Strategic Plan

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

2022 One-Year Tasks
1. Update investment policy
2. Begin update to Recreation Master Plan
3. Analyze current financial models for capital projects, Old Village business district, 35th District Court, Recreation Department, and Public Safety
4. Explore/create impervious surface ordinance
5. Explore/implement organic material collection
6. Develop educational/resource material on native and pollinator friendly plantings
7. Identify possible future rain garden locations
8. Increase educational/resource material on tree related information
9. Research possible partnerships/memberships with “green” organizations
10. Evaluate city facilities and technology to assess necessary upgrades and emergency preparedness needs
11. Initiate Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) grant activities
12. Acquire fleet upgrades based on 2021 approved funding plan
13. Develop a plan to modernize City facilities and ensure ADA compliance
14. Complete ADA compliance project at Cultural Center (extent based on pending federal funding)
15. Decide on direction for paid parking
16. Develop plan for electric vehicle infrastructure and possible charging locations
17. 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

2022 One-Year Tasks
1. Create a 5-year staffing projection
2. Review current recruitment strategies and identify additional resources
3. Identify/establish flex scheduling positions and procedures
4. Develop a plan for an internship program
5. Review potential department collaborations
6. Hire an additional recreation professional
7. Review current diversity, equity, and inclusion training opportunities
8. 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
• Actively participate with multi-governmental lobbies (Michigan Municipal League, Conference of Western Wayne, etc.)

2022 One-Year Tasks
1. Review park sponsorship and explore the establishment of a “Friends of the park” type organization
2. Solicit interest in renewal of “Citizen’s Academy” type program
3. Attend governmental professional organization meetings/conferences/events
4. 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 maximize resident livability and satisfaction.
• Modernize and update zoning ordinance to reflect community vision
• Implement Kellogg Park master plan

2022 One-Year Tasks
1. Implement Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) certification 1.0 – begin research on RRC 2.0
2. Identify possible green space opportunities
3. Research multi-modal best practices
4. Review bike ordinance
5. Identify location for new bike racks
6. Construct multi-modal pathway along N. Territorial connecting Plymouth City and Plymouth Township
7. Review noise ordinance
8. Develop a construction site expectations program
9. Identify possible locations for a dog park
10. Audit current zoning ordinance
11. Reach decision on outdoor dining plan and consider “parklets”
12. Continue process of upgrading Tonquish Creek Nature Walk