Critical information needed to determine needs/gaps, solutions and spending priorities for Haverhill

John Michitson President Haverhill City Council August 19, 2014

“Vision for Haverhill” Comprehensive Plan

“A Modern City with a Small-Town Flavor”

Economic & Cultural

Growth & Sustainability

Educational

Public Safety

Public Services

Physical/Infrastructure

Financial

A flexible road map for the Mayor and City Council to plan infrastructure expenditures, school priorities, zoning revisions and new city ordinances

Also a road map for developers and business to be able to accurately target their investments and now be able to predict how the city will grow around them

KEY TOPICS TO ADDRESS IN LONG RANGE PLAN

INFO NEEDED TO ADDRESS TOPICS

Pieces of a Comprehensive Plan have already emerged in various settings ◦ But the whole picture needs to be pulled together

into a statement that gives more guidance to all our institutions and sectors

Mayor has led several effective re-zoning initiatives

The Water/Wastewater Departments generally provide sufficient planning information to make sound decisions ◦ A good model for other departments

Economic & Cultural

Growth & Sustainability

Educational

Public Safety

Public Services

Physical/Infrastructure

Financial

In general, insufficient information provided to determine:

Priorities (especially inter-departmental)

Cost tradeoffs of alternatives

Alignment with community’s vision and view of needs

Actions in queue, postponed or dropped

Evaluation of provided services and infrastructure improvements

Generally Insufficient Information

KEY TOPICS TO ADDRESS IN LONG RANGE PLAN

INFO NEEDED TO ADDRESS TOPICS

Haverhill Community

Long Term Vision, Mission

Short Term Action Plan

(2 Year)

Delivery & Evaluation

Service & Physical Needs

Services & Physical Projects

Perf. Data & Results

Budget

Loan Orders/

Transfers/Ordinance

Actions Postponed

or Dropped

Actions in Queue

: already in place

Needs/Gaps Strategies/ Solutions

Long Term Vision, Mission

Financial Plan & Outlook

Land Use, Urban Design &

Transportation

Quality of Life Services

Physical, Facilities &

Infrastructure

Growth & Sustainability

Housing

Needs/Gaps, following areas:

Zoning Code Overhaul

Quality-of-Life Strategies & Solutions: a. Public Education programs b. Public Safety initiatives c. Small business assistance d. New Business recruitment e. Cultural programs f. Open Space and Recreation Plan f. Civic engagement program

Projections/ Outlook

Financial Plan (10 Year)

Mesh economy, culture & physical: ◦ Economy

Planning for and encouraging the businesses and institutions which drive Haverhill's economic metabolism

◦ Culture Identity - How we present ourselves to the outside world.

History. The arts, theater, museums, our creative economy

◦ Physical Working with our geography and evolving infrastructure,

co-locate Economic and Cultural elements in way that creates a Haverhill that resembles the vision and is self-sustaining and growing

Lowering crime rate

Improving public education

Proactive economic development and job creation

Maintenance and capital improvements for facilities, infrastructure & vehicles

Combined sewer overflow mandate

Storm water management

Capping of old land fill mandate

Zoning for medical marijuana facilities

Growth and sustainability guidelines

New finance committee

: underway

Leverage Harbor Place development and anchor tenant UMASS/Lowell to: ◦ Create a city focal point

◦ Attract complementary new employers to downtown & business parks Provide jobs

Increase city revenue

◦ Enhance public education

How?

What’s in it for us?

Objective is to create 1000 new jobs and attract $3M in new revenue to Haverhill’s industrial base by 2020

Computer & Research Drive: • 2 Lots • Each Lot is $250K Recurring Revenue Opportunity

Hilldale Business Park: • Several

undeveloped Lots

• MVPC Priority Area for Development

Example

Opportunities in Business Parks

Government ◦ Mayor ◦ City Economic Development and Planning Director ◦ City Finance Director ◦ City Council ◦ Schools ◦ State and Federal Delegations ◦ Merrimack Valley Planning Commission ◦ Mass Development ◦ Massachusetts Technology Collaborative

Academic ◦ NECC, UMASS/Lowell

Grassroots groups ◦ Academic, small business, residents, cultural, etc.

Local Interest Groups and Civic Organizations ◦ Chamber of Commerce, Greater Haverhill Foundation, Team

Haverhill, Creative Haverhill, Haverhill Historical Commission, etc.

Appointed by Mayor

Thanks to the “self-formed” team: ◦ Matthew Juros

◦ Michael Drossos

◦ Jeffrey Linehan

◦ James DiBurro

◦ Alice Mann

◦ Lisa Fitzpatrick

◦ John Michitson

Comprehensive Plan Document

Who will provide documents? (until CY15)

Who will provide documents? (as of CY15)

Vision & Mission Mayor/Department Heads/Superintendent

Vision for Haverhill Committee Seek Funding Preliminary Plan -$30K See backup slide- process

Needs/Gaps Mayor/Department Heads/Superintendent

Vision for Haverhill Committee

Strategies/Solutions Mayor/Department Heads/Superintendent

Vision for Haverhill Committee

Financial Plan/Outlook Finance Director Finance Director

2-Year Action Plan Mayor Mayor

Budget Review Mayor (City Council Approval)

Mayor (City Council Approval)

Actions in Queue Mayor Mayor

Actions Delayed/ Dropped

Mayor Mayor

Evaluation/Performance Mayor/Department Heads Mayor/Department Heads

Send letter to Mayor requesting the following information by the end of CY14: ◦ Identification of needs/gaps

Supported by evaluation of performance data

◦ Strategies/Solutions – including alternatives ◦ 2-Year Action Plan

Basis for FY16 Budget

◦ Update every 6 months

Refer “Vision for Haverhill” Comprehensive Plan to Administration & Finance Committee for Action ◦ Invite Mayor and Superintendent of Schools