Goals, Strategies, and Tasks

Goals, Strategies, and Tasks Goals are the broadest expressions of a community's desires. Goals give direction to the plan as a whole. Goals are concerned with the long term, and often describe ideal situations that would result if all plan purposes were fully realized. Since goals are value-based, their attainment is difficult to measure. A Strategy is a careful plan or method. It can also be an art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal. A Task is defined as an assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain timeframe. 12-1

Public Policy: Goal: Review the benefits of changing to restrictive zoning instead of pyramid zoning to control land use Task: Plan Commission will make a recommendation to the Zoning Board and City Council within 1 year Goal: Investigate and assess the different forms of government. Goal: Develop a partnership with Illinois Valley Community College and other appropriate regional organizations Task: Develop a memorandum of understanding with IVCC Task: The Development Committee will represent the City on various organizations IVAC, IVCC, Scenic Byway, LCDC) and in events Strategy: Encourage development of broadband internet services Strategy: Market Oglesby and Region collectively with other economic development efforts Goal: Define Planning Area Task: Decide if a meeting should be held with the County and adjacent communities about future planning of the overlapping 1.5 mile planning jurisdiction and boundary line agreements Goal: Explore changing to Home Rule form of government Task: Investigate the pros and cons of Home Rule Goal: Expand or share cost of city services with surrounding area Strategy: Review sharing costs with surrounding areas for all services Task: Expand solid waste removal services to surrounding areas Goal: The City will utilize hospitality training. Task: Create a welcome wagon for new residents of Oglesby Task: Work with IVCC to create programs for hospitality training for business owners, city employees, and others 12-2

Infrastructure: Goal: Improve and upgrade public infrastructure (water, sewer, road, electric) within the community to provide the residents of Oglesby with the best services available Strategy: Develop and implement a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Strategy: Develop financing mechanisms to fund infrastructure improvements Task: Economic Development/ Tourism Coordinator, as well as Regional Planning agency with the help of the City Council will determine funding sources Task: Allocate funds and contract Engineer to design improvements according to schedule in CIP Task: Combine road construction with underground infrastructure projects (water, sewer, electric) Task: Review engineering contracts for inclusion of needed road work Strategy: Work with IVCC to provide City electric service to the College Task: Extend electric utilities to IVCC and find financing for the extension Strategy: Assess current facilities Goal: Improve, upgrade, and create Community facilities and structures within the community to provide the residents of Oglesby with the best services available Strategy: Upgrade facilities Task: Upgrade and maintain Dickinson House (Recreation Director &Dickinson Foundation) Task: Find alternative use for old firehouse Mayor and Recreation Director within 1 to 3 years Strategy: Investigate the possibility of creating an Oglesby Historical Museum Task: Complete within 1-3 years 12-3

Parks and Environment: Goal: Create more activity-oriented places for the residents of Oglesby through the creation of a Parks and Recreation Plan Strategy: Explore and obtain funding from available grant programs for park and environmental projects Strategy: Develop paths and trails for walking and biking Task: Authorize City engineer to design Vermilion River access and a walking and bike path. Task: Create a pedestrian/ bicycle connection to the State Parks, the I&M Canal and Illinois Valley Community College. Task: Convert the unused/ abandoned railroads/ railroad beds to trails with Rails to Trails in the next 1-5 years Strategy: Maintain and develop existing park space Task: Create a soccer field in next 1-3 years Task: Develop a dog park in next 1-3 years Task: Create a water park area at the Municipal Pool or at another Location Task: Develop multi-plex facility Task: Develop area by municipal swimming pool and create shelter connection to swimming pool. Task: Develop recommendations for parking locations at Lehigh Park and Memorial Park. Strategy: Require green space or parkland be set aside with every new residential development Task: Review Subdivision Ordinance Strategy: Require landscaping with commercial developments Task: Design Review Board will make a recommendation to City Council for guidelines in 1 year 12-4

Goal: Acquire new and utilize existing land for active and passive recreation Strategy: Obtain the old Lehigh Cement quarry on the northeast side of the City Task: The Economic Development/Tourism Coordinator will investigate options for purchase or trade Strategy: Obtain public use of Marquette Water Dock located on the southeast of the City on the Vermilion River Strategy: Establish neighborhood parks when land is available Task: Renew and rehabilitate land to restore native Illinois flora and fauna Task: Ongoing study of landfill to prairie restoration for old landfill and mine area Strategy: Regional Park development Task: Obtain Vermilion River access and develop it for a public canoe/kayak launch and camping 12-5

Tourism Goal: Actively participate in the Illinois River Road Scenic Byway Strategy: Create Byway visitor experiences that will be marketed by the Byway group Strategy: Ensure City has designated participating representation with the Byway organization Goal: Encourage hotel/lodging development Task: The Economic Development/Tourism Coordinator will create advertising materials to use to increase overnight stays in the City 12-6

Housing: Goal: Develop growth management system for housing development Strategy: Implement a residential/commercial buffer Task: The Plan Commission, as an ongoing task, will determine where commercial is compatible and not disruptive to neighborhoods Goal: Encourage sustainable growth and quality housing to meet needs of the residents Strategy: Identify housing needs for growth in community within 3-5 years (Needs to be based on analysis of housing and economic characteristics) Task: Encourage the development of senior housing Task: Encourage the development of a nursing facility Task: Update and enforce building codes to ensure quality housing Strategy: Encourage the maintenance of existing housing units to prevent blight Task: The City Council will look into adopting a Property Maintenance Code Task: The City Council should investigate the City s eligibility in the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity s housing rehabilitation grant program and identify target areas Strategy: Encourage equitable landlord/tenant relationships and maintained rental units Task: The City Council will develop a Rental Inspection Program within the next 1-3 years Task: The program shall be balance to control any severely adverse impact of rental inspection program on landlords 12-7

Transportation: Goal: Include transportation in the Capital Improvement Plan Strategy: Assess needs (current and future) Task: Investigate public transportation needs Strategy: Create uniform theme to enhance small town atmosphere Task: The Street Department will create uniform signage and wayfinding measures Task: Change Rt. 251 exit sign off I-39 to include Oglesby Task: Develop paths for walking and biking connecting key uses such as schools, parks, businesses, and employers Task: Require sidewalks and lighting uniform with growth (landscaping ordinance) Goal: Enable Oglesby to attract more business through viable transportation choices Strategy: Create more means of transportation for more economic choices Task: Interview existing businesses about transportation needs. Task: The Mayor will, as an ongoing project, develop rail lines. Task: Develop barge loading facility Goal: Help Illinois Valley Community College develop a plan for pedestrian/ bicycle access and safe storage on campus 12-8

Downtown: Goal: The Plan Commission will define the downtown area, and assess the needs of downtown. Strategy: The Design Review Board will develop guidelines for design. Task: They will define a color scheme. Task: The Plan Commission and Design Review Board will develop sign ordinance Strategy: Building rehabilitation will be encouraged within 1 to 3 years, after design guidelines are developed Task: Utilize TIF Grant Program Task: The City will invest in downtown and develop information and ideas to provide business owners Task: The City will encourage private investment Task: Explore the idea of an incubator to entice development and businesses Strategy: Determine need for parking spaces by conducting a parking inventory within a year Goal: Diversify the tax-base in downtown. Strategy: Use marketing in order to attract new businesses to the downtown Task: The Economic Development/Tourism Coordinator will develop a marketing plan Task: Investigate retail options Task: Develop a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) 12-9

Commercial Development: Goal: Diversify the Tax-base in Oglesby. Strategy: Develop a Marketing Plan to help Oglesby attract new business, and retain existing businesses Strategy: The Economic Development/Tourism Coordinator will identify incentives and create an incentive package Task: The City will staff a project/marketing manager Task: Negotiate with landowners to list existing sites that are available (IVAC and realtors) Task: The City will join LaSalle County Development Connection (LCDC) Strategy: Develop design guidelines Task: Keep landscape pleasing (Landscape Ordinance) Strategy: Establish Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Task: The City Council will investigate the options for a RLF. 12-10

Industrial: Goal: Future planning for green and environmentally friendly and safe technology Strategy: Encourage green technology Task: Maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure which includes road, sewer, water, rail, electric, and internet Task: Manage growth of industry to designated corridors and areas suitable for industry. Goal: Maintain a viable workforce Strategy: Connection with IVCC Business Training Center and other local and regional agencies for skills and job training Strategy: Create a strategic plan for job retention Task: Use business retention surveys to gain knowledge of Statistics Task: Maintain open dialog w/ existing employers Goal: Explore investment options in alternate power sources (wind, hydro) Strategy: Determine plausibility with an electrical consultant Goal: Develop strategy/plan for the old Lehigh Cement property Task: Meet with owner of property and work together to redevelop it Task: Seek out funding for redevelopment Task: Investigate Brownfield funding 12-11

Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan: Goal: Remain compliant and fulfill the action items required by FEMA in the plan. Strategy: The City will delegate tasks and remain current. Task: Maintain outdoor warning sirens in good working condition and update when necessary. Purchase new sirens for full community coverage, as expansion requires. Task: Include mitigation provisions when considering the creation and or revision of plans and ordinances. Task: Establish a post disaster chain of command and have pertinent phone numbers readily available. Task: Continue to work on local drainage issues Task: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) compliance. Adoption and enforcement of floodplain management regulations is required. Task: Consider NHM when constructing new buildings and when renovating and revitalizing buildings 12-12