CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the City of Naperville Bridge to 2023 Priorities Plan spring 2023 status update
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DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office
SUBMITTED BY: Doug Krieger, City Manager; Pam Gallahue, Community Services Director; Linda LaCloche, Communications Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
On December 7, 2021, City Council approved the City’s Priorities Plan, which outlined five priority areas for the City to focus its efforts on over the next three years. The five areas - financial stability and economy, housing choice, infrastructure and utilities, public safety and sustainability - and associated goals were determined following an online community survey, targeted engagement and City Council input.
DISCUSSION:
Because each of the five priorities includes numerous goals and initiatives, staff is providing an in-depth update on two of them - public safety and sustainability - this spring. The remaining three - financial stability and economy, infrastructure and utilities, and housing choice priorities - will be discussed in the fall closer to the 2024 budget workshops.
Overall Update
Staff uses adequate resource availability as its progress measurement tool to determine a priority’s current status. Sufficient resources are the appropriate personnel, finances, and materials available to move forward with goals as planned. Staff also considers any external factors that may impact goal progression.
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Priority Area |
Status |
Overview |
|
Financial Stability & Economy |
On Track |
The City successfully achieved its three financial principles put into place in 2015 that were set for completion by the end of 2022. This allowed the City to rebuild its long-term financial stability, which has positioned the City to have options and flexibility around how to address necessary infrastructure and capital work financially. In turn, this reinvestment in capital projects reinvigorates existing assets, which maintains Naperville’s quality of life that has attracted and retained businesses, which contributes to the stability of the City’s finances and the overall economy. |
|
Housing Choice |
On Track |
Action items in this area continue to progress. In February 2023, the sitting City Council approved a purchase and sale agreement for City-owned land at 103rd and Route 59 for affordable senior and individuals with developmental disabilities housing. The City’s Affordable Housing Incentive Program was endorsed by the sitting City Council in January 2023, with the ordinance approving the program expected before Council this summer. Finally, Rebuilding Together Aurora has been approved by HUD as the subrecipient who will manage the Single-Family Home Repair Program. |
|
Infrastructure & Utilities |
Monitoring |
As noted in the financial stability and economy priority, several capital projects in the utility and citywide infrastructure space are on the horizon. This priority is highly dependent on numerous factors, including ongoing external influences such as supply chain issues and timing of material delivery. Staff will continue to monitor this priority. |
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Public Safety |
On Track |
Detailed below. |
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Sustainability |
Monitoring |
Detailed below. |
Staff uses the following status indicators for goals within each priority area:
• Change in scope or timing
Work on the goal is underway; however, there has been a change to the initially planned scope and/or timing of the goal due to internal or external circumstances.
• Ongoing
Work is on track with no changes to the timing and is being monitored regularly for resource needs, scope changes, and/or external influences.
• Complete
The goal has been achieved, and any subsequent work has been adopted into a department’s standard operating procedures.
Public Safety
This priority directs staff to provide a safe and secure community for all Naperville residents and businesses.
|
Goal |
Status |
Details |
|
Police |
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Increase public support and trust in the Police |
Ongoing |
The Police Department continues to promote transparency and outreach through community presentations and educational opportunities, which totaled 589 in 2022. Four “Chat with the Chief” events are scheduled for 2023, with the second taking place on May 25, and the spring Citizen Police Academy is underway. Future efforts in 2023 include expanding social media to reach a younger demographic and additional in-person and television opportunities to share the department’s mission and messages. |
|
Continue investment in Police training, education & succession planning |
Ongoing |
87% of sworn Police Department personnel are now Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) certified, an important tool resulting in better outcomes for calls involving individuals going through a mental health crisis. Emphasis on de-escalation training and continuing education is ongoing, as is researching the expansion of virtual reality training for officers and formalizing a training program for new sergeants. |
|
Implement technological enhancements |
Ongoing |
Following the successful implementation of body-worn and in-car cameras, the department is evaluating potential Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)/Records Management System (RMS) vendors, with selection later this year. Vendor selection for the radio system upgrade is also slated for later this year in the fourth quarter. In addition, the department regularly seeks to enhance community safety through smaller technology implementations, including items such as drones and license plate readers. |
|
Fire |
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Promote and foster community risk reduction |
Ongoing |
The Fire Department continues its tradition of innovation through its Community Risk Reduction team, which helped 101 frequent 911 callers find more permanent means of care in 2022. The team has helped 43 residents to date in 2023. Moving forward, the department is expanding its CPR program with the goal of being Illinois’ first Heart Safe community as well as a more user-friendly way for the public to sign up for CPR/AED/First Aid classes. The department is also working with School District 204 on Stop the Bleed kits and the Park District on continued AED use. |
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Continue investment in Fire training, education & succession planning |
Ongoing |
12 department members have received designations and credentialing from the Center on Public Safety Excellence. The in-house fire academy, a way to educate new hires on Naperville-specific procedures and physical and emotional coping skills, is now underway for eight individuals; 10 participated in 2022. |
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Explore new ways of service delivery while adapting to changing community needs |
Ongoing |
The department is working with the state to develop alternative transport methods for mental health-related or less intensive calls. |
Because work continues as planned, with no changes to the timing or scope of initiatives, this priority is classified as ON TRACK.
Sustainability
This priority directs staff to work within City government and with community partners to act sustainably and make Naperville more resilient.
|
Goal |
Status |
Details |
|
Implement a Green Purchasing Program |
Change in scope or timing |
The City partnered with North Central College students on drafting a sample Green Purchasing Program. As part of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts to explore the potential for an inclusive purchasing program in the next few years, this goal’s timeline will be adjusted to align with those efforts to explore potential synergies. In the interim, staff continues to explore opportunities such as education around making sustainable purchases, including standard purchases like office supplies. |
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Determine appropriate metrics and reinstate publication of the City Sustainability Report on a biannual basis |
Ongoing |
Regular meetings are occurring to discuss appropriate data to include in the Sustainability report, which is anticipated to be published in December 2023. |
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Revise permit applications to capture waste/recycling data and sustainability efforts |
Complete |
In 2022, permit applications were revised to capture commercial waste and recycling data. In addition, energy efficiency and testing information is now part of the City’s regular permit review and inspection communications. |
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Collaborate with community partners to create a Sustainability Outreach and Engagement Program |
Ongoing |
In addition to participation in local and regional sustainability groups, such as the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force (NEST) education subcommittee, and community events (D203’s Motiv-8, Earth Month), staff has begun meeting with representatives from D203 and D204 to discuss incorporating a Sustainability Education Program for middle school students this fall. |
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Pursue opportunities to increase & expand the City’s renewable energy resources with IMEA & through our renewable energy program |
Ongoing |
Current efforts focus on making it easier for the utility’s customers to sign up for the Renewable Energy Program and other sustainability-focused incentive and rebate programs, such as electric vehicle charging stations and attic/window upgrades. This includes updating forms with more straightforward language and incorporating them into the City’s Help Center platform. In addition, staff continues to explore expanded capacity for renewable energy in Naperville. |
The sustainability goals and critical action items noted in the Priorities Plan are only a fraction of the overall Sustainability Plan approved by the City Council in 2021. 2023 is year two of the five-year plan; this year, 26 goals are in progress that touch multiple City departments and municipal facilities. Some of these efforts are below. This is not an exhaustive list but rather a sample of the true scope of the City’s sustainability work.
• Evaluating the results of the recent Bikeability & Walkability survey to help identify priorities for future transportation and outreach planning
• Launching the Electric Lawn Equipment and Rebate Program after a successful pilot last year
• Apply for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program, which would help engage and educate the community on recycling through interactive tools, contests, waste audits and more over the next three years
• Participating in the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Program to help fund energy audits
• Continuing energy efficiency upgrades of City facilities and assets, including purchasing alternative fuel/electric vehicles, replacing Fire and Public Works doors and installing more sustainable air conditioning units.
Because of the rapid pace of emerging sustainable technologies and priorities, along with legislative actions at the federal and state levels, this priority is classified as MONITORING.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for initiatives is included in the 2023 operating and capital budgets.