2012 Mayoral Goals
1. Explore future uses for the
downtown rail corridor.
Over the past five years, the staple industrial businesses along our downtown railroad corridor have relocated, downsized, or their need for rail access is now obsolete. This year, our Economic Development Authority will explore alternative uses for, and examine possible incentive programs to redevelop these properties.
The EDA will work with current property owners to evaluate optional, possibly more efficient locations for their operations within city limits. The upgrade of the Minnesota Prairie Line Railroad to a 25 mph track and the construction of drop arm signals on Main and Adams Streets, now scheduled for this calendar year, will have a profound effect on the direction considered by our EDA.
2. Create an Urban Reserve Zoning District.
Our Orderly Annexation Agreement created by our City Council, Arlington Township, and Sibley County in 1996 provides for the City to exercise zoning control within the Orderly Annexation Area--property that was identified by those entities to eventually be a part of city limits, and urban in nature.
We will engage the property owners within the Orderly Annexation Area, and Arlington Township representatives to develop the Urban Reserve Zoning District criteria and character.
3. Aggressively pursue an affiliation for
Sibley Medical Center.
A city goal for 2011 was to explore an affiliation for SMC with another medical center. After the arrival of Todd Sandberg as SMC Administrator, the Board of Directors undertook the development of a strategic plan. One of the clear initiatives reiterated in that plan is to affiliate with another medical center.
The decision is a weighty one; one that will require the Board of Directors to not only examine needs and identify areas of potential growth, but how and with whom those needs and areas can best be addressed. The Board of Directors with the City Council will examine the current organizational/ownership structure of SMC and determine if it fits the model for a potential affiliation.
4. Take the lead in creating a model for
shared services.
Over the past years it has become obvious to city leaders of Arlington and other Sibley County cities that we must cooperate more in efforts to maintain and enhance services and realize cost savings. Even though we as leaders have recognized this need, we have not yet created a model for doing so.
We have initiated preliminary discussions with leaders from Green Isle and Gaylord, and in the coming months we will begin to share ideas. Our City Council has directed our City Administrator to serve as a facilitator/organizer for these meetings and discussions. Exploration of opportunities for cooperation in areas of summer recreation programs, emergency services, and public works equipment are areas that show potential.
5. Determine long range plan for use and reuse of municipal buildings.
In 2011 our staff department heads and City Council evaluated the condition and uses of city offices, meeting spaces, and storage facilities, and found deficiencies in some of them. With those evaluations to guide us, and with the goal of increased efficiency and effectiveness of city services, we will create a multi-year plan for our buildings that may involve renovation and/or reuse of space as well as relocation of city staff and departments. During the creation of the plan, we will estimate and compare relocation costs, evaluate impact operation and maintenance expenses, and consider impacts of affected city services
