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STRATEGIC PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022

CITY OF PARKLAND, FLORIDA

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MESSAGE FROM MAYOR AND COMMISSION

As a result of outreach to our community and significant resident feedback, this strategic plan

has been created with the purpose of not only sustaining the City of Parkland (City) as we

have come to know it, but improving it and solidifying its infrastructure as we move forward.

Parkland is a unique community—not just unique in Broward County, but throughout south

Florida. Our residents are committed to Parkland as a place, but also to one another. The

character quality of our collective residents in caring for one another is not something that

was created by the tragedy that took place in our City, but rather already existed and was

brought out when the tragedy occurred. And it continues in Parkland, stronger now than

ever.

This strategic plan is intended to preserve that character by seeking to continually improve

the quality of life in Parkland. That means adapting programs offered by the City, improving

our amenities, further solidifying our infrastructure, and always trying to see what is coming

down the pike. It is important to note that this plan is an ever-evolving document that will

regularly be adjusted—based largely on additional resident input.

Regardless of adjustments to this plan, the over-arching theme is to continue to build on the

unique character of our City and residents. By doing this, we will ensure that Parkland will

always be a City of high character that is a great place to live, play, and raise a family.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Our vision for our City 4

The values and features which define our City 4

The mission of City Government 5

The values and core beliefs of City Government 5

The strategies of the plan: overview 6

The quality of life strategy 7

The four other strategies 9

Organization of the plan 9

Strategic Plan: goals and actions 11

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OUR VISION FOR OUR CITY

We are one City, united by our compassion, commitment to diversity, safety, and our distinctive

and attractive community that has a strong sense of place. Building on our history, we support

our family-friendly, kind and peaceful suburban setting. We are a City committed to enhancing

the quality of life with superior community amenities and services. As such, Parkland is a place

to establish your roots that you will now call home.

OUR COMMUNITY VALUES

& DEFINING FEATURES

• Compassion

• Inclusion

• Education

• Environment

• Culture

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THE MISSION OF CITY GOVERNMENT

To provide quality services while protecting the community’s unique character and natural

environment, adding value to our residents’ lives, and advocating to protect community

interests.

THE VALUES AND CORE BELIEFS

OF CITY GOVERNMENT

• Small Town

• Sustainable

• Entrepreneur Friendly

• High Quality Maintenance of Assets

• One City

• Effective Relationships with Other

• Inclusive

• Engaged Community, High Levels of Community Ownership

• Preserve History

• Innovative Development Options

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THE FIVE STRATEGIES OF THIS

STRATEGIC PLAN: OVERVIEW

Quality of Life Experiences

These strategies encompass the services, facilities, and infrastructure that provide the seven

experiences that determine the quality of life in Parkland.

Community Engagement

This strategy addresses how City government works with the community to support the quality

of life in Parkland.

Intergovernmental Engagement

This strategy addresses how City government works with other public bodies to address those

policy issues that, while they go beyond the boundaries of City, impact the quality of life in

Parkland.

Effective and Efficient Government

This strategy addresses how City government will operate internally to provide services and

manage infrastructure in a cost-effective manner.

Policy Leadership

This strategy addresses how the City Commission will work as a leadership body to ensure

execution of the strategic plan.

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Information

& Recognition

Play

Opportunity

Mobility

Safety

Community Character

THE QUALITY OF LIFE STRATEGY

There are seven factors which determine quality of life in any community. They interact with

each other, but can be understood separately. Figure 1 describes these factors.

Figure 1: The Quality of Life Pyramid

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Community Character

The base of the pyramid is “Community Character.” This refers to the basic physical structure

of the community, its natural characteristics, and its geographic location. It is what physically

distinguishes one community from another. For Parkland, this includes its geographic location

on the edge of Broward County, its physical layout of lots ranging in size, its road network,

parks, and landscaping. These features make Parkland a distinctive community. It is at the

base because it is the starting point upon which the other factors build. The physical

environment of Parkland provides an experience of quality, of beauty, of quiet, and of

restfulness.

Safety

The core determinant of quality of life is feeling safe. If one does not experience feeling safe,

none of the other factors matter. Feeling safe on the other hand enables one to participate in,

use, otherwise these other factors.

Mobility and Accessibility

Being able to move about the community, to get to events or services, impacts one’s experience

of the community. Traffic jams, a lack of parking, or other factors which restrict movement, can

create a feeling of frustration and dissatisfaction.

Opportunity

Opportunity has many personal meanings. If a person experiences a lack of opportunity in their

community, their quality of life is diminished. Opportunity in Parkland is most broadly defined as

educational opportunity for the children of the community.

Play

This is the experience of recreation. It takes many forms dependent upon personal

preferences. In Parkland, this is most often expressed as sports, biking and walking trails,

community events, and the various experiences provided through the library.

Information and Recognition

People almost always feel better when they know what is going on. This increases our sense of

control which is an experience required for quality of life. Another dimension of this is

recognition. The element that brings a “small town” atmosphere is being recognized and

recognizing others. Whether this is on a name basis or a facial basis is immaterial. It is the

experience of the familiar, of the known that contributes to a quality of life experience.

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THE REMAINING FOUR STRATEGIES

In addition to the Quality of Life strategies, there are four additional strategies which are

illustrated in figure 2. These include:

Community engagement strategies

This strategy addresses how various community elements can contribute to the strategic plan.

Inter-governmental collaboration

This strategy addresses how Parkland could work with other public entities to better fulfill the

strategic plan.

Efficient and effective government

This strategy addresses the internal operations of City government to enact the strategic plan.

Policy leadership

This strategy discusses how the City Commission can provide leadership to achieve the

strategic plan.

ORGANIZATION OF THE PLAN

This five-strategy framework are part of the various goals and action of this strategic plan. The

City has defined six goals. Each goal has new action items and continued action items, which

comprise the Strategic Plan. The action items were reviewed and discussed during the

Commission’s Strategic Planning Retreat in mid-April. The action items listed went through a

prioritization framework and most action items made it into the strategic plan.

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Information

& Recognition

Play

Opportunity

Mobility

Safety

Community Character

Figure 2: The five types of strategy

VISION

Inter-Government Community

Collaboration Engagement

Efficient and Effective Government

Policy Leadership

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SECTION ONE: GOALS AND ACTIONS

• Continue to be a financially sound City government

• Maintain a safe community

• Improve and enhance the City’s infrastructure

• Foster high quality development

• Continue to be the pre-eminent City for parks and recreation

• Strengthen the City’s community character

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GOAL: CONTINUE TO BE A FINANCIALLY SOUND

CITY GOVERNMENT

New Actions

• Ensure the Infrastructure Replacement Plan is updated to include stormwater and roads

• Assess Park User Fees

• Assess Park Sponsorships

• Conduct updated methodology report for Fire Assessment Fees

• Obtain Quote for Fire Assessment Fee based on value and square feet

• Implement Senior Exemption for Low Income Seniors with Long Term Residency

Continuation Actions

• Develop a systematic approach to Grant funding that enhances and supports the City

• Engage Lobbyist to Actively Pursue Legislative funding

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GOAL: MAINTAIN A SAFE COMMUNITY

New Actions

• Install Parks Security Cameras

Continuation Actions

• Continue effort to further secure City facilities

• Create a Police Explorer program

• Create a Citizen’s Academy

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GOAL: IMPROVE AND ENHANCE

THE CITY’S INFRASTRUCTURE

New Actions

• Proceed with ADA Citywide Assessment Projects

Continuation

• Construction of University/ Old Club Road Roundabout

• Enhancements to Hillsboro Roundabout

• Continue Storm Water Utility Study

• Continue Assessing Ranches Water Distribution, and Roadway Improvements Projects

pending drainage completion

• Continue to monitor Loxahatchee Road Improvement project

• Continue current work on Pine Tree Estates Roadway Plan

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GOAL: FOSTER HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

New Actions

• Hire a Development Services Director

• Hire a Senior Planner

• Review Commercial Code

Continuation

• Continue Storm Water Utility Study

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GOAL: CONTINUE TO BE A PRE-EMINENT CITY

FOR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS

New Actions

• Terramar Park Level I Maintenance Plan

• Pine Trails Park Level I Maintenance Plan

• Pine Trails Park Level II Maintenance Plan

• Develop 36 Acre Park

• Farmers’ Market Parking

• Pocket Refuge (Nature Scape) Liberty Park

Continuation

• Pine Trails Park Field Improvements

• Terramar Park Baseball Field Reconfiguration and Batting Cages

• Terramar Playground Improvements

• Covered Bridge Passive Park

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GOAL: STRENGTHEN THE CITY’S

COMMUNITY CHARACTER

New Actions

• Create a City Brand

• Install New Electric Charging Stations at City Parks

• Create an Economic Development Advisory Board

• Create Advisory Board Tasks and Committees

Continuation

• Intergovernmental Engagement

• Conduct quarterly review of status of strategic plan activities