In 2005, following an 18 month process, the Shakopee City Council adopted five long-term objectives to help guide current and future decisions about the city.
In Shakopee, we strive to be:
1. An active and healthy community.
2. A place with a high quality of life for residents.
3. A great place for kids to grow up.
4. A vibrant, resilient and stable city.
5. A financially strong City.
1. Ensure the City's financial health.
- Maintain fund balances.
- Maintain moderate debt levels.
- Maintain a stable city tax rate.
- Determine additional funding sources to increase the Park Reserve Fund.
2. Determine and provide high quality, cost effective services.
- Analyze project requirements to determine if current staffing levels are appropriate.
- Measure the public's expectations of service levels and how those expectations are being met.
- Implement technological advances that enhance productivity.
- Train, hire and retain quality employees.
3. Make the downtown and riverfront inviting.
- Coordinate with downtown interest groups.
- Look at the future of the 1st Avenue corridor (Bluff St. to 2nd Avenue).
- Enhance the variety of business offerings and entryways to the downtown/riverfront areas.
4. Continue the implementation of the Visioning Initiative Process.
- Update residents on the City's Vision and current goals.
- Use goals and consider strengths during decision making.
- Perform a periodic public review of the initiative.
- Maintain Steering Committee and review progress annually.
- Ensure committees and commissions are vested in the City's goals and strengths and consider them during decision making.
5. Make the community a welcoming place to live and work.
- Welcome new residents; celebrate Shakopee's diversity through various cultural events; and foster relationships by meeting with neighborhood groups/residents.
- Ensure that staff has the training and resources to work with diverse populations and community attitudes.
- Implement physical accessibility plan in City facilities.
- Increase transit offerings and resources.
6. Reprioritize projects and staff resources.
- Establish work plans for the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update; the future of the Community Center; personnel issues; annexation agreement and phasing for Jackson Township; major transportation issues; and Shakopee Public Utilities /City of Shakopee.
- Assess status of the Community Center water infiltration problem.
7. Protect the environment.
- Educate and encourage the public to utilize recycling services and expand offerings.
- Update storm water plan and enforce regulations.
- Adopt and educate the public on Natural Resources Design Standards and Preservation of Fragile Natural Areas.
- Complete energy audit for "City Green Projects" and identify other energy efficiencies. Implement recommendations at City facilities as resources or opportunities become available.
- Work to incorporate sustainable design criteria.
8. Strengthen Shakopee's "small town" feel.
- Develop cooperative, community-wide communication efforts.
- Develop plan for street design, sidewalks, signage and visual connectiveness service techniques for City employees.
- Provide pedestrian crossings.
- Work with Chamber and/or community groups on special events and community projects.
9. Foster community connections.
- Hold neighborhood meetings.
- Provide more communications vehicles from which residents can obtain City news and information (newsletter, website, flyers, meetings, etc.).
- Support community initiatives and events (Derby Days, National Night Out, organizations supporting the arts, Shakopee Showcase).
- Identify and reach out to the City's diverse populations.
- Continue to develop trails that connect to different areas of the City, as well as bring people to public areas.
10. Work to resolve tribal-related land issues.
- Continue to support negotiations, including expectations for Fee to Trust applications.
- Continue to seek cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
- Expand partnership with Scott County and others.
- Facilitate development of non tribal lands around SMSC lands.
