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2021/12/10 - Walter's Blog: Plans, Plans, Plans

Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton

Plans, Plans, Plans

 

Excellent City services do not happen by accident – it takes planning and organization. City staff and the City Council have been working on four plans that will shape the community for the next 20 years: the Capital Improvements Plan, Master Plan, Strategic Plan, and Parks Master Plan.

The Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) was approved by the City Council on December 6. The CIP is a planning instrument that identifies capital infrastructure projects and equipment in need of purchase, renovation, repair and/or construction over the next five years (2022-2017). The CIP assigns the funding sources for the projects and the year when the project will be completed. This year’s CIP features an online portal with projects located on an online map. The proposed CIP includes projects at the total cost of $86,772,000, however, none of the projects will be funded until they are approved for allocation in the annual budget.

The 2040 Master Plan is a comprehensive vision for the future of O’Fallon. The Plan contains recommendations on how to the city should grow over the next 20 years. We received feedback from O’Fallon residents and consulted with the Planning Commission and City Council to develop goals in five areas: Community Identity, Safe & Healthy Community, Built Environment, Natural Environment, and Resilient Economy. The Master Plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission in January and approved by the City Council in February.

The Strategic Plan is a component of the Master Plan and contains recommendations to be achieved over the next 3-5 years. The projects follow the goal areas in the Master Plan but are more specific in scope and timeline. Many of the items in the Strategic Plan will be included in the upcoming annual budget.

The Parks Master Plan is related to the Master Plan but provides specific recommendations on improvements to the City’s park system. Surveys and feedback overwhelmingly confirmed that green space and quality of life are priorities for O’Fallon residents. The plan includes improvements to existing parks, trail extensions, and future parks. A major piece of the Parks Master Plan is a study of the Community Pool, which is more than 50 years old and needs replacement. The Parks Master Plan was approved by the City Council on December 6.

These four plans provide a road map for staff to follow to achieve the community’s vision for O’Fallon. Good planning and partnership between the City Council, staff, and citizens will provide for a stronger community.