Resident Input Indicates Three High Priority Funding Areas The 2018 Imagine Greeley citizen capital improvement committee is currently developing a list of recommended improvement projects and a suggested timeline for possible approval by voters. The question for voters could include the renewal of existing sales taxes to make these projects a reality. The committee has agreed on the three highest priority areas for consideration by the City Council and potentially by voters.
Public Safety
March 2018
Public input on several levels indicates that public safety is a local issue and area of concern that residents would like addressed by local government. The 2017 resident survey, the Imagine Greeley Comprehensive Plan update process, and the 2016 Weld County Community Health Survey all indicated that public safety should be a high priority. In fact, this area has been on the City Council’s top priority list for several years and will no doubt remain there attracting additional resources wherever and whenever possible. The budget priorities graphic on the cover of this section demonstrates that the Council, City staff, and the Imagine Greeley citizen committee understand the importance of this city government service area.
Mobility/Transportation Even after voter approval of the Keep Greeley Moving sales tax for road repairs in 2015, residents in Greeley still say that infrastructure improvements such as road capacity improvements to reduce traffic congestion, and bike lanes and pedestrian trails are high priorities. This mirrors in part, what was learned from responses to Weld County’s Community Health Survey. Those survey respondents noted that “support for bike and pedestrian infrastructure” was the top theme for Greeley-Evans and included the need for more bike paths and trails. Greeley-Evans Transit continues to see an upward trend in ridership, including an 8.4 percent increase in 2016 and a 16.7 percent increase in 2017. More than 750,000 rides are now being provided annually.
Parks/Open Space In 2015 and 2016, the city of Greeley embarked on a comprehensive public input process that allowed residents an opportunity to express their deep appreciation for local parks, trails and open lands. That appreciation demonstrates an understanding of the importance of open space that creates buffers between communities, while providing wildlife habitat and recreational features. It also indicates the value of urban recreational areas such as fishing ponds, sports fields, picnic areas, walking paths, and much more. Resident input collected during the process included the desire for more and better sidewalks, trails, neighborhood parks and more. More recently, three of the top five community objectives, identified by hundreds of residents who participated in the Imagine Greeley Comprehensive Plan process, support the parks and open space categories: Safe, healthy and connected neighborhoods, responsible stewardship of natural resources and the environment, and up-to-date infrastructure.
Additional info can be found at
GREELEYGOV.COM/FINANCE
This special 4-page section highlights that extensive financial reporting, includes a summary of the community and budget priorities, as well as future project area priorities, all of which were established with public input. Input was received via recent resident surveys, the Parks, Trails and Open Lands master planning process, the Imagine Greeley 2017 Comprehensive Plan update process, and from the current Imagine Greeley capital improvements citizen committee.
Aligning Budget Priorities with Citizen Input Governance
We Aspire to be a City Achieving Community Excellence Morayma Cruz Aviles Morayma.CruzAviles@Greeleygov.com 970-350-9723
Each year, City staff prepares an in-depth report regarding Greeley city government’s financial condition and makes that report available in full via the City’s website at greeleygov.com.
Victoria Runkle Victoria.Runkle@Greeleygov.com 970-350-9730
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Well-Planned & Livable Community
Natural Resource Use
Recreational, Cultural, and Educational Opportunities
Economic Vitality