Prep work aims to make Geneva goal-setting less onerous

When it sets its 2016 goals in November, the Geneva City Council can refer to a cheat sheet on the city's strategic plan, developed to make the exercise less confusing and annoying.

The Strategic Plan Advisory Commission has finished its assigned task of taking the 2014 Strategic Plan - with its seven visions and 95 attached goals - and making it more digestible.

The pamphlet it presented to the council Monday has removed goals already met, lumped together goals that the commission considers duplicative, and noted goals that can't be accomplished until another goal is done first.

"It's gotten a mishmash of crap in here," Commission Chairman Mark Brault said of the Strategic Plan. He pointed out, for example, that six of the 22 goals tied to a vision for using city resources could be condensed in to one: develop a long-range facility plan.

And the commission listed the next 10 goals the council should give high consideration to at the special goals meeting in November. The top four: concentrating on proper amounts of workers, upgrading technology, expanding the downtown corridor to the east and funding capital projects and investments.

When the council approves the year's goals, the administrators use them to plan the city's budget.

Aldermen in the last few years have criticized the methods used in the November meetings to rank the goals.

The 2014 Strategic Plan was developed out of workshops in which about 200 members of the community discussed what they want for Geneva, according to Alderman Craig Maladra. It replaced (and is 66 percent shorter) than the 2007 plan.

Alderman Tom Simonian, while thanking the commission for its work, said the strategic plan needs improvement,

"I've never been a fan of any of them (the visions)," Simonian said, calling them "warm and fuzzies." "The only thing these visions are missing is a guitar, a fireplace and maybe singing 'Kumbaya.'"

The administrators give the council written reports each quarter about progress made toward the year's goals. Simonian said he doesn't read them.

The visions are:

• "Recognize, honor, preserve and enhance community heritage and character;"

• "Maintain, sustain and enhance the character, vibrancy, uniqueness and desirability of our various business districts and corridors;"

• "Encourage, foster and facilitate the ongoing strength of community participation and commitment to public affairs;"

• "Promote and amplify community unity and diversity through actions and programs that encourage inclusion, vitality and wholeness;"

• "Manage City resources and assets to effectively and efficiently deliver core services, provide for capital investment, and meet community needs and desires;"

• "Facilitate, encourage and promote environmental awareness, natural assets, energy efficiency and open space as central community values for policy and operations;" and

• "Encourage and promote a variety of mobility options that promote an efficient and varied transportation system."

Alderman Jim Radecki said there are too many goals. He wants only four or five goals.

"There are like 106 or 107 goals in there, and you can't possibly get your head around them," Radecki said.