The document includes eight critical success factors, which are things city staff determined must be handled correctly for League City government to succeed:
- Develop and maintain infrastructure
- Financially sustainable
- Safe and desirable community
- Quality community amenities
- Trained, committed and valued workforce
- Engaged residents
- Economic development and tourism
- Quality-built environment
Each of the critical success factors has several initiatives with objectives to help achieve that goal. Each objective has a deadline, status, listed responsible officials and ways to measure success.
“I think this is a great way for the city to do business,” Council Member Hank Dugie said. “I think it’s fantastic.”
Quality community amenities has three initiatives—the most of any critical success factor, according to the strategic plan.
One initiative is to focus on acquiring new and developing existing land for park facilities, recreation programs and trails. Another is to build a new animal shelter with a focus on increasing community involvement through volunteerism, outreach and education, according to the plan.
Other initiatives include developing a citizen survey under the engaged residents critical success factor and creating a long-term financial plan to reduce tax and debt burden on residential property owners under the financially stable factor, according to the plan.
Council Member Nick Long said he does not agree with everything on the plan but likes how it’s “incredibly ambitious.” Dugie said the plan passing does not mean the initiatives, many of which need council approval, will automatically be approved.
The strategic plan also includes a vision to make League City the best place to live, work and play; a mission to provide extraordinary service to create and sustain a historic, dynamic and prosperous community; and the values of sustainability, excellence, respect, value-driven, integrity, customer-focused and engaged, or “SERVICE.”
Work on the strategic plan began in August when staff began discussing it. In December, the city selected Novak Consulting to help develop the plan.
City staff and the council worked with Novak through April to draft the strategic plan. In June, residents were able to take a survey to provide feedback on the plan. The survey closed July 1, and city staff is analyzing the results.
In other business
The League City City Council at its July 10 meeting also:
- Authorized hiring Freese and Nichols, Inc. for no more than $398,000 to help manage the city’s capital improvement plan. Work will include identifying projects, estimating costs, selecting design consultants and more. Council members expressed concerns with the city not achieving its capital improvement plan and spending money on consultants instead of hiring internal staff.
- Amended League City’s 2018 operating and capital budget for actual and projected expenditures. The adjustment allows for the hiring for two new staff members. The increased costs are offset by anticipated police department savings.
