Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and the Reno City Council met yesterday at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) to discuss the Strategic Plan for the City of Reno. Reno City Manager Andrew Clinger and City of Reno leadership staff also took part in the day-long planning discussion.
The public meeting, divided into various themed sessions, focused on the areas of Team Building, Mission & Vision, Priorities & Goals, and Building Action Plans.
In one exercise, Council agreed on a draft mission statement: “The City of Reno is dedicated to creating a community that people are proud to call home.” In this case, “City of Reno” pertains to the organization, or governing body.
Developing updated strategic priorities was the goal behind evaluating the City’s vision. In doing so, Council drafted general priorities that focused on a vibrant downtown, healthy and safe neighborhoods, preparing for future regional growth, fiscal sustainability, efficient services, and promoting a business-friendly environment.
“This was an important process because it provided the opportunity for us to come together as a Council and map out our collective vision for the City,” Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve says. “We want to ensure that we provide the best possible quality of life for our citizens, and this is a crucial first step toward that goal.”
Citizen input from a recent ETC Institute community survey was also incorporated into the conversation. The survey was conducted on behalf of the City of Reno last month. The City asked for input to help guide the direction of local government and the services delivered to citizens. The survey was mailed citywide, and 2,000 randomly selected households were asked to participate.
Survey participants cited the following areas of importance, which were identified as “citizen priorities”: City financial management; police services; and maintenance of streets, facilities, and buildings. In the area of public safety, survey participants pinpointed crime prevention, visibility of police in neighborhoods, and emergency response time.
The City of Reno’s official, updated mission and strategic priorities will receive final approval at a future Council meeting.
SOURCE: City of Reno.
