Town Council Strategic Plan 2008-2012 Phase One

The Challenge

Montclair in 2008 is at a crucial time. Are we to keep true to our widespread vision of being a diverse progressive community that sees its greatest strength in the melding of different classes, ethnicities and points of view?

Montclair desperately needs to lessen the crushing property tax burden, yet taxes increase. It needs more affordable housing, yet there is less each year. We understand that commercial property development and stronger local businesses are our greatest hope for easing the burden on residents, yet we seem to miss our opportunities for the "smartest" growth. We aspire to be a truly diverse community, yet that diversity ebbs. We are an arts leader, yet many of Montclair's artists and creative people are being priced out. We value our senior citizens and long-time residents, yet many of the people with the deepest roots in the community can no longer afford to live here. We aspire to true environmental sustainability, yet we, too, are part of a global problem that demands sacrifice and massive change.

In essence, we have not been able to stay ahead of the many trends and forces that are changing the quality of our growth.

This is a potential tragedy, because in many ways, we should be a model for a 21st century American town. We are a traditional town that's walkable and combines shopping, recreation and vital public places. Real sustainability is only possible in towns that have dense, vital downtowns and in larger cosmopolitan areas. In a sense, we are a tiny city, the Bloomfield Avenue corridor, surrounded by a vital suburb with its own unique shopping areas and neighborhoods.

We need to be a leader in the areas of urban development, environmental sustainability and diverse cultural mission. Not just for ourselves, but to solidify our ability to get grants and government aid. Our economic diversity presents issues and challenges that even the tax revenues from affluent residents cannot easily solve. We need to keep families and residents from all economic strata here in Montclair. And we need to stay "on mission" so we remain the type of town that's worth staying in.

Our Plan

The 2008-12 Town Council is pleased to share its common vision and plans for the Montclair's next four years. This first of two phases of our plan will lay out some of the structural changes we will be implementing to assure the greatest possible public involvement in going forward. These first phase changes will largely be in the areas of:

• • creating specific task forces comprising experts, town employees, the public and Council in order to assure that we are spending our tax dollars wisely and prudently while providing the quality of life, excellent schools, and services our residents deserve
• • re-engineering the various Boards, Commissions and Committees to maintain their integrity while actively seeking widespread community involvement
• • creating public forums and online discussions to identify needs, make it easier for people to give and receive assistance and hear the stories of actual residents’ struggles
• • focusing all of our efforts on the pursuit of the goals laid out in our Town's excellent Master Plan

Here are some of our specific initial priorities:

Planning/Development/Preservation/Housing
- creating an Urban Design Task Force to build on our urban core
- developing design guidelines for commercial development and renovation
- working with the BID to build on the "Main Street" grant, taking advantage of major land-use opportunities and Montclair's new major concert venue
- considering measures to help assist seniors, those with affordable housing needs and others struggling with the tax burden
- expanding the downtown Historic District designation to include all of Bloomfield Ave.
- creating more workforce and affordable housing and enhancing the link with business development

Budget/Finance/Capital Projects
- reinstating and improving the Capital Finance Committee to better assess Capital expenditures
- creating a task force on "big ticket" structural changes to alleviate the tax burden (closing facilities, privatization, etc.)
- expanding the budgeting process to a year-round activity
- seeking public input wherever possible and using "cost per household" as the standard

Municipal Services/Public Safety
- working with the administration on better "customer service"
- helping create more public police presence
- expanding on crosswalk safety initiatives
- implementing a sanitation plan to address a major budget shortfall

Quality of Life/Arts
- working with residents to expand senior citizen, youth and teen programs
- reinstating a beautification "Quality of Life" citizen group
- promoting Montclair as an arts community and incorporating more local art in town buildings and projects

Governance
- scheduling citizen presentations at the beginning of Council meetings
- designating "deputy-liaisons" for 100% Council attendance at citizen committees
- presenting written reports on our Council advisory groups
- creating a task force to look into a ballot initiative for staggered terms
- instituting "neighborhood councils" to expand communication and civic involvement

Communications
- creating a "Brand Montclair" task force to help market the town better
- improving the town website to make it more citizen-friendly
- providing better access to meetings, minutes and documents
- presenting a special "Committee Fair" council meeting to welcome more citizen participation

Sustainability
- implementing a Shade Tree Ordinance, creating a Shade Tree Commission
- publishing a town-wide recycling information booklet and creating recycling/composting incentives
- implementing a town-wide environmental sustainability campaign including projects such as solar power
- utilizing town employees to model sustainable environmental practices

Education
- instituting a year-round Board of School Estimate to create a more effective and transparent budgeting process
- creating a Mayoral Nominating Committee to vet Board of Education appointments
- working to promote more transparency and accessibility to the Board through a Council liaison

Parking/Transportation
- reexamining the role of the Parking Authority in enforcement and other areas
- instituting a comprehensive "safe streets" traffic calming program for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers
- pursuing expanded jitney/shuttle service
- building a town-wide Safe Routes to Schools initiative based on programs started at Rand, Bradford and Nishuane
- beginning a systematic implementation of the NJDOT Bike and Pedestrian Action Plan
- exploring overnight parking options
- insuring bike and pedestrian friendly town events
- creating a "car-free day" to raise awareness and help build support for public and non-motorized transportation

Of course, we will be creating some policy immediately and much along the way to help us move in the right direction. Many changes require outside funding sources that necessitate grant writing and other commitments which require long-term planning. Our overarching goal as a governing body, however, is to make sure that we have a means to utilize the best skills and talents of Montclair's residents before we create any major changes. We have a deep faith in the community's sense of common good and purpose.

The second phase, which will be presented in January 2009, will be far more extensive and specific. With the help of our advisory groups, we will have narrowed the list of projects and policies to implement. As a guide, we are fortunate to have a clear articulation of Montclair values in the Master Plan. Like many of the great plans and proposals "on the shelf" at Town Hall, its goals do indeed reflect the goals of the community.

Our Future

The next few years will be the test of whether we are indeed a community for the future.

Will we be a leader in the quest for true sustainability? Will we be able to create changes that will stem the loss of our senior citizens and those of least advantage? Will we be able to revitalize and build a more economically sustainable Town Center and strong local shopping areas?

We commit to these ambitious goals. Montclair is a gift generously bestowed upon us by past generations. We must support, honor and sustain our great civic institutions and public spaces.