S T R O N G C O M M U N I T Y · P U B L I C S A F E
F O R W A R D T H I N K I N G · C U R A T E D B E A
E A S E O F L I V I N G · S T R O N G C O M M U
Mission
We work together to provide exceptional services, infrastructure, and amenities for a safe, sustainable community where all are welcome.
Vision
A distinctive and thriving community with a bright and connected future.
Community Values
Our community values Strong Community, Public Safety, Forward Thinking, Curated Beauty, and Ease of Living.
We believe that optimum quality of life can be achieved by a united community working together for the greater good.
Everything we do is approached with thoughtful planning, attention to detail, community engagement and deliberate consideration for future generations.
We continually seek out ways to improve the city experience for all citizens.
Organizational Values
By emphasizing the following organizational values, the City of Leawood operates with a high level of pride, professionalism and trust as we deliver high quality services to our residents and businesses.
SERVICE
We care about those we serve. We take the extra step to do things well.
INNOVATION
We seek ways to continually improve and evolve.
We aren’t afraid to try new things and sometimes fail, as long as we fail forward, learn and grow.
CULTUREOFSUPPORT
We care about and acknowledge one another. We help each other out.
We are confident we can be our true selves at work and create a safe space for others to do the same.
TEAMWORK
We bring positive contributions and work collaboratively. Success comes from all of us working together as “One Leawood.”
We serve one another with excellence and care.
TRANSPARENCY
We openly share information and knowledge, wherever possible. We do the right thing and tell the truth. We encourage honest feedback. We communicate proactively.
ONGOING: A continuous effort without a defined end date S T R O N G C O M M U N I T Y · P U B L I C S A F E T F O R W A R D T H I N K I N G · C U R A T E D B E A E A S E O F L I V I N G · S T R O N G C O M M U
Overview
This strategic plan is made up of five pillars. Each pillar is equally important to the overall support of the plan.
Each pillar contains goals, and each goal contains objectives. The goals and objectives were ranked in importance by the Governing Body.
Each objective was assigned a timeline by the Governing Body Objective timelines are defined as follows:
SHORT TERM: Can be accomplished within the current year.
NEAR TERM: Can be accomplished within 1-2 years.
LONG TERM: Can be accomplished within 3-5 years.
PILLAR I: FINANCES & BUDGETING
GOALA:
Maintain balance between the fiscal support of existing services/ infrastructure, new initiatives and taxes.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
OBJECTIVE 3
OBJECTIVE 4
OBJECTIVE 5
OBJECTIVE 6
OBJECTIVE 7
OBJECTIVE 8
OBJECTIVE 9
Determine the needed mill levy to support services. Review needs vs “nice to have” in context of our incredible place to Live, Work and Play. [ONGOING]
Incorporate the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) into fiscal planning activities to further align budgeting activities. [SHORT TERM]
Maintain AAA (Triple A) Bond Rating. [ONGOING]
Gather data on the balance between specialized taxes (sales and storm water tax) and objective assessments of need and incorporate this information into the budget planning process [NEAR TERM]
Investigate the need for property tax relief. [NEAR TERM]
Evaluate and plan for fire station & training needs, utilizing station location study, and understanding financial impacts in the context of other needs. [NEAR TERM]
Review all city-owned property for opportunities to reduce property holdings, if appropriate. [NEAR TERM]
Review Leawood Stage Company funding [SHORT TERM]
PILLARI:FINANCES& BUDGETINGCONT.
Enhance the council’s and public’s knowledge and understanding in city finances and financial planning GOALB:
OBJECTIVE 1
Change the budget timeline to enhance early council input into overall budget decisions prior to budget adoption. [SHORT TERM]
OBJECTIVE 2
OBJECTIVE 3
Incorporate into budget planning information about the long-term implications of investment decisions. [ONGOING]
Develop and implement a citizen’s communications plan with the goal of educating residents on city finances. [LONG TERM]
PILLAR II: QUALITY OF LIFE
GOALA:
Maintain Leawood’s leadership in providing an exceptional quality of life by maintaining high levels of city services.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
OBJECTIVE 3
OBJECTIVE 4
OBJECTIVE 5
OBJECTIVE 6
OBJECTIVE 7
Evaluate staffing levels to ensure community needs are met. [ONGOING]
Identify resident priorities. [ONGOING]
Explore opportunities for partnership with Homeowner Associations or assisting Homeowner Associations to cooperate with one another to enhance resident quality of life. [ONGOING]
Adopt a master plan for 96th & Lee property, creating a neighborhood gathering place. [SHORT TERM]
Explore options to discourage panhandling, such as resident education and partnering with other cities on collective messaging. [LONG TERM]
Explore options for community composting. [LONG TERM]
Explore volunteers and/or community organizations to assist with tasks for elderly/disabled residents relating to the Leawood community (snow removal, etc ) [LONG TERM]
PILLARII:QUALITYOFLIFE
CONT.
GOALB:
Maximize operating efficiency and effectiveness in city services.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
Ensure high employee engagement and satisfaction [ONGOING]
Establish a program review process for revenue generating services to ensure efficiency of operations in relation to service and contribution to city resources that includes a policy review (including fee setting), data on use, duplication with other government offerings. [ONGOING]
GOALC:
Enhance community well-being by promoting health through programming.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
Review programs (innovation, reach, participation) in Parks and Recreation in relation to cost and fees. [ONGOING]
Improve employee health and wellness. [ONGOING]
PILLAR III: INFRASTRUCTURE
GOALA:
Enhance and maintain infrastructure through planned and coordinated efforts.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
OBJECTIVE 3
GOALB:
Plan for storm water efficiencies and address flooding issues through careful study of solutions and how they fit into overall fiscal planning. [NEAR TERM]
Evaluate infrastructure in alignment with core standards to analyze and rate infrastructure health [ONGOING]
Carefully consider implications of 135th street widening. [NEAR TERM]
Create a long-term plan that considers varying infrastructure needs and environmental impact within the community
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
Continue the prioritization of street enhancements and communicate about it to the community. [ONGOING]
Explore improvements to enhance safety on streets for cyclists and pedestrians. [ONGOING]
PILLAR III: INFRASTRUCTURE
CONT.
GOALC:
Ensure physical infrastructure to support city operations is efficient and includes appropriate technology.
OBJECTIVE 1
GOALD:
Review and improve energy efficiency in city buildings [ONGOING]
Explore innovations to support energy resiliency.
OBJECTIVE 1
GOALE:
Investigate options for future alternatives, such as solar generation, co-ops, power storage and micro-grids [LONG TERM]
Implement branding within the City, incorporating the updated City logo and ensure Leawood is visually distinctive from adjacent communities.
OBJECTIVE 1
As opportunities arise, consider updating monument signs, manhole covers, and transition to branded street signs. [LONG TERM]
PILLAR IV: COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION
GOALA:
Enhance public safety by promoting prevention, resilience, and community.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
OBJECTIVE 3
OBJECTIVE 4
GOALB:
Include in community communication plan information to educate residents on what they can do to help ensure safety and share information with homeowners’ associations. [NEAR TERM]
Create a crisis communications plan that ensures citizens have access to what they need even in times of emergency [NEAR TERM]
Explore partnerships with other communities and organizations to enhance public safety. [ONGOING]
Regularly review and update the Leawood Emergency Operations Plan, associated documents, and test plans through exercises. [NEAR TERM]
Design and implement a community communication plan with a focus on education and participation in civic life
OBJECTIVE 1
Continue to improve city communication efforts through expanded digital platforms and outreach initiatives. [ONGOING]
PILLAR IV: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS CONT.
GOALC:
Foster Inclusivity, Diversity, and Community Engagement to support the Leawood community values.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
Ensure Leawood is a welcoming place for all. [ONGOING]
Review of committee structure for effectiveness taking into consideration representation and engagement in the community. [NEAR TERM]
PILLAR V: COMMUNITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
GOALA:
Update the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Leawood Development Ordinance.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
OBJECTIVE 3
GOALB:
Develop specific housing objectives relating to the availability of diverse housing types, including smaller homes, multi-family units, and “missing middle” housing to ensure the housing meets community goals as part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan update process. [NEAR TERM]
Pursue strategies that further those housing objectives during the Leawood Development Ordinance update process. [NEAR TERM]
Strengthen ordinance pertaining to unoccupied homes [SHORT TERM]
Strengthen Business Development in coordination with the Leawood Chamber of Commerce
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
Attract new businesses to vacant storefronts and foster strong collaboration with existing businesses to ensure retention and commercial success. [ONGOING]
Update Chamber agreement, including reporting requirements & metrics; clarifying Economic Development Council’s status and role in business recruitment and the Chamber’s role in retaining and improving the business environment. [SHORT TERM]
PILLAR V: COMMUNITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CONT.
GOALBCONT.
OBJECTIVE 3
Monitor health of shopping areas. [ONGOING]
OBJECTIVE 4
OBJECTIVE 5
GOALC:
Improve communication with residents to keep the community informed and engaged about the economic health of the city (business occupancy rates and retention levels) [ONGOING]
Maintain strong relationships with Kansas City Area Development Council and the State of Kansas in business recruitment activities [ONGOING]
Explore options for beautification, preservation and utilization of city rights-of-way and green spaces.
OBJECTIVE 1
OBJECTIVE 2
OBJECTIVE 3
Create a City-wide tree plan that is forwardlooking and accomplishes an understanding of tree inventory [NEAR TERM]
Explore options to limit and/or remove temporary signs. [SHORT TERM]
Explore dispersed and self-managed garden spaces. [LONG TERM]
OBJECTIVE 4
Explore options for pollinator gardens and monarch gateway. [LONG TERM]
S T R O N G C O M M U N I T Y · P U B L I C S A F
F O R W A R D T H I N K I N G · C U R A T E D B E A E A S E O F L I V I N G · S T R O N G C O M M U N
REVIEW CYCLE
The plan will be reviewed by the Governing Body annually for any additions or changes, as appropriate. Updates on progress on objectives will be provided quarterly to the Governing Body and updated on the City’s website
LEAWOOD’S GOVERNING BODY
Marc Elkins Mayor (913) 663-9101 melkins@leawoodorg
