Breckenridge Texan

City of Breckenridge finalizes strategic plan for guidance in daily operations, future planning

City of Breckenridge finalizes strategic plan for guidance in daily operations, future planning
April 05
13:46 2023

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

After weeks of holding strategy sessions, seeking community input and discussing issues and solutions, the City of Breckenridge staff has hammered out vision and mission statements, a set of core values and a list of goals that City Manager Cynthia Northrop says will provide guidance in the City’s daily operations, as well as for bigger tasks, such as developing next year’s budget.

Last week, Northrop led the last of at least four Strategic Planning meetings before finalizing the plan for the City. Then, on Thursday she shared the results of the work:

  • Vision Statement: The Community of Breckenridge aims to be an appealing, family-centered environment inviting growth, investment, and tourism.
  • Mission Statement: Consistently plan for higher quality of life through positive community relationships that value citizens, welcomes visitors, and invites business growth focusing on innovation, education, and safety.
  • Core Values:
    B – Bold
    R – Responsible
    E – Excellent
    C – Compassionate
    K – Knowledgeable
  • Goals:
    Invest in infrastructure
    Invest in employees
    Invest in beautifying Breckenridge
    Promote economic development, tourism, and Breckenridge as a destination!
    Promote transparency and communication

The Breckenridge City Commission and City staff were a part of the strategic planning workshop on March 28 at the Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Late last year, she held meetings with City employees to get their ideas about where they need to focus their efforts. Then in January, she brought together a group of community leaders from across the city to see what they had to say.

To gather input from local residents, the City posted a survey on its Facebook page and hosted a community workshop where the public was invited to visit with City staff and post notes about what they think the City departments are doing well, what the departments need to work on, and what they think the community needs from the City. After that, Northrop and the City Commissioners again met with community leaders to review the input from the community workshop and go over the plan again.

“I think we came away with solid guidance and final outcomes and believe everyone’s participation and input will continue to strengthen our cooperation and partnerships in the community,” Northrop said in an email. “Thanks again for your time commitment in making this effort a reality and what I believe to be a great start to our future progress and success in our respective areas.”

In the March 28 meeting, Northrop presented the “Top 3 Needs,” according to the information that was collected at the community workshop:

Public Works: 1. Streets 2. Water/wastewater infrastructure 3. Higher pay for employees

Police: 1. Animal control 2. Visibility/traffic enforcement 3. Crime/drugs

Fire: 1. System to recruit/retain firefighters 2. Higher pay for employees 3. Better schedules

Developmental Services: 1. Code enforcement 2. Keeping yards maintained 3. Provide options for compliance

Parks: 1. More amenities/splash pads 2. Events 3. Safety improvements

Economic Development: 1. Attract more businesses-youth 2. Empty buildings 3. Infrastructure

According to the survey, some of the things that the community members think the City is doing well include “clearing out substandard housing,” “bringing in and opening businesses,” “communication on weather,” “revitalizing downtown”  and “listening to residents.” In the “What do we need to work on?” category, some of the comments included “streets are atrocious,” “water infrastructure needs work,” “dilapidated homes, no one is maintaining their houses/yards,” “police visibility and enforcement of traffic laws,” “more restaurants,” and “transparency in relation to where taxpayer money is spent.”

One of the survey questions asked respondents “What is your vision for Breckenridge?” Some of the answers were:

  • To be a safe, clean community for families
  • To be a place people want to visit
  • To see community intentionally get out of cycle of kicking the can down the road, protect future success of city
  • Working together to reach common goals with community effort; Breckenridge could be a great tourist attraction with rich culture and history
  • More family activities, community events, walking trails, story-time at library

Based on all of that input, the City staff will develop more detailed objectives under each goal that was set and then present those objectives to the City Commission for approval.

Breckenridge City Commissioner Blake Hamilton, right, discusses the City’s strategic plan during a meeting last month. Also pictured are, from left, Commissioners Gary Mercer, Vince Moore, Rob Durham and Mayor Bob Sims. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

 

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge City Manager Cynthia Northrop discusses potential Core Values for the City with community leaders at a workshop of March 28. The meeting was one of several aimed at creating a strategic plan for the City of Breckenridge. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

 

 

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