Successful implementation of the Comprehensive Plan will require strong leadership, government accountability, and regional cooperation. The following recommendations are designed to incorporate best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of local governance, improve communication, and ensure that the City can continue to provide high quality municipal services to residents and commerce.
STRATEGY DESCRIPTION/POTENTIAL BENEFITS Goal 1: Enhance the overall quality and efficiency of municipal services in the City of Oneonta.
AG.1 Ensure that the City Manager’s goals
support the Comprehensive Plan Update. The City Manager is responsible for developing an annual strategic operational plan that maps out the City’s short- and long-term priorities.
When developing the strategic operational plan the City Manager should review the Comprehensive Plan Update to ensure that the priorities are consistent with the City’s vision and goals
AG.2 Explore ways to maximize response to the
U.S. Census. Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns identified by the census.
Businesses and developers also use census data to decide where to build factories, offices, stores, and homes.
The City should continue to participate in discussions with local leaders from the region to identify a strategy to maximize citizen participation in the upcoming decennial census.
Goal 2: Ensure that public facilities will adequately serve the needs of residents and businesses within the City of Oneonta and are adaptable to future growth.
AG.3 Conduct a space needs assessment of municipal facilities.
A space needs assessment is a systematic study of a building and its occupants for the purpose of determining if the design and size of the structure meet the needs of the occupants.
As communities continue to make more services on- line accessible, municipal facility space needs are changing. Conducting an assessment of current needs would promote efficiency of local government facilities.
STRATEGY DESCRIPTION/POTENTIAL BENEFITS AG.4 Plan for and construct or renovate municipal
facilities to meet the needs of City operations in order to serve residents in a safe, secure, energy-efficient and cost- effective manner.
The City should use the space needs assessment to identify for future municipal facility needs. A long- term plan should be prepared for the renovation of existing facilities or construction of new facilities as needed. This will help prioritize need and provide advanced planning for the financing of facility improvements or additions.
Renovations and new construction should incorporate energy efficient systems as feasible to minimize ongoing operational costs to taxpayers.
Goal 3: Engage the Town of Oneonta and surrounding communities in additional dialogue regarding issues and the potential for shared services.
AG.5 Identify additional areas of opportunity for shared services with the Town of Oneonta and surrounding communities.
Shared services can help municipalities increase effectiveness and efficiency in their operation. As municipal responsibilities become increasingly complex and demanding, municipalities should explore shared services and other cooperative opportunities as a way to reduce or avoid costs, improve service delivery, and/or maintain services.
Goal 4: Encourage the most desirable and efficient use of land while enhancing the physical and economic environment of the City of Oneonta.
AG.6 Review, and if necessary, update City Code using innovative approaches to ensure that zoning and building codes support the recommendations identified in this Plan.
Zoning and building codes should be reviewed for alignment with the City’s comprehensive plan to make sure that regulations allow for the plan’s recommendations to be implemented. Innovative emerging best practices in building codes and zoning such as form-based zoning and energy- efficiency requirements should be integrated wherever appropriate.
AG.7 Create site development design guidelines. Design guidelines ensure that new development that occurs within the City is of an appropriate scale and style so that it contributes to functionality and attractiveness of the City.
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) has generated design guidelines for the Downtown area.
The City should build off this effort to create site development design guidelines for the remainder of the City to ensure its neighborhoods and other areas outside of the downtown are appropriately
developed in a manner that is integrated with its surroundings.
Goal 5: Increase communications and public engagement opportunities.
AG.8 Review, and if necessary, enhance the City’s
website. Today, municipal websites act as digital gateways,
and can often create positive or negative impressions for visitors before they step foot in a community.
Residents and business owners have come to rely on municipal websites to provide a variety of services and information, including agendas, meeting minutes, application forms, calendar items, links, and contact information, at a minimum.
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STRATEGY DESCRIPTION/POTENTIAL BENEFITS AG.9 Increase the public’s ability to interact with
various City departments electronically to complete forms on-line and pay fees electronically.
The City should seek grant funding to determine the feasibility and cost associated with developing an on-line permit system. The system should allow residents and businesses to complete forms online and allow for coordination of the permit process with the Code Enforcement Office to improve efficiency and records management.
It is the policy of Oneonta to: continue to develop strategic partnerships with local higher education institutions.