Exit133

April 1, 2013 · Exit133

City of Tacoma Strategic Direction for 2013-2014

The City Council is set to vote this Tuesday to approve the City of Tacoma Strategic Direction for 2013-2014, a document that would guide the City’s strategic direction over the next two years. The intent of the document is to focus City efforts and resources strategically and provide guidance to the City Manager in directing staff.

Some of the items look familiar; we’ve seen the mission, vision, guiding principles and strategic goals before. The objectives identified come out of discussions and priority-setting activities for the Council, with the goal of providing a clear sense of direction to City staff. The process aimed to identify objectives that are both important to the City and achievable with available resources, without duplicating work done elsewhere within the City.

Mission
We provide high-quality, innovative and cost-effective municipal services that enhance the lives of our citizens and the quality of our neighborhoods and business districts

Vision
Tacoma is an attractive and progressive international city, regarded for the richness of its diverse population and its natural setting

Guiding Principles
• Service – Integrity – Accountability – Respect – Stewardship – Innovation – Teamwork

Strategic Goals
• A safe, clean and attractive community
• A diverse, productive and sustainable economy
• A high-performing, open and engaged government

Strategic Policy Priorities

  1. Strengthen and maintain a Strong Fiscal Management position.
  2. Strengthen and support Human Services, Public Education, and Diverse Higher Learning opportunities in Tacoma.
  3. Foster Neighborhood, Community, and Economic Development Vitality and Sustainability.
  4. Plan for and improve Public Infrastructure that meets the Transportation needs of all Tacoma residents and visitors.
  5. Encourage and promote an Open, Effective, Results-oriented Organization.

Strategic Objectives 

  1. Create a Fiscal Sustainability Task Force to examine the City’s revenue structure and structural budget deficit.
  2. Implement the Economic Development Action Plan.
  3. Develop and implement a marketing/communication campaign.
  4. Make Tacoma more physically attractive.
  5. Develop and implement a comprehensive transportation plan.

It all looks good on paper. So, where do we begin?

Filed under: City Council, City Government, Strategic Planning

9 comments

  • RR Anderson April 1, 2013

    two words: kalakala

  • Jesse April 1, 2013

    There are tons of planter strips in Tacoma filled in with asphalt. A good project would be to dig those up and plant easily or no maintenance trees and low lying ground cover in them. Would that fall under “make Tacoma more attractive?”

  • Chepe April 1, 2013

    No such thing as low maintenance trees and shrubs. If you want to have a beautiful green city, it’ll cost you. It’s a question of priorities.

  • fred davie April 1, 2013

    “It all looks good on paper. So, where do we begin?” exit133

    The starting place is simple. The city’s mission is to provide COST EFFECTIVE SERVICES. Read the mission statement. It’s right there. If any service that is being provided is not being provided in a cost effective manner then it’s not serving the city mission. Lot’s of examples of city funds being spent w/o regard to the cost effectiveness of the expenditure.

  • Stu April 2, 2013

    I’d like to see a study on creating more volunteer opportunities throughout city government. Supervised volunteering costs little, builds community, could get underutilized members of society (some examples – seniors, teens, unemployed) involved. Study it department by department and figure out where & how volunteers could be utilized.

    Some suggested areas worthy of consideration: Parks and parkway gardening. School tutoring. Refuse reclaim & refurb. Volunteer firefighters to bolster our professional firefighers, or at least an auxilliary. (Over 75% of all firefighters nationwide are volunteers.) Building traffic circles where needed. Pothole repair. More neighborhood watches.

    For those who say they’re too busy, fine. They don’t need to participate. But I think there are plenty of underutilized citizens in our community that would like – no, NEED – to get involved and contribute to the well-being of their community. (Church fills some of this need already. Not everyone likes church.) Think of it as civic crowdsourcing.

  • Chris April 2, 2013

    I would love to see the city make good on a comprehensive transportation plan. It would be a good first step towards rebuilding Tacoma.

  • tom llewellyn April 2, 2013

    Looks like it was copied out the mission/vision handbook. Blah blah blah. How about some specifics? We have struggling schools, potholed streets, lousy mass transit, and a very short list of big employers. Let’s get visionary.

  • Rick Jones April 2, 2013

    The Strategic Direction looks good, very good. But it also looks familiar, very familiar. After the studies, plans, reports and more studies, let’s see who is acting and who is talking.

  • LeroyTheLips April 3, 2013

    How about a study of how many supervisors or special positions there are. Or how many times there has been a new mission statement then followed by promotions? They just repackage their ideas. Next will come another wage adjustment.