If you had to sum up who we are as a City, where we are headed and where we’ve been, these four words would be it. They also forge the new mission statement for the City of St. Charles as outlined in the update to its Strategic Plan. Review the report summary in the sidebar.
From now through 2020, all that we do as a City organization will be viewed through the lens of our city’s heritage, community, service and opportunities. Our Guiding Principles remain the same: to operate with respect, engagement, a sense of community, accountability and excellence.
In October 2014, the City began the process of updating its 2008-2014 Strategic Plan which identifies a vision for the City’s future. Working with Sikich LLP, input was gathered from nearly 200 community stakeholders, City staff and elected officials. This feedback helped shape the long- and short-term goals and priorities for the City. Information was collected from:
“We received valuable feedback and appreciate the effort of all who participated in the strategic planning process,” said City Administrator Mark Koenen. “The Strategic Plan serves as our North Star, helping us shape our community’s future and navigate to our future successes.”
The Strategic Plan was completed in November 2015. After moving through Committee, it was officially approved by the City Council at its Feb. 1, 2016 meeting.
The Strategic Plan helps us proactively shape our community’s future. It identifies 41 goals, covering areas from economic development and citywide safety programs to thinking creatively and taking risks. The goals are categorized into short- and long- term, routine and complex and focus on the following concepts:
Community. It’s another cornerstone of our Mission. When done right, Community can be a powerful thing. It can bring people and organizations together for a common cause to accomplish something that makes a positive impact for everyone. But what makes a great community?
Recipe for a Great Community
Heritage. It’s one of the four main tenets of our Mission Statement. Honoring our history is a big part of who we are as a community. We regularly celebrate milestone anniversaries: the City’s 180th, the Municipal Building’s 75th, Scarecrow Fest’s and River Fest’s 30th. And we work together with other organizations to preserve our historic architecture and character: relocation of the Jones Law Office building, renovation of the Judd Mansion, facilitation with Facade Improvement Grants.
Service. It’s the third of four key components of the City’s mission. And quite an important one too. Our sole function as a government organization is to supply crucial services the community wants and needs. Public safety, public works, along with responsible financial stewardship, communication and community development are what our community looks to us to provide. Our services are one important way we connect with the community.
Opportunity. Opportunity is what’s created when the City effectively incorporates its Heritage, Community, and Service into its core values and traditions. All of the components of our mission work together to create a thriving environment where opportunities prosper. When everything is in place, anything is possible.
