Would
you like to have a say in the future of your community?
“Help
Shape Taylor’s Future” is an important part of the City of Taylor’s 2014
Visioning Program, which is currently underway involving City officials, key
staff and stakeholders. It is being coordinated by Wade Trim Associates, Inc.
in cooperation with JTC Consulting.
The
effort welcomes the input of the City’s residents through a unique Community
Opportunities Map, found through the home page of the City of Taylor’s website
at www.cityoftaylor.com. You can click through a photo on the top of the page,
or though a URL link under notifications (“Click Here and Get Involved!").
This program focused on economic and community development and quality of life
issues.
Through
the online map, “Help Shape Taylor’s Future” is seeking input from residents on
what they want to see in their community. It allows residents, property owners,
business owners and other interested people to share thoughts and opinions.
Comment categories include economic development, cultural and community
services, parks and public spaces, public safety, housing, environment, and
both motorized and non-motorized transportation. The mapping tool allows users
to provide comments and interact, while using the topic categories as a guide.
The
program helps to identify the community’s strengths and weaknesses, and enables
residents to contribute to the overall discussion.
For
example, residents may seek walking/bicycle paths connecting certain portions
of the community, like Heritage Park and Southland Mall. Others may seek better
pedestrian access within the busy Eureka Road corridor, incentive programs for
business, bicycle lanes on streets, expanded park land or conservation issues,
new residential development, better street lights or slower traffic on some
thoroughfares.
The
first of four 2014 Visioning Program sessions was held early in September and
served as an introduction to economic and community development. Over 60 people
were invited including City staff, elected officials, business leaders and
others.
The
lead presenter that evening was Chip Smith, an expert with 15 years of
professional planning experience who specializes in redevelopment and working
with economically distressed communities. He is the statewide instructor for MI
Place Placemaking Curriculum, MAP Planning and Zoning and Capital Improvements
Planning. He was joined later in the program by Mayor John Hieftje of Ann
Arbor. Future sessions were scheduled for October, November and December.
“Help
Shape Taylor’s Future” is one of two programs Taylor has introduced this month.
“Fix
It! Taylor” focuses on improving current customer service while “Help Shape
Taylor’s Future” attempts to improve the community in the future.
“Fix
It! Taylor” is essentially an online non-emergency complaint program that can
be also found on the City of Taylor’s website, www.cityoftaylor.com. The
program enables residents to file non-emergency complaints through an efficient
online system. The issues are funneled as work orders directly to staff
members. For instance, if a resident filed a pothole complaint, it would be
highlighted on a map in the system, clearly defined and sent directly to a
foreman in the DPW Department. The resident would receive an immediate
automated response and, within a 24- to 48-hour period, an update would be
posted from the department as to how the situation is going to be addressed.
The
“Fix It! Taylor” program is just one of several customer service initiatives
recently started by Mayor Rick Sollars’ administration. Others include new
telephone options to enable callers to connect directly with elected officials
in the City, and new greeters at the front door of City Hall.
The
City of Taylor cautions residents not to confuse these two programs.
“Fix
It! Taylor” serves as a non-emergency complaint program and should be used as
such. “Help Shape Taylor’s Future” is s visioning instrument aimed at
developing the community’s future course-setting – it IS NOT “Fix It! Taylor.”
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