Over the January 29th-30th weekend, Decatur’s City Commission retreated to Smithgall Woods in Helen, Georgia to discuss the future of Decatur.

If you’re curious about what our mayor and city commissioners want Decatur to look like in 5 years and/or what their main goals & projects are for 2010, this is a must-read.

You’ll find the full report after the jump!

[h/t: DNO]

Decatur City Commission Retreat 2010
Smithgall Woods
January 29-30, 2010

The retreat focused on team development to welcome the new commissioner to the group as well as strategic planning for the next five years.

The early part of the session dealt with team activities as well as development of consensus around what the group wanted Decatur to look like in five years.

In looking at the mission of the city, the group added some new points that have not so prominently appeared in past mission statements, namely:

• Serve as a progressive role model for other municipalities.
• Sustainability and health.
• Seeing taxes as an investment and looking at the financial structure of the city in a different light.
• Legacy

During the second part of the retreat, the group focused on the following vision components for the next five years.
1. Connectivity and Movement
2. Facilities
3. Sustainability
4. Older Demographic to “stay in place.”
5. Art/Design
6. Nurture businesses that fit the culture
7. Funding

Goals and Projects for 2010

Connectivity and Movement

• Research creating a Transportation Office whose charge will be to use the recommendations in the Community Transportation Plan to develop a connectivity plan. This plan will integrate movement by car, bus, bike and walking as well as address development of an overall parking plan. The office may be staffed through existing positions.
• Examine and evaluate the Bike Decatur Top 10 list. Review “Bicycle Friendly Application” comments to determine what actions have to be taken by the City to qualify for designation.
• Continue to address pedestrian safety issues. Explore the possibility of a bike tunnel under the RR. Have the plan for improvements to the RR crossing finished by the end of the year.

Facilities

• Determine the best long term location for the Public Works facility.
• Staff will bring a recommendation to the Commission with costs and other ramifications to either stay in its present location or to move.
• Research and provide recommendations on funding options for other needed capital improvements such as completing the renovation of Fire Station No. 1 and the Decatur Recreation Center and the rehabilitation of the Beacon Complex, including the Police Department.

Recognizing the demands of the Baby Boomer population

• Recognize that special services may need to be provided to the aging population
• Be diligent with sidewalk repair and maintenance
• Support housing options that allow people to age in place
• Make sure this demographic is included in the Strategic Planning process
• Volunteer coordinator to 1) determine how to provide flexibility in scheduling volunteer activities and 2) network with NORC
• Support increased access to health care professionals
• Make sure that as the Decatur Recreation Center is renovated that it becomes more of a community center with multigenerational activities, including gardens.
• Integrate public housing seniors with other seniors in the community
• Create educational programs for seniors aimed at dealing with issues like their tax statements and assessments.

Sustainability and Health

• Sugar Creek Garden Plan to the City Commission by March

• United Methodist Children’s Home Garden proposal to be funded by Spring and production to begin by Fall.