2016-2017 Davidson Game Plan

1. Financial
Topic: Financial plan (Piet)

Outcome: Develop a financial plan that provides guidance for revenue and expenditure decisions

Action steps:

1. Evaluate Government Finance Officers Association resources to create a model for Davidson

2. Review financial metrics, including tax rate (compare to our benchmark towns)

3. Decide on plan timeframe (5-10 years)

4. Create revenue and expenditure categories and projection assumptions

5. Review/test-drive with board of commissioners to get feedback

6. Finalize financial plan model

Estimated timeframe: February 2016-Fall 2016 (first draft), ongoing enhancement of scope

Topic: Finance capital projects (Jamie & Piet)

Outcome: Consider projects that could be financed with general obligation bonds and other financing tools

Action steps:

1. Solicit needs for projects from various stakeholders

a. Project possibilities for financing:

i. Municipal building (fire station 1 and 2, police department)

ii. Public works facilities (could include parks and recreation offices)

iii. Affordable housing

iv. Sidewalks

v. Road improvements

vi. Greenways and athletic fields

vii. Open space land purchases

viii. Cultural facilities and partnerships (funding)

2. Consider bonds for adding public assets (greenways, parks, roads, etc.)

a. Research bond ratings process/referendum wording

b. Educate stakeholders on general obligation bonds

c. Determine if general obligation bonds should be pursued and decide on services/projects

d. Outline the general obligation bond process/timeline/referendum date

3. Engage financial advisor, Local Government Commission, and bond counsel

4. Establish a schedule of capital projects with categorized financing options

5. Develop timeline for financing and completion of projects

Estimated timeframe: Capital projects financing plan by summer 2016; ongoing updates

Topic: MI-Connection (Jamie)

Outcome: Determine future options for MI-Connection

Action steps:

1. Gather information needed for future decisions

2. Continue to analyze the MI-Connection business plan and projected results for future

3. Create task force of Town of Davidson and Town of Mooresville board members for joint discussions regarding options and decision points (Town of Davidson Board of Commissioners will handle)

Estimated timeframe: Start spring 2016

2. Mobility

Topic: I-77 Managed Lanes Project (Travis/Doug)

Outcome: Mitigate the impacts of the project during construction

Action steps:

1. Work with NC Department of Transportation, I-77 Mobility Partners, and other entities to plan for and mitigate the impacts of the project during construction (Travis)

a. Talk with Lake Norman Transportation Commission about doing this regionally

b. Assemble staff work group

c. Develop list of opportunities and challenges

d. Provide information to citizens

Estimated timeframe: Spring 2016 and ongoing

Topic: Davidson Mobility Plan (Comprehensive Transportation Plan) (Doug/Travis/Jason)

Outcome: Create a mobility plan for Davidson to improve circulation around town for citizens.

Action steps:

1. Update of Circulation Plan (becomes the Davidson Mobility Plan)

a. Engage consultant for the update

b. Outline a process that includes a task force and public input

c. Identify stakeholders/partners

d. Identify projects by priority level and determine implementation

2. Partner with Cornelius, Huntersville, Mooresville and Lake Norman Transportation Commission?

3. Include vehicular, golf cart, pedestrian, bicycle, transit (both local and regional)

4. Look at innovative solutions (work with consultants), e.g. the intersection of Pine and Concord

Estimated timeframe: FY2017

Topic: Greenways (Kathryn/Doug)

Outcome: Work with Mecklenburg County to evaluate the opportunities and accelerate the construction of our greenway system

Action steps:

1. Work with county to:

a. Determine options

b. Define what needs to be built

c. Prioritize

d. Determine costs and funding options

2. Need plan to show which greenways will be procured through development

3. Consult Davidson Parks and Recreation Master Plan

4. Evaluate funding options

5. Develop implementation schedule

Estimated timeframe: Summer 2016 and ongoing

3. Economic Development

Topic: Catalyst Study (Kim)

Outcome: Determine what best serves the needs of the town in the downtown area and create a development strategy to meet those needs

Action steps:

1. Public input process with small groups to address name, scale, etc. in February/March 2016

2. Evaluate proposed scope for the project to include private development components and public facilities

3. Develop public-private partnership model and financial model

Estimated timeframe: Contract with DFI expires December 2017

Topic: Economic Development Strategic Plan (Kim)

Outcome: Update Economic Development Strategic Plan for next five years to maximize the commercial development potential that meets the needs of the community

Action steps:

1. Include South Main area

2. Include plans for east Davidson

3. Explore incubators (including PiES), entrepreneurship ideas (Davidson College), and co-working (similar to Packard Place in Charlotte)

4. Commerce Station

5. Expand cultural offerings (Kim and Dawn)

Estimated timeframe: FY2017

4. Growth/Planning

Topic: Comprehensive Plan (Jason)

Outcome: Update Comprehensive Plan to use as our guiding document

Action steps:

1. Complete Comprehensive Plan update (Jason)

a. Get scope of work, timeline, and cost estimate

b. Solicit input from planning board and other stakeholders

c. Review process; how include planning board, citizens?

Estimated timeframe: FY 2017-18

Topic: Rural Area Plan (Jason)

Outcome: Develop implementation strategy for the Rural Area Plan

Action steps:

1. Seek Rural Area Plan approval in early summer 2016

2. Update ordinance recommended by the Rural Area Plan by fall 2016

3. Work with Charlotte Water to formalize sewer extension strategy

4. Implementation/timelines to come

5. Consider affordable housing: incentivization via Rural Area Plan ordinance implementation

Estimated timeframe: by January 2017

5.Neighborhood level

Topic: Affordable housing (Cindy)

Outcome: Develop an affordable housing strategy in support of Davidson's values

Action steps:

1. Conduct a needs assessment to better understand what the needs are

2. Include options for on-site affordable housing when rezoning for RAP. Require 30% small lots and explore density bonus.

3. Review options for town properties (Bailey Springs and Beaty Street)

a. Review with affordable housing committee and with board

4. Affordable Housing committee report on payment-in-lieu funds:

a. Prioritize options for use

b. Create a financial model

Estimated timeframe: Summer 2016 (needs assessment), Fall 2016 (implementation)

Topic: Neighborhood needs (Cristina)

Outcome: Service the needs of our neighborhoods; ensure that all feel supported by the town

Action steps:

1. Gather and respond to current neighborhood requests to provide our municipal services; ensure citizen engagement from all areas of town

2. Use neighborhood representatives meetings to produce list of needs; visit homeowner association meetings/neighborhood events to explain efforts, gather needs

a. Need to share clear expectations of what our municipal obligations are

3. West Davidson needs:

a. Review West Davidson Stakeholder Committee Report

b. Gather neighborhood requests

c. Encourage/explore community participation

Estimated timeframe: Summer/Fall 2016

6. Resources

Topic: Staffing Plan (Dawn until new Human Resources person is hired)

Outcome: Create a staffing plan using data, staff recommendations, service levels, and metrics that provides a guide for staffing based on community growth and citizen needs (varies by department)

Action steps:

1. Implement needs we have from 2015 study

2. Study long-range staffing needs in coordination with facilities plan

Estimated timeframe: Short-term: Spring 2016 Long-term: Fall 2016

Topic: Facilities Plan: includes all departments, fire stations, public works, police department (Dawn)

Outcome: Prepare for town’s future service needs as our population grows to ensure that facilities are planned to provide services to citizens

Action steps:

1. Space: Assess existing buildings, space needs for each department, cost per square foot, and site options

2. Analyze innovative energy efficiency options and best practices

Estimated timeframe: Summer 2016 (existing buildings), Fall 2016 (future space needs)

7. Infrastructure

Topic: Maintenance (Doug)

Outcome: Identify current infrastructure maintenance needs and develop a plan to address

Action steps:

1. Create new five-year plan for sidewalks and street paving; complete recommendations by March 1

2. Categories: storm water (handled as needed, funds are limited – will discuss during budget), streets, sidewalks, parks, athletic facilities, etc. Fall 2016

3. Determine priorities at board meeting after March 1

4. Implementation over the next five years

5. Review development process to consider improvements that ensure infrastructure the town accepts is appropriate developer process

Estimated timeframe: Fall 2016 (begin implementation)

8. Recreation/Quality of Life

Topic: Active space: athletic fields & courts (Kathryn)

Outcome: To increase the athletic field, court, and other active recreation space available for use by citizens

Action steps:

1. Consult master plan for guidance on athletic space

2. Needs assessment by Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

3. Livability Board input and recommendation

4. Talk with other entities for shared athletic space/partnerships