develop multi-modal transportation plan which prioritizes pedestrian and biker safety
- Improve link between Hines Park, Old Village, downtown Plymouth, Plymouth Township, and other regional destinations
- Maintain safe, well-lit neighborhoods with diverse housing stock that maximizes resident livability and satisfaction.
- Modernize and update zoning ordinance to reflect community vision
- Implement Kellogg Park master plan
One-Year Tasks
- Implement Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) certification 1.0 –begin research on RRC 2.0
- Identify possible green space opportunities
- Research multi-modal best practices
- Review bike ordinance
- Identify location for new bike racks