Be part of the solution: County wants public input on five-year plan

Got a vision for where El Paso County should head? Want to see more parks, better streets, or more shared services with the city of Colorado Springs?

Now is the time to make yourself heard.

The county is updating its Strategic Plan for 2012-16, and it’s asking for public comment on the 17-page draft document. On Wednesday, the county will hold a “lunch and listen” open house to review the new plan and hear from residents, and will continue to take public comments through Jan. 26.

It’s the final leg of a journey that began last spring and revved up in the summer with an online community engagement survey aimed at assessing what people want from their county government. The survey received 1,300 responses, said Peggy Littleton, county commissioners’ point person on the plan.

Eventually, five broad goals were identified, and each was attached to a committee made up of a county staff member, a commissioner and residents to flesh things out.

“We just tried to make it robust with citizen comments,” Littleton said.

Within the five goals are more than 100 actions and strategies that Littleton said are more focused than in previous plans.

“I think the previous plan was good,” she said. “But this gives us a clear path on which we’re supposed to be heading. It’s more refined, more narrow, and I think gives us some true objectives that we can accomplish. I think the other was like more of a wish list — if we had more money or time or staff, we’d like to do this.”

To County Administrator Jeff Greene, the narrowed focus is a plus.

“We’re really looking at goals and objectives that are measurable; that we can develop a benchmarking process,” he said.

Some parts of the plan are already well on their way to becoming reality, such as the development of oil and gas drilling regulations, the creation of a sports shooting complex and the reinstatement of meth lab cleanup oversight and public pool and spa testing.

Other actions that make the final cut would be tackled in the next five years.

“In my opinion, some of those objectives we’re going to tackle right away; there may be others we don’t do for a couple of years,” said Tim Wolken, El Paso County director of community services. “It depends on priorities and funding. Some are almost stretch goals that will take some time.”

Wolken said county leaders will meet Feb. 6 to consider public comments and determine whether anything needs to be added or changed in the draft plan. He hopes the plan will be ready for county commissioners’ consideration at the end of February.

Among the highlights from the draft plan, broken down by the five goals:

• Maintain and promote a financially sustainable county government that is transparent and effective: recruit and retain employees with competitive compensation and non-monetary incentives; research long-term impact of oil and gas industry activities on the infrastructure and recommend appropriate fees; continue to evaluate more joint city-county opportunities and explore consolidated clerk services with Colorado Springs and other municipalities; pursue a regionalized land use code and a regional oil and gas policy; partner with several organizations to lobby for a requirement that any state mandate include an explanation of the local cost impact and provision for funding.

• Continue to enhance understanding of civic services and promote participation, engagement and confidence in county government: increase the use of social media to keep people updated on county services; finalize and adopt a social media policy for the county; create a public awareness campaign with community partners on child abuse prevention.

• Maintain and improve the county transportation system, facilities, infrastructure and technology: update the five-year countywide capital improvement program to prioritize transportation projects and potential funding sources; implement a countywide transportation impact fee program and public improvement district; continue the Marksheffel Road planning process involving Powers Boulevard and Banning Lewis Parkway issues; implement the State Highway 94 Access Management Plan and form a group to address improvements and potential expansion of Highway 94; continue to upgrade and/or replace substandard buildings, facilities and equipment; update the Park Master Plan; complete capital campaigns for the Pineries Open Space, Rainbow Falls Recreation Area and Fountain Creek Nature Center expansion; secure a site, develop a master plan, secure funding and construct Falcon Regional Park.

• Strive to ensure a safe, secure and healthy community: improve emergency response times and services; promote a regionalized fire code; establish a satellite office in eastern El Paso County; expand the county Umbrella Wetland Bank by identifying potential sites and collaborate to secure funding; develop a county sustainability plan that includes economic, social and environmental components; reduce child, elder and spousal abuse; reduce suicide rates; participate in the development of a regional stormwater management program.

• Consistently support regional economic strength: pursue implementation of “barriers to business” recommendations and institute ongoing code revision strategies; support and advocate for a strong military presence and military-related businesses, and push for a military liaison cabinet position at the state level; support, both financially and through participation, regional economic development organizations; promote improvements to infrastructure to include participation in the Front Range Rail Feasibility Study, and collaborate with Colorado Springs to increase airline flights.

TO PARTICIPATE

• Public comments are being accepted on the draft Strategic Plan through Jan. 26. Send comments to Tim Wolken, director; Community Services Department; 2002 Creek Crossing; Colorado Springs, CO 80905. Or e-mail timwolken@elpasoco.com.
• The county is hosting a “lunch and listen” open house from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the AspenPointe Cafe in the Citizens Service Center, 1675 Garden of the Gods Road.
• A draft copy of the plan is available online at www.elpasoco.com. Hard copies are available at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave.; the Clerk and Record Office at the Citizens Service Center, 1675 Garden of the Gods Road; County Park headquarters, 2002 Creek Crossing; Public Services Department, 3275 Akers Drive; Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane; Pikes Peak Regional Building, 2880 International Circle; and the El Paso County Fairgrounds in Calhan.