Town Council Adopts Goals for 2021

The Town Council adopted their 2021 Goals on Monday, March 8, 2021 after multiple workshops beginning on December 16, 2020.  The goals were tabled at the February 8, 2021 Town Council meeting for further review.  Newly appointed Town Councilor, Nicole Boucher, proposed changing the approach to developing goals by including a strategic map in order to better determine specific goals and objectives.  The adopted format establishes both vision and detailed action items which draw from the 2019 Comprehensive Plan and a “one-town concept” and is intended to be reviewed every six months.  Chair Jamie Garvin stated that as a result of the council’s effort there now is a “living and breathing document that will have a lot of value beyond this year.”

The Vision Statement, listed at the beginning of the Town Council Goals for 2021 reads:

“With breathtaking coastlines, lighthouses, farms, forests, and leafy neighborhoods — all in proximity to Portland — Cape Elizabeth will continue to be a desirable place to live.  We honor our heritage and history.  We strive to encourage citizen engagement; support excellence in our schools; diversify housing choices; create a vibrant town center; preserve our open space, farming, and natural resources; and connect neighborhoods through a safe pedestrian network.  By embracing these ideals, our vision is for Cape Elizabeth to remain a highly desirable and welcoming community.”

The Town Strategic Map includes five Strategic Pillars and five identified resources on which the goals are formed.  The pillars are:

1.  Infrastructure:

  • Maintain current infrastructure while building toward the future.
  • Expand communication coverage and reduce impact of power outages.
  • Create climate action goals.
  • Provide reliable public and emergency services.

2. Education and Continuous Learning:

  • Support programming and services for citizens.
  • Demonstrate value for education and our youth.
  • Ensure citizens have access and opportunity for feedback and engagement.

3. Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Opportunity:

  • Create visibility and transparency for all financial decisions.
  • Ensure financial data and information is easy to access and understand.
  • Ensure elected officials have the data they need to make informed decisions.

4. Healthy and Diverse Community:

  • Ensure diverse housing opportunities.
  • Provide public and community services for all ages.
  • Promote spaces and connections for diverse physical activities.
  • Leverage knowledge of town staff to discover hidden needs of citizens.

5. Natural and Cultural Resources:

  • Support farming and locally grown food.
  • Value and protect community character and open spaces.
  • Preserve and protect natural resources.
  • Recognize the history of our town.
  • Expand waterfront access.

The identified Resources are:

Involved Citizens; Effective Leadership; Equipped Workforce; Regional Collaboration; and Informed Fiscal Management.

Drawing from the strategic pillars, resources, the 2019 Comprehensive Plan, the Vision Statement, and the one-town concept, the Town Council Goals for 2021 are grouped into six categories:

  1. Infrastructure
  2. Education and Continuous Learning
  3. Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Opportunity
  4. Healthy and Diverse Community
  5. Natural and Cultural Resources
  6. Ongoing Initiatives

The Cape Elizabeth Town Council Goals for 2021

[ 2021 Goals Document ]

1. INFRASTRUCTURE

Maintain current infrastructure while building toward the future.

  • Incorporate new technologies where possible as current infrastructure needs are addressed;
  • Stay current with capital improvement projects;
  • Define problem areas and potential solutions and quick wins for cellular coverage in town;
  • Address traffic and parking challenges.

Create climate action goals.

  • Research and create climate goals for the town and develop a climate action plan with aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals;
  • Reduce energy dependence and consumption and greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Complete solar project at the Recycling Facility, LED street lamp installation, and EV charging stations;
  • Promote opportunities for alternative transportation and fuels.

Provide reliable public and emergency services.

  • Determine the long term needs and costs for fire/rescue services and establish a 5-10 year strategy.

2. EDUCATION & CONTINUOUS LEARNING

Support programming and services for citizens.

  • Encourage library programming for a variety of interests and ages;
  • Seek learning and experience opportunities for all citizens through community services.

Ensure citizens have access and opportunity for feedback and engagement.

  • Assess the need and ability to implement virtual meetings and online forums as part of meeting options;
  • Assess how other towns engage citizens;
  • Survey residents.

3.  FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Maintain fiscal responsibility, balancing town priorities with economic realities.

  • Ensure financial decisions consider current and future impacts to the town’s tax base
  • Identify new revenue sources;
  • Pursue cooperative purchasing and resource sharing with neighboring communities;
  • Maintain municipal bond ratings to ensure capital needs can be met on favorable terms for when borrowing is required.

Promote the businesses in town.

  • List businesses on town website;
  • Create awareness of the diversity of businesses in town.

4. HEALTHY & DIVERSE COMMUNITY

Meet the diverse needs of our community.

  • Develop and preserve affordable housing opportunities locally and regionally;
  • Evaluate assistance needs among senior residents;
  • Leverage knowledge of town staff to discover opportunities to support the undiscovered needs of residents, including social and emotional well being.

Promote safe and healthy homes and neighborhoods.

  • Address food insecurity and access to healthy food and meal options for all citizens;
  • Revise short-term rental ordinances and monitor results.

5. NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES

Protect access to town resources and assets.

  • Complete the Fort Williams Master Plan;
  • Come to resolution with paper streets;
  • Establish a new boat access area at Crescent Beach.

Preserve the natural resources of Cape Elizabeth.

  • Replace Willowbrook culvert;
  • MSW management (ex. Kettle Cove drainage project).

Natural resource protection.

  • Consider a pesticide/herbicide ordinance;
  • Promote clean and litter-free streets and other public places;
  • Develop a “Don’t Trash Cape” campaign to rid the streets, paths and open spaces of litter.

Recognize the history of our town.

  • Explore the potential for historic preservation designations for landmarks.

6. ONGOING INITIATIVES

Equip employees with the training and resources they need to deliver high-quality services to the town.

  • Continuously evaluate organizational structure, succession planning, staff utilization, and process improvements;
  • Encourage professional and personal growth opportunities for all employees;
  • Offer Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training.

Collaborate with regional partners.

  • Identify opportunities to share services and resources with other communities;
  • Participate in solving regional social/economic issues.

Leverage the work and recommendations of town committees.

  • Review and incorporate committee recommendations in council direction and decision making (e.g., Fort Williams, Civil Rights, Energy);
  • Revisit goals and strategic map every 6 months.
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