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Asheville City Council identifies strategic plan goals: Collaborative discussion focuses on balancing community vision and financial conditions

The Asheville City Council began identifying goals for the city’s strategic plan during the first day of its annual two day goal setting retreat at Warren Wilson College. Council members worked throughout the day to discuss key initiatives for the annual plan that sets priorities for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010.

Through collaborative discussion, city leaders brainstormed and listed goals they would like to see move forward in the next year. Among the top priorities were continuing to forge intergovernmental and community partnerships to implement initiatives during economically challenging times.

“In order to overcome the impacts of the current recession as well as key structural issues we’ve indentified in the city’s budget, it will be crucial for us to continue to develop strong and lasting partnerships,” said Mayor Terry Bellamy. “We need to continue to focus efforts on working with our state delegation, Buncombe County, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and key agencies.”

City Council reaffirmed its commitment to four key focus areas including affordability, safety, fiscal responsibility, and sustainability and green initiatives. City Council also added community development and job growth as a new focus area in the plan.

Additional goals discussed during the retreat included incentivizing affordable housing, exploring financing mechanisms for energy efficiency investments in public and private buildings, identifying and prioritizing multi-modal transportation projects, and enhancing public safety investments.

“As a body, we’re working to be effective and innovative in addressing the community’s needs while holding the line on property taxes,” said Vice Mayor Brownie Newman. “The purpose of the retreat is to spend dedicated time as a group working on these issues.”

City Council will meet for the second day of its retreat tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the Gladfelter Building’s Canon Lounge on Warren Wilson’s campus.

Tomorrow’s agenda includes additional discussion about Asheville’s financial structure as analyzed in a city staff written paper entitled Asheville 2010: A Financial Crossroads. Council will also discuss updates to city master plans, including the Downtown Master Plan, Sustainability Management Plan, Transit Master Plan, and the Parks and Greenways Master Plan, among others. The full retreat agenda is available at http://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/mayor_city_council/city_council/default.aspx?id=5396&ekmensel=116_submenu_0_link_3.