2012-2014 City Council Goals and Workplan discussion: April 9 Council meeting
Every year the City Council holds a strategic planning and goal setting retreat to monitor progress and determine priorities and action steps for the coming year. The result is the establishment of the Council’s goals and workplan. This workplan, which is aimed at improving our ability to fulfill the community’s vision, is then reflected in department workplans, in the City’s budget and capital improvement plan and through special initiatives.
At the City Council’s March 2-3, 2012 annual retreat, the Council discussed having their 2012-2014 goals support achievement of the City’s long-term vision embodied in Vision 2029 and being a sustainable city in all respects. This includes:
- Sustainable neighborhoods – ensuring they are safe and attractive;
- Sustainable environment – enhancing our built environment so that it protects our natural resources;
- Sustainable services – supporting quality services, facilities and infrastructure
Based on Council’s discussion and direction, City staff has drafted the 2012-2014 City Council Goals and Workplan for Council’s consideration, a copy of which can be found on the City’s website. Four goals that support the City’s overall sustainable efforts rose to the top:
- Strengthen Shoreline’s economic base;
- Improve Shoreline’s utility, transportation and environmental infrastructure;
- Prepare for two Shoreline light rail stations;
- Enhance openness and opportunities for community engagement
Council would like to receive public comment and feedback on the draft goals and workplan, which are scheduled for discussion at Council’s April 9 meeting and adoption on April 23.
On #3, I'd like to see the city be open-minded about where the stations are located, particularly the southern one. While I don't think there's a lot of disagreement with 185th, the approach from particularly the west is narrow. On the other hand, there's decent bus service connecting from Richmond Beach and North CIty, though nothing from Aurora Village or Shoreline Park & Rides, which could mitigate traffic on N. 185th, a busy street from the west for commuters: adding light rail-bound traffic could be problematic.
ReplyDeleteHowever, N. 145th has been congestion-ridden for decades, with similar bus service as N. 185th, but nothing west of 5th NE until N. 185th. A much better choice would be N. 155th, as not only is there the aforementioned bus service, but Metro's #330 goes east-west across N. 155th, serving Paramount Park, Aurora and Metro's future RapidRide, and Shoreline Community College. N. 155th, wider than N. 185th, also lacks the huge level of I-5-bound commuter traffic that N. 145th has.