Florez: Newport Needs a Strategic Plan

By John Florez,

Candidate for Newport City Council, citywide

Most cities throughout the United States have a Strategic Plan. Essentially, this is a Business Plan for Municipalities. Newport is a City with a 130 million dollar a year budget. Imagine a company of equal size that has no business plan or Vision Statement, rudderless, flying by the seat of their pants. If we want our city government to run as seamlessly and efficient as possible, we need to start looking at it more as a business. Having a comprehensive and detailed Strategic Plan (aka Business Plan) will give Newport the direction it needs to ensure that it exists in a state of continuous improvement and efficiency. The following proposed Strategic Plan is admittedly rudimentary and can be significantly expanded upon. We really can’t afford not to implement such a simple and standardized process that will help our beautiful city reach its full potential. The following twenty items are principles and ideals that every city worker and elected official in this city should follow. An actual detailed plan would expand on these points. While I’m sure that there are additional items that can be added to the list, this gives us a good starting point.

Mission details:

1: The perpetual beautification of Newport; its infrastructure, beaches, parks, shoreline, storefronts and bay.

2: Ensure financial solvency by constantly exploring and implementing revenue saving and generating initiatives.

3: High quality services, to have a responsive and transparent government that understands that they work for the citizens of Newport not vice versa.

4. Provide support to our hospitality and tourism base, while embracing and supporting a greater diversification of local industries such as Green, Biomed and High Tech jobs. This will be achieved through the full support and embracing of the Innovation Hub.

5. Ensure that each department at City Hall operates with optimal efficiency and in accordance to modernized standards.

6. Perpetual upgrading and maintenance of infrastructure and facilities.

7. Ensure a high quality of life for the Citizens of Newport

8. To eliminate any impediments that make running a business in Newport more difficult than it should be. This includes outdated and cumbersome zoning laws and excessive administrative processes.

9. Ensure that the needs of Newport’s residents both part time and full time are always heard by city officials and its elected representatives.

10. City employees and elected officials are ambassadors to the city’s citizens, businesses and residents.

11. For the City to understand the needs of its customers

12. Understand the cost of delivering city services. Ensure that they are high quality and adhere to best practices.

13. Maintain a balanced budget.

14. To preserve its historic architecture and infrastructure.

15. To ensure public safety of its citizens, no matter what part of the city they live in.

16. The promotion of the Arts and Culture.

17. Accessibility for bikes, jogging, sports and the preservation and cleanliness of our beaches.

18. Embracing our cultural venues that draw people to our city.

19. Strong promotion of community organizations that strengthen our city.

20. Accessibility to parking.