This category addresses
Goals and Objectives related to the following values: providing
high quality public services and facilities; improving communications
between residents and government; re-engineering government to
continually improve it; balancing individual property rights and
the needs of the entire community; improving collaboration by different
units of government; balancing the need for tax revenues to provide
desired services and facilities with the economic impacts of raising
taxes; addressing the use of incentives and regulations to achieve
desired goals; and maintaining the community's infrastructure.
| Goals |
Objectives |
Policies/Actions |
|
1. To enhance cooperation among all public agencies providing
services to residents, including the City, Park District,
School Districts 112, 113, and 109, North Shore Special Education
District, Deerfield and West Deerfield Townships, neighboring
cities, Lake County, North Shore Sanitary District, Drainage
Districts, State of Illinois,
and federal government.
|
a. Increase cooperation
between all government entities in Highland Park, especially
by sharing in the use of existing public facilities and by
financing, the construction, operation, and maintenance of
new facilities and infrastructure. |
Establish an Action Plan and Work Program and continue using
the annual Budget Forum process to assign specific responsibilities
for the implementation of all
elements of this Master Plan.
|
|
2. To ensure an adequate infrastructure to serve the current
and future needs
of the community.
|
b. Identify long-term infrastructure and public facility
needs in order to establish a five-year Capital Improvement
Program for City capital projects and public facilities.
|
Work with the School
Districts to create, support and expand as needed reduce substance
abuse and reduction programs such as the D.A.R.E. program and
others. |
| 3. To maintain and
improve public safety, minimize crime, and enhance emergency
services. |
c. Upgrade undersized
sewers and utility services and continue to maintain and improve
all streets, sidewalks and other public facilities. |
Use the City's regulatory
powers to enforce and implement the adopted Master Plan and
update it as needed in the future. |
| 4. To improve efficiency
in providing the numerous services desired by the community
while keeping taxes as low as possible. |
d. Maintain and enhance high standards in all public services,
police and fire
protection, and emergency and rescue operations.
|
Use the Geographic
Information System (GIS) to create databases to assist in capital
planning for public infrastructure and in planning for all
neighborhoods and business
districts. |
| 5. To provide superior
local services and maintain the City's fiscal health while
informing residents, businesses, property owners, and employees
that excellent services
are both expected and available. |
e. Review the capital
facility and infrastructure improvements built by the City,
Park District, and School Districts for consistency with the
urban design Goals
and Objectives. |
Compile a library
of all existing master plans prepared by private interests
(Highland Park Hospital, Ravinia Festival, etc.) and by other
cities, counties, and public agencies for review by residents,
developers, and staff to insure awareness and compliance with
such plans. |
| 6. To identify new
sources of revenue for the City in order to reduce reliance
on
property tax revenues. |
f. Provide the resources
needed to achieve these Goals and Objectives and the Actions
recommended
in the neighborhood strategic plans. |
|
| 7. To improve communications
and
better inform the residents of pending City actions. |
g. Consolidate municipal operations as much as possible
while maintaining equitable service levels in all parts of
the community.
|
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