HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC.2021.0623.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
JUNE 23, 2021
1. CALL TO ORDER— Chairman Craft
at 4:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL—Chairman Craft
Present: John W. Craft, Jr., Chairman; Patrick Garman, Vice Chairman; Chad Bernick,
Commissioner; Gerard Bisceglia, Commissioner; Mary Edman, Commissioner;
Cynthia Magazine, Commissioner; John McHugh, Commissioner
Staff Town Manager Grady Miller; Finance Director David Pock; Executive Assistant
Present: Angela Padgett-Espiritu
3. CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H),public comment is permitted(not required) on matters NOT listed on the
agenda.Any such comment(i)must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and(ii)is subject to reasonable
time,place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on matters raised
during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. At the
conclusion of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may(i)respond to criticism, (ii)ask staff to review a
matter, or(iii)ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.
4. CONSIDERATION OF Approving the May 26, 2021, Meeting Minutes.
MOVED BY Commissioner Cynthia Magazine, SECONDED BY Commissioner John
McHugh to APPROVE the minutes from the May 26, 2021 meeting.
Vote: 7- 0 - Unanimously
5. UPDATE ON Vision Fountain Hills
Chair Craft introduced guest speaker Tammy Bell, Chair of Vision Fountain Hills, who will
be giving an update to the commission on the last two community surveys issued by Vision
of Fountain Hills. Chair Craft commented that the commission has worked with Vision in
the past to help identify needs and opportunities in our planning efforts and that this
information will support much of the work that the commission has done to date.
Ms. Bell thanked the commission for having her and said that she is excited to give the first
update on the 2021 feedback survey (see attached document), which will include some
information from the 2020 survey as well. She said Vision was building off of the surveys
they had done in the most recent year.
Ms. Bell said that in August of 2020, they did a community satisfaction survey. The
purpose was to find out what the community felt was very important to them, and if they
were satisfied with the things that were most important to them. Six elements of the town
held the most importance in 2020. These were shopping experiences, technical services,
town conditions, the environment, youth activities, and events.
The purpose of the 2021 feedback survey was to expand on those priorities, get more
information from the residents, and stay engaged with them. One of the newest goals for
Vision Fountain Hills is to keep the community used to being engaged and giving their input
to the decision-makers in the town.
Ms. Bell said that the first element was the shopping experience. We asked them how their
shopping experiences have changed, especially through COVID since the last survey, and
almost 80% of them said that their habits have changed. She said that 20%were more
aware of what was going on locally and 41% said they shopped more online. This
information was really important for them to know that those habits were changing. In the
2020 survey, residents who participated said that they mostly go outside of Fountain Hills
for clothing, entertainment, restaurants, and health care. In summary, residents want core
amenities, stay local, have unique shopping experiences, and would like more restaurants.
Ms. Bell said that another question asked on the survey was what is the highest priority for
business development in their opinion? She said that 48% wanted the promotion of unique
small businesses to fill empty spaces and vacancies, 29% said to refresh downtown and
18% said to re-purpose the existing retail strip centers. She said that less than 5% of
people mentioned specific items, such as small business incentives, minimizing tax, and
permitting obstacles.
She said that in 2020 people really wanted to improve the technical services and that
COVID really brought that to their attention more than in years past. She said that 85% of
their participants in 2021 said they want something to be done about the technical
services.
Ms. Bell said on the environment element, 93% of the participants surveyed in 2020 said
parks and open spaces are extremely or very important to them. She said Vision decided
to expand on this topic for the 2021 survey by asking them about developing a
comprehensive environmental plan, ongoing maintenance, and upgrade plan. She said
that 40% wanted to do a comprehensive environmental plan and 40% wanted to do a
maintenance and upgrade plan. Also, 45% of the participants said that the number one
contributing factor to their quality of life here in Fountain Hills is open spaces and natural
beauty and that 22% said that they wanted to keep the open spaces and views in our
beauty.
Ms. Bell said the next question was regarding the town's condition. She said we asked
them because 98% of them told us the condition of the town is extremely important. Vision
asked if you had three options, which three you would choose and 50% of them wanted to
contribute to streets, sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes and 16% said parks, recreation, and
community facilities. One of the things took away from this is 66% of the participants want
to contribute the budget to things that are related to connectivity and active lifestyle and
walk-ability.
Ms. Bell said, in summary, the community wants to have fun., they want nightlife, more
entertainment, a public pool, events, and town traditions. Vision will finalize the survey,
compile a report where it will be available to the public through their website, and will
provide it to stakeholders.
6. UPDATE ON Strategic Priority 2 - Financial Sustainability
Town Manager Grady Miller and Finance Director David Pock updated the commission on
Strategic Plan Priority#2 — Financial Sustainability (see attached).
Signature Strategy No. 1: Identify Ways to Increase Operating Revenues
•Town Manager Miller said that they were to identify ways to increase operating
revenues. He said that as a town, they have policies in place and ensure that money
is put aside each year in the town's rainy day fund and reserves. He said that the
biggest challenge is having enough money to support operations. He said the town
implemented a user fee schedule and used a firm to do a user fee study or a cost of
service study. The firm looked at all overhead costs and every single fee. The firm
came up with a user fee schedule for the town to use that was adopted by the council
and will be updated periodically. He said that every year they will evaluate fees and
make adjustments as necessary.
Signature Strategy No. 2: Review Major Town Services to Ensure they are Operating at
Peak Performance and Providing Value to Community
•Town Manager Miller said that this is very important and that they intend on doing a
citizen satisfaction survey in October to help create a baseline of satisfaction levels
for town services.
•Conduct and present findings/recommendations from the cost of service study for law
enforcement and fire services to evaluate the level of services provided and
appropriate costs
Signature Strategy No. 3: Ensure Town Infrastructure is Well-Maintained and Identify
Financial Resources to Fund Infrastructure
•Work with citizen committee in identifying streets and cost of improvements to refer
the bond question to voters
•Town Manager Miller said the town has about $80 million in a tentative regional
transportation program for major arterials, so this would be used to finish the Shea
widening. It also includes major improvements and reconstruction for parts of
Palisades. He said would be used to improve Palisades from Shea all the way to
Saguaro Boulevard to make that a safer corridor.
•Initiate sinking fund for Fountain Lake and set aside significant funding annually for
eventual lake liner replacement and other needed improvements.
Signature Strategy No. 4: Maintain Financial Reserves and Rainy Day Fund in Accordance
with Council-Adopted Financial Policies
•Town Manager said that this is still very important. A facilities reserve study was
done and the study was very good, but we've found that there's a lot of gaps in it.
There are infrastructure items that were not included. Finance Director Pock is going
to get that up to date.
Signature Strategy No. 4: Increase Transparency and Accessibility of Town's Budget and
Financial Information
•Town Manager Miller said that a lot of the trust in the town on the part of residences
would be resolved, but by having a lot more transparency, and trying to do more
where it's easy to find information, try to have as Full disclosure because I think that's
very important and people have come to expect.
7. REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF Workgroups' Strategies
Chair Craft said that he asked Vice Chair Garman to compile the workgroups, efforts, and
ideas into one document as a component for the New Strategic Plan. He said that in
reviewing the specific tasks he was most concerned about the number of tasks. There is
some redundancy with a number of the tasks but not with the signature strategies. He said
not including the financial sustainability, they are looking at 28 tasks and 10 signature
strategies. He said, if we add 5 or 6 financial ones, we're up to 15 signature strategies. He
commented that some appear to be redundant with other tasks that are with other plans
that the town has worked on specifically, such as the Parks and Recreation Plan, the
Transportation Plan, the General Plan.
Vice Chair Garman said that it is his ultimate goal is to complete and to make sure that this
plan is all of our plans. He said that he could work with each commissioner over the next
couple of months on prioritizing and ranking the tasks inside and outside of the strategies.
Chair Craft commented that he thought the ranking can occur when they get to a point of
feeling comfortable with what they have and can begin looking at which are top of the line.
He said we are looking for consolidation or redundancy opportunities that can be
streamlined.
Vice Chair Garman said that he made some edits from the last meeting and asked that
each commissioner be more specific regarding the signature strategies and the tasks
underneath.
Chair Craft said that he appreciates Vice Chair Garman taking this responsibility to combine
the workgroups strategies into one document. (See attached) He said that it is more
efficient for the commission to review, consolidate and make decisions with a unified
document. He said that Vice Chair Garman and he can review and then present to the
group for feedback. He said, if we need to add back-in areas, we will, and if we need to
delete further, we can do that as well. He said for example, if Vice Chair Garman reached
out to the commissioners and five of the seven commissioners, say Task 2B is ridiculous,
we already have a consensus there, so we can drop that task basically.
Vice Chair Garman recognized everyone on the commission for having good skills to bring
to the table and acknowledged that he has had conversations with all of them.
8. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF a Date and Format with Town Staff for a Preview
of the New Strategic Plan
Chair Craft and the commissioners discussed a proposed date and time for a preview of the
New Strategic Plan to be presented to the Town's Directors. H said that the preview would
be an overview without going into great detail as to where their focus is on the strategic
priorities and signature strategies. It was decided to present the preview on Wednesday,
September 29, 2021, at 8:00 a.m.
9. ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY Commissioner John McHugh, SECONDED BY Commissioner Cynthia
Magazine to adjourn at 5:37 p.m.
Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously
STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY
COMMISSION
Jo W. Craft, Jr., C ir�r
ATTEST AND PREPARED BY:
OnCj, _
Angela Es in
9 tu, Ex c tivelo.ssistan
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular
Meeting held by the Fountain Hills Strategic Planning Advisory Commission in the Town Hall Council
Chambers on the 23 day of June, 2021. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a
quorum was present.
DATED this 16 day of September 2021.
gela Espirit , ive Assistant
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"r` 'm 4 t n PRIORITIES ENGAGED CONTENT
June 23t°,2021
Vision Fountain Hills
2021 Community Feedback
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EXPAND Shopping Experiences SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
ON PRIORITIES
Technical Services
7 9% 41 % Core Air enitles
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Town Condition stay Local
Have changed Shop More
their shopping Online Unique Shopping
Vision FH habits since Experiences
Sham sYour VOPCCaoaC Environment COVID
More Restaurants
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outside of Fountain Hills to shop for clothing as well as for entertainment,
restaurants and healthcare.
Events
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Provide Core Amenities 8 Live Music
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Promote our Uniqueness Promote our Healthy,Active Community
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II 4) Offer a Couple Big Retailers Facilities and City Conveniences
Small Business Incentives Be Business Friendly 8 Welcoming to Potential
] Add More Fun 8 Entertainment Builders and Business Owners
2 Create Incentives for Business Owners
Tax 8 Permit Obstacles
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22%
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Prioritize Main First Impression Areas
Budget Appropriately to maintain current
infrastructure
TOWN GROWTH Have YOU Experienced a Positive
Sense of Community in Fountain Hills?
21 % 51 % 27%
Too Slow Just Right No More
Growth or
Too Fast
Have YOU Experienced a Positive Have YOU Experienced a Positive
Sense of Community in Fountain Hills? Sense of Community in Fountain Hills?
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w _ O DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA(47%)
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r e� Strive to Meet the Needs of Our Young Families Nightlife Bowling Alley
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Historical&Educational Events Music Events
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VisionFH is planning to Final survey report will More tools to be created
have focus be shared with public to allow for continual www.visionfh.org
groups/workshops and key stakeholders community engagement
Strategic Priority No. 2: Ensure that Fountain Hills Finances are Stable and Sustainable
Signature Strategy No. 1: Identify Ways to Increase Operating Revenues
• Implement User Fee Schedule from first ever cost of service study (July 1, 2021)
• Add and adjust user fees annually as necessary (July 1, 2022)
• Conduct Update to Development Fee Study and seek adoption of Development Fee
Schedule (December 2024—implementation July 1, 2025)
• Audit companies to ensure that they are remitting the correct amount of sales tax (ongoing)
• Seek and apply for grants from federal, state, and regional agencies for town programs,
capital improvement projects, and street projects (ongoing)
Signature Strategy No. 2: Review Major Town Services to Ensure they are Operating at
Peak Performance and Providing Value to Community
• Complete financial audit of law enforcement services provided by Maricopa County Sheriff's
Office (September 2021)
• Complete Citizen Satisfaction Survey to create baseline of satisfaction levels for town
services; survey results may assist town in con ering reduction in services, if necessary,
based on priorities of residents (October 20
• Conduct and present findings/recommen from cost of service study for law
enforcement and fire services to evalu el of services provided and appropriate costs
(December 2021/January 2022)
• Negotiate a new intergovernmental a ement with Maricopa County for the provision of
law enforcement services in Fountain Hills (June 30, 2022)
Signature Strategy No. 3: Ensure Town Infrastructure is Well-Maintained and Identify
Financial Resources to Fund Infrastructure
• Work with citizen committee in identifying streets and cost of improvements to refer bond
question to voters (September 2021)
• Based on citizen committee's recommendations,Town Council may refer street bond to
voters for consideration (November 2022)
• Initiate and complete major update of Facilities Reserve Study in FY 21-22
• Aggressively seek inclusion of$80 million in local transportation projects in Maricopa
Association of Government's (MAG) Regional Transportation Plan (completed Spring 2021)
• Initiate public information campaign to inform residents about reauthorization of
Proposition 400 1/2 cent sales tax for Fountain Hills and region for freeways and arterials
• Utilize $14 million in Cares Act and ARPA funding for streets and major capital projects (FY
21-22 and FY 22-23)
• Initiate sinking fund for Fountain Lake and set aside significant funding for annually for
eventual lake liner replacement and other needed improvements (starting FY 21-22)
Signature Strategy No. 3: Maintain Financial Reserves and Rainy Day Fund in
Accordance with Council-Adopted Financial Policies
• Identify funding sources/methodologies to fully fund facilities reserves
• Seek Town Council approval of updated Financial Policies addressing facilities reserves
Signature Strategy No. 4: Increase Transparency and Accessibility of Town's Budget
and Financial Information
• Provide semi-annual public meetings/open houses to promote public awareness and
knowledge of the Town's financial health
• Publish budget and financials in the Fountain Hills Insider, FH Annual Report, website,
and other ways to increase transparency and accessibility to the public
• Initiate public outreach through Leadership Academy and civic outreach about the
finances
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Fountains Hills Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Strategic Plan 2021
1
Fountains Hills Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Economic Development Work Group
John Craft, Gerard Bisceglia, and Patrick Garman
May 2021
Strategic Priority (SP):
Focus on targeted collaborative economic development.
Preamble:
An essential element of a thriving community is its economy. Fountain Hills is a small,
active community whose long-term sustainability requires an effective targeted
economic development plan. Economic development has become a hotly debated topic
and a much sought-after goal in towns across America. Industrial recruitment and
reliance on outside funding are giving way to locally based finance and entrepreneurial
activity. Fountain Hills needs to take advantage of its unique local resources and
leadership to develop its own successful economy in a way that continues to appeal to
its residents and business community. Presently, the local chamber of commerce and
the Town actively, but separately, work to support new and existing business growth.
The following strategies and their supporting tasks attempt to address the opportunity of
establishing a more unified and focused business development effort locally. Our
workgroup interviewed Town leadership, Chamber of Commerce, FH Sanitary District
and FHCCA. We noted a recurring theme that `strength-in-numbers' was important
when pursuing opportunities. Hence, our Strategic Priority focuses on the need for local
collaboration.
Signature Strategy (S) #1 — Description: Lead the formation of collaborative
economic development groups that will act in a concerted effort around a common
economic goal. Rationale: The Commission believes that synergy can be achieved if
like-minded groups collaborate to strengthen our economic progress. The groups can
draw members from municipal governments, regional economic development
organizations, nonprofit organizations seeking to help communities, and other
stakeholders.
Supporting Task (T) A - Form an Economic Development Coalition between the
Fountain Hills Town Government, Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, and Ft.
McDowell Yavapai Nation. The Coalition will collaborate to expand business and
tourism opportunities locally. Each party brings unique skills, contacts, and compatible
goals to not only recruit business relocation to this area but also support their transition
and long-term success.
Timeline: <3yrs Complexity: 3 Collaboration potential: Yes
2
Supporting Task (T) B — Form an Economic Development Task Force. Ongoing
collaboration between the public and private sectors is an important component of
economic development. To encourage collaboration, form an economic development
task force with volunteers from the public and private sectors to discuss how the town
could better facilitate economic development. Volunteers from the community could
include business owners, property owners, developers, school system and retired
governmental or business executives.
Timeline: <lyrs Complexity: 2 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) C — Create an educational task force comprised of
representatives from the education system, business community, and local government.
A high-quality education system supports the local economy by helping to ensure the
community has workers with needed skills. Fountain Hills should work more closely with
the local schools to improve education by supporting school programs and building
connections between government and the education sector.
Timeline: <2yrs Complexity: 4 Collaboration potential: Yes
Signature Strategy (S) # 2 — Description: Retain existing businesses and attract new
ones. Rationale: Existing businesses are the foundation of any economic growth
strategy. By building on what already exists, cities can support current businesses and
create a strong foundation. Attracting new businesses is often most effective when the
effort is tailored to the industries compatible with local economic, space, environmental,
and demographic characteristics.
Supporting Task (T) A - Develop industry-specific action plans for retaining
existing businesses and recruiting new ones for the following sectors: 1) Health and
wellness, 2) Professional services, and 3) S.T.E.M.
Timeline: <2yrs Complexity: 5 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) B — Develop and promote an effective brand image that
emphasizes Fountain Hills' livability, healthfulness, and safety to prospective
businesses.
Timeline: <3yrs Complexity: 2 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) C — Develop and maintain an economic development
website and business metrics database. Create and maintain an economic development
website that functions as a one stop shop to help new and existing business owners
with business startup, or expansion. This website would include a step-by-step guide to
starting, or expanding a business in the city, links to important contacts and forms, and
links to resources outside the community, such as loan programs from the Small
Business Administration or community development financial institutions or technical
assistance from a regional small business development center. A business metrics
3
database would track the overall business health of the community and monitor the
effectiveness of economic development initiatives.
Timeline: <2yrs Complexity: 3 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) D — Streamline the permitting process. Review existing
permit and approval processes, and give businesses investing in downtown and other
infill locations an expedited permit process to shorten the timeline and reduce
development costs.
Timeline: <2yrs Complexity: 5 Collaboration potential: N/A
Signature Strategy (S) #3 — Description: Increase local economic development
literacy. Rationale: Cultivating civic economic development awareness in current and
future local entrepreneurs will increase awareness of the unique opportunities for
economic advancement available in Fountain Hills.
Supporting Task (T) A — Create a landlord and Bed and Breakfast (B&B) owner
education program. A landlord education program will help property owners learn best
practices in property management. The program will educate landlords and B&B owners
on complying with codes, applicant screening, fair housing rules, lease agreements, the
eviction process, running a B&B, and other relevant information. Program benefits will
include better property maintenance, safer homes, a more stable tenant base, and
lower city costs for code enforcement.
Timeline: <4yrs Complexity: 5 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) B —Town student Internships. Offer local government
internships for high school or college students. Students have volunteer requirements
and want professional experience. Students can often help city staff at little or no cost.
Timeline: <2yrs Complexity: 5 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) C — Institute a town government local hiring policy. Local-
hiring policies typically require that certain government employees or some percentage
of workers on city-funded projects live in the jurisdiction. These policies increase
employment opportunities for the local workforce, ensure that government spending is
invested back into the community, and reduce commute times for government workers.
Timeline: <2yrs Complexity: 5 Collaboration potential: Yes
4
Fountain Hills Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Health, Wellness, and Safety Work Group
Cynthia Magazine, John McHugh, and Patrick Garman
May 2021
Strategic Priority (SP):
Improve the public health, well-being, and safety of our community.
Preamble:
We focused on identifying Signature Strategies and Supportive Tasks we thought were
most likely to help Fountain Hills leaders realize the goal of improving the public health,
well-being, and safety of our community. In doing so, we took into consideration: the
Town's economic realities; community input from a variety of sources; the timeline
covered by the new strategic plan; relevant trends and future projections; and the need
for tasks that are manageable, attainable and measurable.
Signature Strategy (S) #1 - Description: Enhance the natural and built environment of
Fountain Hills to improve the public health, well-being, and safety of the community.
Rationale: While this strategy is broad in scope, it can be easily supported by a number
of specific, high priority tasks that fit within the Town's current constraints regarding both
human and financial resources.
Supporting Task (T) A - Incorporate public health, well-being, and safety in all
Fountain Hills Government policies.
Timeline: <lyrs to review current policies, then ongoing for any policy changes or
new policies. Complexity: 2 Collaboration potential: N/A
Supporting Task (T) B - Promote, expand, and connect open space and
recreational facilities to create safe opportunities for physical activities.
Timeline: <3yrs Complexity: 3 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) C - Create and publicize an Environmental Plan for
Fountain Hills.
Timeline: <1yrs Complexity: 4 Collaboration potential: Yes
Supporting Task (T) D - Work directly with local environmental organizations to
guide and synchronize their efforts in strengthening our community's connection with its
natural surroundings.
Timeline: <3yrs Complexity: 3 Collaboration potential: Yes
5