The Village of Royal Palm Beach is planning a “citizen summit” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center to update the strategic plan created last year to outline long-term and short-term village goals and policy.
Last summer, a council workshop facilitated by consultant Lyle Sumek was conducted to develop a vision, mission and goals for the village. Village Manager Ray Liggins said that was followed by a citizen summit, attended by about 50 residents, to further develop the council’s outline.
“Then, we implemented the 2013 strategic plan,” Liggins told the Town-Crier on Wednesday. “Last year we did everything. There was nothing, so we did everything at that point — the vision, the mission and goals.”
This year, Liggins does not expect major changes.
“We did tweak a few words here and there in the vision and the mission. The goals stayed pretty much the same,” he said. “We came up with ‘top priority’ and ‘high priority’ for each one of those goals, and that’s what becomes our action plan, and that’s what we’re working on for 2014.”
Top priorities listed on the policy agenda for 2014-15, many of which have been initiated, include a comprehensive road resurfacing program; sale of the former wastewater treatment site, which was rezoned recently for residential development; direction on a referendum regarding council member terms, now set at two years; stormwater assessment rates and development of capital projects; advocacy for the State Road 7 extension to Northlake Blvd.; direction on a senior living complex; and obtaining a northwest link to Commons Park at 109 Heron Parkway, which was agreed upon at a recent workshop.
High-priority items for the policy agenda include expansion and funding of a school scholarship program; development of a policy for the use of public facilities by private groups; an investment policy for the sale of the wastewater plant site; design and financing for the Commons Park dog park; direction and evaluation of board and committee appointments; and development of a work plan and financing for canal maintenance.
Top priorities listed on the management agenda for 2014-15 include resolution of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps; project priority and financing for a stormwater management plan; support of the Aldi grocery store regional distribution center on SR 7; impact analysis and village action regarding western development; and development of a senior housing ordinance.
High-priority items for the management agenda include GIS development and funding; methods and direction for a communications plan; village hall improvements; and development of property on Pioneer Road.
“That is our work program for what we plan on doing for this next year,” Liggins said.
He characterized the planned summit as “highly interactive” and encouraged new input from residents. “We’re not necessarily presenting this information to them, but a lot of the people have taken a look at the information beforehand,” Liggins said. “[Sumek] goes through a series of questions with the people to get their input. I don’t think he will do it a lot differently than he did last year.”
Questions Sumek asked last year included what residents think of the village as it is today, what they think the major successes were the past year, what made them decide to live in the village and what they envision for Royal Palm Beach in the future.
Goals through 2019, reached from last year’s summit, include having a financially sound village government; responsive, community-based village services and facilities; a more livable community, from “curb appeal” to convenience; and an abundance of leisure services and options.
The vision through 2029 included having a premier residential community with a hometown feeling, a choice for families that is beautiful, safe, convenient and enjoyable.
“He’ll go through that same process again, getting their input,” Liggins said. “What we found last year, there were not a lot of surprises. There was a lot of consistency with what we were doing with what the people attending the summit were looking for. We took that information from last year and incorporated it into this year’s round. We’re in it for the second year now, and it’s a little bit more refined than what it was last year.”
The 2013 summit was attended by about 50 people, including village staff, council members and residents. The summit included breakout groups where residents could give individual input, which was noted by a group leader. Results of each breakout group were collated by Sumek.
“It is definitely open to the public,” Liggins said. “Anybody and everybody is welcome.”
The council specifically invited people whose opinion they thought was important, including members of village advisory boards. While council members and village staff will attend, Liggins said they would be there primarily to listen and answer questions if asked.
Liggins stressed that this will be the time for the village to hear resident opinions. “This is the opportunity that we get to make it part of our budget,” he said.
Information about the Royal Palm Beach Strategic Plan is on the village’s web site at www.royalpalmbeach.com. Go to the yellow bar on the left side of the home page and click on “Royal Palm Beach Strategic Plan.”
