Since its inception, the City of Oakley has annually revised and updated a strategic plan, which serves as a to-do list of goals the city plans to accomplish within a two-year period.

City Manager Bryan Montgomery unveiled the 2010-12 strategic plan at last week’s council meeting. “I’m proud to report as a team, between council and staff and many others, we’ve accomplished almost all of the goals (from the 2008-10 plan), but we have others which are near completion, and then new ones that have been presented to you in the strategic plan for 2010 to 2012.”

The most significant addition to this draft of the strategic plan is the incorporation of the Economic Development Workplan, which has its own outline of 41 goals intended to help attract and retain business in the city. The city plans to achieve this goal by completing capital improvement projects, preparing a beautification action plan, and moving forward with plans to overhaul and restore the downtown district.

Downtown revitalization is a specific area of focus in the strategic plan. Goals that have been set for the next two years include implementation of a sign kiosk program, working with CalTrans so that the city may gain control of Main Street/Highway 4, and selecting businesses to participate in the Downtown Façade Improvement Grant Program.

Councilmember Bruce Connelley stressed the importance of bringing life to the downtown business district. He asked that it be made a priority to get new signage on Highway 4 to direct traffic to the downtown area to help boost business and encourage new business to come to town.

As part of the planned, quality growth area of focus, the city plans to develop an agriculture land preservation program and find a feasible way to reestablish the planning commission as a separate body.

The planning commission was disbanded in 2009 to help balance Oakley’s budget. Oakley will continue to budget conservatively as part of the 2010-12 strategic plan as defined in the financial stability portion of the document, but the city also desires to restore 2008 salary/wages to city staff and establish a five-year potential staffing and organization plan as laid out in the operational excellence goals listed in the document.

The area of the strategic plan that received the most discussion last week was the community outreach, communication and education area of focus. One item staff and the council will investigate is the cost and feasibility of broadcasting council meetings on TV as well as online, which has been requested by several citizens over the years.

Councilmember Carol Rios was particularly curious about the status of Oakley OnDemand, an online system that allows members of the community to report complaints, concerns and service requests.

Montgomery said while things are going well with the site, the community isn’t using it as much as the staff had anticipated. The site is currently used mainly by staff, who post on it reports that have been called or e-mailed in by the community.

Mayor Pat Anderson suggested there might be a way to set up a workshop prior to a future council meeting in which members of the community can come to the council chamber and play around with the site while staff is on hand to answer questions and offer assistance.

Connelley said it would also be good to showcase Oakley OnDemand at community events such as the Cityhood Celebration or the Almond Festival.

To learn more about Oakley OnDemand or view the complete 2010-12 strategic plan, visit www.oakleyinfo.com.